Technology & Professional Development Updates

Note: Tech & PD Updates are compiled from Matt Jacobson's visits to schools and talking with teachers, the myriad emails he receives, and handy items he sometimes just stumbles across. These Updates are sent out to teachers in District #205 on the dates indicated using the current email distribution lists. (when they work) SCROLL DOWN FOR OLDER EDITIONS

Current Edition

If nothing appears in the frame below, scroll down a bit & you'll find web versions or downloadable PDF files. The current edition is at the top of the list
Did You Know?
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Archives

01/25/2016: Did You Know? Clearing Chromebook Browser History & Downloaded Files
01/07/2016: Did You Know? Chromebook Key Commands & Keyboard Shortcuts 
12/03/2015: Assessment Updates, Chrome App Tips, Google Apps Training Center, Exploring the Web Store, and PD Academy Opportunities. 
10/13/2015: Assessment Updates, Capture the Core news, What Is EdCamp?, Tech Tips, and PD Opportunities
10/02/2015: Assessment Updates, New Illinois Learning Standards Include Social Science, ELL Team Updates, Dozens of PD Academy Classes Available, and more
Aug. 23, 2015: Assessment Updates, Digital Classroom Tips, Chromebook & Hapara Troubleshooting Tips, Resetting Student Passwords, PD Academy Classes & more 
08/10/2015: Assessment Update, Science Curriculum Work, PD Academy Info, Meet your Curriculum & Instruction Department, Back to School Info, and more
End of Year Technology Procedures for staff. Please follow these tips & procedures before heading out on Summer Break. 
05/29/2015: End of Year Tech Procedures, Why the SMART Board is turning off during your class, Google Takeout, Rumors Dispelled, Google Classroom, Printing PDFs via Chrome, and much more!
05/08/2015: Mentoring Log due dates, Math Curriculum Team Meeting reminder, Belief Gap workshop, Cyber Camp, Copyright Reminder, Google Classroom updates, Lions Quest update, ESL Cohort, and more! 
04/27/2015: PD Needs Assessment, Google Classroom - Co Teachers & Draft Posts, Lion's Quest info, Hapara Tune Up, Learn360, Mentor Logs & Year 2 New Teacher Logs due May 15, Math Curriculum Team Meets May 27, and more! 
04/17/2015: New State Superintendent, Hapara Tune Up, Learn 360, Mentor Logs & Year 2 Logs due May 15, Free PD on Google Tools, PARCC Updates & Schedules, Cyber Camp 2015, NBPTS Funding Released, and more! 
03/27/2015: Lion's Quest, Curriculum Alignment Meeting Dates, Hapara Changes Coming Soon, Cyber Camp 2015, Classroom Spotlight, Google Tricks, Cleaning Chromebooks, and more!
01/30/2015: Dream Big Book Club, School Calendar Update, 5Essentials Survey, Curriculum Alignment Meeting Dates, Restart an Online Assignment, Jigsaw Reading & Tech Tools, PARCC Resources, and much more...! 
01/25/2015: Curriculum Alignment Meeting Dates, School Calendar Voting, IL 5Essentials Survey, Dream Big Book Club, Cyberbullying & Internet Safety Resources, Creating & Changing Passwords, and much more!
01/19/2015: Curriculum Alignment Mtg Reschedule, Dream Big Book Club, PARCC Dates, PARCC Prep Resources, Classroom Spotlight, License Renewal Changes, Self-Grading Quizzes, Getting Started with Google Classroom
01/05/2015: PARCC Sample Items & Practice Tests, C & I News, Tech & PD Updates, Google Apps Show, Chromebook & Classroom Tech Resources, Webb's Depth of Knowledge, SAMR & TPACK, Using Google Forms/Sheets, and more! 
12/17/2014: Avoid the Quicktime for Chrome Plug-in, Needs Assessment Survey Results Published, Finding Apps Got Easier, Student Growth Model Presentation, Using Chromeboks Offline, Flipped Classroom Apps, and much more
12/11/2014: After School & Anonymous Posting Apps, Teaching Internet Safety, Reporting Cyber Bullying, Creating Strong Passwords, Changing Passwords, How to Update a Chromebook, Google Classroom Tips & More!
11/26/2014:Needs Assessment Results, Java Updates & Bloatware, Mentor Logs Due Dec. 12, Google Basics for Teaching, Getting Started with Google Classroom, Quizzes Using Google Forms, Resetting Voice Mail PIN, & More!
11/10/2014: Teaching with Google, Getting Started with Classroom, "Disappearing" Hapara Classes, Online Assignment Tips, Cleaning up "Shared with Me," Digital Exit Tickets, Using Screen Clippings, Math Expressions, & much more!
11/03/2014: GDocs Revision History, Chrome browser history, managing downloaded files, Managing Shared With Me/Incoming folder, Omnibox, SMART Notebook Software, and Lots of Hapara tips
10/24/2014: Working Offline with Chromebooks, How to open Web pages on students' screens quickly, Mentor & New Teacher info, making videos with Chromebooks, forcing student passwords, Calendar Reminders, and more!
10/16/2014: Institute Follow Up, How to Update a Chromebook, Resources for Bullying Prevention & Cyber Security Awareness Month, Using Online Assignments in Skyward, Online Coursework for CPDUs, and more!
10/03/2014: 2014 Institute Update, Chromebook & Google learning resources, Welcome Back YouTube, A note about Internet filters, a simple classroom timer, Resetting Student Passwords, and more!
09/12/2014: Student Email Concerns, Simple Classroom Management Tips, Passwords, Work Email on Personal Devices, and more!