Take 5 for Tech

Have you ever wanted to master a new process quickly? Do you want to have "something" to show for your time that you can use right away in the classroom? Do you need to renew your license? If you answered yes, then you ought to give EdgeU badges a look! With EdgeU you can do all of the above. All certified secondary staff is enrolled in EdgeU, our flexible and teacher-learner-centered professional development delivery system. EdgeU is a self-directed and self-paced badging system. An important step of badge completion process is making something that can be used with students or on the job. That's what I love most about it. It forces you to apply the information in a practical way so that the concept sticks with you.

Staff chooses:

• what to learn,
• when to learn it and
• how to apply what they learn.

Do you want better organized? Some you might find interesting are:

• Digital Organization
• Gmail Genius
• Google Calendar: Appointment Schedules
• Google Drive Organizer
• Bookmark Brilliance

Do you want more tools for differentiated instruction? Here are some badges you might find interesting:

• Chrome Extensions for Struggling Readers & Writers
• Flexible Grouping Guru
• Chrome Extensions for Easily Distracted Students
• Diverse Learner Defender
• Intro to Assistive Technology
• Chrome Extensions for Visual Impairments

Sometimes the EdgeU concept confuses staff, so I'd like to take a minute clarify.

• EdgeU is our professional development delivery system. You can EARN credits to use toward your renewal with EdgeU.
• Google is our professional development documentation system. (This is used if you have an existing 5-year license. If you're not one a 5-year license, you fall under a different set of rules. )

In other words, EdgeU teaches you stuff while Google is where you submit proof that you did something.

With that distinction in mind, since we have a district account, LPDC will submit your EdgeU hours to PDExpress for you annually. That means with EdgeU PD, you NEVER NEED TO WRITE A PREAPPROVAL OR SUBMIT HOURS! Yay! LPDC grants credits at the beginning of each year. Last year the accrual period went from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025 to allow teachers to accumulate credits throughout the summer. At the last LPDC meeting all earned "summer hours" were documented.

If you want college credit (let's say for a salary lane change), you can also "buy" college credit for work. Four points equals 1 graduate credit! For more information on how to pay for graduate credit hours, please contact: jdubois@forward-edge.net

Okay, know you know all about EdgeU badges, but how do you get started?

• Previous EdgeU users sign in with their WCCC Google credentials at edgeubadges.com.
• New users click on the Google icon at edgeubadges.com and then use Badges4u247! (Once a person has signed in using the generic password, it will ask for it to be changed.)
• EdgeU admins can never see your new password, so if you forget it you will have to request to have it be reset.
• If it doesn't recognize you as having an account, please email Winnie Milner.

Every month you should be getting an Elements newsletter from EdgeU. It includes information about several contests and new badges. badges are organized into "curated collections" or groups of badges that involve a similar theme or tool. This August and September's curated challenge is AI in Education. If you complete any you complete one of the monthly badges, you'll will be entered into a drawing to win a prize in May. Last year's prizes were Amazon gift cards, Bose Bluetooth Speakers, a Fire Tablet and Echo Show to name a few!