Connecting Educators
October 2020
Seesaw: Embed a YouTube Video in an Activity
This method gets rid of the bordering videos usually seen when watching Youtube videos.
UPDATE: When you go to copy the link in Youtube, make sure to click the checkbox titled "Enable privacy-enhanced mode". This will make sure this method works for all devices viewing your videos.
You can find the video here.
YouTube: Enable Privacy Enhanced Mode
Tips for Using an iPad or Phone during a virtual meeting
Zoom and Google Meet tips to support using your phone, iPad as a document camera, or to share as a second screen. *For Districts that have this service enabled.
Zoom and Google Meet tips to take attendance during a virtual call. *For Districts that have this service enabled.
Zoom on Chromebooks - Tips for Success
Chromebooks can be challenged running Zoom. Zoom is a resource hungry app. These tips will help Zoom run more effectively on a Chromebook.
Updates from Powerschool!
- Reminder - Make sure your report cards are printing to support your new schedules and classes. If they need updates please submit a ticket to the PowerSchool team ASAP! These adjustments can take some time to change.
- Upcoming PowerSchool Admin data workshop. Learn how to maximize your student searches and tips on working with your PowerSchool data. Wednesday, December 9th. Sign-up will be distributed through the PowerSchool Email List.
- Join PowerSchool Admin Email List
- Join PowerSchool Teacher Email List
Google Updates
Google Sheets: New features
Anyone else love spreadsheets? No?, Well, if you did you would appreciate these updates especially the cleanup suggestions.
Column stats, which provides automated insights about the values within a column, so you can identify outliers and quickly get a sense of what your data looks like.
Find more information at New features to help improve and analyze data in Google Sheets
Attention English Teachers: New Google Docs Updates
It's no longer necessary to use additional addons to add, manage, and format academic citations in Google Docs. Students will not have to use additional tools when writing papers. Included are inserting in-text citations and creating a bibliography in APA, MLA, or Chicago style.
Google Meet: New Digital Whiteboarding
Tech Tools & Resources
Khan Academy Kids: App Updates
The Khan Academy Kids app has some useful updates. You can still create student profiles but now you can assign activities to students, view their completed work and accuracy and assign a student profile to a specific iPad.
Scroll to "existing users" in this post about the Khan Academy Kids app for more information.
Classroom Screen
Add a little variety to your class with Classroomscreen! It is an online tool that allows you to display the instructions for your lesson in a clear and visual way. Choose from over 12 widgets to support your class activities and help students get to work.
Widgets include a drawing tool, timer, traffic light, and more! https://classroomscreen.com/learn/
Virtual Literacy Tools: Word work for small group or centers
Word work for small groups or centers
Zoom: Closed captioning available
Zoom Accessibility Features are great for everyone! See the video below for more information to make your meetings meaningful.
Copyright Friendly Photos
This collection provides access to the public domain and free images that can be used in multimedia projects, websites, videos, portfolios, and more. Be sure to check the attribution rights. Find them here.
Legal Music for Videos
What is Persuasive Design?
Know the risks, safety tips, and what action steps you can take.
To learn more about how to protect yourself and students, download the attached infographic from National Online Safety.
Carbon Time: Transformations in Matter and Energy
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) Offering Free K-12 Presentations
PD Opportunities
Desmos Activity Builder Workshop Series
- Oct 14 - Getting Started with Desmos Activity Builder (AB)
- Oct 22 - Teaching Synchronously with Desmos Activity Builder
- Oct 27 - Create Custom Activities with Desmos Activity Builder
- Nov 12 - Using Desmos Activity Builder Asynchronously and Providing Feedback
- Dec 2 - Introduction to the Computational Layer in Desmos Activity Builder
- Dec 9 - Using Advanced Computational Layers with Desmos Activity Builder
There is no cost to attend. Sign up for individual workshops or for the entire series. Sessions will be recorded and the link shared with all who are registered for that session.
Closing: many math teachers are familiar with the powerful Desmos calculators. However, these workshops are not about using calculators. In these workshops teachers will learn to create engaging math lessons using the powerful Desmos Activity Builder.
REMC Return to Learning Toolkit
Teaching Strategies for Virtual and Blended Learning Environments
Additional sessions explore grade-specific practices for English Language Arts and Mathematics.
An Introduction to Teaching Strategies for Virtual and Blended Learning Environments
Growing Early Literacy Learners (Grades K-2)
Growing Intermediate Literacy Learners (Grades 3-5)
Growing Disciplinary Literacy Learners (Grades 6-12)
Help Students Demonstrate Mathematical Thinking (Grades K-2)
Help Students Demonstrate Mathematical Thinking (Grades 3-6)
Help Students Demonstrate Mathematical Thinking (Grades 7-12)
Registration & SCECHs are FREE. Link to Registration: https://bit.ly/3jDOBDO
Important Tips!!!
Tip #1: Log in to the secure network(your school) NOT the guest.
Tip #2: Log students and all other devices into the secure network, NOT the guest.
Tip #3: Put in a Support Ticket even if you think everyone else already has. How to Put in a Support Ticket
Tip #4: Choose the right options: Support Ticket Options
Tip #5: Give them specifics! How to Put in a GOOD Support Ticket
Tip #6: Continue to follow up with your Support Ticket
Click here for more tips!
Tech support
Connect with Us!
Email: edtechteamjxn@gmail.com
Website: edtech.jcisd.org
Location: 6700 Browns Lake Road, Jackson, MI, United States
Facebook: facebook.com/teamjxn1
Twitter: @edtechjxn