M A R C H
the
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I S S U E
# 5
techNOW Newsletter
Office of Instructional Technology
Mr. George Loper, CITO http://www.desotocountyschools.org/ITD
"It's not about the devices...it's about the relationships that they allow us to build with students." --Brad Waid
CONTENTS: ♦ Apps of the Month ♦ Frequently Asked Questions ♦ Tech Tips of the Month ♦ Formative Assessment ♦ Computer 101 ♦ Website & Web Tip of the Month ♦ CEU Information ♦ State Testing Requirements
Students at LCMS enjoy a great movie
Two classes at LES share wonderings
called "Stand Up for Freedom" from
about frogs on Padlet before reading
Learn360 for Black History Month.
"Flashy Fantastic Rainforest Frogs".
MARCH is Wom en's History Month:
There are some great videos available for Women's History Month on learn360.infobase.com. Send in a tech support ticket from your desktop for help! Top favorites in our district include (click and login to view):
*Fannie Lou Hamer *The Feminist Movement *Women at War *Great Women in American History: Famous Americans *First Ladies (K-5) *Women of Science
Focus Training Sessions in March Include: Elementary:
Middle:
High:
School Status
School Status
School Status
Technology makes them smile! Students in Mrs. Pinckley's class use Padlet to write book reviews of student writing. Sen d us you r p ic s o f st ude nt s u si n g t ech in Y OUR classroom to Tin a St re ete r at t in a.st ree ter@dcsms.org!
Don't forget to stop by and discover something new via your CTC...
TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Cassie's App of the Month : App Portal
Cassie Sanders, CTC
Center Hill & Horn Lake Zones
You may have noticed the app on the iPads that looks like flames or sails. This is what we refer to as an App Portal. If you have requested apps and we have “pushed” them to the iPads, this is where you can find them. Sometimes, they don’t show up when they are told to. If this is the case, you may be asked to look in the app portal and manually install them. This kiosk will allow you to install any apps to the iPads we have placed in there or that you have requested for us to install.
FAQ: Where did my icons on my desktop
Cassie's Technology Tip of the Month:
ANSWER: Be sure you are logged into the
Using Your MacBook to Mirror iPads or iPhones
go and where is my printer?
computer with your username and password. If you are logged in as a student, your icons will not show up and the printers you normally print to, are not going to be an option.
Step 1: Connect your iPhone directly to your Mac by using your Lightning to USB cable. Step 2: Open QuickTime Player and choose File >
New Movie Recording.
Follow Cassie on Twitter! @cassie_e
Step 3: Select your iPhone as the Camera using the
dropdown menu to the right of the record button.
Mrs. Jama Smith's 5th grade students at OES
Now, your phone should be mirrored onto your Mac. Optionally, you can also record a screen capture of your device.
busy exploring Wonderopolis on the iPads in preparation for non-fiction writing. 2
TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Tyler's App of the Month : Day One
Day One is a journaling tool that works on iPhone, Android and Mac. There are many reasons you would want to keep a journal of your day; reflections on the day’s lessons, keeping a picture of something important, remembering what you did last week. All of these functions are central in Day One, and most important, Day One is easy to use.
FAQ: If I upload stuff to OneDrive, won't
Tyler Cummings, CTC
CTCW, DCAC/Magnolia & Southaven Zones
Tyler's Technology Tip of the Month:
everyone be able to see it?
Google Timer
ANSWER:
No. At its most basic, OneDrive is just a thumb drive in the sky. OneDrive’s default setting is set to private, so anything you put in OneDrive will be secure and hidden from everyone else. The beauty of OneDrive is that you can also choose to share files with others. If you choose to share, you’ll have options that allow others to edit the file or to just view the file. But, again, if you only use OneDrive as a thumb/flash drive, you’re going to be better off when your computer accidentally crashes.
If you need a timer, Google can do that for you. All you need to do is type “Timer 15 minutes” into a Google search bar and your first result will be a 15 minute timer. It will beep like a digital watch when the timer is done (unless you choose to turn the sound off) and you can make it full screen by clicking on the square in the bottom right corner.
Follow Tyle r on Twitter! @tylercummings
Students at CTCE using the forklift simulator.
