Don't be a Grinch! Help me stop the Grinch!!

During this time year it can be a challenge NOT to be a Grinch. Believe me, I know...

So, here is a little Christmas cheer.  Please stop the Grinch from stealing Christmas or, in this case, from stealing the ACSDTECH website.

As I stop and reflect on the tech changes from last year, I recall working hard updating the ACSDTECH website last December. Unfortunately this December, time did not allow me to do so as my family has been my top priority. I did, however, keep my New Year’s Resolutions from last year.   

My resolutions last year were to post once a month on ACSDBLOG  (during the school year), and to do a better job updating the ACSDTECH website throughout the year. I wanted to send a friendly reminder that both the ACSDBLOG and ACSDTECH website are valuable resources. Enjoy the following activity!

This activity is in the hopes that you navigate through the  #ACSDTECH WEBSITE and see what it has to offer. Don’t be a Grinch!

Activity:

The Grinch is hiding 6 times throughout the website.  Can you find him?  Click on the form below to complete the activity.   

Can you find GRINCH "Stealing" Christmas on the #acsdtech Website?? -- FORM

Here are the top posts from the last year. Check them out again or for the first time!

November Technology Blessings - ACSD Symbaloo, Google Photos, Plickers, TLC Tools, and Zooburst

Parents NOW can view assignments from Google Classroom, OSMO HERE, and Lunch with Tech..what more could you ask for?

Time, Time, Time.....and Need More Time

No More 3 Ring Binder -- Online Portfolio

#ACSDTECH

#HAPPYHOLIDAYS

By: Jessica Fincel

@jfincel32

"November Technology Blessings" - ACSD Symbaloo, Google Photos, Plickers, TLC Tools, and Zooburst

The month of November has been filled with many "technology blessings".

SYMBALOO

There is a new shortcut for the Symbaloo Pages on the ACSD District Website (see image below).  

Students and Parents NOW have quick access from home.

GOOGLE PHOTOS

Do you need a great place to store your most prized possessions?  Google Photos is a great way “Backup” or Edit Google Photos.

How to Back up your photos and documents

More about Google Photos

PLICKERS

You may vaguely remember the Plicker activity during August’s inservice.  Do you remember waving a piece a paper in the air??  Yup - that is a Plicker card! It’s a fun way for students to respond with no student device needed.  

Image Source: www.plickers.com

Plickers is a powerful simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data.

Plickers FAQs

Each media center now has a set of 40 laminated Plicker Cards available to check out. You may also create your own set, but this is a great way to get started and test it out without all the mess.  

TLC Lead team has shared some really good tools that I would love to share.

Check out Zaption and GoFormative.

• Zaption ~Turns online videos into interactive learning experiences that engage students and deepen understanding.

• GoFormative - GoFormative runs on any internet connected device and is optimized for any 1:1, flipped, or blended classroom.  This is a great replacement of the website Infused Learning.

Special Announcement -- Zooburst is back with 30 licenses until August 2016.  Take advantage of this opportunity!

ZooBurst is a digital storytelling tool that lets anyone easily create his or her own 3D pop-up books. Using ZooBurst, storytellers of any age can create their own rich worlds in which their stories can come to life.

Click HERE to view a Zooburst sample by a 2nd Grade student.

By: Jessica Fincel
@jfincel32

Parents NOW can View Assignments from Google Classroom, OSMO HERE, and Lunch with Tech..what more could you ask for?

Google Classroom

It is now possible for parents to view assignments that are posted in Google Classroom. How you want to know?  Share your Google Classroom Calendar - Public and Post on your website.

Click Here for Instructions

OSMO is HERE!!!

What is OSMO??

https://www.playosmo.com/

https://youtu.be/CbwIJMz9PAQ

Samples of Masterpiece

Trojan Head by Heather

Girl Power by Heather

• Each building has an IPAD and OSMO to check out in your building Media Center.
• Click HERE for details

“Lunch with Tech” -- All staff are welcomed!

Bring your own lunch to the media center.  Stop by during the dates and times listed below.  We will begin a quick demo at the beginning of each time slot.   It is  a great opportunity to receive “yummy” dessert and tech tips.  “Lunch with Tech” will be quick demos on some of the new tools that have been sent out lately. Come join the fun.  

November 5th @ Schuler Media Center

Time Slot 1: 11:40AM - 12:00PM

Time Slot 2: 12:10PM - 12:30PM

November 9th @ Schuler Media Center

Time Slot 1: 11:40AM - 12:00PM

Time Slot 2: 12:10PM - 12:30PM

November 10 @ Washington Media Center

Time Slot 1 - 11:35AM - 11:55AM

Time Slot 2: 12:00PM - 12:20PM

Time Slot 3: 12:25PM - 12:45PM

November 16 @ AHS ICN Room

11:24AM - 12:45PM

Time Slot 1: A Lunch
Time Slot 2: B Lunch

November 17 @ Washington Media Center

Time Slot 1 - 11:35AM - 11:55AM

Time Slot 2: 12:00PM - 12:20PM

Time Slot 3: 12:25PM - 12:45PM

Next time you see a Washington Staff member give them a HIGH FIVE!!l

Check out their great pumpkin decorating skills!  They also deserve kudos for launching Standard Based Report Cards this quarter in JMC. JOB WELL DONE!!  Thanks!!

More than ever you want more time…

Check out the last post for Time Saving Tips.

