WSD Tech News
January 22, 2017
New Lessons in Typing Club - Typing Jungle!
Some of the Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I disable the games/videos?
Yes, you can disable games and videos by changing the lesson type. Go to the lesson plan, and choose the game you want to disable. You will be brought to the edit lesson page where you can easily change the lesson type to "Standard Typing Lesson".
Will my students' progress be deleted?
No, your students' progress will remain saved in your account. The new features will not alter any data gathered up to now.
Is the switch mandatory?
No, the switch to the new lesson plan is not mandatory. You can choose to install Typing Jungle, or you can continue working in Typing Basics or any other custom lesson plan.
I'm in the middle of my semester. Should I start the new lesson plan?
We recommend finishing your current lesson plan first. Once students are finished with the current lesson plan, you can assign Typing Jungle. You can add new lesson types (games, videos, anchoring) to your current lesson plan.
Is there anything students have to do?
No, teachers are responsible for assigning new lessons. The student dashboard has been redesigned to allow easy navigation through the program. Students now have more setting options, such as one-hand typing guides and themes.
Dynamic Landscapes Call for Proposals - Many Opportunities!
Call for proposals is open! Students and adults can submit proposals this year. 100 students get free admission to the full conference this year... and did we mention there's a Student Keynote Competition?
We've got an incredible lineup this year at Dynamic Landscapes at Champlain College, May 22-23, 2017!
Our theme is 'Authentic Student Voices' and here's a snapshot of what that means...
Adults and students can submit proposals this year!
Call for proposals is OPEN! Show us those incredible student projects. Show us what problems students want to solve. Pitch a meaningful presentation to an audience. Yes... this means 100 students will get free admission to the conference... full access!
Student Keynote Competition!
Four students (or small groups) will keynote this VT Ed conference this year! It' a first in VT Education! These four will win a $250 grant for their school. Show us your innovation, your ideas, and your passion to change the world for the better.
Immersive workshops with an incredible lineup are taking shape
Dive into a 1/2 day or full day workshop on incredible topics.
Our Grand Prize is a 2K Innovation Grant!
We've got a lot of other prizes but let's face it... 2k? What could your school or project do with 2k? We'll hear from last years winner and draw another.
We have a large variety of workshop types and open labs...
...so you can build your own schedule.
Check out the DL Conference website to learn more... and do help us spread the word!
Registration will be opening soon! Stay tuned!
We hope to see you at Dynamic Landscapes 2017.
How to Tell Fake News from Real News
Newsela Teaches Students to Spot Fake News
Infographic: Tips to Spot Fake News
More Fake News Resources
How to Identify Fake News
1. 10 Ways to Spot a Fake News Article by EasyBib Blog
2. 4 Steps Schools Should Take to Combat Fake News by HuffPost
3. Lisa Nielsen’s take on Fake News
4. Battling Fake News in the Classroom by Edutopia
5. Fake News Antidote: Teaching Kids to Discern Fact from Fiction by NPR
6. 5 Strategies for Spotting Fake News (and why you need to) by Global Citizen
7. The Greatest Gift: Teaching Kids to Fight Fake News by Todd’s Brain
8. Combating Fake News by web20blog
9. The Problem with Fake News and how you can solve it (video) by John Spencer
10. Can you Tell Fake News from Real? by NPR
11. Most Student Don’t Know When Stories are Fake by Wall Street Journal
12. The Best Tips for Identifying Fake News in the Age of Trump by Teen Vogue
Using What We Have, Better
Voicethread - We revisited this at the 3-4 faculty meeting this week. It's easier to use than ever on either Chromebooks or iPads. (Google Integration is coming soon too!) Here's an example of a Voicethread one of my Exploratory groups worked on. Get in touch with Bonnie or Linda about login information if you've forgotten.
Read and Write for Google (grades 3-8) - Here's a playlist of YouTube How-To videos that was shared earlier in the year. We started a Google Slides set to contribute ideas for how we're using this dynamic tool. Let's refresh our efforts to share and support one another.
Screencasting - We shared this at the 3-4 faculty meeting too. Check out this link: 7 Super Screencasting Activities for ideas. All of our students have the Screencastify extension on their Google accounts. Teachers, add it if you don't have it! A powerful and amazing tool right at our fingertips!
Google Tools - Obviously we have access to great potential with these tools. Explore the resources on this page to get some fresh ideas. (explore by tool or by subject)
Contact Your Tech Integration Team
Linda and Bonnie
Email: bbirdsall@cssu.org
Website: http://www.cssu.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1039
Phone: (802)871-6024
Twitter: @bonniebird