Students enjoy MyOn Reader on
4th Grade Spotlight Students at WES
World Read-Aloud Day at OES.
practice their PowerPoint skills!
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TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Shelby's App of the Month : Nearpod
Shelby Elmore, CTC Hernando & Lake Cormorant Zones
Student Engagement is a key element in any teacher’s lesson. Captivating Students with your presentation is a snap with NearPod. NearPod has all of the convenience of a PowerPoint but does so much more. Want to embed a poll on a slide? NearPod allows you to create the poll question slide, get input from students and display results in realtime for use on your Interactive Whiteboard. Need to track student participation? This app does that too! Students enter a Session Code and viola! You control when the slide moves so everyone stays on the same slide until you advance. You can even search through a vast number of ready-made lessons saved and shared within NearPod’s platform.
FAQ: Is there a way to keep my Mac
Shelby's Technology Tip of the Month:
from going to sleep or going to a screensaver during a lecture?
Passwords can be a real pain! So many characters, not enough symbols...How are we supposed to remember them all? In the future, we will have computers that have facial recognition capabilities and just “know” us when we get ready to log in. Until that day, I have a suggestion. No matter what kind of phone you have, Android or iOS, you have some sort of Note app. Create a Note called Passwords and everytime you create a new account or a new password, put the website/account on that note with the password you created. It’s not as hightech as a digital token or a password manager, but it is pass-code protected on your phone. Since most of us rarely go anywhere without our phone, it’s a perfect password keeper. Your notes are usually backed up and/or stored in the cloud somewhere so if you ever lose or damage your phone, the passwords are still accessible.
ANSWER:
Have you ever been right in the middle of a lesson and your MacBook’s screensaver popped up, or worse—it just went to sleep? Lighthead Software has a great free app in the Mac App Store called Caffeine. Caffeine keeps your MacBook awake during presentations or long videos. After you’ve downloaded this free app from the Mac App Store, you will notice a coffee cup in the top tool bar near the battery indicator. By clicking on the coffee cup, you can toggle the program on or off. When you’re finished, just click on the coffee cup once more and your power saving settings resume. Power Saving settings prolong the life of your Mac, so I don’t recommend changing them permanently. Caffeine can make a Mac work around YOUR schedule.
Follow Shelby on Twitter! @ctselmore
Learning about "Apps in the Classroom" with
Mrs. Artons' class at HHES use the Duckster
Shelby Elmore at Lake Cormorant Middle!
website to research an assigned president. 4
TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Stacey's App of the Month : Doodle Buddy Doodle Buddy Gold is the most fun you can have with your finger! Finger paint with your favorite colors and drop in playful stamps. Connect with a friend to draw together over the Internet. Stacey Moultrie, CTC
Lewisburg & Olive Branch Zones
FAQ: Why are my Promethean board
Stacey's Technology Tip of the Month:
speakers no longer working?
ANSWER: Most likely the reason that your
Please do not place papers or items on top of your desktop computer. If the fans, that cool the computer down are covered up, it will cause your computer to overheat and eventually crash.
speakers are not working is simply because the Stand By button on the side of the board is turned off and is the color red. If it is off, press it, turn it on and make sure the volume is up and your sound should work. If for some reason this does not work please contact your classroom technology coach. Follow Stacey on Twitter! @staceymoultrie7
Students in Rye's classroom at LES love using sumdog.com to sharpen their math skills!
In the LES library, surrounded by books, Abigail Tierney and Riley Ware (LPS 1st graders) choose ebooks for a little before school reading. 5
TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Jennifer's App of the Month : MyScript Calculator
Jennifer Klinger, CTC
Easy, simple and intuitive, just write the mathematical expression on the screen then let the MyScript Calculator technology perform its magic converting symbols and numbers to digital text and delivering the results in real time. It has amazing handwriting recognition! This would be a great app to allow students to check their math work in class.
CTCE & DeSoto Central Zones
FAQ: Who can see the files I have in my
Jennifer's Technology Tip of the Month:
OneDrive? Utilize your projector remote for more than the power button! Look for these other useful features:
ANSWER:
All files that you upload and store in your OneDrive are private initially – unless you decide to share them. You can easily share a file with everyone in our organization by placing it in the Shared with Everyone folder.
