TIS and That
Volume 6 , I s s ue 1
Au g u s t 2 5 , 2 0 1 7
Cyber Safety & Digital Lessons…
Contents Cyber Safety Lessons
1
SimpleK12
1
Connected Educators
2
Engaged Families
2
Technology Integration
2
Reading Corner
2
Accommodating Levels
3
Geography Fun!
3
New Tech Standards
3
Upcoming Dates
3
Keyboard Shortcuts
4
Article Contributors: Nicole Morris Romney Elementary School, Romney, WV Mary Aldridge G.W. Middle School, Eleanor, WV Brian Phillips J.M. Buckbee Juvenile Center, Augusta, WV
Now that we are back to school, our students once again become our main focus for the next ten months. As a teacher, I know that means I constantly think about how they can be safe and secure at school and home. It is our responsibility to make sure our students understand how to protect themselves when they are online and to become responsible digital citizens in this “wired world.” According to Common Sense Media’s 2016 report, Technology Addiction, over half of teens feel they are addicted to their mobile devices. This translates into students putting everything online for all to view and not caring or thinking about the consequences. By implementing digital safety and citizenship discussions with students, teachers can promote critical thinking skills and hopefully good decision-
making whenever students are online. One of the free online resources to assist teachers in integrating cyber safety and digital citizenship lessons into the curriculum is Common Sense Media at https://www.commonsense.org. Common Sense Media is an independent, non-profit organization that has prioritized the safe and responsible use of technology. They have created lesson plans, digital games, videos, assessments, and family education materials for all to use. As a teacher, who wouldn’t want half of our work completed by using these provided plans! Use the engaging lessons and links to get a jumpstart on promoting digital safety with your students at the beginning of this school year.
SimpleK12 - Professional Development Website Here we go again - another year looking for professional development opportunities! Well, fret no more as this website allows you to watch and gain credit for professional development any time or anyplace. The company is called SimpleK12 located at http://www.simplek12.com/. They house over 950+ webinars from teachers and expert consultants on various topics along with discussion forums, lesson plans, e-Books, and more, for a cost of $397.00 a year.
a subscription to this service and will provide a username. Next, sign up for a free basic service. This still provides access to on-demand and live webinars, discussions, select ebooks, and more. If you see a webinar you wish to view but it’s not in your free membership, simply purchase the seminar with a click of the button. The average cost appears to be $27.00 per webinar and a certificate of completion is provided.
Now, I know what you’re thinking - I can’t afford that! Well, there are two ways to actually use this site and both are free! First, check with your local county or district technology department. They might already have
Obtaining professional development or even locating a one-stop service can be tricky; however, with SimpleK12 the answer is, well, simple!
TIS and That!
Reading Corner
Page 2 of 4
Connected Educators Educators all over the state (and beyond) are “meeting up” to sharpen their professional practice – sharing ideas, telling their stories, and gaining valuable resources and information from colleagues they may not see in person every day. Social media has allowed us to reach out and learn from each other across borders. Flipgrid is a tool for amplifying student voice that allows users to set up a topic and invite participants to comment in video clips to discuss ideas.
Another favorite among West Virginia educators is Twitter. Follow #wvedchat to connect with colleagues across our state. These chats occur every two weeks on Tuesdays during the school year. Join the crew for the next scheduled chat on September 5 at 8:00 pm. The topic of discussion will be – Telling your Story!
For more ideas on developing the digital citizenship of staff and students, check out What Connected Educators Do Differently by Jimmy Casas, Todd Whittaker, and Jeffrey Zoul and Social Leadia by Jennifer Casa-Todd.
Engaged Families Now that schools are using more technology tools for students to connect, create, and collaborate, it has become so much easier to connect with their families as well. One bit of advice offered by Kelly Wade at eSchool News https://goo.gl/DSxHhZ - is to meet parents where they are. With so many parents on Facebook, it would be a tool to consider. Many schools are opting for
applications and programs designed for schools, such as Seesaw, Remind, and Class Dojo; each one offering recent updates worth checking out. No matter the tools, connecting with families and allowing students a platform for sharing work are nonnegotiables in our world today. Student privacy and security must also be prioritized when evaluating any of these services.
