In this episode we continue our monthly theme of ACCESSIBILITY as we gear up for Global Accessibility Awareness Day at the beginning of May.  Mandie Thompson, instructional coach at LMS and member of the Inclusionary Practices Project with your host, joins the discussion as we talk about the importance of making our content accessible from the start.  We also discuss some basic tips and guidelines for making content accessible like the POUR principles and using SLIDE.

Links:

• Building Accessible Content One-Pager

• AEM Center: Access to Learning 

• WebAIM

• WebAIM Color Contrast Checker

In this episode we continue our monthly theme of ACCESSIBILITY as we gear up for Global Accessibility Awareness Day at the beginning of May.  We connect with a special education teacher in the Camas School District and a mother of a student with disabilities from the Evergreen School District, both of whom are members of the state's Inclusionary Practices Project and Special Education Support Center.  We discuss the importance of accessibility features to give students the ability to access content and tasks as well as build confidence and independence both inside and outside the classroom.

Links:

• AEM Center: Access to Learning
• Accessibility Features Video Tutorials
• Chromebook Accessibility Features Document
• Accessibility Features Resource
• Chromebook Accessibility

In this episode we kick-off our new monthly theme of ACCESSIBILITY as we gear up for Global Accessibility Awareness Day at the beginning of May.  We check in with Anna Leeper and Felicia Barkell with special services on what accessibility means and how it applies in school settings.

Links:

• AEM Center: Access to Learning
• Disability Discrimination and Employment Decisions
• About IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Section 508 Compliance
• WAC 392-172A-02015
• RCW 49.60.030
• RCW 70.84.010

In this episode we close out our monthly theme on gamification and game-based learning in schools to connect with esports and how valuable esports is as an opportunity for our students. Our district's esports coaches Rob Pollock and Simeon Redberg join this episode. We discuss what esports look like and the various roles involved, our current esports teams and events, and the great opportunities available to our students through esports with scholarships, future jobs, and the skills they build and connections they make.

NOTE: We recorded this episode prior to the big district rivalry matchup for Super Smash Bros. and we discuss it as upcoming. PHS won 2-1 in a close match.  Check out both school's Twitch stream channels below to watch future matches.

Links:

• PHS Twitch Channel
• BGHS Twitch Channel
• Esports Education Network
• High School Esports League

In this episode we continue our monthly theme of gamification and game-based learning.  We pick up on our conversation with Sara Gillihan and Eric Anderson, 4th grade teachers from Maple Grove, from last week to discuss how they have gamified their whole classes from academics to classroom management using platforms like Classcraft, Class Dojo, and Freckle.  

Links:

• Classcraft

• Class Dojo

• Freckle

• EDrenaline Rush

• EMC2 Learning   

• Classroom PowerUps

In this episode we continue our monthly theme of gamification and game-based learning.  We discuss ideas for starting out with gamification/GBL by focusing on a lesson, unit, or project.  Sara Gillihan and Eric Anderson, 4th grade teachers from Maple Grove, join the conversation to discuss how they have gamified lessons, projects, and incorporated games in their classes.  We specifically highlight Breakout EDU as a great option for starting out.

Links:

• Classcraft
• EDrenaline Rush
• EMC2 Learning   
• Classroom PowerUps
• BreakoutEDU Help Center
• EdTech Kits

In this episode we kick off our new monthy theme of gamification!  We connect with two experts in gamification and game-based learning from around the state of Washington, Tammie Schrader and Al Gonzalez.  Both have presented on gamification topics at various edtech conferences and currently lead statewide training courses on gamification and game-based learning in WA.  We discuss tips for starting out with gamification and GBL and some of our experiences with both in the classroom.

Links:

• WEA STEM/Gamification/GBL Courses

• Classcraft

• Managing Game-Based Learning in the Classroom

• The fastest growing demographic for video games may surprise you! | Tammie Schrader | TEDxSpokane

• EDrenaline Rush

• EMC2 Learning   

In this episode we close out our new monthy theme of PLCs.  Mandie Thompson, instructional coach, and Sarah Rhodes, 8th grade teacher, return to the podcast to discuss the importance of data analysis.  We discuss the benefits of analyzing our data for data-based instructional decisions through our PLC collaboration as well as ways to streamline our analysis with tech tools like Google Sheets.

Links:

• Google Sheets Video Tutorials

• PLC Data Analysis Materials 

• Autocrat Video Tutorials

In this episode we continue our monthy theme of PLCs and specifically focus on data collection.  Cindy Viall, special education teacher, and Kim Kellstadt, special education instructional coach, join the converstation to discuss data collection methods, tips, and ways to use digital tools to streamline data collection in the classroom.

Links:

• How to Use Google's QR Code Generator

• PLC Data Analysis Materials 

• ABC Data Chart

• Duration Chart

• Frequency Chart

In this episode we continue our monthy theme of PLCs and specifically how our essential standards work fits into our PLC discussions.  Angela Minick and Kendra Vaught, instructional coaches in our district, join the episode to talk about our essential standards project so far, why it's so important, and how it fits into the bigger PLC picture.

Links:

• How to Hide and Unhide a Shared Drive
• Current District Essential Standards