Embedded Files
Hour of Code Is Coming
Hour of Code Is Coming
This year, Computer Science Education week runs from 9th-15th December. To help your students explore the world of Computer Science, we encourage everyone to engage in an Hour of Code!
The Hour of Code site provides activities for all levels from Kindergarten to High School, with hands-on coding or even offline lessons.
If you're planning to celebrate in your class, let your Tech Coach know so that we can highlight you in an upcoming newsletter.
Tech Connect - Call for Presenters
Tech Connect - Call for Presenters
We are excited to announce that the date for this year's Tech Connect conference will be 8th February, 2025. It will not be a conference without presenters, though, and we would love to see you (yes, you!) share your great ideas with other classroom teachers from around the region.
If you are interested, fill out the form linked below, or contact your Tech Coach if you have questions.
NCCE - Auburn Group Rate
NCCE - Auburn Group Rate
NCCE (the second best tech conference in Washington) returns to Seattle on 26th-28th February. Speakers will include Dan Fitzpatrick ("The AI Educator") and Matt Miller (from Ditch That Textbook). For any Auburn teachers who wish to attend, you have two options:
1) Speak to your administrator to fill out an Innovation Funds application before Winter Break. (This must be filled out by your admin, as this will involve your absence from the building.) Innovation Funds will cover the conference registration and substitute coverage (if required).
2) Use other sources of funds (building budget, grants, etc.) and receive a discount by using Auburn's group code. Ask your Office Manager to contact Stacey Buchanan at DoT for the code.
Instructional Technology
Instructional Technology
This page for student writing is just one example from the Fall Highlights Collection. You can customize any of the items on the page to create something unique for your class.
Get Ready for Conferences with Seesaw!
Get Ready for Conferences with Seesaw!
Conferences are quickly approaching, which means now is the time to start preparing. Students can play a big role in preparing for sharing with families on how things are going and what goals we have for the year. Seesaw has some ready-to-go resources for students to highlight what they are currently proud of and areas they are working on. The Fall Highlights Portfolio makes it easy for students to take a photo of their work from a variety of areas, such as math or writing, and then record themselves explaining their learning. The content specific highlights collection, such as the Math Highlights Page, could be used a couple of times each month for students provide families a glimpse into what they are working on. This would create space for those progress connections beyond the once-a-year conference time. Don't forget that all of the resources in the Seesaw Library are fully customizable to help you create just the right thing for your class.
If you would like more support in using Seesaw to help your families stay connected to their child's learning, reach out to your Tech Coach.
Tech Tools
Tech Tools
Gemini is Coming...
Gemini is Coming...
Before the end of 2024, Google will be changing their terms of use so that High School students will be able to access the Gemini AI chatbot as part of our Google for Education package.
In preparation for this launch, it would be helpful to review the district guidelines for AI and our specific guide for AI in the classroom.
Further training and support will be available through the Winter Training Series, and teachers can reach out to their Tech Coach at any time for more information.
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Chromebook Highlight: Screencast
Chromebook Highlight: Screencast
Screencast is a tool built right into your Chromebook. Similar to other tools such as Loom and Screencastify, it allows you to record your screen and share that video with others. Your Screencasts are automatically uploaded to your Google Drive. Additionally, it automatically creates a transcript of the video that students can view if they open the video through their own Screencast tool.
Ways you can use Screencast in your instruction:
Record a process or a pathway to show to students. This way, students can follow along at their own pace and re-watch as necessary.
Record a presentation ahead of time to have students watch as part of blended learning. This can even then be used to create an Edpuzzle or YouTube Video assignment in Google Classroom. Again, students can work at their own pace and pause and re-watch as needed.
Give differentiated feedback. Perhaps you have a student who would benefit from receiving feedback orally - you can record yourself giving them feedback or explaining feedback on an assignment.
There are lots of ways that using Screencast can enhance your instruction. Reach out to your Tech Coach for more support around this.
Originality Reports in Google Classroom
Originality Reports in Google Classroom
Google Originality Reports can empower students to engage deeply in their learning and refine their thinking and writing through feedback, providing essential support for meaningful growth. With insights into originality and citation, students can revise and strengthen their work, building habits of academic integrity and critical thinking. This tool can support Student Growth Goals by enabling students to actively monitor their learning, analyze feedback, and self-assess, which promotes cognitive engagement and ownership of their progress.
Auburn School District has premium access, which allows for unlimited scans, giving students the independence to check their work before submission. Teachers can use Originality Reports to engage students in meaningful discussions about their learning process, fostering deeper understanding of originality, responsibility, and academic growth.
