DeSoto County Schools Office of Instructional Technology Mr. George Loper, Chief Academic Officer george.loper@dcsms.org Visit Us At:
www.desotocountyschools.org/ITDept
"It's not about what teachers
cover... It's about what students discover..."
Issue #1
November 1, 2015
Welcome to our first edition of the instructional technology newsletter!
Inside ♦Apps of the Month ♦Frequently Asked Questions ♦Tech Tip of the Month ♦PALMS Assessment ♦Testing Dates ♦Website of the Month ♦November CEU Opportunities
We hope you will find this newsletter a helpful tool where you can go to get news, tips, and information about instructional technology. IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER... Your CTC (Classroom Technology Coach) will be doing focused training sessions on the following: Elementary Schools: iPads Middle Schools: Document Cameras High Schools: One Drive Be sure to be on the lookout for these quick training opportunities!
TechNOW Newsletter
November 2015
Cassie's App of the Month: Puffin App
Cassie Sanders, CTC Center Hill & Horn Lake Zones
Ever tried to play a game or watch a video on the iPad and was met the great news of “Adobe Flash is not supported?” Well here is the solution! Puffin Web Browser is an app that has the newest Adobe Flasher built into it. All you need to do is open the app and type in the website you would like to go to! Follow Cassie on Twitter: @cassie_e
FAQ: When will you update the iPads to the Cassie's Technology Tip of the Month: newest iOS?
ANSWER: Once all of the “bugs” have been worked out of the newest Apple operating system, we will begin to make our rounds updating the iPad carts. Please be patient with us as we do this.
Please remember to turn your projectors off when they are not being used. If you have a hard time remembering this, assign a student to help you remember. This will increase the life of your bulb greatly, and possibly help a student that might need a little extra attention receive it.
Tyler's App of the Month:
Paper by 53 This app is a beautifully designed list maker, note taker, design maker, and thought collector. The app includes a full suite of design tools and sharing options, and you can also follow friends who also use Paper. There are sample tutorials and tips included. Follow Tyler on Twitter: @tylercummings FAQ: How do I know if I need to put a ticket in for you or for the IT department?
ANSWER: Just put in the ticket. The system will send it to the person who is the most qualified to answer your question.
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Tyler Cummings, CTC CTCW, DCAC/Magnolia & Southaven Zones
Tyler's Technology Tip of the Month: Password Managers -‐ If you have trouble remembering your passwords or creating “unique and complex” passwords, get a password manager to do it for you. 1Password works with Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. The desktop versions can be expensive, but it is well worth the peace of mind.
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November 2015
Shelby's App of the Month: Socrative by Mastery Connect
Shelby Elmore, CTC Hernando & Lake Cormorant Zones
With Socrative, teachers can effectively assess standards, monitor student performance, and report student mastery to parents and administrators. The Socrative app is available on Android, iOS, and as a web-‐based tool making it ideal for BYOD, iPad or Netbook cart utilization. Cut down on grading test papers, create exit tickets, or challenge students with a Q&A skills space race. https://vimeo.com/122692905 Follow Shelby on Twitter: @ctselmore
FAQ: Where did my Quick Links home
Shelby's Technology Tip of the Month:
page go in Firefox and how do I get it back?
Choosing technology resources for your classroom
ANSWER: Click below for a video tutorial. can be tricky. In-‐App purchases and advertisements
that you cannot control are problems that can be avoided. Try utilizing websites such as www.edshelf.com and https://www.graphite.org/ to help narrow down your choices. You'll be able to match standards, see actual "Teacher" reviews, and explore only educational content.
Stacey's App of the Month: GarageBand
Ever wanted to add music to a poem or book review? Try using GarageBand. Use the microphone inside GarageBand and read an article, poem or summarize a book. Once you are finished with the voice recording you can add music from the GarageBand library or music from iTunes.
FAQ: How do I sign in to Content Stacey's Technology Tip of Keeper? the Month:
When you aren’t able to log into Stacey Moultrie, CTC Lewisburg & Olive Branch ANSWER: Use your computer log PowerSchool and it tells you to Zones in to sign in to the content keeper to contact your server administrator, bypass the red screen. Click the log you need to clear your internet in button, and a new grey screen browsing history. A simple Google Follow Stacey on appears. Use your computer log in search will explain how to clear out Twitter: to sign in. Once you are signed in, your browsing history and be sure @staceymoultrie7 leave that tab open and open a new to state which browser (Firefox, tab to go to the website that you Internet Explorer, Chrome) you are want to go to. using.
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November 2015
Jennifer's App of the Month: i-‐nigma i-‐nigma turns your camera into a sophisticated barcode reader. Thanks to exceptionally quick and robust scanning, it is regularly ranked as a top performer in this category. Have your students use this app to scan QR codes in the classroom. Jennifer Klinger, CTC
Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @dcsctc
CTCE & DeSoto Central Zones
FAQ: Can I project something to my students and work on something else at the same time?
ANSWER: Yes!
Jennifer's Technology Tip of the Month: The command key on your Macbook works like the control key on a PC for keyboard shortcuts. command + X = cut command + C = copy command + V = paste For more shortcuts, visit this website http://tinyurl.com/qdjbu6t or scan the QR code I made with Unitag!
