On the DL
Notes from Digital Learning and School Library Services
February 2022
Don't forget to check out our monthly Be Cyber Safe resources! This month's topic focuses on being producers and consumers of information online.
As a reminder to all staff, BCS has a comprehensive Material Selection Policy that dictates what materials including books and movies can be used in the classroom. We also have a flow chart to guide the selection of movies and other media as well as a prior approval form. Movies specifically must be acquired from an appropriate vendor and must adhere to the ratings guidelines below:
Grade Levels Video Ratings
K – 4 G
5 – 8 G, PG with parental permission
9 – 12 G- PG, PG-13
It is imperative that teacher’s plan ahead and follow the appropriate approval process for both print and digital media. These processes are designed to protect both students and teachers.
Also, have you checked out your school’s 3D printer yet? Every school now has 3D printing capabilities. See your Media Coordinator or Digital Learning Specialist for more information and ways to integrate into your classroom. We can’t wait to see what your students create!
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Copyright Corner
(click the down arrow to see the response to the question)
The Great Gatsby is now in the public domain. What does that mean?
If a book, song, movie, or artwork is in the public domain, then it is not protected by intellectual property laws (copyright, trademark, or patent laws)—which means it's free for you to use without permission. As a general rule, most works enter the public domain because of old age. (https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/public-domain/). You may ask, then why is Amazon still charging even for the digital copy? The producer may still charge for their costs to produce and distribute said copy but you should see the costs greatly reduced. Amazon's latest Kindle version of The Great Gatsby is now $0.49. While it isn't there yet, you should soon see The Great Gatsby available at https://www.gutenberg.org/ for free. Notice this is a reputable distributor of public domain texts. Many online resources are not.
Also, should you need them, here are some Copyright FAQs.
School Library Spotlight
Lincoln Digital Learning League: Bringing Digital Learning to a Classroom Near You!
We have so many great digital resources right at our fingertips, but a resource is only good when used; hence the creation of the Lincoln Elementary (LES) Digital Learning League!
Natalie Caddell, LES media coordinator, and Ana Neville, district digital learning specialist, started the Digital Learning League as they sought out ways to teach staff about the plethora of resources available at Lincoln and within the district.
Meeting on the last Thursday morning of each month, before school begins, the Digital Learning League tackles learning with fun, discussing topics ranging from 3D printing to Spheros, virtual reality, and more!
Sessions are structured around an introduction to a digital resource and the instructional value of incorporating each tool. Attendees get to geek out and plearn (learning through play) with the featured digital tool. Coding a robot and designing a three-dimensional print is a great way to start your day!
An additional focus of each session is how to plan with purpose. When walking through steps to plans, we ask learning target-focused questions like, what will students need to show you to demonstrate mastery or understanding?
As Lincoln focuses on creating an enriching, engaging makerspace available to all students, Learning League sessions can empower teachers to know what is available to embrace for strong interdisciplinary connections and how to plan with clear learning targets that are reinforced with help from a surplus of resources.
Teachers not only receive CEU credits for attending, but they also walk away with wonderful ideas to use in their classrooms, planning and implementation resources, and fun prizes! Teachers know, at the end of each session, that the support doesn’t end. Natalie Caddell is always there to help and inspire her teachers with creative planning.
Interested in learning more? Reach out to your digital learning specialists for co-planning and co-teaching experiences today!
Digital Learning Resources
Click on the icon above to view February's newly released Micro-units!
Brunswick County Schools offers many micro-units to assist staff with understanding the digital resources available to them. With each micro-unit, staff earns digital learning credits, which vary depending on the unit of study. The digital learning team has released 10 updated micro-units this month, allowing for staff to learn the latest updates and implement the best strategies for instruction.
