BrightBytes Survey + 4C's Mentoring + YouTube Webcam Capture Alternative

Brightbytes Survey Coming Soon!

In past years we have taken the BrightBytes survey twice. This year we are only taking the survey once You will receive access codes on Wednesday January 13th. The survey will be open through the end of January.

Please plan to complete the BrightBytes survey and make time for your students to complete it as well. Your feedback is extremely important and the closer we can get to 100% participation, the better job we can do of serving your specific needs.

4C's Mentoring Program

The 4C’s mentor program is a differentiated professional development opportunity that honors the work you are already doing with your students and provides a structure to increase your impact while focusing on the use of the 4C’s and technology in your classroom.

The goal is to increase specific 4C’s (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity) capacity and spread innovation through the use of technology. Click here for more information and click here to sign up. After signing up you will be paired with a mentor who will contact you.

YouTube Webcam Uploads No Longer Available

  

YouTube is no longer supporting their webcam upload and as of January 16th, the tool will be unavailable. This tool allowed students to record themselves speaking with a webcam such as the one available on the Chromebooks. 

Students are still able to record video with another device and upload to YouTube. We suggest that students use a smartphone or tablet to capture their video and then upload the video to YouTube with the device used for capture.

For help finding alternatives, please contact Matt or Cassie. 

Two Helpful Keyboard Shortcuts (inspired by my most common mistakes)

Control + Shift + t will open the last tab you closed - say goodbye to accidentally closing tabs and having to navigate back to them.

Control + z will undo your last action - say goodbye to having to undo something you accidentally did.

New Dell Deals

Be the ultimate fan, with the ultimate TV. Purchase a Vizio 39"LED HDTV and get a $100 Dell Promo eGift Card. VIZIO 39" Smart LED HDTV - D39H-D0. $299.99 plus $100 Dell Promo eGift Card*

Search SKU: A8583149. Enjoy Vizio’s new modern design, brilliant picture quality and HD entertainment at an incredible value. Valid now - 1/31/16

Enjoy $50 off $499 with coupon code Z9ZK57KXNGMK0J or $100 off $999 with coupon code TKQZP5$5SZL82M.

Inspiron 15 5000 Series $685.99. A performance laptop with the latest 6th Gen Intel® processors from Intel, and an optional HD touch display.
- 6th gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor
- Windows 10 Home
- 8GB* memory & 1TB hard drive
- 15.6" HD touch display
- Valid 1/15/16 - 1/31/16

Inspiron 24 3000 Series (Intel®) $538.99. 24-inch all-in-one desktop in a space-saving, easy to use design with a wide-viewing angle display.
- AMD® Quad Core E2 Processor
- Windows 10 Home
- 4GB* memory & 500GB hard drive
- 23.8" Full HD touch display
- Valid 1/15/16 - 1/31/16

Our New Face Lift, Google Classroom PD, Tech Cohort and BrightBytes

As you can see, we've made some changes to the way that we will pass on our tech wisdom to you. On this blog you will be able to search through the whole archive of Tech Tips to quickly find answers to your questions. 

Google Classroom PD for CEUs

On Monday, September 29th Cassie and I will be offering a 45-minute professional development session on Google Classroom. The session will start at 7 am in the South Campus Media Center.

You will receive CEUs for your attendance at this session! You will need to register in PDExpress to get credit for this session. (login here) Once logged in click "In District Events" at the top of the page and select "In District Event Catalog". 

2014-2015 Technology & Leadership Cohort

Starting October 27, 2014, ~30 teachers will begin White Bear’s second Technology & Leadership Cohort focused on improving leadership and technology skills through four blended courses.  Members will also earn 15 graduate credits and a Technology & Leadership Certificate through Hamline. The Cohort will be taught in a blended format with all face to face meetings being held Monday afternoon/evenings once month.

Last year’s Cohort was a huge success, and we are delighted to extend the opportunity to a new group of White Bear teachers!  Learn more in the brief description below and read the full description at bit.ly/WBLAS1415cohortinfo. 

Applications are due October 9th, so start crafting your responses soon!  

The focus of these classes will be to enhance practice of integrating technology into White Bear’s curriculum as well as build leadership skills in teachers in the field of technology and learning. 

Contact the tech department or one of last year's cohort members with any questions.

It's coming...

Be ready to participate in this year's BrightBytes survey in the upcoming weeks. Important technology related decisions for the district are made based on the data from this survey. Those who speak are the ones who are heard. Our goal is 100% participation at every school.