To learn more, check out the resource below and reach out to your Instructional Technology Coach.
Public View Links in Canva
Public View Links in Canva
One of the easiest ways to share Canva content is to use a public view link. Anyone with internet access can view content shared via public view links without signing into or even having a Canva account. Create a public view link under Canva's sharing options.
Blue Light Settings on the Newline Boards
Blue Light Settings on the Newline Boards
Did you know that you can adjust the light filters on all models of the Newline boards? To make these adjustments, head to settings and scroll down until you find the tab for Screen Eye Filters. You will find the toggle to adjust the level of the blue light filter, as well as a couple of other settings to explore.
Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship
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Media Literacy Week
Media Literacy Week
As part of October's Media Literacy Week, the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) released new core principles of media literacy for educators.
The most important is probably the first principle:
1. Expands the concept of literacy to include all forms of media and integrates multiple literacies in developing mindful media creators and consumers.
This is due to the fact that media literacy intersects with other literacies, such as information, digital, and social literacies. As students navigate their education through heavily-online methods, consider where in your curriculum you can integrate media literacy. See our Media Literacy page for more information and resources.
Data Security
Data Security
Reporting Spam & Phishing Emails
Reporting Spam & Phishing Emails
When reporting emails, please make sure you are reporting only spam or suspicious emails.
Spam email is unsolicited and unwanted junk email sent out in bulk to an indiscriminate recipient list. Typically, spam is sent for commercial purposes and often contains advertisements.
Phishing emails are fraudulent communications that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank, internet service provider, or even a co-worker, and is designed to trick the recipient into providing personal information
To help bring your attention to the potential for an email to be spam or phishing attempts, emails that come from outside of our ASD email network are always marked as "external," with a warning at the top of the email that says the sender "is from outside your organization." You'll have an option to show blocked content or to block the sender. However, just because an email shows up as "external" does not necessarily make it dangerous - for example, notifications from Parent Square and Google Classroom are marked as "external" because they are outside of our email network, so you'll have to use your best judgement.
Emails from your ASD colleagues do not qualify as spam, even if they are unsolicited or not of interest to you. Please do not report these as spam.
If you find yourself on a chain that you do not want to be notified about, you can always "snooze" notification for a period of time, or "ignore" the email chain. In both cases, you will no longer receive emails related to the email chain. Both of these options can be found by right clicking on the email as seen in the image to the right.
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.
If you opted out last year, there is no need to opt out again, but if you would like to opt out for the first time the deadline is 12/31/24.
Skyward Help
Skyward Help
The Data Services Website provides help and information for Skyward users with specific pages for employees, teachers, ParentSquare, and submitting help tickets.
Spare 30 Minutes?
Spare 30 Minutes?
Data Services offers training each Monday for office staff and administrators. Tune into these single topics live, presented in 30 minutes or less, or access the recordings and documention. Do you have an idea for a Mini Monday? Email Lynnette Miller lmiller@auburn.wednet.edu.
CTE Teachers - IRC/WBL Activities
CTE Teachers - IRC/WBL Activities
Industry Related Certificates and WBL Activities are now updated through Teacher Access. A session was offered through the fall training series. If you missed the in person session, follow along with the documentation or recorded session. IRC and WBL Activities for first semester should be updated no later than January 27.
Shout outs!
Shout outs!
Computational Thinking Champions
Computational Thinking Champions
This year's Computational Thinking Champions (CTCs) are:
Beverly Mahaffey (Alpac), Ernest Thomas (Dick Scobee), Jodi Sutcliff (Evergreen Heights), Shawn Welsh (Gildo Rey). Amber Carter, Scott Wickstrom, Erin Wickstrom (Hazelwood), Marla King (Lakeland Hills), Liss LaBrie (Lake View), Emma Johansen (Lea Hill), Ryan Jory (Pioneer), Shana Jenkins (Terminal Park), Ashley Williams (Willow Crest)
Kudos to these teachers for bringing new ways of problem solving and critical thinking into their classrooms!
Artificial Intelligence Innovators
Artificial Intelligence Innovators
We have a new lead-learner program at our secondary schools this year for teachers who want to delve further into the world of artificial intelligence and how this can create new learning opportunities for students. This year's AIIs are:
Janice Bigby (ML, Auburn High), Andrew Allen (Social Studies, Cascade), Jessica Lee (Foreign Languages, Mountainview), James Richmond (Special Education, Mt Baker), Martina Lemke (Language Arts, Olympic), Edison Gica (Mathematics, Rainier), Steve Vandegrift (Career and Technical, Riverside), Megan Frank (Science, West Auburn)
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