Level Up: Getting Started with Esports in Iowa High Schools
Join ITEC and members of the Iowa High School Esports Association as we discuss Esports in Iowa High Schools. We will go over the “Why” of Esports in high schools as well as how schools can get started, lessons learned, and tips for either new schools or schools looking to improve their program. We will end with a Q&A so that any of your top questions can be answered by our panel.
Do you find yourself trying to manage digital resources? Do you find amazing resources online only to forget where you bookmarked them? Do students struggle to organize resources for assignments, projects, etc?
Wakelet is an amazing web based tool that allows you to gather multimedia content across the web, and curate it into intuitive, structured collections. In addition, Wakelet has some dynamic integrations with additional tools like Microsoft Flip, Adobe Express, Google Drive, OneDrive and more.
Educators have leveraged Wakelet to not only curate resources but also to build lesson plans. With its variety of layouts and formatting options such as text, video and file uploads, Wakelet serves as a one stop shop for lesson design.
In addition to lesson plans, educators can use Wakelet to create newsletters to share with colleagues and families. With built in collaboration, newsletters can be completed by multiple users simultaneously.
Collaboration in Wakelet doesn't have to be limited to educators either. You can easily create Wakelet Classrooms by leveraging Clever, Google Classroom or Microsoft Team rosters. This streamlines educator oversight of student work.
Still unsure where to start? Click below to find out 20 ways you can use Wakelet in your class.
School/District: Woodbine Community School District
Years Served: 11 years
Favorite Tech Moment:One of my most favorite moments in tech was the first year our district
received the Drone Scale Up Grant. When we first brought the drones to the classroom and
the excitement the kids had with the drones was truly memorable. It is so fun to see kids flying
drone around our school, taking pictures and videos and then reviewing those images to see
the faces of other students in the building. We are very blessed to be a K-12 building, and
when we can get the younger students excited about Stem and technology, it is so rewarding
and memorable.
Tip for other educators: "Technology alone isn’t going to improve student achievement. The combination is great teachers working with technology to engage students in the pursuit of the learning they need." --Arne Duncan
This quote shows the the importance of the teacher finding ways to integrate technology into classroom to help students thrive in the classroom environment.
Colleague Comments: Kyle has taken it upon himself to expand our STEM Scale Up Ioponics tank and make a vertical farming unit. With this, he has also been using his STEM Scale Up award with the Microbits and Finch Robots to have kids progamming owls, elephants, etc. for our 5-8 CS/STEM block that meets 2-3 times a week. These kids have grown with self confidence in and out of the classroom.
Know a colleague who deserves some recognition for the incredible work they are doing to support students and staff with technology in a digital learning environment? Consider giving that colleague a "Shout Out!" and help ITEC recognize rockstar Iowa educators!
Check out our May Grab and Go. Within this microburst of learning, you will not only find a short tutorial, but also some opportunities to level up your learning further.
✏️ Shutting Down Your Digital Life
Shutting down your digital life can be a great way to take a break and enjoy some time offline. Remember, shutting down your digital life doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You can start small by setting boundaries and gradually work your way up to longer periods of time. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it's something that brings you joy and helps you recharge.
Here are some ways you can disconnect this summer:
It’s hard to believe that we’re quickly approaching the end of another school year. Hopefully it’s been a truly fruitful year full of growth, learning and collaboration as you’ve explored how to leverage Pear Deck within your classroom! Hopefully hearing tips and tricks from your fellow Iowa educators helped to plant a seed that will continue to flourish for years to come.
Even though the “Illuminating Pear Deck: Ideas from Iowa Educators” series will go on a bit of a hiatus, Pear Deck partner Brittany Dykes highlights several opportunities to continue to connect and grow (and she even throws in a helpful organizational reminder)!
Want to continue to learn and grow with Pear Deck? Be sure to subscribe to the Pear Deck News to receive a weekly newsletter and stay in the know about updates, new releases and learning opportunities! You can always check out the Pear Deck Institute page to continue growing your Pear Deck practice!
