Featured Tweet

#tweetureme

by Brandey Addison

Thank you, Michele Lane-Heidari for capturing this moment at Tech2Teach 2016 and tweeting it out.

We would like to highlight more Tweets featuring Technology Integration in CCISD.

If you would like your original Tweet to be considered as a Featured Tweet, then tag @ccisdit with #tweetureme

Thank You ~ Gracias ~ Danke ~ Merci ~ Mahalo ~ Grazie

By Kathy Mendiola

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the wonderful volunteers who made our Second Annual Tech2Teach Conference an overwhelming success! Numerous groups of both Staff and Students who worked tirelessly before, during, and after our 2 day event.

More than 50 of our very own CCISD teachers and staff members were our session facilitators, crowd control, registration support, manned the social media and technology support tables. The list of what these folks took care of goes on and on. They are a HUGE part of why Tech2Teach was such a huge success.

King High School Alpha Beta Club, sponsored by Mr. Bartley Caldwell, also played an integral role at the conference. The students maintained all of the snack shacks, collected attendance sheets after each session, functioned as our runners for any and everything, provided directions and so much more!

Furthermore we recognize all the amazing work done by the Support Staff from both the Technology Support Center and our Administration Building! Esmeralda Lopez and Marilyn Doughty ensured there were plenty of Technicians on site both before, during and after T2T. These ladies and their teams of Techs were essential in setting up and providing on site support with wifi connections, presenter concerns, and with the new CCISD Connect pages. The amazing Administrative Team from TSC was also on hand both days tirelessly working in all areas of our conference. We especially thank Veronica Maxwell, Sarah Rodriguez, Andrea Bell and Sue Daniel for ensuring that all who attended, received CPE Credits in Eduphoria.

Last, but certainly not least, Veterans Memorial HS Staff was instrumental in the success of Tech2Teach 2016. Not only did they graciously host this event, they also worked endlessly behind the scenes to ensure the campus was more than ready to receive the 1000+ attendees. A special THANK YOU goes out to Clint Terry and his AMAZING Custodial Staff for their hours of tireless support and help during the entire process of setting up, running and shutting down of Tech2Teach. Sir, you and your team are simply marvelous!

We are beyond thankful for all each and every one of our volunteers. Ultimately, without you, Tech2Teach could not have been a successful event! Again,

Thank You ~ Gracias ~ Danke ~ Merci ~ Mahalo ~ Grazie!

HIGH DEF Schools

By Mary Cavazos

Luther Jones Elementary School

Mrs. Lisa Bowers, principal at Luther Jones Elementary, has embraced Class Dojo campus-wide to connect teachers with students and parents. This powerful app not only has created a positive culture, but it has built amazing classroom environments. Teachers at Luther Jones share photos and videos with parents that capture wonderful classroom moments. They also use this app to encourage their students for working hard, being kind, helping others, and other positive behaviors. The scholars at Luther Jones Elementary can showcase and share their learning by adding photos and videos of their own portfolios.

Luther Jones Elementary is funded primarily through campus fundraisers. All monies raised, go straight into technology for the school. Every room has a SMART board, document camera, and each teacher has an iPad in their hand for instruction. Their goal is to purchase more iPads for their students to use in small groups for differentiated learning. Every teacher, at Luther Jones Elementary utilizes the ClassDojo app for classroom management and communication with parents. Lisa Bowers, the principal also promotes ClassDojo by utilizing it with her staff to reinforce their positive attitudes, strong work ethic, and excellent teamwork at school and in the classroom. Mrs. Bowers is able to take pictures and videos of effective instruction taking place in the classroom and share those ideas with her entire staff to reinforce great strategies and excellent teaching.

CCISD TECHIE of the MONTH

Dr. John Prezas - Principal, Sanders Elementary

Dr. John Prezas has taken technology to the next level at Sanders Elementary School. He keeps expectations high for his faculty and wants technology and innovative programs integrated when teaching their classes. He leads by example and likes to get the ball rolling by modeling his own techniques. Dr. Prezas cannot live without Google Docs. He uses it daily without fail to communicate with his staff. Teachers at Sanders Elementary School turn in their lesson plans and interventions, then receive feedback through Google Docs. No need to stress about making any copies for the faculty meeting. Dr. Prezas conducts his faculty meetings through Google Classroom. Teachers have a digital copy of each meeting and access to important information. He states that Google docs is the way to go in order to, “Work Smarter, Not Harder!” Additionally he mentioned, “Google Docs is a great tool for collaboration amongst teachers and fellow administrators; it compiles information, gathers data, shares information, and monitors who has accessed what or has done what you have asked.”

Every single classroom from first through fifth grade has a SMART board or SMART TV at Sanders Elementary School. There are three computer labs that allow all students to access “Fast forWord” on a daily basis. With growing momentum, the key to this progressive movement is that teachers continually collaborate with each other to work on how to utilize more technology in their classrooms.

Dr. Prezas understands the benefits of technology and spends time researching its uses. He likes to challenge his creative side by designing unique applications, and then he works with his staff to try to find ways to implement them. He keeps up with their progress by monitoring which teachers have accessed folders and how often they adjust their interventions and lessons. Thanks to Google being device agnostic, he is able to stay connected using any of his internet-capable devices. No matter the situation, he is prepared with current information about classrooms, and teacher needs. “My goal is for every student at my campus to learn to become facilitators and teachers of innovative programs and technologies to their peers and teachers.”

