K-12 News

Multimedia PD Day a hit with teachers

More than 180 teachers from across Kentucky attended KET’s Multimedia Professional Development Day on July 18 at the KET Network Center in Lexington, making it one of the best attended of the annual events.

From digital citizenship and media literacy to podcasts and student media production, teachers learned from other educators about the latest technology and how it can transform learning in the classroom.

A perfect example is the video drone lesson taught by Victor Darrigrandi, media specialist with Jefferson County schools. He believes that as drones become more popular in video production, operating them is a valuable skill for students to learn. He brought a drone to the KET studios, where teachers learned how to operate the controls.

Why use drones in the classroom? Aerial footage is used in a variety of careers, such as agriculture, real estate, and journalism. See the video featuring Darrigrandi’s drone class on PBS LearningMedia.

Another session focused on using Makey Makey, an electronic invention kit used in STEM learning and makerspaces. With the Makey Makey circuit board, USB cable, and alligator clips, teachers turned conductive objects like bananas object into a touchpad. Jerry Broyles and Kelly Fischer of Fayette County schools led a session introducing the tool.

Teachers who attended the event also got the first copies of the new KET Media Arts Toolkit, filled with resources on bringing engaging lessons to students using media arts.

PBS Digital Innovator All-Star Ashley Judd of Jackson County schools led a session on using Google in the classroom. KET Education All Star Emily Northcutt of Franklin County schools led a session on digital resources to personalize reading.

Presenters included Terri Stice of the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, who discussed instructional task design, and Jeff Sebulsky, director of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Student Technology Leadership Program, who spoke about that popular project-based learning program.

The 2020 KET Multimedia Professional Development day will be held on Wednesday, July 15. Check back in spring 2020 for details.

KET Education All Stars were honored at the event: Diane Kelley, director of Hardin County Skills U Adult Education Center; Letitia Rudie, library media specialist at Catlettsburg Elementary and Summit Elementary (Boyd County Schools); Emily Northcutt, library media specialist at Hearn Elementary (Franklin County Schools); Jessica Kiser, preschool/Head Start teacher at Allen Elementary (Floyd County Schools); Candace Nickles, library media specialist at Beaver Creek Elementary (Knott County Schools); Janet Lanham, media services resource librarian (Jefferson County Public Schools); and Dee Dee Webb, district technology integration specialist (Grayson County Schools). Not pictured: Sam Northern, library media specialist at Simpson Elementary (Simpson County Schools).