School Year Wrap-Up
While we all get busy, and we ALL have a lot going on right now, this email newsletter is one that you REALLY NEED to read... for comprehension. :)
SAVE - SAVE - SAVE!!!
Due to some upcoming changes, as well as some needed housekeeping, you will need to save data from certain locations to some personal removable media (like a flash drive).
Teacher Webpages
The PISD board has approved the purchase of SchoolWires, a new content management system that will host our teacher webpages. Of course, this means that next year, we will be providing trainings to re-build your teacher webpages. Our current understanding is that no data will be transferred from SchoolWorld (our current webpage management system) to SchoolWires (the new one).
Any and all files that you want to keep from your webpage need to be backed up.
While we've been assured that our SchoolWorld websites are not being "taken down" until we're up and running on SchoolWires, we have entered into a period where nothing on our current system is being supported. If something were to happen to our data, nothing would be recoverable.
If there is anything that you would like to keep from your website (uploaded files, pictures, student work, etc.), you need to download it and save it on a personal drive. To do so, simply right click, and select "Save As..."
**NOTE** This will not be done for you.
ClassFiles
On Monday, June 8th, all files and folders in ClassFiles (the Apple) at every campus will be permanently deleted in order to free up drive space that is being held by unused files.
Anything that you have saved in ClassFiles that you would like to keep (and have the ethical right to keep), must be saved on your own personal drive. This will not be done for you, and no backup will be made.
**NOTE** This does not affect your H drive, only the ClassFiles drive (the Apple).
StuPublic
Similarly to ClassFiles, on Monday, June 8th, all files and folders in the StuPublic drive (the "Eyes") at every campus will be permanently deleted in order to free up drive space being held by unused files. While StuPublic mainly holds student work, if there is anything that you would like to keep (and have the ethical right to keep), you must save it to your own personal drive. Again, this will not be done for you, and no backup will be made.
**NOTE** This does not affect your H drive, only the StuPublic drive (the "Eyes").
Leaving the District?
Exporting Eduphoria Workshop
Even if you are not leaving the district, the instructions also include how to save your certificates, lesson plans, and PDAS evaluations/walkthroughs for your records.
Unsharing Planners
To do so, select "Change My Settings", then "Share My Planner" from the bottom left of the Eduphoria Forethought window. Highlight the teacher's names that you no longer want to share your planner with, then click "Remove Teacher".
*Note - this does not affect their planner at all; the only thing that happens is that your name will no longer appear in their left side "shared planners" panel. If you have planners shared with you that you no longer want shared with you, please email that person, asking to be removed.
Summer Tech Club
Each week will bring a different activity for students to explore and complete. These activities are designed to introduce students to various technology tools and allow them to explore and challenge themselves throughout the summer. There will be a different activity posted each Monday during the summer beginning June 8th and ending August 17, 2014.
Learn more about the Summer Tech Club here!
Sign up to get the group code here!
Summer Professional Development Opportunities
The Educational Technology Specialists are pleased to offer Summer Technology Professional Development for K-12 teachers on June 9-10 and August 3-4. All sessions are listed in Eduphoria Workshop, and open for sign-up. Topics include: BYOD, Coding 101, Elementary QR Codes, Graphics, Tech-Based Formative Assessment, Microsoft Office Components, Video Creation, and many more.
All sessions have limited capacity, depending on the location (look for the location on each session's details page), so register soon!
What's coming up
As mentioned previously, the District will be moving to a new webpage system for all district webpages. Training will be provided on the new system in the Fall, when it becomes available.
Interface Changes
In the Fall, both ThinkCentral and SAM (FasttMath/SMI) will be getting a facelift. More information will be provided at the campus Math Technology Trainings in September.
Join us on Social Media
YouTube
Under construction, but subscribe to get our future uploads!