@EdTechBCOE News

Join a dynamic community of elementary educators for the launch of The Mosaic Project, a transformative series of workshops designed to seamlessly weave math, science, and computer science into your everyday teaching. During this hands-on evening, experience an integrated lesson as a learner, explore how UDL and SEL can anchor cross-curricular teaching, and see how AI tools can support your planning and instruction!

Dinner (taco bar!) is provided, prizes are on the table, and collaboration is at the heart of it all. Walk away with practical strategies, fresh energy, and a glimpse of what’s ahead in this transformative series.

May 5th, 2025

4:00-7:00 PM

2491 Carmichael Drive, Suite 300

Chico, CA 95928

Flyer: bit.ly/mosaic-framing

Registration: bit.ly/integration-reg🎉

It appears that Google for Education has decided to retire its CS First program at the end of June 2025. In its place, Google will support Experience CS from the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

According to experience-cs.org, it plans to "empower elementary and middle school educators to teach computer science through a standards-aligned curriculum that seamlessly integrates CS concepts into core subjects like math, science, languages, and the arts."

If you'd like to be at the forefront of this change, you can subscribe to their mailing list to gain information prior to the June launch.

This month's Coaching Collaborative COP meetup is on the books! If you're an educator in California (teacher, TOSA or Coach, or simply a CS or AI enthusiast), come join us for our one-hour virtual monthly get-together to continue our conversations, share insights, and support one another in implementing CS education in our schools.

Join us this April as we learn about using AI for differentiation AND speak with Nikki Navta from Code.org!

Flyer: bit.ly/coach-collab

Next COP: April 23rd, 2025 -- 3:30-4:30 PM PST (virtual)

Free Registration: bit.ly/edtech-pd ⭐

EdTech sessions below are available for registration at bit.ly/edtech-pd! Spread the word and register soon!

• All sessions are virtual.
• Seats are free for educators in Butte County (some for ALL California teachers) and $15 for out-of-county/state participants!
• Each session has its individual information linked below.

Classrooms can be joyful, chaotic, loud, and focused—sometimes all within a five-minute span. Building small, intentional routines that promote calm doesn’t just help students—it helps you, too. And the good news? You don’t need to download an app or attend a mindfulness retreat. You can blend simple tech tools with social-emotional routines to create moments of peace throughout the school day.

Use Timer Tools for Focus and Flow

• Google Timer: Just type “5-minute timer” into Google Search—it’s visual and works instantly.
• Classroom Screen: Offers visual timers, traffic lights, stopwatches, and more.
• YouTube: Search "classroom timers" and add the specific amount of time you need.

Add Ambient Sound for Focus or Wind-Down Time

• Noisli (website or Chrome extension): Allows you to mix and match the perfect blend of nature soundscapes and ambient noise.
• Spotify or YouTube: Search “lofi classroom playlist” or “focus sounds for students.”

These digital tools aren’t just “extra.” They’re an invitation to bring calm, control, and comfort into your daily teaching practice—with just a few clicks. Whether you're helping students transition, stay focused, or decompress, a calm classroom starts with a calm routine—and a little tech can help get you there.

What if every student and every educator could see themselves as a computer scientist? This 3-day virtual professional learning event will help you unlock the power of computational thinking, AI, and Code.org to engage all learners and increase student voice and choice in your classroom—no prior CS experience needed!

Day 1: What is CS & Why Does It Matter?

Understand computational thinking, explore California's CS standards, and learn how CS supports equity and access for all students.
Day 2: Creating & Computing – Tools for Student Voice & Choice

Get hands-on with activities that make CS engaging and meaningful.

Day 3: Empowering Educators, Empowering Students – Bringing CS to Life

Collaborate with fellow educators to design lessons and plan for real-world classroom implementation.

When: June 11-13, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (with breaks)
Where: Virtual (Zoom)
Who: California public school K-5 educators
Why: Gain practical CS strategies, engage in collaborative learning, and earn a $250/day stipend for full participation!

Registration at bit.ly/edtech-pd! ⭐

Looking to make your lessons more engaging and relevant through the use of educational technology? Want to spend less time on tasks and more time connecting with students?

Our EdTech Coaches offer free, just-in-time support tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking for one-on-one guidance, co-teaching, or a model lesson, we’ll support you in seamlessly integrating technology to elevate your teaching and enhance student engagement.

Ready to get started? Sign up today at bit.ly/edtech-ccdraft or email us at edtech@bcoe.org with any questions—we’re excited to connect!

Are you aware that the Educational Technology Department has its own lending library of technological equipment ready for use in your Butte County classroom? If needed, browse and share the public slides found at bit.ly/edtech-exchange in order to understand all the ins and outs of this FREE resource!

• What is the Educational Technology Exchange?
• What devices are available?
• How do I reserve equipment?
• Where do I pick-up and return my items?

Remember to share this information at your staff meetings and with any interested parties working in Butte County public schools! We’re here to help!

Janet Brownell | jbrownell@bcoe.org | 530-532-5842

7-12 Educator and Google for Education Certified Trainer with 25+ years in education as a classroom teacher, instructional and technology coach, and professional development provider. Janet specializes in science, math, and engineering, and has a passion for accessibility, feedback, and transformative instructional pedagogies. Notably, her students regularly competed in the National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, showcasing their creativity, problem-solving, and computational thinking skills.

Laurie York | lyork@bcoe.org | 530-532-5931

K-6 Educator with 19 years of experience in education, including thirteen as an elementary school teacher. A Google for Education Certified Trainer, Laurie co-founded North State CUE and has served as both President and Vice President of the organization. A former moderator for #CAEdChat, she is passionate about enhancing the educational experiences of #CARuralEd students and educators through technology.

Jake Carr | jcarr@bcoe.org | 530-532-4101

K-12 Educator specializing in EduProtocols and artificial intelligence. Google for Education Certified Educator, an accomplished author, and a keynote speaker who travels extensively to consult with schools and provide professional development.

Anna Brink-Capriola | abrink@bcoe.org | 530-532-4103

Bilingual K-12 Educator with over a decade of international and local teaching, mentoring, and training experience. Anna specializes in capacity building, particularly within diverse, multilingual classrooms. She is committed to supporting teachers in creating culturally responsive and affirming environments through the integration of technology and social-emotional learning. Anna has held various leadership roles, playing an integral part in onboarding new teachers and helping staff implement technology resources in their classrooms.