Spring Fever ---- Sure Seems Faraway!

  

Check out this blog post by Cheryl Mizerny in MiddleWeb Blog, 3-11-18 (notice just before our last Nor'Easter), Try These Fun Cures for Class Spring Fever  - "With spring fever looming, Cheryl Mizerny breaks out her teacher-tested collection of apps and tools that make her classroom more interactive, relevant and engaging -- and her students more eager to stay on task. Check out Quizizz, Inklewriter, Canva and other digital all-stars Mizerny recommends.", MiddleWeb SmartBrief, March 13, 2018 

MORE INFO - Click HERE

What is the app challenge?

The app challenge, part of Verizon Innovative Learning, is a nationwide contest in which middle and high school students are challenged to develop concepts for mobile apps that solve a problem in their community. It’s a unique, hands-on activity that teaches collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills and coding. It builds on students’ excitement about technology and aims to equip them with skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future.

What are the important dates?

• Registration for the app challenge opens August 1, 2016.
• The submission deadline is November 18, 2016.
• Best in State winners will be announced January 9, 2017.
• Best in Region winners will be announced January 17, 2017.
• Voting for the Fan Favorite award will take place January 16 through February 14, 2017 (all BIS winners are eligible for Fan Favorite).
• Best in Nation and Fan Favorite winners will be announced February 15, 2017.

Who can enter?

Teams of students affiliated with schools and nonprofit groups/clubs can enter the contest, along with an adult advisor.

The students must be in grades 6 through 12, and the teams must have five to seven members plus their advisor. Teams can register with their school (public, private, or parochial) or any nonprofit group or club that is tax-exempt under section501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. They must be located in the United States. Here are more details about who can participate. 

More info - click HERE

Webinar

The Importance Of Customizing Your AAC  App – What Is Possible And What You  Should Consider Wednesday, August 5

There are many hundreds of communication apps  on the market and identifying the best fit to meet the  needs of an individual user can be, well – complicated!  Perhaps what we should consider is how well an app  can be customized to meet those needs and create that  perfect fit. This webinar will focus on what considerations   to take into account when it comes to customization –  what age is the user? What is the ability of the user?  Does the user have a visual impairment? Does the user  require a switch? We will then demonstrate a range of  settings within Therapy Box’s own apps that demonstrate  how AAC apps can be adjusted for a range of requirements. • Time: 10:00AM to 10:45AM CDT • Presenter: Rebecca Bright, BSpPath MRCSLT regHPC MASLTIP • Level: Beginner

High Tech Science - check out article on Mashable!

I cannot resist passing along this article by Kyli Singh from Mashable! 

Check out the article and the apps, technology, and sites described within it:
 - life-size plastic replica of a skeleton in class vs. and interactive skeleton app - FREE - Essential Skeleton 4,
- science fair  presentation boards vs. online self-publishing tools - You Tube and blogging platforms like Glogster are web tools that help students create interactive projects,
- the periodic table of elements poster vs. interactive tables full of information - Ptable.com,
- real frog dissection vs. virtual frog dissection,  Froguts - this is a subscription site,
- microscopes vs. smartphone microscopes -  Skylight - for $75 this plastic smartphone to microscope, telescope, binoculars, spotting scope adapter allows students to magnify,
- paper and pencil quizzes vs. clicker quizzes - interactive tech instruments like clickers are used in science lectures and other classes for quizzing and polling,
- hands-on chemistry experiments vs. virtual chemistry experiments - no more blowing up the chemistry lab - check out the website Late Nite Labs - for higher ed although this site can be use in some AP level high school curriculums - subscription based.

Okay as the school years begins to come to a close, perhaps you might be interested in some WEBINARS?

From Education Week:

 

Content Provided by: The Five W’s of Mobile Malware Mobile malware is a growing menace, even though many cybersecurity practitioners don’t fully grasp the situation. This presentation will address the "Five W’s" of mobile malware, namely: Who is developing it and who is being affected by it? What exactly is it? When does it get dropped on mobile devices and when does it execute on mobile devices? Where are botnet operations that harvest mobile devices most prevalent? Why is mobile malware developed in the first place? This high-level presentation will stimulate thoughtful discussions and commensurate actions amongst cybersecurity professionals who are tasked with defending their schools students and faculty, data, and infrastructure. Guests: Kevin McPeak, CISSP, ITILv3, technical architect, security, Public Sector Strategic Programs, Symantec Ben Orencia, education practice manager, Public Sector Strategic Programs, Symantec This webinar will be moderated by Sean Herdman, associate publisher, Education Week Register now for this free live webinar. From AbleNet: Google Chrome as AT Thursday, June 19 With the proliferation of 1:1 programs and Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), schools are exploring more EdTech solutions to meet the technology needs of learners. With all of this technology – what happens to the struggling student? In this session, learn about an array of Google Chrome apps and extensions that could be beneficial to ALL students. By leveraging the power of this common browser, we can make significant customizations to meet the needs of all students, Including on web enabled devices so students can use any device and have their supports follow them. The session will highlight Google apps and extensions to assist students in the areas of reading, writing, organization, study skills, mind-mapping/ brainstorming, executive function, and math/ computing. • Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT • Presenter: Mike Marotta, ATP • Level: Beginner

From eSchool News:

How to Transform Instruction by Empowering Learners
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - 3:00 pm EST / 12:00 pm PST

Webinar Overview: Technology is a powerful tool, capable of empowering students to become lifelong learners—but to realize its full potential, we must stop using technology as an “add-on” to instruction. Instead, we must transform the practice of teaching and learning. Join Cameron Evans, chief technology officer and “harbinger of education transformation” at Microsoft, as he leads a conversation for K-12 leaders on how to create a culture that empowers today’s learners to become thinkers and creators. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to: Empower your teachers and students with modern technology. Engage students and prepare them for college or a career. Successfully leverage mobile devices as tools in driving teaching, learning, thinking, and creating. .

Webinar Speakers: Cameron Evans Chief Technology Officer (Harbinger of Education Transformation) US Education, Microsoft Corporation  Sponsored by:

Google for Education: New Caney Independent School District Embarks on 1:1 with Chromebooks

Thursday, June 19, 2014 - 2:00 pm EST / 11: am PST

Webinar Overview: In this webinar, you’ll hear from Dustin Hardin, director of technology at New Caney Independent School District, who will describe the three-year journey New Caney ISD took from not having any wireless access on its 14 campuses to starting a 1-to-1 program with Chromebooks in just three years. Dustin also will discuss why the district chose Chromebooks—and how it was able to pay for the program. New Caney ISD is 45 minutes north of Houston, Texas. The district has over 12,000 students and is one of the fasting growing districts in the Houston metro area. In this webinar, participants will: Learn about the Google for Education solution, which includes Chromebooks, tablets with Google Play for Education, and Google Apps for Education. Hear how this solution can be used to improve student learning, collaboration, and innovation. Get a first-hand account from a district using Google Apps for Education and Chromebooks. Learn how New Caney ISD has put the ingredients in place for a successful pilot and rollout.

Webinar Speakers: Jamie Neuwirth Regional Program Manager for Google Education Dustin Hardin Director of Technology, New Caney Independent School District Sponsored by: