TIS and That Oct 11 2013 V2 I4

TIS and That V

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SYNCHRONIZE DROPBOX WITH DROPITTOME

S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T :

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BY BRENDA WILLINGHAM, WYOMING COUNTY

Make sure that you are checking the TIS Professional Development 2013-14 News tab on your West Virginia Learn website!

Are you looking for a way for students to submit assignments into one account and maintain privacy of that account?

Look no more. DropIt-

Remember, if you have any questions keep in contact with your TIS coordinator.

They are a GREAT resource for all!

TOme integrates with Dropbox.com to enable your students to submit files to your teacher Dropbox account without being able to view contents of that account into your Dropbox

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

account.

SYNCHRONIZE DROPBOX AND DROPITTOME

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GRANT DEADLINES!

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MICROSOFT DIGITAL LITERACY

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BYOD YES OR NO

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TIS INFORMATION

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SKYDRIVE

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DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

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Synchronize the two free services, DropItTOme and Dropbox and obtain a URL and password to distribute to students. Students are then able to submit assignments into your Dropbox account.

GRANT DEADLINES! The Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant applications are due on October 15, but the application is super easy to complete! You still have time to apply to build things for your school, such as a reading garden, playground,nature trail, etc.

Tim Elliott Lincoln County CTE TIS

tbelliott@access.k12.wv.us

NEA Learning and Leadership Grants are due on October 15. If you miss this deadline, you can still apply by February 1 or June 1.

These grants can pay for high quality professional development opportunities for teachers—such as technology trainings! Also,

Amy Moore Tucker County County TIS

armoore@access.k12.wv.us

NEA Student Achievement grants can pay for technology tools. This grant has the same deadlines.

For more upcoming grant opportunities, see the Tech & Learning Grants Calendar and Directory.

Brenda Willingham Wyoming County SE TIS

bwilling@access.k12.wv.us

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MICROSOFT DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING MATERIALS

BY TIM ELLIOT, LINCOLN COUNTY

Microsoft Digital Literacy program provide the opportunity to learn basic computer and software skills, and to obtain a certificate recognizing the accomplishment. The only prerequisite for taking the program is the ability to read a newspaper, like this

one.

Basic Curriculum

courses which cover Introduction to Computers, Using the Internet, Productivity

The Basic curriculum features a

Programs such as fundamentals of word

course called. 'A First Course

processing,

Toward

This

software and databases. The primary differ-

course teaches absolute beginners

ence between the versions is that the ex-

to

amples and screen shots in the original

Digital

computing

Literacy'. about

what

a

spreadsheets,

presentation

valuable tool computers can be in

curriculum

society today, and the basics of

systems and MS Office versions. While

using

there are minor

the

mouse

and

the

feature different operating

changes to the content

keyboard.

The

interactive,

coverage

hands-on

lessons

will

course objectives remain the same.

novices

feel

manipulating

the

help

between versions, the overall

comfortable mouse

and

Advanced Curriculum

typing on the keyboard.

The Advanced curriculum features several Standard Curriculum

courses that expand on what learners mastered in the Standard curriculum.

There are multiple versions of the

These courses explore core topics like

Microsoft Digital Literacy Standard

writing a

curriculum.

creating an Internet e-mail account, and

Version 2 of the

Digital Literacy Curriculum has five

resume,

searching the Internet.

social networking,

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BYOD—YES OR NO?

BY AMY MOORE, TUCKER COUNTY

The debate in the education world rages on—should we allow BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) in our schools or not? If we don’t allow them, we are just fighting a losing battle. The case for using cell phones, or other personal devices, is made here. #1—A large majority of students are walking around with a mini-computer in their pocket.

When schools are dealing with tightened budgets and not enough computers to accommodate every student, allowing them to use their own already available devices would fill the gap. #2—The fear of students using cell phones to cheat on a test are simply an indicator that the tests being used must be outdated.

Students should be learning 21st century skills to collaborate and find solutions to problems. The use of cell phones is a great way to do this. Students don’t need to memorize information, they need to know how to find and use it in real world situations.

We also cannot ban their use because we fear they may use them

inappropriately in the classroom— texting friends, social networking, gaming, etc. When students do something wrong in the classroom, there are consequences and disciplinary actions. Setting and following rules for cell phone use should be no different than any other classroom policy. We are punishing the devices instead of the users by banning them. “Students used to pass notes on paper. We never banned paper.” –Kevin Honeycutt.

