Bits & Bytes

This month's newsletter includes important news from IT and recent updates made to recommended applications. Be sure to scroll and read to the bottom to view the challenge!

If you would like further assistance with any of the information that is delivered in the monthly newsletter, please feel free to contact one of the Technology Content Coaches - Ed Duclos or Debbie Matchett. You can also visit the EdTech website for additional support.

Happy Holidays,

EdTech Team

Eligible employees have the opportunity to purchase Microsoft Office products at a highly discounted price by visiting www.microsofthup.com. Microsoft is updating this benefit, please see important dates below.

• Now until 12/31/2018 – Office Professional Plus 2016, Office Home and Business 2016 for Mac, for USD $9.95 each.
• From 11/1/2018 to 6/30/2019 – Office Professional Plus 2019, Office Home and Business 2019 for USD $14.99 each.
• Starting 1/1/2019 - Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal will be available at a 30% discount.
• Starting 7/1/2019 – Office Professional Plus 2019 and Office Home and Business 2019 will no longer be available; employees will only be able to purchase a discount subscription to Office 365.

Please note: This is a purchase made directly with Microsoft and the district has no control over or access to your order or the license/download you purchase.

During the December break, maintenance will be performed to the single sign-on process used to log into Google Apps and onto Chromebooks. This will result in periods of time where logging into Google may be unavailable. Additional details on the new look of the login and anticipated downtime will be communicated via email.

Over the next several weeks, copiers throughout district will be replaced. The new devices will continue to be made and serviced by Canon and the process to print, copy and scan will not change. Some of the benefits from this upgrade include:

• Faster copy and scanning.
  
• Stapleless Stapling (Google it); traditional stapling will still be available.
  
• Color printing via the copiers at the elementary level.
  
• The ability to print to the copier from your Chromebook while on campus.
  
• The ability to scan directly to your Google Drive.
  

When adding assignments to the Classwork page, teachers can now select "Create Quiz" from the available options. A blank quiz will be attached to the assignment which then can be customized by the teacher.

Read and Write added a new feature to its toolbar called Check It. This new tool will highlight and provide suggestions for any grammatical or spelling errors within a Google Doc.

Check It out the next time you are creating a Google Doc.

Update #1

EquatIO Mathspace Integration in G Suite - Users can insert a mathspace into the G Suite App or PDF they are working on.

Update #2:

Smart Shapes have been added. These include a protractor, number line and a grid.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

Google Earth has added a new feature called Voyager. This new tool is comprised of pre-built voyages from around the world. A voyage has multiple scenes in which the user can have a street view of the destination. Many voyages include informational videos that provide background information on the destination. Sharing with students is made easy with the Share to Classroom button. Start exploring Google Earth today.

CLICK HERE for a quick tutorial.

Update #1

Screencastify added a Share to Classroom Button. This enables the teacher and students to easily share their screencasts.

CLICK HERE to view how.

Update#2

For Premium Users: The Video Editing feature has been updated. You can now mix and merge videos, cut, crop and trim clips, edit video on any computer running Chrome, and save to Google Drive.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

EdPuzzle updated the student view so that students can navigate the site easier. Be sure to notify students of the update next time you assign an EdPuzzle.

Update #1

There are two new sections; the "Due Assignments" section and the "Completed" section. Now students can easily view which assignments they need to complete.

Update #2

Students can also easily view their graded feedback and see what answers are waiting to be graded.

Create a winter poem or build a snowman with Google Drawings. Feeling adventurous, travel the world with Google Earth and test your knowledge on holiday traditions. Click on the title of each activity below to follow the link to explore. Hint: Google Earth takes about 30 seconds to load, be patient.

CLICK HERE to test your knowledge. The first five people who answer the quiz correctly will get a sweet reward. You will be notified if you are a winner.

Good Luck!