PISD Edtech Talk

Welcome to Edtech Talk, PISD's quarterly edtech newsletter!

This newsletter delivers a curated selection of edtech highlights, news, practical tips, and valuable resources tailored to PISD educators.

Prosper ISD vets the digital resources used throughout the district. LearnPlatform lists the digital resources that have been approved for use in Prosper ISD. You can find LearnPlatform in the Prosper ISD Portal.

Prosper ISD is committed to providing a safe digital learning environment while protecting the data privacy of its students, families, and staff. All digital resources including software, apps and websites should go through the district's vetting process which includes the Teaching and Learning and Technology Departments.

You can search the website for a specific tool or use the subject area/grade level filters. If you don't see the tool you want to use on the approved list then you can request that it gets vetted for use in Prosper ISD. The request form will open during the second nine weeks. For more information go to https://sites.google.com/prosper-isd.net/pisdedtech/approved-edtech-tools.

Please archive your GoGuardian classes from last year and clear any scenes that you may have used. These things can interrupt student learning in classes this year if not properly archived or deleted. If you have any questions please reach out to your instructional technology coach for assistance.

Our district account for Edpuzzle will end on September 16, 2025. We now have Formative and Screencastify, which will accomplish the same tasks. Please reach out to your instructional technology coach for assistance.

Did you know that you can customize your Portal experience by adding tiles? Check out this click sheet that the Technology Department created to help you!

You can also rearrange your tiles and add your favorites to a toolbar at the bottom!

Google Classroom is the learning management system in Prosper ISD and can be accessed through the Portal.

• Review different ways to organize your Classrooms. (Naming conventions for assignments should be the same as in Skyward)

• PISD Edtech website - Google Classroom Resources

Edtech tools used in isolation do not make as much of an impact on learning as when they are seamlessly integrated into the curriculum and/or lesson plans. Focusing on a few key edtech tools allows for deeper learning, more efficient workflows, and ultimately, a more enriching learning experience for students. We invest in and provide access to these key tools shown below.

Check out the tools below that can be accessed by ALL staff members!

Tools accessed in the Portal include Adobe Express, Book Creator, Canva, Formative, GoGuardian, and Snorkl. We also provide access to Gemini, Padlet, Pear Deck, Read and Write, and Screencastify. Go to this website to find out more about each tool: https://sites.google.com/prosper-isd.net/pisdedtech/edtech-tool-resources

The Prosper ISD Artificial Intelligence Guidelines were created to guide students, staff, and school communities on the appropriate and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI tools, in classroom instruction, school management, and systemwide operations.

You can view the guidelines on the elementary and secondary Teaching and Learning websites in the Portal or go to https://sites.google.com/prosper-isd.net/pisdedtech/ai-guidelines.

Congratulations to our newest Google Certified Educators!

Boyer ES - Hailey Brannon

Bryant ES - Marci Miller

Christie ES - Mullai Asokan (Level 1 & 2), Kimberly Jerden, Ragini Singh (Level 1 & 2), Gabriella Woods

Furr ES - Shaneena Granderson

Hall ES - Edmundo Rayco

Light Farms ES - Toby Hall

Lilyana ES - Alyssa Favela, Bryce Hughes, Ramya Konde (Level 1 & 2)

Reeves ES - Kim Putman (Level 2), Carly Wise

Smothermon ES - Chase Wilson (Level 1 & 2)

Spradley ES - Nicole Robertson

Hays MS - Kelsi Walker

Jones MS - Jennifer Flores, Jennifer Valliere, Lindsay Yeamans

Moseley MS - Kenya Davis (Level 1 & 2), Margaret Gearman (Level 1 & 2)

Reynolds MS - Summer Botts

PHS - Annie Tatum (Level 2)

RHHS - Karen Allen, Amy Johnson

WGHS - Ashleigh Verstuyft, Christi Wahnschaffe (Level 2)

Admin - Liz Mejia

Technology - Bhanu Agarwal

Transportation - Heather Disney

Do you want to become a Google Educator? Google is updating its certification exams, so new online preparation courses will be available soon. Check the educational technology website next month for updated certification information! 😀

Your favorite edtech tools had updates this summer! Click the images below to learn about the updates or go to our educational technology website to learn more about how to use popular edtech tools in your classroom.

In Prosper ISD, we have a group of tech-savvy teachers called the Agents of Edtech. They help support educational technology on your campus by sharing district initiatives and modeling best practices for technology integration. Find out more here.

If you are interested in becoming an Agent, reach out to your campus admin!

PISD's Instructional Technology Coaches serve as collaborative partners to help you integrate digital tools and strategies into your curriculum. They provide personalized, job-embedded support, from co-planning and modeling lessons to finding the perfect resource, all with the goal of enhancing student engagement and saving you valuable time.