Day 28 (and a half)

Okay...I have to be honest. February is my least favorite month of the year...the weather...the post-holiday slump...etc. All that being said, the 28 Days of OLLIE has made my month much more enjoyable. It has been great getting to know all of you and learn with you. I'm excited to try out many of the things that were shared through out the month.

Day 28

As we wrap up the month, I do want to take a moment to get some feedback from you about the OLLIE community an the 28 Days. Please take a few minutes to complete the form found here and provide us with your thoughts so that we improve our facilitation of the community.

28 Days of OLLIE: Day 27

It's February 27 and we've covered a lot of ground. We've...

• become a community of learners
• investigated different learning management systems
• learned about different blended learning models
• attended the CITE Online Learning Conference
• dug deep into instructional objects
• explored how to flip your classroom
• discussed strategies for setting students up for success in online environments
• learned about text-based lessons and SoftChalk
• considered ways to personalize student learning using AEA PD Online's Student Personalized Learning System

Hopefully, you've found something valuable in each area of focus.

Day 27

Much of the 28 Days of OLLIE is what we consider informal or non-credit bearing learning opportunities. The value in this type of learning is that it is truly about getting the learning to you when you need it. For example, you can post a question to the community the minute it comes to you and hopefully get a suggested answers from others in a timely manner.

Today's focus is on formalizing your learning. In other words engaging in online courses that are lead by an instructor, have official starts and end dates, facilitated discussions, collaborative activities, and assessments. The benefit of this more formal type of learning is that it offers the learners the opportunity to dig deep into meaningful topics. In addition, they are also offered for credit (renewal and graduate).

To Do

So if you are interested in digging deeper into online learning and earning rnewal or graduate credit, check out AEA PD Online's formal professional development options related to online and blended learning pedagogy here. 

28 Days of OLLIE: Student Personalized Learning System Webinar

Today we will listen to a conversation about AEA PD Online's Student Personalized Learning System between AEA PD Online's K-12 Instructional Designers Denise Krefting and Melissa Wicklund as they explain more about how schools use this system and what it can provide to districts.  Click here to view the video.

28 Days OLLIE: Personalized Learning

This day will give you the opportunity to explore resources to learn more about Personalized Learning and to explore AEA PD Online's Student Personalized Learning System. You will find these Softchalk Lessons at https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/files/LO6k0M9AaxNCzd/28days30.html

• Personalize Learning: A Definition (Softchalk lesson)
• Personalized Learning: Models (Softchalk lesson)
• Personalized Learning Environments (Softchalk Lesson)
• Personalized Learning: Key Elements (Softchalk Lesson)
• AEA PD Online's Personalize Learning System (Softchalk Lesson)

28 Days OLLIE: Scenario: Student Personalized Learning

Mrs. Johnson has a variety of student ability groups in her Middle School Science course. She finds that she teaches to the middle and sees that her lower level students are falling further behind and her upper level students are bored.  She is looking for options to help all of her students learn at their own pace which would also allow her to be more of a facilitator.

She decides to ask the OLLIE Community for ideas on how they personalize their learning for students What would you share with her in support of her concerns? Share your thoughts in the forum discussion found on the sidebar under 'To Do'.

  Share your ideas on how to personalize learning and hear how Iowa educators are supporting student personalized learning through this forum discussion.
This video on how to use AEA PD Online's Personalized Student Learning System will help you learn to explore the system.

Explore more at https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/files/LO6k0M9AaxNCzd/28days29.html

Upcoming Event: Our World is Changing Rapidly, How Can We Make Schools Different?

Join us for a free screening and panel conversation, with special guest Executive Producer Ted Dintersmith, about the themes raised in the film from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the auditorium at Hiatt Middle School, 1430 East University, Des Moines.

The Most Likely to Succeed education documentary offers an inspiring look at what students & teachers are capable of - if we have the vision & courage to transform our schools.

This just in!! Panelists include Georgia Van Gundy, Director, Government and Community Relations at The Principal Financial Group, Isaac Miller, student at Iowa BIG, Joanne Tubbs, Lead Consultant with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, and Deron Durflinger, superintendent at Van Meter Schools.

This screening is for education, government, business and community partners and is hosted by Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency. 

28 Days of OLLIE: How SoftChalk and SoftChalk Cloud Can Support Online Content Delivery

For these 3 days of the 28 Days of OLLIE we are focusing on using and creating online learning objects.  There are a number of great resources for finding OER content but sometimes it just doesn't quite fit with what you are wanting to have your students learn.  SoftChalk is a great tool for creating online interactive learning objects.  Through AEA PD Online there is a statewide license to provide educators with free SoftChalk Cloud accounts.  Click this link to learn how Iowa Educators can obtain a free SoftChalk Cloud Account.

