#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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Welcome to 2018-19

Last year, our team trained over 2,736 adults and 2,541 students. But we won't stop there ... we plan to blow that number away this year!

We have Tech Tuesdays (and Wednesday, and Thursday!) scheduled at almost every campus this year, and we will work with the amazing Curriculum team at each CLC this year.

As always, we are here to help YOU and YOUR STUDENTS. We are simply an email, phone call, text message, or shout away. It's going to be a great year as we celebrate our PROUD PAST and our BOLD FUTURE!

Single Sign-On

Have you heard? The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw SSO portal provides students and staff with a single access point to many of the district's online tools and web services.

The short video (2:51) below walks users through the process of signing on, answering security verification questions, and accessing the portal.

Try it today - sign in with your district username and password at sso.ems-isd.net!

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Why is there a big TV in my classroom?

We are so thankful to the EMS ISD Board for approving the purchase of Promethean Interactive Displays for every classroom and library. These devices are much more than just fancy PC projectors. Each panel comes equipped with an OPS, which is an Android based operating system device plugged in to the back of the display, that allows it to run independent of your laptop. Think of it like a giant tablet that can run apps, access the internet and shared content, and more.

One of our favorite apps is the built-in Whiteboard app. Just like a regular white marker-board, you can draw on it with your finger or stylus. But don't stop there - check out the backgrounds (handwriting paper, graph paper, music staff paper, and more) and then great graphic organizers available in the gallery. You can even use your own favorite images on the whiteboard. And don't worry about running out of space. Just switch to the arrow tool and slide the canvas over left or right, up or down - you have an infinite canvas!

If you want to use your document camera, the Promethean display can easily accommodate it by simply plugging in the document camera via a VGA cord, and switching the input just like your TV at home. (If yours isn't connected, contact your campus repair tech for assistance.) The panel also has the ability to mirror up to four devices at the same time using ActivCast. This means that iPads and student devices can be shown on the panel for student demonstrations and presentations.

You can also utilize Promethean’s Class Flow application and have an interactive lesson with your students when they login to your lesson with a unique code. And if that’s not enough, you can download ActivInspire (Promethean software) on your computer and access thousands of pre-made interactive lessons for use on the panel. There is really no limit to what you can do with your new display.

If you would like help getting started with your new display, reach out to your CTI, Librarian, or contact a friendly IT today.

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It's the Jenallee Show!

These awesome ITs are churning out all kinds of useful technology tips & tricks! You might even recognize some of their guests! Click the image and Subscribe today!

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Promethean Display Playlist

Check out our growing playlist of short videos demonstrating some of the basic (and cool) things you and your students can do with the Promethean Interactive Displays.

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Resources Galore!

Do you Pinterest? We do! So does OneNote guru Mike Tholfsen. His Pinterest Board is packed full of OneNote greatness ... check it out!

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Promethean Boards in all Classrooms

Over 1400 Promethean Boards installed across the district from June 3rd to August 17th. JUST PLAIN AWESOME!!!!!

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Promethean World Tour 2018!

Thank you to all teachers and administrators for allowing us to come in and train your teachers on the new Promethean Boards last week. You were amazing!

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Who is that caped crusader?

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Jeni Long with her OneNote cape showing the Special Services team all of the powerful things OneNote can do.

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Taste of Technology 2018

Teachers from around the district joined us at Watson High School for a fun day of Technology Training. They learned everything from Office 365 to Blippar and virtual escape rooms!

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Welcome back CTIs!

Our Campus Technology Integrators are awesome! We had a blast learning with them at HCES.

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Welcome New Hires!

Our new hire week was a huge success! We enjoyed showing them our district systems/procedures and getting to know them better. You have landed in an awesome district! We know you will do great things here!

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Interested in Checking Out Devices?

Do you have a lesson or activity in mind, but are lacking devices to carry it out? Our department can help! If you are interested in checking out iPads, VR Goggles, GPSs, Merge Cubes, Spheros/Ollies, or Green Screens, click here to fill out a reservation form. We would love to support your students' learning any way we can!

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.)