Embedded Files
Computer Science Week - December 4-10
Computer Science Week - December 4-10
Tell all your friends! Computer Science Week is quickly approaching, and now is a great time to start planning for how you can bring this into your classroom. Here are some ideas to get you going.
Hour of Code
Plan to do an Hour of Code activity with your class! This can be done with any grade, content, or experience level. Code.org has many resources to help you plan for this activity. Check out guided activities for students and additional resources for planning.
Explore STEM Careers
Engage in some STEM Careers exploration with your students! We have a Wakelet of resources to get you started.
Integrate Robotics in Content
All elementary schools have robotics for their building, and all of our schools have access to a variety of check out kits. From retelling a story to bringing math concepts to life, there are tons of ways that robotics can enhance what you already are doing in the classroom. Learn more about our robots on our Instructional Technology website. Connect with your Tech Coach for additional information, as well as planning and teaching support.
In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, we'd also like to highlight the Sisterhood of Native American Coders (SONAC) a nonprofit that creates access and exposure to the field of computer science (CS) to address the disparities in opportunities to learn for underrepresented Native American girls.
Discounted Internet for Auburn Families
Discounted Internet for Auburn Families
Do you have a student enrolled in the Auburn School District? Do you have friends or family with Auburn students? The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is an FCC benefit that provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. All Auburn families, with a student enrolled in the Auburn School District, may be eligible!
Helpdesk
Helpdesk
Come Get Your Chromebook!
Come Get Your Chromebook!
Are you a teacher who does not yet have their shiny new Asus Chromebook? You can drop by the Helpdesk at the James P. Fugate Administration Building between 7am-5pm M-F to exchange your old device for a new one.
For these staff (and anyone wishing to take a refresher) there will be an online version of the New Chromebook Training in the Winter Training Series. In the meantime, if you have any questions about how to use the device effectively in your classroom, reach out to your Tech Coach.
Instruction
Instruction
Save the Date! Tech Connect is March 9, 2024 at Terminal Park
Save the Date! Tech Connect is March 9, 2024 at Terminal Park
Join us for the ninth annual Tech Connect conference! Led by teachers, with sessions designed for teachers, this conference provides practical ways to integrate technology and 21st Century Skills into the classroom. This is a fantastic opportunity for teachers to showcase their knowledge and share their perspectives with fellow educational technology enthusiasts.
If you would like to share your own expertise, please fill out this form to indicate your interest in presenting at Tech Connect:
This year's keynote speaker is digital learning pioneer, Holly Clark, who will be presenting ways to infuse AI into classrooms for the benefit of all learners. To learn more about Holly's contributions to the field of educational technology, visit her website (hollyclark.org) or follow her on Instagram, Facebook or Tik Tok!
Holly Clark, author of The AI Infused Classroom
NCCE 2024 - 14-16th February
NCCE 2024 - 14-16th February
The largest educational technology conference in the Northwest returns to Seattle next year. The list of keynotes and featured speakers is now listed on their website, which includes several exciting and inspiring names including Manny Scott - one of the original Freedom Writers - and Tech Connect alumnus Ken Shelton!
Staff wishing to attend have two options:
Using building funds or personal money
Ask your Office Manager to work with Stacey Buchanan in the Dept of Technology to obtain the Auburn Group Code to receive a discounted rate.
Using Innovation Funds
Work with your administrator to submit an Innovation Funds request by 20th December - requests after this date will not be approved.
You must mention the number of days you wish to attend and any half-day summits that require additional registration.
Working with a Tech Coach? Get paid!
Working with a Tech Coach? Get paid!
As part of the 2020 Technology Levy, all staff are provided the opportunity to engage in seven hours of professional development for a stipend each year. As well as Tech Connect and Online Modules, one of the ways to access professional learning is to work with your Tech Coach. If you engage in a coaching cycle (equivalent to seven hours), you will receive a $150 stipend for your learning. Reach out to your coach if you want to know more!
Tech Coach Michael Fitzgerald works with a teacher at Lakeland Hills Elementary
Changes to the Innovation Funding Process
Changes to the Innovation Funding Process
The 2020 Technology Levy responded to community feedback that schools need to be able to adopt innovative technology quicker than is currently possible. To meet this need, the levy incorporates $5/Student FTE for each school to purchase innovative technology. Ideally this funding is geared towards teams (grade/content) or whole-school. Previously, these requests were processed on a rolling basis. This year, these funding requests will be processed at three different points in the school year. Although the first deadline has passed, Innovation Funding requests for the rest of the year will be processed on the following deadlines - January 15th, and May 15th.
