December Instructional Tech Updates

 

It's DECEMBER already!  This year has flown by! As a rule we usually have four weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter Break, but this year there is only three.  One less week puts us all in a little faster pace to get things accomplished before break.  Finals are coming up for our High School students and Seniors are half way done with their final year of high school.  Having a senior this year makes this bitter sweet.  

Included in this months Instructional Tech Updates, is some more Infinite Campus updates, there is a video on posting grades.  There is also some very cool resources for teachers and students.  Podcasting has really started to take off and teachers are using it as a platform for their students to develop skills such as writing, collaborating, interacting with others and working to together on an episode which will be heard by many, not just the teacher.  Authentic learning!!   Enjoy your last issue of 2022!  

Podcasts in the Classroom

Podcasting is starting to take off across the district with teachers at Normal West, Chiddix, Parkside, and Evans having students create podcast shows! In addition, Normal West teachers, Tim Franz and Joe Burgess have created an official Normal West weekly Podcast called, “podCATS”.  The weekly show has special guests come in and talk with the teachers and student co-hosts about a variety of topics and events that are happening at the school. 

As teachers dive into podcasts a common question that comes up is: How to push the shows out once they are finished?  One option involves collaborating with technology coaches who design and create websites for the shows to be placed.  The websites are set up so that only Unit 5 students and staff are able to listen to the podcasts and are not open to the public.  

Students are taught how to create their own show logos using Canva and Google Draw.  These are incorporated into the websites and are linked to the shows.  Below are a few of the teacher websites that have the student’s shows:

• Mrs. Gallier’s Podcast Website

• Mr. Kerr’s Podcast Website

• Ms. Breuer’s Podcast Website

Those high school teachers who would like to make the podcasts available to the public should consider the free software program, Anchor. (https://anchor.fm/)  It allows teachers to take the recordings and push them out to Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, and Spotify!  A signed parent/guardian permission slip is needed before posting them to those public forums.

If you are interested in trying out podcasts in your classroom, contact technology coaches, Amber O’Day or Ed Hafermann and they will help get you started!

  Normal West Students recording their podcast in the Huddle Room

                       

5 Paragraph Essay's

Are you looking for some new resources to engage your students in writing a traditional five paragraph essay?  Here are several which have been shared over the last month in a professional group I belong to.  While some say education is moving away from the five paragraph essay and evaluators are more interested in quality, structure, figurative language, style, etc...  I say, isn't the five paragraph essay format  a great way to teach all of these things? If we want our students to write and write well, wouldn't we want them to learn the structure of this format? Take a look at these resources and feel free to share more @amberoday #5paragraphessay on Twitter.  I would love to see what you are using! 

1. Five Paragraph Essay Format - Created by Mrs. Mia L. Young-Adeyeba Instructional Coach
2. Blog - Content Area Essay's in Middle School - Blog by Jessica Rogers
• This one comes with a Bitmoji classroom Template you can download and make your own. 
3. Essay Handbook - by Stephanie Howell @mrshowell24 
• Here is a video where she goes through the notebook.
4. Here is one I created for my son.  
• As I worked with him on his writing I created this Organizational Writing Template to help his thought process. 

Chromebooks Can Do That?

If you haven't heard of Eric Curts, and seen his blog Control Alt Achieve, then you must be living under a rock because it ROCKS!  Here is a great post on Chromebooks.  If our students are using them, we should understand how they work.  Take a look at his latest blog post "Chromebooks Can Do That?!"

Veteran's Day Activities

 

Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate those living veterans who swore an oath to support and defend the  United States Constitution.  Veterans fought for the American Dream many of them giving the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we have.  Teaching our children the importance of celebrating veterans and listening to the stories they share is a great way to learn about why they did what they did.  Take some time to ask a few questions about when and where they served, what branch, and what they did in the service and finally ask them WHY?  Why did they join the armed forces and what signing up meant to them during that time in our country's history?  There are some fascinating stories out there, we just have to listen.

Below are some resources you may be interested in:  

• Virtual Room for Veteran's Day - Created and shared with permission by Sarah Wood - @MyEdTechWorld  Click Use Template and share with your students. There is a lot on this, so go take a look. 

