28 Days of OLLIE Features: Thomas Griffin

During the first few days of the 28 Days of OLLIE we are featuring Thomas Griffin. Thomas is an instructional coach and social studies teacher at Johnston High School, in Johnston Iowa. Thomas is piloting a year long, junior US history course.

Over the next few days, check out the community here and hear Thomas:

• Describe his blended learning instruction
• Reflect on his blended learning instruction
• Discuss how he ensures that learning is happening
• Share how he grades students
• Talk about how he models learning to students

28 Days of OLLIE Begins Feb. 1

February 2018, marks AEA Learning Online’s fourth annual   28 Days of Online Learning forIowa Educators (28 Days of  OLLIE). During this year’s month-long event we will be hearing from Iowa teachers who are blending their instruction and administrators who are supporting blended learning in their schools. Throughout the month watch for videos that highlight these teachers and their blended learning practices, reflections on blended learning, and their plans for the future.

• Week 1 will focus on Thomas Griffin’s high school blended social studies class in Johnston.
• Week 2 will focus on Brianne Barr’s fourth grade classroom in Davenport.
• Week 3 will focus on the Indianola School district. We will hear Kim Grissom share about their 9th grade English students. During the second half of the week we will also hear from Indianola administrators how the Indianola school district is building a comprehensive online program.
• Week 4 will focus on Megan Deyen’s fourth-grade math class in Johnston.

To cap the week off the 28 Days will conclude with innovative and practical ideas on how you can get started blending learning for your students.

To participate in the 28 Days of OLLIE, join the community found here. Once you have joined the community, you will receive an email notifications for posting that are occurring in the OLLIE community. Please be sure to join in the conversation by posting comments or questions related to the videos that are being shared in the community.

And follow AEA Learning Online on Facebook and Twitter. 

Orthopedic Surgeon, Structure of the Eye, and Skeletal System Modules Added to the Student Personalized Learning System

Today we have student guest bloggers.  Atul Chandran, Cassidy Poage, Kayla Nine, Mady Malone, Ava Nelson, Katia Wilson, Bella Anania, Ben Parks, Evian Peterson, and Asher Hutchinson who represent their teams from Waukee High School’s Aspiring Professional Experiences Program (APEX) who have been working on creating health and medical content  for teachers and students in AEA Learning Online's Student Personalized Learning System. AEA Learning Online thanks leads Atul Chandran, Mady Malone,  Evian Peterson and their teams and their instructors Ryan Lensing and Cyndi Snell for their hard work on these modules.

 The Health Sciences and Medicine class of Waukee APEX (Aspiring Professional Experience) is proud to share with you the work we have done on the Orthopedic Surgeon profession, Structure of the Eye and Anatomy of the Skeletal System placed in the Student Personalized Learning System.  Our group has created content that educates students about the following content.

Teachers and students can now check out modules

• Orthopedic Surgeon: After completing this module you will

1. know what an orthopedic surgeon does
2. know what orthopedic surgeons specialize in
3. understand the education requirements to become an orthopedic surgeon

• Structure of the Eye: This module includes information on all aspects of the eye such as…
1. The Function of the eye, here we cover what the eye does for the human and how it interacts with other parts of the body.
2. Structure of the eye, here we cover what different parts of the eye do and where they are located.
3. Pathway of the eye, here we cover the parts of the eye that are directly related with how we see and interpret image.
4. Basic diseases of and correction of the eye: In this module, you will learn about the basic diseases in eye’s that can happen at birth or develop as you grow. You will also learn how to correct these diseases.
• Anatomy of the Skeletal System: This module gives users an in-depth glance at the functions and parts of the skeletal system.
1. In the module we have defined the 4 main functions of the skeletal system, which are key in maintaining bodily skeletal health.
2. Our module gives detailed information on the different regions of the skeletal system, explaining the uses of each region, and describing the parts that make up each one.
3. Our module includes interactive games and quizzes that can be used to benefit users, helping them to demonstrate their newfound knowledge.

To learn more about these modules, you can visit http://learning.aeak12online.org/ and click on Catalog and then Science.

Teacher's Softchalk Lessons Chosen as Lesson of the Week.

Congratulations to Kyle Berg, high school Social Studies teacher from Indianola whose Softchalk lesson " New Deal Government Intervention " was chosen as Softchalk's Lesson of the Week.  In this Lesson students learn about some of the responses FDR took to battling the Great Depression and are asked to determine which system they believe would work the best if we faced another depression in modern times.  Kyle previously had another Softchalk Lesson of the week titled "Cuban Missile Crisis"

Congratulations to Troy Staudt, technology teacher at Gilbert Middle School,  whose Softchalk lesson "App Developer: Athletics and Body Systems " was also chosen as Softchalk's Lesson of the Week.  This lesson serves as the instructions for a project where students design the concept for an app about human body systems.



Each week Softchalk selects a stand out, top notch, lesson from SoftChalk Share and feature it across thjeir social media platforms. SoftChalk Share is an Open Education Resource (OER), learning object repository with thousands of free learning materials created by educators.

Softchalk is available at not cost to Iowa teachers teaching in the State of Iowa. If you are interested in learning more about this tool and getting access to it, contact us via email at eabbey@aealearningonline.org, dkrefting@aealearningonline.org or mwicklund@aealearningonline.org.

You can learn more about using Softchalk and blending your classroom in our Blending/Flipping Your Classroom cohort professional development.  Learn more about this professional development at https://instructor20.wixsite.com/aealearningonlinebf.

Energy Modules Added to the Student Personalized Learning System

Today we have student guest bloggers.  Alex Zarkowski, Jack Sieleman and Dakotah Herr represent their teams from Waukee High School’s Aspiring Professional Experiences Program (APEX) who have been working on creating energy content  for teachers and students in AEA Learning Online's Student Personalized Learning System. AEA Learning Online thanks leads Alex Zarkowski, Jack Sieleman and Dakotah Herr,  their teams and their teacher Tyler Wright for their hard work on these modules.

Top row, left to right: Esmer Sefic, Alex Zarkowski, Jack Sieleman, Nick Murphy

Middle row, left to right: Tanner Stumpf, Dakotah Herr, Jared Johnson, Tyler Wright

Bottom Row, left to right: Chris Dudley, Rileigh Dodd, Josh Eubanks, Matt Huck

_________________

The Next Generation Energy class of Waukee APEX (Aspiring Professional Experience) is proud to share with you the work we have done on energy placed in the Student Personalized Learning System.  Our group has created content that educates students about the following types of energy.
Students can now check out modules

• Nuclear Fusion: The sun is the ultimate producer of energy, creating so much that it makes Earth’s production of energy look miniscule. How does it do this? But more importantly, can we somehow replicate it on Earth to help our energy crisis? In this module, you will learn about the Process of Fusion, the development of machines such as a Tokamak and the Large Hadron Collider, and of a project called ITER that will be the bases for understanding the power of Nuclear Fusion along with harnessing it on Earth.
• Energy Storage: As our society continues to progress into the silicon age, the demand for energy is increasing exponentially. As engineers worldwide develop and improve renewable and alternative energy production methods, dependence on a constant source of energy is becoming evermore crucial to avoiding chaos. In this module, you will learn about the technology of how energy is stored, as well as discuss a variety of different applications and options for energy storage.
• Consumer Level Alternative Energy: Have you ever considered how much it costs for your everyday appliances to run? What about the fossil fuels that are emitted? In this module you will learn about about two of the main consumer level alternative energies, wind and solar. You will also gain an understanding of tax incentives and return on investment through web based learning and different interactives within this module. Consumers are an essential part of the ever changing alternative energy movement. 
   

  
To learn more about these modules, you can visit http://learning.aeak12online.org/ click on catalog then Science and the tab Statewide.

Teachers at Mississippi Bend AEA Complete Blending Flipping Cohort

Congratulations to these teachers from Davenport and North Scott who have completed the 4 courses in the Blending Flipping in your Classroom Cohort.   Left to Right are Robert Reppert (MBAEA Instructional Technologist), Kristi Schreffler, Bryan Braack, Tifini Foglesong, Joan Walton, Emily Meyer, Heather Whitman, Mike Radue, Noel Hansen, Shawn Dykstra, Lori Blocker, Jennifer Van Fleet, Marguerite Dasso, Kimberly Foley-Sharp and Denise Krefting( AEA Learning Online Blend Flip Instructor).  Not pictured Kathrine Rogers and Melissa Wicklund ( AEA Learning Online Blend Flip Instructor- although she is on the monitor in the background.) .

These classes which are offered at several AEAs and even as PD for school districts (such as Davenport) are : Blending/ Flipping Your Classroom 1: Introduction (Elementary and a Secondary version), Blending/Flipping 2- Blended Instruction (Elementary and a Secondary version), Blending/Flipping Your Classroom 3: Designing Online Lessons and Blending/Flipping 4: Activities and Assessment.  They are offered for license renewal credit, graduate credit or no credit depending on what credit type the participant is interested in.  6 of these credits also qualify for the Drake Online Teaching Certificate.

If you are interested in learning more about the Blending Flipping in your Classroom Cohort you can check out this site or contact Denise Krefting, Melissa Wicklund or Craig Mohr at AEA Learning Online.

