School Spotlight

Carrie Martin Elementary School has embraced the power of Vivi's announcement features to revolutionize how they share information and foster a stronger sense of community.

Vivi's announcement features, and especially the power of video, have the ability to transform communication. At CMES, creating a more connected and informed learning environment was a priority for Principal Niki Van Essen. 

By streamlining information sharing, boosting engagement, and allowing for a more personal connection through video, Vivi is empowering Carrie Martin to focus on what matters most: providing a high-quality education and a positive school climate for its students.

To take advantage of this new feature, TVs will power on and display announcements automatically, allowing teachers to remain focused and engaged with their students.

Van Essen is leveraging the video announcement feature to connect with students and staff on a more personal level.

“The ability to deliver video messages directly to our community provides endless opportunities,” she said. “It will allow us to help boost culture and climate in the building. We can just pop up and say thank you during different celebrations throughout the year.”

"Congratulations to CMES students for reaching their reading goal for the month of January! To celebrate this awesome achievement, our principal came on the TVs via Vivi to host a surprise dance party for students. Students in first grade lost it everytime Mrs. Van Essen would disappear and reappear dancing on the screen,” Jenna Reno, 1st grade teacher at Carrie Martin Elementary School, said. “It was a unique way to bring the whole school together and keep the energy high after reaching our reading goal for the month. The use of the TVs for this prize allowed every student to feel included. It was an experience that truly made our achievement feel like a celebration for everyone!"

Van Essen is also excited to start using the text announcement feature, which allows schools to tailor announcements to specific groups, whether it's a message for the entire student body, a reminder for a particular grade level, or an update for faculty members. This targeted approach ensures that everyone receives the information relevant to them, eliminating classroom disruptions so teachers can maximize engagement.

This new feature is now live for all schools. There are decisions and conversations that need to occur so the right folks can get access. Please create a ticket and we will come out to start those conversations. I.T.S. also visits with each leadership team throughout the year, if you would like to schedule your meeting soon, connect with Jennifer Luna-Valadez to schedule your meeting so we can talk about Vivi announcements and text features at your school. 

 

A Collaborative Project Between Teachers and I.T.S.

Imagine a classroom full of excited five-year-olds, each armed with a tablet and a newfound passion for meteorology. This isn't a scene from a futuristic classroom; it's a reality thanks to a collaborative project between a TSD kindergarten teacher and the Innovative Technology Services (I.T.S.) department.

The Challenge: Making Learning Fun and Engaging

Kindergarten teacher Star Horner was looking for innovative ways to make learning about weather more engaging for her young students. She wanted to create a project that would allow students to express their understanding creatively and share their learning with others.

The Solution: Adobe Express

With the support of the I.T.S. department, Star Horner discovered Adobe Express, a powerful yet easy-to-use tool that allows users to create stunning videos, graphics, and presentations. One of I.T.S.’s Technology Implementation Specialists came into her class to introduce Adobe Express to her students and get them started using this powerful tool.

The Project: Weather Vlogs

The project involved students taking pictures of the weather outside their classroom. Students were given a template using Adobe Express’s new Classroom tool, to which they added their own photographs and voiced predictions about the weather they observed.

The Benefits

This collaborative project had several benefits:

• Enhanced Learning: By creating videos, students had to think critically about what they learned and express their understanding in a clear and concise way.
• Increased Engagement: The use of technology made learning fun and interactive, keeping students engaged and motivated.
• Collaboration: The project fostered collaboration between the teacher, students, and the I.T.S. department, demonstrating the power of teamwork.
• Real-World Skills: Students developed valuable skills such as using technology, communicating effectively, and working creatively.

The Impact

The weather vlog project was a resounding success. Students were proud of their creations and excited to share them with their classmates and families.

"I love using technology in a classroom. I think it is a way that students can share their thinking, be creators, and learn in a fun way. This was my first experience with Adobe Express. Upon first glance I could see the potential…This was my class's first exposure to this topic. We started this lesson with using our senses to explore what we saw in the sky. Students then got their iPads and took pictures of the sky. They marked their favorite picture to be used later…They were excited to share their thinking and use their voice with the pictures. We then worked in a small group to have kids record one or two at a time while other kids did a different activity. All students were able to access this lesson.”
–Star Horner

This collaboration demonstrates the potential of technology to enhance learning and empower students. By providing teachers with the tools and support they need, we can create innovative and engaging learning experiences that inspire young minds.

On September 18, Sheena Kelly, Digital Media Literacies Coordinator, attended the Student Belonging Conference "Corriendo hacia el futuro/Running Toward the Future" hosted by the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Learning Services departments. This unique event provided high school students an opportunity to enhance their sense of belonging by providing a safe space for workshops on expression and empowerment, college access, and academic identity. Sheena shared resources about digital resources available in the district and gave students books with themes on social identity and navigating their digital worlds.

Students learned about Sora, the digital reading app that empowers readers to discover library resources on the go. Students and staff can access the Sora digital catalog through ClassLink on their computer or mobile device. Check out books, audiobooks, read-alongs, magazines, comics, and unlimited simultaneous use collections for non-stop reading fun.

I.T.S. has created collaborative professional learning opportunities with our Digital Learning Cohort this year. We would like to highlight Calvin McConnell, a Kindergarten teacher at Cottonwood Plains Elementary. Calvin has empowered his elementary students. Read his story!
Looking for a way to empower your students?

Meet Calvin McConnell, Kindergarten Teacher at Cottonwood Plains Elementary. Calvin shared with K teachers in TSD some classroom jobs he has created for his students to use technology in his classroom.

Encourage Ownership

Students take ownership of their class by controlling a teacher-created slide show.  These students have practiced daily routines and take turns controlling videos, timers, slides, and other educational tools.

Students apply their presentation skills by reciting transition expectations from their classroom slide deck. Students even use this opportunity to access offline structures like a whiteboard schedule.

Curate tools for Easy Access

Teachers could also use Classroom Screen to provide a desktop of various classroom management tools. You could keep your classroom transition songs, a timer, a stoplight for noise, or even check boxes.