Tech2Teach Monthly April/May 2019

Tech2TMoenacl h APRIL/MAY 2019 Corpus Christi ISD Office of Instructional Technology



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Table of Contents Tech2Teach …………………... 5 Navigating the Future: Destination TECH Tech2Learn: Future Focus …………………... 7 Summer Learning Opportunities …………………... 12 Sam Houston’s SMARTie Cat Showcase …………………... 13 Canvas Tips & Tricks …………………... 17 Canvas: Save Your Canvas Course for Future …………………... 19 Canvas: Like A Pro Training …………………... 20 Lesson Plan Assignment Feedback in Canvas …………………... 23 SMART Tips & Tricks …………………... 25 3...2...1… Blast Off with Tech! Multimedia Fair …………………... 27 Hello Amazing Teachers …………………... 29 Get Out of Your Seats and Learn Something …………………... 30 App of the Month: Loom …………………... 31 Cybersecurity for School Districts …………………... 34 Multimedia Fair Judges …………………... 36 Robotics at Your Elementary School… Starting a Program …………………... 38 IT Chairs Making an Impact through Blended Learning …………………... 40

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On April 5, Tech2Learn was kicked off with the energetic and dynamic Matt Ransdell, and proceeded with amazing technology integrated presentations by students from every CCISD high school. The day represented an opportunity for students to inspire, share and learn from other students. A selected group from Branch high school had an opportunity to help design and launch the event with the Office of Instructional Technology. The day truly centered around our amazing students. We can’t wait for next year! -Cary K. Perales, Director of Instructional Technology Dr. Roland Hernandez kicked off the morning speaking to the Tech2Learn presenters and praising them for their outstanding leadership skills and expertise.

Presenters from Coles high Students showing what it takes to school teaching Raster start a club, design a robot, Graphics Editor. document the process, improve the community, and be a successful robotics team. Attendees learning fundamentals of creating a platformer video game. 8

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Traci Rodriguez, Director, Early College Work Ed, Collegiate HS and Branch HS reconnecting with Matt Ransdell. Traci and Branch students recommended this years keynote. Matt Ransdell is a motivational speaker and actor who promotes students to move forward with their dreams and always know the why? The Instructional Technology Team, Matt Ransdell, and the amazing Branch Duo Denis Wisner and Pablo Perez thank all who helped support this amazing event!

SHOUT OUTS!!! Shout out to Calk-Wilson ES teacher, Allyson Massey, for jumping into Learning.com and making keyboarding lessons available to her second grade students in Canvas. Allyson is making her digital resources available to her students in Canvas on Chromebooks she has checked out from the library and the student PCs at the back of her classroom. By Brandey Addison 11

Summer Learning Opportunities Look for trainings during Summer Professional Development in July. Register in Eduphoria! Google and Canvas are great partners in crime! In this session, you will learn how to embed Google apps to increase student participation . Google Apps that will be features: Forms, Slides, Docs. and more. Canvas is here! The new LMS (Learning Management System) for CCISD has arrived and is rolling out. Learn how to log in, customize your settings and notifications, navigate the system, and create content to engage your students. Learning WHY this is so important for Teachers, Students, and Parents is crucial. Come get a jump start on your on your Canvas journey! Elevating Instruction and Learning through Blended Learning. Learn the basics on how to use Canvas and maximize learning in a blended learning environment. In this session you will learn how to integrate apps in Canvas, which will enhance stations or support options for limited device access, and encourage student productivity in Canvas. Nearpod will help you create awesome lessons, engage students with interactive activities, and instantly assess students’ progress. Download ready-to-use lessons. Capture students' attention using multimedia content. Share content and assessments in real time. Monitor students and control students' devices. Nearpod works on laptops, Chromebooks, IPads, and mobile devices. Use Nearpod to increase engagement, differentiate, combine interactive activities, or flip your classroom. 12

Sam Houston’s SMARTie Cat Showcase By Kathy Mendiola In late February, Sam Houston Elementary teachers and administrators gathered during a faculty meeting filled with a sense of accomplishment, excitement, and a touch of nerves. In one hour, teachers proudly showcased lessons, choice boards, reviews, trackers and more created in SMART Notebook. This culminating activity was the result of professional development in which teachers met with me to learn and implement new skills within SMART Notebook Software. Below are a few examples of what was presented. Pictured left, Alicia Guerra, Pre Kinder teacher shows colleagues an activity her students use to demonstrate understanding of beginning letter sounds. Teachers also uploaded SMART Notebook files to a shared folder in Google Drive resulting in a repository of activities readily available to anyone on 13 their campus.

