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Generate Instant Pear Decks

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  I’ll keep this short as the video explains most of you. Any new educational technology can be complicated to dig into from scratch as you attempt to align it to learning outcomes.  Well, a new feature that Pear Deck has introduced has taken a giant leap forward to help educators do just that.  Before we jump into the new features, if you are unfamiliar with Pear Deck and why my students and I consider it the #1 EdTech tool that helps their learning, check out the video in the previous blog post.   But if you are more concerned with why you should even dive into Pear Deck or learn about this new AI generation of Pear Deck sessions to a learning target, check out the video below. Like I said, I’m keeping it short so you have time to watch the video. If you have questions, please contact me at mohammam@elmbrookschools.org or the Pear Deck Learning team at support@deck.peardeck.com . Also, check out the amazing Stacey Roshan's video on this update. 
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Portfoli-O-Yeah!

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I started the year with a grand plan for portfolios. But like most plans, it got changed dramatically.  But, I do like that I am iterating the work we are doing in class to match a purpose. At the beginning of the year I had a plan to have a portfolio page per unit that would contain
  • List of outcomes for the unit
  • Reflections on formative quizzes
  • Unit reflection with presentation of summative assessment


As we are moving towards adopting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), I’ve been using science practices as overarching outcomes in assessing student work.  So, these same outcomes are addressed across multiple units. This along with a conversation with some people at state ASCD convention, led me to rethink the portfolio design.
The portfolio still has a home page, passion page (where they embed YouTube videos that represent their interests and aspirations), and “Me as a Learner” page (where the learner profile/preferences are housed).  But, I’ve changed the unit pages into pages based on the 8 overarching science practices identified by NGSS (we've formally assessed 5 so far). All reflections will be housed on a separate page just for reflections. The hopes are that someday this will develop into a blog type component.


For each Science Practice page, student were required to give a brief introduction of explaining the science practice itself.  
Sasha s Physics Portfolio Carrying Out and Planning Investigations.png
Sasha s Physics Portfolio Mathematics and Computational Thinking.png
After the introduction, students are required to present two pieces of evidence from the term that demonstrate competency for this practice.  It turns out that this was a great way to help us all see and understand what each practice was outside of being in the experience of the activity.
Physics Portfolio Developing and Using Models.png

Ellen Physics Portfolio Planning and Carrying Out Investigations.png
Physics Portfolio Mathematics and Computational Thinking.png
Alexa Physics Portfolio Constructing explanations and designing solutions.png
I really appreciate this idea of curation and choice of artifacts rather than me just mandating what should be in there.  What I really enjoyed was discussing the relevancy of presenting artifacts as evidence of a competency and how that is a lifelong skill that will extend beyond any classroom into the workplace.
The ease of Google Sites has made this processes so much easier to embed evidence and provide a reflection.  In addition, Alice Keeler’s WebCam Record Chrome Extension made it possible for those students who have difficulties typing to reflect using a webcam video saved to Google Drive. The students can embed those videos in their portfolio from Google Drive!
I look forward to having students continue to add evidence as they progress through these different practices.

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