Tech Connect - April 2025

As we welcome the warmth and renewal of spring, our Digital Teaching & Learning Team is gearing up for a season of innovation and growth. With Spring Break just on the horizon, we want to highlight the latest tech updates, share insights into new tools and strategies, and look forward to the exciting digital initiatives that await us!

As you are beginning to look to towards preparing for End-of-Year activities and reviews, do not forget to reach out to us for ideas and assistance!

We know the pressure is on as you work to cover all the NC Science Standards before the End-of-Grade exams. At Discovery Education, we’re here to support you with high-quality instructional resources designed to make your job easier while engaging your students in meaningful learning.

To help you maximize NC Science Techbook, we’re sharing two short videos that highlight strategies for integrating Techbook effectively in the weeks leading up to testing:

Part 1: Running out of days with standards left to teach? Meet Express Pathways! – Discover how the Unit Resources can streamline planning while providing full coverage of standards!
Part 2: Running out of days with standards left to teach? Meet Express Pathways! –Explore more resources to reinforce learning as well as the Assessment Builder for creating spiral reviews!

Check out the Studio Board with resources for teachers and students!

Whether you're reinforcing key concepts, differentiating instruction, or making science more interactive, Techbook is here to help. If you have any questions or need additional support, please don't hesitate to reach out—we love partnering with educators like you!

As we embrace innovative technologies in education, it's vital to remember our responsibility to protect student privacy and Personally Identifiable Information (PII), especially when it comes to GenAI platforms.

Why This Matters

• Data Security: AI platforms may store and use input data for training purposes.

• Legal Compliance: Sharing PII could violate FERPA and other privacy regulations.

• Ethical Responsibility: We have a duty to safeguard our students' personal information.
  
  

What Counts as PII?

Remember, Personally Identifiable Information includes, but is not limited to:

• Names

• Addresses

• Phone numbers

• Email addresses

• Social Security numbers

• Student ID numbers

• Birth dates

• Specific details about disabilities or health conditions
  
  

Best Practices

1. Always anonymize examples or scenarios before inputting them into AI platforms.

2. Double-check your text for any accidental inclusion of names or identifiers.

3. Use generic terms like "Student A" instead of real names.

4. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and omit specific details.
   
   

By following these guidelines, we can harness the power of AI while maintaining the trust and privacy of our students and their families. If you have any questions about using AI tools responsibly, please don't hesitate to reach out to a member of the Digital Teaching & Learning Team!

Google Learn About is an innovative AI-powered learning tool designed to enhance educational experiences by providing personalized content tailored to individual needs. It uses advanced AI algorithms to understand learning preferences and adapt content accordingly, making the learning process more efficient and enjoyable. The tool encourages exploration and offers multimedia elements like videos and quizzes to keep learners engaged. Google Learn About also supports adaptive learning paths, adjusting content based on user progress to ensure a solid foundation in each subject. It aims to transform the way people approach learning by making it more interactive and dynamic, allowing users to explore topics in depth and foster a deeper understanding of subject matter.

April's Schoolnet Webinar will cover how teachers can use Schoolnet as a Formative Assessment, Exit Ticket, or Quick Check while also using it within a Station Rotation format.

Monday, April 28

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Click here to Register

April is a fantastic time to celebrate the heart of our educational community – the school library! School Library Month, which runs throughout April, is a special opportunity to highlight the vital role libraries play in fostering a love for reading and learning. It's a chance to appreciate the hard work of librarians and the resources they provide, from books to technology and educational materials.

During National Library Week, April 6-12, you can take your celebrations to the next level. This year's theme is "Drawn to the Library," offering a creative backdrop for engaging activities like book-themed art projects, author visits, or interactive reading challenges. Whether you're hosting a book club, organizing a reading challenge, or simply encouraging students to explore new titles, these events are perfect for bringing the school community together and promoting literacy.

Have you heard about Promethean's Explain Everything? It's like a supercharged digital whiteboard that's been added to Promethean's toolbox, and it's pretty awesome! Imagine being able to whip up engaging lessons, record explanations for students to watch later, and even work together with your class in real-time – all in one place.

The best part? It comes with some fun extras like Promethean's popular Spinner, Timer, and Polling tools to get everyone involved. Promethean's Explain Everything Free version is a great way to get started with this interactive whiteboard tool. Here's a summary of what the free plan offers:

• Up to 3 projects

• 1 slide per project

• 3-minute video recordings

• Collaboration with 1 person for up to 15 minutes

• 500 MB cloud storage

• Basic whiteboarding features

• Export options for videos, PDFs, and images

• Available on various devices (iOS, Android, Windows, web)
  
  

The free plan provides essential tools designed to bring fun and engagement to lessons, allowing users to test out Explain Everything's core functionalities.

Promethean is offering a range of professional development opportunities over the coming months, including Camp Promethean on July 15-16, which provides free virtual training for teachers worldwide. Additionally, Promethean will host the Teacher Tailgate on September 9 and STEAM Forward on November 5, both of which focus on innovative teaching strategies and STEAM education. These events are part of Promethean's broader professional development series, which includes online courses and live sessions to enhance educators' skills with Promethean tools.

Depending on the age of your Promethean Board, you might be receiving a message when you open Chromium that says this browser is version is no longer supported. If you click out of the message, you will still be able to use Chromium, however it may not be able to open some websites. The Tech Department is waiting to find out if a firmware update is going to be released to help solve this problem.

Sue Tobin - suetobin@davidson.k12.nc.us

Allyson Medlin - amedlin@davidson.k12.nc.us

Libby Moretz - libbymoretz@davidson.k12.nc.us

Listed below are the schools that each of us serve - please feel free to reach out to us!