What the Tech?
September, 2020
Distance Learning Essential Tool of the Month: EdPuzzle
By Andrew Bradley
Digital Teacher - DL Specialist
Edpuzzle is a fantastic way to help engage students by making videos, whether user-created or found on the internet, interactive by posing questions to check for understanding or pose questions throughout. Edpuzzle gives you simple editing tools and a great way to collect student data. The process is simple - find a video, add questions, and assign it to your class. (Not to mention, it’s also Google sign on for you and your students, so no need to remember another username and password!) Check out this video and go to https://edpuzzle.com/ to learn how to get started.
Studies show that videos can be a very effective way to engage students and teach students. This can be very beneficial in distance learning. When incorporating videos into your instruction there are three key components to keep in mind; cognitive load, elements that impact engagement, and elements that promote active learning. Here are a few things to consider when either searching for an instructional video or creating your own.
Keep videos brief and targeted on learning goals.
Use audio and visual elements to convey appropriate parts of an explanation; make them complementary rather than redundant.
Use signaling to highlight important ideas or concepts.
Use a conversational, enthusiastic style to enhance engagement.
Embed videos in a context of active learning by using guiding questions, interactive elements, or associated homework assignments.
Brame, Cynthia. “Effective Educational Videos.” Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University, 6 Nov. 2019, cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/effective-educational-videos/.
Parent Power Night 3
By Matthew Binder
Director of Educational Technology
Our 3rd Parent Power Night featured special guest Josh Ochs (smartsocial.com). Josh's presentation covered a wide range of digital safety and citizenship topics including:
- Hidden screen time features inside of iPhones and Androids (and how to activate them),
- Hidden functions of the YouTube app to limit screen time
- A new dangerous Snapchat feature (and how to turn it off),
- How to find out if your student has a second/fake Instagram account
- How TikTok changes students online footprint
- How to change your student’s relationship with Fortnite (and how dangerous video games can impact students)
- Features in Netflix that help reduce screen time.
- Examples of 4 students who each created a portfolio in High School that helped them get accepted to their dream college
In case you missed it, you can now view the entire recorded presentation from the DL Guide for Parents, Parent Power Night Page. Our next Parent Power Night session will be Thursday evening, October 8, 6-7 pm. The Zoom meeting link and session agenda will be available soon.
Synergy Implementation Project
By Matthew Binder
Director of Educational Technology
Our Synergy SIS implementation team has grown to 15 strong! Within the coming months, you'll start hearing more about our transition to Synergy. We'll send out short video-based Synergy "sneak peeks", and other updates to keep you in the loop of what's coming our way next year.
Our Implementation Team:
- Steve Ibrahim, Teacher (RD)
- Page Gilmore, Teacher (RD)
- Nancy Da Silva, Office Clerk (FG)
- Carey Parker, Site Tech (FG)
- Summer Coe, Registrar (HS)
- Brice Gamble, Teacher (MS)
- Apple Autafau, Clerk (MS)
- Robin Cochran, Clerk (MS)
- Jenna Hall, Teacher (HS)
- Andrew Bradley, Digital Teacher (DO)
- Jonathan Mejia, Tech Systems Coordinator (DO)
- Leslie Ternullo, Administrative Specialist (DO)
- Sara Birkett, Administrative Specialist (DO)
- Matthew Binder, Ed-Tech Director (DO)
- Kimberly Ortiz, Personnel Technician (DO)
Remember, Synergy goes live next year, Fall 2021. In the meantime, Illuminate continues to serve as our student data system of record.
More updates to come!
District Tech Committee Meetings for 2020-21
PGUSD tech committee meetings generally take place on the third Tuesday of each month. The committee meets between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Agendas are distributed at least a day ahead of the meeting.
We hope you or any member of your staff can join us.
- Tuesday, September 22: https://meet.google.com/seo-pbkw-kmn?hs=122&authuser=0
- Tuesday, October 27: https://meet.google.com/uab-jenf-dyn?hs=122&authuser=0
- Tuesday, November 17: https://meet.google.com/enf-hman-vxf?hs=122&authuser=0
- Tuesday, January 12: https://meet.google.com/jgo-gvso-ouf?hs=122&authuser=0
- Tuesday, February 23: https://meet.google.com/ssf-mxua-ter?hs=122&authuser=0
- Tuesday, March 23: https://meet.google.com/pgn-yhvr-fxo?hs=122&authuser=0
- Tuesday, April 27: https://meet.google.com/mqy-bzqr-kne?hs=122&authuser=0
- Tuesday, May 18: https://meet.google.com/teo-pccy-cki?hs=122&authuser=0