CFAUSD May EdTech Newsletter

To stay informed, please visit the Tech Coach Website weekly for tech tips and ideas on how to integrate technology effectively into your classroom. You can also keep up-to-date on technology professional development opportunities throughout the year. We encourage you to explore and subscribe to Luke Short’s YouTube Channel for additional tech-related content.

This month's Brisk Teaching Tip is all about using Brisk Boost's new "Agreed/Disagreed" student feedback toggle.

Brisk Boost’s New "Agreed/Disagreed" Student Feedback Toggle. Brisk recently updated the Brisk Boost student-facing sidebar. When you push AI-generated feedback to a student's Google Doc via Boost, students now have the ability to click "Agreed," "Disagreed," or "Unresolved" on every single AI comment.

This month's Gemini Tip of the Month is their new "Help Me Write" feature in Google Classroom. Google has fully rolled out AI-suggested feedback directly within the Google Classroom grading interface. Using the "Help me write" button in the private comments section, Gemini can now draft personalized, high-quality feedback based on the specific content of a student's submission, their grade level, and your specific areas of focus.

This month's Notebook LM Tip of the Month is how you can turn your class syllabus into a searchable chatbot. (Please note: this tip is only for when we allow students access to AI tools, so save this idea.) Instead of using NotebookLM for student research, use it to create a "Classroom Operations HQ." By uploading your syllabus, classroom procedures, grading rubrics, and "frequently asked questions," you create a private AI chatbot that students (and parents) can query to find immediate answers to logistical questions like, "What is the late work policy?" or "How do I format my bibliography for this specific class?"

This month's Canva Tip of the Month is Canva's new feature "Canva Learn Grid". Launched April 2026, Canva allows teachers to instantly generate curriculum-mapped, interactive activities. It allows you to select your grade, subject, and specific learning outcome to produce ready-to-use worksheets, graphic organizers, or interactive games in seconds.

Teachers spend hours hunting for resources that actually align with state standards. Learn Grid eliminates the "search fatigue" by using AI to build the activity around the standard, ensuring that even a last-minute sub plan or a quick enrichment activity is pedagogically sound and visually engaging.

DVD Player Update

Small DVD Players will not work, if you have a sub and plan to show a video, you will need to checkout the actual Blue Ray player from your library. Or, search the streaming service Swank for your video.

Content Filter

If you or a student encounter a blocked site that should be unblocked, you will need to complete the Content Filter: What's Blocked form, which can also be found on the Staff Portal.

Aristotle K12 Educator

Aristotle K12 Educator is the district's student Chromebook monitoring system that is available to all teachers. Luke Short and Cara Schueller are available for training whenever you need a refresher or simply want to get started. Check out the new Aristotle Notebook LM page and start a chat to help you resolve any issues.

Tech Guides & Cara's Notebook LM Page

The Tech Guides is a folder located in the Shared Drive, accessible to all CFAUSD staff, that holds instructions on how to perform many tasks with technology. Recently, Cara created a Notebook LM page that will allow you to search the Tech Guides by asking a question. This is super slick and highly recommended! [Click here to ask a question or start a chat].

Assistive Technology

Special Education teachers/case managers, click the link to the [2025-2026 Google Read and Write Registration] form and complete it individually for each of your students who need premium access. If you are looking for access to Bookshare to assign your students books, simply email shortlc@chipfalls.org. If you are curious to see how AI can support you and your students, reach out to Luke Short or Cara Schueller.

Infosec Phishing Update

Please see the screenshot below for the updated Infosec Phishing data and remember to report the phish simulations when you receive one. According to the data over the past 30 days, only 16 people have been phished, compared to 15 from last month and more than doubled since two months ago. Over the last 6 months, 109 people have been phished, and 168 people have been phished over the last year. As these numbers have relatively plateaued month over month, we are also seeing that less and less people are actually reporting the phishing simulated emails, so please remember to report these emails when you receive one.

Remember to click the "Phish" button from the side panel of Gmail. If you are on your phone and you receive an Infosec Phishing Simulation email, scroll all the way to the bottom of the email and click the phish icon to report the email as well. Please note, clicking the three dots and reporting phishing is not the proper protocol. You need to click the "Phish" button from the side panel. [Click the link to access the instructions via video].

Aristotle K12 is our district’s student Chromebook monitoring tool, giving teachers the ability to see student screens in near real time, block distractions, and guide students to stay focused during class.

With Aristotle, you can:

• Monitor tabs students have open

• Push websites directly to student devices

• Create outlines or blocking plans to limit access during lessons

• Block or pause browsing with one click

It’s simple, powerful, and built for classroom use. If you need help getting started, check the Staff Portal or reach out to the Tech Team.

Looking for directions on how to use the features or looking for answers to why Aristotle is not working properly. Checkout the new Aristotle Notebook LM page. As always, if you can't find the answer, contact Luke Short or Cara Schueller at the Help Desk #5555.

Secondary Teachers, I’m excited to spotlight one of our most impactful instructional technology tools: Edpuzzle.

💡 What is Edpuzzle?

Simply put, Edpuzzle takes video—from YouTube, Khan Academy, or your own screen recordings—and turns it into an active, engaging lesson. It allows you to embed your own questions (multiple-choice, open-ended), audio notes, and even a voiceover right into the video timeline.

This simple step changes a passive viewing experience into a powerful moment for formative assessment and student accountability. Students can't skip ahead, and the video pauses automatically until they answer your embedded question or listen to your note.

🎯 How to Leverage Edpuzzle in Your Classroom

With our Edpuzzle Pro license, you have access to unlimited content creation and robust features perfect for secondary instruction:

• Flipped Classroom or Homework: Assign videos with embedded questions for students to complete before class. This guarantees basic comprehension and frees up class time for deeper discussion, activities, and application.

• Formative Assessment: Quickly check for understanding during a lesson. Edpuzzle auto-grades multiple-choice questions and gives you a clear snapshot of student progress and common misconceptions, saving you time.

• Differentiated Learning: Create different versions of the same video lesson with varying levels of questioning, or allow students to rewatch sections they struggle with. Pro tip: Use the new multi-language closed captions for greater accessibility!

• Student-Created Content: Leverage the Student Projects feature to have students demonstrate their understanding by creating their own interactive video lessons. This is a fantastic way to boost critical thinking and presentation skills.

Edpuzzle is now your one-stop shop for interactive video lessons, gamified quizzes and slides, student created video responses, and more! Be sure to check out our “What’s New!” video to explore all the exciting updates for this school year.

✅ Get Started with Your Edpuzzle Pro Subscription Today!

To ensure you are set up with your Edpuzzle Pro subscription and ready to leverage its power:

1. Activate Your Pro Subscription: Teachers with Edpuzzle accounts should already be good to go! New secondary teachers can sign up on edpuzzle.com with their school email, and they'll be upgraded after selecting their school.

2. Install Edpuzzle Extension: Install Chrome Extension for unlimited screen recording and one-click imports from YouTube. This ensures your students can access videos in a safe and compliant platform with no ads, data-tracking, or distractions.

3. Explore the Discover Page: Head to edpuzzle.com/discover to find millions of ready-to-use, teacher-made interactive videos, including high-quality Edpuzzle Originals for all secondary subjects.

As always, if you have any questions or would like a one-on-one session, please reach out! I'm here to support your success.

Remember to visit the CFAUSD Canvas FAQ which can be found in the Global Navigation section on the left side of your Canvas Dashboard under the “Help” link. This document provides solutions to the most commonly asked questions and directions on how to do the following:

1. How to Import Course Content

2. How to give parents access to Canvas

3. How to synchronize Canvas Gradebook to Infinite Campus

4. How to Cross list courses

5. Brisk Teaching Integration Instructions

Need support?

Mike Buhrow #3752 or buhrowmj@chipfalls.org

Cara Schueller #2587 or schuelcc@chipfalls.org

Luke Short #2216 or shortlc@chipfalls.org

Do not forget to keep using Mobilemind to reach your technology integration goals. Mobilemind provides staff with personalized professional development that allows you to go at your pace on your own time. CFAUSD Technology and Instructional Coaches as well as Mobilemind staff keep adding Learning Paths and improving the platform each month. Just click the Mobilemind Extension from your Extension bar, sign in with Google and browse all of the options that fit your needs.

You can also take advantage of learning and registering for events with the new Mobilemind App that is available on both Android and iPhone devices.

• Complete your micro-courses anytime, anywhere
• View announcements and achievements
• Select your avatar “learning buddy,” who offers encouragement and guidance
• RSVP and sign into live events (You can even build personalized conference schedules!)

We will also use Mobilemind's PD Registration Tool as our way for having staff sign-up for various PD sessions.

In case you are not aware of the sub-sharing process, make sure you keep reading as it has been brought to our attention there are many teachers, paras, and administrative assistants that are not aware of the Sub Folder in their Google Drive. Yes, if you are a teacher and need to share sub plans with a sub, click this link to the Tech Guides. It's a folder filled with Help for Subs & Sharing with Subs. We cover the best practice for teachers sharing sub plans, how you can give your sub access to your classes on Aristotle, how to share Google Drive files with subs, technology tips for CFSD Subs, and much more.