February 2022
Tech Tips
Embedded Files
Clarence "Skip" Ellis - Computer Trailblazer
Clarence "Skip" Ellis - Computer Trailblazer
Since 1976, February has been celebrated as Black History Month to honor the struggles African Americans have endured as well as their great achievements that have contributed to American society. One little-known technology trailblazer is Clarence “Skip” Ellis. Ellis was the first African American to earn a PhD in Computer Science, and his technological innovations were instrumental in developing software that we use every day. His team created Officetalk, which introduced icons to office software and allowed workers to use an ethernet network to collaborate remotely. This led to his pioneering work in the field of operational transformation, which is the backbone of real-time collaborative applications like Google Docs.
You can learn about Clarence Ellis and other Black computer pioneers here.
Tech Connect - Registration Deadline and Session Preview
Tech Connect - Registration Deadline and Session Preview
We're now just over a month away from this year's Tech Connect conference, which will take place on 19th March at Auburn Riverside High School. If you would like to attend, please sign up on this form by 4th March. As a reminder, all attendees will receive a $150 stipend, 7 STEM clock hours, and a catered lunch.
Below, you can see a preview of some of the sessions that we have lined up this year:
Tech Tools
Tech Tools
Google Canvas
Google Canvas
Google's Canvas is a design application that allows users to create drawings using a variety of tools. Available drawing tools include pencil, pen, marker, chalk, and eraser. Users can draw with a stylus, fingertip, or mouse. One notable feature is the ability to insert a picture and draw on top of it. This tool works best using a touchscreen Chromebook. Try it out? Let your Tech Coach know! We love to hear about classroom application.
Note: ASD teachers have a stylus for drawing, but not the Pixelbook Pen mentioned in the video. The provided stylus will work for drawing in Canvas.
Slido
Slido
We learned about Slido from school library guru Jennifer LaGarde at her WTS session "Fact vs. Fiction." Slido is a tool to make virtual classes and meetings more interactive. You can create live polls, Q&A's, quizzes, and word clouds and students don't need an account to participate. A free account allows you to create events for up to 100 participants, unlimited Q&A's, and three polls per event.
Slido would be a great alternative to the poll feature in Google Meet and can make virtual sessions more engaging. If you need support using Slido, reach out to your Instructional Technology Coach.
Instruction
Instruction
Flipgrid Live Events
Flipgrid Live Events
If you aren't already familiar, Flipgrid hosts a variety of virtual adventures. Some of these are hosted during the school hours, and all of them recorded and available in their YouTube Playlist. These are great opportunities to bring new voices and perspectives to your students. Some up coming titles include Decolonized Live! We Ate: Food & the Good Fight, Believe in Yourself with Pete Carroll and Amplify Voices, and The Magic of Science with Teacher John Lucas.
Linked here is an event they hosted in February 2021.
Free Asynchronous Learning Opportunity
Free Asynchronous Learning Opportunity
NCCE: Northwest Council for Computer Education offers many online, self-paced trainings for educators. These usually require payment to participate, but they are currently offering a course for free. Elevate Student Voice with Online Tools is 3hr course that explores why student voice is important and a variety of tools to empower students. Use the code ERATEFREE to get free access to this course. If you attend, let your Tech Coach know. We would love to hear about it!
Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship Teacher Training
Digital Citizenship Teacher Training
Common Sense Education features a free course on teaching digital citizenship. This interactive online course is great for someone who is just diving into teaching this concept or new to the Common Sense Education free lessons. It is designed to take about one hour. Love earning badges to include in professional spaces? You're in luck! Common Sense Education also features many other professional development opportunities for free.
Learning to Navigate Social Media
Learning to Navigate Social Media
Did you know that in order to sign up for social media accounts you must be 13 or older? However, so many of our students younger than that are creating, managing, and engaging with social media accounts. As educators, it is important that we support our students in knowing how to be safe and kind online rather than just wishing they weren't on social media. They definitely are, so we must adapt. Common Sense Education, in partnership with Cornell Social Media Lab, created Social Media TestDrive. This is free for educators and their students. These interactive modules engage students in a variety of digital citizenship topics and are designed for students age 9 to 12. Visit their page for more information and to get started.
Data Security
Data Security
Warning Banners in Google Drive
Warning Banners in Google Drive
A new feature has been added to Google Drive (including Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drawings) to help you recognize potentially-dangerous files. If Google suspects that the file you are trying to open is trying to obtain your personal information, has suspicious links, or contains any malware, it will display a banner at the top of the screen (as shown here).
As always, exercise caution when opening files that have been shared by users outside the organization, and alert the Helpdesk if you discover anything suspicious.
Shout Outs!
Shout Outs!
Data Services Team
Data Services Team
A huge shout-out to our ASD Data Services team, who have worked tirelessly to ready the district for our migration to the new version of Skyward. Between coordinating the migration with every district department, working with Skyward and third-party vendors, training countless staff, and preparing an entire website of support material, this has been a mammoth undertaking.
January Trivia Winners!
January Trivia Winners!
Congratulations to the following people who all correctly identified that Jennifer LaGarde's Fact vs Fiction training sessions came with a free copy of her book.
Lanisha Scott - Auburn Online
Kelli Eilers - Hazelwood Elementary
Beth Radcliff - Chinook Elementary
James Richmond - Rainier Middle School
Not pictured: Molly Picatti-Baker (AHS)
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