The EdTech Connection

DiffIt is a new AI tool that can create resources for teachers for just about any topic! Currently, it is FREE for all teachers, but will shift to a "freemium" model at the end of Jan 2024. Until then though, teachers can have access to the premium features for free!

What types of things can it do?

• Adapt the reading level of an online text OR video
• Create print or digital resources that can be edited
• Resources can be shared by printing OR through Canvas

For more information, check out the video below or the FAQs on the DiffIt site.

Keep your email safe by following these reminders / guidelines, recently shared again by FCS Technology Services (although they are GREAT guidelines for anyone to follow):

1. Be free when using BCC: If you are emailing more than 5 people within FCS or even more than ONE person outside of FCS, use BCC. This prevents the dreaded "Reply All" problem and also keeps from accidentally sharing email addresses.
2. Be sensitive with sensitive info: If you are sending or asking for sensitive information outside the district (think: medical info), don't use Outlook! Instead, use IC Campus Messenger...or, at minimum, a BCC email.
3. Avoid attachments at all costs: A common way of sending viruses is by using attachments. They can even live in a PDF. Instead, include a "share" link to the file from your Google Drive or OneDrive within your email.
4. Create a group in Outlook: If you regularly email the same group of FCS people, consider creating a "Private Group" in Outlook that would let you easily email everyone. With a group, you would also save a record of all emails sent.
5. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T?? To protect student and teacher privacy, emails that don't follow these guidelines may be blocked from sending external email at all! Pay attention and think twice before hitting "Send" !

Recently, I was asked again about how to find something that had been deleted in Canvas so I thought I would include this again as a little reminder.

Strangely enough, there is not a "link" in Course Navigation for the trashcan for your course. Instead, it is hidden away and you have to remember the trick to finding it. This is not listed as an "official" trashcan, so it's best to go there to restore items as soon as you realize that you need them.

1. Open your course in Canvas.
2. Click in the address bar and add /undelete after the course number. It will look like forsyth.instructure.com/courses/(course number here)/undelete.
3. Hit Enter / Return.

You'll see a list of items that have been deleted, along with information about when it was created and when it was last modified (although not when it was deleted). If you click "Restore," it will go back to whatever type of item it is (a page will go to Pages, a discussion will go to Discussions, etc.).