• Veteran's Day Resources for Elementary and some Junior High  put together by Tonja Parkin 

• Flocabulary Veteran's Day - Don't forget about the teaching resources and there are questions built in if you use the interactive mode.  Turn it off if you just want to talk about the questions after watching the video. This is a paid resource Unit 5 has, login via Clever. 

• Veteran's Day EdPuzzle - Take a look to see if this EdPuzzle original is something you could use in your classroom. 

• Discovery Education has a full library of videos, Images, text, and audio you can choose from. Need a login for this one. 

• Nearpod has a lesson on Veteran's Day - Take a look, it's long but you can remove any parts of it to customize it to the length of your choosing.  

• C-SPANCLASSROOM has a ton of resources for teachers to share with students.  Take a look a the video below. 

November Instructional Tech Updates

When I get asked how my year is going, I generally say "Supercharged."  It's a great way to say it's going really fast and just when I think I get caught up, something else comes up to throw a wrench into things.   I am excited to get you the November Instructional Tech Updates.  There is a lot in there, so enjoy!  Happy PAY DAY Friday!  Enjoy the Weekend! 

 

Carve a Digital Pumpkin

In the blog Chromebook Classroom, by John R. Sowash, I came across this blog post about how to Carve a Digital Pumpkin using Google Slides.  While I was looking through it, I thought what a great way to teach some of the features that sometimes get overlooked while having a fun time designing and being creative.  Take a look.  There is a lesson Template and some additional ideas. 

Google Classroom Originality Reports

Google Classroom originality reports is an in-house plagiarism checker for students which has been around since January 2020. Since Unit 5 is a Google for Education Enterprise District, we have originality reports as an unlimited option for students to run before they turn in their papers, but teachers can also run it for student-to-student plagiarism on turned-in material.

Teachers must turn it on for any assignment they would like the student to run the originality report. Take a look at this video to learn more. 

Halloween Escape Room

Using the idea from Ditch That Text Book and their Escape Room already created, I created a slide deck to go along with it. Use how it is, or make a copy to make your own changes to it, up to you.

Once the students finish it, they will get a link to a digital badge they can download! 

Here are a couple of items I found with the Halloween theme for teachers:  

Trick or Treat Techie Tips & Tricks & Tech Tricks and Treats  

Media Literacy Activity

 

As I was online last night I came across a Media Literacy activity from Anita Bond.  There is a Slide Deck you can make a copy of and edit as needed and an activity to go along with it.  

With both of these resources, they are yours to use/not use.  I found them interesting as we are coming up on an election which will have profound effect for our district either way it goes.  Plus, with the State of Illinois requirement on teaching Media Literacy starting this year, this would be a great exercise in determining creditable resources.  Use/don't use, it is up to you.  I didn't make it, but thought it was good stuff.  

Here you go - Slide Deck  and Activity

If you are interested in more activities..  Here is the link to her FREE Resources!  Enjoy! 

Instructional Tech Updates - October

When I get asked "How the school year is going?", my standard answer this year is "It's supercharged."  I feel like it is going really fast and there are so many new changes happening that it has been hard to keep up at times.  It is then, I realize I need a break.  To say I was very excited about spending three days away this past weekend is an understatement.  I hope October brings some relief of the supercharged year you have been experiencing. 

Take a look at the October Instructional Tech Updates.  Here is to the October slow down.  Hope you enjoyed your 3 day weekend.  
 

AUGUST 22' Instructional Tech Updates

Wow!  I can't believe another year has started.  Maybe it is me, but summer just keeps getting shorter!   I hope everyone's summer was restful and you were able to do activities which gave you joy.  We follow our son around during the summer for travel baseball. While I love watching him play, by the end of the summer I was ready to break-up with baseball for awhile.   

I was able to get out west with some great friends for a girls trip.  We were able to go and hike at three national parks this summer and were able to do some glamping.  Yes, that is RV camping without owning a RV.  It was a lot of fun and we are already planning next year.  Did someone say BEACH!?!

