CULLOWHEE (November 17, 2015)—Three Morehead City Primary School teachers were already using tools they learned about at NCCAT—even before going back to the classroom. And they plan to keep integrating technology into their Carteret County school.
Lee Taylor, a third-grade teacher; Amanda McCall, a third-grade teacher; and Chantel Williams, a second-grade teacher, all took part in “There's an App for That! Digital Programs Across the Curriculum.”
They were able to explore creating and evaluate apps such as Stop Motion Studio and Kahoot! and discovered apps that allow students to analyze and apply the information they are learning such as Toontastic and Educreations. The group also was introduced to Google Hangouts.
According to Google, you can hold HD video meetings through Hangouts with up to 15 people on your laptop, tablet or phone, and share your screen, give presentations and chat as you work.
The teachers participated in a Google Hangout from NCCAT with students at the Morehead City Primary School, set up by Principal Wanda Nelson Fowler, a former NCCAT staff member. The teachers shared what they were learning at NCCAT. The group of three in Cullowhee also participated in a Google Hangout with fellow educators at the NCCAT campus on Ocracoke. The Cullowhee program was led by NCCAT Senior Digital LIteracy Specialist Elizabeth Joyce.
Already they can see several uses for Google Hangouts in the school such as videoconferences with the author of a book the class is reading and connecting classrooms across the district. They believe the Hangouts will help with communication and sharing of ideas with colleagues.
“We've learned about several tools this week, and have been able to work with them and decide which ones will work for our school,” McCall said.