These images highlight a few of the young adult fiction titles that have recently been added to Granite’s OverDrive Digital Library. Click on the images below to download PDF files which you can print out to display in your classroom or library. You could also post the images on a school or class website. [Read more…] about New YA Titles in Granite’s OverDrive for Fall 2016
Teacher Spotlight: Tricia Fenton and Katy Halliday, Western Hills Elementary
Tricia Fenton is the STS at Vista Elementary and Western Hills Elementary. She collaborates with teachers at both of her schools on the integration of technology into their lessons on a regular basis. Tricia is excellent at all aspects of her job as an STS. which includes front line tech support, helping implement district online tools, and training students and teachers in multiple programs and technologies. She notes that her favorite part of her job is going into classrooms and working with the teachers and students.
Katy Halliday is a 3rd grade teacher at Western Hills Elementary. She eagerly seeks out ways to enhance learning through the use of technology. She isn’t afraid to try new things, knowing that it doesn’t always go perfectly the first time, but that’s what learning is all about. She finds ways for her students to think critically, communicate, collaborate and create with the use of technology.
In this short video, students share the biographies they’ve been working on. They are able to wirelessly cast what’s on their Chromebook screens to the projector for the class to see by using Google Cast For Education. The students have done their research using the Chromebooks and have built their presentations using Google Slides. Katy sends out assignments using Google Classroom, which makes managing digital assignments a breeze.
Both Tricia and Katy are excellent teachers individually. Teamed up together, they make a Dynamic Duo!
Spotlight created and authored by Teresa Bruin, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist
Teacher Spotlight: Keith Smedberg, Olympus High School
Keith Smedberg is the Library Media Educational Technology Specialist at Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah. He manages a vibrant, engaging library with programming that supports reading, learning, technology use, and the diverse interests of the students at his school. In this spotlight video, several Olympus students talk about why they appreciate the library and Mr. Smedberg.
Check out the Olympus High School library web page at http://www.theolycenter.org/.
Spotlight created by Cindy Moyle, Granite District Library Media Specialist.
Teacher Spotlight: ETEP Teachers in Action
Adobe Spark video feature was used to capture some of the past ETEP teacher lesson activities. Adobe Spark allows you to login using your Google account, and create a Post, a Page, or a Video. Besides choosing a theme and music, students can also have the option to narrate their pictures. Share with a link or an embed code. It was a fun way to share student learning taking place in some amazing Granite School Education teacher’s classrooms.
Spotlight created by Kristen Johnson, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist
Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter | October 2016
Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter – October 2016
The latest edition of our department’s monthly newsletter recently went out via email to teachers in Granite School District. If you missed it you can access it here.
Highlights from our October 2016 Newsletter:
- Now Registering For: Hyperdocs For Every Classroom
- Hyperdocs and How To Use Them
- Educational Technology’s Website Gem
- Free Microsoft 2016 at Home Installation For GSD Staff and Students
- Creating a Positive Digital Footprint
- #EdcampUT 2016 is Almost Here! Now Registering
The Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter is edited by Teresa Bruin, District Educational Technology Specialist. You can access all of our past newsletters at http://etnewsupdate.wikispaces.com/.
New Children’s Titles in Granite’s OverDrive for Fall 2016
These images highlight a few of the children’s fiction chapter books, graphic novels, and informational titles that have recently been added to Granite’s OverDrive Digital Library. You can print them out and display them in your library or classroom, or add them to a school or class website.
(Granite’s OverDrive provides free access to ebooks and digital audiobooks for all students and staff in Granite School District. Granite’s OverDrive can be accessed on the web at http://granite.lib.overdrive.com or via OverDrive apps designed for various mobile devices. For more information or help getting started with OverDrive, visit https://www.graniteschools.org/edtech/overdrive.)
Posters created by Nikki Gregerson, Elementary Library Media Supervisor in Granite School District.
New Digital Citizenship Posters
Last week our school technology specialists (STSs) shared information and resources on digital citizenship with parents as part of parent teacher conferences. In preparation, Krystal Plott, STS at Howard R. Driggs Elementary and Gearld Wright Elementary, created the following printable posters and images for digital citizenship displays. She has generously allowed us to share them here. You could print these out for classroom displays, add them to presentations or websites, etc. Click on any image below to download a printable PDF version of that poster series.
You can also find videos, presentations, printable pamphlets, links and many more resources on our Digital Citizenship Resources page.
Featured Resource: Canvas Parent
Instructure recently released the Canvas Parent app for iOS and Android devices. This app allows parents to easily view details about their students’ courses from mobile devices. For help with the Canvas Parent app, follow this guide or view the video below. For more information about the Canvas learning management system in Granite School District, visit our Canvas general information page.
#UTEDCHAT
What Is #UtahEdChat?
Utah Educational Chat (#UTEdChat) is a weekly online conversation exploring educational topics. The chat happens on Twitter every Wednesday night from 9-10 PM MDT. It is geared toward Utah educators but is open to anyone who is interested in participating.
Upcoming Schedule
Our very own Chris Larsen, Director of Educational Technology in Granite School District, will be moderating this week’s #UTEDCHAT. The topic is, “Why Isn’t Technology Getting Results?”
Here is the full upcoming schedule for September-October 2016:
Sept. 21, 2016 | Why isn’t technology getting results? | Chris Larsen | @misterlarsen |
Sept. 28, 2016 | Teacher-led Innovation in Schools | Tami Pyfer | @tpyfer |
Oct. 5, 2016 | TBD | Michael Hakkarinen | @EdTechHakk |
Oct. 12, 2016 | Beyond the Classroom: Blended Learning | Chloe Demars | @TesTeach |
Getting Started
To participate, follow the #UTEdChat hashtag on Twitter, and include the same hashtag in your tweets to join the conversation. The moderator will ask questions in tweets starting with Q1, Q2, etc. Participants share answers in tweets beginning with A1, A2, etc.
If you’re new to Twitter or haven’t participated in a Twitter chat you can watch the video below for more information. You can also find more information on the #UTEDCHAT page maintained by UCET.
You might find our quick tutorial on Tweetdeck helpful as another way to participate in Twitter chats.
Featured Resource: GoAnimate
Need an engaging, yet different way for students to share knowledge and understanding? Try GoAnimate for Schools! (https://goanimate4schools.com/public_index) All you need to do is create a teacher account, and then create student accounts. This tool works on all computers and devices (even Chromebooks.) If you want the students to use their voice you will need a microphone, but there are other options if you don’t have one. Students are then able to pick characters to animate. They choose movements and backgrounds. Then, they give the characters a voice– their voice or a robot, that is. Students can have the characters explain how the water cycle works or they can share a story that they wrote. Math, writing, reading, science, social studies: the sky is the limit!
My students have loved to explain concepts they just learned using GoAnimate, as in the example video above. This is a great way to create a flipped classroom! You can create videos for students to watch at home. Read teacher blogs that share experiences of how their autistic students found their voices using GoAnimate, and how the program allowed gifted students to go deeper into topics.
Just play a few sample videos 1, 2, 3 and students will be immediately interested in what you are showing, especially when they learn they get to create them! In my opinion, GoAnimate is well worth the $79 a year price tag, but if you aren’t ready to commit, try the 14 day free-trial!
Resource Review by Tiffany Pontius, School Technology Specialist at Cottonwood Elementary and Truman Elementary.
(We have added GoAnimate to our collaborative list of Digital Storytelling and Presentation Tools. Check out the list and add your own recommendations right in the document.)
You must be logged in to post a comment.