Welcome to all our new staff this year.  We have almost 100 new teachers in the district K-12.  While I know we saw you at New Teacher Meetings, please reach out if you have additional questions.  This Instructional Tech update will also have the Beginning of the Year Tech Updates (Unit 5 staff only), you all are used to.  See something you want to expand on, or do with your students, let us know we will setup a Collaborative Colleague Coaching Cycle to work with you and your students.  Enjoy this Instructional Tech Update and Welcome Back! 

May 22' Instructional Tech Updates

Wow!  I can't believe another year has ended, but I am sure glad this one has.  It has been a lot harder this year then in years past.  It has been a cold and rainy spring which is good for keeping students engaged, but doesn't do much for my mindset when I never get to see that big ball of fire in the sky!  I am looking forward to spending some time with family, friends and of course more baseball this summer!  

I wish all of you who are leaving Unit 5 success in your next journey, and to those who are retiring; LUCKY YOU!  There is an article for both groups in this Instructional Tech Update!  Just take a look, there is something for everyone!  

Google Workspace for Education Updates to Google Products

Google Workspace for Education has been very busy!!  Take a look at all the new items which are or will be available in Docs and Classroom! 

First - you may have noticed the comments icon has expanded to include comments, emojis, and suggested edits. 

Emoji's in Docs

Second - Start a Google Meet from a doc, sheet and presentation.  This will automatically share the document with the participants so everyone is working off the same information. 

Join Google Meet from Doc

Third - Google Docs has an new option called Dropdown.  Simply key in @dropdown anywhere in the doc and the dropdown menu will appear.  You will see the various options for this tool when using it for a project status for groups of students or as a team of teachers. Take a look and see how you would use it. 

Dropdown Menu

Fourth- Classroom has finally added the schedule from multiple classes!  This one was a long time coming and many teachers had been upvoting it.  Well it is finally here.  Take a look at the ease of assigning an assignment across multiple classes at different times!!

Schedule Across Multiple Classrooms at Different Times

Fifth - Google Classroom will be releasing the availability to create practice sets within Classroom. Student can get feedback as they answer questions and teachers can get immediate information on how students are learning. Take a look at this new feature coming soon! 

Practice Sets

As with any Google update, we don't know exactly when it will hit our domain.  Most of these are ready for your use, and practice sets should be up and running this fall. 

Flocabulary

 

Flocabulary is part of the Nearpod package.  These videos can be used within Nearpod or as a stand alone learning experience.  Simply login with your Google account and get started.  All videos are created with a RAP like sound.  In addition to the video, there are vocab cards, vocab games, read and respond, quiz, lyric lab and teacher resources. Each activity can be assigned to students individually, or selecting multiple activities to assign.  Check out this video to learn more about Flocabulary. 

Flocabulary also has a great option for current events as well.  It is called “The Week in Rap.”  This current events update also allows for teachers to use the discuss slider for students conversations about the related current event topic.

Adding External Calendars

Having all your events on one calendar is a must in this world of multiple children with multiple activities.  Knowing who is going where, what they are doing, who needs picked up and who has games or practices.  It is a madding effort to keep it all organized.  I have always done it for my family, but this year, I am also in charge of scheduling concessions for my son's baseball team.  I figured since I was doing it for myself, I was sure others would benefit from how to do it as well.  Below you will find three ways to sync those calendars to your Google or Outlook calendar and your iPhone.  Hope this helps those who actually enter all those dates one by one each year. 

8-18 to Google Calendar:

 

8-18 to Outlook Calendar:

8-18 to iPhone:

March Madness - Brackets

 

In the mist of a very trying spring semester, I thought this would be a good way to try to get your mind on something FUN.  

Take a look at this post on March Madness 2022 in Google Sheets.  I think those of you who like to be in charge of the bracket will enjoy this one as everything is coded for you.  Make a copy and start creating now.   There are Single Bracket Templates as well as Group Bracket Templates.  Thanks @EricSantos for the tweet! 

Women in History Month

 

Women's History Month was established  in 1981  for the week of March 7th.  In 1987 it was passed designating March to be "Women's History Month."   Since this proclamation, we celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and various fields over the course of American history. ( https://womenshistorymonth.gov/about/) 

The video below can be used to introduce Women in History month.  It was created March 2021.

