6 Reasons to Visit Tech with Jen

Hey everyone! Hope all is well with you on this wonderful Veterans Day morning. It has been awhile since I have written a post so I thought I would share the exciting things I have been working on at my new site Tech with Jen. First of all, I decided to move my blog from Blogger to Wordpress. I have spent most of the summer learning more about the blogging world and based on what I read felt it best to make the switch. However, it wasn't exactly easy so I had to have someone do it for me. She did a fabulous job making sure everything from my old blog was transferred over.

The next thing I wanted to do was have an actual homepage in which I shared information about my site. I have added a lot of new features for my readers that include the following:

1. I have created my own online store! It is pretty exciting and people seem to be enjoying it. Right now all I have available are freebies, but who doesn't like a freebie. You will want to check it out because I have several things that will interest you TODAY! There is a great Veterans Day mini-unit as well as a few fall and Christmas freebies. Click on the picture below to learn more.

2. I have also added a couple of pages for those of you who might be interested in my help. I have talked to a lot of teachers across the country and many of them tell me they do not have anyone to help them learn how to use technology in the classroom. You may remember I asked if anyone had questions for me related to technology. I had a lot of response and tried to write some type of blog post and email you to let you know I tried to answer your questions. I really enjoy helping people learn how to use technology and have started coaching a few teachers online. I have helped teachers make QR codes, create iBooks with iBooks Author, as well as help teachers interested in starting their own online store. If you are interested in learning more about how I might be able to help you, click here.

3. Have you ever been a guest blogger? I am on the lookout for people who might be interested in guest blogging on my site. I am looking for teachers who enjoy using technology in the classroom with their students and want to tell the world about all of the fabulous things happening in their classroom. If you are interested, all you need to do is fill out this form and I will get back with you.

4. Another opportunity I have added to my site is my "Lesson Ideas" section. I am always on the lookout for new ways to help teachers. I know many of you really do not enjoy creating your own stuff or may not even know how. So I would love to help you out. If you have an idea of something you would like me to create please complete this request form. If your idea is chosen, I will send the product to you for free.

5.  Need ideas for great apps in the classroom? I have created a new eBook of Apps for the readers of my blog. Many people have asked me over the years if I had a list of my favorite apps handy. I have always wanted to make this list and finally made myself sit down and create it. I decided to offer this FREE eBook to those readers who subscribe to my monthly newsletter. If you would like a copy just click on the picture below.

6. The last thing I want to share with you is my "Be Appy Monday" series. Every Monday I will be sharing with my readers tips and lesson ideas for using an app in the classroom. So far I have shared the app Book Writer and Snapguide. If you are interested in having access to my "Be Appy Monday" series just click on the picture below to subscribe.

There are a lot more exciting things coming to my new site such as online courses and more free resources so be sure to check it out. You can sign up via email alerts or simply subscribe. I know technology is being used in the classroom like never before and I want to help you on your journey. I would love to hear what you think about my new site and always appreciate comments and suggestions. Hope you have a great day and remember to thank a Veteran today for their service to our country!

Augmented Reality is Cool

I am so excited to show you something I learned with Nancy Alvarez, author extraordinaire, on the Who's Who blog at the Technopalooza conference. Several weeks ago I flew to Texas to present at a conference. My session was on augmented reality. Haven't heard of AR? Well there are a lot of great resources and apps on the market. At its core, AR is when you scan a "trigger image" and some type of overlay appears on your device. It might be a picture, a video, or even some type of 3D image. I like to think of it as QR codes on steroids.We presented on augmented reality and I made some nursery rhyme AR dice. When I arrived in Texas, I realized I forgot to bring my scissors and tape. I needed them to cut out my AR paper dice I had made for my session. I didn't want my paper dice to get damaged on the flight. So at the conference, someone showed Nancy a fabulous idea for creating my dice using a wooden block and Mod Podge. So you might be thinking, "What does this wooden block have to do with AR?" Well rather than tell you let me show you.

Really cool, huh? If you are interested in learning how to make your own AR resources check out my Google site. If you would like the trigger images shown in the video you can click here. Hope this information helps you! I love to share ideas for using technology in the classroom. Come visit me sometime @Tech with Jen.

