Unit 5 April Instructional Tech Tuesday's

Can you believe that April is almost over.  When I looked at the calendar for school days, I realized there is 24 more school days for Unit 5.  Have you already started your count down calendar for your students?  Take a look at the Unit 5 Instructional Tech Tip Tuesday.  I am posititive there is something in here for everyone! 

Over the Month of April we highlighted the following in our weekly Tech Tuesday Updates: 

• Book Creator  - Harnessing Student Narrative for Learning & Assessment
• Solar Eclipse - Escape Room.  What a fun activity that was. 
• WeVideo - Earth Day Challenge
• Canva - Teacher Library & Student Template Libraries
• Wakelet for Climate Change
• WeVideo AI Feature - Note: This is an additional paid feature
• Autism Month - Check out our VTAP program! 
• Britannica AI Education - Great way to start the conversation.
• Translate in Docs - You can now translate an entire doc within the Google Doc platform.
• Suno - Create your own songs...  We used this at a PD for an Institute day and got some great laughs.
• Stossel in the Classroom - AI Vs. Job  Check out this resources for learning about AI. 

Unit 5 Instructional Tech Tuesday March 5th

March is here, and when March enters the picture, I know we are 3/4 of the way through our school year.  With the mild February, I am hoping March is even better, but of course we live in Illinois which means at least one more snow, before spring actually arrives.  

In this week's issue of the Unit 5 Instructional Tech Tip Tuesday 

• Stickity -  This is a new ADD ON (Extensions) in Google Slide and Docs for TEACHERS.  You will notice that I have used some of the March stickers this month and the arrow which highlights Spring Break week. Take a look, I bet you love them! 
• When AI Art Meets Music -  This article talks about how to use AI apps to expand creativity.  Carl Hooker is amazing.  I was fortunate enough to see him in person at a conference last year and he was good. This article expanded my thoughts on creativity and how it can be used in the classroom.  This activity is a great opportunity for attention getters, as well as starting the conversation about AI picture generators.  Need some help in getting started?  Just let your tech coach know. 
• Visual Book Lists - Each one of these lists gives book recommendations on books.  You can use the template. (Canva to edit) or download the .png.  (picture).  The nice part about the Canva option is you can edit books you have in your own library, or request new ones be added.  I know I saw a couple I had not seen before.  
• Slido - This extension for Google Slides is great to use to grab real time survey results from your class.  Use it all day to grab data from all your classes or create separate slido's to individualize class data. 
• Quarterly Unit 5 Instructional Technology Updates: These updates starting in 2024 are going Quarterly.  Take a look inside for:
• AI District presentation followup 
• Women in History Month resources from platforms we are licensed on.
• Podcast segment with Cool Cat Teacher.

As always, I hope you get at least one thing out of these each week, which keeps you coming back for more. 

U5 Instructional Technology Tips Feb 26th

 

It's the end of February already and at least where we are, the weather has been beautiful.  Normally February is a month that drags on because it is usually rainy, or there are several inches of snow on the ground, but this year it has been great.  I hope this doesn't mean we are in for a terrible March.  Spring Break is 4 weeks away; so close, but so far away. 

Take a look at the U5 Instructional Tech Tuesday for the last two weeks.  

• Last week we had Institute Day on Tuesday February 20th and we presented a District AI presentation. It went really well and we got a lot of great feedback. 
• If you have not tried Class Companion, take a look, it is SOPPA Approved.
• Practice Sets in Google Classroom, what a great way to get some great formative feedback on instruction.  These can be created from PDF's as well.  Take a look at the short video. 
• Learning for Justice Website.  This is being used in many of our classes, it has many different topics to explore.  
• Teachflix is a great classroom video option.  The videos are already categorized by elementary, middle and high school.   You can browse by content area or by selecting the grade level.  There are also premade activities for you to download for your students.  Take a look, you may find something you can use right away. 
• Most Likely Machine - AI Simulator - Teaches students about algorithms and how they can make mistakes.
• First Chapter Friday -This resource allows you to listen to the Author read their first chapter of their book.  What a great way to provide many opportunities for books for students.  You can even filter these by your level on the left sidebar, elementary, middle, high. 

As always, use what you can and pass along so anyone else who can use it as well.  Here's to the 2nd month of 2024 being over in a flash! 

