LC21
Supporting 21st Century Classrooms in La Canada
Teaching Academic Honesty: It Starts with Images
Many of us work tireless to teach academic honesty, and we teach our students that plagiarism is defined as using the ideas of others without proper citation. It's important that we teach our students to be ethical digital citizens, and with that comes some boundaries. For example, it's really easy to just take any picture we find in Google Images, but should we? Could we get into trouble, even if we cite the source?
It turns out that just because it's available for "free" on the internet, we're not allowed to use just any image. It sometimes makes creating presentations a bit frustrating, but it's a great way to teach fair use of intellectual property.
Check out the Creative Commons page to learn about the different licenses that creators can apply to their work (and how we can use their creations): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Also, think about challenging your students to add a free Creative Commons license to their classwork. Sure, maybe others won't wan't to use a student's 7th grade cell illustration (or maybe they would!), but the process teaches students to value their own work, and, by extension, the work of others.
Of course, many of us teach our students to filter Google Image searches by "Licensed for Reuse with Modification." But did you know that there are some other sites that offer high-quality photos? Check out:
https://search.creativecommons.org/
Even better, have students take their own pictures--it'll add even more challenge and authenticity to their work. And apply a CC license to their work!
Keyboarding: A Lost Art...or a Vital Skill?
If you'd like to help your students improve keyboarding skills, Typing Club is available to LCUSD students in grades 3-8.
Contact David Paszkiewicz if you'd like to schedule a short workshop for your team, or a lunch-and-learn, or anything else that works for you.
(UPDATED) Online Assessments from CAASPP
Many teachers, especially in the younger grades, guide their students through the Training and Practice tests, which do not require a login and do not record student performance.
At each grade level, the CAASPP testing system includes other formative assessments that teachers can administer throughout the year, and that do provide teachers with insight into student performance. As in past years, the tech department will support you as you administer the Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs) to your students in the coming months. Please contact David and we'll be there to support you!
Check out the following links to learn more:
2016–17 Interim Assessment Blocks Overview
Breakdown of Standards in Each Assessment
LCUSD Tech Dept's Instruction Guide
(UPDATED: I've been going into classrooms to work with students on the practice tests, and it hit me that many of these online testing question types (highlight, drag-and-drop, drawing arrows or clicking in tables) are very foreign to many of our students. A few short sessions of introduction to the question types on the training tests, or reviewing how to read prompts (some of which are very complex, or multi-step) on the practice tests will be VERY valuable for your students.)
Tech Tips
TechWatch: New Chromebooks on the Horizon
However, Google has just announced some features coming to Chromebooks in the near future, including and outward-facing camera for multimedia production (and it also acts as a microscope!) and the ability to run touchscreen Android apps. From what I've seen, expect some great usability in Science classes!
Upcoming Professional Growth Opportunities
Tech Summer Camp for Grownups!
You've probably heard from your colleagues about the Google camps LCUSD hosted last year, and you've probably seen a few teachers and staff who proudly post their Certified Educator badges in their classrooms and email signatures.
If you want to sharpen your skills, join your fellow LCUSD educators at our 2017 camps. Whatever your skill level, you'll get individualized help from the tech staff, great new ideas from your colleagues, and lots of time to explore the Google Apps and apply them to your classroom. Learn how tools like Docs, Slides, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar, Youtube, Sites (and more) will help streamline your work, engage your students, communicate with parents, and take your practice to the next level. Camp sessions meet for 3 hours per day for 5 days. Each day, you’ll join your colleagues for a fast-paced (but laid-back) session to learn and apply your new knowledge to real-world activities. On the fifth day, you’ll have the opportunity to take the Google Level 1 Certification exam.
If you already have your Level 1 Certification and want to really expand your horizons, join us for the Level 2 camp. We have a lot in store for this group, and we'd love to have you join us as our pioneering group of Level 2 campers.
Google Certified Educator Level 1 Camp Sessions (SIGN UP HERE)
Dates: June 12th-16th
Time: 9am-12pm
Dates: June 12th-16th
Time: 2pm-5pm
Dates: July 17th-21st
Times: 9am-12pm
Dates: July 17th-21st
Time: 2pm-5pm
Google Certified Educator Level 2 Camp Session (Sign Up Here)
Dates: June 19th-23rd
Time: 2:00pm-5:00pmPLNs: Personal Learning Networks
Personal learning networks are formal or informal groups where educators can share best practices and get inspired by colleagues who share the same vision or struggles. You may have teacher friends in other schools who you share lessons with. You may be a member of a Facebook group focusing on education. You may have a Pinterest board with great project ideas. Or, you may follow some awesome educators on Twitter, which I've heard described as a big, noisy teachers' lounge. Twitter hosts EdChats where teachers can get together and tackle big issues, share lessons, or join a book club.
Here is a list of some great EdChats, compiled by ISTE
See you on Twitter!
CUE Conference
Join your colleagues at two great professional growth opportunities coming up in the next few months.
First up is the CUE Conference, Thursday-Saturday March 16-18, 2017. Over 5000 educators descend on Palm Springs for a this 3-day conference featuring presentations from educators, demos of new technology, and opportunities to see the latest in classroom innovations.
Learn more here: http://www.cue.org/conference
And see the menu of presentations here: https://cue2017nationalconference.sched.com/
Arcadia Innovation Summit
If you're looking for something more local, and FREE, don't miss the Arcadia Innovation Summit on January 23, 2017, at Arcadia High School. You'll see a lot of familiar faces from local schools among the 650 attendees, plus, if you have some innovative practices that could benefit other teachers, this is a great place to present. The Call for Presenters opens February 13.
Registration to attend just opened, but it fills up fast. Take 30 seconds to sign up today to reserve your spot!
Learn more here: http://www.arcadiainnovationsummit.com/
Greatest Hits from Past Newsletters
Digital Citizenship Lessons
We've established a plan to teach these lessons throughout the school year, and we hope that these lessons will bear fruit in our classroom cultures. At the 7/8 level, we've presented these lessons in every class, and we're applying to become a "Common Sense Certified School," demonstrating to our parents that we are putting emphasis on responsible use of technology. At the K-6 level, we encourage teachers and computer lab specialists to teach these lessons each trimester, or contact David Paszkiewicz who can visit as a guest teacher.
Want to know more about the LCUSD K-6 digital citizenship plan? Click here to see the scope and sequence.