Have a question? Need some assistance? Just head to emsisd.com/IToffice Monday-Friday, 9 am-12 noon and 1-4 pm. We're here to help!

Tues | April 14, 10:00 –10:45am

Teaming up for Success with Teams

During this session, participants will learn more about how to use channels in Microsoft Teams. Learn how to provide feedback for your students and how to use announcements effectively.

Tues | April 14, 2:00 – 2:45pm

Accessibility Tools for the EMS Distance Learning Classroom

During this presentation, we will provide a broad overview of Accessibility tools that can be used with students during Distance Learning. Prerequisite: Please open the EMS Accessibility Tools notebook (OneNote) for reference during the training and as you work with students.

Thurs | April 16, 10:00 –10:45am

Got Videos? Now what?

During this presentation, we will do a quick overview of ways to create videos, but will focus more on how to edit them, where and how to upload and share them with your students.

Suggested Prerequisites: Watch the Screen Recordings with PowerPoint and Screencast-o-Matic recording and review Wakelet with Resources and Videos and Record with PowerPoint.

Thurs | April 16, 2:00 – 2:45pm

Canvas: Organization with Modules and Q&A

Canvas is one of the most-used Distance Learning platforms. Learn how to organize your Canvas course with Modules. During this session, presenters will hold a live Question and Answer session. If you’d like to submit your questions ahead of time, please do (better chance of a researched answer!) – submit them here.

Due to unprecedented events, school districts across the nation have had to adopt a distance learning approach to education. #EMSDistanceLearning allows students and teachers to work together while maintaining the shelter in place guidelines set forth by state and local officials.

Thanks to our district leadership and the tireless effort of our teachers and support staff, our students now enjoy a full and engaging curriculum that can be accessed and completed at home. Additionally, our teachers and students are still able to maintain that vital connection through morning meetings, virtual office hours, and online tutorials. We are certain that this challenge will be met and overcome. We will not only survive this, we will thrive in this ... and our community will be stronger in the end.

Although we are separated by Social Distancing Rules, look at what we've accomplished TOGETHER:

1. The Curriculum & Instruction Team created and shared distance learning curriculum across all subjects and grade levels in a matter of days. See it here.
2. Teachers and staff were introduced to #EMSDistanceLearning during Virtual PD Sessions on Thursday, March 19.
3. Curriculum Coordinators, Directors/Coordinators, and Instructional Technologists facilitated 29 Virtual conferences during the morning of March 19 and six 2-hour technology come-and-go sessions in the afternoon.
4. Our Board of Education has been tremendous in its support of our #EMSDistanceLearning initiative by supporting all staffing requirements, and approving a request to purchase additional student devices to help reach 1:1 at the secondary level.
5. Instructional Technology Trainers (and special guest trainers, the district Lead Librarians) conducted 16 brand new Virtual PD sessions during the last two weeks.
6. Instructional Tech Open Office Hours is available 9am-12 noon and 1pm-4pm daily for the past week.

We are big fans of Edutopia.org. They recently posted an article about our current situation. We are teaching through a pandemic. (Sometimes it's still hard to wrap our brains around it all, isn't it?)

Main topics include:

• EXPECT TRIAL... AND PLENTY OF ERROR
• ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXTRAORDINARY
• REDUCE THE WORKLOAD (FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR STUDENTS)
• NO PERSON IS AN ISLAND
• EVERYONE THINKS THEY CAN’T—BEFORE THEY CAN
• MIND THE GAP

Check out the full article here.

Using Canvas LMS should make your life easier as well as your students. Make sure your students can navigate your course quickly and easily by following these tips:

1. Consolidate pages in your course. There is no reason to have multiple pages listed in your course. Copy pages that go together and pasted them on one single page.
2. If your course or module has multiple videos, put them all on one page instead of just adding them to your course. That way they don't take up as much space and are easy to get to.
3. Remove unused items in course navigation. Go to settings and navigation. From there, you can drag down the items that you don't want students to use or go to.

For a visual explanation, watch the video below from Sam Shropshire and Michael Vick.

If not, we got you covered. As we move further into our distance learning model, you might be looking for other ways to reach out to your students and help them with your learning. We have curated a list of distance learning resources for your viewing pleasure.

Do you like to use Flipgrid? Do you like to use Nearpod? Now you can use both because Flipgrid ins integrated into Canvas. Check out this short video to see how easy it to do this.

Buncee is an awesome tool used to create interactive content and graphics. Buncee Doodle is a fun and engaging way to learn content by creating buncees that represent a term or concept. Check out this video from our very own Sasha Beavers for more information.

Single Sign On | Quick access in to your EMS Digital Resources

Device Checkout | Need to borrow something for a less? Reserve it here!

Microsoft Educator Community | High Quality, Anytime, On-Demand PD

The Jenallee Show | On-the-spot PD videos, featuring many EMS Superstars

Promethean Board Tips & Tricks | Growing playlist of quick instructional videos

EMS Tech Tools | Check out or recommended tools (scan QR code to save on your device!)

Need help planning a blended lesson? Do you need an extra hand while tackling a technified lesson with your students? Are you ready to add some technology to your classroom but don't know where to start? The #EMSTechsperts are here to support you! Contact your Campus IT today!

Follow the team:@emsisdits

Ricky: @rickygode | Scott: @scottboiles
Jeni: @jlo731 | Sallee: @salleeclark

Bob: @bobeikenberry | Jennifer: @jenniferprince

Jason: @lumberaggie | Emily: @EKillen817

Sasha: @SashaLBeavers | April: @DigitalDunning
Cindy: @tuckertech

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Email: its@ems-isd.net
Website: www.emsisd.com/its
Location: 1200 Old Decatur Road, Saginaw, TX, United States
Phone: 817.232.0880
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emsisdits
Twitter: @emsisdits