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Computer Science Education Week
Computer Science Education Week
December 5-9 is National Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek)! CSEdWeek is held in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, it is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education, and celebrate the contributions to the field.
Computer Science (or CS) is about solving problems and helping in the development of tools that can help solve problems. CS is everywhere and can support all career paths.
CSTA_posters_2022_FULL BLEED.pdf
No matter what subject or grade level you teach, you can participate - no experience necessary!
Some ways to participate include:
Hosting an Hour of Code in your school or classroom
Celebrating CS Heroes with these toolkits
Exploring how computer science impacts workplaces by touring Amazon facilities through a CS lens
Check out these video resources that highlight the importance of making computer science more accessible to all students and some ways in which computer science shapes our world! For more video resources, click here!
Instruction
Instruction
Tech Connect will return on March 18, 2023 at Auburn Riverside High School! This is ASD's annual technology conference with sessions by teachers, for teachers. The day will include an exciting keynote address, followed by four rounds of sessions, with lunch included. ASD certificated and instructional classified staff will receive a $150 stipend for attending, plus 7 STEM clock hours or verification hours.
As we build the program, we would love to hear what you would like to see at the conference. If you're interested in attending, please share your thoughts at the link below. If you would be interested in presenting your instructional technology expertise, we would be delighted to have you share at the conference - click the other link below to indicate your interest.
Innovation Funds
Innovation Funds
Did you know that grants are available through the Department of Technology to help you bring exciting, student-centered technology into your class? They're called Innovation Funds. Watch the short video below to learn more about them:
NCCE Registration
NCCE Registration
NCCE — the long-running technology and learning conference — returns to in-person this year, and will be held at the Tacoma Converntion Center from March 21-23, 2023.
As in previous years, DoT are coordinating a group registration. Schools or individuals will pay for their own registration (and subs, if required) but can take advantage of the group discount.
To register as part of the ASD group, work with your Principal or Office Manager and ask them to contact Stacey Buchanan at the Department of Technology.
Tech Tools
Tech Tools
New Gallery App on Chromebooks
New Gallery App on Chromebooks
You can now find the Gallery app on your Chromebook. This new application has four main features, two of which we would like to highlight for you. Using the edit images feature, you are able to crop, rotate, rescale, adjust lighting filters, and annotate. We know educators love a good annotating tool and are able to find many applications for use within their classrooms.
The other cool feature we would like to call out is the ability to fill out PDFs within the Gallery app. With a PDF open, you can add typed text in areas needed, as well as use the annotate tool to sign your name. Hello easy clock hour form completion!
For further support, check out Google's support documents on these two features.
Securly Classroom Refresher
Securly Classroom Refresher
Thanks to Auburn Mountainview ITSS Nathan Lemanski for putting together this great overview of using Securly Classroom as a teacher.
This quick video covers everything you need to know, including
Starting a class session
Viewing student screens
Messaging students privately
Sending class announcements
If you haven't already started using this with your students, take a look to see the great tools that it offers to help your students be successful with technology.
Updated Scheduling in Securly Classroom
Updated Scheduling in Securly Classroom
If you have used the Class Schedule feature in Securly Classroom, you likely experienced the frustration of not being able to have a different schedule for late start Mondays. Well, headache no more! In the latest update to Securly Classroom, users can now have different schedules for their classrooms. The start times and durations can have different settings. Click on your class tile in Securly to open up the settings and find this feature.
Having sessions automatically scheduled to start can save precious time at the start of each day or class period.
Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship
Elementary Code.org Dig Cit Lessons
Elementary Code.org Dig Cit Lessons
At the beginning of each section of Code.org's CS Fundamentals curriculum, a digital citizenship lesson starts the learning by framing what it means to be a member of an online community. If hosting an Hour of Code with your students this month, consider starting with conversations around digital citizenship practices to enhance the effectiveness of your computer science instruction. The following links include lesson plans and links a teacher can send to students available to any classroom looking to engage in Code.org's digital citizenship lessons.
Kindergarten - Course A Lesson 1: Safety in My Online Neighborhood [Student link]
1st Grade - Course B Lesson 1: Digital Trails [Student link]
2nd Grade - Course C Lesson 1: Putting a STOP to Online Meanness [Student link]
3rd Grade - Course D Lesson 1: Password Power-Up [Student link]
4th Grade - Course E Lesson 1: Be A Super Digital Citizen [Student link]
4th Grade - Course E Lesson 2: Private and Personal Information [Student link]
5th Grade - Course F Lesson 1: The Power of Words [Student link]
Skyward
Skyward
Grading
Grading
Are you looking for tips on creating assignments, entering grades directly to standards, adding comments to progress reports, or just configuring your Skyward Gradesheet? The Instructional Technology website has a Skyward support page with video tutorials and annotated screenshots to help you manage your Skyward Gradebook. Your Instructional Technology coaches are also just an email away if you need more in-depth support.
Dock
Dock
Check out this short video and learn how to create a custom bookmarks bar for your frequently accessed Skyward screens. Add screens, update the screen names, change their order, or remove them altogether. These directions will show you everything you need to know to take advantage of this useful feature.
Check out the Data Services Website for more Skyward help.
Shout Outs!
Shout Outs!
New Hardware Testing
New Hardware Testing
As funds become available for updating hardware throughout the school district, new devices must be tested by our staff to ensure successful transitions between devices. Over the past three months, several teachers have volunteered their time and energy to try out new devices in their classrooms or visit the Department of Technology to provide feedback on hardware. With their guidance, staff can expect exciting and effective new tools coming to your school soon!
Thank you to Jessica Hendricks (Bowman Creek), Stephanie Parra (Pioneer), Kirsten Gravning (Auburn Mountainview) and Diana Dray (Terminal Park) for testing new teacher Chromebooks and Mike Fettig (Lake View), Celeste Andreotti (Gildo Rey), Kevin Kauffman (Lea Hill), and Corrie Agnew (Cascade) for testing display modernization options.
Tech Tips Trivia Winners
Tech Tips Trivia Winners
Rick Kain - SSC Print Shop
Dan McNeese - Auburn Mountainview
James Haws - Lake View
Stacy Leitzke - Washington
Not pictured: Iris May Schneider (Alpac Elementary)
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