Bits and Bytes Ed Tech eNewsletter
October 15, 2024
MSC Cybersecurity Awareness October 2024
Play the Cybersecurity Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Game!
Our district-wide Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaign for October 2024 aims to engage all educational partners in promoting digital safety and security.
The cornerstone of our strategy is a voluntary Tic-Tac-Toe challenge for staff, incentivizing completion of KnowBe4 training videos with raffle entries for gift card prizes. This gamified approach will run from October 14 to November 1.
To maintain momentum and increase awareness, we will distribute cybersecurity-themed posters weekly on Tuesday & Thursday to staff, teachers, and secondary students.
The campaign will culminate with a social media outreach to families, providing cybersecurity tips in both English and Spanish.
Do's and Don'ts Teachers Guide
Check out the Do's and Don'ts for Teachers Guide for Protecting Student Privacy on Social Media
Attention teachers! Are you navigating the tricky waters of social media in your classroom? Common Sense Media latest guide, "Do's and Don'ts for Teachers: Protecting Student Privacy on Social Media," is a must-read for educators looking to harness the power of digital tools while safeguarding student privacy. Don't miss out on essential advice like turning off location services when taking photos and being mindful of sharing educational products. Click here to access this invaluable resource and transform your approach to social media in education!
Why Consider ParentSquare for Parent-Teacher Conferences?
ParentSquare's appointment sign-up feature can significantly simplify the scheduling process for both teachers and families. Here's why you might want to give it a try:
- Easy Access: Families can view all conference details directly through the ParentSquare app.
- Quick Scheduling: Booking a time slot takes less than five minutes.
- Streamlined Process: Teachers can focus more on preparing for meaningful conversations with families.
New Enhancement: Student Selection
We're pleased to announce an update to the appointment sign-up feature:
- Parents and guardians can now easily select their student's name when booking appointments.
- This improvement ensures that student names are clearly displayed to teachers in the appointment feed and within form reports.
- For school-wide sign-ups, parents with multiple children at the site can choose between all of their students.
Benefits for Teachers:
- Quickly see which parents are signing up for conferences and for which students.
- Gain valuable context for more efficient conference preparation.
Direct Messaging Just Got a Major Upgrade! You now have the ability to message an entire class or group using your web browser and the mobile app.
Posts on ParentSquare are an incredibly effective way of sharing information with an entire class or group. However, teachers and coaches often need to communicate more directly with their classes and teams, including sending real-time updates, shorter notes, and messages inviting or requiring a response.
You can now send a Message to a group or class! Just follow these easy steps to do it:
PD Incentive MSA Trainings at Your School Site
Check with your school site Ed Tech Liaison to find out when your monthly MSA trainings are being offered. Liaisons offer monthly PD Incentive training on MSA topics this school year including the following:
- September was MSA Classroom Part 2 to compliment our Aug 7th and Aug 9th District Trainings
- October this month is Creating Student Groups in MSA, Performance Matters, and PowerTeacher Pro!
- Coming up in November will be MSA Comparative Grades & Performance Matters and Schoology Student Groups
- December they will showcase the new Schoology Lesson Planner
Mission Focus
The AI Committee's mission is to create clear guidelines and policies for using AI safely and responsibly in our schools. Focus on teachers, students, and staff use of AI tools in ways that support learning, align to district initiatives, and standardize on tools.
Our AI Committee is making significant strides in developing comprehensive AI Guidelines and Policies to ensure responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence in our educational environment. Here's what you need to know:
1. Focus Areas: Task Force Groups are diligently reviewing and recommending policy updates across four crucial domains:
- District-wide policies
- Classroom implementation
- Student engagement and protection
- Staff guidelines and support
2. Inclusive Collaboration: We're proud to have a diverse team of educational partners contributing their expertise, including students, parent ambassadors, teachers, classified staff, management, school site administrators, and representatives from MTA and CSEA.
3. Key Considerations: The committee is prioritizing AI privacy, security, bias, ethics, and professional development in all deliberations and recommendations.
How Did They Do That is Back!
Get ready for a new season packed with amazing content to inspire and elevate your teaching. 🚀 Open to all educators, this series is your ticket to innovative classroom ideas and strategies.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn and grow! 🌟 Join us for an exciting year of professional development.
Maximize Learning with Quizizz Flashcards
Quick Links:
Quizizz Flashcards are a versatile tool designed to enhance learning through interactive and engaging methods. Here are some key details on how they work:
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Creation and Customization:
- Create Your Own: Teachers can create custom flashcards for any subject or grade level. You can add text, images, audio, and video clips to make the flashcards more interactive.
- Import Questions: You can import questions from other quizzes, Google Forms, and spreadsheets to create a unique set of flashcards.
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Library Access:
- Wide Range of Subjects: Access a vast library of flashcards covering various subjects and grade levels, from elementary science to high school algebra.
- Curated Content: The flashcards are curated by educators to ensure they meet learning goals and standards.
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Interactive Learning:
- Spaced Repetition: Flashcards use spaced repetition to help students reinforce learning by recalling information at regular intervals.
- Flexible Use: Students can choose to play a quiz as it is or turn the questions into flashcards that they can flip to view answers.
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Accessibility and Inclusion:
- Anytime, Anywhere: Students can access flashcards on any device, making it easy to practice anytime and anywhere.
- Engaging Features: Add multimedia elements to make learning more engaging and fun.
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Student Engagement:
- Self-Paced Learning: Students can use flashcards for self-paced learning, allowing them to study at their own speed.
- Interactive Practice: Flashcards can be used for both individual practice and group activities, enhancing collaborative learning.
Create an Interactive Video: Turn Any Video into an Interactive Learning Experience
Quick Links:
Enhance your teaching toolkit with Quizizz Interactive Videos! This feature allows you to transform any video into an interactive learning experience by adding questions that pause the video at key moments. This ensures that students understand the material as they go.
How Interactive Videos Work:
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Creation and Customization:
- Create Interactive Videos: Use videos from YouTube, upload your own, or use videos from Google Drive or OneDrive. Add questions at specific timestamps to make the video interactive.
- Customization Options: Prevent students from skipping parts of the video, increase playback speed, and enable captions for better accessibility.
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Student Engagement:
- Interactive Learning: As students watch the video, it pauses at designated points to prompt them with questions. This split-screen interface ensures they stay engaged and actively participate.
- Flexible Use: Assign interactive videos as homework or use them in live sessions. Students can join via a link, QR code, or join code.
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Insights and Reports:
- Performance Tracking: Get detailed insights into student responses and performance on each question within the video. This helps in identifying areas where students may need additional support.
We encourage you to try out Quizizz Interactive Videos and see how they can benefit your classroom.
Accessibility compliance and equitable learning just got easier
Learn how Modesto City School District’s edtech choices can enhance equitable learning for every student. Quizizz introduces Accommodation Profiles, designed to close gaps and empower all students to succeed. Discover how these profiles make it easier to provide necessary accommodations and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
We encourage you to try out Quizizz and see firsthand how it can benefit your classroom.