At the end of the interview, Dr. Prezas emphasized how Sanders Elementary has become a completely Google Campus. He is extremely proud of the digitized conference room and its utilization during every meeting. Dr. Prezas smile beams when he speaks of his teachers using technology. He says, “Every teacher on campus will be a Google expert by the end of the year, and I expect them to teach fellow teachers at Tech2Teach next year!”

Creating Groups in Google Contacts

By Roxana Guerrero

Learn how to quickly send messages to groups of people you contact the most, without entering their addresses individually. Watch this video to learn how to create a Google Contact Group and share your files more readily.

Click the following button to learn how.

When searching for your ccisd teachers or staff, be sure you locate the @ccisd.us domain. Also, be mindful that any names with 3 numbers are usually students and not adult staff. For more information, be sure to explore Atomic Learning located on our www.ccisd.it website.

Tech Connect

By Rene Pantoja

Cary Perales, series host and CCISD Instructional Technology Coordinator, will present technology news and information for staff, students and parents during each Tech Connect episode.

Technology is the foundation for excellence

The CCISD Office of Instructional Technology is taking bold steps in creating and becoming the leader in digital technology while continuing to meet the instructional needs of students in the CCISD. With successful projects like the Multimedia Showcase, 2nd Annual Tech2Teach Conference, the expanding Teacher Connect Program and continued publication of CCISD Tech2Teach Monthly Digital Magazine, the Office of Instructional Technology continues its roll as the “Go To” option for future technologies and emerging software for instructional needs in CCISD and South Texas.

“We want the students and staff to know that we are working with them and listening to their requests for more technology and software enhancements.” states Albert Martinez, Director of Technology Support Services. “We are going to continue on the path of taking advantage of technological innovations and establish CCISD has the premier example of what a school district in the 21st century should represent.”

Tech Connect focuses on technology in CCISD and provides staff with a focused look at the digital trends and developing technology programs in our district. Every other Tuesday throughout the school year the Office of Instructional Technology will present a new program and viewers will be able to watch on our Instructional Technology website at ccisd.it, our Youtube channel at ccisdtv, and on Twitter and Facebook.

The Office of Instructional Technology produces the Tech Connect series entirely. Cary Perales hosts each episode. Digital Media Producer Rene V. Pantoja provides the digital media production process from concept to digital product.

For more information or if you want to share an how you integrate technology in the classroom, contact the Office of Instructional Technology by emailing your Instructional Technology Support.

You can also reach us on Facebook or Twitter.

CCISD Librarians Get Future Ready

By Cary Perales

CCISD has taken the Future Ready pledge to ensure our district encourages the best usage of technology integration. To help us move each school forward the Office of Instructional Technology has partnered with librarians across the district to implement 10 future ready components:

1. Design Collaborative Spaces
2. Builds Instructional Partnerships
3. Empowers Students as Creators
4. Curates Digital Resources and Tools
5. Facilitates Professional Learning
6. Ensures Equitable Digital Access
7. Invests Strategically in Digital Resources
8. Cultivates Community Partnerships
9. Advocates for Student Privacy
10. Leads Beyond the Library

Red Book Reference

By Irma Muniz

Organizing Students to Practice and Design Knowledge

Element 15

Teachers might feel the need to be the sole provider of knowledge when reviewing information they have taught. A different approach is to have students form groups to review knowledge and skills among themselves. This involves having groups of students learn, compare, and critique each other cooperatively. Think teacher-centered vs student-centered instruction.

COOPERATIVE LEARNING enables students who have completed an assignment to forms groups and discuss their answers. This enables them to learn from each other as they hear other points of view. By using Chromebooks and iPads, they can take notes of their discussions and enter information in Google Docs.

COOPERATIVE COMPARISONS give students a way to reflect and compare their skills to previous ones. They can also compare ways of presenting information to younger students using metaphors and analogies. Tools that support this include SMART Notebook interactive activities and Google Drawings for annotating images of events, such as the Civil War.

PERFORMANCES AND PEER CRITIQUES. Students who are asked to perform a new skill are given a new way to demonstrate their knowledge. One way to accomplish this is to have students create a newscast. The script can be created collaboratively by the entire group using software such as Google Docs. Roles can be assigned to each member such as the Camera person, Sound Technician, and the Newscaster(s). Free downloadable software such as Jing can empower students by capturing what is on the computer screen as students narrate an event, a mathematical process, or their own tutorials with analogies and metaphors. Projects such as these are most rewarding to students when posted on a class Page using CCISD Connect!

Your Favorite Web 2.0 Tools

By Brandey Addison

We asked readers to share their favorite Web 2.0 tool in a survey last month. This is what we heard back from you:

Study Jams

Introduction Videos for different Science & Math topics

GO Noodle

Inside recess, brain breaks, breathing exercises, transition… this is a great resource to get your kinesthetic learners moving.

Plickers

Use Plickers cards like a clicker response system... fun, interactive and tracks student data.

Open Ed

My favorite thing is to use the resources available (like videos, worksheets, or games) to teach my lessons. They also include what TEKS are covered with each item.

YouTube

Play videos, create videos, create playlists that will teach, review, enhance, remediate. Students create videos as evidence of learning.

Wonderopolis

Wonderopolis is based on the question "I wonder why/how..". Example: I wonder how 3D printers work (Wonder #1705) or why are trampolines bouncy? (Wonder #1414). Many wonders are submitted by school age children who are curious about the world and how things work. The website and app provide excellent discussion starters or opportunities to launch into deeper research.

Quizlet

Vocabulary (study list, memory games, flash cards)

Voki

Students create an avatar to speak for them to answer content specific questions.

Do you have a tool that you use that’s not on this list? Click on this link and tell us about it.

Favorite Tools feedback will be shared in next month’s issue.