This lesson link provides you with an overview of the features of SoftChalk and SoftChalk Cloud.

28 Days of OLLIE: Day 20

It's Saturday...soooo...rather than ask you to attend a live webinar about Setting Students up for Success in online or blended courses, we've recorded a session that provides a myriad of ideas on how to help students be successful. You can view the recorded webinar below.

During the webinar, Dr. Peggy Steinbronn, AEA PD Online, shares with us ideas on how to help students:

• Overcome technical difficulties
• Avoid distractions
• Increase their comprehension of the course content
• Be meaningful collaborators in an online course

Many of these strategies will enhance your students online learning experiences and save you and your students time.

28 Days of OLLIE: Day 19

Setting Students Up for Success is the theme we are focusing on in the OLLIE Community. Yesterday, you read about Mrs. Roberts situation. She and her students hit some bumps with their online line learning experiences. As a community, one way to support her is to share tips and tricks that you use with your students to ensure that they are successful in an online or blended environment in the community forum found here.

Day 19

Check out one resource that was shared, "Quick Start Guide for Online Student Success".

Quick Start Guide for Online Student Success from Sidneyeve Matrix

This useful presentation includes some of the best practices for online student success, curated from around the web.

Mark Your Calendar

Don't forget to register for the SoftChalk Cloud and Create Overview webinar on Feb. 22 @ 3:00 CST. Register to attend this webinar here. This webinar will highlight SoftChalk's many features. These include:

• the ability to turn a Word document into an interactive web page.
• adding design style to your lesson
• creating interactive activities and annotations
• delivering lessons to students via your learning management system.

Hope to see you there!

28 Days of OLLIE: Day 18

As we wrap up days 15, 16, and 17, we hope that you got some great ideas on how to use video in your online or blended instruction. Please remember that if you have more questions about how to use video with students or create videos, you can post your questions in the community forum found here.

Day 18-20
As we look towards days 18, 19, and 20 we will be focusing on "Setting Students up for Success". As facilitators or online or blended learning there are lots of things that we can do to help students be successful and the best news is that most of these supports are fairly simple/easy to do.

ScenarioMrs. Roberts blended her math course during first semester, however she has hit a few bumps with students. In her face to face classes is able to naturally develop a sense of classroom community with her students. This community leads to a connectivity among and between her and her students that sets them up for success. Unfortunately, in her online course she just doesn't feel as if that same level of community has been established.
This has led to all sorts of issues. Several students have missed important deadlines. While others have failed to respond to questions or make changes to work after receiving feedback.
Frustrated she has posted in the OLLIE forum here. She is hoping that the community members will have some ideas about to help her build community among and between her students and set them up to be successful online learners.

To Do

• We want to hear about some the the challenges you and your students face when learning online or in a blended environment? Complete the survey here. Survey results will be shared later this week.
• Join in the discussion here and help Mrs. Roberts out. Share your ideas on how to build community in an online/blended course and ultimately set students up for success.

In AEA PD Online's Student Personalized Learning system K-5 teachers and students can learn more about science with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Water Rocks programs that have been added to this system.  Teacher can check out the content by logging into the Student Personalized Learning system using their username and password that they use for the training system where they have taken mandatory trainings.

Once logged into the Student Learning system, click on Modules, Science and look at the individual Water Rocks modules.  More will be coming soon. If you wish to use these with your K-5 students or have any questions please contact Denise Krefting (dkrefting@aeapdonline.org) or Melissa Wicklund (mwicklund@aeapdonline.org).

Upcoming Courses: March 1-April 15, 2015

See below for a list of upcoming online professional learning opportunities. 

To register, click on the activity number listed with each course. To conduct your own search for professional development classes, download the AEA PD Online app at myapp.is/aeapdonline or click here to go to the AEA PD Online catalog.

The Flipped Classroom
Register at 22032699991601
Course Dates: Mar. 1-May 1, 2016
Credit(s): 3

Elements: Collaboration
Register at 22016799991602
Course Dates: Mar. 2-April 13, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Pinterest: Using Pins, Boards, and More in Your Classroom
Register at 22022299991611
Course Dates: Mar. 2-Mar. 29, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Presentation Zen: Moving Beyond PowerPoint
Register at 22031399991601
Course Dates: Mar. 2-Mar. 29, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Understanding and Developing a Multi-tiered System of Supports (MtSS/RtI) I
Register at 22024599991603
Course Dates: Mar. 5-Mar. 29, 2016
Credit(s): 1 (renewal only)

Integrating the iPad and Apps into the Content Area
Register at 22032299991601
Course Dates: Mar. 7-Apr. 4, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Pinterest in the Classroom
Register at 22019999991610
Course Dates: Mar. 7-Apr. 3, 2016
Credit(s): 2

