Cleaning up your Classroom Tech for Summer Break

Cleaning up your Classroom Tech for Summer Break

As the academic calendar winds down, it’s natural for educators and administrators to daydream about their summer plans. But before you leave your classroom behind for the summer, you might devote some time to do some digital decluttering of your devices. Think of it as the virtual version of wiping a chalkboard clean—it takes a little time now, but you’ll appreciate it when you return to the classroom next school year. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for the summer break.

Decide on a strategy

Are you a dive-in-and-do-it-all-in-one-day type? If so, get out your calendar and schedule a day to spend on digital clean-up. On the other hand, if the thought of spending hours on end sorting through your devices makes your eyes cross, try setting aside smaller chunks of time. Spending just 15 minutes before or after each school day sorting through files can make the task more manageable. 

Delete, delete, delete

With the school year still fresh in your mind, it’s the ideal time to spring clean your devices. Are apps you or your school no longer use taking up space on your devices? Do you have saved parent email lists, photos, or lesson plans from previous school years that you no longer need? Go through and purge any apps, files, bookmarks, emails, and folders that you know you won’t need for the next school year. 

File it

“What if I might need it later?” is a common refrain when decluttering. If you’re finding you have a lot of files, apps, or lessons that you think you might need in the future, it might be helpful to create a “maybe” or “decide later” folder. You could even put a reminder in your calendar now for a date a few months into the next school year to review your “maybe” file.

Reflect. 

Let’s face it—the last few years have been incredibly challenging for educators. You’ve made it through another school year, enduring difficulties your professional training never could’ve prepared you for. Take a moment to acknowledge the wild ride it’s been, full of rocky moments and silver linings. You could even write yourself a short note summing up aspects of the school year that went well and those that didn’t.

Enjoy your well-earned summer break! 

EdTech Tradeshow Survival Kit: Tips for Creating a Valuable Experience

EdTech Tradeshow Survival Kit: Tips for Creating a Valuable Experience

Because the world of educational technology is ever evolving, keeping up with the latest is integral to modern education. Attending professional development events, such as tradeshows and conferences, is one way to stay informed about the latest and greatest gadgets and programs in the field. 

If you’re headed to an event this year with your school or teaching team, we have a few pointers to ensure that you’re getting the best and most worthwhile experience. 

1. Have a goal in mind.
   Just like with classroom teaching, it’s wise to begin with a clear objective. So, ask yourself: what are you hoping to glean from this event? Perhaps it’s tech integration ideas, perusing newer and better devices, or even working on forging some networking opportunities. Decide what you want to get out of the event, and put your focus on accomplishing that goal. 
   
   
   

2. Get familiar with the schedule. 
   While some PD events may have a fixed schedule, others will allow for more flexibility in accordance with your goals. Take a look at the event schedule beforehand so that you’re familiar with what’s happening, when, and where. For a tradeshow experience, do some preparation beforehand and research which companies may have what you’re seeking.
   
   
   

3. Come with questions.
   At both conferences and expos, experts will be at the ready to help assist you. If you’ve done some advance research, you’ll be in the right place to get your questions answered.
   
   
   

4. Check out the event map.
   Your time is valuable, and you don’t want to spend it trying to find your bearings. Just a few minutes of planning time could save many more later on; so, make sure to take a look at the event’s map on their website before attending.
   
   
   

5. Bring the right gear. 
   Chances are, you’ll be hauling some stuff. Between your own personal device, brochures and other learning materials, you’ll need a quick way to transport it all. Use a comfortable backpack or a rolling bag to optimize comfort for the long day. Plan to wear a comfortable, business casual outfit and sensible shoes: for a tradeshow especially, you can expect a good amount of walking. 

Tradeshows, conferences, expos, and other events are crucial to professional development. In these spaces, teachers and administrators can learn best practices for technological integration, participate in interesting sessions, and have hands on experiences. By using our guide, you’re likely to end your day with helpful takeaways and great memories.

