Wednesday, December 17, 2014

PD in your PJs: Virtual Field Trips

Come find out how to find virtual field trips and how to build your own with the Instructional Technology Department. Resources will be shared for elementary and secondary classrooms.  




What is a Virtual Field Trip and how do you go about taking one? Virtual Field trips uses images, video and text to allow your students to travel across continents, through time and into outer space. Some trips are held at a specific time and include interacting with experts or other classrooms while others can happen anytime you need them to.  Why take a virtual field trip?  Research has shown that when done right these can help build content area vocabulary, address the needs of ELL and visual learners as well as provide new experiences for the low SES population.


Presenters:  Instructional Technology Specialists


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Going Google - Volume 3 - Issue 4

Here is the 4th  issue of Going Google for the 2014-15 school year. Learn how to use mxHero, snooze your Gmail with Streak, and use the Google Research Tool (with citations).


This year we will be publishing Going Google on the 3rd week of the month.

Publication Date: December 10, 2014
https://www.smore.com/qsj5x

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

PD in your PJs: Favorite Things

Come wrap up the first semester by learning about some of the Instructional Technology Department's Favorite Things! From websites to gadgets, these are the things that keep us talking!


Presenters:  Erin Appl, Lannon Heflin, Jennifer Hutchcroft, Donna Lacourse, Valerie Rollans, Krista Tyler,  and Mary Ellen Yonker
Moderator: Robin Young


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Lunch and Learn: Advanced Google Sites

Delve into topics beyond the basics of creating a Google Site. In this Lunch and Learn we look at creating departmental and team websites as well as making site favicons and image maps using Google Drawings and inserting Google Slides/Presentations into sites. This is targeted towards the ITS community.

Presenters: Erin Appl, Veronica Garcia, and Henry Vasquez; moderated by Debby Acevedo.
Air Date: November 20, 2014
Event Page: http://goo.gl/4AjuQX

Agenda

Monday, November 17, 2014

Going Google - Volume 3 - Issue 3

Here is the 3rd issue of Going Google for the 2014-15 school year. Learn how to favorite Google+ Posts, use the TLDR extension, and set up a class for Hour of Code.


This year we will be publishing Going Google on the 3rd week of the month.

Publication Date: November 17, 2014
https://www.smore.com/00r4j

Friday, November 7, 2014

PD in your PJs: Alternatives for Student Presentations

Tired of the same old student presentations?  Want more options of tools to use with students? Want to impress your friends and colleagues?  Join us Tuesday evening as the ITS staff presents Alternatives for Student Presentations.

Presented by: Angie Hintz, Lori Lind, Valerie Rollans and Julie Scully.

Air Date: November 11, 2014


Monday, October 20, 2014

Lunch and Learn: GAFE training for students

Our first Lunch and Learn of the 2014-2015 school year will focus on GAFE Training for Students at the elementary, middle and high school levels.  

Presented by: Anita Oliver, Anne Mattingly, Jen Freeman, Vickie Bradford and moderated by Leslie Long.

Air Date: October 23, 2014

Going Google - Volume 3 - Issue 2

Here's our second Going Google of the year. Learn how to Set the Default Page(s) in Chrome, Use Google Calendar to schedule Appointments, and share Announcements in Google Classroom.

This year we will be publishing Going Google on the 3rd week of the month.

Publication Date: October 20, 2014

Monday, September 22, 2014

PD in your PJs: Using Google Classroom

All Staff is invited to join members of the RRISD Instructional Technology Department as we explore ways technology can be implemented across the curriculum.  

This month's focus will be on implementing Google Classroom as a way to share Google Docs with your students and as a communication tool.

Presented by: Lori Lind, Irma Bauer, Shannon Sieber and Vickie Bradford

Air Date: October 14, 2014



Monday, September 15, 2014

Going Google - Volume 3 - Issue 1

This is the first Going Google Issue for the 2014-2015 school year. Learn how to give yourself a 30 second window to turn back time with Undo Send. Keep your information private on public computers with Delete User. Check out the new Google Classroom and how easy it is to set up.

