Now in its fifth year, Summer Techsplorations has grown from a small, fledgling project into a new school-wide way of learning over the summer. We have enjoyed playing and learning with you as you! Participants moved beyond their “technological comfort zones," and carried that experience into their classrooms during the school year.
We hope to continue the growth, learning, and of course, the fun! This year, Techsplorations will be run as a mini-online-summer course (through Canvas) and will lead participants through the process of redesigning a piece of their curriculum, such as a project, unit, or assessment, to better incorporate 21st century skills and make better use of 1-to-1 technology programs. Hopefully, by the start of next school year, each participant will have a newly redesigned piece of her/his curriculum to take to the classroom!
How will it all work?
Weekly Updates
Each week, we will send you an email reminder with an assignment, question, or topic. This blog will house all the past topics and keep a record of our summer project. When you miss a week or two, or if you choose to start later in the summer, check this blog to see what you've missed.
Canvas Course
Then, get to work! We will all use Canvas as the platform for our coursework, and you will be asked to become a student again as you work through weekly activities there. Answer questions; post to the discussion areas; critically analyze your work. Be willing to engage in the process.
The Goal
Your goal is to redesign one piece of your curriculum (an assignment, assessment, or unit) to better incorporate 21st century skills, be more student-centered, and make use of 1-to-1 technologies.
In addition to participating in this course on your computer, there is an easy to use Canvas app for when you're on the go. Away at a conference and want to see what we’re doing? Check in on your laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. That’s it! Pretty simple, right?
As always: participation in Techsplorations is completely voluntary--and you can participate fully or partially! Perhaps, you just want to read the weekly emails and work independently, or maybe you want to do all ten weeks of the program in August when you're really getting ready for the school year. All are welcome!
HAVE FUN and there will be a fantastic Cupcake Reception with prizes for participants. :) [See link on the blog entitled “Fun & Prizes”]
How do I get started?
1. Join the BMS GoodReads Group so you are ready for our summer reading discussions! Discussions for each of the books will begin soon. Make sure you're a part of them!
2. Log onto Canvas and find the Techsplorations 2014 group under "Courses." You will find much more information when you visit the course. This is where we will do our coursework each week.
