Teach with Tech
November 2023
Scheduling Parent Conferences with Google Calendar
Google has recently updated their appointment slots with an appointment schedule- making it easier for families to schedule conference appointments with you. Follow these easy steps to set up your appointment schedule and share it with your students' families.
1. Ensure that the appointment schedule feature is activated: Go to Settings Cog ⚙️ > General Settings > Appointment Schedules and select the little box that says create schedules instead of appointment slots.
2. Click Create and select Appointment Schedule.
3. This will open the Appointment Screen. In this window you will need to do the following:
- fill in your name, classroom location, length of conferences, dates and times
- Check to make sure the time zone is accurate!
- Choose a scheduling window to control last-minute sign-ups and open the sign-up window in advance. You can also add buffer time if you need to have some time between the appointment slots- this is found under Booked Appointment Settings
- Go to Booking Form and choose the information you want families to provide when making a conference appointment.
- Under "Booking Confirmation and Reminders," configure the confirmation email and the timing of email reminders that families will receive regarding their conference time.
- Click SAVE.
4. Click on one of the newly created appointments and click Open Booking Page.
5. Click Share in the top right corner of the booking scree.
6. Email and share the booking link with families.
For a more detailed guide (complete with pictures) you can refer to this PDF or visit the web tutorial created on Scribe HERE.
Google Labs: TextFX
What is TextFX?
From their website: "TextFX is an AI experiment designed to help rappers, writers, and wordsmiths expand their process. It was created in collaboration with Lupe Fiasco, drawing inspiration from the lyrical and linguistic techniques he has developed throughout his career. TextFX consists of 10 tools, each is designed to explore creative possibilities with text and language. Those ten tools include: POV, Acronym, Alliteration, Fuse, Unexpect, Unfold, Simile, Explode, Scene, and Chain."
What can it do?
TextFX offers a valuable resource that differs from traditional AI programs and apps by providing tools and inspiration instead of generating entire pieces of writing. For instance, if you're working on a piece of writing and wish to incorporate alliteration, you can utilize the alliteration tool. Simply enter your topic and specify the initial letter you want the words to start with, and TextFX will generate a list of potential options. These suggestions can then be seamlessly integrated into your own creative writing, enhancing your work with creative flair.
Graphs & Statistics to Generate Discussions & Learn
Numerous websites offer a wide range of graphs and charts to bridge current statistics and global events with subjects like math, social studies, and English language arts (ELA). Notable resources include:
- The New York Times: They host a feature called "What's Going on in this Graph?" that presents thought-provoking graphs and encourages critical analysis.
- Daily Data's Chart of the Day: This resource provides a diverse collection of graphs and charts related to various current events and topics.
- Kelly Turner's "Graph of the Week": For over a decade, Kelly Turner has been creating weekly graphs for her math students, generously sharing them on her website. Her archive dates back to 2013, making a wealth of graph resources accessible to all.
Collaborate & Learn
The EdTech Huddle is for all educators who want to expand their knowledge and use of educational technology. Especially those who use technology in the classroom, actively work to integrate technology into their lessons and curriculum, and are willing to share/model instructional tech to others in their schools and districts. There will be three in-person EdTech Huddles at the Pendleton IMESD. This year there will also be three Virtual Tech Talks- these are shorter and are more presentation based.
- Virtual Tech Talks 4:30-5:15pm Link to Meeting
- September 20, 2023
- November 15, 2023
- February 21, 2024
- EdTech Huddles 4:30-5:30pm in Lodgepole/Ponderosa at the Pendleton IMESD
- October 25, 2023
- January 24, 2024
- April 24, 2024
Teach with Tech
If you would like more information EdTech tools, resources, or training, please contact:
Ayla Olson
Instructional Coach
Email: ayla.olson@imesd.k12.or.us
Phone: 541-966-4657
Website: sites.google.com/imesdapps.org/instructional-coaching