top of page

Professional Development

By utilizing the Microsoft Educator Center, teachers can become more informed in the upcoming technology and how it can be used in the classroom. By continuing different technology learning paths, teachers can eventually become certified in Microsoft.

By utilizing the Google Fundamentals Training, teachers can become more informed about the different ways they can use Google for their classroom to better the learning of their students. By completing all the Google Fundamentals Training, teachers can become certified in Google.

Learning Path: "Riding the Wakelet Wave"

What is Wakelet?

A free content platform to share, organize, and sort content across the interenet

How to Create an Account

  1. Sign Up

  2. Create a Username

  3. Pick What Describes You

  4. Add the Extension 

  5. Personalize Profile (Profile Image, Cover Image, Bio)

  6. Organize Content in Sections

How to Create a Collection

  1. Press "Create Collection"

  2. Title the Collection and Give it a Background/Cover Image 

  3. Add a Description 

  4. Add Content Pertaining to the Topic 

Links, YouTube Videos, Text, Images, PDFs, Tweets, Links

Screenshot 2023-11-03 114836_edited.jpg
Uses For Educators

  1. Digital Backpacks

  2. Portfolios

  3. Lesson Plans

  4. Newsletters

  5. Meet the Teacher

  6. Virtual Library

  7. Virtual Fieldtrips

  8. Book Reviews

  9. Professional Development

  10. Work Submissions 

  11. Research

  12. Homework Assignments

  1.  Share via QR Code, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Twitter, Remind, Reddit, Facebook 

  2. Copy link and send link

  3. Export as a PDF or Embedded Collection

Sharing
How to Create a Space

  1. Press the Plus Button, Add Space

  2. Customize Title and Background/Cover Image

  3. Press "Create a Collection" to create collection in the Space or Add other Collections to Space

Ideas for Spaces

Virtual Learning Environments, Book Clubs, Class Groups, Collaborative Projects, PLN Groups, Organizing Collections 

Work as a Team

  1. Invite Members by the Invite Code 

  2. Invite Students to be able to Submit Work through Wakelet

Join the Community

#WakeletWave

Live Team Webinars

​

Wakelet Learn Page

Educator Templates

Screenshot 2023-11-03 114849_edited.jpg
image.png
image.png
What is AI?

The ability of a computer or other machine to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence 

Benefits 

  1. Personalize Learning 

  2. Engage Learners

  3. Analyze Data Efficiently

  4. Improve Accessibility

  5. Create Custom Content

  6. Improve Efficiency 

  7. Educate Learners for the Future

Learning Path: "Empower Educators to Explore the Potential of Artificial Intelligence"

What is Generative AI?

AI Sytems that are used to generate forms of novel output such as text, code, graphics, or audio â€‹

Large Language Models

AI Models like GPT-3 by Open AI that are trained on massive amount of texts and can develop human-like responses on the spot

AI Powered Image Generation

AI can be used to generate images from text

Uses 

Visual Storytelling, Concept Visualization, Art and Design Productions, Class Materials, Visual Communication 

Examples

Microsoft Designer

Ring Image Creator

Uses

Classification, Summarization, Translation, Content Generation, Dialogue

Screenshot 2023-11-05 114547_edited.jpg
Screenshot 2023-11-05 114605_edited.jpg
Tips for Writing Prompts

  • Be Specific

  • Use Right Models

  • Ask from the Point of View

  • Guide Model to Desired Length

Examples

Bing Chat

Chat GPT

new image_edited.jpg
image.png
image_edited.jpg
Detriments

  1. Not Always Accurate

  2. Can Help Students Cheat

  3. High Cost

  4. Requires Experience and Understanding

  5. Can causes Laziness

  1. Fairness 

  2. Reliability and Safety

  3. Privacy and Security

  4. Inclusiveness

  5. Transparency

  6. Accountability

6 Principles of AI Use
AI in the Classroom

  1. Improves accessibility and inclusion

  2. Can be used for Conversation, Meetings, and Live Broadcasts

  3. Can help Communication

  4. Used for Device Control

  5. Uses for Images and Surroundings

  6. Used to Operate Character Recognition

More Classroom Examples

Immersive Reader

Reading Coach

Screenshot 2023-11-03 105809.png
Microsoft Completed Learning Paths
 
image.png

Danielson Framework (FFT)

Domain 1: Planning and Preparation

AI can help in the creation of lesson plans and materials used in class with students.

It can be extremely useful when it comes to planning and preparing for class.

Slideshows can be made through AI as well which can help teachers to focus on other engaging materials instead of taking a lot more time to develop those reasources themselves.