Teacher Training Bootcamp

Happy Easter, everyone! I hope this day finds you happy, healthy, and enjoying time with your family.

If you will recall from my previous posts {here} and {here}, I offered help in providing tips of how to infuse technology into the classroom. I have had several people respond to my offer and it really means a lot to me to help in this way. I know from experience technology is not going to revolutionize education, but when technologies are being used by the extraordinary talents of teachers, great things can happen. This is why I am so passionate about getting the word out. Technology does make a difference!

Many of you were interested in learning more about Google Apps for Education (GAFE). This is why I started a new project, with some extraordinary teachers, called Teacher Training Bootcamp. The first edition of the blog series is to share what we are learning as we go through the process of becoming Google Certified. So far we have shared about Gmail, Calendar, and Google Drive. Our next topic will be Google Sites. 

Our first tip was using Gmail. There are a lot of ways to use this remarkable tool besides sending email. For example, have you ever heard of Google Voice? Did you know you can chat or have Google Hangouts with colleagues and students as part of your Gmail account? You can also learn about using Google tasks and other tips to keep you organized and on top of your game. Click {here} to learn more.

How do you stay on top of your busy, hectic schedule? Google calendar makes it super easy to stay connected. Did you know it's possible to create multiple calendars to share with other people including parents and students? Some even use the calendar to create lesson plans. Click here to check out all of the posts about how Google calendar can help you.

Our latest posts have been all about Google Drive. To be honest, we should have dedicated Google Drive to three or four posts. I had a lot of people ask me how to use Drive for primary students. So my post was all about how to create quizzes for young students using images and page breaks. Other topics discussed were creating forms, sharing folders, embedding forms in your Google site, and much more. Click {here} to read all about how Google Drive can help you.

The great thing about this blog series is you can join in on the fun too! Feel free to link up with us if you have written or would like to write about the topics below. Here is the schedule:

Our next series will be about iPad apps in the classroom. What other topics would you like to learn more to will help you turn an ordinary day of teaching into an extraordinary one?

Ten Ways to Use QR Codes in the Classroom with Online Tutorials

I am so excited to be writing my second blog post of the year on this wonderful blog. During my last post, you may remember that I offered to be your "virtual coach". I had several people who were interested in learning more about how to use QR codes in daily routines as well as how to create these cute little things. I decided to provide you with 10 ways to use QR codes in the classroom as well as step by step tutorials to help you get started. At the end of this post, you will find links to all of the resources discussed..

#1 - One of my favorite ways to use QR codes is to assist students in linking to websites for research purposes. Here is a picture of a kindergarten student trying out my American symbol research unit. Each day students learn about a different symbol. The first QR code sends students to images of the symbol to save to their camera roll and the other code sends them to a video to learn more about the symbol. Students then write, draw, or explain what they learned about the symbol by adding the information to their American symbol book using the Book Creator app. While this little unit is not quite ready for public viewing, I do have a butterfly research project that is similar. If you only have one iPad in your classroom, I always provide alternatives for student projects. Rather than creating  research booklets using Book Creator, students have a hard copy to write on.

#2 - Another way I have used QR codes in the classroom is by using them for app smashing. During my Me on the Map geography unit, students use QR codes and Google Earth. Students take screenshots from Google Earth and then transfer their pictures to Pic Collage to create a collage that matches the pictures taken to the vocabulary students are learning from the unit. This is a great way to teach vocabulary to students and use multiple apps at the same time. Also known as an app smash.

#3 - Have you ever thought about using QR codes for behavior management? I created a behavior management system for one of my teachers and her students absolutely love it! QR codes are only one part of the system but allowing students to use the iPad can have a huge impact on student behavior and engagement.

#4 - In 21st century classrooms, it is important that we start thinking of ways to save students' online work. There are several ways to create digital portfolios but in the example below students add their best work to their blog. When the QR code is scanned from their display it takes the reader to their homepage with all of their projects.

These are ways that I have used QR codes but I asked teachers on my Facebook pages how they use QR codes in the classroom and here are some of their responses:

#5 - Kimberly said she has her kindergarten kids scan CVC words. Then they have to read/blend and draw a picture of the word. For math, she has her students scan a number and then fill out a 10 frame to match.

