And just like that, the 20-21 school year ended. I think. Just like everything else this year, the lines are blurry. While end of grade state tests were being administered in classrooms, the digital learning team was getting everything ready for Tech Camp ‘21. This year, we were 100% virtual. As the pandemic wanes, and even though our desire was to hold this event face to face, the virtual platform provided a means to increase attendance. Our team facilitated and led sessions on topics ranging from eSports to Self-Care and Resiliency. We even had a panel discussion to talk about what we are taking with us as we move forward. Led by our superintendent and teachers and principal of the year, Their takeaways about transforming school in a pandemic to post-pandemic structures were insightful and excited us all for the version of school yet to come! Almost all sessions were teacher led and allowed for conversational learning at times. We provided magic moments and enabled discoveries to help teachers leave for summer excited about what they can do in August. Overall, the feedback was positive as teachers had the flexibility to join the sessions from wherever they were AND they could watch the recordings. It always amazes me how technology can transform experiences. Tech Camp ‘21 wasn’t any different for the teachers. They’ve been attending virtual sessions since the pandemic began. There had always been a tech camp (the what) but by changing the how (all virtual) we shifted the why from because I have to show up to because I want to learn. Very similar to what we did for our students when COVID entered our world in March of 2020. And then our team changed directions on a dime.... As soon as Tech Camp was over, our team dug into getting things set up for summer school. From rosters to applications, our team did all of the behind the scenes stuff. Through our Clever portal, students and teachers have access to the many applications our district pays for - during the year. Everything magically and marvelously syncs with our Student Information System during the school year. But in the summer, the digital learning specialists become the magicians! It’s a little like being one of Santa’s elves.
We tracked down data, created rosters from the provided lists of students, we customized sharing rules and worked with our vendor partners to work out the kinks - and there were many - to make sure that when teacher and students went to their Clever portal, and clicked on the application they needed, it would work! We uploaded new enrollments and changes daily, we continued to have conversations with vendors and Clever to troubleshoot and resolve issues that came up. In conversations with teachers, they remarked that the access to Clever and the applications they, and their students, were used to using helped make the experience easier. So while what we did in June alone may not really be magical, more hard-work and diligence, the fact that transitions were smooth and our stakeholders remained, for the most part, calm, I’d say the results certainly were. PS: Magic is exhausting. I will only be adding a new post every other month for a while. I hope everyone has a great school year!
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AuthorJeannie Timken Archives
March 2023
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