Digital Learning Resources

Featured Resource: Minecraft Education Edition

April 2021Josh Whiting

This post is adapted from a presentation given by Educational Technology team leaders Kacie O’Maley and Amber Palmer and school technology specialists Ashley Moore, Keith Reidford, and Melissa White.

Educators and students in Granite School District have access to Minecraft: Education Edition for classroom use, and it can now be used on Chromebooks! Read on to find out how to access Minecraft: Education Edition, as well as why and how to share it with your students.

[Read more…]

#GSDEdTech Infographic 2021

February 2021Josh Whiting

Check out this infographic showcasing a few of the many of the services and tools we provide students and teachers in Granite School District!

Granite EdTech Infographic (2021)Download

The infographic details a few of the services and tools we provide students and teachers in five areas: technology coaching, professional development, libraries, digital tools, and hardware. Click the link above to download a copy of the infographic, or read on for descriptions and links to these services and tools.

[Read more…]

Featured Book Collections and New Releases in Granite’s Sora

February 2021Josh Whiting

Each week we add new ebooks and audiobooks in Sora, Granite’s digital library for students and teachers, as well as curate collections of new and featured titles in the Explore area. We also share printable and sharable posters for some of these collections on granitemedia.org, our sister site for Granite’s school libraries.

Log in to Sora with your student number or staff username and password to browse and borrow books from these collections today!

Read on for printable and sharable posters and more details about our recent collections.

[Read more…]

Featured Resource: PBSLearningMedia

January 2021Josh Whiting

PBSLearningMedia (https://utah.pbslearningmedia.org/) curates free, standards-aligned videos, interactives, virtual field trips, lesson plans, and more for teachers and students.

[Read more…]

Canvas: ‘The Fundamental Five’ for Students and Parents

January 2021Josh Whiting

Adapted by Davina Sauthoff, Educational Technology Team Lead, from “The Fundamental Five: A Framework for Improving Communication Processes,” by Trenton Goble of Instructure.

The “Fundemental Five” are simple but essential questions students should ask as they navigate content and coursework their teachers have shared with them in Canvas. (Canvas is the learning management system used by students and teachers in Granite secondary schools to support both face-to-face and distance learning.)

Canvas – The Fundamental Five for Parents and Students – Full Infographic

Read on or download the infographic for tips and features available in Canvas that will help you succeed in your classes.

[Read more…]

Featured Resource: Padlet

January 2021Josh Whiting

Padlet (https://graniteschools.padlet.org/) is a tool that allows teachers to make collaborative pages where students can respond, collaborate, and communicate with each other. We’re excited to announce that all Granite teachers now have access to a paid district Padlet Backpack account!

[Read more…]

The County Library Now Shares Digital Books in Granite’s Sora

January 2021Josh Whiting

Ebooks and audiobooks from the Salt Lake County Library are now in Sora!

Sora Granite-SLCO Public Library Connect Flyer — Sora Granite-Salt Lake County Library Connect Flyer – Instructions on connecting The County Library to your Sora Account

Sora Granite and Salt Lake County Library Connect Flyer (Printable)Download

Sora Granite and Salt Lake County Library Connect Flyer (Spanish) (Printable)Download

Students in Granite School District can now access the children’s and young adult titles in the county’s collection using their Granite login; no separate library card number is needed. This increases by thousands the titles and copies available to students. Read on to learn how to find these books.

[Read more…]

Featured Resource: Kami

December 2020Josh Whiting

A version of this post was first shared in our GSD Ed. Tech. Monthly Newsletter for Teachers, authored and curated by Teresa Bruin, Educational Technology Team Leader. We’ve also included help resources created by Davina Sauthoff, Educational Technology Team Leader.

Kami (https://www.kamiapp.com/) is a tool that allows students to digitally annotate text and edit documents. Using the kid-friendly Chrome extension, students can make notes on ebooks, publisher-supplied PDFs, worksheets, and more. Granite recently purchased a district-wide license to Kami for all teachers and students!

[Read more…]

Featured Resource: Screencastify

December 2020Josh Whiting

Screencastify (https://www.screencastify.com/) is an extension for recording and editing videos. Students and staff in Granite School District now have unlimited recording and editing when they sign in to Screencastify with their @granitesd.org Google accounts.

[Read more…]

Featured Resource: Scrible

November 2020Josh Whiting

Scrible (https://www.scrible.com/) is a research and writing platform that can be used to bookmark, annotate, organize, and share articles and webpages.

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has secured a statewide contract to provide Scrible Edu Pro to all Utah K-12 educators and students! Find out more about this contract here and read on to find out how Granite students and teachers can access this resource.

Video – Scrible Edu Demo and Teacher Testimonial

[Read more…]