Lisa Perez presented on PLUS Tech, a personalized learning initiative for Chicago Public Schools. PLUS Tech uses gamification elements like digital badges, points systems, and quizzes to provide free and low-cost online professional development for teachers. It aims to make learning fun through vendor partnerships, screencasts, quizzes, and other digital resources while addressing budget and time constraints. Teachers can earn continuing education credits and customize their learning experience through a flexible menu of technology-focused modules and assessments.

1. Lisa Perez, Network Library Coordinator
Chicago Public Schools Dept of Libraries
2013 Illinois Computing Educators Conference

2. Why PLUS Tech?
Move to online delivery Shifting priorities – Less
methods time for face-to-face
professional development
Free resources – vendor Budget challenges
partnerships
Personalized Libraries to Uplift Students

3. What is PLUS Tech?
• https://sites.google.com/site/cpsplustech
http://goo.gl/x8pvE
Professional
development CAN be
fun!
http://goo.gl/8W911

4. Quiz #1 – Illinois Facts
http://goo.gl/V2H9m

5. Gamification Elements
Digital
Badges

6. Vendor Partnerships

7. Technologies support wide
range of standards
Acceptable Terms of Service
Shallow learning curve
Which Technologies to Teach?
Adaptable Free or low cost
to K-12
Staying power
Safe

8. Personalized Learning
a menu of challenging learning
robust blended learning opportunities
a method of tracking student progress
wide variety of learning and assessment options

9. Mentor
Connections

10. The Site

11. The Point System

13. Quiz #2 – Black History
http://goo.gl/ByDnR

14. Treat yourself to a… Video editor
Screencast video! Videos can be a bit longer
Upload to a common channel

15. http://www.youtube.com/user/cpsdeptlibraries
http://goo.gl/EV4BC

16. Personalize the learning
experience
PDFs

17. The Quizzes
• Google Forms with notifications
• 200 points per question
• Multiple choice
• Flubaroo script: No answer key provided
• Email must entered correctly
• Basic information collected
• Three tries
• Downloaded spreadsheets each time;
stored in Google Docs
• Regular, timed release of modules
• Timestamp for “high-pressure” events
Make the questions a bit hard!

18. Watch a Video | Make a Google Form
Google Forms 1
http://youtu.be/gv9jZ46TWUE
Google Forms 2
http://youtu.be/hYl8hgcf7Dw

19. Flubaroo: Google Form Script to Make
Self-Grading Quizzes
Learn how:
http://youtu.be/Ntk4foHontg
See the Flubaroo website:
http://www.flubaroo.com

20. Offering CPDU credit
Make it worth their
while…..

21. Communicate EXCITEMENT

23. Modify this for your school/district
1. Design the game elements
2. Select the technologies
3. Secure prizes/partnership
4. Build your site
5. Create your learning objects
6. Make your quizzes
7. Promote the game regularly; update and
build excitement

24. Quiz #3
http://goo.gl/w0qkX

25. Q&A
Lisa Perez
leperez1@cps.edu
@leperez1