1-31-2023 Tuesday Tech Tips

 

In this week's Tech Alerts,  we have news about Google Profile Pictures, Artificial Intelligence in Education, Google Sharing permissions, and more! ➡️➡️

Tuesday's Tip:  Do you find yourself writing the same thing over and over in e-mails?  Then this ⬇️ is for you!

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Some Thoughts on Profile Pictures 

This is a reminder that your GCSD Google Account profile picture is visible not only within GCSD, but also to anyone you contact outside of the district that also has a Google account. For example, if you email a student's parent to their Gmail accounts, they will see your profile picture. If you've never changed it, it is simply the first letter of your first name.

One way to change your profile picture:

• On your computer, open Gmail.
• In the top right, click your profile picture.
• Tap Manage your Google Account.
• On your Google Account page, click "Personal info."
• Under "Profile," click your current profile picture.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to choose or take a photo.
• Click Set Profile Photo.

While there are no official guidelines from the District regarding profile pictures, please make sure that it represents the district appropriately. A school picture of you is good. A picture of a flower is nice. A picture of Homer Simpson chugging a Duff Beer...not so much. This is no more than a friendly reminder, we're not the Profile Picture Police.

However, there is some policing when it comes to students' profile pictures. Again, there are no specific rules. It's tough to define an inappropriate profile picture, but you know one when you see it.

If you become aware of any student who is using a profile picture that promotes violence, drugs, adult content, or anything else that violates the Student Code of Conduct, please let your ITT know, and we can correct that.

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Have Your Students Suddenly Become Much More Proficient Writers?

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More News on ChatGPT!

We mentioned the artificial intelligence-based ChatGPT in the 1-3-23 edition of Tech Alerts here, and since then we are all getting to know more about what it is, its possible impact on education, and its possible impact on our world!

At the 1-18-23 session of our District Digital Innovation Team (DDIT), building and district members spent some exploration time and even faced-off in a debate about the role of AI and ChatGPT in education. This Wakelet of resources was shared, and we’re sharing it with you.

Resources will continue to be added to this Wakelet as more and more information and perspectives are collected about AI and ChatGPT. ChatGPT is available for staff within the district, but is blocked for students. Of course, that doesn't mean they can't get to it on their own. We can't stress enough the importance of becoming familiar with this technology.

Seriously, this is big.

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GCSD Students' Access to non-GCSD Google Resources

Please be aware that all K-10th grade students are not able to access Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawings, Forms, Sites, etc. owned by someone outside our district, such as staff from other Google districts or online shops like Teachers Pay Teachers. This restriction is required to protect our students from communications or data sharing with non-district persons. The rules are somewhat less stringent for Juniors and Seniors, as part of their work becoming college- and career-ready. For all other students, the only "work around" is making a copy of the outside resource in your GCSD Google Drive (if the owner allows), as well as copying any other non-GCSD Google Docs linked within that resource AND fixing any embedded links within the resource that point to non-GCSD resources. It can be a lot of work! Please keep this in mind before committing to using Google resources owned by someone outside the district.

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For assistance with these topics, or anything else related to instructional technology, please check in with your friendly neighborhood ITT.

1-17-2023 Tuesday Tech Tips

In this week's Tech Alerts, we have news about that pesky "Redirect Notice" page you may be seeing, self-paced technology PL curated by your ITT Team, a virtual assembly opportunity, and more! ➡️➡️

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Does This ⬆️ Look Familiar To You?
If It Does, You're Not Alone!

The Office of Technology is aware of an issue affecting many users in Chrome where clicking on a link leads to you a "Redirect Notice" webpage like the one pictured above. We are working closely with BOCES and Google in order to resolve this issue. We do not have a timetable on when we expect it to be fixed.

In the meantime, it is safe to click on the link on a Redirect Notice page in order to go to the site. You may even get one from the very Tech Alerts you're reading right now! #That'sSoMeta

The good news is that it appears to only happen when using Chrome on a Windows device, but not on a Chromebook. So, it should not be impacting students.

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ITT-Recommended Professional Learning for Instructional Technology

Your ITT's have curated a landing page on our Instructional Technology website, called Recommended Professional Learning for Instructional Technology, to highlight high-quality content that can be used for self-paced professional learning for instructional technology.

As a reminder, the Instructional Technology website can also be found in Classlink’s orange Technology Folder.

 

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27 Things Grades 5-8 Students Should Be Doing Online

We are pleased to share an exciting virtual assembly opportunity for NYS 5th-8th grade students! Please consider tuning in with your classroom to a live, 45-minute, virtual assembly with acclaimed media literacy expert Julie Smith! This presentation will be tailored to a middle school student audience. Register now using this link! Want to know more about Julie’s message and presentation style? Check out this recent clip where she talks about one of the many ways that students can positively engage with and harness social media and the internet

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⚠️ Attention Dymo Label Maker Users ⚠️

There are many Dymo brand label writers in the district. The newer models (500 series and up) work ONLY with Dymo brand labels that were manufactured after 2020.

These labels are identifiable by their packaging, as they come in green and white boxes. The labels that came packaged in a green and black box are older and will NOT be recognized by the device.

Any older label writer model, such as the 400 series, will work with any brand and age labels.

1-3-2023 Tuesday Tech Tips

Happy New Year from your friends on the Instructional Technology Team!  For an introduction to the first Tech Alerts of 2023, please click on "ITTsy" The GCSD Snowman.

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• What video sources are approved for use on the district computer system (network and devices)? 
• Can streaming services such as Netflix be used in school?
• What movie/TV ratings are allowed at each grade level?
• What “fair use” of video is allowed by copyright law?

These questions are answered in the "Media Guidelines" Folder found in Classlink

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Game-Changing Update to Gmail & Docs

Ever been in a situation where you want to collaborate while writing an email? Now you can! Check out draft emails from Google Docs. Once you’ve activated this feature you can share the Google Doc with someone to collaboratively write the email message. When you’re ready to send, just click the ‘Preview in Gmail’ .

 

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Have You Heard About ChatGPT?

Quoted directly from ditchthattextbook.com:

"ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot. Drawing on tons and tons of data and massive processing power, it uses GPT3 technology to let users talk to the AI about practically anything.

It'll write you a song. Tell you a story. Make you a list of gifts to buy or reasons to do something.

It'll write your lesson plans. (Go ahead and try it!)

It'll even do your students' homework for them."

So, yeah....We highly recommend checking out the rest of the article here.

Your students already know about it.

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Adobe Character Animator

To make a character animation like the one in the introduction to these Tech Alerts:

• Log into Adobe Express through ClassLink.  You may have to add it to ClassLink by using the Plus Sign in the upper left

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• After you're logged in, then go to https://express.adobe.com/express-apps/animate-from-audio/

Character Animator works on both Windows computers as well as Chromebooks. It's still in Beta Mode until some time this year.  What are some ways you can use this with your students?  Leave your ideas in the comments below! Please check in with your ITT for help with this or any other instructional technology. 

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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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