Gotta Have Fun in Your Life

I'm very thankful for working with a great team!  With the holidays approaching, it only seems right to honor them through humor!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Another to gear us up for snow! http://www.jibjab.com/view/3s941qli8XsJkGYHPVwR

Lunch N Learn 4 Admin: using tech for efficiency

Looking forward to talking tech today with PCSD Learning Leaders. Our focus today is on using technology to be more efficient and productive.

 The plan is to introduce and discuss the following:

• Chrome Extensions 
• Jabber App 
• Inbox Zero Strategy 

Presentation/Notes
Chrome Extensions List

Inbox Zero!

Thanks to my friend, Jennifer Zurawski, at West Depere School District for sharing a great strategy for getting an inbox of zero (or close to it)!  Many of us feel overwhelmed and burdened by email today- especially when our inbox is in the thousands.  I used her strategy and last night went from 6,000+ emails in my inbox to 122!  I feel relieved! Now, I just need to keep it up!

Try it out for yourself...

Chromebook Printing Available in PCSD

Google Cloud Print is now set up at all schools- this makes printing from a Chromebook possible! 

When printing from a Chromebook, at the options page, click "Change" to select a printer.  Then, under Google Cloud Print, select the appropriate printer from the list of available printers. Not all printers are set up for Google Cloud Printing. Any that appear in this list are available for cloud printing.

Note:  You may get prompted to add a printer, but you can just click "Not Now" as the printers are already added for you. 

Air Server- mirroring iPads in our classrooms

Yesterday our elementary staff was shown a demo of Air Server and trained on it's use.  This awesome app will allow staff the ability to mirror any content from their iPad to their computer.  Since computers project on Smartboards in all classrooms, students can now see and share content easily with others from their iPads!

For more info:   presentation       text directions       video tutorial

Picture from Learning in Hand

Stepping Stones- technology

With the implementation of Stepping Stones as our elementary curriculum, we were excited about the technology components it offers. However, we have had to do some tweaking on our end to get the technology they offer to work best for our students and staff.

Below are some videos and directions to make the technology aspects of Stepping Stones more successful!

Accessing Teacher Steps from Google Drive Folders

Setting up Sub Accounts for Fundamental Games

Accessing Fundamental Games from classroom iPads

Tips and Tricks when using Stepping Stones

Addressed in the video below is:

1.  Touching the sides of the screen and being routed back to the teacher steps

2.  Ink staying on the screen when you advance pages

3.  Honey Pot 

4.  Clear cache

5.  Updates to their program and how it affects access to teacher steps in Google and Fundamental Games on iPads

SAMR- evaluating tech integration

We have stressed the importance of using technology for students to Create, Collaborate, Critically Think, and have Digital Citizenship. As a Library Media Team, we have been having discussions around how to ensure the integration continues to not only encourage those skills but also to be meaningful and best utilize curricular time. As a result, we've been studying the SAMR model and looking at units taught through this framework. Thanks to a member of our team, Clay Reisler, for putting this recap together as a reference in moving foward.
 

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