October marks a vibrant period of growth in education, where students and teachers embrace new opportunities for learning and connection. This month’s newsletter not only spotlights innovative classroom technology but also celebrates Cybersecurity Awareness Month—highlighting the importance of protecting digital information and staying safe online. Plus, from October 20-24, Digital Citizenship Week gives schools a chance to focus on responsible, respectful use of technology, empowering students to become thoughtful digital citizens. Join us as we explore resources, tips, and inspiring stories to help schools thrive this October.

NCDPI, in alignment with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), will promote four key cybersecurity behaviors throughout the month that provide the basis for the idea of Secure Our World and the Core 4:

Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager
Turn on Multi-factor Authentication
Update Your Software
Recognize and Report Scams

To make it as easy as possible for you to stay up-to-date on all Cybersecurity Awareness Month events, resources, and toolkit, the NCDPI K-12 Cybersecurity Program Awareness Month webpage will be the one-stop shop to find everything you need.

Digital Citizenship Week, taking place October 20-24, 2025, is an important opportunity for teachers to guide students in developing safe, responsible, and ethical online behaviors. It emphasizes critical skills such as online safety, privacy, respectful communication, and understanding digital footprints. This week can serve as a focused time to introduce these concepts, but it also encourages ongoing conversations about how students interact with technology in positive ways.

Teachers are encouraged to use Common Sense Media’s free resources during Digital Citizenship Week and throughout the school year. Common Sense offers grade-level lesson plans, videos, and interactive activities that make teaching digital citizenship engaging and effective. These resources cover essential topics like cyberbullying prevention, media literacy, and digital wellness, helping students become thoughtful digital citizens in today’s connected world. Utilizing these trusted materials supports a comprehensive approach to teaching responsible technology use in the classroom.

***Update: Due to current restrictions in Google, we do not currently have access to this feature but hope to learn more and make the tool available in the future***

The new Class Tool in Google Classroom is designed to make classroom management easier and more effective for teachers. It offers real-time control over student devices, allowing teachers to share content directly to screens, monitor progress individually or by groups, and instantly showcase exemplary student work. With features like screen locking, teachers can keep students focused and minimize distractions, while live translated captions support multilingual learners, helping create a more inclusive classroom environment.

This tool simplifies the delivery of differentiated instruction by enabling teachers to pin lesson content, assign tasks to specific groups, and provide tailored support without juggling multiple platforms. For educators using managed Chromebooks, Class Tool acts as a remote control for student devices, streamlining classroom routines and saving valuable instructional time.

In addition, new AI-powered features integrated into Google Classroom help teachers generate quizzes, develop lesson plans, and offer personalized feedback efficiently. These updates reduce administrative tasks and free teachers to focus more on engaging with students and enhancing learning outcomes, making Google Classroom an indispensable partner in today’s modern, tech-enabled classrooms.

This video from NCDPI is designed to help teachers get acquainted with Schoolnet. It walks through how to access Schoolnet via NCEdCloud and navigate the homepage, including selecting your class section to view student data. You’ll learn how to create and customize assessments using item banks, filter questions by standards and difficulty, and preview and schedule tests for your students.

The session also covers managing student accommodations like text-to-speech settings and how to assign tests to individual students or entire classes, making it easy to meet diverse learner needs. You’ll discover how to co-author assessments with colleagues through shared folders and use the proctor dashboard to monitor student progress during testing in real time.

Finally, the training reviews various reporting tools to help you analyze class performance and mastery of standards, empowering you to make informed instructional decisions. Throughout the session, practical tips and live Q&A help you build confidence in using Schoolnet efficiently to support your teaching and your students’ success. Resources like slide decks and follow-up sessions are available to deepen your skills as you grow with the platform.

The school-based Educational Technology Media Specialist (ETMS) role has been phased out, and support for technology has transitioned to shared Technology Technician I (Tech 1) positions. Instead of being assigned to a single school, Tech 1s now serve multiple schools within designated feeder patterns, traveling between locations to provide timely and consistent technology assistance. This shift allows for broader coverage and expert support across several schools while maintaining a stable digital learning environment.

Tech 1s are responsible for troubleshooting and repairing minor problems with devices such as Chromebooks, laptops, printers, and tablets. They assist both students and staff ensuring technology operates smoothly for instruction and learning. Their duties also include maintaining equipment, installing updates and applications, managing technology inventories, and helping with device preparation and repair logistics. By sharing these skilled technicians across schools, the district ensures that educators have access to the necessary technology support to enhance teaching and minimize downtime.

Do you know who your Tech 1? If not, check with your Media Coordinator!