Maintaining Data Security: Four Key Considerations for Administrators

Maintaining Data Security: Four Key Considerations for Administrators

The incorporation of technology into education has been a force for positive change, bringing units to life and building more efficient communication. But with the emergence of technological advancements relating to data comes the need to consider students’ virtual information- and how to keep it secure. 

Data privacy in education is extremely important, and maintaining students’ information privacy is a chief priority for school administrators. Take a look at some crucial considerations for admin when it comes to data.

Become familiar with the law. 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It enumerates who has access to students’ information, and when. Only his or her parents can access a student’s educational record until the student is of legal age. There are specific instances in which schools can share information without permission. Some examples of these circumstances include: school officials with legitimate educational interest, other schools to which a student is transferring, or appropriate parties with connection to financial aid to a student. 

To read more about FERPA, click here.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) outlines restrictions for the process when students might be asked for information as part of federally funded surveys or evaluations. Sometimes, surveys are used to help gather information and better understand certain issues facing students- including, drug and alcohol use and personal conduct. Schools are required to show parents the survey materials and give parents choices regarding content. 

To read more about PPRA, click here.

Establish best practices for the classroom.

Administrators are responsible for educating staff on best practices for data in the classroom. Teachers should be instructed to keep information secure: passwords and other student records should be kept in a safe, designated location. This applies to both physical and technological data. Teach educators how to help their students make good data decisions; these can include keeping passwords to themselves and asking adults before downloading apps. 

Learn more about how parents and teachers can help protect students’ data.

Always use demo data.

Staff training often requires the use of data for instruction. This can apply to learning a new program, analysis of testing data, or assessing academic benchmarks. When using data for demonstrations is necessary, the data itself- in training- does not need to be authentic. Always choose to use pretend data to ensure students’ privacy. 

Have a plan for data destruction.

After data has been utilized (or becomes irrelevant), it should be removed. However, this is not as simple as merely hitting “delete”. Digital data is difficult to completely erase as both storage and recovery techniques are innovative. Because of this, schools should look to methods of permanent data destruction. FERPA does not provide direct instruction regarding data destruction, nor does it require that particular methods of destruction be utilized. It’s considered best practice to have a third party work to clear, purge, and destroy this information. 

Data destruction and disk erasure are services offered by Arey Jones Educational Services.

Education has been forever changed by technology. Integrate these tips to guarantee that student data remains safe in your school.  

How to Get Kids Excited About Reading

Among the many healthy habits that parents hope to instill within their children is a life-long love of reading. In addition to the emotional and recreational benefits of reading, the academic advantages are innumerable. While most parents are in agreement about its importance, many parents and teachers struggle to motivate their reluctant readers.  

Luckily, there are plenty of creative strategies that adults can employ to help cultivate kids’ love of literacy. Below are five ideas about how to get children excited about reading. 

For parents: 

1. Start them young.  Studies show that exposure to a vast spoken vocabulary in infancy helps young ones with language development.  While it may feel silly at first, reading books to brand new babies is important; they are absorbing not just words, but the sound and cadence of your voice. The good news is that babies aren’t picky, so you can read aloud whatever you want.  
   
   

2. Set an example. Children will emulate what they see, so if you want to raise a reader, be a reader. When parents open up the newspaper or a new library book, they send cues to their kids that reading is an important use of time. Create a Saturday morning family routine where everyone spends 30 minutes reading silently in the comfort of the living room; carving out special time shows that reading is something to be prioritized. 
   
   

3. Change the format. Sometimes, a change in medium can pique kids’ interest enough to keep reading. There are countless tech toys that are both fun and educational: The Touch and Teach Word Book and LeapStart 3D Learning System are two great choices or younger children. Kindles ebooks work well to provide efficiency, choices, and fun for older children. For kids of all ages, audiobooks provide a different way to enjoy stories. 

For teachers: 

1.  Credit their opinions. Like everyone, kids love to share their perspectives. Allow them to assume the role of Book Reviewer for their peers. Designate a visible place in the classroom where students can display their book reviews, or carve out a spot on Google Classroom specifically for this purpose. Students will feel like their opinions are heard, and their reviews can help other kids choose a book that is well rated and loved by friends. 
   