Here are several resources you can use for Women's History Month.  

• EdTechbook, Learning Pathway: Influential Women.  Here you will find Choice Boards for Women's History Month, Slide decks, and much  more.  You can also dive into different topics such as Women and the Wars &  STEM.  
• Digital Resources for Biographical Research - here is a list curated by Zeeba Pavri.  She also created a slide deck for Women's History Month take a look.   
• Unit 5 High School IMC  resources and Junior High IMC resources. 
• Decktoys Women's in History Month.  This one is a great activity for younger students.  No signup needed.  Just play. 
• This resource links your students out to Videos from each of book titles.  Great for elementary students as well. 
• Junior Scholastic has a Text Set to observe Women's History Month and the contributions they have made. Check out their Cover Story "Exercising Their Rights" where you will meet 5 female athletes who fight for equity in sports. (Must have a license to see this information) As a reminder, all scholastic material come with multiple reading levels, text to speech, presentation view and teaching resources, such as a slide deck, Google Form for a quiz, and close reading activities.  
• PBS Media has several resources for teaching about Women's History Month.  Here are is a collection on Engaging Students and Educators on Women's History Month through film.
• Nearpod has several videos in their library which can be used to highlight several Women in History. Just search Women History in the Nearpod Library. 
• 4 Ways to Teach Women's History with Nearpod
• 14 Women who are impacting education
• Canva has several templates you can use for projects around Women in History, just login with your Google account and get started. 
• Spotify - Women of Acoustic for your music lovers!
• Becoming by Michelle Obama -  I listened to this book and loved it. Great Read!  There is also an adaption for young readers as well. 

Like always, these are curated from multiple sources so you can make a decision on what is appropriate for your grade level and students.  

WeVideo is a versatile top-notch technological tool that allows students to express themselves in creative and engaging ways. Students are able to collaborate with each other in real-time similar to a shared google document and the new classroom feature allows teachers to review the progress of group projects and give feedback along the way.

Teachers across the district are using WeVideo for a wide range of projects such as blogs, music videos (similar to Flocabulary videos), weather reports, book reviews, stop-motion videos, broadcasting (Informative writing), and narrative skits.  I use it for creating senior interviews for my basketball team!

WeVideo is an online video and audio editor which can be a screen recorder that has the ability to incorporate a green screen for a“Hollywood” special effect. Students use their Chromebooks, smartphones (yup, there’s an app for that), and personal devices to create their content.  Since it is cloud-based, students' work is automatically saved so they can pick up exactly where they left off without any worries.

Check out some of these useful websites that WeVideo provides for educators:

              Teacher Resource Page   Creator Community   Webinars

Each student at Unit 5  has the capabilities for a free version, however, there is a 5-minute time limit on recordings. Unit 5 has purchased a limited number of premium accounts for students to use.  If you are interested in having your students use WeVideo for a project, please contact your Instructional Technology Coaches, Amber O’Day (odaya@unit5.org) or Eduard Hafermann (hafermae@unit5.org) to get started.

                   

Ukraine-Russia Conflict through the lens of Critical Media Literacy

 

Are you looking for a way to engage students in investigating and asking thoughtful questions about the Ukraine-Russia Conflict?  Here is a way you can do that through the lens of Critical Media Literacy.  As Media Literacy becomes an Illinois State Requirement in 22-23, it is important for all disciplines to use media literacy to further the knowledge of students on investigating media sources and the reliability of the source. 

Here is a Ukraine-Russia Conflict 2022 Media Literacy Choice Board.  It was created and shared with the Creative Commons license to share and adapt out by Torrey Trust in the Facebook Group Hyperdocs.  Not a Facebook user...Here you go.

February 22' Instructional Tech Updates

Lots of snow this month which has brought e-learning and snow days which caused a normally short month to seem even shorter.  As the year chugs along and February ends, March brings a new month where the sun is out more, flowers start to bloom, and of course at least one or two more snow storms.  Enjoy our February Instructional Technology Updates.  I'm sure you will find something in it which interests you.  