Empowered Technology Integration In the past, educators focused on reading, writing, and arithmetic for a well-rounded education. In a “flat world,” our standards have to meet more and varied goals than before. Schools must shift focus to developing students’ skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creation. The goal is not simply to have the latest tools, but to provide maximized access to technology to empower students and fully prepare
them for college and career. The National Education Association developed, Preparing 21s t Century Students for a Global Society: An Educator’s Guide to the “Four Cs.”: https://goo.gl/5ydlz. Brainstorm with your colleagues a few creative ways to give students the opportunity to create, collaborate, communicate, and think critically, and watch your classroom and school be transformed!
TIS and That!
Page 3 of 4
Accommodating Multiple Reading Levels Looking for a way to integrate technology in English Language Arts? Smithsonian Tween Tribune at www.tweentribune.com provides recent news stories with quizzes and activities that improve reading comprehension.
The activities involve student interaction and the teacher or student can select an article based on reading level. Just locate an article, select the reading level, and watch the student soar.
Geography Fun! What is Baltimore, Maryland? Incorrect, and you bet, $4,000. Sorry! Don’t allow your students to lose money on Jeopardy again! Have them go to www.sheppardsoftware.com and access United States geography games. They can learn about the capitals of the United States and more such as our landscapes and regions. The site also has many activities for world geography and trivia questions for history.
Check Out the New Digital Learning Standards! West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Policy 2520.14 – West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards for Technology and Computer became active as of July 1, 2017. The new policy makes digital literacy a must for students, just as reading and math. The new standard replaces the previous standard, “21 st Century Learning Skills and Technology Tools
Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools.” Check out the new, full text document at https://goo.gl/ZTJCyG. Additionally, review the Education Technology Standards at ISTE, The International Society for Technology. They are located at https://goo.gl/fRfN4W.
Dates to Remember Manga’s Teaching with Technology Conference https://www.magnapubs.com October 6-8, 2017
Future of Education Technology (FETC) http://fetc.org/ January 23-26, 2018
Learning 2017 https://www.learning2017.com/ October 22-25, 2107
TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) https://convention.tcea.org/ February 5-9, 2018
American Association of School Librarians http://www.ala.org/aasl/conferences November 9-11, 2017
International Society for Technology (ISTE) http://www.iste.org/ June 24-27, 2018
TIS and That!
Page 4 of 4
Keyboard Shortcuts… In the course of any given day, teachers use their computers multiple times for various reasons. Several technical tricks or shortcuts can be used to save time on these everyday tasks. A breakdown of the tips for both Windows and MacBook have been provided to assist in day to day operations. All Windows users should use the Windows Key located at the bottom left of the keyboard – the one with the Windows Logo - if specified in the chart. MacBook users will use the Command key which is a symbol in the shape of a square with four circles or loops at each corner. Courtesy of Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for American Education: Images of Teachers and Students in Action.
Task/Activity
Windows Users
MacBook users
Windows Key + L
Control + Shift + Eject keys
Control + F
Command Key + F
Switch between open windows or applications
Alt + Tab
Command + Tab
Refresh the current window or webpage
F5
Command + R
Open your Windows Explorer or “All My Files” on a Mac to locate or search for files
Windows Key + E
Shift + Command + F
Place a copy of your screenshot on your clipboard
Alt + print screen
Control + Shift + F5 + 4 then hit spacebar
Control + to zoom in Control – to zoom out Control 0 to make it 100%
Command + to zoom in Command – to zoom out Command 0 to make it 100%
Locking your computer Navigate or Find a particular word in a document or software program
Zoom in and Zoom out on any screen or Zoom to 100% automatically
For questions about any information or services in the newsletter, please contact your local Technology Department or Technology Integration Specialist.