GCE Level 2 Blog -Andrea Bander

What I Learned: I was really into Unit 8 and all the new information I learned about Google Maps, Google Earth, My Maps, Google Lit Trips and Expeditions. I want to explore these tools more and think about how we as teams can use them in the beginning of our ELA modules to build background knowledge, and then use them throughout the Modules to extend learning.  What I Want to Implement:  I immediately went to Google Lit Trips, signed up, and requested access to the Esperanza Rising lit trip which is our 5th grades first major text. I am excited to explore this resource and share it with other coaches and our 5th grade teachers. I think that this will be an amazing extension to our virtual learning this fall. 

What I Learned: I learned about ways to make YouTube videos interactive. I had no idea about Cards and like the idea of having students use the comments section. I want to explore more with YouTube and create my own videos to share with teachers to show them the possibilities of extending this resource beyond passive viewing. What I Want to Implement: There are two pieces of this unit that I want to try and implement this school year. 1. Using Blogger in our school as a place to share information from Instructional Coaches with teachers. I also would like to create Blogger sites for teachers from the same grade level in the district to share and support each other. 2. The second piece I want to try and bring is the digital portfolios to 5th grade. Our students complete portfolios but I'd like to try and do digital portfolios in ELA to document student work as they move through our modules.

What I Learned: In this unit I learned a lot about different functions and filters that I want to dive deeper into when working with data in Sheets. In my position I work with data often and am familiar with conditional formatting but have not used filters, filter views, pivot or radar charts and want to explore these features with data in the fall.  What to Implement: I want to work with teachers next school year on incorporating Forms into their classrooms (both in person and virtually) for formative assessments.

What I learned: In unit 3 I explored a bunch of different Chrome apps and Extensions that I am excited to share with the teachers in the building. These units also have me thinking about how I can be more efficient as a coach by creating calendars, google groups, and google sites to more effectively and efficiently share information with the teachers. What I Want to Bring Back: I want to share the information about streamlining parent communication with teachers and encourage them to utilize tools such as Forms and Groups to improve parent contact. I also liked the idea of having a shared Google Sheet with parents for tracking and monitoring behavior or academics rather than a paper pencil "behavior chart". As a school we do Student Led Conferences and I liked the idea of students, especially upper elementary creating Google Slides to document and share their work. 

🧠 In these units I took away several ideas for how to support/coach teachers with new technology implementation. The ideas I want to hold on to are: a. technology newsletter b. creating a school-wide technology plan c. creating a Google Site for PD d. creating an instructional coach Blogger to share ideas/best practices e. using YouTube Live to share/do PD across the district Something new I want to try is creating flowcharts in Drawings and Slides. I also want to continue to explore Google Keep and make that a tool I utilize more often. 👣 The next few weeks and over the summer is going to be filled with reflections and planning for virtual learning both in the summer and in the fall. I feel that we have done some really amazing things over the past few months and have learned even more about where our gaps are in using technology for instruction. I think that over the summer we should work on creating a school-wide technology plan that addresses how we are going to support...

My name is Andrea Bander. I work at University Prep-Mark Murray Elementary in Detroit. I am the Humanities (ELA and Social Studies) Instructional Coach for K-5.  My level 1 certification has equipped me, especially in virtual learning, to support the teachers, students, and parents in my school. It has also helped me be a more effective home school parent 😊 I want to pursue my level 2 certification so that I am more equipped to support and coach other educators in an online learning space.