Ice, Ice Baby! When Technology opens a door!

With snow (ice) day number 12 at our door, it was time to get creative.  

List of our snow days, with make-up plan.

We know that the children we serve do not just learn best sitting in a desk/table in a classroom listening to a teacher recite their knowledge.  No, they need to be active learners, participating in the knowledge acquisition.  The students sitting in our classrooms today are of the Generation Z (born 1996 and forward). For these students, the internet and other forms of technology have been major influences in their lives. They are accustomed to and need immediate feedback - their instant gratification! As teachers,we must change how we teach and engage students.  One of our teachers at Sonora is highlighting that today through the use of Google Chat.

Josh Worthy, our Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) Facilitator, is iced in like the rest of us today.  Yet, our conference team is preparing for conference, which is two weeks away.  There is no time to waste.  Therefore, his students are working from the safety of their homes with Google Chat.  

Last night he sent out an e-mail to all his conference students:
     "We're going to try something new tomorrow.  Since school has been canceled and it looks like it may be a day or two before our kids will be able to work together, I'm going to host an online Google Hangout tomorow morning and maybe another one in the afternoon.  This is a lot like a Skype call that the kids can video chat or text chat back and fourth about projects, ideas, etc.  

     I'd like for Rikki and Kylie to practice their Founder's presentation if at all possible.  Morgan, Landen and I would also be able to work on the Camp Alliance story map together through the Hangout.  Cayden would even be able to show us how to use Pivot animator through the "screen share" option.  Kalyssa and Lexus should be able to work on nametag design and booth ideas, too.  Not sure if I can get ahold of Josh H., but I'll keep trying.  It could be a REALLY cool event.  The best part is that it'd keep your kids busy for an hour or two during the snow day. ;)

     All you really need is an internet connection and a computer.  If you have a webcam, awesome.  If you have a mic, even better.  If you dont have ANY of this, you can even call in from you phone.  Its pretty cool stuff.  I'm hosting the event, so the chat will be private and only approved Sonora EAST students and parents will have access...no strangers or unauthorized creeps will have access.

     If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.  Looking to launch the conference call around 10 am tomorrow morning.  It should be a lot of fun and its kind of exciting to be able to work on EAST stuff while the kids are snowed in.

So, this a.m. the children, safe in their homes, were hard at work on their EAST projects and EAST Conference preparation.  Yes, these students had an option.  They CHOSE to do this on a snow day!  Pretty powerful stuff!. 

Kylie, Ian, Rikki, and Mr. Worthy hard at work!

Using Social Media (Twitter and Facebook) to spread the word, they were lucky enough to get Mr. Matt Dozier, EAST CEO to join them.  As I type this they have taken a break for lunch, but will reconvene.  They have even added a previous student to the conversation.  

Mr. Matt Dozier, EAST Initiative, CEO

You may be wondering why I haven't joined them.  Well, my school computer does not have audio or video. I can watch, but not participate.  So, I chose to share their story!  

Great things are happening at Sonora Elementary!

Note:  

Our EAST students are finalist in the Founder's Award for EAST, an award in honor of the founder, Tim Stephenson.  This is their 2nd year as finalist.  In the history of this award, our program is the only elementary ever to be finalist!  (Can you tell I am proud of them?)

You can checkout the full events and postings of the day on the Sonora EAST Facebook Page. You can find out more about the EAST Initiative at their website.