Technology Tips

Featured Resource: Zoom

October 2020Josh WhitingLeave a Comment

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 WhitingLeave a Comment

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 WhitingLeave a Comment

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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Backing Up Your Google Granitesd.org Account Data: a notice for graduating students and others leaving Granite School District

May 2020Josh Whiting

Please read the following important instructions for graduating students, employees leaving the district, and others leaving Granite District. You will not have access to your @granitesd.org account, including your Google Drive or its contents when your time as a student or employee has ended. Granite will not be able to recover the content in your Google Drive after you leave. This year, an extension of accounts will be given to seniors. They will have until the end of first quarter in fall 2020 to access their district accounts. Please work with the STS or LMETS at your school if you have questions about this process.

Instructions for Backing Up Your Google Data (PDF)

Highlights and Resources from GSD Tech Meet, May 12, 2020

May 2020Josh Whiting

Celebrating Students

Granite teachers joined in a video and chat meet to share ideas and learn from one another in the final session of our Spring 2020 GSD Tech Meet series. This meet focused on ways to celebrate students and provide closure at the end of the year in a distance learning environment. Below we share a recording of the live meet, as well as ideas, links, and resources shared by participants in the session.

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Highlights and Resources from GSD Tech Meet, May 5, 2020

May 2020Josh Whiting

Student Choice

In our third GSD Tech Meet, held on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, Granite teachers joined up in a video and chat meet to share ideas and learn from one another. This week’s discussion focused on providing student choice and personalization during distance and face-to-face learning. Below we share a recording of the live meet, as well as ideas, links, and resources shared by participants in the session.

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Highlights and Resources from GSD Tech Meet, April 28, 2020

April 2020Josh Whiting

Ways to Increase Student Participation in Distance Learning

We held our second GSD Tech Meet on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, with more great discussions and sharing of ideas between Granite teachers. The discussion focused on techniques and ideas for increasing students’ engagement and participation in distance learning.

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Aaron Kammerman’s Video Ideas

April 2020Josh Whiting

Aaron Kammerman, School Technology Specialist at Hartvigsen School and The Jones Center, has been busy these last few weeks creating instructional videos for his teachers, as well as encouraging his teachers to make videos for their students. He recently compiled this inspiring list of ideas and reasons for teachers to make videos, and we are excited to share it with you!

Yesterday, I created a selfie video for my teachers, praising them for their efforts and encouraging them to reach out to me for continued support. In that video I made a passionate plea that they make MORE VIDEOS. I explained that kids are not missing out on the CONTENT as much as they are missing the CONTACT.

I followed up with this list of video ideas. My list of ideas is geared toward special ed students, but you get the idea. In case this is helpful, I pass it along to you!

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Highlights from the First GSD Tech Meet, April 21, 2020

April 2020Josh Whiting

Over 100 Granite educators joined us for our first GSD Tech Meet, a live virtual meeting for teachers held in Google Meet on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. The meet was facilitated by Kacie O’Maley, School Technology Specialist at Upland Terrace Elementary and an incoming Team Leader for our department next year. In this first session, Kacie introduced the meet as a collaborative space for teachers to connect and share with one another, putting forth discussion questions that encouraged participants to share successes, ideas, and solutions they have developed during the distance learning period.

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Distance Learning Resources in Granite School District

March 2020Josh Whiting

During school dismissal and this period of distance learning, Granite School District and the Educational Technology Department have created two centralized resources to provide students, families, and teachers with access to essential digital tools, best practices, and resources for distance teaching and learning.

distancelearning.graniteschools.org

This website is intended to help students and families access digital tools that Granite teachers may be using during school dismissal. Your student’s teacher will provide you with detailed information about accessing learning during this time. Please reach out to individual teachers with questions.

distanceteaching.graniteschools.org

You can find all updates from Granite School District on school dismissal and COVID-19 at this link: https://www.graniteschools.org/blog/category/covid-19/