TECHknowledgy

...when everyone deserves a break! That means it's the perfect time to share digital learning and PD resources with you... that you can read later at your leisure after you spend time with family and friends, when you have the mental capacity to soak it all in. 🙂

Wait! How will I find this information when I'm ready to read it?!

• Pin our email to the top of your list in Outlook
• Bookmark this newsletter in Chrome
• Head over to the Tech Tools website - our newsletters are posted on the BLC Blog

• Checkout all of the new features Chrome has added to help manage and organize tabs
• Or read about the Toby Chrome extension

Whichever strategy works best for you, we hope you will read this newsletter chock full of resources when you have time to take a breath. We hope you enjoy a restful break! ☃️

Eric Hills & Kara Osmundson

The Apple Teacher Program was created to support and celebrate educators. The program helps teachers unlock the magic of iPad, Mac, and built-in apps in the classroom. By signing up, you'll get access to the Apple Teacher Learning Center where you can build skills, collect badges, and earn recognition as an Apple Teacher. You can also sign up to receive news and updates with teacher stories, tips, and teaching ideas. We recommend you use your district Apple ID to register (K12 email address and password).

As you complete the Apple Teacher curriculum you will earn badges for each tool. Once you earn all 6 badges you will be issued an Apple Teacher Certificate. You can request 12 CEUs for completion of the certificate. Directions for requesting these CEUs through Frontline can be found in the 2021-2022 CEU Committee Newsletter. You will need to upload your Apple Teacher Certificate. When prompted, select "no speciality requirement (hours only)."

Have you updated to iPadOS 15 yet? Learn more with these teacher resources.

• Read our blog post Awesome New Features of iPadOS 15
• Watch the Google Meet recording of our Tool Time session on iPadOS 15
• Be sure to checkout our list of Ideas for Using Your Teacher iPad
  Have a great idea to add to this list? Email us! We would love to hear from you!

The start of a new year and a new semester are right around the corner - what a perfect time to help students update their iPads! You can use these slides with students: Amazing Features of iPadOS 15 (student edition)

Watch these Apple Support videos for more information. These are great tools you can use or introduce to your students in need of additional support.

iPad: Speak Screen, Read selected text, Highlight text as it’s spoken

MacBook: Speech Selection

Apple devices have a wide variety of built-in accessibility features. Becoming familiar with these allows you to better support students. Students and teachers can personalize their devices to best support their learning and productivity.

Some of the options include screen reader, voice to text, zoom shortcuts, audio descriptions, voice control. Read more on the Tech Tools website or go directly to Apple Guides to learn about accessibility features on an iPad or a MacBook.

Did you know... you have a managed school Apple ID? You probably received a lot of emails about it over the past few months and now might be the perfect time to sign-in on your device. One advantage? When you are logged in with your school Apple ID you can use Apple Classroom to manage student devices in your physical or online classroom.

Apple Classroom allows you, as the teacher, to see which devices are in the room, force open (and lock) an app on student devices, open a website for all students, and display a student device. The process for using Apple Classroom has changed significantly, which should make it even easier to use! Read How do I use Apple Classroom to get started.

To use Apple Classroom, both teacher and students must be signed in with their school Apple ID.

Students also have school Apple IDs! A new year or a new semester might be a good time to help students sign-in on their device with their Apple ID. Apple Classroom, make sure your students are signed into their Apple ID. Signing in also provides backup features. (Read more: How to backup your iPad)

Resources you can use with students:

• iPads: Your New Apple ID! slides
• MacBooks: System Preferences > Apple ID (or spotlight search)

In January we will highlight your new District Canva for Education account including new features and strategies for using them in the classroom. Update: Join us to explore together on Friday, January 28 at 9AM (iPad) or 10AM (MacBook). Look for a calendar invitation with the Google Meet link. If you can't join us at one of those times, you can access the session recording we will post on the Tool Time page.

Read the Gimkit blog post about new free features

Read more about Gimkit on Tech Tools

⛄️Check for Understanding activities to help students capture
learning and reflection in class. See the collection here.

⛄️Keeping Seesaw Simple webinars for preK-2 and 3-5

⛄️Access free PD in the Community Learning Hub
like this Seesaw for Assessment course

⛄️See real teachers using Seesaw in class and remotely here

Try one (or more!) of these activities:

• Create a Community Learning Hub account
• Become a Seesaw Pioneer!
• Bookmark the Teacher Landing Page
• Watch official Seesaw Videos
• Watch these Beyond the Basics Mini-Trainings
• Read these 5 Scaffolds to Support Students with Diverse Needs
• Try a Mind Yeti Mindfulness Activity
• Visit the Seesaw Help Center

Yes! We listen to your suggestions! And we have a few feature suggestions (Canvas calls them Idea Conversations) waiting for your support!

Join the Canvas Community (you will need to create an account) then follow these links to read the conversations. STAR a request to add your weight behind it. Power to the people!

• Add keyboard shortcuts for assignment statuses
• Apply a missing status by typing in "M" for missing
• Apply an Assignment Status to All
• "Copy to" should include assignment groups

Register now, watch later: DitchSummit.com

New presentations are released every day from December 13-21. They remain available until January 7, so you can re-watch or catch up on any you’ve missed. They’re pre-recorded, so you can watch them whenever you want until January 7. After that, the summit ends and the videos are unavailable to watch anymore.

This year's new speakers include:

• Dr. Catlin Tucker, author, educator, and blended learning expert
• Deanna Rice, STEM teacher and classroom supply guru
• Jen Giffen, sketchnote and visual thinking enthusiast
• Chanel Johnson, leader in STEM and culturally responsive teaching
• Merve Lapus, VP Education Outreach and Engagement, Common Sense Media
• Nate Ridgway, educator, author, UDL & differentiation enthusiast
• Todd Shriver, tech integration specialist, virtual guest guru
• Mike Lang, Director of Storytelling, ed.Xtraordinary
• Gina Ruffcorn, veteran fifth grade teacher, student choice advocate

You can also watch sponsored videos about updates from great edtech companies you love like Flipgrid, Wakelet, Canva, Google, Texthelp, and Seesaw!

There’s a form to fill out after each presentation, and you’ll get an automatic PD certificate emailed to you. Directions for requesting these CEUs through Frontline can be found in the 2021-2022 CEU Committee Newsletter. You will need to upload each certificate. When prompted, select "no speciality requirement (hours only)."

Looking for a resource? Need ideas for using a tool or app? Check out the newly revamped Tech Tools website. The new site is streamlined and searchable! We are working hard to document frequently asked questions and new resources.

Please let us know! We are working hard to keep the website updated. We welcome suggestions and want to be in touch with your needs. blc@shakopee.k12.mn.us

To read more about staff who may assist with technology and implementation questions, please refer to this webpage: Technology Help Resources.

Email: helpdesk@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Website: https://whd.shakopee.k12.mn.us

Email: blc@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Website: https://bit.ly/bookblc