Tech Connect October 2024

This month's edition of the Tech Connect will provide you with important information regarding Cyber Security Awareness Month, Promethean updates and tips, ClassLink support, and professional learning resources.

This month we are also unveiling our DCS GenAI Guidelines - please be sure to check out these guidelines as well as our AI Dashboard for information and recommended tools for utilizing AI to support your work!

Our Digital Teaching & Learning Team is thrilled to announce the launch of the Davidson County Schools AI Dashboard! This innovative platform is designed to empower our educational community by providing easy access to essential resources.

What’s Inside the AI Dashboard?

• District Guidelines: Stay informed with the latest policies and best practices for integrating AI into our classrooms.
• Resources for Everyone: Whether you’re a parent, student, or staff member, you’ll find tailored resources to enhance your experience and engagement with AI technology.
  
  

Join us as we embrace the future of education with the Davidson County Schools AI Dashboard, where learning meets innovation!

Click on the image below for more information on the 4 tips for staying safe and secure online.

To ensure a successful login to ClassLink, please verify that the Davidson County Schools logo is prominently displayed at the top of the page. If you are prompted to enter a code below the password entry field, this indicates that you are not on the official Davidson County page. Always confirm the presence of the DCS logo to guarantee secure access to your account.

The background changes the 4th Thursday of every month, but the Davidson County Logo will always stay the same. You can always access our specific ClassLink page by going to your school website, clicking on Curriculum, and ClassLink is the first link!

When new students enroll in the district, it may take up to 10 days for their Google Accounts to be created and synced with PowerSchool, as well as other applications like ClassLink. The account creation process is complex and has many moving parts that involve several different departments within the district. This time frame allows for the necessary setup and integration of their accounts into our systems.

It's important for teachers to be aware of this delay when planning for new students in their classes.

Easily access applications such as NCEdCloud, Gmail, Google Classroom, and more from ClassLink by creating Password Lockers. This feature allows users to save log in credentials for applications/accounts created outside of ClassLink. Click the image linked below for a step-by-step guide for setting up Password Lockers in ClassLink.

Click on the image below to register for any of our virtual Fall Professional Development Sessions!

Just as a reminder, we have a list of approved digital resources that have met 3rd Party standards. These materials have been carefully vetted to ensure they align with our curriculum and educational goals. You can find the complete list of approved resources by clicking on the image.

Submitting New Resources
If you have identified a resource you'd like to use in your classroom that is not currently on the approved list, you can submit it for review. Here's how:

1. Complete the Request of Digital Instructional Materials Form
2. Submit the form to your school's Media Coordinator who will then take it before the Media and Technology Advisory Committee (MTAC)

MTAC will review your submission and evaluate the resource based on our district's standards and guidelines. If MTAC agrees that it meets the requirements, the resource will then go to the district level for further review.

This process helps ensure that all instructional materials used in our classrooms meet our quality and content requirements. By following this process, we can continue to provide our students with high-quality, appropriate, and engaging learning materials across all subject areas.

We encourage you to explore the valuable resources shared during the NCBOLD Conference this summer. These resources include innovative strategies and tools designed to enhance digital teaching and learning, which can be immediately implemented in classrooms. By taking advantage of these materials, educators can enrich their professional practice and positively impact student learning outcomes. Click on the image to explore the resources!

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!