Tech Snacks
Byte-Sized Treats to Transform Learning 11.13.18
Win $500! Hour of Code Week is Almost Here!
Hello! Would you like for your students to explore ways to create with technology? Would you like to join in on the largest learning event in history and put your name in the hat to win a fabulous prize from Fayette County Department of Technology? If so, we hope you will sign up to participate in the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 3-9), is a great time to explore how fun coding can be and how it can help students develop thinking skills useful 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 see a teacher’s guide, please visit this site: https://code.org/learn
Ready to Participate?
1. Visit the Hour of Code website to register: https://hourofcode.com/us/.You could win a set of robots or physical computing kits to use with your students!
(Code.org is listed as an approved site on FCPS data sharing agreement page.)
2. Once you have registered to do an Hour of Code, register with Fayette County to let us know. The link to register is https://goo.gl/forms/DZPmO6XkIfOBSA8h1.
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 #fcpshourofcode2018 and #hourofcode2018. 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 did and send a few pictures to ashley.faulkner@fayette.kyschools.us. One elementary, one middle, and one high school teacher will win a $500 classroom technology grant from Fayette County.
If you would like to participate but need some help getting started, just ask. The Fayette County District Technology Resource teachers are more than happy to provide assistance if needed.
Join us at IAKSS for the Hour of Code Kick Off!
Cool Tools and Terrific Tips
Cool Tool: Screen Reader for Chromebooks -- Whether it's Canvas, Google Classroom, or an online article, some struggling students need assistance with their reading. If that's the case in your classroom, check out the Chrome extension, Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader, for an excellent tool. It is pretty impressive, especially when it comes to pronouncing difficult words or names.
Terrific Tip: Recovering a Closed Browser Tab -- for those who've ever had that freak-out moment where a browser tab is accidentally closed, fear no more. A simple Ctrl + Shift + T will calm those nerves and get you or students back on track.
Minecraft in the Classroom
Did you know that all FCPS staff and students have access to use Minecraft: Education Edition through our Microsoft agreement? Minecraft is much more than just a game. With the Education Edition, there is a world of resources available to help you harness this engaging tool in the classroom. Want to learn more? There will be a special webinar for FCPS staff on Thursday, Nov. 15th from 4:15 - 5:15. Just join this Skype link to hear lots of ideas to get you started. Also, be sure to check out the Minecraft: Education Edition website. It has lots of resources for teachers. If you want to get started with Minecraft, contact your STC. You just need a Windows 10 machine or iPads. (Sorry, it’s not Chromebook compatible.)
Upcoming PD Opportunities
Looking for engaging, hands-on, and relevant technology pd? Navigate to mylearningplan.com, click on ACTIVITY CATALOGS and DISTRICT CATALOG in the left hand menu to view full descriptions and to register.
Test Preparation with Blogger, Communities, Scholar and More! 11/14/18
This session is ONLY for those planning to take the Google Level 2 Certified Educator exam. This is part 2 of 2 sessions. If taking the exam, please register for both sessions. This session will include hands on tasks with Blogger, Communities, Scholar, and more.
Google for Education Level 1 Series: Chrome, Drive & Docs 11/15/18
Are you new to using Google tools? This session will get you started using Google Drive, Docs and the Chrome browser. We will cover the basics of these foundational tools so you will be prepared to use them in the classroom. This session is open to anyone, but is also part of a series for those seeking Level 1 Google Educator Certification. Those seeking certification should visit https://sites.google.com/fayette.kyschools.us/certification for more information.
Evaluate Student Assignments with Consistency Through Canvas Rubrics 11/28/18
One benefit of using Canvas Assignments is the Rubric feature. Learn how to build and share scoring guidelines that detail criteria and makes evaluation quick and consistent.
Google for Education Level 1 Series: Test Prep + Gmail/Calendar 11/29/18
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. Those seeking certification should visit https://sites.google.com/fayette.kyschools.us/certification for more information.
Utilize Canvas' Collaboration Tool to Increase Student Communication and Teamwork 12/5/18
There's a simple way to create student collaborative workspaces in Canvas using Google and 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: 701 East Main Street, Lexington, KY, USA
Twitter: @FCPSOIT