Diary of a Digital Learning Coach

One of the questions I often get asked from parents is about the amount of time our learners spend on screens during the school day.  With the influx of research on young brains and screens, it is logical for parents to have questions about our 1:1 iPads and how they are being used in classrooms.   I typically take those moments to help parents understand: the difference between using an iPad for learning vs. as a home device that being 1:1 doesn't mean our learners are 1:1 or on screens in all learning activities how iPads are simply a vehicle for learning, not a curriculum But as a parent myself, I can see the struggle in navigating this digital world both at school and at home.  It is so different than what we experienced, many of us parents can feel ill equipped to truly understand and promote best practices with our children. I'll be the first to tell you that no one tool does everything (iPads included) but there is a feature of our iPads that...

This week, let's take a deeper look at some Apple Classroom strategies that can h elp your end of the year classroom management.   For more information on managing Apple Classroom, check out this post from the archives or my team's Guide to Using Apple Classroom site . How have you used Apple Classroom successfully in your classroom?  Let me know in the comments!

It's exciting times here in Texas!  Our Technology Department has been working hard t o refresh our devices by providing educators with new Macbooks. We are beyond lucky to be in a district where digital learning is not just valued, but also supported.  Having reliable educator devices allows us to design and implement deeper learning experiences.  We can learn alongside our children and be more mobile throughout the classroom. Anytime there is change, even if it is a good change, there is a learning curve. I am such a creature of habit that I spent several days trying to get my new Mac to be set up the way my old one was. (#dontjudge) That is why I am so glad to share some curated resources my team gathered to help guide you as you get acquainted with your new MacBook.  Many of these are from the Technology ZenDesk, but all can help you become a Jedi Master of your Mac! Click here to visit the drawing above and access the links!   Each blu...

iPad rollout is finally complete and hopefully you are starting to dive into some digital learning. You might be asking yourself, "Ok, iPads are enrolled but NOW WHAT?"  My teammate, Megan Kozar recently compiled some awesome resources to help as we all begin working within digital classroom environments. Because we are #bettertogether, I wanted to share them with you too! 1. UTILIZE LEARNER EXPERTS Kinder "Ask an Expert" wall -Jennifer Pettit, @pettit73 As you have started working with your digital tools, I am sure a couple of students have stood out as "tech-perts". Take some of the load off of yourself and allow learners to lead when using a new app, troubleshooting a problem, or choosing a creative tool. To help learners see who to reach out to when they need help, you can build an Expert Wall like this one! 2. TAKE TIME TO TEACH TROUBLESHOOTING        Before your students have to miss class time to find help to fix minor ...