Vol. 2, Issue 4 October 8, 2013
Tech News Tuesday weekly eNewsletter IN THIS ISSUE
Cool Tool of the Week – Digital Citizenship Week Online Resource of the Week – Typing Resources Focus On – Connected Educators Month Trending Topic – Embracing Social Media and Mobile Learning Bonus Tips – How to use Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook $$$$$$ Funding – 5 grants, awards, and scholarship programs
TECH NEWS TUESDAY
| Vol. 2, Issue 4 – OCTOBER 8, 2013
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US Department of Education has declared October as Connected Educator Month
Table of Contents Page 1
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October 21-25, 2013
WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY STAFF RESOURCES
Cool Tool of the Week
Encourage Digital Citizenship
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Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship resources
www.commonsensemedia.org/digitalcitizenshipweek Empower Students Digital citizenship posters Digital Citizenship Lessons: Going Places Safely (K-2) Rings of Responsibility (3-5) Cyberbullying: Be Upstanding (6-8) Feelings on Display (9-12) Digital Passport web-based curriculum teaches and tests for digital literacy and citizenship Engage Families Family Tip Sheets in English and Spanish on technology topics Family Media Agreement, checklist for media use and guidelines for families
Connect Teachers Teacher Backgrounders to learn what students face when using technology Lessons-in-Action Videos, check out a few rock-star teachers Webinars include: Creating Model Digital Citizens Digital Citizenship on Edmodo Empowering Students to be Digital Citizens Teaching Copyright and Fair Use 1-to-1 Technology Program
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Visit the Tech News Tuesday feedback page Current and Past Editions How to use TNT Issuu
Modesto City Schools | Office of Instructional Technology www.mcs4kids.com/mcsit
TECH NEWS TUESDAY
| Vol. 2, Issue 4 – OCTOBER 8, 2013
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Typing Websites
(weekly words of weekly wisdom)
Online Resource of the Week
www.funtotype.com
Many students are learning to use technology with touch screens and tap typing. Learning how to type proper on a keyboard is still a needed skill. One of the most important reasons to get students typing is it helps get to the thinking faster. It can allow us to get our ideas down at the speed of thought. Learn to type faster with Touch Typing Technique: 1. Learn the layout. Memorize the positions of the keys. 2. Notice how the ‘F’ and ‘J’ buttons on your keyboard have a special groove on them. Put the index(pointing) finger of your left hand on the ‘F’ and the three fingers left of the index finger on ‘D’, ‘S’, and ‘A’. Now put your right hand’s index finger on the ‘J’, and the other three fingers to the right of it on ‘K’, ‘L’, and ‘;’. Rest both of your thumbs on the ‘spacebar’. Feel the grooves of the ‘F’ and ‘J’ buttons under your index fingers. Your hands are now in the home position. This is the centered position which puts your fingers equally distant to all the keys so that you can type better. 3. Practice Practice Practice! “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” contains all of the letters of the English alphabet. 4. Type with the correct body position
Edmodo is a socia learning platform for teachers, students, and parents. It has the look of Facebook but with educational applications. On Edmodo, teachers are at the center ofwww.typingweb.com a powerful network that connects them to students, administrators, and parents. In Edmodo’s secure www.goodtyping.com environment, teachers and students www.abcya.com/kids_typing_games.htm can collaborate, share content, and use educational apps to augment inclassroom learning. These powerful capabilities enable teachers to personalize learning for every student. Edmodo is free. http://phoboslab.org/ztype
www.typingclub.com
Modesto City Schools has a districtwww.typing-lessons.org wide deployment of Edmodo. TO LEARN MORE VISIT:
Keyboard Quiz
Fun fact: TEETERTOTTER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
Source: http://www.rapidtyping.com/typing-instructions.html
Modesto City Schools | Office of Instructional Technology www.mcs4kids.com/mcsit
TECH NEWS TUESDAY
| Vol. 2, Issue 4 – OCTOBER 8, 2013
Focus On
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Connected Educator Month Helping Educators Thrive in a Connected World
Video features popular educators on Facebook, Twitter, and other digital spheres. The goal of the US Department of Education is to call attention to different ways online communities and learning networks can connect educators and aid them in collaborating with and learning from peers.
Online communities and learning networks are helping educators learn together, reduce isolation and collaborate with extended networks of colleagues. The US Department of Education has declared October as Connected Educator Month, aimed at broadening and deepening educator participation in online communities and networks while providing opportunities for education leaders to work together to move forward faster. Connected Educator Month will be celebrated with a month of online events and activities sponsored by more than 150 major national education organizations, communities and companies. Check out the Connected Educator calendar and join in the many special activities being held this month.
> Connected Educator Month Website > Calendar of Events
Trending Topic
Embracing Social Media and Mobile Learning How teachers are turning to social media to extend learning Education Week includes examples of how teachers are using Twitter and Facebook to publicly share students’ work, using sites like Pinterest to share lesson plans and ideas with fellow educators, and creating blogs to connect with students and parents. > Education Week Learning Without Limits article > Mobile Learning: Transforming Education, Engaging Students, and Improving Outcomes > How to use Pinterest > How to use Twitter > How to use Facebook Modesto City Schools | Office of Instructional Technology www.mcs4kids.com/mcsit
TECH NEWS TUESDAY
| Vol. 2, Issue 4 – OCTOBER 8, 2013
$$$$$$ Funding click on the images to visit their websites featured on Matthew’s Google + page
Modesto City Schools | Office of Instructional Technology www.mcs4kids.com/mcsit
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