Notes from the Tech Coach May 2021

 

	Contact Lancy All contact info is always listed on my email signature!	Phone:  cell (607) 662-3430 or office (607) 749-7246 ext. 5015
		Website:  www.tinyurl.com/inTECHgration	Twitter:  @FancyLancy
		Email:  lcollins@homercentral.org	Pinterest: Mrs. Collins

Looking for some new Professional Learning Opportunities? Check out Professional Learning Badges!

A badging system sounds a little like the scouts, but it is a convenient way for educators to “learn & earn.”  I will be presenting the launch of these badges at each building’s May Faculty Meeting (click here for my presentation).   Until then, here’s a quick overview of what it will look like:   Teachers complete a checklist for each level of the badging system. When they are done, they input their evidence into a Google Form.  Once the form is completed, they will receive a digital AND tangible badge showing off their achievement!  Interested?   Check out the badge website here!

May Tech Tips!		YouTube:   Did you know we have a YouTube channel with our School Gmail account?  It’s a great way to organize and share videos!  You can make your videos “Unlisted” so that only users with the exact URL can view (not the world).  YouTube How-To
Ambient Sounds Did you know that many people (teachers and students included) work better with ambient noise in the background?  It can even help people think at a higher, abstract level, and even exhibit more creativity!  In my travels, I found this blog post from Eric Curts that outlined many different ambient sound sites.  My personal favorite site is MyNoise.net which is created by a research engineer and sound designer.		Rich Text in Classroom Google Classroom now allows teachers to use Rich Text Formatting (bold, italics, underline, and more) when posting in Google Classroom!  You will see the options when you post in the “Classwork” tab in your Classroom.  Make your assignments POP!
Screencasting Do you know what screencasting is?  When you create a screencast, you record what you’re doing on your device.  This is super helpful to show students how to follow directions, flip your classroom, or even give the students an opportunity to record their own thoughts, discussions, and ideas!  iPads have a build-in casting.  Chromebooks use the Screencastify Extension.  If you’re interested, check out my how-to for making a Screencastify video.  It also has an editor if you’d like to put videos together, splice them, or add blurs, zooms, or text.  Check out my Editor overview here!		Make a Mistake? Undo!!  My favorite button combination these days is the “UNDO” combo of Ctrl + Z.  It undoes the last action on your computer.  This action works across all Chromebooks and Desktops and across Google Apps, Microsoft, and more!  Even my bitmoji knows the Ctrl + Z action!
Originality Reports Google Classroom has upgraded its originality reports!  Before, it checked student work for possible plagiarism against over a billion web pages.  But now it will also check for instances within HCSD!  This tool helps students use correct citations in their work and helps teachers plan their instruction around what students still need.  Click here for more information from me on how to use this feature!		Google Meet Updated Interface…  Coming soon! Inspired by your feedback, Google is rolling out a refreshed Google Meet desktop/laptop experience with updates to video feeds, the viewing and presenting experience, and the bottom bar.  Click here to check out the details!  Our domain should see these changes by the end of May.

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

🤣need a laugh?🤣

Lancy’s comics from past newsletters (ICYMI!)