Legendary Innovations

We are excited to share our February Innovation & Technology newsletter with you! We use this newsletter to highlight innovative practices and resources in technology and media for our staff members. Innovative methods can be shared with a member of the Innovation and Technology Team. Please let us know about your successes. We also share tips, updates, and tech tools in this learning space.

This month we are highlighting the HS ELA department. The department is pleased to be using a new system for practicing grammar and writing called “NoRedInk”. NoRedInk is an on-line system that utilizes a variety of practice drills and writing samples to help students increase grammar skills. Each NRI account is customized to a student’s preferences and interests, and sentences are generated to reflect them. The system uses pre and post-test data to show student progress on the topic the teacher selects. It tailors each student's activities toward their own progress as they move through the drills. NRI also utilizes an on-line system to analyze student writings and make suggestions. Many of the drills and modules can be quite funny, “Mad Libs” style, as they are generated randomly! Students enjoy the “gamification” of the process and learn to compete with themselves to see if they can better their scores. The department has intentionally woven this tool into its classes to support student learning and engagement. Great job, HS ELA team!

Resources

Here are a few digital resources if you are looking for some digital activities to integrate tech and content.

• Kentucky Center for Mathematics has some virtual resources to support math instruction with various templates that have virtual manipulatives using Slides and Jamboard.
• This document can be shared with students to highlight Chromebook keyboard shortcuts.
• Free ebook with 25 different virtual field trips. Take your virtual trips to the next level using this postcard template.
• Winter drawing fun! Use the Published View or Make a copy
• Black History Month book room. Use this Published View or make a copy
• Google has some new ELA Applied Digital Skills lessons and Black History Month Digital Skills lessons.
• Black History Month virtual room by Sarah Wood with books, videos, virtual activities, etc.
• Free Blended Learning with Google book study
• Fun with Emojis! Eric Curts has a spreadsheet with an emoji random writing prompt generator. This Slide presentation has a virtual and printable Emoji Exit Ticket. Use emojitranslate.com to replace some words with pictures and then copy and paste into a Google Doc etc.
• Olympics 2022 Choice Board geared towards secondary.
• January EdTech Connect newsletter.
• Create a custom Wordle as a team builder for your class or an upcoming team meeting. This resource has additional similar options, including Ooodle for math.

Ed Tech Tool Updates

• Check out this video to learn how to save time by using bookmarks to easily manage / open the links you regularly use.
• This Planning to Record Instruction Guide has some tips and ideas for recording instruction.

If you would like to try one of these out or are interested in learning more, please reach out to set up a time to meet with Julia Bierema, Learning & Innovation Coach.

Zoom Update

Zoom has a few new features! Zoom now has closed captioning. Hosts can enable closed captioning for participants. Participants using a laptop will have the option to view the transcript as subtitles or on the right hand side of the Zoom window using the Full Transcript option. Participants using a Chromebook will see the text as subtitles at the bottom of the screen. In addition, Zoom now allows you to choose your pronouns. This feature is currently only available for staff due to the current available features in our student management system. Additional staff Zoom resources can be found in our GLPS Staff Zoom Support Google Classroom.

Tech Purchase Requests

If you, your department or grade level is interested in new software, apps, equipment, etc, please fill out the tech purchase request form below:

• Elementary Tech Purchase Request Form
• Secondary Tech Purchase Request Form

• Addie Rose - Technology Director
• Julia Bierema - Learning and Innovation Coach
• Harry Coffill - Library Media Specialist
• Maria Alvarez - Technology Help Desk
  
• Trent Watson - District IT Technician
• Oliver Lorenzo - District IT Technician
• Jennifer Miller - Library Media Paraprofessional
• Susan McCaffrey - Library Media Paraprofessional
• Amanda Blok - District Enrollment & Student Data Services Specialist
• Jodi Brumels - Pupil Accountant & Student Data Specialist