What Great Teachers do Differently
Register at 22020399991605
Course Dates: Mar. 7-Apr. 15, 2016
Credit(s): 3

Introducing Asian Literature
Register at 22011099991602
Course Dates: Mar. 8-Apr. 11, 2016
Credit(s): 2 (renewal only)

French Essentials
Register at 22019499991601
Course Dates: Mar. 9-Apr. 6, 2016
Credit(s): 1 (renewal only)

Increasing Cognitive Complexity to Enhance Student Learning
Register at 22025699991603
Course Dates: Mar. 9-Mar. 30, 2016
Credit(s): 1 (renewal only)

Spanish for Educators Online
Register at 22000799991603
Course Dates: Mar. 10-Apr. 21, 2016
Credit(s): 3 (renewal only)

iEvaluate 1.2
Register at 22017299991610
Course Dates: Mar. 14-May 6, 2016
Credit(s): 2 (renewal only)

iMovie: Digital Video in the Classroom
Register at 22000399991603
Course Dates: Mar. 14-Apr. 3, 2016
Credit(s): 1

iPods & iPads for the Classroom
Register at 22004199991604
Course Dates: Mar. 14-Apr. 10, 2016
Credit(s): 2

MovieMaker: Digital Video in the Classroom
Register at 22000699991603
Course Dates: Mar. 14-Apr. 3, 2016
Credit(s): 1

Examining: How the Brain Learns
Register at 22017399991603
Course Dates: Mar. 16-May 25, 2016
Credit(s): 3

Examining: I Understand Checks for Understanding in the Classroom
Register at 22030799991602
Course Dates: Mar. 16-May 25, 2016
Credit(s): 3

Examining: Managing Noncompliance and Defiance in the Classroom
Register at 22002999991602
Course Dates: Mar. 16-May 25, 2016
Credit(s): 3

Examining: Overcoming Dyslexia
Register at 22003399991604
Course Dates: Mar. 16-May 25, 2016
Credit(s): 3

Pinterest: Using Pins, Boards, and More in Your Classroom
Register at 22022299991609
Course Dates: Mar. 16-Apr. 12, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Sharpen Your Critical Thinking Skills
Register at 22008999991601
Course Dates: Mar. 17-Apr. 21, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Effective Formative Assessment using Tech Tools
Register at 22030699991603
Course Dates: Mar. 20-Apr. 16, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Methods of Teaching Elementary Fine Arts
Register at 22027899991605
Course Dates: Mar. 20-Apr. 10, 2016
Credit(s): 1

Using Google Docs to Improve Student Writing
Register at 22032599991602
Course Dates: Mar. 20-Apr. 16, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Google Sites for the Classroom
Register at 22025199991604
Course Dates: Mar. 28-Apr. 21, 2016
Credit(s): 1

iEvaluate 1.2
Register at 22017299991611
Course Dates: Mar. 28-May 20, 2016
Credit(s): 2 (renewal only)

Pinterest in the Classroom
Register at 22019999991611
Course Dates: Mar. 28-Apr. 24, 2016
Credit(s): 2

MOLLIE: Online Teaching Best Practices
Register at 22019699991602
Course Dates: Mar. 30-May 3, 2016
Credit(s): 2

OLLIE: Introduction to the Online Learner
Register at 22001399991606
Course Dates: Mar. 30-Apr. 19, 2016
Credit(s): 1

OLLIE: Online Facilitation
Register at 22009699991603
Course Dates: Mar. 30-May 3, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Pinterest: Using Pins, Boards, and More in Your Classroom
Register at 22022299991612
Course Dates: Mar. 30-Apr. 26, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Google Sites
Register at 22012899991605
Course Dates: Apr. 3-May 29, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Intro to Google Apps: Tools to Integrate
Register at 22014599991607
Course Dates: Apr. 3-May 29, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Supporting Technology Literacy in Elementary Classrooms with Scratch Programming
Register at 22024299991604
Course Dates: Apr. 4-May 9, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Assess Student Learning Using Technology
Register at 22026499991604
Course Dates: Apr. 5-May 2, 2016
Credit(s): 2

Multi-tiered System of Supports II: Implementation and Monitoring
Register at 22025599991602
Course Dates: Apr. 9-May 17, 2016
Credit(s): 1 (renewal only)

iEvaluate 1.2
Register at 22017299991612
Course Dates: Apr. 11-June 3, 2016
Credit(s): 2 (renewal only)

Examining Literacy & Learning in the Content Areas
Register at 22012999991602
Course Dates: Apr. 13-June 22,2016
Credit(s): 3