Technology Spotlight, Keighley Wingard, Bridge Creek Elementary

Keighley Wingard is in her 9th year with Richland School District Two and currently serving as the Technology and Learning Coach at Bridge Creek Elementary. This year, Keighley working with her school has started a video newsletter to share Bridge Creek news with parents, the community, and the world! 

After being inspired by George Couros to "take the digital leap," Bridge Creek Elementary school is now communicating with parents through a video newsletter called The Cougar Roar. Students are given leadership opportunities each week by having speaking roles on camera. All of the newsletter footage is captured on a flip cam, and then imported into WeVideo. From here, chroma key effects are added and the video is published. The published link is posted to Twitter @BCETeam121 and it is also embedded on the school's homepage. The September 5th edition, has now been viewed over 2,000 times!  

What a great way to involve everyone with what is going on in your school! Share the positive #RichlandTwo



If you have a teacher or project on technology you want to showcase at your school in Richland School District Two, fill out the Spotlight Form .

NEW class in PDExpress! Reading in the Middle

Do you enjoy reading Young Adult Literature? Do you teach middle school? Do you want to learn more about technology tools you can use in your classroom? If you answered yes to at least two of the questions listed, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS YEAR LONG CLASS! 

SIGN UP IN PD EXPRESS today! The class starts October 1, 2014 online!

Instructors: Media Specialists Michal Hope Brandon, Christina Willson and Lorena Swetnam

Class Website : Reading in the Middle blog

Course Description: Ever wonder what your middle schooler is reading?  Get to know what’s trending in middle grades literature while learning some hot tech tools to help you implement these popular titles in your classroom.

Method of instruction:  Each month teachers will select a book to read from a different genre and will learn how to use a different technology tool.  Teachers will visit the Reading in the Middle blog each month to review the book lists and technology tool for the appointed month.  Each month teachers will write two posts and submit them to the Google + Community: 1) a reflection on the title he/she read and a connection to his/her students 2) a reflection on using the technology tool for professional learning and/or in the classroom.  If applicable, teachers will share a product created using the featured technology tool.  Teachers are encouraged to comment on the posts to build a conversation about the learning experience.  

Course Objectives:

1. Encourage teachers to read popular middle grade novels that their students are currently reading.
2. Facilitate online discussion between teachers to share ideas and resources for incorporating different titles in the classroom.
3. Teach teachers about technology tools tied to literacy and reading.

Credit:  The course will be held from October through April for a total of 7 months. Teachers will earn 3 credit hours for each class in which he/she participates through their posts on the Google + Community.  Teachers may earn up to a total of 21 credit hours.  This is a monthly course that teachers will sign up for each month they wish to participate.