Smore!!

This week I wanted to share with you this flyer I made up using the website Smore.
Smore is a website that allows you to design and share newsletters and flyers digitally. 

Dr. Mausbach recommended this site to me in order to complete my project on Blended Learning.  My project was a flyer with information and Frequently Asked Questions from my research of Blended Learning.   The thought behind the flyer was to give the key stakeholders in my school more information of what integrating technology should or could look like.
Please click here to preview my flyer.

This website proved to be user friendly.  I was able to take templates and use those as examples to enter in my own information.  I could insert pictures, Google Docs and web links to sites that I would want my readers to click on to gain more information.  When I am ready to share the flyer, the website offers multiple sharing tools such as Facebook and Twitter.  I can even edit it again and again as I see fit.  This will be useful to me because this summer I have the opportunity to go to a Blended Learning Symposium in Santa Clara, California.  Six administrators and educators from the rural and metro schools in the Archdiocese are being afforded this experience.  I am looking forward to learning more about blended learning and all the benefits that can be gained from it.  After attending this symposium I will be able to add any new information that I acquire to my flyer and delete any that is not needed. 

I loved this site so much that I decided to create a newsletter for my Preschool class.  I usually do a mass email at the end of the week to let parents know what we are learning and to inform them of any upcoming events.  I found that by using Smore, my newsletters come to life!  They are colorful, engaging, informational, and fun!  I was able to put in a link to a song that we did that week.  This way preschoolers can sing the song at home with their family.  I added pictures- the parents love pictures!  I inserted a Google Form link for our End of the Year Picnic.  Parents were able to click on the link and immediately complete the form and I have it in real time.  Here is the link to my Preschool newsletter if you would like to take a peek.  :)

Final Thoughts- I have learned so much these past 7 weeks and have realized three important concepts.
1)  It is so important to create a PLN for yourself.  So much is said about having a digital footprint in this world.  If you don't have any- that says a lot.  I am thoroughly enjoying my Twitter account and have gained so much information from following key people and learning from them. 
2)  Every school needs to develop a Technology Integration Plan.  Without a plan or a focus, great things might be happening at your school, however these great things are not being worked on cooperatively or collaboratively.  When the teacher that is doing these great things leaves, so do the "great things". 
3)  Building relationships.  Even with the integration of technology, that face-to-face contact with the teachers and other students is incredibly important.  It is important for the guidance, feedback, and project collaboration.    We still need to create that bond with our students because you can't get care, concern, and love from a computer.   These are gifts of the heart.