CSDNR Instructional Tech Weekly

If your students have been blocked from watching YouTube videos, we have a solution for you. Teachers can now use Nearpod to show YouTube Videos. The application is working on both teacher and student devices. YouTube videos will play on student chromebooks without interruption. Take a look at this short video on how to utilize Nearpod to show YouTube videos. It's a fairly easy task and this will allow you to keep them in your Nearpod Library to access any time.

YouTube videos can be searched within the Nearpod platform using a topic or a URL. Teachers can create a Video Lesson without any other content that can be shared via Google Classroom or a simple 5-digit code. Video Lessons can be utilized either as student-paced assignments or as part of a live lesson. Videos can be shown on a single teacher device or on individual student devices. Teachers can also add questions to each video, but it is not required.

Before you put your YouTube links into your Video Lesson, you might want to check out the plethora of videos available in the Nearpod Library. Nearpod offers videos on a variety of topics, addressing K-12 content. You can search by grade level, subject area and key words. Videos that are already in Nearpod include embedded questions. These embedded questions can either be multiple choice or open-ended. Each video's questions are customizable. Teachers can modify, delete or add questions to the Video Lesson.

YouTube videos are blocked for students, but can be unblocked. If you are using a YouTube channel to access video content, those can be unblocked as well. In order to have your YouTube videos or channels unblocked they will need to be "Whitelisted". Whitelisting videos allows them to be viewed. Teachers who would like videos or YouTube Channels to be whitelisted for students need to put in a help desk ticket. You may include one video, many videos or the channel in the ticket. If you have not accessed the help desk in a while here is the URL: https://lhric.service-now.com/. Use your nredlearn.org credentials to login. Choose Internet and Internet Filtering when filling out the form and add the URLs in the Description box.

If you have not seen the list of District Approved Applications, please make sure you know the applications that can be used in CSDNR. These applications include software procured through LHRIC or BOCES as well as third party vendors who have signed our Parent Bill of Rights and Data Privacy Agreement, drafted by the District's attorneys. To ensure compliance with Ed Law 2D and Part 121, all vendors who collect student personally identifiable information (PII) must sign these agreements. If you are interested in new software not on the list, fill out the Software Approval Form. If you are looking for training on software that is approved, fill out the Request for Training Form.

Screencastify is a tool that allows users to record their screen in order to demonstrate how to do something while on the computer. Users can record their voices over their actions to explain the demonstration. You can even use the camera as a webcam so that you can be seen by watchers of the video. Videos created can be edited within the platform and downloaded as well.

Screencastify videos are stored in your Google Drive and can be accessed from the chrome extension menu, under the tab, My Recordings. Videos can be shared out via a link or they can also be shared to a Google Classroom. They can now also be shared with a QR code. The QR code can be copied and pasted or downloaded.

If you are looking for fun games to use with your classes, check out Lumio. Lumio, formerly known as Smart Learning Suite Online, offers 12 game templates for teachers to use with students. Lumio is easy to use and is accessible in your Google Waffle. Take a look at this short video on how to create and launch a game.

The District subscribes to Nearpod and its Digital Citizenship lessons for grades K-12. These lessons include topics such as keyboarding, coding, evaluating resources and staying safe online. There is a scope and sequence that includes all of the lessons Nearpod offers. There are over 250 lessons in all. Nearpod also offers an implementation guide for using the Digital Citizenship lessons in the classroom.

BrainPop offers a variety of resources on many subjects. Within their plethora of informational videos and materials, they address many topics pertaining to Digital Citizenship. This resource is comprised of videos, quizzes, primary sources and related readings. All of these materials can be assigned to students within the platform. The Digital Citizenship topics address cyberbullying, information privacy, copyright, malware, medial literacy and online safety to name a few. Take a look at all that BrainPop has to offer.

The Integrated Social Studies/ELA Curriculum from Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES is a user-friendly curriculum created by teachers from the region for teachers throughout New York State. To create your individual account, go to https://www.pnwboces.org/sselanew/registration. Complete the required fields and create your password. Passwords must be at least 6 characters long and must include a special character. You will receive a confirmation email to complete the registration process. Open the confirmation email and select the embedded link to confirm your new account. Sign In and click the Confirmation button. After you click on the Confirmation button you can use your newly created credentials to login to the Enhanced SS/ELA Curriculum.

The District has access to a new writing program for grades 6-12 called No Red Ink. This program helps to build stronger writers through authentic writing experiences. There are four components in the application; Practice, Writing, Assessment and Standards & Tests. Practice includes skill and grammar work. The Writing section is comprised of Quick Writes and Guided Drafts. This section also includes Peer Review and Self Review.

To get started with No Red Ink, go to noredink.com and use your Google credentials to login. Choose your school to take you to the premium content. To learn more about the platform take a look at the Getting Started Section and Video, Video on Quick Writes or Diagnostic Assessments. Additionally, the Instructional Technology Team will provide training for teachers.

The Instructional Technology Website is always being updated. Recently, the site was overhauled to feature the professional learning resources that are available to all CSDNR faculty and staff. Last spring, the Team began vetting and creating resources to help educators learn how to use software applications. The resources include step-by-step videos as well as Google Slide Decks. There are also Google Docs and PDFs. Over the last year, we have added many resources to this collection.