DCSD Tech Tidbits 04.15.16
April 15, 2016
Awesome Job!
Heather Dyar (DHS) is using Desmos in her classroom. Desmos allows you to graph functions, plot tables of data, evaluate equations, explore transformations, and much more – for free!
Kim McLennen (DMS) is creating presentation in Haiku Deck. Haiku Deck is a free iPad app for creating slideshow presentations. There are two features of Haiku Deck that stand out. First, Haiku Deck intentionally limits how much text that you can put on each of your slides. Second, Haiku Deck helps you find Creative Commons licensed images for your presentations.
Getting Schooled on Schoology
Our Schoology Enterprise (which syncs with PowerSchool) is now ready for use! If you're interested in playing around with it, here is how you log in.
URL: lms.dcsdschools.org
You will need to log in with your Active Directory (AD) credentials.
Username: FirstName.LastName
Password: The same password you use for your Outlook email
Click here for a list of your Schoology Master Trainers
Mac Tip of The Week - 5 Apps You Should Be Using on Your Mac
Join DCSDTech for reminders, tips, resources, and giveaways!
Have Your Heard of TPT?
You can find flipcharts, templates for activities, ISN (Interactive Student Notebook) resources, and so much more! They also send out a weekly newsletter with link to free downloads - many of them are really good. Below you'll find the link to this week's newsletters (they have a different one for PreK-5 and 6-12. From here on out the current week's newsletter link will be included your weekly DCSD Tech Tidbits newsletter.
TPT - Vol 319: Grades PreK-5
TPT - Vol 320: Grades 6-12
Website of the Week: ReadWorks.Org
ReadWorks provides research-based units, lessons, and authentic, leveled non-fiction and literary passages directly to educators online, for free, to be shared broadly.
Texts include pre-made worksheets, quizzes, and other printable materials to enhance the lesson. ReadWorks is free for teachers to use.
What's really great is that you can find paired texts which makes it easier to address the standard where students are asked to compare texts.
App of The Week: Haiku Deck
Haiku Deck is a free website and iOS app for creating slideshow presentations. There are two features of Haiku Deck that stand out.
1. Limited Text
2. Assists with Creative Commons licensed images
When you type a word or words on your slides you can have Haiku Deck search for images for you. The images that Haiku Deck serves up are large enough to completely fill your slide. You can also upload your own images from your iPad or import images from Instagram and Facebook.
Click here to check out Richard Byrne's post on Haiku Deck with examples for teachers.
The White House and Michelle Obama Release $250M ‘Open eBooks’ App for Title I and Special Education Teachers
-via EdSurge
To access the app, educators can sign up on the OpeneBooks.net site and receive codes for their students. Using those codes, students can download the free Open eBooks app to mobile devices and access a library of eBooks.
#dcsdtransforms Slow Chat - Every Friday!
#DCSDtransforms Weekly Podcast
We're a GAFE district!
We've Gone Google!
DCSD is a Google Apps for Education (GAFE) district. All staff and students have Google accounts in the DCSD Google domain to facilitate communication, collaboration and publishing work.
Although Google Drive and other Google tools are accessible, teachers will continue to use MS Outlook for their email.
If you've never accessed it before, your Google login is firstname.lastname@darlington.k12.sc.us. Your temporary password is Password1 and then you will be prompted to change your password.
If you're having trouble logging into your Google account, please see your school wizard or a member of the DCSD Digital Transformation Academy.
Have A Personal Google Account? Learn How to Manage Multiple Google Accounts
SC Midlands Summit
Upstate Technology Conference (UTC)
Darlington County School District - Technology Department
Diane Sigmon, Director of Technology
Carla Jefferson, Instructional Technology Coordinator
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/darlington.k12.sc.us/dcsddti/home
Location: 120 E Smith Ave, Darlington, SC, United States
Phone: 843-398-2298
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/129354490748962/
Twitter: @dcsdtransforms