July 9, 2023

#EdTech Insights from School District Tech Leaders at #ISTELive23 - HoET226

Crystal Samuels, John Terlecki, and Douglas Timm discussed their roles in their Delaware school district as instructional technology leaders.

Feedback & Shout Outs (1:24)

It was great to meet so many new people and connect with old friends at ISTE Live 2023 in Philadelphia!

EdTech Thought (4:13)

Threads, a new social media platform developed by Instagram, is gaining traction among educators. It allows users to share text updates, join public conversations, and importantly for educators, link directly to resources. Despite early challenges with search functionality and account management, Threads holds significant potential for revolutionizing how educators connect and share resources.

Takeaways:

Threads provides a new avenue for educators to connect and engage in in-depth conversations, overcoming limitations of platforms like Instagram.
Despite its early-stage challenges, such as a lack of support for hashtags and account deletion tied to Instagram, Threads' potential to transform educational resource sharing and networking is significant.

Let's connect on Threads!

EdTech Recommendation (9:16)

Explore mmhmm, a dynamic and user-friendly tool that's revolutionizing virtual classrooms for K-12 teachers. mmhmm offers a suite of features designed to make online teaching more engaging and memorable. From presenting on-screen alongside any content to hosting interactive activities and discussions on video calls, mmhmm is compatible with platforms like Zoom, Meet, Teams, and Webex. Teachers can record lessons, design custom video sequences, and even add special effects to their presentations. Once a lesson is ready, it can be shared with students or published to a school's video library, with closed captioning options for improved accessibility. Available for Mac and Windows, mmhmm also offers web and studio versions for added flexibility.

Featured Content (12:32)

Crystal Samuels, John Terlecki, and Douglas Timm discussed their roles in their Delaware school district as instructional technology leaders.

The team is in charge of instructional technology for a district of 14,000 students across 33 schools, and they cater to diverse student populations, including those with unique needs such as a school for the deaf, students with disabilities, and autistic-centric programs.

They each emphasized the collaborative nature of their team, stating that they work well together because of their differing approaches and personalities. They stressed the importance of having a 'can-do' attitude, always striving to find ways to implement new ideas.

Topics discussed include:

Technology Education and Support
Challenging Assumptions
Micro Credentialing
Technology Adoption and Feedback
Connectivity

House of #EdTech VIP (37:16)

Nicole Lipps is a seasoned educator with a fervent passion for integrating digital tools and resources into the educational landscape. Her mission is to revolutionize the way we teach and learn, and she has a proven track record of successfully leveraging technology to enhance student engagement and achievement. Nicole takes immense pride in leading other educators on this transformative journey.

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John Terlecki

Instructional Technology Specialist

An educator with more than a decade in Delaware K-12 secondary schools. EDTech nerd.

Crystal Samuels

Instructional Technology Coach

As an educator, Crystal Samuels consistently explores innovative ways to engage her students by integrating technology into her classroom. Technology serves as a means to differentiate instruction and inspire students to challenge themselves academically. Collaborating with the Department of Education (DOE), Crystal played a key role in developing a state program of study for the Digital Communications Pathway. Leveraging Schoology, she ensures teachers have access to program content while continuously adding dynamic digital materials to keep the subject matter up to date.

In her role as the Instructional Technology Coordinator at William Penn High School, Crystal spearheaded professional development opportunities for her colleagues, sharing her passion for utilizing technology in the classroom. She thoroughly enjoys researching and experimenting with new technologies, implementing them in her own classroom, and then sharing both successes and lessons learned with her fellow educators.

As an Instructional Technology Coach for the Christina School District, Crystal maintains an active presence in local, statewide, and national conferences. She serves as an esteemed member of the Digital Learning Cadre for the state of Delaware and consistently designs professional development initiatives for staff. Moreover, Crystal provides personalized guidance to teachers, assisting them in developing tailored technology implementation plans to enhance student success and bridge the achievement gap.