Katie Simmons' Blog

Takeaways           I had two big takeaways from this course.  The first was the differentiated assignment, and the second was the research paper. Differentiated Assignment           At first I was very reluctant to complete this assignment.  I always have a difficult time creating a differentiated assignment for a course.  It seems much more natural while in the classroom with students.  Howeve r, I utilize d tech tools that I found quick and easy to complete the assignment. The first was a built in feature through Google Docs that allows you to translate an entire Google Doc.  This feature is useful for students or parents who need a translated copy of a document. The second was a hyperdoc that allowed students to have a chunked copy of the project.  The chunked version is less overwhelming because they can only see a portion at a time. The third was a mind mapping tool such as  coggle...

Resources Learning Management System Roadmap Video Explanation Reflection         I really enjoyed this section of the course because I was able to refocus my classroom materials and make them more user friendly for my students.  In the past, I spent a lot of time creating a Google Calendar that was linked to my Google Site.  However, very few of my students referenced the calendar.  Instead, they would regularly access Google Classroom and my unit assignment sheet (see roadmap) for all their information.  This course allowed me to take the time to simplify all of that information to a simple Google Site with a link to each of the "roadmaps" or each of the Unit Overviews for the school year.  Rather than accessing my website, google drive, and numerous other locations for materials, everything can be accessed though the Unit Overview which is posted on my website and on Google Classroom.           I al...

Resource            Open Education Resource (Module 4) Reflection           The Open Education Resource is a great resource for my students because it is linked directly to the common core standards.  The resources can be searched by standard, and they include premade, editable worksheets that can be distributed to students.  The activities include discovery and inquiry based activities that students can manipulate on their chromebooks.  Since my classes will be 1:1 next year, this will be a great way for my students to explore the topics in a hands on manner.  I used the following resource in my eLearning Unit:  Polygon Transformations .           The Open Education Resource also integrates directly with Google Classroom.  When I can share a resource though Google Classroom, it makes the activity go so much smoother because my students don't become frustrated ...

Takeaways           I had two big takeaways from this course.  The first was the open- educational resources, and the second was the student orientation/ road map. Open- Educational Resources           I really like how the open- educational resources are free and can be accessed on a chromebook.  I experimented with a similar resource last year, but it was very expensive, and my students could only access it for five minutes at a time (in the free version).  I also love how it integrates directly with google docs and google classroom.  I have found that I am most successful when I use as few login platforms as possible.  My students will be able to start the activity quickly and easily through google classroom. Student Orientation/ Road Map I also really liked creating my student orientation/ roadmap.  You can view my website at bit.ly/nvhs-simmons .  I created a simple google sit...

Research has shown that students succeed when information is presented in various ways and in ways that reach their individual learning styles.  We should prepare our students for standardized assessments, such as the SAT in a similar way.  Most test preparation programs have students complete practice problems from a book in a set amount of time and then the answers to the test questions are reviewed.  This method doesn’t engage students, and it doesn’t cater towards students who have other study preferences.  Using a web based program easily adds engagement and personalization to a student’s study program. Khan Academy is a web based, free program that provides students with a variety of study methods.  However, using a program that offers many approaches may require some trial and error.  Khan Academy (2017) suggests giving students “at least three months to prepare for a standardized assessment so that they are comfortable with the...

Hello Everyone!  My name is Katie Simmons, and I am entering my 4th year at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, IL.  Next year I will be teaching Geometry, Algebra 2, and Honors Precalculus.  Last year 3 of my classes were 1:1, and I loved the opportunities that it opened for my students.  My favorite tools were Desmos and Google Classroom.  I am excited for next year when our whole school will be one to one. I am completing this course in order to obtain an Instructional Technology Endorsement and a Master's from St. Francis.  These courses as well as courses I have taken through EdTech have been very helpful by allowing me to practice using various technology tools that I can integrate into my classroom in order to enhance instruction. Feel free to follow me on Twitter: @nvhs_simmons