Grade 5 pyp Exbition

It's time of the year for the pyp exhibition to show their understanding of the displines through all the years. I collected some documents about the exhibition, researched and check different websites and blogs related to the topic, and all showed interesting process and result. I was excited to be part of this years exhibition, and for my good luck, group of students wanted to inquire about technology. 

This year exhibition unit is How We Express Ourselves, and they should express themselves in any art form they would like. We met once before the spring vacation and my objective of that session was to trigger their minds to think about different issues related to technology, and during our first session we came up with interesting brainstorming chart. 

As the team agreed, they wanted to express their ideas and reflections on a blog, so we created a blog and asked other teams to create blogs if that suits them. But for our technology team, we are blogging on a daily base. I, as a mentor I blog to updTe them with every task they have to do for the following day, and reflect on the special event that happened during the day. Sometimes I am adding a video that inspires them. Check our blog, comment and advice, as I am teaching them some online netiques they need for their future. pypxwlc.weebly.com

Catch you there. 

iPad Training

A teacher approached me today to share her excitement to use the iPad and for having training session and she was thinking about how to use it with her ASL (Arabic Second Language) students.

I was so happy to give me time to train teachers how to use the iPads in classroom however they only gave me 30 min to train teachers, and definitely we have novice teachers in technology and some of them are familiar with the device but not how to integrate the iPads in the classroom. So to make sure we all stand at the same level, I decided to divide the session into two part: basics of the iPad, and couple of example of how it might be used in the classroom.

We have more than 40 teachers for the primary years so I divided teachers into two groups so that they have the chance to have hands-on activities. 

You can check the presentation and the notes on this link.

Both sessions were nice, check the padlet that we discover and posted our activity on.

Created with Padlet

Enjoy!

Welcome

I will be sharing with you the journey in implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education through the PYP school I am currently working in. 

It is my first year in an IB PYP School, and the IB system have their own terminologies, the first few weeks were hard, learning to many new concepts, starting with the IB system. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, and in this program there are 3 different stages, PYP, MYP, and DP. PYP stand for Primary Years Programme, mainly preschool to grade 5. MYP stand for Middle Years Programme, Gades 6,7,8 & 9 and finally, DP for diploma programme. 

let me tell you a bit about myself, I had my BA in Graphic design from AUST, I was an honor student then after working as a freelance for two years. then I applied for a masters program. Now, I am Holding a Master's degree in Educational technology - defended my thesis in July 2014. My thesis topic was about The Effect of Flipped Classroom in junior level students in Lebanon and was interested to apply my experiences in my new programme that I know basic things abut it. 

I am continuing my dream and i am enrolling in a PhD program, at the lebanese university, why because ... I recommend you to read this article

I deeply appreciate any help you can support me with because we grow up by sharing and learning from our expertise.

Interactive Timeline

Do you want to make interactive timeline for your students?

First, I would like to tell you that almost all the applications I post is extremely easy. But today's application is extremely easy and practical.

Check this application, you don't need to sign up, or anything. There are templates you can chose from or you can create your own. You can organize it either by date, month or year, you may also add pictures. It's suitable for k-12 students, give it a try.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/

SeeSaw iPad Application

One of the free applications that I enjoyed working with is Seesaw. It's a free application that can be found in App Store and play store (I am not sure about windows applications). It's just like an online portfolio that saves students work.
It is like a blog, that student can take a photo, add their annotation, publish, comment and like. It's is very user friendly specially with lower elementary.

I tried the application with Grade 2 students, in the unit of "who we are". They were inquiring about the human cycle in Arabic class.

I added the class list, and then generated a QC. Students had only to open the application, scan the QC and they can find their name. Then, they take a picture add their annotations and pick their name.

It teaches students how to be independent, collaborate through the comments no the likes that they can add on their friends pictures (teacher can deactivate these two features), and finally move around the class.

Not to forget, the teacher can invite parents, where they can only see their son/daughter posts.

Give it a try (click here) and tell me what do you think bout Seesaw.

Teachers Training

A teacher approached me today to share her excitement to use the iPad and for having training session and she was thinking about how to use it with her ASL (Arabic Second Language) students.

I was so happy to give me time to train teachers how to use the iPads in classroom however they only gave me 30 min to train teachers, and definitely we have novice teachers in technology and some of them are familiar with the device but not how to integrate the iPads in the classroom. So to make sure we all stand at the same level, I decided to divide the session into two part: basics of the iPad, and couple of example of how it might be used in the classroom.

We have more than 40 teachers for the primary years so I divided teachers into two groups so that they have the chance to have hands-on activities. 

You can check the presentation and the notes on this link.

Both sessions were nice, check the padlet that we discover and posted our activity on.

Created with Padlet

Enjoy!

iPad Journey

I was hired at the beginning of this academic year at an IB school in Lebanon, as an ICT specialist. It is the first time they hire someone with this job title, so I expected that the journey through out this year would be hard. Unfortunately I didn’t expect it to be that hard, but I am gathering my strength to do the best.

I have always dreamt about doing something in future that doesn’t require me to do the same thing over and over again since I hate routine. I believe that routine kills me in all its way, and it seems that technology fits me the best since I learn each day something new and it requires lots of time to keep up with the technology pace.

To start up with the ipad journey, I have asked from the board of the school to plan for the iPad implementation before actually getting them, but they were too busy to meet and have a clear ICT vision. However, I had to make a mission and vision for the ICT department. The ipads are here, 24 iPads with a Cart. To make the rotation of the iPad smooth the school got the ipad cart. This helped alot (I will mention that in details during the phases).

As a first step, I had to assign an iPad for every student in each section so that they will be using the same ipad throughout the year. This also make them responsible to take care of the ipads. for this point i made use of the IB learner profile and reflected it on the ipad use.

They should be caring and responsible for the ipad they will be using since they will be sharing the same iPad with different students, so they will not delete data, or open files they don't own it.
Trying something new (using iPad in Education) and being risk-takers for example read e-books instead of book...
Thinkers by figuring out solutions if they face some difficulties. Inquirers by asking if they didn't find solutions.
Finally being responsible communicators, by knowing how to act online.

Then I wrote the iPad policy to be implemented in the school. It is made up of 3 sections. ICT specialist policy that includes my responsibilities and duties. Teachers Policy, it includes the proper way they should follow to ensure the proper implementation of the ipads, and students policy to follow. This part took me too much time to be drafted, corrected and finalized. i made sure to write it in a way not to pressure any one by using the ipad, but state it clear that they are responsible to keep it safe and in one piece but also to use it responsibly.

The last step in the preparation of the ipad use in school is to create a system for reservation. i though about many options but finally created an email account (ipadlab) so all teacher can reserve it using the outlook calendar, and so far it is working smoothly.

WELCOME!!

I am so excited to start with my blog to share with the word my passion for technology. 

I will be sharing with you the journey in implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education through the PYP school I am currently working in. 

It is my first year in an IB PYP School, and the IB system have their own terminologies, the first few weeks were hard, learning to many new concepts, starting with the IB system. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, and in this program there are 3 different stages, PYP, MYP, and DP. PYP stand for Primary Years Programme, mainly preschool to grade 5. MYP stand for Middle Years Programme, Gades 6,7,8 & 9 and finally, DP for diploma programme. 

let me tell you a bit about myself, I had my BA in Graphic design from AUST, I was an honor student then after working as a freelance for two years. then I applied for a masters program. Now, I am Holding a Master's degree in Educational technology - defended my thesis in July 2014. My thesis topic was about The Effect of Flipped Classroom in junior level students in Lebanon and was interested to apply my experiences in my new programme that I know basic things abut it. 

I am continuing my dream and i am enrolling in a PhD program, at the lebanese university, why because ... I recommend you to read this article

I deeply appreciate any help you can support me with because we grow up by sharing and learning from our expertise

iPad Announcement

Today, during our risk taker Wednesday morning spiral (to those who was never been in IB school, there is a spiral that we do, it is like a morning meeting for all the PYP students including the EY students. Every Wednesday a student/teacher decide to share with everyone how they are acting like risktaker and share it with everyone. So, today I was the risk-taker (yaaa me). 

No in fact, we decided to introduce the ipad in a way to promote reading e-books. So it came up from here, you can be a risk taker by reading e-books on the iPad, and in another way it was a promotion for the school follettshelf. We also made a competition between students who will be reading the most e-books. ohhh one more thing whenever they read a book, the librarian will give them a bookmark that was designed for e-reading that are very interesting.

This event made me the most popular person at school, students were excited to learn and "play" using the iPads.