Lackland Tech Bytes
by Dana Kickler (aka EdTechYoda), February 2022
RAM (quick access)
In this issue:
- Starfall update
- Prodigy update
- BoomCards - why are there two apps in Classlink?
- BrainPop Make-A-Movie
- Canvas Ideas
- The Walking Classroom
- Choice Boards
- Smore - How To
- Classlink - Printing Student QuickCards
Monitor (announcements)
2. Tech PLCs are this coming Monday, Feb. 6.
3. Starfall
Starfall has been renewed! If you haven't used it yet, try it out! Kids can access through Classlink.
4. Prodigy
If you had tried to use Prodigy in the past and found it very frustrating, this will be good news for you! We removed the obstacle causing the problems, and it is working MUCH more smoothly now. So get your kids added in there and get them going on Prodigy. They will love it!
5. BoomCards
There are two BoomCard apps inside of Classlink. The first one - BoomCards - is for those of you who set up your students earlier in the year and had them enter their usernames and passwords on the first login so that Classlink would save that information for future logins. The second one - BoomCards (Clever) - is for those of you who just set up BoomCards with my instructions using Clever to import your classes. The kids do not need a login, they just click the app and it takes them right into their account.
There's an App for That!
BrainPop
Wanna know more? Schedule an appointment with me!
The Hard Drive (info for storage)
Canvas
(The document is down below the newsletter)
I'm only giving you the first 15 - next month you'll get another set.
Wanna know more? Schedule an appointment with me!
The Walking Classroom
Wanna get outside more? Of course you do! And so do your kids!
This is a fantastic program, and they are offering lots of free goodies right now.
All you need is your student iPads, The Walking Classroom app, headphones, and shoes! (Well, clothes would be good, too.)
These podcasts teach students while they walk - physical and brain exercising. It's a twofer!
Watch the video below to learn more about why you need this resource!
Wanna know more? Schedule an appointment with me!
Choice Boards
Check out this fabulous article with links to tons of choice boards you can steal and make your own!
Sweet!
Choice Boards for Elementary Learners
"Hey Dana, what tool should I use to create a digital choice board?"
Well, I'm glad you asked! There are several options, including Word or Google Docs or even Google Slides, but here are a couple of my favorites:
- Padlet - free account allows you to make 5 active padlets - you can archive ones you aren't using and they don't count toward your 5.
- Wakelet - 100% free and super versatile. It's kind of like Pinterest and Padlet had a baby. Super popular worldwide, billions of collections made by teachers to use/steal, and they even have templates!
- Smore - the program I created this newsletter with. You only get 3 free "newsletters" and you can't delete or archive one and then make another, but you CAN redo/redesign the 3 "newsletters" as many times as you want.
All of these options can be embedded into a Canvas page. See, we are in Canvas right now!
Wanna know more? Schedule an appointment with me!
Processor (speedy instructions)
Smore Newsletters | Getting Started.
Classlink - Printing Your Students' QuickCards
Wanna know more? Schedule an appointment with me!
And as always, let me know if you have any questions.
And lastly, if you made it all the way down here, thanks so much for reading and let me know what you think!