Lexington Public Schools

In this episode, the DLCs share their favorite projects and tools from the 2021-2022 school year. Topics include Book Creator, We Video, Ozobots, Canva (directions for Canva from our LPS Tech Resource site), wireless Epson projection and more.

In this episode, elementary DLC Julie Spang interviews second-grade teacher Rachel Garcia and her students at Estabrook about using VR Expeditions to 'visit' the Taj Mahal for their social studies unit. LPS has a virtual reality kit through a generous grant from the LEF Foundation. Lisah gives reminders about cleaning out your Drive as the end of the year approaches.

In this episode, LHS DLC Ann interviews LHS English teachers Jen Cohen and Christen Walters about creating video projects in their classes. With the help of Ann, Jen and Christen both used a trial for the full version of WeVideo with their students who created video montages in small groups. Lisah gives reminders about how to address a phishing/spam email

In this episode, Clarke Digital Learning Coach Eddie Davey interviews Field Technician Chris David. Chris explains some of the major responsibilities of a building field technician, gives tips to teachers and previews some potential upcoming changes that may arrive in coming years. Listen to learn more about the valuable role LPS "field-techs" play in the success of LPS. Lisah shares updates to the network and a reminder about passwords.

In this episode, Naomi Goralski (DLC at Bridge and Harrington) interviews Traci Jansen, the Library Teacher at Bridge, about using novel engineering as a way to connect engineering/design and literacy. Traci highlights Engineering/Design activities that you can use with books like Those Darn Squirrels, Peter's Chair, and A Long Walk to Water. Lisah shares about network improvements and reminders to download the Solar Winds agent.

Now that we're halfway through the year, Diamond DLC Howard Wolke thought it would be nice to check in with some of the new LPS staff to find out their favorite and most useful tech tools. In this episode, he interviews new teachers Alyssa Campbell (6th grade English), Daniel Karanja (8th grade math), Kelly Lawlor (7th grade English) and Rohen Sundaram (7th/8th grade health) and asks what technology they have found helpful as new teachers. Lisah shares about the new Service Desk. They share how they use PearDeck, Canva, Google Calendar and Jamboard.

In this episode, Ann interviews LHS Senior Megan and asks about the ways teachers and students use technology. Megan shares tools that are helpful, and ways teachers help students access curriculum. She also shares how she keeps her technology organized.

In this episode, Lisah interviews Harrington Assistant Principal Dr. Rory O'Connor and Elementary DLC Naomi Goralski on their work using the padcaster and streaming technology to promote student engagement with morning announcements and all-school-meetings.

In this episode, the DLCs share a positive from this year that they would like to see continue into next year, as schools hopefully return to more "normal". We finish off the year with Summer Tech Bingo. To provide some motivation for those tasks we never have time for, amazing DLC Dave Wininger put together this Summer Tech Bingo list. Many of the tasks take 30 minutes or less so that you can try and do one or two a week and be in great shape for next year. Prizes will be offered from a random drawing for most cells completed (%) and for each bingo.

In this episode, Rachel interviews Ryan Casey, LHS Spanish teacher, who shares how he and his students use technology in new ways in the pandemic. Ryan shares how the students chat with native speakers in other countries with TalkAbroad and uses GiveThx for students to give each other appreciation and build community. He also shares his Borderland project using FlipGrid, Slides and bookmarks for a virtual museum tour. Lisah reminds us about single sign on and Ann shares tips on how to use FlipGrid.

In this episode, Rachel interviews three Diamond teachers: Kate Desjardins (Reading teacher), Roseann Thebado (Skills teacher) and Cecelia Vosland (Skills teacher) who tell us about middle school students working on their executive functioning skills in middle school and during the pandemic. Last summer, they created a website for this year, Executive Functioning for Remote Learning. Their website has slides with videos and tips on time management, task initiation, choice board strategies and more. At the top of the episode, Lisah shares new Screencastify updates and reminds us to update our extensions. Ann closes the episode with two websites that highlight executive functioning.

Season 2, Episode 8 - How are libraries functioning in the pandemic? is available for listening. In this episode, Rachel interviews an LHS (and occasional Harrington) librarian Sarah Anderson. Sarah tells us how the library is helping students and staff access materials during the pandemic, and about available digital resources. Lisah reminds us to check the LPS Technology website for updates and Ann shares directions for borrowing eBooks online.

Season 2, Episode 7: How has technology supported remote learning classes? with Angela Carpenter, is ready for listening. Angela is a music teacher at Harrington Elementary and shares how she has been using tools to teach music during the pandemic. Lisah shares updates on Padlet and upcoming password requirements, and Ann shares Sodaphonic.com, a free website for recording and editing audio files.

In this episode, we share our top ten list of tools for 2020. Click here to see Chris Szajaner’s YouTube channel. Some recommended podcasts to listen to Google Teacher Podcast, Cult of Pedagogy, Shake Up Learning. Also, visit the staff website for the Read & Write training website.

In this episode, Rachel interviews two elementary Digital Learning Coaches, Traci Jansen (Bridge and Harrington) and Julie Spang (Estabrook, Fiske and LCP) to discuss the best ways to utilize SeeSaw, the communication tool Lexington is using in grades PreK-2. Ann shares tips on Jamboard (Google's collaborative whiteboard) and Lisah shares updates on PearDeck

n this episode, Rachel interviews Dave Wininger, one of the DLCs at Lexington High School. Dave is great at workflows, and tells us ways to be efficient using Forms and Sheets, and how to plan your questions in Forms to get the data you want. Lisah shares updates to Zoom settings, such as authentication, and we share TeacherMade, a free website where teachers can create worksheets out of PDFs and photos, and post them to Classroom.

In Episode 3, Rachel speaks with Johnny Cole, the LPS Director of Equity and Student Supports. Johnny shares ways technology has been supporting DEI, along with updates to the Equity at LPS website. We also take a look at Google Form quizzes for the lockdown feature and questions based on answers.

In Episode 2, Rachel asks Rachel asks Kelly about lessons she learned from teaching during Extended School Year and for advice for new teachers. Kelly is a veteran teacher who is teaching for the first time in Lexington.

In season 2, we start with How has COVID impacted our Technology Use? with Caitlin Ahern, Director of Professional Learning and Special Projects. Rachel asks Caitlin about the changes in professional learning due to the pandemic and the courses that LPS offers. Lisah updates us with information on required tech tools, and Ann talks about EdPuzzle, a website that allows you to upload videos and add questions to make them interactive.