Professional Learning Course Boosts Technology Integration at AdairCasey/GuthrieCenter

In the 2015-16 school year, the Guthrie Center Community School District piloted personalized professional learning, allowing teachers to give input on how they spent their inservice time. Last year, in their first year of whole-grade sharing junior high and high school with Adair-Casey, all PK-12 teachers in both districts had the opportunity to choose the focus of their professional learning.

Their personalized learning plan had to be tied into a district or building goal, be collaborative and be approved by the curriculum director. The professional learning menu included an AEA Learning Online course, book study, site-based technology integration course and standards alignment. Because both districts have actively supported the infusion of technology in the classroom and have looked for ways to support teachers in these endeavors, approximately 2/3 of teachers in both districts enrolled in the tech integration course.

Your district can also support personalized professional learning with your staff using AEA Learning Online's teacher training system (as Adair Casey/Guthrie Center is doing). Contact Deborah Cleveland for assistance.

Life Saving E-curriculum Now Available

Healthy Kids’ Act requires that prior to graduation, a student in a school district or accredited nonpublic district must complete a course in CPR.

AEA Learning Online and the American Red Cross have partnered to bring this lifesaving e-curriculum to students across the state.

The two courses currently available include:

• Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Training
• Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Training

For more information about how to access and use this contact click here or contact cmohr@aealearningonline.org.

For information about the Iowa Healthy Kids Act CPR requirement, click here.

Indianola Teachers Complete Blending Flipping Cohort

Congratulations to these Indianola teachers who have completed the 4 courses in the Blending Flipping in your Classroom Cohort.   Left to Right are Zach Kaczmarek, Ali Sauter (technology integrationist and co-teacher for the Indianola BF Cohort), Christina Fitzpatrick, Lisa Butler-Msuya, Amy Edwards, Kim Grissom, Leigh Bellville, Kyle Berg, Jessica Hazelton and Denise Krefting( AEA Learning Online Blend Flip Instructor)

These classes which are offered at several AEAs and even as PD for school districts (such as Indianola) are : Blending/ Flipping Your Classroom 1: Introduction (Elementary and a Secondary version), Blending/Flipping 2- Blended Instruction (Elementary and a Secondary version), Blending/Flipping Your Classroom 3: Designing Online Lessons and Blending/Flipping 4: Activities and Assessment.  They are offered for license renewal credit, graduate credit or no credit depending on what credit type the participant is interested in.  6 of these credits also qualify for the Drake Online Teaching Certificate.

If you are interested in learning more about the Blending Flipping in your Classroom Cohort you can check out this site or contact Denise Krefting, Melissa Wicklund or Craig Mohr at AEA Learning Online.

Iowa Science Coaches Network

Who We Are?

We are a network of instructional coaches who are committed to supporting science teaching in learning that is focused on engaging students in Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts.

3 Reasons to Become a Member

1. Learn about how to support teachers in ways that are specific to the science standards and the Science and Engineering Practices/Crosscutting Concepts.
2. Access to resources related to coaching and providing professional learning to teachers
3. Ongoing dialog among coaches focused on timely and relevant questions posed by network members.

Want to find out more?

To learn more about the community check out our website here or follow us on Twitter @SSS

Evan Abbey Receives 2017 ITEC State Technology Leadership Award

Congratulations to Evan Abbey, project director, AEA Learning Online, who received the 2017 Iowa

Technology and Education Connection (ITEC) State Technology Leadership Award during the ITEC Conference opening ceremonies held on Monday, Oct. 15, 2017. The conference is held at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.    

Evan has been the project director for AEA Learning Online since February 2010. His background includes positions as a Professional Learning and Leadership consultant at Heartland AEA; high school principal, Grinnell CSD; director of technology, Howard-Winneshiek CSD; high school language arts teacher, Postville CSD; and ms/hs language arts teacher, North Winneshiek CSD.

AEA Learning Online offers online learning opportunities, which include Professional Learning for educators and K-12 Online Resources for students.

Abbey said, “AEA Learning Online prides itself in its excellent staff who have a reputation for working with districts to creatively meet their needs.”

Congratulations, Evan!

Tap into IPTV LearningMedia

IPTV has hundreds of resources that you can use with students. To assist you in tapping into all that IPTV has to offer we have partnered with IPTV to create the PBS LearningMedia Overview. 

IPTV and AEA Learning Online are excited to offer the "PBS LearningMedia Overview" online module. This overview module introduces teachers to the great tools and resources available through the free-online service, PBS LearningMedia. This module is free for all teachers in public and non-public schools and participants are able to earn a certificate upon completion.  To access this module:

1 Go to http://training.aealearningonline.org

2 Log in

3 Select “catalog”

4 Search “IPTV”

5 Select “register”