​As one school year ended in an undeniably different fashion than years prior, so too is a new one set to begin under circumstances far different than the traditional expectations and norm.  As schools create plans and explore various options to accommodate and connect students in both the face-to-face and digital formats, there has been a tremendous focus of time and learning dedicated to the exploration of various platforms that can effectively promote connectivity and collaboration among both teachers and students.  One of these platforms is Microsoft Teams. 

​While Microsoft Teams is not a new product, the awareness and familiarity has become relatively new to many in the educational world as a shift to remote learning became a reality.  This application is meant to enhance teamwork through enriched collaboration and communication.  It has the capability of video streaming, document collaboration and sharing, one-on-one and team chat, and more.  Additionally, since it is part of Office 365 suite, integration already exists with other Office products making access to cloud storage and files simple for the user.

The CA BOCES staff worked through the school closure and throughout the summer to offer varied training opportunities to cater to the familiarity and expertise of those desiring to learn more and gain deeper understanding about this application.  Teams training was based on three different levels of users; Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.  ​

 Differentiation of these specific workshop trainings brought all those involved, teachers and administrators, a deeper understanding of not only the functional components and the customizable aspects of the application, but also the safety and security features that are built in as well.  Through these targeted workshops that were open for any teachers who desired to participate, and through training offered to district level groups of staff, CA BOCES trainers worked to increase the ability of those using Teams across the region focusing on ways to effectively collaborate and communicate with each other and with students in an online environment.  So, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced user of Microsoft Teams, if you’re looking to increase your ability to help your Team, reach out to your Essential Partner at CA BOCES because we are here to support you!
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By: Rob Griffith, CA BOCES Professional Development

Challenge
With recent launches of rockets and a few more happening in July, it's time to blastoff this month with the STEM Challenge!  Check out the Events Calendar at Kennedy Space Center for upcoming launches to watch them live or previous launches to prepare for builidng your own rocket to launch. Your challenge is to create and design a rocket and launch pad for blastoff. Adjust the rocket fuel and rocket design to see which provides the best blastoff. What size rocket will work best? What if the rocket had fins or other designs? Does the ratio of fuel ingredients matter? What about the ratio of fuel to the rocket size? What should the rocket launch pad be? The goal is create the best rocket you can and to experiment with all those questions!

Design some sort of launch pad first. The goal of the launch pad is to hold the bottle upside down in an upright position. Next, decide on a plastic bottle to use as your rocket and design your rocket. Finally, experiment with the ratio of your rocket fuel or baking soda and vinegar. 

Your creation does have some criteria and constraints. Make sure safety is noted at all times. After the rocket is fueled, place it in the launch pad, and back away. Only launch rockets in a wide open spaces and from the designed launch pad. For launching, fill the bottle with the chosen vinegar ratio, pour the baking soda on a 4"x4" piece of paper towel, wrap up the baking soda with the paper towel, stuff it carefully into the spout of the bottle, cork the bottle, and turn it upside down into the launcher and move quickly out of the way. Prepare for blastoff!

Materials

• various plastic bottles
• corks or foam for bottle toppers
• vinegar
• baking soda
• paper towels
• measuring cups/spoons
• rocket decorations
• launch pad materials: Legos, craft sticks, glue, tape, blocks, etc.

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Hints and Tips for Success

1. Allow students planning and discussion time by having them decide which type of bottle to use so they can start building their launch pad.
2. Test to see if the launch pad is sturdy and will hold the bottle with liquid. Add water to the bottle with a cap to do this test. 
3. Plan out the ratio of baking soda and vinegar. As a guide, a 2 liter bottle does well with 1-2 cups of vinegar and a tablespoon of baking soda. Have students experiment with different amounts to see which they think is best. 
4. Always ensure safety when loading and launching the rockets. 
5. Record the launches in a constant spot so students can compare heights and launches if wanted. 
6. Connect to math by discussing ratios, measurement, conversions, etc. 
7. Connect to science by discussing engineering, properties of matter, solids, liquids, gases, pressure, chemical reactions, etc. 

By: Clay Nolan, CA BOCES Learning Resources

Brain rules are twelve rules proposed by John Medina to help us understand how our brains work and how to use them as effectively as possible.  Of the twelve brain rules, there are several that I want to explore in detail that could be used and implemented in the classroom. 

Rule 1: Survival
Our survival instincts are what have helped humans evolve into the society we form today. Medina explains survival as the ability to solve problems, learn from mistakes and create alliances with other people. Thus, collaboration and group work are important for our survival. The classroom should not be any different.  Teaching team work skills, active listening and developing social intelligence will not only create an environment of trust in the classroom, but also help the students lean on each other and survive the year together.

Rule 2: Exercise
Starting a class with a quick exercise is a way to refresh the brain. This can be as simple as moving our arms in swimming motions or performing deep breathing exercises. The aim is to get some oxygen to the brain. If there are two classes back to back, a break between them would be good too.

Rule 7: Memory
By recapping the material often, relating it to present day happenings or relevant day-to-day activities and tasks, students will remember more. Brains possess neuroplasticity which means that they are constantly evolving and the more we use them, the stronger they get. 

Rule 9: Vision
Getting content across to students. does not have to be just about pages full of words. Expressing material in different ways using pictures, videos, and models allows the brain to make sense of things quickly and remember them better.

Rule 12: ExplorationSchools are a safe environment where students have the opportunity to experiment and evolve at their own pace. I want my classes to be an adventure where the students can each explore their interests to some extent and share their experiences. Inquiry-based learning is a great way to get students to do this.

If you want to learn more about Brain Rules by John Medina, check out his book.  If you are interested in the 2 hour workshop with ideas around classroom implementation of the 12 brain rules by John Medina, reach out to Tessa Levitt or Jessica Rose at CABOCES.

By: Tessa Levitt, CA BOCES Professional Development