Instructional Technology
Designing the student experience so that every learner believes they belong in the learning community.
August 2023
About the Instructional Technology Department
Welcome to Weslaco ISD!
The Instructional Technology Department consists of 2 people:
- Scott Amdahl, Director of Instructional Technology
- Julie Kelly, Instructional Technology Coordinator.
Our contact information can be found at at the bottom of this newsletter.
Below you will find the software that is supported by the Instructional Technology Department.
Technology Tools
Google Workspace for Education
Google Workspace Learning Center- Learn by Product!
- Gmail
- Google Calendar
- Google Drive -Store, access, and share your files in one secure place
- Meet - video communication service for your virtual meetings and online small groups
- Docs -Word processing
- Forms -Create forms and surveys with multiple question types
- Keep -Make different kids of notes including texts, lists, images, and audio
- Sheets - Create and edit online spreadsheets
- Sites - Create your classroom learning hub or host student portfolios
- Slides - Create presentations
Screencastify
Screen Recording and Video Editing
Personalize learning in your classroom!
Record lessons to allow
- students to learn from you anytime/anywhere
- teachers to meet with students in small groups while students are engaged in online and offline lessons
Build Your Library of On-Demand Videos!
Software to Help with Management
🔎Clever: Clever allows for students to have single sign-on to all their apps. Follow these steps from Clever to organize your classroom apps to make digital learning work better.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
🔎Digital Citizenship---Enrichment ActivitiesAdd these links to your Google Classrooms!
Ready-to-go digital citizenship activities to help you fill the "extra minutes" that sometimes happen.
Activities focus on digital citizenship, and at upper grades digital skills are included.
- K-2 Tech Fun: https://sites.google.com/wisd.us/digcit-tech-fun-k-2/home
- 3-5 Tech Fun: https://sites.google.com/wisd.us/digcit-tech-fun3rd-5th/home
- MS/HS Tech Fun: https://sites.google.com/wisd.us/digcittechfunmshs/home
Professional Growth
👉Innovative Teaching Day 2023
- AM is Personalized, Blended Learning: Self Paced Classroom,
- PM is Tech Tools to Elevate Learning, and Updates to Google Workspace and other software provided by the Instructional Technology department.
- Location: Each campus will facilitate the sessions.
👉Google Online PD Opportunities
We are nearing the end of online PD courses that were offered during the second semester of last year and this past summer- this mean we have a limited amount of licenses left to offer.
1️⃣ Blended Learning with Google, by Kasey Bell of Shake Up Learning
- Teachers of Reading/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies
- 6 hours
- Self-Paced- start and stop as your schedule allows
- Comes with the online course and the accompanying book for you to keep
- Stipend upon completion ($180)
- Ideal for grades 3-12
2️⃣ Google Classroom Masterclass, by Kasey Bell of Shake Up Learning
- 6 hours
- Self-Paced- start and stop as your schedule allows
- Course only, no book
- Stipend upon completion ($180)
- Ideal for all classroom teachers using Google Classroom
- Extremely limited licenses available
Steps:
Take the online course
Earn your certificate
Enroll in the matching Google Classroom to offer your reflections and upload your certificate
We take care of the rest- issuing your credit and processing for your stipend.
Deadline:
You MUST finish the coursework and Google Classroom reflections by August 20, 2023- before the funds for this account are closed.
First come- First Served!
We plan to continue offering online PD courses throughout the year, including these 2 courses.
Interested?
Email Julie Kelly at jkelly@wisd.us.
👉Monthly newsletter: Crafting the Student Experience
Each month we send out a newsletter offing advice and tips on implementing personalized, blended learning and technology tips.
Interested in subscribing to this newsletter?
Email Julie Kelly at jkelly@wisd.us.
Instructional Technology Department
Need guidance?
We are available to offer assistance.
Scott Amdahl
Email: samdahl@wisd.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/wisd.us/edtech/home
Phone: 956.969.6559
Julie Kelly
Instructional Technology Coordinator
Email: jkelly@wisd.us
Phone: 956.969.7196