Tech Snacks
Byte-Sized Treats to Transform Learning 12.3.19
Chance to Win $500! Hour of Code Week is Almost Here!
Last day to register is December 9th to be entered to win $500.
The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 9-15), is a great time to for students to explore how fun coding can be and to develop thinking skills across disciplines. More than 100 million students worldwide have already tried an Hour of Code. You don’t even need access to a computer for your students to participate, AND… it’s FREE! If you would like to check out the activities students complete during Hour of Code or would like to see a teacher’s guide, please visit the Code.org website.
Ready to Participate?
1. Visit the Hour of Code website to register. You could win a set of robots or physical computing kits to use with your students!
2. Once you have registered with Hour of Code, register with Fayette County's site to let us know. When prompted, log in with your Fayette County email/password.
3. Have fun with your students doing the Hour of Code. Take pictures and use the hashtag #fcpshourofcode2019 #hourofcode2019 and #justtrytech. Make sure you check student photo/video permissions before posting!
4. Once the Hour of Code week is over, we will ask you to submit a short summary of the activities you completed and send a few pictures to ashley.faulkner@fayette.kyschools.us. Three teachers will be randomly selected to win a $500 classroom technology grant from Fayette County.Accessibility with Websites
So, you just finished creating your classroom website! Yea! Congrats! On the Homepage background, you've added the flower image you captured at the UK Arboretum and typed your name with a fancy font similar to one you found on Pinterest. Your mix of colors makes your page “pop” and draws attention to the pictures that are surrounded by text. Fantisimo! You are inspired and have created a masterpiece website...except, you forgot one thing; not all of our students and parents can view it.
This "masterpiece," though, limits the audience you can reach since unusual fonts and busy colors make a web page hard to view. However, by implementing accessibility compliance, you have the ability to expand your potential viewing audience. Accessibility issues are often targeted to increase the readability of images and text while making it easier for screen readers to follow text and links. There are several easy changes that you can implement to help your website meet accessibility standards. Follow along with this OIT guide.
Cool, Cute, or Clever: Customizing the Google Classroom Theme
For those who crave customization when it comes to online spaces, it's time for a little inspiration on tricking out your Google Classroom's appearance. Move beyond Google's theme offerings or simple photo uploads to trying your hand at some easy design. Use one of Canva's free templates or Alice Keeler's Google Classroom Header Template to make your classroom stand out to students. For Canva, all you need to do is log in and search for the phrase, "Google Classroom header." Use the various templates as a base for changing colors, images, text, and fonts or just making minor tweaks. If you're craving something more, use Keeler's Google Drawing template to add your own flair with these directions for creating a theme/header. Bitmoji, anyone?
One hangup does exist, though, involving Google's attention to accessibility needs. Uploaded headers and photographs are automatically darkened to make the Classroom name and class code text more visible, and there is currently no "fix" for it. It's Google's way to automatically overcome busy backgrounds to display the class name. However, the resulting dulled colors can be disappointing, so feel free to use the ? mark in the bottom left of the Classroom screen to make a request for brighter customized headers. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy a one-of-a-kind theme unique to your Google Classroom!
Remove Image Backgrounds
Technology PD Just For You!
Google Sites & Google + 12.4.19 with Jerry Broyles
Come and learn about Google Sites! We will use Google Sites to help us create customized classroom websites. Google Sites uses the WYSIWYG format for site creation and allows you to add text, links, images, audio recordings, videos, and more. Post homework, announcements, syllabi, and reading materials. We will investigate Google Plus Groups and how to employ them to support PLC work and instructional education. Although not required, this session may prepare attendees for the Google Level 1 Certification exam. If you are interested in certification, please visit FCPS Google Testing Site for related sessions and detailed information.
Level 2: Blogger, Communities, Scholar, Add-Ons, Keep, Trends, Translate 12.5.19 with Kelly Fischer
Go beyond the basics! During the first half of this session, you will learn more about the lesser-known Google apps such as Blogger, Communities, Scholar, Add-Ons, Keep, Trends & Translate. During the second half of this session, you will work to complete various tasks and respond to instructional scenarios in a simulated Google Testing environment. This session is part of the Google for Education Level 2 Certification.
Hour of Code - Code Breakers Edition 12.9.19 with Josh Rayburn
Crack the Code! Hour of Code is this week and this session will help you incorporate coding and Hour of Code events into your classroom tomorrow. Never coded before, come on! From beginning to advanced, come be a "Code Breaker".
Screencasting with Screencastify 12.12.19 with Julie Gaskin
Explore how to use Screencastify to communicate with students and parents and let's see how students can use Screencastify to demonstrate what they've learned, how they solved a problem, to give presentations.
Google Level 1: Test Prep + Gmail and Calendar 1.8.20 with Jerry Broyles
This session is ONLY for those planning to take the Google Level 1 Certified Educator exam. We will spend time practicing for the exam as well as covering what you need to know about Gmail and Calendar.
Connecting & Creating with a Chromebook (virtual training session) 1.9.20 with Josh Rayburn
Use your Chromebooks to allow students to create and connect to their world. This session will help inspire you to create on your Chromebook and look for ideas and knowledge to pass to your students. This training will be delivered by webinar via Zoom. Instructions for logging onto Zoom will be sent to participants' FCPS email addresses prior to the event. Participation can be on an Android or iOS device, Chromebook, desktop, or MacBook. Verification of participation after the webinar will confirm attendance for PD credit, and PD credit will be awarded. Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/250045912
Google Level 1 Test Prep + Hangouts, Groups and more!- Part 2 1.23.20 with Kelly Fischer
This review session is ONLY for those planning to take the Google Level 1 Certified Educator exam. We will explore Google Hangouts, Groups, and other apps not covered in previous sessions along with hands on practice tasks.
Utilize Canvas' Collaboration Tool to Increase Student Communication and Teamwork 1.27.20 with Paula Setser-Kissick
Check out a simple way to create student collaborative workspaces in Canvas using Google or Office 365. Learn about which types of tools are available, how to enable and setup Collaborations' spaces and how to manage workflow.
FCPS Office of Instructional Technology
Email: fcps.oit@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: blogs.fcps.net
Location: 1126 Russell Cave Road, Lexington, KY, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fcpsoitlexky/
Twitter: @FCPSOIT