12-13-2022 Tuesday Tech Tips

In this week's Tech Alert, we have news on updates to Flip (formerly Flipgrid), access to DVD players for teachers using an interactive panel in their classrooms, and a new feature in Google Docs so you can add dropdowns to your documents. 

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Flip (Formerly Flipgrid) Just Got Better! New Features & Fun Ways to Use Flip

Read all about the simpler, faster web experience that’s filled with feature updates you've been asking for. Take a look here!

Our TSS ITT webpage for Flip can be found here. Please check in with your building's ITT if you'd like support getting started.

 

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Need to Show a DVD on Your Interactive Panel?

TSS has purchased some external DVD players for use when teachers need to show a DVD on their Interactive Panel. There are some in each school library that are barcoded and available for short-term checkout through Destiny. Teachers who need one very regularly (i.e. use it once a week or more), for whom checking it out from the library short term won't work, may request one via the staff device request in WebHelpDesk.

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Custom Drop-Down Menus in Google Docs

Did you know you can now insert Preset or Custom Dropdowns in Google Docs?  This is a great tool to keep track of the status of a project, ask questions, and do more.  

SEL Check-in Example using Drop Downs from Kasey Bell

Blogger Kasey Bell from shakeuplearning.com has written this article on 15+ Ways to Use Drop-Down Menus in Google Docs, and the short video below demonstrates how to do it.  

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12-6-2022 Tuesday Tech Tips

In this week's Tech Alert, we have news on World Read Aloud Day, a grant opportunity for teachers, and a neat trick to create QR codes to share webpages and images in Chrome.

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December 5-11 is Computer Science Education for All Week

resources/interactive events for teachers and students

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"The tinyurl for sub plans ​is working really well when people use them. Thanks for putting that in the Tech Alerts!"

~ Anonymous Substitute Teacher

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Copyright Scholastic

World Read Aloud Day 2023

World Read Aloud Day is coming up on February 1, 2023! It’s an annual celebration of sharing stories from the amazing folks at LitWorld and Scholastic. Many authors and illustrators have volunteered their time to read aloud to classrooms and libraries all over the world. Author Kate Messner has compiled some helpful resources if you’re interested in virtually connecting your class with an author or illustrator for FREE! Please check in with your building's ITT for support.

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Media Literacy Grant Opportunity from EMTA (Educational Media Technology Association) 

 Purpose of the grant:

• To support educators who provide resources and learning experiences that correlate to state and national learning standards and demonstrate instructional excellence in promoting media literacy. 
• To provide funds for research projects or demonstration projects that can be replicated in other areas across the state and nation.

 Amount of Grant: 

• This grant is for up to $1,250 for a period of one year. 
• Two grants are awarded each year.

 Examples include:  

• A media literacy course held after school
• Learning about the effective creation and use of media in student work
• Using media effectively in your lesson plans  

 To Apply:

• The grant application is linked here
• Deadline is December 16, 2022

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Create a QR Code for Any Website or Image

There are multiple easy ways built right into Chrome to generate a QR code for a website or image.  One way is to just right-click anywhere on a website or image and choose “create QR code for this page/image."

Alternatively, from the address bar on a Windows computer in Chrome, click this icon:

Or, from the address bar on a Chromebook in Chrome, click this icon:

Click or scan the QR code above for more great tech ideas and support!

11-29-2022 Tuesday Tech Tips

In this week's tech alert, we have news on a new streaming video tool, recommendations on how to make life easier for both you and anyone who substitute teaches for you, and a neat trick to use Chrome to search your own Google apps.

December 5-11 is Computer Science Education for All Week

resources/interactive events for teachers and students

Check out a New Streaming Video Resource: ClickView

ClickView is new to GCSD for Fall 2022! ClickView is a collection of streaming educational videos for K-12 schools. Aiming to deliver quality content that saves teachers time, ClickView provides a smaller, more curated, and newer collection than other video sources. Many of the videos are produced by ClickView and are exclusive to the platform. ClickView videos are Kid-friendly: short, well-made, and many are animated!

All GCSD staff members with a class in IC with students have ClickView accounts.  To get started with ClickView, go to ClassLink, add ClickView if needed, and it should log you in when you open it in ClassLink.  If you are a staff member without a class in IC and would like to explore ClickView, please contact your ITT to get your account set up.  

In ClickView, you can explore videos that are connected to standards and common initiatives like SEL (SEL is one of their focuses) and include customizable interactive features, like quizzes.  Teachers can easily share videos with students and track their engagement. 

GCSD Staff can register for a one-hour, on-demand, asynchronous PD on ClickView via this link.  This is available until 12/23/2022, and it can be completed at any time before then, so please ignore other dates. A second, identical session will be available from January until June. Instructions will be sent to those who register. Please allow one hour total to complete the PD (does not need to be completed in one session).

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DIGITAL SUB PLANS Made Easy!

Creator: Ron Chapple studios | Credit: Getty Images/Hemera

In order to easily and securely share sub plans with anyone who could be substitute teaching for you, the ITT Team has created resources and help files for staff.  We're highly encouraging buildings to develop a procedure to collect and communicate teachers' digital sub plans to their subs.

Please check out the quick video here, which accompanies this help file.  Reach out to your building's ITT or DDIT Reps for support!

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Search Any App From Chrome's Search Bar

Chrome's address bar doubles as a way to do a quick Google search, but you're not limited to searching Google. In that same bar, you can search any site or app. This is great if you search specific apps frequently, such as Gmail or Google Drive.

Directions on how to set this up for yourself can be found here.

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