Monica Soliz, Pre Kinder teacher, pictured right, displays a Calendar template she downloaded from SMART Exchange then modified. The calendar includes days of the week, weather, counting and so much more. Melissa Hernandez, Rosa Lopez and Jennifer Carrasco, Kinder teachers, left, show an ELAR choice board used during stations allowing students to practice sorting blends and digraphs. Sandra Mata, Grade 1 teacher, models a Super Sort activity she customized for students to identify needs and wants. 14

Anna Ramirez, Grade 2 teacher, pictured right, presents a customized subtraction activity used by the entire Second Grade Team. Lisa Morin, Grade 3, left, shares a writing tracker used to track her students progress in their respective writing samples. Anna Moreno, Grade 5 teacher, pictured right, presents a Game Show Template she customized to help her students review phases of the moon. 15

Britney Baker, Grade 5 teacher, pictured right, models an ELAR Choice Board used during stations. Activity choices include sorting prefixes, matching homophones to their definitions, suffix fill in the blanks and matching negative prefixes to their antonyms. Overall, the teachers: ● practiced fundamental skills ● learned new advanced level skills ● created a repository of shared SMART Notebook files ● explained how they used the files in their respective grade levels. The Houston ES team does not just expect their students to practice the 4 C’s. Teachers and administrators give 110% as learners and leaders who: *Collaborate *Communicate *Critically Think and *Create! 16

Canvas Tips & Tricks Adding Direct Links to Class Materials and Resources to the Course Navigation Click FullScreen for Better View Moving Content (Modules, Assignments, Etc.) From One Course to Another (Textbooks) Click FullScreen for Better View Click HERE for more information on using Apps in your Canvas Courses 17

To all the great CCISD students that attended the 2019 Tech2Learn Student-Led Technology Event. Selected students from CCISD high schools spent a day learning about Robotics, Digital Media, Digital Art, Cybersecurity, Coding and much more. Thanks to the great staff at Branch Academy for hosting this event, presented by the Office of Instructional Technology. SHOUT OUTS!!! 18

By Brandey Addison Save Your Canvas Course for Future Access Start with Just a Click of a Button!

Like a Pro By Brandey Addison CCISD has made subscription webinars available to Canvas Teachers. Learn how to use Canvas like a pro! You Choose… ● when you learn, ● what you learn, and ● where you learn! Click here for step by step directions to activate your training account. Click here to find out more about accessing subscription training. 20

SHOUT OUTS!!! Shout out to Smith Elementary bilingual teacher, Monica Munoz Romo! She has restructured how she implements technology online and offline stations in her classroom. Ms. Munoz Romo just recently started utilizing Learning.com, which has helped her students build their typing skills while they are learning their spelling words. Her students also complete their learning pathways at their own pace using Hello SMART. “This has impacted them tremendously in their decoding and grammar skills to prepare them for second grade!” Her students are now capable of accessing Canvas, where Ms. Munoz Romo has created and posted weekly assignments. Her students are eager to learn and through the use of technology, learning has become more creative and engaging. “ It has also impacted my teaching methodology. All the students are capable of doing so many things, if we give them the opportunity to try all of these resources. I was inspired by an amazing first-grade teacher Virginia Becker, from Faye Webb Elementary, who helped and supported me with all this to come alive. I would now like to encourage you to be part of this amazing adventure to help our students become successful in their educational journey.” . 21

SHOUT OUTS!!! Smith Elementary Click Play 22

Lesson Plan Assignment Feedback in Canvas Some principals in our district have begun piloting the Assignment Feature in Canvas for Lesson Plans submissions. Campus principals are functioning in Canvas as instructors. While classroom teachers are learning the student side of Canvas. This is powerful because teachers are participating in Canvas-based activities which they may begin to use with their own students. By practicing in the student role, teachers will learn the many features and affordance of Canvas including: ● Time efficiency in access student assignments in Speedgrader ● Ease in providing timely feedback that is text, audio, or video ● Canvas notifications/reminders that an assignment is due ● Due dates on the Canvas calendar ● Process to submit assignments in a variety of formats 23 Tiffany Foss, Haas Science 6, Looking over her next lesson plan assignment.

