Ontario News from ExploreLearning

VROC T-Wise Interview

A couple of months ago I was interviewed by Kevin, Colin and Scott for VROC's T-Wise program. If you are just getting started with ExploreLearning Gizmos or figuring out why this is a great resource you will want to have a listen. 



Newsletter Archive

Newletter archive is now up to date with the most current edition. Enjoy!

  Current Issue: January 2012 - Link to Jan 2012

Archive

September 2011 - Link to Sept 2011 

January 2011 -  Link to Jan 2011

September 2010 -  Link to Sept 2010

June 2010 -  Download June 2010

January 2010 -  Download Jan 2010 

 

Also available is the Archives of the EL Explorer North American Version

 

ExploreLearning Social Media - Get Connected!

Are you ooking to connect with ExploreLearning? Link to our various feeds right here and get into the conversation.

           

 

Getting Started With Gizmos

I often recieve emails from teachers asking me for information on how to get started using their ExploreLearning account so they can use Gizmos with their students. Here is the 3-step process to getting going:

  1. Register for your account with your school board registration key (Umm..I need more info?)

  2. Read the self-guided tutorial - Download Self Guided Tutorial (PDF)

  3. Watch some of the How-to Movies to clarify the details.

 

 

 

 

However, most people prefer a workshop session, as the resources above only really get you understanding the ExploreLearning website but not how to effectively use Gizmos. Hosting a workshop in your school is by far the best and fastest way to get you and your colleagues started.

The full description of the workshop can be found here. (Additionally, we have web-based training and a 3-week online course) 

Basically, what I aim to do is get the participants comfortable with using ExploreLearning.com and model 2-3 different lessons specifically highlighting how I have used Gizmos to differentiate my instruction, identify student misconceptions, and gather assessment information to guide and pace a lesson sequence.

There is also a significant portion of the session where teachers simply explore the library of Gizmos and experiment with ones of interest to them. When time permits, the ideas and discoveries are shared in a collaborative way either by teachers simply sharing what they have discovered and how they will use a Gizmo or, for a full day session, actually creating support materials to get them prepared with at least 3 or 4 lessons. The presentation is really tailored to the needs of the group, so sometimes a lot happens, other times, less happens because the group needed more support.

The majority of the sessions that I do are half day sessions (3 hours) that occur in a morning and/or afternoon. Occasionally, I do a full day session (6 hours) which allows for a slower pace, more exploration time, and the creation of a “mastery task” (collaboratively created lesson document, teacher lesson presentations, etc.). 

If you are interested in scheduling a session, the best starting point for me is for you to fill out this form: www.tinyurl.com/OntarioTRF. We can then work on finding a date that works for us. 

Still not sure how to get started?  Help just an email away: slippa@explorelearning.com

(image credit: www.sanfranciscosentinel.com)

Ring in the new year with new Gizmos


Our development team just announced the release of two new science Gizmos to start the new year. Both Gizmos are appropriate for students in elementary school through high school and cover highly requested topics.

The first Gizmo is called Dichotomous Keys. In this Gizmo, students use dichotomous keys to identify a variety of plants and animals, including California albatrosses, Texas venomous snakes, and more. Students can then try creating their own dichotomous keys for organisms in the Gizmo or for organisms found where they live.

The second new Gizmo is called Measuring Volume. In this Gizmo, students can use a variety of containers and tools to measure the volumes of liquids and solids. Students can fill containers from a faucet, pour water from one container to another, add objects to containers, and measure the dimensions of objects with a ruler. An eyedropper is available to add or remove small amounts of water, and a magnifying glass can be used to get a closeup view of a meniscus. Students can test their skills using the "Practice" mode of the Gizmo.

Let me know what you think of these new Gizmos. 

 

 

 

 

New "in-class" video showing best practices with Gizmos!

Recently published on YouTube is a 4-minute video demonstrating whole class instruction with Gizmos! Take a peek into a 5th grade classroom where students are investigating the Mineral Identification Gizmo.

Do you have videos of your students using Gizmos? If you do, please consider posting them to our Facebook page or YouTube channel.