Hello Families, Students:
Since it’s August, and you’re preparing to go back to school
(or send your child back to school), you may have looked at our district’s site
& calendar. It can be found
here: http://www.burlington.org/residents/schools/burlington_public_schools/index.php
In the late days of August, before school resumes for
students, you may notice that we have 3 days of PD. What is PD?
It is “Professional Development,” and it’s part of teacher
contracts. We teachers need to learn new
things too, especially in this ever-changing world of the latest and greatest
technology apps, programs and software.
I can share that I have learned a few things that I will be using in
this upcoming school year (2013-2014).
I am going to start using EdModo and Evernote. EdModo is basically a “lite” version of
Blackboard (the software used by many universities from which instructors teach
and share all class documents, files and assignments). It’s a kind of LMS (Learning Management
System). Evernote is basically an online
digital notebook, from which you can save, edit and organize all the great
things you find online.
Also, I am making the full switch to an online gradebook! Our student information system is called Aspen , and we’ve been
using it for a few years. In the past,
the schools used Aspen
for all kinds of things, but mostly for attendance, student data and report
cards (grades/ marks). Teachers at BHS
were allowed to simply enter “end of term” grades at the end of the term, while
still maintaining a classic paper rank book, but now all teachers at BHS are
required to put all grades, assignment marks, homework points, project grades
and grades from tests, quizzes and writing assignments on Aspen .
It is now the main place for all BHS teachers to record students’
grades. I am happy to learn something
new, and so am happy to be a “paper convert;” thus switching completely from my
days of the classic rank book, to the Aspen Gradebook. Here’s a snapshot/ screenshot of what it can
look like (with student names painted over of course).
Thanks for reading!
Leave a comment! Cheers, “Mista
Chocka”
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