Tech Tools
Tech Tools
Padlet Updates
Padlet Updates
Padlet released 22 new features over the summer. A few of these include
Polls - add a poll to conduct a vote, quiz, or survey.
Mentions - Notify individual collaborators by mentioning them in posts.
Schedule posts - make your posts appear on Padlet at a specific time.
Google Drive integration - add Google Drive files to posts without leaving your Padlet.
Safety Net - this feature automatically reads new posts, blocks inapporpriate content, and notifies the Padlet owner.
Check out the Padlet Gazette to see the rest of the updates in their 2023 summer release.
Edpuzzle Updates
Edpuzzle Updates
Edpuzzle has added the following features:
Teacher Assist - Save valuable time grading and lesson planning with the Autograde tool and the Question generator! These tools can facilitate your Edpuzzle use but should still be verified for accuracy and relevancy.
Playlists - Now you can group your lessons into playlists!! Create one for the unit your class is working on, as a review for an upcoming test, or anything else you can imagine. You can also assign playlists to students and link them to a Google Classroom assignment.
Audio in questions - Record audio for your questions and answer choices so your students can listen to them, read them, or both! This is a great accessibility update that can help support all learners!
Closed captions for uploaded videos - Closed captions are now available for all videos uploaded to Edpuzzle. Closed captions in other languages are coming for videos in Edpuzzle Originals, dates for that still have not been released.
Edpuzzle has also updated their self-paced PD courses, the Edpuzzle app, and created stricter content moderation filters.
Animate from audio project.mp4Adobe Express - Animate from Voice!
Adobe Express - Animate from Voice!
You may be familiar with Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) and the great menu of tools that are available for free! Adobe Express has now added an animate from voice tool where students can choose a character, voice a script, and an animation is automatically produced. This animation can be used as is or further edited with Adobe Express editing tools. There are so many ways in which this tool can be used in instructional and non-instructional settings, try it out here!
Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy
Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy
Is Artificial Intelligence Plagiarism?
Is Artificial Intelligence Plagiarism?
The number of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has grown significantly over the past few months. Some of the most popular tools are capable of creating seemingly original content, like images or text, and - like it or not - our students are using these tools in their school work.
As we prepare to embrace AI in Auburn, it would be helpful to have a conversation with students about the purpose and value of these tools, and how they can be used effectively.
Common Sense Education have a ready-made lesson plan (designed for secondary students, but could easily be scaled for elementary) to help students think about the issues surrounding AI in education.
Image generated by Stable Diffusion XL
Skyward
Skyward
W2/1095 Opt Out
W2/1095 Opt Out
Go Paperless! Through Employee Access you can opt out of mailed copies of your W2 and 1095 forms.
These reports will always be available through Employee Access and can be accessed anytime.
Skyward Messages
Skyward Messages
Check your My Messages for important Skyward notifications. A red indicator with a number indicates the number of unread messages. Messages and Notifications can also be duplicated to your email address, this is under My Messages>Settings. If receive by email is unchecked the My Messages area is the only place messages are delivered.
Skyward Help
Skyward Help
The Data Services Website provides help and information for Skyward users with specific pages for employees, teachers, Qmlativ training, and submitting help tickets.
Shout Outs
Shout Outs
Auburn Mountainview Microsoft Office Specialist Class!
Auburn Mountainview Microsoft Office Specialist Class!
Shout out to the students enrolled in AMHS's Business Education (CTE) class - they have been busy earning their Microsoft Office Specialist certifications! These certifications are free to Washington State students in middle school and highschool, made possible by an agreement between OSPI and Microsoft. AMHS students have the opportunity to compete at the Washington State MOS Chamionship, MOS U.S. National Competition, and even the MOS World Championship. The industry level certifications that students earn can lead to college credits with several of the colleges in our region!
Shout out to Ms. Eckelman for her hard work in building the connections from school to work/college/career for her students! Her passion in helping students achieve industry level certifications has opened doors for many students, some of which are now working as accountants, at Microsoft, or in other similar industries!
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