Technology User Group - October 25

Our next Technology User Group is taking place next Tuesday, October 25 from 3:30 - 4:30 PM.  This session, geared towards elementary teachers, will be at the Valleyview Elementary School library.  During this session, we will provide an overview of the new SimpleK12 Teacher Learning Community, as well as have an open discussion/Q&A session on instructional technologies - what's working, what you would like more help with, etc.  Go here to register!

Where do you fit on the TIM matrix?

Thank you Deb Dalton, for reminding me of this great "Technology Integration Matrix" or TIM from the University of South Florida.  I hadn't seen the tool in a few years, and it's even better than before.  Here is a description of the tool, in their own words:

The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students. The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environments: active, constructive, goal directed (i.e., reflective), authentic, and collaborative (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003). The TIM associates five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments. Together, the five levels of technology integration and the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments create a matrix

Supported browsers for eSchool

Our eSchool student management system is currently somewhat limited with regard to the Internet browsers you can use.  New and improved browsers are popping up all of the time - but you might find they work great for everything except eSchool!  I've been told that this will change in the near (read 6-12 months out) future.  In the meantime, please stick to the below browsers for best access*.

eSchool - Administrative use --> You must use Internet Explorer version 8** or lower.

eSchool - Teacher Access Center --> Internet Explorer version 8** or lower, Safari, Firefox

* Note - best access = least frustration.  One teacher reported using Google Chrome for entering grades and comments only to find later that none of his work actually saved.

** Internet Explorer 9 has not yet been approved. 

Access your F drive from home

How many times have you wished you could access your F drive - that is, your district network space - from home?  Well now you can!  Whether you are a student or a staff member, you may access your network drives via a new utility called Network Storage.  Students will find a link to Network Storage under the "For Students" link on the district web page.  Staff will find this link under "For Staff", "Login". Users will be prompted for their network username and password.  Once logged on successfully, you will see any network drive you have access to.

Want to upload a file that you just finished working on at your home computer?  Simply click the File menu, and choose Upload. This will put a copy of that file ON your F drive where you can continue to work on it and/or print it when at work/school.

Want to download a file from F so you can work on it at home?  Navigate through your folders until you find the file.  Right-click the file and choose Download...  You will be prompted to choose a location to save this file on your home computer.  When you are done working on the file, be sure to return to the above step to upload that file back to F.