1B@T-Analyzing Schoolnet Assessments and Data
1B@T -Creating Collections in Destiny Discover for Lesson, Units, and Collaboration
1B@T - Designing Digital Notebooks
1B@T - Exploring Adobe Creative Cloud for Education
1B@T- Getting Creative with Google Draw
1B@T- Hosting YouTube Videos
1B@T - IXL (NEW)
1B@T - Studies Weekly
1B@T - Understanding the Basics of SeeSaw
1B@T - Using Google MyMaps to Increase Rigor and Creativity
To learn more about the 1B@T microunits and how YOU can sign up to complete one, click here. Questions? Please reach out to your digital learning specialist!
What are Code & Go Robot Mice? They are one of BCS latest additions to device kit options available for checkout!
Code & Go Robot Mice allow teachers to develop lessons that offer directional coding, teaching students basic coding skills! Students have to learn how to code the robot mouse to move forward, reverse, left and right. Working together as coding agents and coding engineers, students can enjoy a hands on experience of learning to code.
Check out the BCS device kit page for more information on how to use the Code & Go Robot Mice.
Would you like to check out a kit? Please complete this form and reach out to your digital learning specialist to develop plans to meet the needs of your students!
Let's get Tinkering
Use Tinkercad in your classroom to create amazing 3D objects! These objects can be saved and shared as pictures or be 3D printed! Why? Designing in 3D gives students the opportunity to grasp an understanding of the design/engineering process. It helps them develop skills that can not only be used in emerging fields but enhance skills for careers already in existence!
All disciplines can use 3D designing and printing as end of unit projects. Your Digital Learning Specialist and Media Coordinator can collaborate with you to design and implement a project. Check out these resources if you are interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity or take the 1Byte in Google Classroom code: 7ermutp
Assignments
Are you ready for your students to show and practice what you have explored in the classroom? Then take a look at Canvas Assignments. The assignments page shows students all assignments that are due and how much each assignment is worth.
If you create an assignment it automatically shows up in grades, calendar and syllabus. Your assignments will also sync to PowerSchool. Review this document for more information.
For a how-to on creating assignments click here. Caution: Double check that your assignments are in the correct category for syncing to PowerSchool. Look for this indicator:
Chromebook Keyboards
Do you have a Chromebook that is not typing correctly (wrong letters) or is not displaying the correct keyboard?
Below is a very quick fix that doesn't require a work order!
When you are ready to change the keyboard settings, click the area with the time
Click the settings cog.
If you do not see the keyboard, click the dots at the bottom to see icons on the other “pages”
Select the keyboard and change to US.
Check out this Tech Tip for more info!
NCWiseOwl
Britannica has launched a comprehensive site that includes webinars and other helpful resources for educators including classroom teachers, school library media, instructional tech facilitators and coaches.
New to Britannica or simply need a refresher? Check out the Britannica School Basics on February 15, 2022, at 3:00. Looking for resources to help with Black History Month lessons? There are two sessions on this at the start of February - sign up today!
The link to this Britannica’s site can also be found on the Professional Learning page in the NCWiseOwl Toolkit. This is your one-stop shop for all upcoming professional learning opportunities to help you grow in your understanding of what NCWiseOwl has to offer!
Floating Keyboard
One of the awesome things about the interactive panels is that the entire lesson can be facilitated from the panel - no need to be stuck behind your computer screen! But what happens when you need to type something?
It's as easy as 1-2-3 to use the floating keyboard when you pin it to the task bar!
launch the keyboard
tap where you want the text to appear on the panel
tap the keys
Click the icon in the top right corner of the image above to open it in a new tab. Then follow the steps - you'll be using the floating keyboard in no time!
Exploring the Basics
Learning about digital tools and resources can empower users to explore the different ways we can communicate with our global network.
Adobe Creative Cloud Express, and application now available to all staff and students in the district through Clever, is now here to help support your digital product creation needs!
What can you use Adobe Creative Cloud Express for? You and your learners can create graphics, webpages, videos, and more.
Checkout the introduction presentation above for some tips and tricks to getting started! Reach out to your digital learning specialist today for support.
Please click on the icon above to view the BCS Tech Tip page!
Please click on the icon above to check out February's Creation Motivation strategies! We will release three a month to help student's create digitally in the classroom!
Be Cyber Safe Monthly Resources
