#BRESA Tech Tips

Welcome 2024! We hope your new year is off to a wonderful start and you have been enjoying the snowy weather. Winter often means more time indoors and sometimes our classrooms and other learning spaces can start to feel small and cluttered. And, we know that educators who embrace technology and a maker-mindset often have A LOT of stuff to manage and organize. To kick-off the new year and offer you some strategies for decluttering your spaces, please enjoy the guest article below from Megan Roth, a Berrien EdTech Innovator, sharing how she organizes items in her classroom.

This month's newsletter also includes a local district highlight of the Promoting STEM through Literature project from EdTech Innovator and Bridgman teacher, Kerri DeBest, information about the spring esports season, previews of News Literacy Week, a strategy for writing AI prompts, and several other items we hope you will find useful.

Enjoy the remainder of January, the beautiful snow and stay safe.

--Amy & John

The 5th annual National News Literacy Week begins Monday, January 22, exploring the crisis in local news coverage and efforts to keep it alive. Local news is the backbone of how we stay informed about issues and events that directly impact us, and it’s the glue that makes a town or city a real community. But in the last 20 years, more than 2,000 local newspapers have closed, leaving far too many people poorly informed. During this week, the News Literacy Project will showcase industry professionals, journalism students, educators and others tackling this crisis with workable solutions.

All events are free and will be live streamed. Individual event registration is required. Please join us!

Supplies, supplies, everywhere! Where to put them? Nobody knows! In the classroom, we as teachers have so many tools and manipulatives that it can get overwhelming. Throughout the last few years, I have learned a few tricks to help keep my room organized. Here are a few of those tricks:

1. Headphones/mouse/mousepads: I have tried a few different ways to keep these items organized and available for my students to use. I used to keep them all in baskets in the middle of the tables. What a mess of tangled cords! This year, I purchased seat pouches and numbered each one. I also numbered all of the headphones, mice and mousepads so that they would match the seat pouches. Not only is there less cord tangling, but I can also narrow down who used what when something breaks.
2. 3D Printing Filament Storage: In order to keep filament pliable, they need to be stored properly. In order to make sure that my filament stays usable, I put each spool in a plastic cereal container with a couple silica packets. To help students know how each color looks when printed, I printed labels for each container (see photo below). Not only does my filament stay usable, it also looks pretty on the shelf.
3. Labels: Labeling cabinets, boxes, shelves, etc. has been such a time saver. My students know that if a shelf or cabinet is labeled, it is for their use. If there is no label, then it is for teachers only and they should not get into it. Not only can I have students retrieve materials, saving me set up time, but materials are put back where they belong.

It takes time to figure out what works in your classroom for you. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to organizing your room, you may just find an awesome hack!

Megan is an elementary technology teacher in Berrien Springs Public Schools.

The Spring 2024 esports season is here! We will be playing Rocket League and Valorant again as we now have a groundswell of talent that deserves to continue to show their skills.

Registration for the new season is OPEN! If you are interested in adding into the league, reach out to esports@berrienresa.org.

Promoting STEM Through Literature has undeniably been a standout experience this school year. The inception of the REMC project, introduced to me by Amy Dirlam and John Phillips during an EdTech Innovator meeting, garnered enthusiastic feedback from fellow teachers who observed their students' genuine enjoyment of the activities. Initially perceiving the books as geared towards elementary levels, I soon realized their universal relevance across all age groups.

The first book I shared with my 5th grade students was Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. We delved into the book during Thanksgiving week, strategically aligning with discussions on the engineering process. The ensuing activity involved crafting our own rendition of Balloons Over Broadway resulting in a resoundingly positive experience for both students and myself.

Our literary exploration continued with Beauty and the Beak by Deborah Lee Rose. Post reading, students embarked on researching animals equipped with prosthetics. Selecting a specific animal, they artistically rendered prosthetics through drawing. Subsequently, the students delved into the world of Tinkercad, creating accounts and mastering its tools through tutorials. With newfound confidence, they designed prosthetics for their chosen animals, forging connections between technology and the animal kingdom while cultivating empathy for our non-human counterparts.

