Monday, June 24, 2013

Start of TECHsplorations 2013

Welcome to a new summer of TECHsploring!  This summer will feel a little different than past years' TECHsplorations, as the framework will be built around our learning management systems.  You are, of course, still encouraged to use Twitter to enrich and grow your PLN [Personal Learning Network].

To clarify, the Lower School faculty will complete TECHsplorations within a class on Edmodo, and the Middle and Upper School faculty will complete TECHsplorations within a class on Canvas.  Using these learning management systems to explore new facets and features will help to prepare us to use these systems effectively with our own students in the fall.

On the right hand side of this blog, you will find many helpful links, including:

  • Begin here!  
    • This link will give you an overview of this year's TECHsplorations and outline our goals for the program.
  • BMS Canvas login
    • This link will take you directly to our Bryn Mawr Canvas environment
  • BMS Edmodo login
    • This link will take you directly to our Bryn Mawr Edmodo environment
  • BMS GoodReads group
    • This link will take you to our BMS GoodReads group, where you can join a discussion about one or more of our summer reading picks.
  • TECHsplorations Blog Chrome App
    • This link will take you to the Chrome Web Store, where you can install the TECHsplorations blog app onto your Chrome apps page--essentially a bookmark for this blog!
  • Twitter -related links
    • These links will take you through the step-by-step process of setting up a Twitter account and finding your BMS colleagues.  You can also read the Twitter Lingo section to learn more about the special symbols and abbreviations you'll see while browsing Twitter.
  • Fun & Prizes
    • What is TECHsplorations without some fun & prizes??  We will have a cupcake reception as always, plus there will be prizes for participants at different levels.
Plus, we're mobile!  All the TECHsploring we do this summer can be done from a mobile phone or iPad.  Check out the links to the right about using the mobile apps to see screenshots of the apps in action, and then download and use them yourself if you'd like!

So, jump in and get moving!  There's a lot to TECHsplore!