Here are a few comments from our principals: “I love having it set up this way and highly recommend it! It makes it very easy to review lesson plans because I have them all in one place after setting up my teacher group. Making comments and providing feedback is easy, with just a click of a button. The Speed Grader makes it very easy to just go from [one assignment submission] to the next, noting who has completed their [assignment] or not. The [gradebook assignment] report that Canvas generates after provides a quick “at a glance” view so you can easily see patterns [of] who may not be submitting ...on time or at all. and informs the [Canvas instructor] if it may be a performance concern that may need to be addressed... I also love the reminder feature that Canvas sends weekly prompting me to check the assignments. It helps keep me on my toes.” :) ...Lynda Deleon - Haas MS Gloria Everett, Haas Math 6 teacher, preparing to submit her lesson plans assignment. I want to thank Roxanne Guerrero for helping me set up my module for my teachers to input their lesson plans. This has made it so much easier to check for their lessons plans. It has made such a GREAT difference for me. Love it!!” ... Vicky Olson - Haas MS 24

SMART Tips and Tricks by Roxanna Guerrero It’s that time of year when you Looking for ideas on how to need to consider saving your increase the rigor in your personalize SMART content. SMART Interactive Games? This video will show you how you Then watch the video below to can Save your “My Content help you bring challenge to your Folder” located in SMART games. Notebook to have ready for next year. The different options of This video Smart Lab saving your SMART content as a Activities with Higher Order file, page, or individual items will Learning ideas will discuss be explained. three activities: Super Sort, Match Em Up, and Fill in the 25 Blank. More ideas are given on the summary page for three more games.

SHOUT OUTS!!! Adkins Middle School participated in the Tech2Learn Event on April 5th! They showcased their awesome skills set to inspires kids in grades 4 through 8 to solve real world problems as well as program a robot to complete various missions. -Cary Perales, Director of Instructional Technology 26

2019 Multimedia Fair: 3…2…1! Blast Off with Technology is right around the corner! All campuses with winners have been contacted already, and we are excited to celebrate them on April 24th! Please remind your students who submitted projects we encourage every student to come to the Multimedia Fair Showcase! Location: Veterans Memorial High School Auditorium Launch Time: 5:30-6:30 The Showcase (Showcasing ALL students who submitted a project with proper paperwork.) 6:30-7:30.The Red Carpet Awards Ceremony (Celebrating the TOP three finalist in every category) This year’s theme is 3..2…1! Blast Off with Technology and students with their families can participate and enjoy maker spaces, a roaming astronaut to take pics with, robots and view all projects to get ideas for next year! We hope to see you there! -Cary K. Perales, Director of Instructional Technology Click to see the MMF commercial 27

Congratulations to the following campuses with FINALIST for the 2019 MMF: 3….2….1! Blast Off! Allen Elementary Adkins Elementary Branch High School Carroll High School Evans Elementary Baker Middles School Collegiate High School Coles High School Gibson Elementary Browne Middles School King High School Miller High School Hicks Elementary Cunningham Middles Moody High School Kolda Elementary School Veterans High School Kostoryz Elementary Meadowbrook Elementary Driscoll Middles School 28 Kaffie Middle School Metro E Elementary Mireles Elementary Montclair Elementary Oak Park Elementary Sanders Elementary Smith Elementary Woodlawn Elementary

Hello Amazing Teachers, I am a Kindergarten teacher. Have taught kinder for 3 years. Technology continues to be used in our daily teaching and daily lives. Students are engaged and lesson plans are developed quickly. Tech Savvy classes have helped me to integrate more games, lessons, and engage students. Learning has become fun and lessons can be quickly created by using Smartlab, Canvas, Smart Exchange, and Osmos. Article Submitted by: Alma Mangel, Kindergarten Teacher, Sanders ES

Get Out of Your Seats and Learn Something Article Submitted By J.M. Gonzales, Teacher at SSC Teachers working at the Nueces County Regional Juvenile Facility are challenged by students who have been adjudicated to remain at the facility for various lengths of time. They tend to have a dislike for school and actively resist or ignore traditional direct teaching. Smart TVs are the answer! It’s not your parents’ chalkboard. CCISD has been providing Smart TV’s that have impacted teaching in a modern way. This technology coupled with the District’s Technology Integration Training equips teachers with a skills to teach and have students interact with the lesson. With Tech Savvy: Get Googled!, teachers can import lessons that come to life on the Smart TV. Tech Savvy: SMART Lessons help transform static lessons into interactive experiences that entice students to participate. 30

