Deb Norton Tech

As you may know, we started a Makerspace in our High School LMC starting this school year. We've been switching up the activities, experiences, and technology on a  monthly basis. Here are a few pictures from September, October, November and December: With all of the various activities, students have been checking in regularly to see what is new and to spend some social time in our Makerspace with their peers. And all of a sudden it is January and time to revamp and plan for new and creative activities and technologies for the Makerspace.  Here is what we are planning: #1 - I wrote a grant for a 3D printer and was awarded the grant. Thank you AEF (Appelton Education Foundation) So, we now have a Dremel 3D Printer in our Makerspace. We've been busy learning how to use the printer and one of our maintenance personnel, Craig, has been a huge help. He has a great knowledge base about 3D printing. I'm so thankful for his involvement.    One activ...

Many of us use Google forms for assessments or to take a survey, however, did you know that students can submit files in a Google Form?   Just think of the possibilities. . .  students could submit an audio recording where they record their answer verbally using Vocaroo or Twisted Wave .   Students can submit an image, PDF or even a Google Drawing to show the answer to a higher level question that involves creation and design. Students can submit a Google Doc , Spreadsheet or Presentation  which makes it simple to integrate the Google Suite. Students can submit a video file as well. So if students have a video they have saved in MP4 format, they can submit that video in a Google Form. 

Recently a colleague and I were having a conversation about how students often learn better from one another and how peer tutors can really boost another student's confidence and willingness to try.  As I was reflecting on our conversation, I suddenly had an idea of how I might foster peer tutoring creatively in a classroom.  My idea is to have students show answers to questions the teacher gives them and record their responses to share out in a common place for all of their classmates to see. It would work something like this. . . .  First each student would get a different question to answer (math problem, grammar question, review question etc.)  Next, each student would use a site like Ziteboard.com  to upload a picture (or multiple pictures) of the question or problem. It could be a picture of the actual work that the student has done. Ziteboard will allow the students to annotate and mark up the picture. Then, the student would use ...

Greetings friends, I've missed you! With taking on several new adventures in November and December, I have not had the chance to blog lately. I taught a technology course for our local cohort and also became a technology online coach for ISTE and the VMLA (Verizon Mobile Learning Academy). Along with these two weekly commitments I also attended and presented at a local conference (SLATE) and kept up with the daily tasks of being a technology integration specialist which includes managing Chromebook issues, creating and maintaining a high school Makerspace and often teaching in classrooms. Thanks for understanding my absence from blogging lately. The holidays are over and they sure were good to me. I received many fabulous technology related gifts that I would like to share with you. First off, I am now the owner of the Amazon Echo Dot. Thank you Santa! Echo is a hands-free, voice controlled device that uses voice recognition to perform commands. I ask my Echo Dot to play m...