JB Tech Info: RebelNet + IXL + Tips + Updates

RebelNet Updates:

Added Single Sign on login for IXL under Classroom Resources for HS/MS students and Staff Resources for HS/MS Staff.  Click on the icon, enter your username and password, then click save.  It will remember your credentials and sign you in automatically from then on.

Fixed the Discovery Education single sign on as well.  It had not been working for a few weeks, they changed some of their website and it broke.

Tips:
They recently changed how you switch to other services in Google Apps.  Now you click on the little grid in the upper right hand corner of Gmail, Drive, or other services.

Updates:

Added a wireless access point to the OAC at the HS/MS.  

Bandwidth issues have been a problem since the start of the year.  We've added many devices to our districts network over the summer.  We have plans to add additional bandwidth and are working around current contracts to get that done as soon as possible.  In the mean time I've implemented some bandwidth shaping on our web filter.  This means that certain websites and other network usages are being throttled.  For example students can only use up to 1/10 of our total bandwidth during school hours for YouTube.  As we go toward 100% total usage it will decrease to 1/50.  Meaning as Staff require more bandwidth it will take it from student's YouTube bandwidth first.  This helps, but we have many resources that students require that we cannot throttle.  I try to keep an eye on large spikes from certain devices/user and block any game sites or non-essential websites I happen to see.

Monthly Tech Integration Idea: 2013 12 Days of EdTech Cheer #EdTechCheer

Come visit me over at my blog to check out the 2013 12 Days of EdTech Cheer!

Time to Get Your EdTech Cheer On! #EdTechCheer

December 2 - 13, 2013

The season for my 12 Days of EdTech Cheer is upon us!
This year, I would really like to encourage any and all teachers, educators, and administrators to participate (not just GLPS teachers).  There is so much we can learn from one another about utilizing technology as a tool in learning and instruction that does not need to be confined within the walls of a classroom or district.

This year, the theme for my EdTech Cheer is professional development.  The goal of this year's online professional development is to provide you with 12 days of ideas that you can implement in just 15 minutes a day.  That means that if you complete the full 12 days, that equals 3 hours of professional development!  We are all busy during the day, and 15 minutes is much more manageable that 3 hours at one time!

Check out my promo video below to see what is in store for the 12 Days!

21 Things 4 iPads

If you are looking for ways to use your iPad more effectively, visit http://21things4ipads.net. This site has many valuable resources that you can use to become a more efficient iPad user. You will find documentation about iPad basics, Photo Editing Techniques, Classroom App Recommendation and much more.

This PD site is modeled after 21things4teachers and was recently featured in the latest issue of the MACUL journal. It is put together by REMC Instructional Technology Specialist from across the State of Michigan.

As always, the Godfrey-Lee Tech Department is available to meet with any staff member who may need PD beyond the online resources we send out. If you would like to have training or discussions with any of our staff please fill out this form.

~DT

MacBook Navigation Basics

Having trouble using the touchpad on your new MacBook or want to know more about what it can do for you?

Check out this support page that helps you figure out all of the useful navigation tools that are built into your MacBook.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4721

Also discover the trackpad on your own by going to System Preferences>Trackpad. This will allow you to modify your trackpad to fit your needs. Change the Point & Click, Scroll & Zoom options or explore More Gestures.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from your neighborhood Tech & Media Team!

2nd Grade MacBook Basics {Tech PD Recap}

Yesterday I was able to meet with most of our second grade team to learn more about their new MacBook Pros.  They are a dedicated group of teachers!  We met early in the morning and despite the early hour, they were awake and ready to learn more about their devices.  As stated in a previous post, our Tech & Media Team is focusing on providing teacher-directed professional development, so based on the feedback we received, the meeting met their needs, as it was driven by their input and questions.  I introduced them to our new approach to PD that integrates the adopted learning design model as well as Kagan structures and they were very receptive and eager to learn new strategies that they could implement with their students.
In surveying the teachers, they identified many areas that they would like to learn more about in regards to their MacBook Pros.  All information was recorded in a presentation (found below - if you are unable to view the presentation below, please click here) and was used as a reference during the meeting.  Also included in the presentation is a link to our meeting agenda. This was our third meeting with teachers since we implemented our new professional development approach.  I feel with each meeting, we are becoming more comfortable and reassured with our approach to our professional development.  When reviewing the feedback from the post-PD survey, a teacher left the following quote regarding the PD session:

"I love the way you incorporated usable ideas for lessons and also features that I was unaware of but will find extremely useful. MORE of the same. I love the small groups and appreciate you taking the time to individualize this to our needs."

We couldn't be happier to read this, and know that teachers are taking more away from our professional development other than just technical knowledge. We are working towards a more integrated model of technology use, where the computer or other device is a tool that supports teaching and learning. This quote reaffirms that we are definitely moving forward and teachers value their own professional learning time.