Professional Development

Now Registering: Tools & Materials for Makerspaces (Ed Tech Tuesdays Makerspace Series)

January 2020Josh Whiting

Would you like to learn how to start or improve your classroom or school makerspace or even just learn more about what makerspaces are? Our GSD Ed Tech Tuesdays professional development series for teachers includes a Makerspaces Course, with classes held on the second Tuesday of most months in the 2019-2020 school year. In this course, you will learn:

what makerspaces are and why you should use them,
practical ways to start or improve your classroom or school makerspace,
tools and activities that you might consider including in a makerspace.

Each month, we’ll cover an aspect of implementing a makerspace and spend time doing activities and using tools related to a specific theme you might include in your makerspace. You’re welcome to attend one or all of the classes!

Join us on Tuesday, January 14, 2019 for the fifth session of our Makerspaces course, with the topic “Tools & Materials for Makerspaces” and the theme of Robotics. This class will be held at the Educational Technology Satellite Lab at Jackling Elementary from 4:30-7:30 PM.

Click here to sign up for this and other Makerspaces sessions.

Now Registering: Personalized Learning (Ed Tech Tuesdays Pick Five Series)

December 2019Josh Whiting

The next sessions of our GSD Ed Tech Tuesdays professional development series start up the week after Winter Recess. Join us in the library at Granite Connection High School on January 7, 2020 or at the TLC on January 21, 2020 to explore the what, why, and how of personalized learning.

In personalized learning, students engage in relevant material and instruction that challenges them appropriately and is based on their interests, skills, and needs. When learning is personalized, every student engages with the right material and instruction to challenge them appropriately and get them to the next level. In this session will look at the what, the why, and the how of personalized learning.

Click here to sign up to attend this or other future GSD Ed Tech Tuesday ‘Pick Five’ Sessions.

Now Registering: Exploring Spaces and Places for Makerspaces (Ed Tech Tuesdays Makerspace Series)

December 2019Josh Whiting

what makerspaces are and why you should use them,
practical ways to start or improve your classroom or school makerspace,
tools and activities that you might consider including in a makerspace.

Join us on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 for the fourth session of our Makerspaces course, with the topic “Exploring Spaces and Places for Makerspaces” and the theme of Coding. This class will be held at the Educational Technology Satellite Lab at Jackling Elementary from 4:30-7:30 PM.

Click here to sign up for this and other Makerspaces sessions.

Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week, 2019

December 2019Josh Whiting

Computer Science Education Week is December 9-15, 2019. During the week many educators use Hour of Code activities to introduce students to computer science. These activities are fun and easy to run, and can be done not only in a classroom but as an after school or library activity, or at home. There are activities for any kind of computer or device, as well as analog “no-device” activities that teach coding and computational concepts

You can learn more about how to run an Hour of Code activity in these simple how-to guides:

How to teach one Hour of Code with your class (for teachers)

How to do an Hour of Code with your child (for parents)

You can also skip right to the collection of suggested activities by clicking on the image below, or visiting https://hourofcode.com/us/learn

Now Registering: Integrating Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy Skills (Ed Tech Tuesdays Pick Five Series)

November 2019Josh Whiting

The next sessions of our GSD Ed Tech Tuesdays professional development series start up right after Thanksgiving Break. Join us at the GEC on December 3, 2019 or at the TLC on December 17, 2019 to explore digital citizenship and digital literacy skills.

In the last couple of years, there has been a shift in focus for how we teach our students about digital citizenship. We will take a look at this shift, discuss why it’s more important than ever to teach and promote digital citizenship and digital literacy in our classrooms, and take a look at some curriculum and methods for teaching digital citizenship and literacy.

Click here to sign up to attend this or other future GSD Ed Tech Tuesday ‘Pick Five’ Sessions.

Now Accepting Applications: 2020 Library Media Endorsement Program

November 2019Josh Whiting

Granite has partnered with Salt Lake City and Davis Districts to provide a Library Media Endorsement program for interested teachers. To become a Library Media Educational Technology Specialist (LMETS) teachers must have either a Master’s in Library Science or a Library Media endorsement.

The program is designed for a cohort of 30 teachers with 10 teachers from Granite School District. The program will take up to 18 months of graduate-level work to complete. Credit will be granted through Valley City State University out of North Dakota. Classes in the endorsement program will be taught at schools determined by the district sponsoring the course. The cost is $50 per credit ($150 per course.)

Interested teachers can apply by sending a completed Application and Commitment Form to Cindy Moyle, Secondary Library Supervisor, by November 22, 2019. Please contact Cindy Moyle with any questions.

Now Registering: Code.org Training, November 13 and 20, 2019

November 2019Josh Whiting

Do you want a fantastic activity that is mostly self-directed, teaches reasoning, critical thinking and persistence, as well as fundamental Computer Science concepts for your students in small group rotations?

Come to the code.org training on Nov. 13th and 20th from 4:30-7:30 for a fun, fast-paced, easy training with resources, and even swag. You’ll leave with your students all set up in the code.org site, a teacher’s manual, and some cool swag.

Now Registering: Makerspace Program Planning & Management (Ed Tech Tuesdays Makerspaces Series)

November 2019Josh Whiting

what makerspaces are and why you should use them,
practical ways to start or improve your classroom or school makerspace,
tools and activities that you might consider including in a makerspace.

Join us on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 for the third session of our Makerspaces course, with the topic “Makerspace Program Planning & Management” and the theme of Electronics & Circuits. This class will be held at the Educational Technology Satellite Lab at Jackling Elementary from 4:30-7:30 PM.

Click here to sign up for this and other Makerspaces sessions.

Now Registering: Strategies for Developing Computational Thinking Skills (Ed Tech Tuesdays Pick Five Series)

October 2019Josh Whiting

Our GSD Ed Tech Tuesdays professional development sessions for teachers continue in November 2019. Join us at the GEC on November 5, 2019 or at the TLC on November 19, 2019 to explore strategies for developing computational thinking skills.

In the digital age, computational thinking skills are necessary for educators and students alike. In this session we will look at ways to promote and develop computational thinking skills throughout the curriculum.

Click here to sign up to attend this or other future GSD Ed Tech Tuesday ‘Pick Five’ Sessions.

Now Registering: Projects and Learning Approaches to Makerspaces (Ed Tech Tuesdays Makerspaces Series)

September 2019Josh Whiting

what makerspaces are and why you should use them,
practical ways to start or improve your classroom or school makerspace,
tools and activities that you might consider including in a makerspace.

Each week, we’ll cover an aspect of implementing a makerspace and spend time doing activities and using tools related to a specific theme you might include in your makerspace. You’re welcome to attend one or all of the classes!

Join us on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 for the second session of our Makerspaces course, with the topic “Projects & Learning Approaches to Makerspaces” and the theme of 3D Design & Printing. This class will be held at the Educational Technology Satellite Lab at Jackling Elementary from 4:30-7:30 PM.

Click here to sign up for this and other Makerspaces sessions.