Freeze – allows you to freeze the current image you are projecting for your students while allowing you to take attendance, import grades, check email, perform safer Google image searches, etc.
Or you can choose to share files only with specified co-workers so you can collaborate on projects.
Zoom – text or images too small for the students in the back of the room to see? Use the zoom feature!
To share a file or a folder, right-click over the title of the item you want to share and choose Share. Be aware of the rights you are giving to the person you are sharing the file with. Can edit is the default option, meaning they can make changes to that file. However, you can change it to can view, which means they will only get a copy to view and can’t alter your file.
A/V Mute – need to turn off your projector for a few minutes, but hate the wait time it takes to turn it back on? Use this button to turn off the bulb only, and not the projector itself. (not available on all models) Source Search – Use this feature to choose your source for projecting.
Follow Jennifer o n Twitter! @dcsctc
Students at DCES using FolletShelf!
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TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Tina's Website of the Month : Twitter
Tina Streeter
Webmaster/Learn360 Coordinator
Follow Tina on twitter at: tinastreeter2 More Websites to Consider: *Tina's Teacher Website Help *DCSTeachers.com Great Websites & Games
Have you gotten a twitter account yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Once you get an account, install the app on your phone, invite your students and colleagues to follow you, and follow your favorite people or accounts, then you are ready to go! Simply give your students your twitter handle or embed your twitter feed inside your teacher webpage and suddenly you and your students are communicating effectively. Click here for a quick tutorial of embedding your twitter feed. Inside the classroom, Twitter can be used to review lessons and remind students what is going to be covered in class that day or the next. Students will think you are the coolest teacher ever! Teachers say tweeting a few quick review questions and some good web sites add depth to their lessons. In turn, students can tweet their own questions and observations and collaborate with each other. Be sure to go over net etiquette with your students before you encourage them to participate. Click here for some tips and activities you can use to educate your students in net etiquette and cyber-bullying. Superintendent Uselton had the great idea to ask everyone to use the #TeamDCS hashtag when tweeting about things you and your students are doing in the classroom. This hashtag will help you be able to see our entire district activity when you start using it. Don't forget to type #TeamDCS when you tweet! You and your students might even get a response from Mr. Uselton!
*Teaching Shakespeare
Here are some links to get you started:
*PBS Kids Go! *National Geographic for Education *GeoGebra
The Twitter Handbook for Teachers 9 Great Reasons Teachers Should Use Twitter How to Favorite Great Tweets and Read them Later
Tina's Website Tip of the Month: Adding study guides, handouts, newsletters, etc. to your teacher website: 1. Make sure your File Manager is enabled for public viewing: Page Settings, check the active status button beside the File Manager section, and click Save. 2. Choose the File Manager on the left side navigation bar. 3. Create a category for your files and click Next. 4. Click the Add Files section. 5. Click the Browse button. 6. Find your file and choose Open. 7. Click the Upload button. 8. Click the Close button to close the popup window. Need a visual? Click here to download paper instructions.
Group collaboration & research in Mrs. Willingham's class at OBMS in order to create chronological timelines of events in a specific source of energy.
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TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Computer 101 with Mr. Hicks : Common Computer Mishaps It’s easy to make mistakes when using a computer, whether you’re a technology novice or a pro. Here is a list of some common mistakes you’ll want to avoid. Not Saving Work: Have you ever been typing a long document or presentation and then your computer locks up? Sometimes this can cause data loss, meaning you’ll have to re-do all of your hard work. Saving often can Pete Hicks help avoid data loss due to unforeseen technical issues. Asst. Director Not Backing Up Your Data: All computers will eventually fail. Sometimes they can go for years, but sometimes it’s only a few months before they experience hardware problems. When it comes to your important files, don’t “put all of your eggs in one basket.” Make backup copies on USB Flash Drives, External Hard Drives, or in the Cloud. Don’t wait until your files are gone before you realize that you can’t live without them! Clicking Next or OK without reading: Sometimes you will be presented with a screen requiring you to click Next or OK before proceeding. Many times, we’ll just click anything to make the message go away. Sometimes, you end up getting more than you bargained for. Be sure to read before you click. Turning Off Your Computer the Wrong Way: It’s the end of the day and you’re tired. But don’t forget to turn your computer off. You’ll want to save any work, close all programs, and then Shut down the Operating System the proper way. Turning off your computer improperly can lead to data loss or corruption. Not Keeping the Operating System Up-to-Date: Computers and programs are constantly being improved. New bugs are found and corrected all the time. Your computer won’t get the “fix” if you don’t keep it up to date. Enabling automatic updates and rebooting your computer will help make sure you stay current with the latest updates.