   

2. Start a tradition. Create a classroom culture that values books and celebrates their value. One way to do this is to start a tradition based on the excitement brought by a book. After finishing a book as a class, think about hosting a movie event; spend time afterwards comparing and contrasting the upsides to the book and movie versions of the same story. Another fun tradition is a “read in”. Designate an afternoon for silent reading only; encourage students to bring in a cozy blanket and a book of their choice. Oftentimes, these simple, extra details work well for nurturing that extra bit of enthusiasm.

Motivating young readers, although sometimes challenging, is worth it. With a little creativity, parents and teachers can encourage a life-long love of reading. 

Fight Back-To-School Momentum Loss With These Resources

Every year the same thing occurs - you return to school in the fall full of energy and tell yourself this is the year you keep that momentum going until May, only to slump after a handful of weeks. The reality is, come October many educators have already lost that back-to-school momentum. There is so much to do during those first weeks of school that many teachers play catch-up until winter break. Keep your educators on the right track with these Microsoft resources designed to help teachers be more efficient. 

Microsoft OneNote Class Notebook

This app allows teachers to set up OneNote Class Notebook for their classes. Each class notebook has three sub-notebooks:

Student Notebooks - These private notebooks are shared between the teacher and their individual students. Collecting and checking homework has never been faster and easier. These notebooks are only accessible by the teachers - who can view them at any time - not by other students.

Content Library - This notebook is for teachers to organize and share course materials with students. It eliminates searching for lost handouts or hearing, “I didn’t get that sheet.” Teachers can add and edit materials at any time, but this notebook is read-only for students.

Collaboration Space - This notebook is designed for all students and the teacher in the class to share, organize and collaborate. Teaching becomes interactive since educators can gather web content and embed lessons to create custom lesson plans. It makes working in groups a snap.

The only tools you need to get to using this app is an Office 365 subscription for Education that includes OneDrive for Business, an organizational account for the teacher with permissions to use the OneNote Class Notebook app and the students must have an Office 365 organizational account. Microsoft even has a step-by-step guide to help teachers set it all up.

Templates For Education

Why remake the wheel? Creating lesson plans, syllabus and course overview documents from scratch takes up a HUGE amount of time. Microsoft’s ready-made templates save tons of time, plus with so many different types and styles that exist, you and your teachers will have no trouble finding ones that work in your school.

Lesson Planner Templates - Make it easy to plan. These lesson plan templates are available in calendar, list and chart form.

Syllabus Templates - Traditional, accessible or teacher’s, all different types of syllabuses are available. These syllabus templates put all the course information in one tidy place for students and they can be personalized.

Course Overview Templates - Spend more time preparing students for classes by using an academic course overview template. They help organize and cover key points of a class.

Emergency Phone List - Gathering emergency information from students is essential. This template ensures nothing is left off the list.

These shortcuts were created to help educators focus more on teaching and less on housekeeping tasks. Download these timesavers to help keep the early-fall momentum going.

How to Be a Google Certified Educator

Tech tools for education are as essential today as pencils and paper. If you’re an educator that knows how to use tech like Google Apps for Education in the classroom there are programs that offer certifications for this ability. One of the most recognized is the Google Certified Educator program, which was designed for educators and classroom teachers who demonstrate proficiency using Google for Education tools.

Why should you be a Google Certified Educator?

The Certified Educator program not only validates learning, but it offers several other benefits as well. Being a Google Certified Educator means:

• You gain confidence with digital learning strategies and Google tools.

• You gain access to content that’s focused on classroom integration.

• You can create a paperless classroom.

• You can increase student digital learning.

• You can measure your impact.

• You can engage in professional growth and leadership.

• And, you can increase efficiency and save time.

Now that you’ve decided become a Google Certified Educator, the next step is determining the level you should obtain certification in.

What level of Google Certified Educator should you be?

The Certified Educator program is offered at four levels, a Google Certified Educator Level 1, Level 2 and Google Certified Trainer and Innovator. Each level requires varying degrees of dedication on your part. According to Google For Education,

• Google Certified Educator Level 1 and 2: Level 1 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully implement G Suite for Education into their teaching practice in order to enhance teaching and learning. The Level 2 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully integrate a wider range of Google for Education tools and other technologies in order to transform their teaching practice.

• Google for Education Certified Trainer: Google for Education Certified Trainers are passionate and driven education professionals with a desire to help others transform classrooms with technology. Whether you are a school’s go-to technologist, a stellar classroom teacher or an enterprising consultant, anyone is welcome to apply for membership in the program.

• Google for Education Certified Innovator: This is designed for education thought-leaders who create new and innovative projects using Google for Education tools.

Once you decide what level fits your teaching style and time commitment, the next step is to study and take the exam.

How do you finally become a Google Certified Educator?

Each of the four levels has a course and exam you must pass to gain certification. Google for Education Certified Trainers and Innovators must also submit an application.

• Google Certified Educator Level 1: Work through the Fundamentals course and take the GCE1 exam.

• Google Certified Educator Level 2: Finish the Advanced course and take the GCE2 exam.

• Google for Education Certified Trainer: Go through the Trainer Learning Center, take the Trainer Essentials exam and submit an online application.

• Google for Education Certified Innovators: Finish the Advanced course, take the GCE2 exams and submit an online application.

You can either work on your own to go through these levels or work with a Google Certified Trainer for face-to-face instruction.

Deciding to take that next step to become a Google Certified Educator can help you take your classroom and learning experience to the next level and show your dedication to ed tech. How many levels have you gone through? Tell us in the comments below.

Stay On Top Of Software Trends

Educational technology changes so fast that it is essential to stay “in the know.” One of the ways to do this is to subscribe to an educational video series. Video series are popular with viewers for a variety of reasons – most of the content can be consumed in short bursts, they are usually free and can be viewed on your own time. You can find these series on YouTube or linked into a providers webpage. There are a lot of great video series out there, but here’s a couple we recommend that will keep you up-to-date on everything ed tech.

What’s New In EDU

This video series from Microsoft Education talks all things technology and education. It is the best place to hear announcements, like the annual Bett show, plus learn about the latest Microsoft products and how to use them. Want to learn more about new Microsoft 365 free lifetime device licenses? What about new affordable Windows 10 devices for the classroom starting at $189? What’s New In EDU has all that information and more. Each episode runs about seven minutes but What’s New In EDU also offers a rundown of the show in the notes, in case busy educators don’t have time to watch. Use #MicrosoftEDU to find it on Twitter.

EDU In 90

EDU in 90 is a video series from Google for Education. It runs new episodes three times a month and each covers important topics for educators and administrators, like product updates, new programs and resources for the classroom. Want some quick tips about Google Team Drives and how to use it for your educators? Do you want to know more about Google Expeditions? You can find these topics and any more at EDU in 90. And, contrary to its name, each video is about two to three minutes long. Subscribe to EDU in 90 from the Google for Education YouTube Channel, and follow along the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #EDUin90.

EdTechTeam’s LIVE Webinars

EdTechTeam is a global network of educational technologists. Its core team works with more than 250 contractors worldwide to provide the best in professional developments, online learning, books, Apple Professional Learning and more. The website features LIVE webinars, plus archived webinars. Topics covered include “Chromebooks for Tools for Creativity,” “Innovative Strategies for Teaching Science” and “Ok Google, How Safe is My Data.” These webinars run a little longer than the others, at about an hour.

Is there a video series you can’t live without? Tell us about it!

Administrators: Here is your Summer Reading List

Whether you’re hitting the road this summer or just lounging by the pool, a great book can really enrich the experience. Why not make it one that puts you ahead of the game with education technology for the fall term? Wondering about Chromebooks, G Suite or Google Classroom? Brush up on your knowledge or even demystify a topic with a paperback. We’ve chosen a couple guides for mastering tech in the classroom that are a must-have on your summer reading list.

4 Books to Read on EdTech

• The Chromebook Classroom: If you’re considering Chromebooks for your school, you need this guide by John R. Sowash. It gives a fast, clear roadmap for turning a new fleet of Chromebooks into rich learning tools for a single classroom or an entire district. The Chromebook Classroom is the perfect companion for any educator just getting started with Chromebooks, or one that’s looking for new ways to boost their students' learning through technology. Buy it here.

• The Google Infused Classroom: This paperback, by EdTech experts Holly Clark and Tanya Avrith, is perfect for any educator looking to use technology in the classroom. It is filled with practical ideas and strategies about using G Suite. It focuses on 20 essential Google tools that will help your teachers learn to incorporate into their classrooms. Buy it here.

• Shake Up Learning: This book by Kasey Bell is divided into three parts to help educators explore why they need to shake up learning with technology and what changes you can have your teachers make in their classrooms. The book also includes ideas for lesson planning and tips on digital learning, plus free downloads. Buy it here.

• 50 Things You Can Do With Google Classroom: Educators Alice Keeler and Libbi Miller have answered one of the most frequently-asked questions with this book, “How can I effectively implement digital tools in the classroom when I don’t fully understand them myself?” It offers a thorough overview of the Google Classroom App, including how to create a paperless classroom, set up a Google Classroom, share announcements and offer virtual office hours. Buy it here.

Dive into these books this summer and then put them in the staffroom this fall to share with your teachers. They are a great resource for anyone who wants to successfully incorporate technology in education. Have another great read that’s changed your thinking? Share it below!

Why Administrators Should Use OneNote

Microsoft OneNote is changing the way students learn and teachers stay organized. But, did you know it is also ideal for administrators who need to keep everyone on the same page and make sure processes run smooth?

 OneNote has a lot of moving parts, but its main purpose is organization. It keeps everything in its place and has a place for everything. Once you use it, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it.

Staff Notebooks Are Where It’s At

Throw the binders away. OneNote’s Staff Notebooks have everything you need to improve your school’s efficiency. It streamlines communication, keeps tracks of meeting agendas and minutes, and allows you to post faculty teaching assignments and professional development trainings.

Staff Notebooks contain three parts: a collaboration space, a shared content library and a personal workspace for every staff member.

• Collaboration Space: Everyone in your school or on your team has access to view and edit the content found here. This is a perfect place for to post staff meeting agendas, discussions and brainstorming. You can ask faculty to work together on initiatives and projects and to post their ideas for guest speakers and events.

• Content Library: Here you can add content for the staff leader to view. Add pages for professional development, data analysis workshops, school calendars and schedules - basically any information that would normally be sent out over multiple email attachments. It’s also organized and searchable.

• Personal Workspace: Use this space for communication between yourself and staff members. Parent communication notes, student support team information, lesson plans and evaluation and observation reflections can all be organized and kept here. You can also search and find multiple documents over multiple years.

OneNote’s Tools Make It All Come Together

Not only are OneNote’s features, like Staff Notebook and Class Notebook, awesome for educators, but the practical tools built into the design are mind-blowing.

• Add Any Content: Text, images and video can be added to any page and can be enlarged and minimized while presenting live, with a pinch and zoom. Plus, OneNote is an infinite canvas that expands at-will.

• Digital Inking: This is just one of the many ways you can add content to a page. You can project the device and annotate text, including highlighting words and lines. Plus, there are handy “Ink to Text” and “Ink to Math” options.

• Available On Everything: OneNote can be accessed on a variety of devices – PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and even Chromebook. It updates in real-time, so multiple devices, i.e. a phone and laptop, and can used simultaneously.

• Saving Is Automatic: Everything is always saved when you work in OneNote. There are no buttons to click; ideal for teachers and staff who need to refer to the information later.

Do you love OneNote as much as we do? Tell us in the comments!