Tech Snacks
Byte-Sized Treats to Transform Learning 11.12.19
Disguise a Turkey
Eels, chestnuts, pigeons, shellfish, and clams! Those are not the foods you would typically think of when preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, but those ARE the foods that the pilgrims ate during their feist. Maybe turkey dinner wasn’t a thing back then or maybe they just couldn’t find any turkeys because they were disguised well.
Want your kids to disguise their own turkey? Give the Disguise a Turkey activity a try! The Slide deck was created by Kelley Costa (@costasecond) and appears on the Control Alt Achieve website. In the activity, students will listen to a reading of Turkey Trouble, disguise their own turkey, and write an imaginative story about their turkey. Sounds like a lot more fun than eating eels for Thanksgiving!
Rewards for Your Students and Maybe a Reward for You!
It’s time to start thinking about Computer Science week, December 9-15. Join the movement and bring Computer Science to your classroom. Not sure where to start? Let’s start with Code.org who started this movement. There are tons of lessons and resources to help you get started. https://code.org/hourofcode/overview
You don’t have to be a computer genius to start programming and coding in your classroom. If your students are able to do block-based coding already, try adding some Java or Python to their bag of tricks. Go beyond “Hello World” (It’s a computer thing).
When students spend one hour completing the Hour of Code segments, they get a certificate of completion. Does it have to be all at one time? No! Do you have an hour over the week to allow students the chance to practice computer science? Yes! Don’t worry. Computational thinking doesn’t have to be all on a computer. Here are some low tech to no tech resources:
Plan now and join this exciting event. There might even be a nice classroom reward ($$$) coming for you and your students. #JustTryTech
Get Your Offline Google On with Chromebooks
Help students maximize their learning by showing them how to use those 1:1 Chromebooks in an offline environment. Whether the issue is no Internet connection at home or a planned wifi outage at school, work can continue with careful planning. Check out the No Internet? No Problem! slide presentation for ideas on how to save web pages, images, and more.
Just Move It!
If you are looking for a way to get your students, or your self, moving throughout the day, check out the extension called Move It! All you have to do is add the extension through Chrome Web Store, select your interval of time, and your screen will present you with a movement to give you and your students a brain break. When you have finished the exercise, simply press done and get back to work. When the selected time elapses, get ready for another random exercise.
Google for Beginners
Technology PD Just for You
Ready for engaging professional development sessions geared towards implementing technology into your classroom? We have over 40 sessions ready for you! Just hop on over to mylearningplan.com, and click on ACTIVITY CATALOGS and DISTRICT CATALOG in the left-hand menu. Type the word TECHNOLOGY in the search bar to locate and register for your choices.
Would you like to work toward your Google Educator Level 1 or Level 2 Certification? This year the Office of Instructional Technology will be offering a series of training for both Level 1 and Level 2 certifications to help prepare staff. Individuals can choose which sessions to attend, based on their individual needs, including a two-day boot-camp. A common testing opportunity will be available in the Spring for those who want to test with the group. Visit 2019-20 Google Certification Opportunities for details.
Google Level 2 Series: Gmail, Calendar, & Hangouts 11.13.19 with Paula Setser-Kissick
Go beyond the basics! During the first half of this session, you will learn more about the intermediate features of Gmail, Calendar, and Hangouts. 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.
Harness the Power of YouTube in Your Classroom 11.18.19 with Kelly Fischer
YouTube has proven to be one of the most widely used media curators for the classroom. There are hundreds of thousands of high quality, educational videos available for free. Explore the instructional power of playlists, personalized channels, subscriptions and other productive ways to utilize YouTube in your classroom. Although not required, this session may prepare attendees for the Google Level 1 Certification exam. If you are interested in certification, please visit the FCPS Google Testing Site for related sessions and detailed information.
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.
FCPS Office of Instructional Technology
Email: fcps.oit@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: blogs.fcps.net
Location: 1126 Russell Cave Road, Lexington, KY, USA
Phone: 8593814680
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fcpsoitlexky/
Twitter: @FCPSOIT