Tech Matters

Time. Our most precious commodity.

In our daily conversations we hear the constant refrains of "I just wish I had more time" and "I just don't have enough time." These statements are true. In today's fast-paced society, we always seem to be short on time, specifically in the world of education. For too long, technology in education has been treated an add-on, a nice-to-have rather than a must have. As we step into a new year, I would like to challenge this line of thinking.

In an age where technology is the language of progress, a teacher who is not fluent in digital tools is like a librarian who cannot read. To teach in the 21st century, it is not enough to only share knowledge. We must also demonstrate mastery of the digital tools that shape the world our students will enter. Our reluctance to adapt is not just a personal limitation; it's an educational malpractice.

Here's the crux of the issue. When time is short, we must decide what is worth our time. Let this year's challenge be to invest time in learning and integrating technology into our pedagogies. It's not about "chasing the newest fad". Our students deserve educators who are not only knowledgeable, but who are also equipped to guide them through the digital era. So, this year, I challenge you to make the time. Our students are worth it.

2024 is bringing some exciting new opportunities for the EdTech Explorer program!

📆 MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Here are our First Friday dates for the semester! We've also included the topics we will be covering. You won't want to miss them!

• Friday, February 9 (1-2pm ) - Figuring out FigJam
• Friday, March 1(1-2pm ) - Inclusive Learning & Assistive Technology
• Friday, April 19 (1-2pm ) - EdTech Workshop Time (Open Help Time)

🔔 NEW CONTENT COMING SOON!

A brand new badge course on FigJam is coming your way in February! With the collaborative tool Jamboard being sunset this year, this is the perfect time to learn a new tool. Have something specific you would like us to prepare content for? Let us know!

⚓️ The EdTech Explorer Program has officially been running for 5 months! 32% of COEHS (22% of Faculty and 58% of Staff) has reached Level 1 or higher! Don't forget, you have until May to earn points, so it's never too late to join the fun and learn something new!

We will announce the Leaderboard results for December and January at the end of the month!

The EdTech Explorer Program was designed with flexibility in mind. Each month, we will spotlight a handful of opportunities to earn points. These are just a few of the ways you can personalize your exploration. Check out the points menu on the Explorer Site for a full list.

We understand that you have many demands on your time, so each spotlight includes a rough estimate of the time commitment involved. Even if you only manage to squeeze in just 10 minutes per month, by the end of the semester, you will have clocked almost an hour of growth! We hope this program will encourage and motivate you on your learning journey. We can't wait to grow with you!

⏰ Time Commitment: 10 minutes

🏆 Points: 20 points if completed by the end of January

Spend 10 minutes learning how to create an Appointment Schedule in Google Calendar. Use this tool to share your availability and allow individuals to "book time" with you! PERFECT for advising appointments and office hours!

While you're at it, try out our previous Try-A-Bytes!

Byte 1: Rocketbook Beacons

Byte 2: Doc History

⏰ Time Commitment: 1 Hour

🏆 Points: 75 points

❗️Click HERE to Register ❗️

Forms is amazing, but what if it could be EVEN better! Learn about 8 AMAZING add-ons for Google Forms and Sheets! From creating personalized automated emails to writing math equations, these add-ons are game changers!

Learn about add-ons like FormMule and Autocrat that are being used by SEVERAL faculty and staff in our building to be more efficient and productive!

⏰ Time Commitment: 1 Hour

🏆 Points: 75 points

❗️Click HERE to Register ❗️

Learn about how Explore Boards can be used to spark student engagement and curiosity in the classroom. This session covers everything from discovering what an Explore Board is and the pedagogy that supports this approach to learning, to practical tips on designing your own board. As an added bonus, learn how you can use Generative AI (ChatGPT) to assist with the creation process! Perfect for any educator looking to enrich their teaching with student-centered learning and EdTech!

⏰ Time Commitment: 5 minutes

🏆 Points: 25 points

Email Rebecca about something you found interesting or useful in the newsletter! What did you like? What did you try? Sharing with one another is how we learn best!

Click on the image below to explore what's new with Google Workspace!

This first round of updates covers changes that were rolled out in the latter part of 2023 and early 2024. Going forward, my plan is to update this deck and the end of every month and share it back out.