#6 - Brittany said she has QR codes in a listening center. Students love to scan the QR code to listen to a story read aloud or watch a short video of the book.

#7 - Deniece uses QR codes for scavenger hunts. Stations are set up around the room that have questions students answer about a specific topic and then scan to find the answer.

#8 - Cassie uses QR codes in her centers for students to find rhyming words and to solve math word problems. 

#9 - What about QR codes for mother's day? Jude says she uses them for mother's day presents. Students record a nice video for their moms. What a great gift!

#10 - One really great idea was from one of my model classroom teachers. Amanda suggested creating QR codes to direct administrators to lesson plans rather than having to print them off. She also thought it would be great to provide a QR code that would link to a Google form to allow the administrators to leave feedback of their visit. The feedback would be sent to a spreadsheet that is shared among the administrators and the teacher. Isn't that a great idea?

So there you have it...10 ways to use QR codes in the classroom. However, I know for some of you you are thinking, "The ideas are great but I have no idea how to make this work in the classroom." Well have no fear, I have created how-to videos to help you get started. I found this nifty little tool the other day called Minilogs. I thought it would be a great way to share the videos and resources I have created for using QR codes in the classroom. Just click on the play button to get started.

If after you have read this post, checked out the resources I provided and you still feel you need more assistance, just click on the picture below to let me know what your needs are and I will do what I can to help.

How do you use QR codes in the classroom? I would love to hear other ideas.

The SAMR Model: Helping Teachers Redefine Classroom Practice

Hello friends! I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful community of bloggers that Hilary has put together. I have so enjoyed reading all of the amazing ideas over the past couple of weeks and have found myself wondering what I would share with all of you. I guess the first thing I need to do is introduce myself.

I am Jennifer from the blog Tech with Jen. I have been an educator for the past 17 years and have taught 1st and 2nd grade for eleven and a literacy coach for four. For the past two years, I have been an instructional technology facilitator for all twelve of my district's K-5 elementary schools. My job is so much fun because I have twenty-five 1:1 iPad classrooms that I work with on a daily basis. I always say I am like grandma. I get to come into the classroom and bring a bunch of fun toys to the students and then when I have them all "wired up" I can leave them with their teacher! Many students call me the iPad Lady. Doesn't that sound like fun? Another part of my job is to provide professional development for the teachers in our district who are not 1:1 of how to integrate technology into the curriculum and in the computer labs. 

So now that you know a little bit about me and my position I thought I would explain an idea I had for writing my blog and other social media posts that involve you, the reader. First of all, my goal for all of my social media sites is to help the reader with ideas for using technology AND to provide tutorials of how to take the idea into practice. My ideas come in the form of how-to videos, products to sell, or a variety of freebies and links to other sites through Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. The great thing about technology is that I can be your technology coach from anywhere in the world. I could be your "Virtual Coach". So I thought I would provide coaching tips when writing my posts based on your questions. I created a Google form that you can fill out by clicking on the picture at the bottom of this post. It will only take a second to let me know what your needs are and how I can help you. If your district is anything like mine, I know first hand the pressures that many teachers are facing to learn 21st century skills to ready students for the CCSS.

For my first coaching tip, I thought I would help you get started on your journey of using technology in the classroom. When working with teachers and students in the use of technology it is always important to start small. I like to use the "SAMR Model" as a reference. The model was developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, Ph.D. to help educators integrate technology into teaching and learning. The purpose of the model is to assist teachers in designing and developing lessons that utilize technology to transform the learning experiences for their students. It is a road map that guides the educator to the ultimate destination, which is redefining teaching and learning. Below is a graphic I created that illustrates this concept with iPad apps. Although the concept can be transferred to any type of technology. 

One thing I want to make clear is that even though I tend to write more about iPad apps, I can help you with other technology tools such as Web 2.0 or GAFE (Google Apps for Education). So please feel free to ask me anything. If I don't know the answer I will just ask my readers. Someone should be able to help you. I hope that you will take the time to fill out the Google form below and let me assist you with all of your technology needs. I look forward to helping all of you!