Embedded Files
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which acknowledges and celebrates the contributions made by employees with disabilities. NDEAM also offers us a time to reflect about the work that still needs to be done to ensure access and equity for disabled individuals in the workplace.
Did you know? The State of Washington requires that, “during the month of October, each public school shall conduct or promote educational activities that provide instruction, awareness, and understanding of disability history and people with disabilities." (RCW 28A.230.158)
Instructional activities:
One Out of Five: Disability History and Pride Project. centering voices of people with disabilities with lessons designed by local educators.
Portrait of the Whole Person Curriculum. Younger students can learn about the history of disability rights, research, and create a biographical sketch of a notable person with a disability that acknowledges people as whole.
The Right to be Rescued. You could even examine the intersect of climate change and natural disasters and their impact on people with disabilities with a mini documentary.
Further Training
Providing Accessibility with Digital Tools (Fall Training Series)
Learning about accessibility features built into the Chromebooks adds to your toolbox and increases the supports you can offer students to access material/instruction and demonstrate understanding.
New Schools!
New Schools!
Just one phase in the Building for Learning bond remains as two elementary schools open 2022 in new buildings and a new elementary school begins its legacy this September. Both Chinook and Lea Hill Elementary grow in size and capacity to support their existing school communities and Willow Crest Elementary opened its doors to students for the first time this fall. Despite numerous logistical challenges all three schools opened on time with all of the technology needed for the school day. Thank you to all the DoT staff members contributing to these projects, and congratulations to the staff, students and community members benefiting from these beautiful new buildings!
Instruction
Instruction
Wonders Tip - Clean up Your Rosters
Wonders Tip - Clean up Your Rosters
Every year, teachers that use Wonders curriculum for ELA have new rosters created for them. Sometimes these new rosters are combined with older rosters, which can cause confusion. To avoid this, it's a good idea to clean up your old Wonders rosters.
The Instructional Technology Department recommends that teachers delete all unnecessary Wonders rosters at the end of each school year. Teachers who haven't deleted there old classes can do so now using these instructions.
Click the image for the full version of this document
Fall Training Series 2022 - Technology Sessions
Fall Training Series 2022 - Technology Sessions
Each year 21 hours of professional development are available during three sets of training offered in fall, winter and spring. Staff are paid at their professional rate for each hour completed. The Department of Technology is offering three sessions this series, two of which qualify for STEM clock hours.
Enhancing Elementary Learning with Tech
Enhancing Elementary Learning with Tech
Target Audience: PK-5 Certificated
Session Description: Develop an understanding of the SAMR model and 4Cs to identify places in a unit or learning progression where intentional use of technology can enhance and simplify learning.
1 hour asynchronous session
K-5 Computer Science
101
K-5 Computer Science
101
Target Audience: PK-5 Certificated
Session Description: Open your students to Computer Science by accessing instructional strategies aimed at getting kids excited to learn how computers can help solve problems.
1 hour asynchronous session
STEM Qualified Session
Techquity - Starting Strong With Students
Techquity - Starting Strong With Students
Target Audience: PK-12 Certificated
Session Description: Using technology to access Culturally Responsive Principle 1 to affirm students' culture and identity, and foster a stronger classroom culture.
1 hour asynchronous session
STEM Qualified Session
Robots
Robots
Robots aren’t just for Computer Science teachers! These devices offer an engaging way for everyone to teach core standards while also encouraging computational thinking and problem solving. The Department of Technology has multiple devices for classroom checkout as shown below. Click the link below for more information, or contact your Instructional Technology Coach if you want to bring robots into your classroom.
Cubetto - Grades PreK-2
Pro-Bot - Grades 2-4
Sphero Bolt - Grades 3-12
Online Modules Updates (Now With Added Money!)
Online Modules Updates (Now With Added Money!)
The ASD Online Modules page has been updated! Click on the image to the right to see the new page, and new classes that are on offer, including a "New to Auburn" module and new STEM modules for K-15 and 6-12.
In addition to clock hours, this year instructional staff (certificated staff and instructional paraeducators) are able earn a $150 stipend for completing two modules. See the page for more details.
