6-11-2024 Tuesday Tech Tips

 

In today's Tuesday Tech Tips, read all about our exciting Summer Tech Camp PL sessions, a couple farewells, and more. ➡️ ➡️➡️

💡 Quick Tip 💡 Did you know that you can schedule events and negotiate times to meet with someone in right in Gmail?  Check out all the details HERE.

Do you have a tip or idea for the Tuesday Tech Tips? Or a request for a topic or question you'd like to know more about? Please let us know! You can email us at joseph.lombardo@greececsd.org with your submission.

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Don't let phishing scams hook you! Click here for tips including how to report suspicious emails.

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Flip has Flopped 😢

Starting July 1, Flip (formerly Flipgrid) will no longer be available in mobile app stores, and the web site on Flip.com will go into view-only mode. While you will no longer be able to create new groups, topics, or videos after this date, you will still have access to download your Flip videos through September 30.

This means Greece Central users will no longer be able to create new content in Flip after July 1.

We are actively looking for alternatives for Flip with the current tools we have, and will update when there is more information to share. Reach out to your ITT for any questions.

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Let's Go Camping This Summer!

We're thrilled to announce the Summer Tech Camp 2024 schedule (available HERE) for professional learning! August is a great time to sharpen your technology skills to help you be more effective and efficient in the coming year.

Here are a few highlights of what we're offering:

• Google Workspace Sessions to increase your skills with tips and tricks for beginners and intermediate. Time to finally get yourself out of Microsoft Office!

• MagicSchool and AI: build your understanding and skills with AI to make teaching and working even more effective

• Communication Tools for making newsletters and videos to get your message out

• Digital Wellness: investigate tips, tools, and strategies that foster a positive approach to cultivating digital wellness skills for both staff and students, including using #WinAtSocial and Digital Mindfulness

• In-Person Training on the Interactive Flat Panels that are new this fall to all classrooms at Olympia and Athena HS and are already in all other schools

• Other District Instruction digital tools (Infinite Campus, Nearpod, Book Creator, and more!)

These offerings are eligible for GTA Professional Learning Hours with a total of Sixteen possible hours! Please register right away to avoid cancellations due to low enrollment.

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A farewell from Tom Mariano:

As many of you know, this July I will retire after 20 wonderful years in this district and 36 fulfilling years in education. The connections I've made here are truly irreplaceable. The kindness, passion for learning, service, and hope of our staff and students have been constant sources of inspiration for me. For this I am grateful. With Brad Malone (Executive Director) and Rose Mamman (Director) now at the helm, the Technology and School Library departments are in very capable hands. Their fresh perspectives, combined with the incredible talent of our IT staff, Instructional Technology Teachers, and Library staff, fill me with optimism. Together, I know you will continue to ignite a love of learning in our students, fostering innovation and positive growth for years to come.

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For assistance with these topics, or anything else related to instructional technology, please click HERE to book an appointment with your building's ITT.

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6-4-2024 Tuesday Tech Tips

In today's Tuesday Tech Tips, read all about our exciting Summer Tech Camp PL sessions, an upcoming copier replacement project in schools, end of year Chromebook procedures, and more! ➡️ ➡️➡️

💡 Quick Tip 💡 Did you know that you can view the last five items you copied to the clipboard on a Chromebook?   Press the Search or the Launcher Key+V on your keyboard. Click the image to see a quick video demonstrating this process ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Did you notice how that link brings you to an ad-free YouTube video?  Directions on how to utilize Watchkin to share ad-free videos with your students can be found in a previous Tuesday Tech Tips HERE.

Do you have a tip or idea for the Tuesday Tech Tips? Or a request for a topic or question you'd like to know more about? Please let us know! You can email us at joseph.lombardo@greececsd.org with your submission.

________________________________

Let's Go Camping This Summer!

We're thrilled to announce the Summer Tech Camp 2024 schedule (available HERE) for professional learning! August is a great time to sharpen your technology skills to help you be more effective and efficient in the coming year.

Here are a few highlights of what we're offering:

• Google Workspace Sessions to increase your skills with tips and tricks for beginners and intermediate. Time to finally get yourself out of Microsoft Office!

• MagicSchool and AI: build your understanding and skills with AI to make teaching and working even more effective

• Communication Tools for making newsletters and videos to get your message out

• Digital Wellness: investigate tips, tools, and strategies that foster a positive approach to cultivating digital wellness skills for both staff and students, including using #WinAtSocial and Digital Mindfulness

• In-Person Training on the Interactive Flat Panels that are new this fall to all classrooms at Olympia and Athena HS and are already in all other schools

• Other District Instruction digital tools (Infinite Campus, Nearpod, Book Creator, and more!)