This year we will be publishing Going Google on the 3rd week of the month.

Publication Date: September 15, 2014

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Lunch and Learn: SAMR

Our kick-off Lunch and Learn this year will focus on SAMR.  We will be taking lessons from our classrooms and examining where they fall on the SAMR scale and what modifications could be done to alter the SAMR level.

To learn more about SAMR see Kathy Schrock's Guide.

Presenters: TBA

Air Date: September 30, 2014


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

PD in your PJs: Google Sites

All Staff is invited to join members of the RRISD Instructional Technology Department as we explore ways technology can be implemented across the curriculum.  This month's focus will be on making and maintaining a Google Site to communicate with students and parents.

Air Date: September 9, 2014


Friday, May 23, 2014

Going Google - Volume 2 - Issue 17

In the final Google Google for the 2013-2014 school year learn how to transfer all your Google account information and files into a zip file for storage or moving to another location.  Get ready for the new school year by organizing all your links on your bookmarks bar for easy use next year.  Finally spend some time learning a new language this summer with Duolingo.

Publication Date: May 23, 2014

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

PD in your PJs: Getting Organized in Gmail and Drive

All Staff is invited to join members of the RRISD Instructional Technology Department as we explore ways technology can be implement across the curriculum.  

In this broadcast we will show how to get organized in Gmail and Drive. Items to be covered include priority inbox, filters, advanced search features in gmail and drive, navigating the drive folder system and cleaning out for the end of year.


Presenters: Angie Hintz, Courtney Rector, Krista Tyler and Robin Young


Air Date: May 27th, 2014

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Technology Tool: Educreations

Educreations is a recordable interactive whiteboard that captures your voice and handwriting to produce amazing video lessons that you can share online. Students can replay your lessons in any web browser, or from within the app on their iPads.

Published: May 13, 2014


Monday, May 12, 2014

Going Google - Volume 2 - Issue 16

Learn how to add pictures and videos to a Google form for more interaction and to embed a presentation into your SharpSchool Site in this edition of Going Google.


Published: May 12, 2014



Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Technology Tool: Nearpod

Nearpod allows its users to create an interactive presentation to share with the students on their own devices. Originally this was an iOS app but now their are Android apps as well as full functionality on PCs such as netbooks, laptops and desktops.

Published: May 6, 2014


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Technology Tool: Zondle


Zondle is a tool that let's you choose, create or share games to support learning.  Students interact with the material by answering questions and then being able to play a game as a reward for a correct answer.  Incorrect answers are added to the question stack to be asked again as students move through the games.

Published: April 29, 2014

Monday, April 28, 2014

Going Google - Volume 2 - Issue 15

In the latest Going Google, experience the ease of using Google Drive keyboard shortcuts and protect your Google Account with 2-Step verification.

Published: April 28, 2014

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Summer Professional Development: Discover Your Technology Learning Pathway

This summer the Instructional Technology Department will offer over 50 sessions on various topics during the 2 weeks of RRISD Summer Professional Development.   Courses include both technology skills and research-based applications in the classroom.

To help navigate these courses and help find the right fit for what you would like to learn, we have put together a Learning Pathways Guide.   The idea is that courses have been identified and groups based on skills and research it supports.  Learning Pathways have been identified for the following areas:


Technology Tool: Capzles

Visually appealing, image based timeline creator. Unique Feature: Video, images, mp3, word, excel, powerpoint & pdf can be uploaded. Events can be “stacked” on the timeline. Timelines can be edited and shared. The most visually appealing timeline tool.

Published: April 22, 2014



PD in your PJs: Google Productivity - Make Life Easier w/ Apps, Extensions, Formulas, Scripts, and MORE!


All Staff is invited to join members of the RRISD Instructional Technology Department as we explore ways technology can be implement across the curriculum.  

In this session we will be looking at ways that Google can help with classroom productivity to help make life easier . Items to that may be covered include Apps, Extensions, Formulas, Scripts, and MORE!

Presenters: Christy Fennewald, Angie Hintz, Nicole Ortega, Krista Tyler and Robin Young

Air Date: April 22, 2014


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Technology Tools: Kahoot!

Kahoot is a game-based learning platform that allows users to create multiple choice questions for the participants to answer. The session can be run as a quiz with game show music and points awarded to students based on getting the answer correct and the fastest. At the end of each question a graph appears to show how the group did as a whole allowing the teacher to discuss with the class any misunderstandings they have of the content.

Kahoot works well on web browsers as well as on BYOD devices. Students do not need an account to be able to join in and using nicknames can help keep users anonymous. 

Published: April 15, 2014

Friday, April 11, 2014

Going Google - Volume 2 - Issue 14

Learn how to add more fonts to Google Drive, Edit images in Google Slides and adjust the number of printed pages in Google Sheets.

Published: April 14, 2014


Thursday, April 10, 2014

Lunch & Learn: SharpSchool Tricks and Tips

The next Lunch and Learn will cover SharpSchool Tricks and Tips - getting beyond the "Mountains and the Sun" in your school web design.  

Presented by: Robert Heard, Vicki Bradford, Erik Weiler and Henry Vasquez.  Moderated by Greg Smith.

Air Date: April 10, 2014

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Technology Tools: Smore

Smore's flyers are dynamic and changeable, they're not single-use PDFs. Your Smore flyers can include many types of media including videos. Deleting or adding elements to your Smore flyer is as simple as dragging and dropping them on or off your page.

Published: April 8, 2014


Contributed by Sandy McDaniel



Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Technology Tools: EduCanon

 EduCanon is a tool for teachers to create interactive lessons. Find an existing video on your favorite domain (YouTube, TeacherTube, or Vimeo) and insert questions at specific locations within the video. The video will not move forward until the question has been answered. This is advantageous in the blended learning environment as you can chunk the content your students are watching with a reinforcing activity. It works on most modern browsers in both the PC and Mac settings.

Published: April 1, 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014

Going Google - Volume 2 Issue 13

Explore the new Google Drive Add-ins, RealTime Board for Drive as well as learn about a few of the Instructional Technology Favorite Apps and Extensions for Chrome.

Published: March 31, 2014


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Lunch & Learn: Think Central and Discovery Education

An overview of Think Central and Discovery Education.  

Presented by  Leslie long, Debby Acevedo, Anita Oliver, Linda Nichols and Bunny Barnard.  

Air Date: March 27th

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Tech Tools: Screenr


Screenr is a web-based screen recorder that is easy to use.   Why record your screen?  Think of all the times students ask you to repeat a step or how to do something you have already showed?  With a recorded version it is there anytime students need the reminder or need to learn something new.

Published: March 25, 2014


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

PD in your PJs: Quick and Easy Feedback for the Classroom

All Staff is invited to join members of the RRISD Instructional Technology Department as we explore ways technology can be implement across the curriculum.  In this session we will be looking at a few free tools to use in gathering feedback such as formative assessments and how they have been used in the classroom.

Presenters are: Lori Lind, Erin Lundie,  Doriane Marvel and Robin Young.

Air Date: March 25th @ 8pm

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Tech Tools: LucidPress

Lucidpress is an online publishing tool that lets you create documents such as flyers, brochures, newsletters, magazines, and photo books with ease. Create digital documents for viewing on a computer, tablet or smartphone. Include videos, galleries and interactivity. Lucidpress is available as a Google chrome app. Add Lucidpress from the Chrome Store and log in using your Round Rock Google Apps account. Export your documents to google drive if you like or just store them in Lucidpress.