February U5 Instructional Technology Tips

Well February has been quite nice.  The sun finally decided to show itself and when the sun is shining regardless of how cold it is, my mood changes for the better.  I am looking forward to longer days and more sunshine and maybe even thinking about spring break.   

February is Black History Month and each week I will be linking out many resources for you to take a look at and see if and how they could be integrated into your curriculum. 

In this issue of the U5 Instructional Technology Tips

• Vocab Game for a Cause, called Free Rice.  
• AI Tool Goblin -  Link to a blog post and video.  This is one you can use without logging in.  Check it out! 
• 10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers should know about. PBS Resource
• Tax Season is coming up and do your students know how to do their taxes?  This is a great resource which walks them through the process.  Everfi is FREE for Teachers to use and yes it is SOPPA approved! 
• How James Brown Invented Funk - I thought this was a fun article with a video.  
• LASTLY  Our own April Schermann was interviewed on the ROE17 Podcast.  She talked about STEM and The Growth Mindset.  Take a listen, it was only 15minutes long!  

Hope you find something you can use this week.  Enjoy that sunshine, it will be in the 50's the rest of the week! 

New Year of U5 Instructional Tech Updates

 

The end of last year and the beginning of 2024 have been busy to say the least.  January has already consisted of two E-Learning days and a snow day.  I think we will be in person a total of 13 days the whole month!  It is crazy how one month can be so chaotic. 

In this issue of the January Tech update you will find our Institute Day recordings. Many are from our vendors, but Matt and I did a training on AI.    There is also a great video about how AI could save education (not distroy).  It is about 15 minutes, but worth the watch.  

If you got a new phone or device over the holidays you are probably wondering how to connect it to our WIFI.  Check out the how to sheet, which will allow you to connect.  This is great for parts of the buildings where there is no outside signal.   If you are wanting to send your self a digital copy of an assignment, or picture, check out the video that shows you how to do it from our Follow Me printer/copier.  

This year Google is also celebrating 25 years.  Check out the most search items in 2023 in their video.  Also, with the E-Learning going on, we put together a couple of videos on how to generate and update your Google Meet link in Google Classroom.  Last there has been an update to practice sets in Classroom.  You can now use a Google Form to generate a practice set for students! What a great way to get formative feedback!  

Instructional Technology Tuesday Tips

Wow, I can't believe it is the last week of November and December is right around the corner.  I went Black Friday shopping this year, like all years but it was really busy this year.  You can totally tell people are starting to embrace getting back into the idea of "doorbuster."  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a well deserved break.  Here is what is in this weeks U5 Instructional Technology Tuesday Tips.  

In this issue:  

• Overview of Diffit - What it is and what it can do.  Short Video
• Getting started With Diffit - Longer video, but a great starting off point.  It will show you all the tools you can create and SHARE out via docs, forms and slides.  The sheer number of templates available to export to is amazing.   
• PD Slidedeck for Teachers - This is awesome because there are short video clips in the speaker notes to walk you through any of the examples you want to learn more about.  
• Login to Diffit and Play - The only way to learn about these tools is to play with them.  See how using them can reduce your workload.  

Whether you have embraced AI or not, this tool will definitely help in your work load!  Don't miss out!  

U5 Instructional Technology Tuesday Tech Tips

 

In this issue of the Instructional Technology Tuesday Tech Tips you will find:

• EdPuzzle's AI Teacher Assist
• Veterans Day Activities
• National STEM Day Activities
• AI Political Cartoon 
• 7 Ways to use EdPuzzle Live Mode

U5 Tuesday Instructional Technology Tips

 

Happy Halloween!  In this issue you will find some AI and Halloween activites.  

• AI Literacy 6-12 Lessons - This reasource is from Common Sense Media and each lesson is about 20 minutes.  Great for introducing students to AI. 
• Halloween Escape Room
• 27 Scary good Halloween Riddles - Use as a bellringer as students are coming into class. 

October U5 Instructional Technology Updates

 Welcome to the October U5 Instructional Technology Updates.  In this issue you will find:

• Is using ChatGPT for school cheating or a new form of learning? - Video from the Today Show.
• Some Matt Miller AI resources. 
• I just attended a Webinar of his this past week on this subject and it was very good.  Stay tuned for a recap of what was learned. 
• The Most Likely Machine - an AI Algorithm Game
• YouTube Summary Extension
• Infinite Campus update - U5 only
• Book Creator - Video on taking pages from your teacher template and copying them to all your students.  

