The EdTech Curator's Digest
A Newsletter for Teaching, Learning, & Leading
June 2024
The newsletter is meant to provide helpful resources, tutorials, edtech tips, and professional development opportunities to support educators and leaders in their unique educational environments.
(Before using any of these resources with students, ensure what and how you use these resources matches the content, privacy, and accessibility guidelines required by your individual district.)
Featured Professional Development
iTECS Summit 2024
We are thrilled to announce that the 2nd Annual iTECS Conference is returning to Clinton County educators brought to you by REMC 13 & 517 EdTech, REMC 14w & SITN, Clinton County RESA, Shiawassee RESD, Ingham ISD, & Eaton RESA.
What: iTECS: Innovating and Transforming Education Collaborative Summit
When: Thursday, August 8th, 2024
Where: Bath Middle School
Cost: Free to attend for Clinton, Shiawassee, Ingham, & Eaton educators and school staff members
Join us for an enriching experience at our upcoming summit, where our four-county educational community comes together to champion innovative goals, share expertise, and gain fresh insight. Engage in authentic interactions with fellow educators and participate in breakout sessions focused on innovating and transforming teaching, learning, and assessment systems. Join us in building momentum toward the classroom and school innovations you aspire to see.
Contact the iTECS coordinators if you have any questions:
- Allison Remington (Rogers) (aremington@ccresa.org)
- Tom Louks (louks@sresd.org)
- Andrew Shauver (ashauver@inghamisd.org)
- Christy Lobdell (clobdell@eatonresa.org)
Use the QR codes above to register for the iTECS Summit AND also please consider applying to the Call for Presenters to share your expertise with our multi-county edtech community.
Helpful EdTech Resources & Tools
Suno.AI
Check out Suno.ai, a web-based, text-to-music generator that can whip up full songs in seconds from a simple text prompt. This tool lets you create songs with simple prompts (style, subject, etc). Users on the free plan can generate 10 songs per day. Enjoy the range of musical stylings that you and your students can create!
The Gmail survival guide for busy teachers
Check out this blog post from Matt Miller's Ditch That Textbook showcasing tips and tricks within the Gmail survival guide for busy teachers.
5 Google Tasks to Wrap up your Year
Google Slides Keyboard Shortcuts
Check out a recent topic from my Tech Tip Tuesday YouTube Channel that covers how to utilize
Google Slides Keyboard Shortcuts.
You can view my full playlist of Tech Tip Tuesday videos here.
Additional Professional Learning Opportunities
MACUL Grants
Apply for a MACUL Grant and be awarded up to $1000 for your instructional technology project. Applications are due by Monday, June, 17th at 5:00 pm. Check out the grant guidelines and application worksheet for more details.
CT in the D at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Registration is open for the June 18th event, CT in the D at the Detroit Institute of Arts hosted by Wayne RESA. The morning will be co-facilitated with Julie Evans from Project Tomorrow. The afternoon will be led by staff from the DIA who will take us through the museum to visit different artwork pieces and make connections to computational thinking. We will end the day with a hands-on activity that pulls all the learning together. There is no cost for the event, but lunch is on your own (logistical reasons with the DIA).
REMC's Generative AI Webinar Series
'In this webinar series, educators will have the opportunity to explore AI topics in a structured yet interactive environment. Led by trained facilitators, these virtual sessions will last 75 minutes each and each will cover an AI-related subject such as basic fundamentals, examining risks, best practices and ethics, and applications in education.' Current Webinar topics include:
Unveiling the Future: Fundamentals of AI
Responsible AI: Examining Risks and Best Practices in Education
Transformative Teaching with AI: Enhancing Instructional Practices & Efficiency
Learning with AI: Revolutionizing Assessment & Cultivating Student AI Literacy
'Additional webinars will be added for the 2024-2025 school year. This AI webinar series is open to all educators in Michigan and there is no registration or SCECHs fees. Register today, seats are limited to 40 for each session.'
CSforMichigan: AI for Educators professional learning for middle & high school educators
This workshop series aims to explore the impact of AI on education, student learning, and educator's daily life. Over 2-3 days of in-person learning, participants will delve into various AI topics, from handling difficult situations to fostering creativity and streamlining content creation. Each session will follow the EIPM (Explore, Investigate, Practice, and Make) model, offering background information, future studies, and practical resources. By the end of the workshop, attendees will gain familiarity with resources that can enhance their roles in education on a day-to-day basis.
AI for Educators Information Page: Info Page
Link to Application - Application Page
Summer Workshop
Participants will engage in high quality professional learning workshops during the summer as they dig into AI pedagogy and resources. Here are the two options for professional learning:
· Bay City (TeacherCon): Waitlist July 8-9, 2024 or July 10-12, 2024 or,
· Dickinson-Iron Mountain ISD - July 30-31, 2024
Summer Workshop - Scholarships Include ($1,000 value):
· Workshop registration
· 2/3-Night Lodging
· Breakfast and Lunch
REMC Offerings & Resources
Check out the free upcoming REMC Virtual Courses that provide an easy, convenient way for teachers to connect and collaborate while reducing time and cost.
- No registration or SCECH fee
- 10 SCECH's offered
- Open to all Michigan school personnel
Each course is open for three weeks and consists of two one-hour “live” webinars that are recorded and available for viewing later and eight hours of resource review, assessment developments, and written reflection.
#517 EdTech Professional Learning Community
#517 EdTech ListServ
#517EdTech is powered by REMC13 and is led by Allison Rogers, Andrew Shauver, and Christy Lobdell. We have an email list that we use to share tips and tricks, professional learning opportunities, contests, and opportunities that you may not hear about in other places.
- If you are a REMC 13 educator (Clinton, Ingham, Eaton) and would like to be added to our email list to stay in the loop, please fill out the #517 EdTech ListServ Form.
On Demand PD
CCRESA Instructional Services Website - Instructional Technology Content
CCRESA Instructional Services Instructional Technology Site
Remember to check out the CCRESA Instructional Services - Instructional Technology site (www.ccresa.org/departments/instructional-services/instructional-technology/) which includes tutorials, resources, help documents, guidance, and training in the following areas:
- #517 EdTech
- Clinton County ConnectED
- Family EdTech Resources
- G Suite
- iTECS Conference
- Remote Teaching & Learning
- Tech Tip Tuesday
- Ti4E Conference
Communicate & Collaborate
Questions? Training Needs? Interested in Collaborating?
Feel free to reach out to Allison Remington (Rogers)!
Check out my key resources and websites:
- REMC 13 Classroom Makers
- #517 EdTech Professional Learning Network
- (Request to be added to the #517 EdTech ListServ Here)
- iTECS: Innovating & Transforming Learning in Clinton/Shiawassee
- CCRESA Instructional Services Site - Instructional Technology
Email: aremington@ccresa.org
Location: Clinton County RESA, U.S. 127 Business, Saint Johns, MI, USA
Phone: 989-224-6831
Twitter: @eduAllisonR