Digital Deets 25-26

• We're thrilled to announce that the library now has a set of 13 iPads available for checkout. Although students can still use the cameras on their Chromebooks to record videos, these iPads provide an excellent alternative. To reserve an iPad, please fill out this linked form provided by Mrs. Lankford.

• Discover Wayground's ultimate compilation of the most-used flashcards! Dive into an incredible collection covering all levels of math, science, social studies, world languages, and health/physical education. You'll definitely find some flashcards to boost student learning!

• As Halloween approaches next week, it's natural for students to have their minds on the festivities. To help maintain focus and engagement in your classes, consider incorporating these 10 Fun & Techy Halloween classroom ideas. A few of my favorites are "add and pass" activity, Halloween-themed coloring pages/songs and a digital escape room! Let's turn the Halloween spirit into a positive learning experience while keeping the classroom productive and focused. 🎃👻🦇

• MagicSchool has a new graphing functionality and can generate math and STEM visuals on the fly (right within Raina and other tools coming soon!). 👀 Check out this quick read to learn about use cases and see how it works! 🪄

• It's that time of year when you are receiving emails from students regarding grades, eligibility, and other important concerns. However, not all students know how to compose professional and respectful emails. To support you and your students, Wayground has created a 10-question "How To Email Your Teacher" game you can play with your students. It's designed to help students practice crafting clear, polite and effective emails - skills that will serve them well beyond high school!

• Hopefully, you have explored many of the tools MagicSchool has to offer! The district would like to gather your feedback by filling out this short MagicSchool Feedback Form to help them gauge how the MagicSchool rollout is going for you. In the meantime, check out the leader boards below. ⬇️ Klein Oak is rocking it with Quizzes and Assessments while our very own Olivia Kohl is #5 in the district for usage! 

• In Matt Miller's recent publication he shares a new app called groovelit.com.  In a nutshell, teachers can choose existing prompts or create their own, students join the game (no login required), answer questions and earn points! This app isn't just for English teachers but it's perfect for all content areas! You can boost points if students use more complex sentences, edit their responses, higher-level vocabulary, etc. Bonus: Students get immediate feedback on their writing that they can save to their Chromebooks! If you want to read more about this cool app, check it out HERE.

• The district has purchased Kami Companion to replace Snap & Read & Co-Writer for our students who need additional support. This accessibility tool provides customizable features, such as read aloud, translation, summarization, text simplification, and voice typing to help them understand and engage with web content more effectively. Please feel free to read the features this tool provides (here is a video version). 

• Hope you are loving Magic School so far! 🪄 Become a prompt master with Magic School's Raina using these "Copy & paste"-ready prompts for faster planning, personalized learning, creating connections, and prompts to make learning fun. Check them out now!

• You may have noticed that some Google Chrome Extensions you have used in the past are no longer available. Please see the message below from IT in regard to these extensions:

Recent changes were made regarding Google Extensions, Google Add-ons, and web-based resources that require “Sign in with Google.” We have restored access to some tools, but please note:  All requested digital tools, resources, and applications must go through the district’s approval process.

If you are interested in using this digital tool, please work with your campus administration to submit a Service Request by going to

Service Now
Catalog
Software and Applications
Website / YouTube Review

This form is required for all applications, websites, extensions, and add-ons. Please provide the URL, the exact link to the extension you are requesting, and ensure you fill out all necessary fields on the request form. Please note that this review process can take several weeks to complete. Thank you,  IT Department

• Matt Miller of "Ditch that Textbook" has produced some amazing templates you can assign to your students. You can choose from social media and game templates to graphic organizers and exit tickets. Check them out HERE!

• If you have students experiencing issues accessing EdPuzzle lessons (or any other resources), please have students Allow Third-Party Cookies or Clear Their Cache & Cookies in Google Chrome. I also posted these directions in the All Klein Oak Schoology Course for them to access. 

• I mentioned in a previous email that ExamView will have to be installed on a daily basis. Teaching and Learning has informed us that the last day ExamView will be available to install is October 24, 2025. Examview has been discontinued for over a year now and there are no plans to purchase its replacement. You are still able to load any existing tests or banks into Schoology or Eduphoria after this date but you won't be able to edit them.

You've received emails from the district regarding Apptegy Rooms replacing Remind. This new platform allows you to communicate with parents and students regarding classroom information. The district has created a great Rooms Quick Start for Teachers that includes how to create your rooms and add your students. There are also additional videos and training documents you can access here provided by the district. If you need assistance with your rooms or have questions, please reach out to me!