#EMSISDITS Tech Talk

Techy Talk for Teachers

Bi-Weekly Tech News
Follow us on emsisdits.blogspot.com to see bi-weekly news, tutorials, & more! We will email out news every other week offering you the latest trending tech topics! :)

The EMS Instructional Technology Team is excited to work with students, teachers, and administrators this year to support and enhance the great things going on in our district this year!

SAMR + Rigor/Relevance Framework = Quad D Goodness!

We've learned that the SAMR model gives us a framework for how we use technology for learning.We also use the Rigor Relevance Framework to ensure that our students are working and thinking at a high level. When you use both models to plan your lessons, great things can happen.

Substitution simply replaces pen and paper with an iPad or computer and falls into Quad A where the teacher does all of the work.

Augmentation occurs when technology is still a direct substitution, but it does create functional improvements. This falls under Quad C where the student thinks but does not work.

Modification happens when technology use allows for significant task redesign. This falls under Quad B where the student works but does not think.

Redefinition occurs when technology allows for the creation of new tasks previously inconceivable and falls under Quad D where the student thinks AND works.

While we can't always be in Quad D, we should always strive to get there. Educators have a TON of great technology tools available to use. Most of them can be used at all levels of SAMR and the Rigor/Relevance framework. It is important to create lessons and activities that allow students to think, create and apply learning in new and complex ways.

Summer {TECH-Infused} Professional Learning Opportunities are Posted!

We're excited about the variety of TECH-infused Summer Professional Learning opportunities this summer! We hope you'll make plans to attend one, some, or ALL of them!

Sign up in Eduphoria today!

K-12th Taste of Technology will be a full day of breakout sessions and choice - from Digital Student Portfolios to Differentiation & Accessibility Options to STEM and more! Come discover how to integrate technology in ways that are curriculum-based, meaningful, and engaging for both you and your students! This session will debut on June 18, but will be repeated on June 19, August 8, and August 9. We will be offering similar sessions each day, but you're sure to find enough to participate in if you'd like to come more than once! These sessions are considered Flexible Sessions. Talk with your principal or administrator to see if this is a good option for you.

We are also bringing back some crowd-favorites this year. Although they do not count as Flexible Sessions, these opportunities are too good to miss.

Get to Know OneNote | Monday, June 4, 8:30-11:30 am

Is your campus or department using OneNote? Are you still a bit unsure about it? This session is perfect for our OneNote newbies or anyone that just wants to great beginning refresher course.

Class Notebook to the Rescue! | Monday, June 4, 12:30-3:30 pm

If you're ready to start using OneNote with your students (and believe me, your STUDENTS are ready!), then this is the session for you. Learn how OneNote Class Notebooks can provide your students with the information they need, free up time for you, and provide an easy way for students to submit digital assignments. You will benefit tremendously if you have a basic, working knowledge of OneNote before you attend this session.

Amazing Race: Season 3 | Tuesday, June 5, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Back by popular demand, this season of EMS Amazing Race will encompass multiple curriculum areas and grade levels. Much of the day will be spent in a "race" around our community, tackling a variety of digital challenges. Bring your competitive spirit and you'll walk away with real activities you can use with kids in your classroom.

The Great Escape | Wednesday, June 6, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

You've heard of Escape Rooms ... you may have even tried one! This full day session will include a mix of "Escape Room" activities - both digital and physical. You'll leave with lots of ways you can challenge your students to communicate, collaborate, think critically, and be creative!

Get to Know Office 365 | Thursday, June 7, 8:30 - 11:30 am

You already use email, calendar, and OneDrive ... this session will focus on how these and other Office 365 tools can help ignite student engagement or simply make your day-to-day tasks activities more efficient and effective. From Word Online to Sway to OneDrive, these tools are designed to help teachers and students create, share, and collaborate online.

Canvas in the Classroom | Thursday, June 7, 12:30 - 3:30 pm

We've seen a tremendous increase in Canvas usage by students and teachers in the last three years. If you're ready to begin using Canvas with your students, this is the session for you. In this hands-on session, you will learn how to navigate through your courses as a student and a teacher. You will also learn how to add content to a course, copy content from one course to another, embed 3rd party content into a course, and more.

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Interested in Checking Out Devices?

Do you have a lesson or activity in mind, but are lacking devices to carry it out? Our department can help! If you are interested in checking out iPads, VR Googles, GPSs, Merge Cubes, Spheros/Ollies, or Green Screens, click here to fill out a reservation form. We would love to support your students' learning any way we can!

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Out-of-this-World SWAYS!

Mrs. Witta's students at Eagle Mountain Elementary are creating SWAY projects on planets and love using the compare and contrast feature.

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The Power of Office Lens

Staff members at CRES learn about all the immersive reader features in OneNote and Office Lens that will help all students engage in read alouds.

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Touchcast and Story Bird at SES

The second graders rock their presentations about animals they have researched using the green screen app, Touchcast, and a book composition app called Story Bird.

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Microsoft Translate at HMS

Staff members at HMS are learning the impact Microsoft Translate can have in classrooms, meetings, and more where there is a language barrier.

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OneNote Revolution at EES

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers are ready to revolutionize their students learning with tools provided in OneNote

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Tech Wednesday @ HCES

Another great Tech Wednesday with the Cougars! We had a great time learning about classroomscreen.com, Learning Tools in O365, Translate.me, and, last but not least.....drum roll please.......The Jenallee Show!

Which browser do you use?

District devices come standard with 3 different web browsers- Edge or Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. All of these browsers can get you online and help you navigate to different websites. So, which browser is the best? It's really up to the user. Each browser is a little different in its look and feel, so you use the one that you are most comfortable with..........BUT(there's always one of these), understand that not all programs and applications play well with all browsers. So you may find that one program works best with Chrome while a different program works best with Edge or Firefox. Bottom line, use the browser that you like, but be willing to try other browsers if you run into difficulties with various programs.

EdPuzzle makes videos better

Videos are a great way to get students ready for a lesson. The problem with them, however, is that they are one dimensional. The video plays and the students listen. There is no interaction. With EdPuzzle, you can take any video and add your personal commentary, note and quiz questions. This keeps student engaged in the video because they know you commentary applies directly to what they are studying, and that they will be accountable for video content with the quiz questions. Go here to check out EdPuzzle. If you would like help setting up your first EdPuzzle video, contact an EMS TEchspert today.

Reserve an #EMSTechspert

We want to help you successfully infuse technology into your classroom. We would love to train you on how to create tech infused lessons, co-teach the lessons, or even share our favorite tech tools with you!

Email your IT today to set up an appointment! (Find contact info here.)