Domain 2: Learning Environments

AI can also encourage the learning environments by the creation of different resources that can help students.

An example of this is that AI in Canva can be used to self create illustrations and posters that students can view and learn through. 

image.png

Google Fundamentals Training

  • Implementing technology in the classroom can help students to better connect with people in the workplace when they grow up.  

  • “Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals” is a group of tools for communication, collaboration, and collaboration for the classroom.  

  • “Google Drawings” allows students to express creativity by using shapes, images, and text.  

  • Google also has various textbook resources for different subjects that students can use in the classroom.  

Unit 1

Unit 2

  • The “Google Help Center” is a good tool to utilize that helps with any Google problems one might be experiencing.  

  • A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is a network of supportive people that allows you to connect with a variety of teachers from all over the education world.  

  • There are different types of Google Experts that you may have access to: Certified Trainers, Certified Innovators, Reference Schools, and Education Partners.  

Unit 3

  • In Google Drive if you “enable offline storage” the things that you are doing will save even if wifi cuts out. 

  • With tools such as “Google Docs and Google Sheets,” you can make less in person copies for students, saving paper and ink, and allow them to collaborate on projects via Google.  

  • “Google Forms” is a good way to assess students or even gain further information about students to understand them in the classroom in an “About Me” Assessment.  

Unit 4

  • Chat can be a useful feature for students to contact whoever they need to right in several google platforms.  

  • The search bar in Gmail can make it easier to find specific details that are in emails, to help with managing time.  

  • Google Sites can be used to share students work with the whole school community, and even design a teacher/student portfolio.

Unit 5

  • Google Calendar allows teachers to organize events and set reminders of things that need to be done.  

  • Google Tasks is an electronic version of “to-do” lists that can help both teachers and students to remember when things are due and stay organized.  

  • Google Keep allows for students and teachers to create bulleted lists of notes. 

Unit 6

  • Attaching a shared Google Doc for meetings can allow participants to follow along with the meeting agenda.  

  • Google Meet is a good platform to connect with collaborators with meeting virtually, it sounds very similar to “Zoom.” 

  • You can “add a video call meeting” to you and your colleagues calendar to remind them when virtual meetings are.  

image.png

Unit 7

  • Google Sheets can be used to measure student processes, by creating an electronic grading system.  

  • Google Forms can be used to collect attendance, assignments, behavior reports, or database of student and parent contact information.  

  • It is not only important to analyze student data by collecting it but also share it in meaningful ways.

Unit 8

  • Google Classroom is a useful tool to communicate with students, assign and collect work, and provide learning resources.  

  • Google classroom can help with student assignments by having everything in one place, just in case students forget what is said in class, they can access it at home.  

  • In Google Classroom, assignments can be collected much easier by students “turning them in” and then in the teachers view, grades can be given.  

  • Searching smart using Omnibox helps students to learn while using their time wisely. 

  • The keys to searching smartly are choosing the right search terms, understanding search results, and narrowing a search to get the best results.  

  • When Google searching, using modifiers, filters, and tools can help one get the best educational result.  

Unit 9

  • YouTube can be used in many different ways such as inspiring students, starting discussions, or even directly teaching a process, skill, or topic. 

  • Some useful educational YouTube channels include Khan Academy, Crash Course, Veritasium, and National Geographic. 

  • Some optimization features that can be used in the classroom include restricted mode, subtitles/closed captioning, view modes, and dealing with low bandwidth.  

Unit 12

  • Google Docs is a great collaboration tool because it allows for real-time editing and commenting.  

  • Checking the version history of changes in a document could help teachers see if all students contributed to a collaborative project. 

  • Google Keep can be used to keep virtual notes with collaborative groups in the Google Workspace.  

Unit 11

  • By inserting videos/images, and customizing slides, lessons can become more fun and engaging for students.  

  • Interactive content from the chrome web store can help students to better grasp concepts in the classroom.  

  • Google Earth is a 3D virtual globe which can help students understand different places n help students to understand different places around the world and geography.  

Unit 10

Unit 13

  • It’s important to teach students how to recognize scams and create strong passwords.  

  • To build residence online and deal with bullies students should understand that they: don’t respond, don’t retaliate, document it, block them online, and report them to an adult.  

  • Common Sense Media has a variety of resources on creating and facilitating effective teen panels.  