Please let your students know about "Camp Invention"! Click the flyer for more information.
CAMP INVENTION REGISTRATION INFO: Horn Lake Intermediate School 6585 Horn Lake Rd. Horn Lake, MS 38637
June 20 - June 24, 2016 from 8:00am to 2:30pm Directed by Tymara Dunlap tymara.dunlap@dcsms.org
A student at CTCW handles the "virtual welder" donated from Homer Skelton.
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Price $220 (Before discount) Register your rising 1st - 6th grade child today and use these discounts to save at campinvention.org
TECHNOW NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2016
ISSUE #5
Updated C ase 21 Spring Calendars: Michael Putnam Formative Assessment
Elementary (Grades 3-5) Formative Assessment Plan 2nd Testing Window (March 21-29):
Tuesday 3/22: Wednesday 3/23: Tuesday 3/29:
MCCRS ELA (Grades 3,4,5) (Comprehensive of Current Grade Standards) MCCRS Math (Grades 3,4,5) (Cumulative of Current Grade Standards) MCCRS Make-ups
Tuesday 4/12: Wednesday 4/13:
3rd Benchmark Cumulative 3rd Benchmark Make-ups
5th Grade MST2 Science Testing Dates:
Middle (Grade 6-8) Formative Assessment Plan 2nd Testing Window (March 21-29):
Tuesday 3/22:
Wednesday 3/23:
Tuesday 3/29:
MCCRS ELA (Grade 6) (Comprehensive of Current Grade Standards MCCRS Math (Grade 7) (Cumulative of Current Grade Standards (Grade 7: All items are Calculator Active) MCCRS ELA (Grade 8) (Comprehensive of Current Grade Standards)
(Test Sched.) (Test Sched.)
MCCRS Math (Grade 6) (Cumulative of Current Grade Standards) (Grade 6: All items are Calculator Active) MCCRS ELA (Grade 7) (Comprehensive of Current Grade Standards) MCCRS Math (Grade 8) (Cumulative of Current Grade Standards) (Grade 8: All items are Calculator Active) MCCRS Make-ups Due
(Test Sched.)
(Test Sched.)
(Test Sched.) (Test Sched.)
8th Grade MST2 Science Testing Dates: Tuesday 4/12: Wednesday 4/13:
3rd Benchmark 3rd Benchmark Make-ups
Comprehensive
High (Grade 9 - 11) Formative Assessment Plan 2nd Testing Window (March 21 - 29):
Tuesday 3/22: Wednesday 3/23: Thursday 3/24: Tuesday 3/29:
MCCRS Algebra 1 SATP US History MCCRS English II SATP Biology Make-ups
(Year-long & Semester) (Semester) (Year-long & Semester) (Year-long & Semester)
(Cumulative of Current Grade Standards) (Cumulative of Current Grade Standards) (Comprehensive of Current Grade Standards) (Cumulative of Current Grade Standards)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
AVAILABLE CEUS are now posted online at: http://www.desotocountyschools.org/ceus
State Testing Requirements:
A full slate of CEU offerings will return in April. We hope you have a Wonderful Spring Break!!
Due to the requirement that a technology person be readily available anytime a state test is being administered, our Classroom Technology Coaches will not be able to keep a tight schedule beginning March 2. They will do their absolute best to meet the needs of their schools but they will not be able to spend as much time as they have at your school. I hope everyone has a “Happy� testing season! George Loper Follow Mr. Loper on Twitter! @DCS_CITO 9