On the DL
Notes from Digital Learning and School Library Services
May 2022
Don't forget to check out our monthly Be Cyber Safe resources! This month's topic focuses on responsible use and constructive online engagement.
We are proud to announce the 2022 Teacher Tech Camp: Camp Know How schedule. We have over 30 virtual sessions being offered June 1, 2, and 3, 2022. (NCEES information will be available on Monday, but you can plan your schedule now!)
As special treat we are also offering special Google Drive-In sessions. Are you in the mood for a free pizza lunch? Need some set time to organize your Google Drive and Gmail inbox? Want some tips and tricks to get started with the organizational process? Attend the Google Drive-In! This showing will introduce some basics to Drive and Gmail organization, ensuring you start next academic year with a cleared inbox and easily navigable Drive. Drive-In sessions require RSVPing AND registering in NCEES.
Copyright Corner
(click the down arrow to see the response to the question)
Worth Repeating: Why is Netflix, Disney+, Hulu or any other streaming service blocked? I teach that novel, topic, etc. and need to show the video.
??????
Several things come into play here.
Terms of Service: Your Netflix account Terms of Service state that the account is for your personal, entertainment use. Your classroom is neither personal nor entertainment. The same goes for all other streaming accounts.
Certain Netflix Original documentaries have been deemed for educational use, HOWEVER, there is no way to filter these from the rest of the Netflix content.
Movies used in the classroom must meet Fair Use guidelines. In order to meet these, the movie must be tied directly to a content standard (no showing movies for rewards or holidays). In addition, they must be acquired legally and preferably from a vendor with licensing right for viewing.
We have a form that should be completed and then signed by your school administrator when showing any movie. See your media coordinator for more information
School Library Spotlight
Way to go, Starfish!
On April 13, 2022, nine of our elementary schools sent a total of 85 students to The Center Of Applied Science and Technology (COAST) to test their knowledge of the fifteen books that were on the NC Elementary Battle of the Books list for this school year.
Many thanks to the Brunswick County Schools personnel who voluntarily served as judges, scorekeepers and timekeepers for this event and special thanks to our community members who served as the Moderators that kept the event on pace. These volunteers enjoyed a delightful breakfast and lunch prepared by the students in the Culinary program at The COAST.
There were many parents and family members present as well to support these young readers! They have been surrounded by encouragement every step of the way - from their families to the dedicated teachers and coaches that helped prepare them for the competition.
And with a narrow margin of three points, the 2021-2022 Elementary Battle Of the Books Champions are the Supply Starfish coached by Kasey McGougan and Kathy Barringer.
Coming in close in second place was Bolivia Elementary, coached by Sally Lewis. In third was Southport, coached by Colleen Rupkalvis, Amy Kleva, and Virginia Gouger. Great job, teams!
With the release of the 2022-2023 list and the amazing titles on it that would make great summer reading, we are certain that these kiddos are already beginning preparation for next year’s competition!
Digital Learning Resources
Discovery Education's Science Techbook Interactive Courses are live!
Click here to view the course available for K-5 teachers in our district!
BCS Tech Camp 2022 will be held on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd!
Join us for informative virtual sessions focused on engaging technology integration strategies and digital resources available to you!
And that's not all! Are you in the mood for a free pizza lunch? Need some set time to organize your Google Drive and Gmail inbox? Want some tips and tricks to get started with the organizational process? Attend the Google Drive-In! This showing will introduce some basics to Drive and Gmail organization, ensuring you start next academic year with a cleared inbox and easily navigable Drive.
Questions? Please contact your school's DLS!
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 TWO NEW micro-units this month, allowing for staff to learn the latest updates and implement the best strategies for instruction. Please click here to view the many more micro-units available including the newly released!
1B@T- Ozobots (NEW)
1B@T- Makey-Makey Invention Kits (NEW)
Discovery Education is available to K-8 teachers and students within Brunswick County Schools, rostered with Powerschool, and available within the Clever portal. Discovery Educations SOS Instructional Strategies offer teachers many diverse ways to review content for the end of the school year. Some of the categories, such as summarizing, identifying key ideas and details, sequencing, can be combined with other resources within Discovery Education to dive deep into content review while integrating engaging and interactive activities!
Discovery Educations recommended strategies are an easy way to get started!
Please open Discovery Education via Clever before trying to open any of the links provided above.
IXL is available in the Clever portal for all subjects grades 6-8 and Math and ELA for 9-12, and rostered with Powerschool. IXL's Spring Spotlight that focuses on Math & ELA provides teachers with skills to review content for the end of the school year! Teachers need to choose their grade level first, then they will be provided with weeks of skills review and a printable skills plan. Each skill chosen offers the associated standard, a question focused on the chosen skill, learn with an example option, and provides a smart score.
Click here to view IXL's Spring Spotlight resources!
Please open IXL via Clever before trying to open any of the links provided above.
Study Island is available to all 9-12 teachers and students within Clever, and is rostered via Powerschool. Study Island has many resources available to high school teachers to review content for the end of the year. Resources include:
Custom Material- teachers can create a new topic that allows for flashcards, questions in random order, digital manipulatives, custom questions, and uploaded resources such as lessons, explanations, reading passages, and images.
Teacher Toolkit- searchable pre-made resources for class integration.
Test Library- search for tests created by others or create a custom test for your class.
Class Manager- create assignments based on specific standards that you want addressed.
Chromebooks Basics
Are you interested in learning more about options student's have with their Chromebooks?
Options such as
Files
Keyboard Shortcuts
QR Code Scanner
Document Scanner
Input and Output Options
Clever Access
Camera and Video Options
Look no further! Check out this video that will explain the basic functionality of Chromebooks that can be utilized by students in the classroom!
NCDPI and FirstBook
NCDPI in partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and First Book, are offering classroom sets of two foundational books about the Holocaust to educators in Title I Schools - "Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl" and Elie Wiesel's "Night". These sets are FREE to eligible teachers. Educators must be a First Book account holder to receive the free set of books.
Only one promo code per order may be applied. Teachers are asked to select one title that best serves the age of their students. Get started by visiting https://bit.ly/37f5Olx.
Welcome to Your Classroom Video Series
Are you looking for general support resources about connecting to your interactive panel, document camera, and more? Curious as to what resources the district offers in terms of managing your physical and digital classroom?
Check out our newest video series titled Welcome to Your Classroom! Click here to access our video library on classroom basics when it comes to digital learning equipment.
Sweet Reads by SORA
OverDrive’s annual summer reading program starts this month! Sora Sweet Reads is designed to encourage students to keep reading all year long.
Sora is offering a collection of free and simultaneous use juvenile and young adult ebooks (and select audiobooks).
Get a sneak peak at some of the available titles HERE and be sure to look for the BCS approved sweet reads when you log into Sora beginning May 4, 2022.
View our department's Tech Tip page here, helpful tutorials to answer your questions!
Do you need additional tech tips? Request one to be created here!
Do your students need a moment to take a break?
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and Discovery Education has released these videos to help your students relate to others and take a healthy mental break (available in Clever for K-8)!
Learn more about how to incorporate SEL strategies within instruction here. And click here to view EVERFI's Mental Health Awareness resources (available in Clever for K-12).
Please click here to check out May's Creation Motivation strategies focused on Adobe Creative Cloud Express! We release three a month to help student's create digitally in the classroom!
Be Cyber Safe Monthly Resources
Check out our Classwize Family Cyber Safety Hub! You can visit the hub to find amazing articles to help you support your learners and families. Many of the articles, like , connect well with our Be Cyber Safe monthly theme! In April, we focus on responsible use and constructive engagement which pairs well with the article, "Screen Routines."