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Celia Powell

Featured Resource: Puzzle Hunts

Post Author: Celia Powell, Educational Technology Specialist and Team Leader

Teachers have embraced the breakout boxes both physical and digital in recent years to help students solve problems, think critically, and develop engagement in the classroom. Alex Rosenthal and his colleagues have taken the principles of a breakout box several steps further in their annual puzzle solves. Check it out for long-term projects and challenges for students.

Additional Links

Presentation: Teaching with Picture Books in Secondary Schools

For some, the reading of picture books is considered an activity exclusively meant for young children in lower grades. In a recent professional development session for Library Media Educational Technology Specialists in secondary schools, Celia Powell, Cindy Moyle, and Cherie Anderson gave a multitude of reasons to rethink this bias, showing how picture books can be used in junior high and high school classrooms (and even with adults) to engage students and support curriculum in virtually all content areas.  [Read more…] about Presentation: Teaching with Picture Books in Secondary Schools

Kearns Junior High Hacks the Attendance Problem with QR Codes

This school year Kearns Junior High implemented a new program in which teachers take attendance by scanning QR codes in student binders at the door at the beginning of class. This simple technology trick saves teachers and students time by eliminating the awkward roll call process, provides more accurate attendance data, makes students more aware of when they are tardy, and gives the teachers the opportunity to greet their students at the door and get to know them better. Toni Blattman, Library Media Educational Technology Specialist, explains the program in the video above.

Spotlight created by Celia Powell, District Educational Technology Specialist and Team Leader.

Featured Resource: Lynda.com (via Salt Lake County Library System)

Lynda.com is an online learning platform with a library of over 5,000 courses on skills in business, software, technology, and design. [Read more…] about Featured Resource: Lynda.com (via Salt Lake County Library System)

Granite Ed. Tech. Presentations at UCET 2017

Last week the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology held their annual conference at the University of Utah. Sessions were led for and by educators, and many of Granite’s teachers, school technology specialists, and library media educational technology specialists attended and presented at the conference. Below is a roster of the sessions shared by Granite teachers, along with links to resources from the sessions if available.

Session TitlePresenter(s)
BreakoutEDUBrenda Duford (STS, Silver Hills El.), Stephanie Evans (STS, Monroe El.), and Dave Taylor (STS, Moss El. and Pioneer El.)
BreakoutEDUMichelle Reed (LMETS, Jefferson Jr. High) and Mary Anne Wiebe-Strong (LMETS, Churchill Jr. High)
BreakoutEDUTricia Fenton (STS, Vista El. and Western Hills El.) and Sarah Robinson (STS, Oakwood El. and Calvin Smith El.)
Bringing the World into Your Classroom with Virtual FieldtripsAdam Brough (STS, Diamond Ridge El. and Gourley El.), Samantha Mitchell (STS, Academy Park El.), and Will Walden (STS, Bacchus El. and Rosecrest El.)
Code UnpluggedJames Baliff (STS, Bridger El. and Jackling El.) and Aaron Kammerman (STS, Hartvigsen School)
Creating Stories, Illustrations, and Collages with iPads
Michelle Hanson (STS, Hillsdale El.)
Creating VR for the ClassroomBecky Schaap (STS, Copper Hills El. and Twin Peaks El.) and Tom Sparks (STS, Penn El. and Spring Lane El.)
Digital Breakout EduTiffany Pontius (STS, Cottonwood El. and Truman El.) and Keith Reidford (STS, Hillside El. and South Kearns El.)
Engaging Students with Toys, Games, and ComicsQuinn Rollins (District Social Studies Curriculum Specialist)
Get Hyped About HyperDocsStephanie Mondragon (LMETS, Valley Jr. High), Jenny Peirce (LMETS, Kearns High School), and Stephanie Seely (LMETS, Granite Connection High School)
Go Unplugged: Coding Without Computers (For Kids!)Cherie Anderson (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist), Celia Powell (Granite District Secondary Educational Technology Specialist)
Googlizing The Amazing RaceKris Fox (STS, Elk Run El.), Joell Wilkins (STS, Farnsworth El. and Woodstock El.), and Jaime Woolley (STS, Taylorsville El.)
Incorporating Music and Movement in the Classroom with Go Noodle!
Krystal Plott (STS, Driggs El. and Wright El.)
K-3 Meets G SuiteTeresa Bruin (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist) and Heidi Meenen (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist)
La La Land Yourself into Digital StorytellingKristen Johnson (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist)
LEGO League Robot GamesMichelle Reed (LMETS, Jefferson Jr. High)
Maker Space: Mechanical HandsSarah Eyring (STS, Granite Technical Instute), Samantha Spangler Mitchell (STS, Academy Park El.), and Davina Sauthoff (LMETS, Wasatch Jr. High)
Motivating Upper Elementary Through Popular Culture: Providing the "Why"Keith Reidford (STS, Hillside El. and South Kearns El.)
Orange Slice Rubric CreatorJeremy Smith (Spanish Teacher, Taylorsville High) and Lorraine Wyness (LMETS, Taylorsville High)
Show What You Know - Creative Assessments in the Elementary ClassroomMaggie Tanner (STS, Redwood El.) and Kareena Steed Vance (STS, Mill Creek El. and Sandburg El.)
Sphero OlliempicsAlisha Kerby (STS, Roosevelt El.), Ashley Moore (STS, Lincoln El.), Karen Tinsley (STS, Stansbury El.)
Technology and Educational EquityChris Larsen (Director, Educational Technology)
The $10,000 mistake: Essential Steps Every Teacher Should KnowDale Roberts (Director, Information Systems)
They want formative..Now What?
Misty Butterfield (STS, Beehive El. and Oquirrh Hills El.) and Melissa White (STS, Oakridge El. and Valley Crest El.)
Zubi Flyer - The World's First Interactive, Programmable Flying Toy!
Thomas Phipps (STS, Upland Terrace El. and West Kearns El.)