These offerings are eligible for GTA Professional Learning Hours with a total of Sixteen possible hours! Please register right away to avoid cancellations due to low enrollment.

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We're afraid we might be dating ourselves with this reference

Copier Replacement Project

It's that time of the year: time to replace some of the aging copiers in our district buildings. During replacement time, you will still have access to another copier in your building. Replacements are expected to take thirty minutes to an hour.

All the fun details, including a schedule by building, can be found HERE.

This reminds us...if you utilize the services of the Print Shop that we highlighted HERE, then this is one less worry for you!

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End of Year Chromebook Procedures

Are you a K-5 teacher, and you're wondering what do with your class set of Chromebooks when summer vacation is here? Or a 6-12 teacher, and wondering what to remind your students regarding their Chromebooks for the summer?

Well, wonder no more! Please refer to the document HERE for all the details on the end of year Chromebook procedures.

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Looking for PL Hours? Be sure to check out the ITT’s page for Recommended PL HERE. You’ll find upcoming webinar and session opportunities, as well as ongoing opportunities for digital tool certifications and self-paced learning. These offerings are updated frequently so bookmark the site and check back often!

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For assistance with these topics, or anything else related to instructional technology, please click HERE to book an appointment with your building's ITT.

5-14-2024 Tuesday Tech Tips

     

In today's Tuesday Tech Tips, read all about news on a districtwide energy-savings initiative that impacts Windows devices, an update on Canva access for students, a new and easier way to log into Frontline, and more! ➡️ ➡️➡️

💡 Quick Tip 💡 You can mute a website by right-clicking on the tab playing sound, and clicking "Mute site." Chrome shows you what tabs are playing sounds by displaying this icon: Who would ever want to mute this? This replaces "Mute tab."  It's now "Mute site," and the site will stay muted on all tabs until you unmute it.

Do you have a tip or idea for the Tuesday Tech Tips? Or a request for a topic or question you'd like to know more about? Please let us know! You can email us at joseph.lombardo@greececsd.org with your submission.

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With the goal of reducing unnecessary power consumption in the district, TSS is implementing the use EMCO, a tool which will allow for remotely powering down Windows devices via an automated schedule. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT CHROMEBOOKS.

Windows devices are being powered down at 10:00 PM most days. All of the details, including the scheduled roll out by building, plus directions on how to override the shutdown if you're using the device when it's scheduled to power off, can be found HERE.

Date	Buildings Affected
April 25	Autumn Lane and TSS
May 1	Buckman Heights, Brookside, and Craig Hill
May 8	Early Learning Center, English Village, Holmes Road, and Longridge
May 15	Lakeshore, Pinebrook, Paddy Hill, and Phoenix Academy
May 22	Athena Middle, Arcadia Middle, Arcadia High and Odyssey Academy
June 5	Facility Operations and Transportation
June 12	District Office East and District Office West

Exceptions:

We are waiting to deploy EMCO software at Athena High School and Olympia until after the new classroom (ViewSonic) panels are installed this summer (2024). 

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We are pleased to inform staff that your network password is no longer needed to log into Frontline! Effective immediately, you will log into Frontline directly within ClassLink, or by using the link on the district webpage, which will automatically log you in with your GCSD Google (email) account. If you encounter the error shown below, you must first log into your GCSD Google Account before you access Frontline.

While we're unable to support personal devices, we do have the following tips if you are having issues accessing Frontline on a personal tablet or phone:

• Make sure you are using Chrome (not Safari) or the Frontline app. Please note that the app is for Absence Management only.

• You may need to add your GCSD Google Account to your device.

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Due to a digital safety concern, at this time and until further notice, Canva is not accessible for our K-5 students.  We're working with the vendor to tweak the platform to make it a safe learning environment for students of all ages.

This does not impact grades 6-12 students, or staff at any level.

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Teachers, register for this upcoming PL opportunity offered to all NYS teachers through the Greater Rochester Teacher Center Network, Harnessing the Power of AI to Elevate Student Learning and Engagement, on July 24 from 8-3 at the TSSF. Greece teachers can earn 6 PL hours with no cost to register. See HERE for more information and to register.

Meanwhile, we're looking forward to working with many of you on May 21st on the topic of AI and MagicSchool! We outlined our three-phased plan to roll out MagicSchool in a previous Tech Tips HERE.