Published: March 18, 2014

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Technology Tools: Kaizena

Kaizena is not a new service; however, recently they updated some of the features that make it very appealing in a Google Apps for Education classroom. My favorite: The ability to add a "Resource" as a comment. This one step allows you to go out and find online resources, organize them, editorialize them, and then place them as comments into student work. Just think how much time that could save you!

Published: March 4, 2014

Monday, March 3, 2014

Going Google: Volume 2 - Issue 12

Add active links in your Calendar, learn how to remotely sign out of your Google account and create Digital Notecards with Presentation.

Published: March 3, 2014


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Lunch and Learn: iStation and Think Through Math

Discover the ins and outs of iStation and Think Through Math on our campuses. 

Presented by Angie Hintz, Irma Bauer, Autumn Hebert, Patsy Eckert and Julie Scully.

Air Date: February 25, 2014



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

PD in your PJs: Technology Tools for Writing

All Staff is invited to explore ways Google and other tools can enhance and support writing across the curriculum.   Participants will be given a chance to vote on next month's topic as well as to ask questions about the strategies being presented. 

Session will be led by Kris Korfanta, Krista Tyler and Christy Fennewald. Moderated by Robin Young.

Air Date:  February 25th @ 8pm


Technology Tool: Canva


Canva gives you everything you need to easily turn ideas into stunning designs. Create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, flyers, posters, invitations and much more.

Published: February 25, 2014

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Tech Tools: Lucid Chart

Students can easily add LucidChart to Google Drive by clicking Create in Drive and Connecting to More Apps. They can search for LucidChart and connect to it there. This will allow them to save and access their flowcharts from their Google Drive. Students can also collaborate on flow charts, diagrams and sketches in drive.



Monday, February 17, 2014

Going Google: Volume 2 - Issue 11

In this Going Google learn how to uninstall and manage your chrome extensions as well as the features of Google Keep.

Published: February 17, 2014





Friday, February 14, 2014

Lunch and Learn: Google Drive Extensions

Learn how to turn Google Drive into a creative space with extensions.  Google Drive Extensions covered include: Lucid Press, Movenote, WeVideo, FloorPlanner, Mind Meister, gLinks, and Powtoon.

Presented by Courtney Rector, Christy Fennewald, Shannon Sieber and Krista Tyler. Moderated by Robin Young.
Original Air Date: February 13, 2014


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Technology Tool: Pinterest in Education

Pinterest allows users to "pin" content to their online bulletin boards. Create an account, search for educational boards, name your board, and start pinning!

Published: February 11, 2014


Monday, February 3, 2014

Going Google: Volume 2 - Issue 10

In this issue of Going Google learn how to personalize users in Google Chrome and Google+ Hangouts and the NoteTaking App.

Published: February 3, 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014

Lunch and Learn: Literacy and Technology

Literacy and Technology with a focus on how technology can support reaching and writing across the curriculum.  Presented by Angie Hintz, Lannon Heflin, Donna Baker, Anne Walkup, and Irma Bauer.   #literacy   #edtech  

Air Date: January 31, 2014



Friday, January 17, 2014

Lunch and Learn: Chrome Extensions


Come learn about our favorite Chrome Store Apps and Extensions.  Extensions presented include Turn off the Lights, Tab Scissors, Tab Glue,  Send this Link with Gmail, QuickHAC, and TabCloud.  Apps icnlude Lucid Chart, Duolingo, PicMonkey, and App Inventor. 


Presented by Michele Kincaid, Greg Smith, Lori Lind, Krista Tyler, and Shannon Sieber.  moderated by Nicole Ortega  
Original Air Date: January 16, 2014.   


Monday, January 13, 2014

Going Google: Volume 2 - Issue 9

Maximize your Chrome real estate by pinning tabs and editing your bookmarks bar.  Learn how to add Powtoon to Google Drive for a new way to create multimedia presentations

Published: January 14, 2014