DigiTechTeach

  • Berkeley Unified School District

New Elementary School Teachers Participate in Tech Training

February 17, 2019

A total of 25 elementary school teachers who are new to Berkeley or new to grades 3-5 in the past couple of years convened last week for a productive and inspiring instructional technology professional development training.

Teachers sharing ideas during the morning session.
Photo Credit: Eric Silverberg

During each 3 hour session (½ the group attended in the morning and the other ½ participated in the afternoon), teachers were introduced to Screencastify (a Chrome extension that creates a video of one’s computer screen and their voice) and brainstormed ways it can be integrated in the curriculum to amplify student voice. Teachers also explored our Google Slides resources (introductory screencasts and tip sheets) and looked at ways students can use these tech tools together. Additionally, the group found inspiration from our collection of student tech projects from the past couple of years. Teachers spent a nice chunk of time collaborating with grade level colleagues from different school sites and they left with plans which can be implemented in the near future. For instance, Katie Campbell Lewis (4th grade at Emerson), Rebecca Goodin (5th grade at Sylvia Mendez), Janine Herbertson (3rd grade at Cragmont), and Taylor Totten (4th grade at Emerson) all created screencast tutorials for their students. Megan Abramson-Ward (5th grade at Thousand Oaks) developed a Book Club Google Slides and Screencastify assignment.

Megan Abramson-Ward’s assignment overview

Feedback for the sessions was overwhelmingly positive. One teacher noted it was beneficial “having the opportunity to discuss integrating the tech tools with upcoming units.” Many appreciated collaborating with teachers in the same grade from different schools and the chance to learn and practice tech tools in a supportive environment.

The DigiTech team will continue to foster ongoing tech integration and collaboration. As always, please reach out to us to plan and support student use of technology for learning in your classroom.

– Mia Gittlen, K-8 Instructional Technology Teacher on Special Assignment

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Subscribe to DigiTechTeach via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,476 other subscribers

Recent Posts

  • New Elementary School Teachers Participate in Tech Training
  • New Databases for Students
  • Students Create Videos in Spanish Using Adobe Spark
  • Berkeley Students Log Hours of Coding During Hour of Code
  • How Audiobooks Can Help Engage Young Readers
Jessica Lee

Jessica Lee is the Coordinator for Library Services for BUSD and DigiTech lead. Prior to this year, she was a teacher librarian on special assignment supporting elementary schools and the Teacher Librarian at Willard Middle School for 13 years.
Jennifer Nguyen

Jennifer Nguyen is the BUSD TK-8 Instructional Technology Teacher on Special Assignment. She has over 14 years of experience working in both public and private schools, as a classroom teacher and technology integration coach.
Eric Silverberg

Eric Silverberg is a BUSD Teacher Librarian on Special Assignment, supporting libraries and instructional technology and Digital Citizenship. He has over 20 years experience working in public schools, as a classroom teacher, a teacher librarian, an arts coordinator, a drama/music specialist and a digital media teacher.
Mia Gittlen

Mia Gittlen was the BUSD K-8 Instructional Technology Teacher on Special Assignment from 2017-2019. She has taught English and history/social studies for eleven years. She also actively participates in East Bay CUE and the Krause Center of Innovation--two organizations focused on inspiring innovative learning.
Allison Krasnow

Allison Krasnow was the BUSD K-8 Instructional Technology Coordinator and a Teacher on Special Assignment from 2013-2018. She has taught grades 4-8 and is now teaching math at Willard Middle School.

©2023 Berkeley Unified School District - Instructional Tech · All Rights Reserved