Thank you to all who shared their ideas and expertise at the conference this year. We would also like to congratulate Chris Larsen, Director of Educational Technology, for being elected to a position on the UCET Board during the conference.

Photo from a BreakoutEDU session at UCET 2017 facilitated by Tricia Fenton and Sarah Robinson.
Photo from a BreakoutEDU session at UCET 2017 facilitated by Tricia Fenton and Sarah Robinson.

Granite Library Presentations at UELMA 2017

Last week the Utah Educational Library Media Association held their Spring conference at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City. Many of our library media educational technology specialists (LMETS) and media clerks attended the conference, and several presented sessions at the conference themselves. Here is a roster of the sessions shared by our specialists, along with links to resources from the sessions if available.

Session TitlePresenter(s)
Book Repair -- Fixing Inner HingesBrad Butcher (LMETS, Evergreen Jr. High)
BookTubeJessica Moody (LMETS, Olympus Jr. High)
Destiny HacksJosh Whiting (Library Media Specialist, Educational Technology Dept.)
Effective Library Web PagesKeith Smedberg (LMETS, Olympus Sr. High)
Engage Your Students through Breakout EDU Games!Stephanie Hamilton (LMETS, Bennion Jr. High) and Davina Sauthoff (LMETS, Wasatch Jr. High)
Genre-fying Your Library Fiction CollectionLorraine Wyness (LMETS, Taylorsville Sr. High)
Hosting an AuthorBrad Butcher (LMETS, Evergreen Jr. High)
Hosting a Book ClubWarren Child (LMETS, Cyprus Sr. High)
I Read. What's Your Superpower? Michelle Asay (LMETS, Granger Sr. High) and Heidi Williams (LMETS, Skyline Sr. High)
Is Your Library Engaging to Culturally Diverse Students?Toni Blattman (LMETS, Kearns Jr. High), Susan Booth (LMETS, Cottonwood Sr. High), and Marcia Ingram (LMETS, Eisenhower Jr. High)
Library Productivity AppsAngela Christensen (LMETS, Kennedy Jr. High)
Picture Books with Secondary StudentsCindy Moyle (Granite District Secondary Libraries Supervisor) and Celia Powell (Granite District Secondary Educational Technology Specialist)
Twitter & Google +Jeff Curran (LMETS, Granite Park Jr. High)

In addition to the above sessions, Quinn Rollins, Granite’s Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, attended and gave an excellent presentation entitled “Beyond Batman: Graphic Novels as Serious Texts.”  Author Emily Wing Smith, a Taylorsville High School alumnus and occasional substitute teacher for Granite, gave the inspiring and relatable morning keynote address on her personal childhood experiences that led her to writing.

We really appreciate all of those from Granite School District who shared their time and expertise in these sessions. We further look forward to next week’s UCET 2017 conference, in which many of our elementary school technology specialists (STS) will present breakout sessions, as well as more of our LMETS.

Teacher Spotlight: Brandon Kerby, Kearns Jr. High

Brandon Kerby teaches Spanish at Kearns Jr. High School. He utilizes many digital tools with his students. In the above video you can see his students practicing Spanish together interactively using Quizizz on their devices. Many thanks to Mr. Kerby for giving us a snapshot of the exciting things happening in his classroom!

Spotlight Creator: Celia Powell, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist

Teacher Spotlight: Jody Lynn Tolley, Skyline High

Jody Lynn Tolley teaches American Sign Language at Skyline High School, and is a member of the first cohort in the Educational Technology Endorsement Program. In this spotlight Ms. Tolley describes how having Chromebooks in her classroom has opened many new ways for her students to learn about ASL and Deaf culture. She also speaks to the value of the Canvas learning management system in keeping students up to speed when they miss her class, as well as giving them valuable skills that enable them to succeed in navigating future college classes.

Spotlight Author: Celia Powell, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist

Teacher Spotlight: Dennis Hummer, Cottonwood High School


Dennis Hummer teaches Chemistry at Cottonwood High School. Mr. Hummer works with his students using the Flipped Classroom method, also known as the “backwards classroom.” The Flipped Classroom involves a blended learning model where students access lectures, demonstrations and other information at home, then come prepared to do labs and homework in groups during class. The students act as student tutors and problem solvers and are able to seek guidance as needed from the instructor. This form of teaching compliments differentiated instruction and project-based learning.

In addition to the spotlight video above, check out all of Mr. Hummer’s Chemistry course videos on his YouTube channel. Here is one of his recent review videos:

You can also follow Mr. Hummer on Twitter: @Hummer_Chem. Here is one of his recent tweets, showing his students in action in the lab:

Spotlight Author: Celia Powell, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist