Instructional Tech Weekly

If you are looking for digital materials, check out myON on the Renaissance site. Students and teachers login with their STAR credentials to access myON. They have just added a new collection of books on our site. Renaissance provides resources to help teachers use myON in a remote, hybrid or in-person learning environment. There is also a dedicated support guide just for myON. They also offer ideas for creating reading projects using myON.

Nearpod is always adding new features to its platform. To learn more about regular updates in Nearpod, visit their Updates Page. Check out their new whiteboard feature. Teachers can access this whiteboard during a live lesson. Here is a short video about how the whiteboard works. Nearpod is always producing new tools for teachers to highlight various ways to use their software. Check out these 10 ideas from the Nearpod blog.

Here are some new resources for teachers addressing the Savvas Realize platform. Look out for the recording of the session that teachers attended. Google Classroom Frequently Asked questions for Teachers. For more instructions on Google Classroom/Realize integration, go to

Google Integration for Teachers. Also take a look at the three videos to help teachers integrate with Get Started with Google Classroom. To learn more about using Google Classroom Assignments, check out Google Classroom Assignments with Savvas Realize.

There are three ways to progress monitor within STAR. You can use the modified benchmark assessment. There are also Curriculum Based Measures as well as Customized Assessments. There are pre-made Customized Assessments or they can be teacher-created. The Customized Assessments can be created based on standards and focus skills. To learn more, check out these resources put together by Dawn Huston. Here is a recording of a training Dawn Huston presented to colleagues. She also shared her Google Slide Deck.

Edulastic is an assessment creation tool. We have access to it until June 2021. It is easy to use and contains a vetted question bank as well as pre-made assessments. Teachers can also create their own tests or upload tests in order to administer them as online assignments via Google Classroom. To learn more go to the Edulastic Website and take a look at their resources.

All new software must be compliant with Ed Law 2-D. This law requires software vendors to have more stringent privacy policies to protect student privacy and data. If you are looking for a new software title, check out the privacy policy. Use EducationFramework.com to see how the software is rated. Everyone in the District has access to Education Framework by using your Google Credentials.

There are also ways that teachers can protect student data during virtual and classroom settings.

Ways to protect student data include:

• Make sure during screen shares that student data is not shown.
• Do not use software applications that require student logins that have not been vetted by the district.
• Do not share student login information, especially if their username includes student IDs
• Take a look at this short video on protecting student data

If you are looking to procure new software, you need to fill out the Software Recommendation Form. To speed up the process, remember to take a look at EducationFramework.com for compliance with Ed Law 2-D.