From the Start menu on a PC:| -‐click Connect to a Projector, choose Extend. With your mouse, click and hold the program or video you want to show to your students and push it to the right until it disappears from your monitor and onto your projector image. On a Macbook: -‐open system preferences, and uncheck "Mirror Displays." With your trackpad, click and hold the program or video you want to show to your students and push it to the right until it disappears from your monitor and onto your projector image.
Quick Facts about PALMS Online Assessments: Since the year began, over 7,800 students have tested using the PALMS online assessments system. More than two dozen unique assessments have been created and administered. Of all the devices which have been used to access PALMS, iPads are the most utilized testing device. If you would like more information about PALMS, email Michael Putnam at michael.putnam@dcsms.org. 4
Michael Putnam Formative Assessment
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November 2015
Tina's Website of the Month: Weebly for Education DCS teachers are going wild over Weebly Websites for Education! Weebly will allow you to create a stunning class website with a drag and drop interface, tons of templates, a class blog and more. Add students to your account and they can blog in a private, password-‐protected area and even submit their assignments online! Look for CEU's on Weebly coming soon to a school near you! Tina Streeter
In the meantime, check out some of our teachers that have already created their classroom websites with Weebly by just clicking on their names: Joy Shinault, Sped Teacher at Tina's Technology Tip HLIS, Amy Lofton, 1st grade at HES, Jessica Lewis, 4th grade of the Month: at OBIS, Brooke Miles, Kindergarten at HES, Kamara Are you tired of searching over and over for that video Hawkins, Counselor at LCMS, and Scotti Miles, Sped at LHS. Webmaster/Learn360 Coordinator
you found once on Learn360.com and can't find it now? LOOK NO MORE! The following video tutorial will show you the basics of searching, finding resources/handouts, and making a video a favorite in Learn360.
More Websites to Consider: ♦ DCSTeachers.com ♦ DCS Instructional Technology WebPage ♦ Spotlight on Excellence
Follow Tina on Twitter: @tinastreeter2 Upcoming Testing Dates: ♦November 16 -‐ November 20: 3rd Grade Reading Summative Assessment Retest #3 ♦November 30 -‐ December 11: SATP2 (Subject Area Testing Program Second Edition) Pete Hicks Asst. Director ♦November 30 -‐December 11: MAP/Questar Assessment High School Students taking Algebra I and English II If you would like more information or online testing tech support, email Pete Hicks at pete.hicks@dcsms.org. 5
November CEU Sessions: Please go to Munis Self-Serve to register for these CEU sessions Shelby Elmore "Putting More Tech Into What You Teach" Where: Hernando High School When: October 29 and November 5 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Target Audience: High School Teachers
Cassie Sanders and Jennifer Klinger "Mac" Where: Center Hill Elementary When: November 10 and 17 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. Target Audience: Classroom Teachers with Smart Boards
Stacey Moultrie "Utilizing Your MacBook in the Classroom" Where: Olive Branch High School When: November 10 and 17 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Target Audience: Pre-K-12 Teachers Utilizing MacBooks in your Instruction
Pete Hicks "Technology Basics" Where: DeSoto Central Middle When: November 10 and 17 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Target Audience: Teachers wanting to know more about technology
Tina Streeter "Snap, Crackle, Pop Your Teacher Website: Part 2" Where: Horn Lake Middle When: November 5 and 12 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Target Audience: Pre-K-12 Teachers Platform: Weebly for Education
Jennifer Klinger and Cassie Sanders "MacBook - Getting Started" Where: DeSoto Central High When: November 5 and 12 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Target Audience: Teachers using MacBooks
Tyler Cummings "Using Technology in the Elementary Classroom" Where: Southaven Elementary When: November 9 and 16 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Target Audience: Pre-K-5 Teachers
Michael Putnam "How to Use the PALMS Online Testing Server" Where: County Office Computer Lab When: November 30 and December 7 4:00 until 6:30 p.m. Target Audience: K-12 Teachers
In the summer and fall of 2015, four DCS employees attended the Apple Foundations Trainer Academy in Cupertino, California, home of Apple headquarters. This training is designed to help educators gain technology skills and learn to use the features of Apple products and apps in an educational context. Chereda Daugherty, a math specialist, became a certified trainer in July, followed by Shannon Eldridge and April Holifield-‐Scott in September. Eldridge and Holifield-‐Scott both work to improve literacy in the district. In October, Stacey Moultrie, an instructional technology specialist, attended the training. The Apple Foundations Trainer Academy is an intense learning experience in which participants work hands-‐on with MacBooks and Ipads. Each day features lectures from experts, as w ell as presentations from participants, group projects created using Apple products, and strategies for using the products with teachers and students. In order to become a certified trainer, one must pass an exam at the end of the workshop. The newly certified trainers worked with their first group of principals and teachers in a course titled “Maximize Your MacBook.” This professional development focused on incorporating Keynote and iMovie into instruction. In the first session, the participants worked to increase their knowledge of Keynote while creating a Keynote that they could take back to their classrooms and schools to use. In the second session on November 11, individuals will work to create an iMovie presentation. These Apple Foundation Certified Trainers will continue to offer courses for schools and teachers to help them make the most of the Apple products in our district.
TechNOW Newsletter
November 2015