Technology Tips

#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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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

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Jamboard and Google Classroom

November 2020Josh Whiting

This post was first shared in our GSD Ed. Tech. Monthly Newsletter for Teachers, authored and curated by Teresa Bruin, Educational Technology Team Leader. (Link: https://sites.google.com/granitesd.org/gsd-ed-tech-newsletter/2020-archives/november-2020/jamboard-and-google-classroom-integration)

Jamboard (http://jamboard.google.com/) is a collaborative whiteboard space with options to draw, add pictures, shapes, sticky notes, and text boxes. It’s simplistic collaboration, and now you have the option to add Jamboards as assignments in Google Classroom. To get started, go to jamboard.google.com. Students will not need the app to participate on a Jamboard you assign to them.

Students Can Jam From Anywhere

Educators can engage all students in the learning process, whether working together in a traditional classroom, a group seminar setting, or through distance learning. The Jamboard website and app for Android and iOS make it easy for students and educators to join in on the creativity from their phone, tablet, or Chromebook.

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Featured Resource: Zoom

October 2020Josh Whiting

This was first shared in our GSD Ed. Tech. Monthly Newsletter for Teachers, authored and curated by Teresa Bruin, Educational Technology Team Leader. (Link: https://sites.google.com/granitesd.org/gsd-ed-tech-newsletter/2020-archives/october-2020/zoom-license-information-and-breakout-rooms)

Zoom (https://zoom.us/) is a robust video conferencing web tool that has been made available with the licensed version for all Utah teachers through UETN. Below, you will find instructions for logging into your licensed account and learn more about Zoom and the incredible Breakout Rooms feature that is included in your licensed account.

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What’s New in Sora?

October 2020Josh Whiting

We’re adding new ebooks and audiobooks to Sora all the time, and also adding resources to help students and teachers with Sora. In this post we round up a few of those resources.

For example, you can

Screenshot of Granite Sora Help Page — Screenshot of Granite Sora Quick Links and Help Page

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Featured Resource: Loom

October 2020Josh Whiting

This post originally appeared in our GSD Ed. Tech. Monthly Newsletter for Teachers created by Teresa Bruin, Educational Technology Team Leader. Note 10/14/2020: Loom pushed out a major software update just hours after this information was drafted and posted, so we will provide an update to these graphics and login information at some future time.

Loom is a simple screen recording and video messaging tool that can be used on Chromebooks, desktop computers, and iOS mobile devices. Granite staff and students now have access to the full professional features of Loom for Education.

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