CHALLENGE!

Good Morning!

I have a challenge for our PLC group. I would like for each of us to log into our CIITS accounts and get hooked up to PD360! 

PD 360 is like a facebook+youtube+blackboard for teachers. Despite my original scoffing, I am actually digging the resource. You create a profile, connect to colleagues and find helpful videos on everything. (Warning *ahem, cobb* My computer plug-in is in full gear!)

I've watched a lesson on teaching RL 8.2 this morning - it was not extraordinary but it was a great way to see how someone else tackled a standard - new peeps (and really all of us) this is great way for you to 'observe' other folks teaching styles. For instance, the girl in the video I watched talked about she 'diffused' the learning target with her students. It's like she annotated the target with her students before each lesson, so targets are not just posted - they are intentionally discussed each day. A really easy technique that I grabbed by watching a 3 minutes of a video.

I know there were some original log-in issues, but I encourage you to try again. As we get more proficient with this we can start and join groups on the site that are filled with resources and advice.
I think you have to get into to CIITS to get to PD 360, so......

CIITS Log On:
1. Go to MCHS web page - Staff Links - CIITS
2. Log in with your school email. I think you can get a password sent to you if your password isn;t working. I had to do that earlier this year. It sent immediately.
3. On CIITS site you have a home page. I'll admit - the CIITS site is way over my head. I am not having any luck finding wonderful, inspiring material on the site. I need training for it. HOWEVER, you can link to PD 360 from there.
4. On the right hand side of your CIITS home page you should see a link for PD 360. It is a little green apple and says "PD 360". *I had to fix the pop-up blocker on my computer to get to it - which is weird because I rarely have to do that on my computer. 

Create an account for PD 360.
Once you are on there is a profile creator that is super similar to most social networking profile startups. It will prompt you to add information and connect to colleagues. After that the Internet magic takes over and you suddenly are lost in videos and searches. ;)  There is some points thingy that calculates how many points you can earn by doing different stuff on the site: 10 points for watching a video, 10 points for finding a colleague....I have no clue what the points are for but I am secretly wishing they'll transfer to dollars. Ha!

What to do on PD 360.
My suggestion is to click on the PD videos and the Common Core links. If you are looking for instructional materials - go Common Core. If you are looking for classroom management go to PD videos. There is a ton of stuff - some are better quality than others - but give it try. It is a quick and easy way to access info on improving instruction - and it beats the hell out of sorting through  research articles and books (says the reading teacher).

LET'S DO THIS! (Cue poms poms & fight song). We will can be the first McNabb PLC to have synced into PD 360 - that's fun, right?