Each book comes accompanied by a meticulously crafted lesson plan, teeming with activities adaptable for various ages and materials. For those interested, the books and corresponding activity sheets are accessible through Berrien RESA via their checkout library. Alternatively, for a comprehensive selection and access to lesson plans, the REMC site provides an inclusive repository to explore. Dive into the rich tapestry of STEM literature and activities, opening doors for engaging and educational experiences for students of all ages.

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Kerri teaches math, computer science and STEM at Bridgman Middle School. Thank you, Kerri, for sharing this learning experience.

The Prisms of Reality VR learning platform continues to release robust lesson modules for secondary math and science instruction. Berrien RESA has a set of 30 Oculus Quest2 headsets and several hundred licenses for the Prisms software. Many area schools have already checked out the devices and have been implementing modules with their students. Feedback has been very positive, and students are engaging with content in new ways. If you are a secondary math or science teacher and interested in learning more about Prisms, check out the upcoming webinars and/or reach out to Amy anytime.

ZOOM LINK FOR ALL WEBINARS

• Becoming Proficient with VR Headsets: Exploring Routines and Tech Troubleshooting
• Monday, January 22 at 4 p.m.
• Building a Culture of Excellence and Risk-Taking with Prisms VR
• Friday, January 26 at 4 p.m.
• Facilitating Prisms VR to Deliver Standards-Based Proficiencies
• Math: Monday, January 29 at 4 p.m.
• Science: Wednesday, January 31 at 4 p.m.

Writing effective prompts is key when leveraging AI tools to produce useful and effective results. Dan Fitzpatrick, author of The AI Classroom and featured speaker at the recent statewide AI Summit, has developed a framework to help students and educators craft better prompts. What began as the PREP framework, has evolved to PREPARE. Read on to learn more about each step. And, for even more helpful information on AI in Education, check out Dan's website, The AI Educator, and sign up for his Sunday newsletter.

The PREPARE Framework:

• Prompt: Start by providing a clear and concise command in your request, setting the scene, and laying the foundation for further instructions.

• Role: Assign a role to the AI, helping it understand how to approach the question and provide an accurate response. This context is essential for achieving the desired outcome.

• Explicit: Be explicit and specific about your requirements, avoiding assumptions about the AI's understanding. This ensures that both you and the AI are on the same page.

• Parameters: Define clear parameters for the answer, including tone, language, length, sentiment, format, and more. This helps you maintain control over the response.

• Ask: Instruct the AI to ask you questions in bullet points, aiding comprehension and providing a foundation for a more thorough response.

• Rate: Ask the AI to rate the quality of its response and provide evidence for its rating. This helps you understand its thought process and make necessary adjustments to improve results.

• Emotions: Surprisingly, appeal to the emotional side of the AI by emphasizing the importance of a correct response.

The next meeting will be held on February 7 from 4:15 - 6 p.m. and will be a VIRTUAL meeting. We will be connecting with a representative from the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) and take a deep dive into this fabulous, FREE resource. All are welcome, so please share with colleagues in your buildings. Reach out to Amy to be added to the invitation list and to receive the connection information.

The Technology Services Department at Berrien RESA has a variety of STEM resources, equipment and materials you can check out for use in your classroom.

Visit our REMC Resource Webpage to learn more about the items that are available. To check out a resource, please complete the resource checkout form found on the webpage.

We have lesson plans to share if you aren't sure where to begin. We would love to come and help you do an activity with your students or staff. Email John or Amy to set up a time.

We would love to hear your suggestions on how we can best support you. Please complete this form if you have some ideas regarding content you would like to see in our newsletter or specific needs in your district. Also, please feel free to share this newsletter with others and if you are interested in subscribing, simply email info@berrienresa.org with the subject line "Tech Tips". Finally, as always, feel free to contact John Phillips or Amy Dirlam directly for all of your educational technology needs.

The Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or sexual identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, (collectively, "Protected Classes"), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities.