May 2018

The Big Picture

End of Year Surveys

All staff are invited to complete the end of year technology survey. Your feedback will help us continue to refine our services to schools. Just like last year, every 25th person to complete the survey will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card.

17 - 18 Staff Technology Survey

The elementary, middle, and high school student surveys will be sent out by the Instructional Technology Support Specialists (ITSS) at each school with a plan for having every student take the survey. Thank you for your support.

Credit: Public Domain Pictures

New Teacher Device

The District Technology Advisory Committee (DTAC) has recommended to replace the old teacher device standard. Based on their recommendation, a Dell 360-Touch Chromebook was piloted with ten teachers during the Spring 2018 semester across all grade bands.

There are two options:

Option 1: 1 360-touch Chromebook AND 1 desktop PC

Option 2: 1 Windows Laptop only

Auburn teachers who have not yet provided feedback may still do so. Please go to this link to learn more and provide us feedback.

http://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-laptops-and-notebooks/chromebook-3189-education-2-in-1/spd/chromebook-11-3189-2-in-1-laptop

Credit: Dell 3189 Chromebook

Tech Tips

Spring Cleaning

If you have files in the T or U-Drives that have not been accessed recently, please consider moving them to your Google Drive to save space on the network servers.

Google Drive File Stream

To move files from the T- or U-Drives to your Google Drive using the File Stream program, just drag and drop files from their current locations to the Drive File Stream. This will then sync with your cloud Google Drive.

You can also move a whole folder to Drive File Steam.

Google Drive Upload

To upload a file directly to Google Drive, go to your Google Drive website (drive.google.com) and click on the "New" button in the upper right-hand corner. Next click on "File Upload" and select the file you want to upload.

Instruction

New Google Sites - End of Year Reviews and Projects

Now might be a great time to take advantage of the new Google Sites. You can have students create their own reviews for upcoming finals, collaboratively create small group or whole class wikis, or showcase what they have learned throughout the school year.

To get started or find answers to questions about the New Google Sites check out this helpful link at the Google Sites Help Center.

Credit: Google Sites

Personal Professional Development

Credit: Shift our Schools Podcast

Needing something to listen to on your drive to work or during a long summer road trip?

Check out Shifting Our Schools Podcast hosted by Jeff Utecht and the Eduro Learning Team based out of Seattle. Jeff Utecht leads discussions with educators from around the globe on how educators and administrators are shifting their schools to meet the needs of today's learners. Participants in ATLA 2.0 have worked with Jeff the past three years to build understandings around technology integration and teacher leadership. Download his latest musings around the educational technology field on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify.

Data Security

Change Your Password

Please remember to change your network/email password before leaving for the summer. Make it memorable to ease your transition back to work in the fall.

Staff members are encouraged to enroll in the password self-reset system. On the Staff Symbaloo page, you can enroll in the password reset system by selecting the "Password Reset" button and completing the security questions and alternate contact information. Click here for step-by-step directions.

If your password expires over the summer, and you have not enrolled in the self-reset program, contact the Dept. of Technology to have it reset by calling 253-931-4940 option 2 or 3.

New Email Spam Filter

Users at Auburn School District can now control whose emails come to their inbox. With the implementation of the new email spam filter, each user has the ability to view messages sent to them that have been deemed spam and request a report on these emails. The report is sent each day at 7:30 a.m. Click here for instructions on how to access this report.

Publishing Materials and Copyright

Educators must be careful when publishing or sharing copyrighted lesson materials and resources. ASD is seeing a rise in contacts from publishers with concerns over published materials linked on teacher web pages.

Please make sure that you have permission to share with the public when publishing to your teacher website. Protected or purchased curriculum cannot be shared with the whole world. Protected lesson materials should be shared with your students in your Google Classroom as it takes a username and password to access.

Credit: Commons Wikimedia

Shout Out!

Elementary Computer Science Trainers

Thank you to our elementary Computer Science trainers Erica Covey and Trina Lutes-Johnson for the dedicated work around improving Computer Science education in the Auburn School District!

Throughout the 2017-18 year our CS Trainers have supported the purchase, training, and implementation of materials to enhance computer science instruction. Materials purchased for K-5 classrooms have included Code & Go Mice, Dash & Dot Robots, and Micro:bit processors.

We appreciate your expertise in providing effective professional development and ensuring high quality instructional practices surrounding Computer Science.

Credit: Wonder Workshop

New Teacher Device Pilot Staff

Thank you to the teachers who piloted the new staff device. We appreciate your willingness to try new things and to provide relevant feedback for this important decision.

Andrew Allen - Cascade MS

Corrie Carstens - Mt. Baker MS

Christina Celver - Hazelwood

Necia Hansen - AHS

Randy Jones - ARHS

Vickie Leaf - Lakeland Hills

Jessica Lee - AMHS

Trina Lutes- Johnson - Lake View

Kyle Ridge - Gildo Rey

Melissa Rude - Dick Scobee

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