TECH & LEARNING
December 2015
MyConnect NEW FEATURE: TERM GRADING
A new feature has been added to the MyConnect gradebook. The "term" feature allows a teacher to separate their gradebook into terms (trimester, semester, and quarters). Click on the following link for a quick teaching tutorial to use this new feature - MyConnect gradebook.
SPEAK UP SURVEY - YOUR INPUT NEEDED
LSS and the IT Department will be implementing a significant revision to our current technology plan. We will be embedding the results of this work in our district Local Control Accountability Plan and budget proposals this spring. We are working to ensure a year to year ongoing, and responsive process that will address equitable integration of technology resources to support student learning.
A major component of this work relies on participation in a national survey (SPEAK UP) to gauge student, staff and parent input on the value and use of technology in our schools.
We need your input! Your ideas and opinions matter and we highly encourage ALL staff to participate in the survey. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
The survey will remain open until Friday, December 18th.
Click on the following link to access the survey: http://www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2015/.
HOUR OF CODE
PUSD HOUR OF CODE
Schools and students across PUSD have been participating in the Hour of Code this week during Computer Science Education Week. Student guided, self-paced Hour of Code curriculum has been developed in MyConnect. Make sure to register your school so we can track your participation. If you have any pictures of your students participating please send to Lynn McConville @ lmcconville@powayusd.com or Stacey Campo @ scampo@powayusd.com
UPDATE DIRECTORY INFORMATION
If you have changed work locations make sure to log into MyPLAN and check your information in the Dashboard.
You may need to change your internal phone contact number in the “Staff Information” block. Click edit next to the number and enter your new prefix and extension.
PUSD FAMILY COMPUTER GIVEAWAY
Every year the IT Department provides recycled computers to families in need. In December, the team will be assembling to get the computers ready. January 30 is the proposed date to distribute computers to our families. We are hoping to deliver approximately 100 computers.
CHROMEBOOKS & TRAINING
IT staff recently met with secondary librarians to support their implementation of Chromebooks. We will continue to meet with groups to provide support and training. Stacey and Rich will be working on fast track TLC integrating Google and MyConnect. Once approved, this TLC will be accessible for all sites to replicate for staff at all skill levels.
CONNECT YOUR STUDENTS WITH OUR PUSD STUDENT BOARD MEMBER
CHARACTER AND ETHICS STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL
ONLINE TYPING PILOT PROGRAMS
Recognizing the critical need for all students to develop strong keyboarding skills, 23 classes from seven elementary schools and two middle schools were able to pilot two programs during October and November. We only examined programs that had proven to work well and were 100% online so students could access them anywhere on any platform. Students piloted Typing.Com and Typing Agent. The surveys from all teachers, students, and parents have been collected. LSS will be reviewing the results and determining next steps.
LIMITED ACCESS - SERVER UPDATE SCHEDULED
To ensure we keep all our servers updated, we have developed a plan to update and install patches to our servers twice a year. On January 16 and 17 we will be doing our first server update. All locally hosted resources will not be available during this time frame. This includes accessing your home and shared directories and files, Synergy, PDS, and site websites.
Email, MyConnect, Compass Learning, SEIS and PeopleSoft will still be accessible during the update.
We will also be updating our servers on July 2 and 3, 2017.
TECHNOLOGY SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
You can follow the work by clicking on the MyConnect link.
PUSD MOBILE APP
Stay tuned for details on the release and how to use it.