Teaching Elementary Mathematics Professional Deveolpment 

Five Principles of Extraordinary Math Teaching Summary 
Not a Math Person: How to Navigate Obstacles to Learning Math Article Summary 

Jo Boaler challenges the belief that some students are "math people" and others are not, advocating for a growth mindset in math education. She emphasizes the importance of visual, open-ended problems, mixed-ability groupings, and removing time pressure. Research shows that changing students’ attitudes about their abilities can significantly improve their performance, with evidence that all students can succeed in math when taught with the right methods. This approach leads to deeper understanding, not just rote memorization.

In his TED Talk, Five Principles of Extraordinary Math Teaching, Dan Finkel shares insights on how to make math education more engaging and effective for students. He highlights five key principles:

  1. Allow time for students to struggle: Finkel emphasizes that students need to experience the challenge of working through problems. This struggle helps them build perseverance and deepen their understanding. Teachers should avoid immediately stepping in to solve problems, instead offering supportive prompts when necessary to guide students through productive struggles.

  2. Say "yes" to students’ ideas: Math is a creative process, and students need room to explore their ideas, even if they’re initially incorrect. Finkel encourages teachers to support this creative thinking by validating students' ideas, allowing them to test and learn from them. This process helps foster intellectual growth and engagement.

  3. Don’t be the answer key: Rather than always providing the answers, teachers should guide students to discover solutions on their own. This approach builds their independent problem-solving skills and ensures they aren’t reliant on the teacher for every step, making learning more meaningful.

  4. Ask more questions: The power of inquiry is central to Finkel's approach. Teachers should start lessons with questions and allow students to ask and explore questions throughout the learning process. This encourages curiosity and keeps the learning experience dynamic and student-centered.

  5. Math is about exploration and play: Finkel believes that math should be fun and playful. By encouraging students to explore mathematical concepts like puzzles or games, they can develop a more intuitive and joyful relationship with the subject.

These principles aim to move away from rote memorization and toward a more dynamic, inquiry-based approach to math education, where students are empowered to discover, explore, and understand concepts deeply

Building Thinking Classrooms

In the webinar "What Thinking Classrooms Look and Feel Like," Judy Larsen discusses strategies for creating classrooms that foster deep thinking and active student engagement. Drawing on Dr. Peter Liljedahl's research, she highlights the importance of building spaces that encourage collaboration, inquiry, and independent problem-solving. The session explores how these environments support students in developing critical thinking skills necessary for both academic success and future citizenship.

​

Larsen also shares firsthand experiences from her own teaching and colleagues' practices, illustrating the shift in classroom dynamics when students are genuinely engaged in thinking. She emphasizes the difference between classrooms that stimulate thought and those that do not, urging educators to incorporate Dr. Liljedahl’s research-based principles to build more effective learning spaces.

Educational Networking 

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Using Platforms to Network

  • Wix: Build a professional website to showcase your teaching philosophy, creative lesson plans, and student activities. Include blogs or resources for other educators to download.

  • Instagram: Post images and videos of engaging classroom activities or math projects. Use hashtags like #MathTeacher, #ElementaryEducation, and #STEMLearning to reach a wider audience.

  • Facebook: Join educator-focused groups such as "Elementary Math Teachers" or "Creative Classroom Ideas" to participate in discussions and share resources.

  • Pinterest: Create curated boards for lesson plans, math manipulatives, and classroom organization. Pin your own materials from your Wix site to increase visibility.

Follow Relevant Organizations

  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM): Offers excellent resources, standards, and teaching ideas.

  • Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE): Focuses on professional growth and innovative teaching strategies.

  • National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP): Shares valuable resources for elementary education.

  • Local Education Agencies and State Departments: Stay updated on curriculum guidelines and new initiatives

Engage with Others

  • Instagram: Follow educators and influencers in math education. For example, check out @MathWithMeaning or @ElementaryMathLab for inspiration.

  • Facebook Groups: Contribute to conversations by sharing your insights or asking for advice on teaching strategies.

  • Pinterest Boards: Re-pin and comment on ideas from other educators to build relationships and show support.

Sharing my Own Journey

  • Documenting My Projects: Highlight lesson plans or creative activities (like your interactive pizza and pattern block lesson).

  • Write Blogs on Wix: Share reflections on teaching, innovative classroom ideas, or strategies for using manipulatives.

  • Visual Storytelling on Instagram and Pinterest: Use engaging visuals to make your lessons come to life and connect with others.

Utilize Resources

  • Facebook: Join professional groups for shared advice, like "Teachers Pay Teachers Math Ideas."

  • Pinterest: Use it as a digital library to collect and organize classroom tools and strategies.

  • Wix Blog: Link to helpful external resources or your personal teaching tools.

image.png
image.png
bottom of page