Tech Tools
Tech Tools
Fun Updates in Google Forms
Fun Updates in Google Forms
Have you ever wish you could emphasize text in your Form questions or directions? How about use multiple eye-catching fonts in your Form? You're in luck! Google has updated Forms to have all kinds of features. Users now can use bolding, underling, italicizing, hyperlinks, and lists in titles, question titles, and descriptions. In addition, there are new options for font styles and sizing options. Headers, subheaders, and body text can now be customized separately. These updates allow users more personalization and clarity to their Forms.
Need more guidance? Visit Google's support pages for each of these new features linked below.
Screen recording 2022-09-27 9.55.56 AM.webmClick above for a video overview of new Clever features.
What's New in Clever?
What's New in Clever?
If you are a Clever user, you might have noticed some changes in Clever when you logged in after the summer break. Here are a couple of things to look out for:
The landing page after login is now your Teacher Pages and your Favorites. Favorites are the apps you have selected the heart icon ❤️ in the upper left-hand corner.
To see all available apps to you, navigate over to the District Page.
You can now share your Teacher Page with others in your building. This is a huge benefit for those who are in roles where they do not have students rostered to them. You will find the option to share on your Teacher Page, and you can find pages shared with you under Shared with Me.
Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship
Digital Dilemmas
Digital Dilemmas
Students are faced with decisions to make in their digital lives everyday. As educators, we are always looking for new ways to help our students add and strengthen skills that will help them navigate these situations that are often tricky and complex. Common Sense has resources to teach students Digital Citizenship through the use of dilemmas. These activities are designed for students in grades 6- 12 and provide many resources for engaging students in this work such as keys for success, educator guides, and student handouts.
Visit their Digital Dilemmas page on their website for all the materials and relevant information. You can also check out Common Sense's PD video on this material for more support.
Data Security
Data Security
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. Experts encourage you to take the following four steps to keep your data safe:
Think Before You Click: If a link or email looks a little off, think before you click. It could be an attempt to get sensitive information or install malware.
Update Your Software: Don't delay -- If you see a software update notification, act promptly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates.
Use Strong Passwords: Use passwords that are long, unique, and randomly generated. Use password managers to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts. A passwords manager will encrypt passwords securing them for you!
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: You need more than a password to protect your online accounts, and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked.
You've Heard of Phishing, But What About Smishing?
You've Heard of Phishing, But What About Smishing?
While email is well known as a method for hackers to try to steal your information, recently the IRS has learned of hackers using text messages to steal your financial information. Click below to read about "smishing" and what you can do to stay safe from scammers:
Shout Outs!
Shout Outs!
Meet Our New Staff!
Meet Our New Staff!
The Department of Technology is expanding in order to provide better support to our staff and students. We asked our new hires the following questions to get to know them better:
What are your hobbies or do you collect anything?
Do you have any pets?
What is (or what would be) your superhero power?
Read their responses and join us in congratulating folks stepping into new roles and welcoming those who are new to the district!
Alex Ollivant (He/Him)
TSS - Dick Scobee
Videogames, studying computers, going on hikes.
Nope!
Teleportation, so that I never have to use an airplane.
Jaden Hassell (He/Him)
TSS - Auburn High
Power lifting, hiking, and cornhole. Shoes.
Negative.
The ability to know the future.
Stacey Buchanan (She/Her)
Executive Assistant
I collect gnomes, penguins, snowmen. I love camping.
I have 2 cats, Misty and Charlie.
Heal health issues that keep people from living their lives to the fullest.
Sunshine Merritt (She/Her)
Helpdesk Technician
I enjoy reading, camping and spending time with my family :)
I have 2 Tuxedo kitties. Gizmo & Lil Peep.
My Superhero power would definitely be FLYING :)
Not pictured: Sandy Mcdonald (TSS - Elementary Schools)
Farewell, Elizabeth...
Farewell, Elizabeth...
This month, we said goodbye to our wonderful Tech Coach, Elizabeth Palow. Elizabeth leaves us to return to Highline District to assume the role of CTE Co-ordinator. We will miss her amazing work with teachers, and her tireless advocacy for students, but wish her all the very best on her next adventure!
As a result, we are hiring! If you, or someone you know, would like to work in Instructional Technology and help our students develop 21st Century Skills, the position is open on Frontline.
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