Cont. Get Out of Your Seats and Learn Something It is our belief that the Smart TV technology made all the difference in educating the challenging student population at Robert N. Barnes Juvenile Facility. At Robert Barnes, we used the interactive lessons to get our at-risk students out of their seats and to the Smart TV as part of the learning process. One lesson involved determining the two root bases that create a modern day word. Students vie for the opportunity to come to the board and write their answers in a color of their choice. In the second example, a two column graph was created with Shakespearean text in the left and blank lines in the second. Students discuss and created their own parallel texts to the Romeo and Juliet scripts. Initially, students stated that they did not understand Shakespearean language at all. After some practice, they came to understand the jest of most scenes and appreciated the classic 1968 movie version. They stated they really enjoyed it. Reciprocally, we teachers enjoy the learning that occurs in our interactive classrooms.

Featured App of the Month A new kind of work communication tool that helps you get your message across through instantly shareable videos. Loom is a free app/Chrome extension that lets you record your screen and voice/video to show how to do something on the internet. The app is free and there is no time limit. There are lots of recording options including whole screen or just the tab you happened to be working in. It can record your voice and face as you explain the process you are showing or you can turn the camera off. One of the best features about Loom is that it will instantly give you an Embedd code so that the video can be integrated into your Canvas pages immediately. Here is a quick tutorial on using Loom to record your videos and save yourself some time! 32

SHOUT OUTS!!! Shout Out to Branch High Schools students for supporting the Tech2Learn event and exhibiting true leadership skills! We couldn’t of done it without you! -Instructional Technology Team 33

Cybersecurity for School Districts By Rene V. Pantoja Since 2013, the need for K-12 students to have access to broadband grew from 4 million to 44.7 million in 2018. The increasing demand for students to have multiple mobile devices in the classroom for “digital learning” has equally increased the opportunities for data and cybersecurity breaches into school systems. School districts are creating a “Cybersecurity Team”. These cybersecurity teams within technology departments . . . have the daily and targeted task to monitor, prevent and engage any data breaches or intrusions by outside security threats. Having a team to prevent cyber threats, is just one part of creating a digital safe environment . . . ensuring that staff and students follow district guidelines is a strong defense against digital threats. For more information on Cybersecurity visit: https://k12cybersecure.com/ Each pin represents cybersecurity-related incidents at public school districts since 2016 to the present. 34

What to learn more about Cybersecurity, visit: https://www.uscyberpatriot.org/ Students building the future with code! Carroll H.S. students presenting on Cybersecurity at Tech2Learn 2019! Fantastic presentation! 35



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Robotics at your Elementary School . . . Starting a Program By Rene V. Pantoja Thinking of starting a robotics program at your school? Starting a robotics program has been found to improve math scores and is considered relatively inexpensive. If you’re an elementary teacher . . . your best first step is to focus on 4th grade students only and create an application and interview process for potential team members. Interview students to ensure they really want to learn and participate. Keep your members to a small group of 6 to 8 students. As interest grows in your program, so will your membership. Look for funding from grants, local funds, CTE funding and donors. Lego provides the resource for exploring grants and funding opportunities by providing a funding guide. A popular robotic kit to consider for purchase is the Education EV3 Core Set. This set offers a curriculum pack and includes 48 tutorials to help you and your students learn the basics of LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3. Start students with an introduction to building and coding skills and later build/basic coding solutions. It is a gradual process so take your time and have fun. For more information visit these websites: https://www.firstinspires.org/start-a-team https://info.firstinspires.org/first-launch-2019 LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 38

ROBOTICS is FUN! Look at these great students. For more information on robotics go to: Students from Atkins M.S. and Sponsor John Colunga presenting the recent Tech2Learn Event at Branch Academy. Moody H.S. students prepare for their Robotics presentation at the Tech2Learn Student-led event at Branch Academy. . . Moody teacher Simon Rios is the team sponsor. 39

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Thank You. The Office of Instructional Technology thanks all of Corpus Christi Independent School District for a wonderful 2018-2019 school year. CCISD leaders, educators, and learners embrace technology as a tool to achieve their educational and operational goals. We look forward to what we will accomplish in 2019-2020 together!