CLX Digital Lead Teacher Newsletter
October 2019
Digital Citizenship Theme for October: Media Balance and Digital Well Being
Have you ever had to tell your own kid (or perhaps yourself) that it's time for a screen break? Our students have access to tech at greater rates than they did just 5 years ago. Common Sense Education's topic, Media Balance and Digital Well Being, states that, "Students go beyond screen time to explore the impact their digital lives can have on their well-being and relationships while learning to balance media in their everyday lives."
High five to Ms. Hernandez (pictured below) for bringing the "Pause for People" lesson to her students! Don't forget! Share out your learning and I'll add you to the raffle for some swag. Thank you to those students that have added to our Internet Safety Flipgrid! Add your student responses here: https://flipgrid.com/7e7bace4
Using Flipgrid to highlight student voice!
Coding Club Update!
Starting next week, we'll start talking about the Hour of Code with a STEM challenge that considers empathy and uses code for good. I'm proud of their work!
Who can have pictures taken and who can't?! Media Release Info!
This month, all devices should be launched with Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs, GREEN SHEET), Media Releases (PINK SHEET) and Laptop Agreements (for 3-5th grades only). For students that do not have those turned in, please send home another copy. We will restrict accounts starting in October to those that do not have AUPs returned. Teachers, you can keep the laptop agreements in your room, but we do need the green and pink forms in the media center.
Here is our list of media restricted students that we will be updating as we receive those forms.
Upgrade your Social Studies lessons! Exciting new Google Earth Updates!
Google Earth
The new browser-based version of Google Earth makes it easier than ever to travel the planet, and to learn about the places where you land. Your students can explore the globe while you help them develop critical thinking and data visualization skills in all different subjects. As a start, check out interactive quizzes, track current hurricanes and tropical storms, and visit traditional homes all around the world. Or read how one educator plans to bring the Apollo 11 landing to his students this fall.
Google Earth Education Website
The Google Earth Education website is a central place to find classroom resources and activities, learn about other Google tools, or to get inspired. This is also where we have information about Privacy and Trust, and how you can safely use these tools with students. If videos are more your style, visit the Google Earth YouTube channel and discover how Earth and other mapping tools are changing the planet.
Google Earth Engine: Timelapse
Google Earth Engine brings together the world's satellite imagery and makes it available online with tools for scientists, researchers, and nations to mine the data to detect changes, map trends and quantify differences on the Earth's surface. One way you introduce your students to this technology is with our interactive timelapse viewer. Students can travel back in time and see how their communities and the world has changed over the past thirty-five years.
Level Up 3.0! Digital Learning Competencies and You!
In order to meet state requirements, I will continue to meet with all certified staff each month to deliver Digital Learning Competencies. As a reminder, if you are in the renewal cycle for 2019-20, you will be required to have 2 CEUs in the Digital Learning Competencies. The district Digital Lead Teachers have been working together to deliver PD to cover these standards and ensure that teachers receive content they need.
As we are in our third year, the format will change just a bit to give you more choice and allow you to dig deeper. Here's our DLC calendar to keep track of what we're doing this year.
We will continue to award CEUs to certified staff that take their learning beyond the conference room! You can refer to the CLX PD Calendar to see when these topics will be covered.
Our next session will be on Thursday, October 31st; it's going to be spooky!
Hashtags for Claxton:
#clxleaders #clxsocialjustice #theACSway
Hashtags for Educators:
#nced #5thchat #4thchat #2ndchat #3rdchat #1stchat #kinderchat #skype2learn #mysteryskype #edtech #TLIM
Broken tech? Contact your Tech Ninja: Shelly Powell!
Ms. Powell is our tech contact and media assistant rock star!
Something not working? Please put in a tech ticket: https://helpme.asheville.k12.nc.us/ The link can also be found under 'Staff' on the Claxton website. Type in your first.lastname and your ACS password (same as logging into your email OR network computer). Select 'Have a Problem?' and select 'Claxton help desk'. Once your tech is submitted, it gets emailed to me and Ms. Powell, which is the quickest way for us to manage our tech support.