#EMSISDITS Tech Talk

Techy Talk for Teachers

Bi-Weekly Tech News
Follow us on emsisdits.blogspot.com to see bi-weekly news, tutorials, & more! We will email out news every other week offering you the latest trending tech topics! :)

The EMS Instructional Technology Team is excited to work with students, teachers, and administrators this year to support and enhance the great things going on in our district this year!

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It's time to revisit Symbaloo!

If you have used Symbaloo in the past, or have just heard about it, it may be time to take a new look at this amazing tool. Symbaloo has been around since the 90s. They are well known as a bookmarking page, but they have come a long way since then. Teachers can create unique webmixes by creating bookmarks and links to certain web sites. They can also create learning paths that send students through a gameboard style lesson with embedded content. Educators and students are now able to edit webmixes together in real time to facilitate collaboration. There are custom sharing options that allow sharing to the right person or group at the right time. Users can now create groups for a customized learning experience. They have also added powerful analytics to track student progress and learning. So if you have not checked out Symbaloo in a while, now is the time to revisit an old friend, or make a new one! If you would like help using Symbaloo, contact an #EMSTechspert today.

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Attention all Math teachers

Have you checked out all of the great math apps and tools at the Math Learning Center? If not, you're missing out. The Math Learning Center has been around since 1976, and was created to inspire and enable individuals to discover and develop their mathematical confidence and ability. The founders of MLC believe it is important for students to have a deep understanding of basic mathematical concepts before they dive into more abstract ones. In addition to lessons and materials, MLC offers a wide variety of Math apps that can be accessed over the web or by downloading to an iPad or Android device. They have everything from vocabulary practice to number line sense and pattern shapes. You can access this powerful resource here.

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Got Software?

If you would like to install ActiveInspire, update your Office 365, or get the Activcast sender (to mirror your computer to your Promethean Board), all you need to do is go to the EMSISD Software Center.

Click the windows icon in the far bottom left corner of your screen and begin typing "Software Center" - you will see it pop up in your list of available programs or options. Click it to visit the Software center and install your desired software.

become a promethean panel pro!

Would you like to learn more about ActivInspire and/or Classflow? These tools help make your Promethean board more useful and interactive for you students. The Instructional Technology Department will host a training on October 22nd from 3:30-4:30PM at Building 4 at EMS Central Administration Building. (Our building is behind the main buildings, in the back parking lot.)

We will show you how to access and use both ActivInspire and Classflow, as well as answer any questions that you may have regarding these useful tools. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Check us out ... Seriously, you can CHECK US OUT.

Did you know that the Instructional Technology department has a wide variety of technology tools available for check out? We have everything from iPads to MergCubes to Augmented Reality goggles.

For a complete list of items available, and to submit a checkout form, please CLICK HERE.

When your submission is submitted, the IT team will verify that the devices are available at that time for checkout and will schedule delivery/pickup. You will receive an email with this information within 48 hours. If you don't hear anything after that time period, please email ITs@ems-isd.net to check the status of your request.

We will deliver and pick up the devices, but wait ... there's more! We would love to plan with you about how you will be using these devices, or even assist you in the the classroom with your students. How cool is that?!?!?

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Tag contacts in Outlook with @mentions

You can tag contacts in the body of your email by typing the @sign followed by their email address. While typing your email, type the @ sign. You will see a list of contacts pop up. When you type the person's name, they should appear in the pop up. Click on the name and they will automatically be included in the "To" line of the email. Cool!

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"HDMI In" app

When you have your HDMI and USB cables plugged into your OPS (located in the back of your panel toward the top) you can easily toggle back and forth between the OPS (board operating system) and your computer by tapping the app. You also retain the pink power button while displaying your computer so you can take screenshots and use the whiteboard feature. Simply ensure that your cables are connected to the OPS and add the HDMI in app from the district's list of apps.

Need help? Ask your CTI, Campus Repair Tech, or Instructional Technology Trainer today!

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Chat with collaborators while editing a notebook, document, spreadsheet or presentation

You can share documents across all platforms in Office 365 for real time editing from many different people. If that's not cool enough, you can also chat with any or all collaborators in real time while working on the document! In Office 365, open the document you shared with other people. When other editors have the document open, you can click on the chat button at the top right hand corner of the screen and send them instant messages while editing. Try it out today! If you need help with this feature, contact an #EMSTechspert for assistance.

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Filming and editing with Adobe Spark at CMS

Ms Janssen's Pre-AP ELA classes are creating and editing video using Adobe Spark. Creekview Colts really know how to demonstrate powerful learning tools!

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Lunch and Learn at BHS

The Pioneers of BHS attended their first Technology Lunch and Learn. They learned so many cool things. One teacher even said "This is the coolest thing ever in the history of ever!" Way to go!

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ActivInspire at CRES

Thank you Wranglers for giving us some of your Faculty meeting time to demonstrate the awesomeness of ActivInspire, classroomscreen.com, and yes....boucyballs.org.

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Tech Day at CSES

We had a blast at the first ever CSES Tech Thursday. These Spurs learned about inking in PowerPoint and Word, using the apps on their Promethean Boards and other awesome tips and tricks. See you next time!

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EMSISD Math Specialists are fabulous!

Thank you Ms Germaine for letting us come to your meeting and show your specialists the greatness of OneNote and Office Lens. It's going to be a game changer for this talented group.

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Wildcats love Class Notebook

Students in Ms Lara's ELAR classes at Wayside MS are learning about OneNote Class Notebook and how it allows access to resources from anywhere. One student was heard saying "Can I keep this forever"!

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Tech Tuesday for Dozier Ducks!

We heard plenty of "oohs and ahhs" at this month's Tech Tuesday. These Ducks were learning about ActivInspire and other awesome techy tools that they can use with their Newline Interactive Boards. We can't wait to see you next month!

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Flipgrid Fever at SES

The students in Ms Cantrell's class at SES are truly stars as they use Flipgrid to demonstrate their learning of Mixtures. So much fun and so powerful!

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Technology fun at EME

These teachers at EME are learning about all of the great things they can do with their new Promethean ActivPanels. They can't wait to see how this tool can impact their students' learning.

Winner, Winner ... Chicken Dinner!

In our last newsletter, our readers had the chance to win something from our fabulous technology closet of fun! We had an overwhelming number of responses ... 14 people!
Watch the video below to see who won. We will be in touch soon! Keep watching for more opportunities to score some techy swag!

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EMS Single Sign-On

Sign in to sso.ems-isd.net with your district username and password on any computer or mobile device to have quick and easy access to many of our district digital resources.

Reserve an #EMSTechspert

We want to help you successfully infuse technology into your classroom. We would love to train you on how to create tech infused lessons, co-teach the lessons, or even share our favorite tech tools with you!

Email your IT today to set up an appointment! (Find contact info here.)