Question of the Month?

One Space or Two spaces after a Period...

Answer: One Space

By: Jessica Fincel

@jfincel32

Time, Time, Time.....and Need More Time

Below are some TIME SAVING tips and tricks.  These tips and tricks will save you time.  In today’s society, having time to do the things you want or need to do is hard to come by.  

Time Saver 1

Q1: Do you need or want to convert a pdf to an editable document and don't have TIME to type it?

A1: Yes! Google Docs can convert a pdf to an editable document.

Ask DeeAnn if this saved her tons of time.

Tutorial - Youtube Video By Jessica

Written Instructions

Time Saver 2

Q2: Do you want to manage TIME in the classroom more efficiently? Do you want to students stay on task?

A2: Yes and Yes! Using Google Classroom and the Google Classroom Extension will do just that!

Check Out Alice Keeler’s Blog Post on Google Classroom Share Extension.

Google Apps Support Page - Classroom Share Extension

If you are using Google Classroom.... you WANT and NEED to USE this.

Note: The tech office has “Pushed Out” the Google Classroom Share Extension for EVERYONE!  You will need to have your students logging into their chrome vs gmail. See Time Saver 5 for details.

Time Saver 3

Q3: Do you need TIME to write a paper and don't have the typing skills to get it done fast?

A3: Yes! Google Doc has a new feature called Voice Typing. (Speech to Text)

Time Saver 4

Q4: Do you have a document, spreadsheet, and/or presentation due and don't have the TIME to start from scratch?

A4: Yes! Check out Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides and their New Templates they have to offer.

Document: docs.google.com

Spreadsheet: sheets.google.com

Presentation: slides.google.com

Drive: https://drive.google.com/a/atlanticiaschools.org/templates?view=domain

Time Saver 5

Q5: Do you wish you can save TIME logging students into their Google Apps Account?

A5: Yes! Having your students log into Chrome instead of Gmail does just that. It keeps them organized and they have the feel their own "personal" browser. It is like logging into a Chromebook.

Instructions below.

New Ways to Log in Google Apps -- Log into Google Chrome

****Challenge -- Please post your favorite time saver you plan or have used.****

POST HERE

A small token of my appreciation will be given when you make a post on the link above.

By: Jessica Fincel

@jfincel32

14-15 Reflection -- WOW!!

Well it is official!! This reflection is now an annual tradition.   After receiving very positive responses from the 2013-14 reflection,  we thought we should keep a good thing going.  The ACSD tech team wants to once again say GREAT JOB!!!  As we stop and reflect on the past year, we are amazed at all the things we have seen in various classrooms and in the district as a whole.  #ACSDTECH  Keep up the good work!!

Here are great examples of technology and learning that have been done this school year:

• Rolled Out 1 to 1 at AHS
• Successful Apple PD for AHS Staff
• Creative Glogsters created
• Online JMC - Standard Based Report Cards for Washington (Successful Trial)
• Google Classrooms used by many throughout the district
• Digital Citizenship taught through IBooks
• Launched Online textbooks for Math and Science (AHS)
• Sumdog, Sumdog, and More Sumdog
• Augmented Reality  -- Aurasma App
• OSMO was here and Back Again
• Hour of Code
• Scratch program used in STEM classes
• We now have 104 Members on “ACSDTWEEPS” Twitter Use -- Thanks AB
• Integrated new apps “Letter for School”, “Raz Kids” and many more
• Online P/T Conferences (AHS, Schuler, & Wash)
• Word Clouds created with Wordle
• Lego building online
• AIW Lessons VIdeotaped and Uploaded to Google Drive/Youtube
• Poetry Videos created on  WeVideo
• News Articles posted on Fodey
• Student created animated videos with Moovly
• Flippity use for Test Review
• Real Life technology used at AHS Career Day
• Moby Max, More.Starfall, and Facts 4 Me
• AHS Students updating RAM for Staff Computers
• Saving Interactive Whiteboard Math problems on the IWB and sharing it with absent students
• Flubaroo used at FFA Contest
• Successful online testing -- NWEA and IEOC
• Great uses of Interactive Whiteboard
• Awesome Webfolios created
• Teachers with an online presence (Blog or website)
• 2nd Grade Team finding great uses for their Chromebook Cart
• BrainPop Jr and BrainPop
• Google Apps used all over the place! =-)
• Implementation of Khan Academy for many new users
• Summer School TenMarks Initiative
• Mr. Northwick, Mr. Yates, and Mrs. Dickerson Presidential Campaign (iMovie)
• Great back channels with websites such as: Today's Meet, Padlet, and Twitter
• Google Hangout with Yemen Students
• Eye of the Needle Episodes
• Faculty loving their Point 2 Views
• Iowa Area Online
• Various videos uploaded to Youtube and Google Drive
• Symbaloos used for all buildings
• Online Assessments with Kahoot
• Students working on their writing skills through Kidblog and other Blogging tools
• Administrators modeling technology use through Google Forms, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Camtasia, Google Sites, Appointment Slots, and much more
• QR Codes posted throughout the district

.......................................and the list is never ending....................................

WHAT AN AMAZING JOB YOU HAVE ALL DONE!!!  

KEEP IT UP...

IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS!

“The education of a man is never completed until he dies.”

― Robert E. Lee

“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.”

―Peter Drucker

Come join the learning this summer.
2015 Summer Professional Development

THANKS -- TECH TEAM