Hofius Hi-Tech Highlights
Tech Tips for a 1:1 Chromebook Campus
January 8, 2019
Happy New Year!
Every Kid Needs a Champion
“Being a champion for all students means just that: all students. Not just ones who are likeable and want help but also the ones who might resist your efforts. Even then, your core values drive you to stay true to this belief. This unwavering hope and faith can be the model to inspire others to do the same for all students.”
― Jimmy Casas, Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes.
Personalized Learning Mini Conference
On February 2, 2019, the Professional & Digital Learning Department will host a Personalized Learning Mini Conference at our very own campus, Hofius Intermediate. Teachers, specialists, and administrators will be sharing their expertise in incorporating personalized learning experiences. Participants can earn up to 4 hours of exchange credit. Registration is now available in Eduphoria. Don't delay... sign up today!
Using the Kami Extension to Annotate on PDFs
Have you heard about Kami? It's a great Chrome extension which allows your students to annotate directly on electronic documents, including PDFs. Improve interaction and engagement in the classroom with Kami as your digital pen and paper.
Teachers save time
Tired of wasteful printing? Teachers save valuable time by using Kami, enabling them to enhance workflow and collaborate with their students in real time.
Students get work done
Students engage with Kami's user-friendly and vibrant interface, encouraging creativity as they learn. Enjoy a seamless experience with Google Drive Auto-Save feature.
School Districts save money
Get all the essential tools without the high price point. With Kami, schools and districts cut down on printing costs while saving the environment.
NEED MORE REASONS TO USE KAMI?
Check out the following videos to install Kami and then begin using it as a student and/or teacher.
NOTE: Klein ISD offers the free Kami version in the Chrome store which permits users to type and annotate on their documents. There are additional features available in the upgraded version; however, the upgrade is unnecessary for student needs.
Immersive Reader meets Flipgrid
Two great tech tools that support ELs have combined forces. Please check out this short VIDEO from Florinda Nale, the Hofius Language Instructional Specialist from the Department of Multilingual Services to see how to use the tool with your students
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For more information, read this Flipgrid blog post about empowering learners with Immersive Reader in Flipgrid.
Within Flipgrid, all students have an equal voice. The quietest students share their thoughts, opinions, reflections, and ideas right next to the students who always raise their hand in class. But for many learners, it is challenging to share their voice when they have trouble reading the discussion prompt.
Enter Immersive Reader
Part of Microsoft’s Learning Tools, Immersive Reader brings powerful, proven techniques to improve reading and writing for learners, regardless of their age or ability. Whether a learner is dyslexic, an early or struggling reader, an ELL student, or simply needs a little assistance, Immersive Reader makes reading and understanding easier.
We are proud to announce that Immersive Reader is now built into Flipgrid. Within Flipgrid Topics, Immersive Reader can:
- Read text aloud
- Change text size, font, spacing, and color
- Highlight parts of speech
- Break words into syllables
- Provide line focus
- Improve word understanding with picture dictionary
We hope this update helps your students as they share their beautiful voice!
Helpful Tech Guides and Information
Look for weekly Hofius Hi-Tech Highlights newsletters which will provide information about technology tips and upcoming trainings.
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Stacy Alexander
Email: salexander1@kleinisd.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/kleinisd.net/hofiusdls/home
Location: Office 1222
Phone: 832-375-8798
Twitter: @stacymalexander