Lumio by SMART

 

Lumio (formerly known as SMART Learning Suite Online), is a digital learning tool created by SMART. It's web-based interface, allows teachers to create engaging lessons where students can interact with in class on their Chromebooks and tablets, remotely, or on their own time on their own devices.

You can combine your teaching resources, including PDF, Google files, and SMART files to create ONE engaging lesson, or choose from a variety of ready-made resources and full lessons to hit the ground running.

So how do I get to Lumio?  Click here to identify the two locations where you can access Lumio so you can get started today!

Transform lessons into team-based assessments, activities and games, convert static content into collaborative workspaces where students can co-create together on a shared digital canvas from their own devices, or take advantage of ready-made resources like graphic organizers and manipulatives. Click here to explore the types of content you can add to your lesson, along with video resources we have attached to each tool.

Black History Month - Ideas and Resources

February marks the beginning of  Black History Month.  In a previous post I talked about the history of BHM and how it came to be.  This year I wanted to focus on some activities which have been shared out and may be of interest to you.  Many of the slides are using a application called Viewpure which allows for videos from YouTube to be viewed without ads.  Great for younger students.   All resources have been shared out willingly in hopes they may be helpful.  Each link will force you to make a copy of the presentation so you will be able to edit as needed for your students.  Enjoy! 

NPR Article on Black History Month and why it is celebrated in February.

Amanda Mleczko Niaves created this slidedeck so she could share one slide each day with her students.  Take a look to see if it is something you could share with your students.  Make a copy, add to it to your drive then make it your own! Post from Bitmoji Craze Educators.

Vicki Tseng- Found this incredible library for Black History Month and changed most of the videos to links to play automatically without ads!  Original Creator Christine Fleeman curated this library.  Thanks to both! Make a copy, add to it to your drive then make it your own! Post from Bitmoji Craze Educators.

Janelle Luna - Created this resource to support the efforts of educators wanting to go deeper and broader in their Black History Month Experience. Make a copy, add to it to your drive then make it your own! Post from Bitmoji Craze Educators

Kim Jansen created this slidedeck which highlights African American Leaders with a slide for videos, books and a Spanish version.  Make a copy, add to it to your drive then make it your own!   Post from Bitmoji Craze Educators

Sarah Renae created this slidedeck with videos which explain the struggles African Americans encountered.  Watch the videos before showing to class as some may be disturbing for younger students.  As always, you know your students and maturity level.  Make a copy, add to it to your drive then make it your own! Post from Bitmoji Craze Educators

YouTube Videos for elementary students:

• Black History Month for Kids - YouTube
• Scholastic Storyworks - Can Kids Change the World? 
• 88brains - Black Scientists and Inventors
• CBeebies Black History Heroes
• Rosa Parks Story

As always when I share out resources, you are free to use or don't use, it is up to you.  Hope you all enjoy these. 

January 22' Instructional Tech Updates

Wow, January went quick! I don't know about you, but this year seems to be flying by.  Maybe it's because I have a junior and we are another step closer to him making some college decisions, or maybe it's because the older I get, the faster the years go.  Either way, I can't believe it's we are the end of January 2022!  

Take a look at the January 22' Instructional Tech Updates.  There is information on Nearpod, Book Creator, Black History Month and YOUR STAFF LAPTOP!   

Turn Off YouTube Ads!

Looking for an easy way to share a YouTube video without advertisements and related videos?  Watch the video below to learn about what you can add to the URL to do that very thing!

Book Creator

Book Creator is an easy to use, SOPPA compliant, tool allowing your students to combine text, images, audio, and video to create digital books.  Students can create interactive stories, portfolios, reports, comics and much more.  Brook creator's free version provides you 1 shareable library to store up to 40 student books that can be published to the web or downloaded.  When you are ready for your next project, simply archive those stories to free up space in your library.  Watch this video to see what Book Creator has to offer.

We recently added Book Creator to Clever allowing easy access for students.  Want to see some examples of a final product?  Click here to search for examples by grade level!

To help get you up and running, check out these short and easy to follow tutorials: Getting Started and Library Settings.

When you are ready to introduce Book Creator to your students, this wonderful tutorial, How to Use Book Creator will walk them through the many features available to them!