#3—Using cell phones in the classroom will help to prepare students for future careers. Nearly every profession uses smart phones— architects use them to look at blueprints, doctors use them to chart patient information, stores/ businesses use them to do inventory, teachers/administrators use them in the classroom for documentation. What kind of mixed message are we sending to students when school personnel use them on the job, but we forbid them to? #4—Not using mobile devices with students in order to keep them

safe, goes against who we are as teachers. Kids are using mobile devices for everything—texting, social networking, research, pictures, etc. They are not going to stop. We need to be the ones to teach them how to use them responsibly, how to use them as educational tools and use them in our lessons on digital citizenship. In order to keep our students safe, we need to teach them how. #5—Cell phones are our friends, not our enemies. They are here to stay.

We rely on them every day. They are a part of our lives and our students’ lives. Where better can students learn responsible mobile device use and behavior than in our classrooms?

This video on cell phones in the classroom is a few years old but the information is still relevant to the discussions we are still having today about their use.

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T I S

Join the K12 TIS listserv to stay upto-date on tech integration information.

To subscribe, send an email to listserv@listserv.wvnet.edu with the following single line body: subscribe k12-tis Your Name Look for us on Twitter-@WVTIS

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The goal is to provide educators with the 21st century skills and tools necessary to assume the role of a Technology Integration Specialist (TIS). Participants in this initiative will receive the equivalent of 320 hours of professional development. Completers of the program may

apply for the TIS advanced credential awarded by the Office of Professional TIS REGIONAL MEETINGS        

Preparation.

October 9 - at RESA 7 (Clarksburg) October 10 - at RESA 6 (Wheeling) October 23 - at WVSDB (Romney) November 5 - at RESA 1 (Beckley) November 6 - at RESA 4 (Summersville) November 8 - at RESA 3 (Dunbar) November 20 - at RESA 5 (Parkersburg) November 21 - at RESA 2 (Huntington)

BY TIM ELLIOTT, LINCOLN COUNTY

For questions about the TIS program, contact: John Miller (jpmiller@access.k12.wv.us) Lori Whitt (lwhitt@access.k12.wv.us) Valerie Wilson (vwilson@access.k12.wv.us)

SKYDRIVE

BY BRENDA WILLINGHAM, WYOMING COUNTY SkyDrive (officially Microsoft SkyDrive, previously Windows Live SkyDrive and Windows Live Folders) is a file hosting service that allows users to upload and sync files to a cloud storage and then access them from a Web browser or their local device. It is part of the Windows Live range of online services and allows users to keep the files private, share them with contacts, or make the files public. Publicly shared files do not require a Microsoft account to access.

The service offers 7 GB of free storage

for new users and, for one year, an additional 3 GB of free storage to students.[2] Additional storage is available for purchase.[3] Users who signed up to SkyDrive prior to April 22, 2012 could have opted-in for a limited time offer of 25 GB of free storage upgrade. The service is built using HTML5 technologies,[4] and files up to 300 MB can be uploaded via drag and drop into the web browser,[5] or up to 2 GB via

the SkyDrive desktop application for Microsoft Windows and OS X. [6]

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DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP WEEK IS OCTOBER 21-25!

BY AMY MOORE, TUCKER COUNTY

Engage students in thinking critically, behaving safely, and participating responsibly online. Common Sense Media has many activities and even posters to download to help your school recognize the need for digital citizenship. Teach students to how to share information safely and how to use it responsibly. Students are making decisions every day about what is safe and not safe online. They need our help in learning the risks and how it affects themselves and others. Check out all the free resources you need for this week here.

You can also read more and find more activities at Cable in the Classroom.

Another great resource is The Bully Project. Here you can purchase the film Bully and a teacher’s toolkit.

This week will be a great way to celebrate the end of Connected Educators Month. You can post your activities to their calendar!

Don’t forget to attend your TIS PLC this month!

October 15—3:00 pm October 16—11:30 am October 16—4:00 pm

October 17—7:00 pm

More BYOD resources for lesson plans: Scholastic Bringing Cell Phones Into the Classroom The Innovative Educator