Tech this out!
#closure2020 edition volume 3 (April 8)
In this newsletter:
But, get ready and get excited, because NEXT week, we are going live! (if you want to join us). Info will be coming soon about some virtual live learning! Voluntary Teachers Supporting Teachers, virtual edition coming your way!
These sessions will for sure be recorded, shared and on-going, because I do not want to be responsible for FOMO (That's Fear Of Missing Out) and Spring Break colliding! You do not need to choose between relaxing and learning... the recordings will be here for you when we return from Spring Break.
But for now, some videos and links for your backyard beach chair enjoyment!
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THIS JUST IN--- ST Math
ST Math is a site with visual math games to enhance learning for TK-8 students. Check it out if you want. The email is legitimate (thank you for questioning it) and it includes a username and a temporary password. Or, you can sign in through Clever if that is easier--- that is the way students will access.
So, yes, you can sign into ST Math and explore it (sign in for self paced learning, or live/pre-recorded webinar, just in can your are interested). Yes, you can use it with your students. No, you don't have to if you don't want to. No, we did not mean to catch you off guard with that! Sorry!
AND THIS *SUPER* JUST IN---- Online Books
I know there have been questions about how students can get books to read, and believe me, I've been looking for options that will be robust enough to keep our kids engaged. Here is what I found that I like the best, and I think you'll like it, too.
myON is an online text resource by Renaissance. It is not free, in fact it is really pricey, but they have allowed everyone access to a free open account. So, it is not full featured, but it is a lot of books that students can read, and they can search by topic, reading level etc. Many of the books also have AR quizzes. Here is the information you can share with students:
Login page: https://www.myon.com/school/readathome
- School Name: Read at Home
- Username: readnow
- Password: myon
Notice, this is an open account for everyone (like, everyone in the world, it looks like) so there isn't a "save your page" or "save your book" option. It might not be a browser tab they want to close.
Have your students check it out and see what they think. And thanks, Renaissance, for hooking us up with books!
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Now, let's talk about-- Recording video
So let's start with video recording-- there are two great tools that people seem to agree on: Screencastify and Flipgrid. You do not have to do anything video related, but I do want to remind you that your students probably miss you just as much as you might be missing them, and seeing/hearing you on repeat might be so awesome. Who would have guessed it? :)
Best thing about video? You can re-record if you don't like it! Here are some tips to get you started with Screencastify and Flipgrid!
You can use SCREENCASTIFY to create a recording
Screencastify is really pretty straight forward, and I bet you could follow the directions on Mission Control and do just great, but if you want to read more before diving in, @NiftyNef wants to help get you started! <--- Did you click because you are curious about NiftyNef? She looks like a lot of fun to learn from!
Or experience the video bulletin board of FLIPGRID
I know you will be hooked and will want to know more about the Flipgrid learning next week or after Spring Break!
And then, there's video conferencing with GOOGLE MEET
There has been a lot of discussion on the internet about Zoom vs. Meet, security, privacy, student access... a lot of things!
In Hueneme, we are recommending the use of Google Meet. Students need to be signed in with their @hsdschools.org account, or you will need to allow them to join. Either option works, but this helps keep only the people we want in our Meets.
Create your Meet with a NICKNAME
More info on this blog post (This is an awesome blog in general...) or this video is SOOO worth 7 minutes of your time.
A couple Chrome extensions for Google Meet
Click either button below from a Chrome browser and install. Students will be able to install from a Chromebook as well. (sorry, iPad teachers, these won't work for iPads)
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NEXT, let's consider a place to keep the week ORGANIZED for families
Seesaw makes the most sense for primary classes, and Google Classroom seems to be a better fit for older students, but you use whichever (or both?) you think matches your plan for your students.
If you didn't use one of these in your classroom before, let's try it out! I bet you will wonder why you waited and it will be part of your classroom when we return!
Google Classroom
Click the button below and check it out.
Seesaw
Look at their GETTING STARTED HELP RESOURCES <--- click there if you like to read stuff
or watch a PD in your PJs video <--- click there if your prefer video
And other training specific to Remote learning <--- click there for distance learning webinars for NEW users or CURRENT users
If you are curious, all teachers in Hueneme have Seesaw for Schools right now.
And also, ARCHIVE--- if you have a class you don't use, go to the class, click the wrench in the top right, then scroll all the way to the bottom and archive. That way we don't pay for students who aren't using it this year!
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Let's wrap up with some Tech Tips
Pesky Persistent Proxy Pop Up
Occassionally, the proxy popup comes up. THANK YOU for mentioning to your families that they don't sign in, they just say NOT NOW or CANCEL.
Sometimes, on the occasional device that gets the popup, it doesn't go away. UGH! But, don't panic. Most of those time, RESTARTING the device makes it go away.
Having said that, we are not okay with this either, and are trying to fix the issue. If a parent reports that the popup persists, tell them we know that is annoying, and we are trying to get it resolved. Maybe by the time you read this, it has been resolved!
Tech Support for Families
iPADS--- SELF SERVICE
THERE IS NO APP STORE on student iPads. This is a managed device, and that means several things-- one is that we manage what apps are available. You may need to explain to families that Self Service is our managed App Store.
- If you want students to use a new app, it may be in Self Service where families can go choose INSTALL and it will install. Remind them that they can't remove apps after installing them.
- Some apps may need to be updated--- there are new features all the time! To update an app, families will need to go into Self Service, find the app, and choose "Reinstall" to load the latest version of the app.
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Liz Hoppe, technology resource specialist
Email: lhoppe@hueneme.org
Website: www.hueneme.org
Location: The Hueneme Tech Lab
Phone: 805-488-3588 9832
Twitter: @hoppeteacher
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