Please watch this explainer video, which includes an overview, a brief introduction to the district's approved AI tool, Magicschool.ai, and a new district poster covering "Four Key Guidelines for Using Generative AI."

Remember that our current district-approved and supported AI tool is MagicSchool.

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Looking for PL Hours? Be sure to check out the ITT’s page for Recommended PL HERE. You’ll find upcoming webinar and session opportunities, as well as ongoing opportunities for digital tool certifications and self-paced learning. These offerings are updated frequently so bookmark the site and check back often!

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For assistance with these topics, or anything else related to instructional technology, please click HERE to book an appointment with your building's ITT.

5-7-2024 Tuesday Tech Tips

    

In today's Tuesday Tech Tips, read all about saving time & resources with the GCSD Print Shop, free premium access to the Calm app for NYSUT members, important safety information regarding Chromebook charging, a PL opportunity on AI, and more! ➡️ ➡️➡️

💡 Quick Tip 💡 + = While your Chromebook keyboard doesn't have a "Delete" key, to mimic the Delete key's functionality on Chrome OS, you can use this keyboard shortcut: Search Key + Backspace. Use this key combo to erase the character to the right of, or "in front of," your blinking cursor.

Do you have a tip or idea for the Tuesday Tech Tips? Or a request for a topic or question you'd like to know more about? Please let us know! You can email us at joseph.lombardo@greececsd.org with your submission.

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GCSD's Print Shop is located in the Transportation and Support Services Facility, and offers a wide variety of products and services to our schools and departments. They're also really nice people! In an effort to spread the word about what's available in-house, they have put together this handy resource HERE. Employees are encouraged to use the Print Shop for most print jobs, because doing so saves time and money. The Print Shop is part of the Communications Office, and they're happy to work with employees on all types of custom jobs. Contact them at extension 2640 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. with any questions about printing and mailing services. A link to submit jobs electronically is in ClassLink in the "GCSD Operations" folder.

Please also consider costs and the environment before printing. Can you share documents digitally instead? Are you printing only the pages and copies necessary?  Can you use tools like Kami, Google Docs, and Google Classroom to collaborate and annotate digitally instead?

Whenever copying or sharing any material, on paper or electronically, don't forget to consider Copyright laws! This one page document HERE is designed especially for teachers and how copyright impacts us. To enjoy some light reading on GCSD's Board Policy and Regulations on Copyright, click HERE.

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Calm is a mental health app designed to help you manage stress, sleep better, and live a happier, healthier life. Their research-based tools help you build life-changing habits to support your mental health.

While Calm is a district-approved digital resource, the district does not have a subscription, so you're limited to the free tools. However, NYSUT members have access to a free premium account. The premium Calm subscription provides members with unlimited access to the full library of content at calm.com and in the Calm app, which can be utilized via a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Members can add up to five dependents (age 16 or older) to receive their own premium Calm subscription.

The link with instructions from NYSUT is HERE. Please note you may have to be logged into your NYSUT account in order for that link to work.

When you follow the directions linked at that page, it suggests using your personal email address to set up your account. If you use your GCSD Google account instead, then you can use the Calm app in ClassLink with the Google log in. If you plan to use Calm only from your personal device, then we'd recommend using your personal email address.

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A student in another district in NYS was charging a Chromebook at home on a couch cushion when a family member smelled smoke. The battery had failed, caught fire, and burned the couch fabric and cushion- which thankfully were treated with flame retardant, avoiding what could have been a devastating tragedy.

Based on this event, we're sharing the following recommendations from NYSIR Director of Risk Management:  

• Electronic devices should be charged on a solid surface where the device has appropriate space to vent, NEVER on fabric such as a chair, couch cushion, pillow, bed, or blanket.

• Charge devices where they can be monitored. If the device gets hot, unplug it and take it outside away from combustibles. 

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Teachers, register for this upcoming PL opportunity offered to all NYS teachers through the Greater Rochester Teacher Center Network, Harnessing the Power of AI to Elevate Student Learning and Engagement, on July 24 from 8-3 at the TSSF. Greece teachers can earn 6 PL hours with no cost to register.

Remember that our current district-approved and supported AI tool is MagicSchool. See HERE for more information and to register.

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Looking for PL Hours? Be sure to check out the ITT’s page for Recommended PL HERE. You’ll find upcoming webinar and session opportunities, as well as ongoing opportunities for digital tool certifications and self-paced learning. These offerings are updated frequently so bookmark the site and check back often!

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For assistance with these topics, or anything else related to instructional technology, please click HERE to book an appointment with your building's ITT.