Computer Chronicles
Version 8.7 , June 2019
It's about that time...
- If you have been issued a Chromebook or other device you are welcome to keep it over the summer. Please fill out the online form here so we know who has what. If you are not keeping a device with you, please be sure it is secured in your classroom.
- If you have any equipment not working, please submit a ticket now. Do not wait until September.
- If you are changing classrooms, your computer DOES NOT move with you. It is assigned to the classroom.
- Over the summer we will be upgrading all computers to Windows 10. Nothing on your current computer will be saved so be sure what you want to keep is on your Google Drive. (If you already have Windows 10, just ignore.)
Distinguish yourself as an educator
If you're an educator who knows how to use Google tools in the classroom, this certification proves your proficiency.
Designed for educators and classroom teachers who wish to demonstrate proficiency in using Google for Education tools. The Level 1 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully implement Google Apps for Education into their teaching practice in order to enhance teaching and learning. The Level 2 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully integrate a wider range of Google for Education tools and other technologies in order to transform their teaching practice.
All the training you need is here: https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/fundamentals/course
Think you already have what it takes? Try out some sample questions.
Take the summer to become familiar with Twitter!
If you are an educator, and you are not using Twitter, you need to be. It is a powerful way to connect with other educators around the world to share your ideas, learn from others, discover resources, build relationships, and be inspired to transform your teaching and your students’ learning.
However, if you are an educator and you are using Twitter, it can still be quite a challenge to use it well. Twitter has over 300 million active users (and many more inactive) sending over 500 million tweets per day (about 6,000 tweets per second). Trying to get useful information from Twitter has often be compared to trying to take a sip of water from a fire hose.
Continue reading... (this leads to an older article, but it is still relevant)
And in Google News...
Announcing Grammar in Google Docs
Writing is the sign of a strong educational foundation, the ability to articulate thoughts and communicate with the world. In an effort to free up more time to focus on the content of writing and eliminate mistakes, we’re introducing Grammar in Google Docs, which uses AI to improve writing. (Click for more info)
Google Classroom Updates
To help teachers and students find assignments quickly, we added topic filters to the Classwork page. We also changed how Classwork posts new items and topics to the top instead of the bottom (newly created courses only), so that students can see the newest information first. In order to make Classroom accessible to all students, we’re also changing the way attachments appear in assignments by bringing back thumbnails-so all attachments now have an image preview. This is especially useful for students who aren’t yet reading.
Magni Momenti Notitia
- Looking for a document? Be sure to check the Shared/Team Drive for the district and your school.
- Visit the Information Technology page on the district website for the latest news.
- "Think before you click."
- Got a tech problem? Please submit a help desk ticket here. Be sure to use the Google button to login.
- How can you tell that the ocean is friendly? It waves!
Stuff I have been reading:
- Future of the Classroom - https://edu.google.com/latest-news/future-of-the-classroom/?modal_active=none
- Quest Diagnostics Says 11.9 Million Patients Affected by Data Breach - https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/03/quest-diagnostics-breach/
- Hackers Can Now Bypass Two-factor Authentication With a New Kind of Phishing Scam - http://fortune.com/2019/06/04/phishing-scam-hack-two-factor-authentication-2fa/
- Is it Actually Bad to Have 100 Browser Tabs Open? - https://www.howtogeek.com/414655/is-it-actually-bad-to-have-100-browser-tabs-open/
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Michael Elson
Book some time: https://melson.youcanbook.me/
Text @elson to the number 81010 for Tech Updates via SMS (or click here)
Email: melson@sapublicschools.com
Website: http://www.sapublicschools.com/departments/information_technology
Phone: 732.387.3559
Twitter: @mjelson