Technology Update
Back to school 2019-20 issue
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year!
The technology team has had a busy summer setting up new student and staff computers as well as updating many other 'behind the scenes' pieces that help our systems run seamlessly. In this newsletter you will find an overview of what's new and updated as well as tips & tricks and what to watch for as we embark on the new school year. We are looking forward to a great school year!
In this issue:
- Tech resources or tools to watch for this coming school year
- Schoology Test/Quiz
- Ice Breaker Activities
- How to set the default font in Word
- How to set your default Save location in Word
- Ten handy keyboard shortcuts
- New features added to Seesaw
- What's new at Flipgrid
- New features in Quizizz - to include Math tools
What to watch for this coming school year...
Microsoft Teams
Office Lens
OneNote and Class Notebook
Schoology Test/Quiz Feature will remain available - no retirement date on the horizon.
A Couple of Good Places to Find Icebreaker Activities
Icebreakers.ws is an online catalog of dozens of fun icebreaker and team builder activities. The activities are categorized by group size and activity type. To find an activity appropriate for your group just select your group's size then use the activity type key to find "get-to-know-you games," "team building games," or "active (break a sweat) games."
How Do You Play? is a free site that offers directions on how to play icebreaker games, team building games, board games, card games, and many other in-person multiple player games. You can browse the games featured on the homepage or search through eight game categories for the game that you need the directions to.
Changing Word Default Font
If you wish to change your default font in Word, I have included the instructions on how to do that - it works similarly in other Office 365 applications. Let me know should you want assistance.
To change the default font your Microsoft Word uses for each new document, follow the steps as highlight in the image to the right after choosing File, Options.
How to change the default Save options in Word
Do you want to ensure your documents are being saved to your OneDrive? You may wish to take the steps below to ensure this.
To set or change your default Save options in Word (where to Save and Autosave), follow the steps below:
With Word open, click on File > Options
In the window that comes up, click on Save in the left column
Refer to the image at the right in the highlighted areas for what settings you will want to change or set.
Click OK to save your changes.
10 Handy Keyboard ShortCuts
1-3: Copy (Control +C), Cut (Control +X) and Paste (Control +V) - I'm including these three because they are ubiquitous and I use them every time I sit down at a computer.
4: Select All (Control +A) - Do you need to select an entire document's text or all the files in a folder? Try this one.
5: Re-open a closed tab - (Control + Shift + T) - If you accidentally close a tab and need it back, this one is great. You can also use this on student devices if you suspect they're being sneaky behind your back!
6: New File (Control +N) - This works in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, etc. etc. etc. It simply creates a new blank file.
7: Lock your screen (Windows +L) - You should really get into the habit of doing this any time you walk away from your computer. When you come back, you just have to type in your password and all of your programs are just where you left them.
8: Find Something (Control +F) - Quickly search for words on a web page, word document email or file explorer window.
9: Switch Programs Quickly (Alt +Tab) - This will cycle through all of the open programs on your computer. Just keep holding down the Alt key and pressing Tab and you can quickly hop from program to program.
10: Undo (Control + Z) - This works just about everywhere...except where I sometimes need it most - in real life.
New Features for Seesaw
Seesaw has added more features to their digital portfolio platform to include:
Drag and Drop Collage Creation
In their SeeSaw journals students can now add multiple images into one entry. Those images can be dragged and dropped into any arrangement on the screen. Students can use the text tools to caption or label images. Students can also add digital stickers to their collages.
Math Manipulatives & Graph Paper
Now when students choose the drawing option in their SeeSaw student journals they can change the background to a graph paper background. That could be great for drawing solutions to math problems. Now there is also a collection of math manipulatives that students can add to their drawings in their journals.
What's new with Flipgrid
Quizizz Adds New Features - Including Math Tools
The new polling option lets you ask subjective questions and gather responses from your students. To do this you simply have to uncheck the option for "has correct answer" when creating a question.
The sound clips option lets you upload or record audio clips to use in your Quizizz games.
Finally, the question editor in Quizizz now includes an equation editor for creating math problems for your students to answer during a Quizizz activity.
Your Marshall Public Schools Technology Team
Todd Pickthorn
Karen Londgren
Nick Esping
Kent Powell
Email: karen.londgren@marshall.k12.mn.us
Website: www.marshall.k12.mn.us
Phone: 507-537-6924