Lots to enjoy over the weekend!  

U5 Instructional Technology Tips

 In this week's edition of the U5 Instructional Tech Tips:

• Reply to Student Comments from Google Classroom right from email.
• Using Google Citation Tool.  Thanks John Langley! 
• Google Meet Waiting Rooms for P/T virtual Conferences. 

U5 Instructional Technology Tips

In this week's edition of the U5 Instructional Tech Tips:

• Digital Citizenship Week!  Take a look at the lessons that are available. 
• IC Update - In case you missed it.
• Slides/Canva Templates
• PA System from Computer
• STEM-CAST Contest

U5 Instructional Tuesday Tech Tips

Here is your U5 Tuesday Tech Tips! This week, take a look at the forgotten Smart Driver tools you can use even without using Smart Notebook. Who Knew?  ELA Creative Halloween Activities, and Google Classroom Originality Reports and PDF to Image. 

Don't forget to look back at September for some fun filled ideas for tech!  

September Instructional Technology Updates

 Check out the September  Unit 5 Instructional Technology Upates.  In this edition you will find: 

• Artifical Intellegence post on how teachers are using it along with some examples.
• Book Creator has a Introduction PD after school in September and it was recorded for Elementary and Secondary levels.
• Canva classes rostered in U5 - check out the video on how to get started!  
• IC - information and more!  

April Instructional Technology Update

 

Welcome back!  Hopefully you had a restful Spring Break.  Can't believe there are only 37 1/2 days left of schools.  This year has flown by and this spring feels like it has been supercharged! 

Take a look at the Instructional Technology Updates for April.  We highlight our 18-22 program at Eugene Field Vocational School,  Go Guardian, and AI and Google Workspace as well as how to create some interactive AI lessons with Standards. 

Black History Month

Black History Month or African-American History Month is February,  this observance originated in the United States and is now observed in Canada, Ireland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.  It started out as Negro History Week in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the 2nd week of February to be Negro History Week.   This week was originally selected because on February 12 Abraham Lincoln and February 14 Fredrick Douglas were both born.  From there the first proposal for Black History Month was proposed by BLACK EDUCATORS and the Black United Students at Kent State University in 1969 and in 1970 Kent State was the first to celebrate!  Go Educators!!  Six Years later, Black History Month was being celebrated across the country when President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month.   

NearPod: There are lessons for Black History Month K-12 in this library they have.  Remember to start in the Nearpod Library and check out their Featured section.  It always has relevant information for holidays and current events.   

EdPuzzle: EdPuzzle has a library of EdPuzzle Originals.  Take a look and select Holidays and Events.  There you will find all kinds of holiday resources.  Scroll down to the bottom and you will find Heritage, History, and Awareness Collections.  This is where you will locate the resources for Black History Month.

Discovery Education: Has an entire channel dedicated to Black History.  As with any DE resource, you can watch a full video or look up the segments to bring in parts of it which correlate to your curriculum.  There are also many activities and interactive resources for students.  

Swank K-12 Streaming:  When looking in Swank for Black History Movies, you will need to filter by Subject & Themes, then Black History/African American.  Once you do that, you will be able to see all the resources available and if it is not in our library, you will be able to request.   See your Librarian to get the login for Swank as it is different from just going to Swank online. 

Scholastic Journals:  Paid Subscriptions  

• Junior Scholastic - The Secrets of Their Success:  Follow Four Black Leaders and how they used their business skills to change lives. 
• Scholastic Scope - Into the Poison Cloud - Recounts the life of Garrett Morgan, whose inventions have saved countless lives.   This is a paired text with multiple reading levels and comes with a lesson plan and lots of resources which can be downloaded in Google Docs/slides/forms. 
• Science World - This journal has an entire section of Celebrating Black Scientists! Check out these spotlight resources, such as John Urschel - who left pro football to become a Mathematician.  There are several resources to choose from so take your pick. 

Other Resources:

• 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
• NPR - Series on Black History Month 2023
• We are Teachers - 34 Black History Month Activities for February and Beyond
• C-SPANCLASSROOM - Black History and Civil Rights

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

Use, don't use, up to you!  But, now you know..... 

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!  

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! 

 

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! 

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.