PD Credit is Here!
Great news, Gamers!
Our Game On CFB development team is happy to announce that some of our badges are now eligible for PD credit! Woohoo!
Which badges are eligible?
We're starting with just a few of our badges. We hope to expand next year, though, to include many more opportunities for PD credit through Game On CFB.
Currently, the following badges are eligible for PD credit:
What is the PD credit application process?
Once you have received confirmation that you've earned an eligible badge, you'll also receive instructions on how to apply for PD credit in Eduphoria. We encourage you to apply for your PD credit as soon as possible after you earn your badge! PD credit applications in Eduphoria are approved by district staff, and you'll receive a confirmation email to indicate that the credit has been added to your records. Yay!
What if I've already earned one of these badges?
If you've already earned one the five badges pictured above, you should have received an email from gameoncfb@cfbisd.edu this week with instructions on how to apply for credit. If we missed you, simply email us at gameoncfb@cfbisd.edu with your name, campus name, and the name of the badge you earned and we'll be sure you get the information you need.
Badges earned up until the end of May 2017 will award you credit for the 2016-2017 school year, but you need to be sure to apply for PD credit in Eduphoria by June 9, 2017!
Learn more here, and look for PD credit updates in the Game On CFB newsletter next year!
What's on the way?
As we gear up for summer, the Game On CFB badge development team is working on creating several new badges for the 2017-2018 school year! Here are some of the upcoming badges you can look forward to earning in the fall.
GSuite: Classroom Commander
The CFBISD Game On CFB community voted and you guys want a Google Classroom badge! We had hoped to have this ready for you by mid-May, but we discovered that Google Classroom is a beast! There's so much to learn that we decided to create TWO Classroom badges, in a leveled format, to accommodate CFB's digital learning facilitators at all levels.
- Classroom Commander: Basics will cover setting up your classroom, understanding post-types, getting students engaged in digital activities in the stream and some basic tips and tricks for successfully using this powerful tool to guide instruction.
- Classroom Commander: Advanced will address some more complex topics, such as organization of Classroom posts, parent communication, differentiation, and external tools that can enhance your use of Google Classroom.
Canvas: Home Sweet Homepage
Are you excited about Canvas yet?
We are! This badge will celebrate early adopters of Canvas who choose to develop a homepage in their courses to help guide students through their online resources. We'll provide you with tutorials and other resources to help you design a homepage that meets the needs of your class and your students. We can't wait to see your creative use of this new tool for CFB teachers!
Digital Designer Series
Another series of badges coming down the pipeline focus on helping our educators become designers of digital content. These badges will address topics relating to graphic design, web design, accessibility considerations, and instructional considerations. We know our CFB staff will wow us with their growing aptitude for online learning design!
LMAM + Game On CFB = Win!
Soon, you will all be enjoying the adventures that summer vacation has in store! We will see you again in July and August for Learn More Achieve More, where CFB staff can engage in several sessions that will prepare you to use some amazing digital tools on your campuses, and earn a few badges too!
Here are some of the digital learning sessions available and some corresponding badges you could pursue next school year.
Session
Badge
Google Classroom for Kinder
Yes, even Kindergartners can use Google Classroom! Walk through how to set up assignments that are age appropriate and explore considerations that will set your primary students up for success!
ActivBoard Training for Pre-K through 2 Teachers
Learn how to use your ActivBoard and ActivInspire software to support primary learning. If you currently use your ActivBoard for district-designed flipcharts, you’ll appreciate the tips and tricks provided in this session!
Deep Dive into Google Drive
You know the basics of Google Drive, but there’s so much more beneath the surface! Dig deeper to increase your efficiency and improve your workflow with this intermediate level course on Google Drive!
Daily Paperless Formative Assessment
These two CFB teachers have much to share with you about how you can use digital tools to assess your students in math and reading. They’ll share your strategies for assessment on a daily basis and help you prepare to use digital data to improve your instructional habits!
Using Padlet in Your Classroom
Padlet is an awesome collaborative tool with a million applications for your students! It’s great with ages 6 and up! Create lessons using Padlet, collaborate with your peers, and brainstorm ways to use this resource with your class next year!
Getting Started With Canvas
Remember how the projector carts with document cameras changed EVERYTHING about how you taught? Canvas is going to be like that, but better. Get your feet wet and start thinking about how Canvas will help you redesign learning.
Leaderboard Update!
Let's take an updated look at our Game On CFB Leaderboard!
In the last four weeks, we've seen a few changes in our leading campuses! This month, we celebrate the hardworking teachers at Kent Elementary, Field Middle School (2nd month in a row!), and Creekview High School!
While ActivInspire, Google Go-Getter, and Beyond the Nest still rank as the top three badges earned, the newly released Go Noodle Champion badge is gaining popularity every day!
Do your kids use Go Noodle? Our new favorite Go Noodle video? "How to Dab!"
Summer Twitter Challenge
Interested in earning your Twitter badge (Beyond the Nest)? Get started by participating in the Game On Twitter challenge each month!
For Summer, we want you to share your digital learning goal for next school year!
"My Digital Learning Goal for 2017-2018 is..."
What digital learning goals do you have for next year? What do you want to help students accomplish? Share with us!
Use the hashtag #GameOnCFB!
That's all for now, team. If you have questions about Game On CFB, you can always email your ITS, or ask the whole team via ITSTeam@cfbisd.edu.
We'll see you again at LMAM, and newsletters will continue in September! :)
Congratulations to our Game On Newsletter drawing winners from April!
Shelley Justice @ Good!
(Sorry we didn't get your picture!)
Deborah Dillon @ RLT!
Want another change to win? If you read the entire newsletter, click here to enter the drawing! We'll announce winners in the fall!