Collaborating with several elementary school principals, the Granite Educational Technology department recently sponsored WinterCon, a professional development mini-conference held at Lincoln Elementary School. Teachers and administrators from Bennion, Cottonwood, Lincoln, Rolling Meadows, Taylorsville, West Valley, and William Penn Elementary Schools came together to learn and share in a variety of sessions on topics including Google Apps for Education, Blogging, SMART Boards, classroom management, and much more. [Read more…] about #GSDEdTech WinterCon
Explore the New User Interface of Canvas
When Granite students and teachers return for the new semester next week, Canvas will greet them with a fresh new user interface. Check out these videos to get a sneak peek at the updated look and feel of Canvas.
For more information and help resources with Canvas, please visit our Canvas information page.
Teacher Spotlight: Kirsten Carroll, Redwood Elementary
Kirsten Carroll is a 3rd grade teacher at Redwood Elementary. She makes excellent use of the technology in her classroom, creating fun and meaningful learning opportunities for her students. She finds online resources that help her students better understand the concepts they are learning in class. With several of the online tools, she is able to monitor their progress in real time. At a glance she can see who is struggling and needs help. She is able to provide reteaching and individual instruction in a timely manner. Kirsten’s class recently gained access to a set of Chromebooks for their classroom, and she didn’t waste time putting them to good use. She uses Google Classroom to manage and send out assignments. The students are then able to submit their assignments digitally, creating more efficiency and saving paper at the same time. Some of the other excellent online resources they are using are: goformative.com, xtramath.org or the XtraMath Chrome App, the Prodigy Chrome App, Google Docs, Google Drawings, and so much more. Thanks Kirsten Carroll for being such an awesome teacher!
Spotlight Creator: Teresa Bruin, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist
Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter – January 2016
Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter – January 2016
The latest edition of our department’s monthly newsletter was recently sent to all teachers in Granite School District. If you missed it you can also access it here.
Highlights from our January 2016 Newsletter:
- Now Registering For: Working SMARTer With SMART Notebook Software
- Educational Technology’s Website Gem of the Month
- Stansbury Techy Teachers Spotlight: Karen Tinsley, Tracy Newby and Erin Esplin
- Kearns Jr. High Techy Teacher Spotlight: Brandon Kerby
- The Periodic Table of Education Technology
[Read more…] about Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter – January 2016
Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Newby, Ms. Tinsley, and Ms. Esplin, Stansbury Elementary
Watch Tracy Newby’s 4th Grade class at Stansbury Elementary engage in a Kahoot quiz, competing remotely against another 4th grade classroom led by Erin Esplin. Karen Tinsley, the school technology specialist, collaborated with the teachers to create this activity, and the teachers coordinated with each other during the event using Skype. These teachers take assessment of student learning to an exciting new level of collaboration and friendly competition.
Spotlight Creator: Cherie Anderson, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist
Student Library Cards from Salt Lake County Library Services
Salt Lake County Library Services now provides Student Library Cards – a new type of library card available for students ages 8-17 who live in Salt Lake County. With a Student Library Card, young library users can:
- Check out up to 3 items without accruing fines or fees
- Use library computers
- Access online homework help, research databases, and other resources
- Download ebooks, music, movies, TV shows and other online content through library services
Getting a Student Library Card is free and easy, and does not require the presence of a parent or guardian. Students just need to stop by their neighborhood library with proof that they are a current student, such as a student ID card, report card, signed letter from a teacher on school letterhead, or other official document from the school. If you are a teacher or school administrator, click here to download a quick template form that can be used to provide your students with this enrollment proof so they can obtain library cards. [Read more…] about Student Library Cards from Salt Lake County Library Services
#GSDEdTech Chat Archive: Favorite Apps and Web Tools (12/10/2015)
Many thanks to the teachers in Granite School District who joined our recent twitter chat, sharing suggestions and questions about apps and digital tools for teaching and learning. So many great ideas and resources were shared, as well as questions asked that give us opportunities to reach out and seek new solutions. Read on for a complete archive of the chat. [Read more…] about #GSDEdTech Chat Archive: Favorite Apps and Web Tools (12/10/2015)
Granite Hour of Code in Snapshots and Tweets
This week many classrooms in our district have taken the opportunity to engage in Hour of Code activities to introduce students to the basics of programming and computer science principles. Teachers have been sharing snapshots and tweets of their experiences using the #hourofcode and #gsdedtech hashtags. We gather a collection of these below. Enjoy!
@HunterElem Hour of Code with Miss Ward's class! #GSDEdTech #code.org pic.twitter.com/5ZhTgW0SlH
— Kristine Fox (@randysfox) December 3, 2015
Kicking off #HourOfCode on hat day in Ms. Solorzano's class. We love Chromebooks!! #gsdedtech pic.twitter.com/8XbUFSz1oF
— James Ballif (@jamesballif) December 7, 2015
Quoting a @RedwoodElem teacher: "The thing I love about #HourOfCode is that every kid can succeed." #kidscancode #gsdedtech
— Redwood Elementary (@RedwoodElem) December 8, 2015
How CUTE are these1st Grade coders from @KristineRaeJo class @armstrongacad #HourOfCode #gsdedtech pic.twitter.com/rc1kjzhkOn
— Brandi Gollinger (@bmgollinger) December 9, 2015
[Read more…] about Granite Hour of Code in Snapshots and Tweets
Teacher Spotlight: Brandon Kerby, Kearns Jr. High
Brandon Kerby teaches Spanish at Kearns Jr. High School. He utilizes many digital tools with his students. In the above video you can see his students practicing Spanish together interactively using Quizizz on their devices. Many thanks to Mr. Kerby for giving us a snapshot of the exciting things happening in his classroom!
Spotlight Creator: Celia Powell, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist
Hour of Code 2015
December 7-13, 2015 is Computer Science Education Week, and it is a great time to host or participate in an Hour of Code activity. Hour of Code is a worldwide initiative to give young people (as well as teachers, parents, and other adults) an introduction to coding and computer science through an engaging one hour activity. [Read more…] about Hour of Code 2015