Professional Learning

Technology Tip of the Week: Google Edu Training Center

Google for Education Training Center is designed to help teachers learn how to meaningfully integrate Google Apps For Education (GAFE) tools in the classroom.  It includes lesson ideas, facilitation tips, and resources for using GAFE.  Training is offered to support all levels of users.  If you are looking to get started or learn more about GAFE, this is a great resource for you!

Check out this video overview for more information about the Google Edu Training Center.

App of the Week: Twitter

App Store Link:

• Click here to download the Twitter App

Twitter is a growing and respected tool for creating a Professional Learning Network (PLN). We encourage all staff to create professional Twitter accounts to create and grow their own PLN.

Check out this video to learn more about PLNs.

Hashtags are a great way to connect with other educators on Twitter.  Check out these two articles that may help you better understand hashtags.

• 10 Things to Know About Twitter Hashtags by Alice Keeler
• Twitter for Teachers: Discover #hashtag PD! by Patti Grayson

Google Slides!

Technology Tip of the Week: Google Slides

Google Slides are presentation files, much like Powerpoint.  They are easy to create & share.  You can even upload and convert your old PowerPoint slides into Google Slides presentations.  You can share a presentation with other collaborators and everyone can do their part without creating multiple versions of the file.  One of the main benefits of using Google Slides is that your presentations are saved automatically online in your Google Drive.  You can access and edit them on any device!

Check out these 10 ways teachers are using Google Slides in the Classroom!

Resources:

• Shake Up Learning Google Slides Cheat Sheet
• Slides Carnival - FREE Google Slides Templates
• Creating an Interactive Google Slides Presentation

App of the Week: Google Slides

App Store Link:

• Click here to download Google Slides  

Description:

•  Create, collaborate, and edit presentations on your iPad.

Support:

• How To Use The Google Slides App Video Tutorial

Google Classroom

Technology Tip of the Week: Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a virtual environment that is designed to help teachers create and collect assignments paperlessly, including time-saving features like the ability to automatically make a copy of a Google document for each student.  It also creates Drive folders for each assignment and for each student to help keep everyone organized.  Students can keep track of what’s due on the Assignments page and begin working with just a click. Teachers can quickly see who has or hasn't completed the work, and provide direct, real-time feedback and grades right in Classroom.  Classroom features include Announcement and Question posts as well.  This gives students a platform to publish their responses or ideas as well as a way for teachers to collect formative assessment data that will help focus instruction.

App of the Week: Google Classroom

App Store Link:

• Click here to download Google Classroom  

Description:

With Google Classroom mobile app for iOS, students and teachers can view their classes and communicate with their classmates in real time. Students can open their assignments and work on them right from their phone or tablet. Teachers can keep track of who has turned in work and grade the assignment - at school or on the go. Students and teachers receive notifications when they have new content in Classroom, so they are always up to date.

Integration Ideas:

• Classroom can be used in multiple content areas to extend learning beyond school walls...anytime, anywhere, any device

• Classroom can be used to flip learning...students can access content to prepare for deeper learning the next day

• Classroom allows students to publish ideas/work and receive timely feedback 

• Classroom allows students to collaborate when sharing Docs, Sheets, Slides, and other Google apps

Support:

• What is Google Classroom?

• 20 Things You Can Do with Google Classroom

• Google Classroom Support

Google Apps For Education (GAFE) is Here!

BISD has gone Google!  We are a Google Apps for Education, or GAFE, district.  This means all BISD staff members have special Google accounts that can be used to access Google Drive, Google Classroom, and even YouTube! In addition, our 3rd-5th grade students have GAFE accounts to access Google Drive, Google Classroom, and even Gmail!  Please explore the information and resources in this blogpost to learn more about GAFE and how you can begin using it with your campus, team, and students!

Staff Google Account Information

Staff Google accounts are created at the time their district login account is created. You can log on to your GAFE account by visiting http://drive.google.com. The username for staff is firstname.lastname@g.birdvilleschools.net. Your password may be bisd1234 or it may be your district password. After the initial login, staff can reset their Google password by simply resetting their network login password as our automated system is designed to sync staff accounts across the system. Staff can access more information about using Google by visiting the BISD Knowledge Base.

Student Google Account Information

Grade 3-12 Student Google accounts are created at the time their district login account is created.  Students can log on to their GAFE account by visiting http://drive.google.com. Students use their birthday as their password: mmddyyyy (no spaces, no slashes, no dashes. The usernames for students can be seen here:

GAFE Account Benefits

• Use Google Drive to store all of your important documents and access them anywhere you have internet on any device!
• Create shared folders in Google Drive to save and share documents with your students, team, or campus!
• Use Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (inside Google Drive) to create collaborative documents where everyone can edit at the same time and the work is saved automatically!
• Exclusive access to Google Classroom (a digital classroom for you and your students).  Google Classroom is only available through our @g.birdvilleschools.net GAFE accounts.

Resources

• Google on the BISD Helpdesk Knowledgebase
• Digital Learning News Brief September 1, 2015
• Digital Learning News Brief September 8, 2015
• Shake Up Learning Google Resources

If you would like help getting started with Google, please email your Digital Learning Specialist!