Connecting Educators
EdTech Update: January 2019
What We're Excited About? - Google Expeditions
Guide to Getting Started with Google Expeditions
Idea Slam Winner! - Makers Gonna Make - Mrs. Crall's Class
Gier’s MakerSpace Day and Club are bringing smiles to all of Gier’s students, staff, and parents. Now that all the supplies are ordered and are in, we have started the grade level rotations. The 4th graders were first up with engineering challenges involving Keva Planks and Emidos. They also enjoyed Snap Circuits. First graders were next, and they enjoyed building with Keva Planks, Strawbees, and Emido challenges. Grade levels will continue rotating once a week for the MakerSpace Days until the end of the school year.
Problem Solved!
The internet outages that we experienced over a series of days a month or so ago were initiated by an attack through DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service). We now have a system in place to help prevent any future DDoS attacks that might occur. Thank you for your patience as we worked through those challenges!
Do you want to build a Snowman?
iPads in Action
Chrome Add-on of the Month: Screencastify
Click here to download the extension on your own computer.
NEW FEATURE COMING SOON!: Locked Mode in Google Forms' Quizzes
App of the Month: Be Internet Awesome/Interland
Let's Stick Together!
PD Opportunities
G Suite Tidbits - Mini Video Series
Free, optional, non-sequential, and open to anyone!
G Suite Tidbits is offering free YouTube recordings that are 2 minutes or less sent directly to your email daily or weekly.
Our first series will cover the ins and outs of Google Calendar.
For more information about this opportunity, go to the G Suite Tidbits Document. To sign up to get the recording links via email please fill out this form.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Christopher Walker at christopher.walker@jcisd.org. Feel free to share this with others you feel may benefit.
Web Tools, Toys & More!
This session will introduce you to all of the tech tools and toys you never knew you needed for your classroom! Participants will explore a variety of innovative technology resources that will increase student engagement. We’ll discover formative assessment tools, investigate ways to make global connections, introduce elements of gamification, consider augmented reality, and much more!
Two Locations:
February 6th, Jackson ISD
February 13th, Hillsdale ISD
More information: https://www.smore.com/edg15
Google Drop-In Support
During these voluntary sessions, we will answer your questions, explore the latest Google updates and share ways to help increase your productivity.
Potential topics include:
Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Keep
Discovery Education Experience: Instructional Strategies for Digital Learners
Learn what’s new with Discovery Education, including reading passages, lesson plans, digital interactives, virtual field trips, instructional strategies, VR, and more to share the world with your students and teachers. Rediscover the resources, strategies, and tools that help take your students anywhere – from the cities of China to the pen of a playwright. Whatever the topic, Discovery Education Streaming is the central hub for student engagement and achievement.
The Discovery Education Experience (DEXP) is a one-day no-cost experience for educators to immerse themselves in all things DE. The target audience is inclusive of ALL educators (teachers, principals, curriculum, instructional technologists, and many more). Together, all will explore and learn about the resources Discovery Education has available for them!
The day of interactive professional learning is brought to you by Discovery Education, in partnership with the REMC Association of Michigan and your local REMC center hosts.
Lunch is provided
SCECHs Available: 5
Register here: https://goo.gl/Fx9ZZj
METS Virtual Rally
As snow has now fallen throughout our beautiful state, it is time to start thinking about the annual METS Winter Rally. The METS Winter Rally is a virtual rally that is designed for you to do from your desk but to still be able to connect and interact with fellow METS Members. Register for this wonderful professional opportunity here.
Date/Time: February 8th from 8-11:45am
MACUL Workshops
Cultivating Curiosity: MACUL 2019
It's not too late to register for the MACUL conference! The annual Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) Conference is March 20-22, 2019 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, MI.
NEW REMC Virtual Courses!
- OER to Support Early Literacy
- Student-Designed OER for 21st Century Learning
- Inquiry and Questioning: Igniting Student Curiosity with Technology, Level 1
- Authentic Student Learning and Gamification
- Applying Google Apps for Education in Chrome, Level 1
- Transforming Education - Maker Movement
- Increasing Efficiency and Productivity
Courses begin January 7th and you can earn between 6 and 10 SCECHs per course.
Tech support
Put in a ticket here: https://service.jcisd.org/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk.woa
Connect with Us!
Email: edtechteamjxn@gmail.com
Website: edtech.jcisd.org
Location: 6700 Browns Lake Road, Jackson, MI, United States
Facebook: facebook.com/teamjxn1
Twitter: @edtechjxn