March 2018

Tech This Out! (NEW)

Google Drive

Google Drive is going away?! NO!!!

You may have seen or heard recently that Google Drive is going away (have you seen this notice?).  Nothing can be further from the truth.  Google will be removing “Google Drive for Desktop,” which is a standalone program that syncs your Google Drive in the cloud with a folder that resides on your computer, on May 12, 2018. Please continue to use the cloud-based version of Google Drive

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Best Practices

Chain NOtes

Chain Notes: These notes are “off the chain!”

Students are sorted into groups to address a question or statement that is printed at the top of a page. The page is circulated from student to student within their groups. Each student responds with a new thought related to those already written on the page and then passes it on to the next student. More than one paper can be circulating at the same time, and the chain note can be passed around as students are engaged in other tasks.

Consider using the “Shelf” feature in Padlet with the new comment feature so your students can easily link their notes, or comment, on the “chain” of notes. The Padlet only takes minutes to set up, and can serve as a great review for any unit.

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Digital DooDads

Duck Soup

Duck Soup

Create eSheets (digital worksheets) by uploading any Doc or PDF from your Google Drive or from your computer! It’s incredibly easy to set up the answer boxes and answer key, and with many different answer type options (multiple choice, show your work, math and chemistry, paragraph, text, drawing box, etc) the possibilities are endless. And the best part? It grades it for you! Check out this video to see more.

Twine

TwineTwine is an open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories. Students can create their own works and publish them right away, while learning simple coding concepts at the same time. Check it out here.

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Professional Resources

Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners

Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners

Susan Oxnevad has been a classroom teacher and an instructional technology facilitator in Chicagoland for more than two decades, providing professional development for teachers via online and in-person opportunities. She writes about ways to incorporate technology as an efficient and effective tool for learning in her own blog, Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners, and as a SmartTeacher on GettingSmart.com.

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Social Media – Who to Follow

Michael BenavidesBe sure and check our next NEISD Twitter Chat on Monday, March 5 at 7:30pm CST for “The Social Networked Classroom” hosted by NEISD ITS, Michael Benavides.

Follow Michael Benavides

Katrina Keene

Katrina Keene, EdD, is a National and International speaker and has spent the last 17 years in K-12 technology education. Currently, Katrina is the Senior Strategic Outreach Manager in Education at Wonder Workshop for the Central United States.

Follow Katrina Keene

Monica BurnsDr. Monica Burns is a Curriculum and EdTech Consultant, Apple Distinguished Educator and Founder of ClassTechTips.com. Monica was part of her school’s leadership team and was a vocal advocate for bringing one-to-one technology into her classroom.

Follow Monica Burns

*Interested in getting started on Twitter?  Contact your ITS!

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Professional Development
Online Courses (can be taken asynchronously – at your pace):

Online:

Coming soon!:

  • Redefine Learning with SAMR
  • Grading with Google
  • Stations in Secondary

TIP: you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.