Wavelengths
Back to School Edition: Tech Integration Newsletter
Vol. 2 Issue 15 August 2017
This special edition is dedicated to important information for starting the 2017-18 school year. Included are changes to products, digital learning tools, and accessing resources that will impact your classroom, self nominations open August 4th to become an OPS Microsoft Innovative Educator Rookie, and good maintenance advice for your device.
Device Care (Let those Updates Run)
So be sure to login in, start your updates, then go grab a coffee and catch up with your colleagues then when you return you will be ready go!
**NOTICE** Activinspire Users
All users of ActivInspire Software (all editions and versions) are encouraged to migrate to Promethean’s ClassFlow. All ActivInspire Software users are encouraged to complete the product migration process to ClassFlow prior to December 31, 2017.
What does that mean to me as a teacher? ActivInspire software used with Promethean Boards will no longer be supported after June 2018, you will need to migrate your ActiveInspire flipcharts into ClassFlow. If you have 50 or more flipcharts there is a conversion service available until December 31, 2017.
- ActivInspire to Classflow bulk Conversion Service
Good news is ClassFlow will convert your SMART Notebooks, ActiveInspire Flipcharts, Powerpoints into their system to use with your students.
To learn more about ClassFlow contact one of our OPS trainers to set up a training in your building.
Microsoft Classroom Transitioning to Microsoft TEAMS
On May 2nd, 2017, Microsoft announced that TEAMS for education will be used in place of Microsoft Classroom. TEAMS with the added educational ability to create/sync classes provides a more collaborative and streamlined interface for users. Features within Microsoft Classroom that teachers currently utilize on a daily basis such as Assignments, Class Notebook, Files, and Conversations will remain available within TEAMS. The advantage comes in the opportunity to have increased discussion, collaboration, and assignments within one digital environment.
Microsoft TEAMS is replacing Microsoft Classroom as the tool for a digital classroom beginning with the 2017-18 school year. Need training, contact the OPS Tech Trainers (techtrainers@ops.org) or specific trainers listed below to schedule a training for your building.
Nominations OPEN! OPS Microsoft Innovative Educator
We are gearing up for another great year of the OPS Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) program! Each year we continue to expand and refine our program to better meet the MIE Vision: to develop educational leaders’ capacity to support 21st Century Teaching & Learning environments.
The MIE Mission is to participate in face-to-face and online sessions emphasizing instructional technology to support the District Strategic Plan, Academic Action Plan and School Improvement Plan through the district professional development model.
Program Structure
The program is a three-year commitment which provides on-going professional development which expects active participation in four face-to-face sessions each year.
- 1st Year: MIE Rookie – awareness level
- 2nd Year: MIE Pro – enhancing skill level
- 3rd Year: MIE Master – implementation level
Upon completion of year three the MIE becomes an MIE Mentor. They no longer actively attend the professional development sessions, yet continue to support the building’s instructional technology initiatives and MIE Rookies.
This will be our first year of MIE Mentors, therefore we will be accepting nominations for MIE Rookies to fill vacancies. Nominations will be accepted from both building leadership and self nomination. Deadline September 1st. Click Here to go to 2017-18 MIE Rookie Nomination Form.
Ideally each building will have at least two active MIE participants that attend the professional development sessions together. i.e. The MIE Rookie with either the MIE Pro or MIE Master
IMS provides for subs for all sessions offered during instructional time. IMS will make final selections with Principal approval.
Finding Elementary Curriculum Resources in Sharepoint
Technology Training Team
Debra Bordenkecher:
Technology Trainer, Classified Staff/TAC
Rebecca Chambers:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Mobile Learning Unit Lead Teacher
Melissa Cleaver:Instructional Technology Trainer, Project Coordinator
Eileen Heller:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Elementary Lead Teacher
Keegan Korf:
Common Sense Media, Digital Citizenship Lead Teacher
Kelly Means:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Project Coordinator
Amy Vester:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Secondary Lead Teacher
McKenzie White:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Library Lead Teacher
Email: techtrainers@ops.org
Website: http://techhub.ops.org/
Location: Omaha Public Schools, NE, United States
Phone: (531)299-9624
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opstechtrainers
Twitter: @OPStechtrainers