Tech this out!

• Student names during synchronous learning time
• Are Google Classroom notifications bugging you?
• Eduprotocols and a lesson idea
• COAST for learning
• Webcam option you might be interested in
• Helpful notes from Helen
• Four important announcements from the Tech Desk

And, as usual, just a touch of "in case you missed it" flashback news

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If you are a Google Meet person, this is easy. Students sign in with their @hsdschools.org account and whether they are on an iPad or a Chromebook, you see their name.

Viewing student names in Zoom, though, is tricky and there are a couple reasons why... but primarily, it is this--- STUDENTS CAN NOT SIGN IN TO ZOOM.

Zoom asks for their birthdate and when it is shown that they are under 13 the account can not be created. (thank you for NOT ever suggesting they use a different birthday so they can sign in. There is a legal reason for that age requirement.)

TK-2 teachers--- on ipads, some teachers find students have their iPad number showing. Here are videos in English and Spanish to share with families if you need to show them how to change the name before entering the Zoom. We can't do this for you, they need to adjust the name when Zoom opens.

On occasion, older students have been changing their name to enter the Zoom with an identity other than their own. A waiting room helps, but I have heard of students (not in HESD) renaming themselves as the principal, for example, to enter the Zoom, then creating chaos until they are removed. Just be aware. We can not force log in names because--- remember, students can't sign into Zoom.

Google Meet, though, does allow students to sign in, so if you have concerns about student naming issues, this may be a better option for your class. Now that we have Google Enterprise accounts, many features, like break out rooms, polling, question voting etc have been added. Psst--- COAST is a great way to learn about it!

---> Bottom line, both options remain available to you so you can use the platform you prefer. I just want you to be aware of the issues that have popped up in a few circumstances.

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I know! There are a lot of notifications! For teachers, for admin, for students, for ALL the people! But, they are (or can be) useful. Here is the thing--- some you want and some you don't.

I have talked about notifications in the past, but this blog post by Matt Miller is very comprehensive and really leads you to consider the purpose and which notifications you want. Then it shows you how to adjust them. It is definitely worth checking out.

Can we talk about the student notifications for a second? And the blog post mentions this. If an email is going to students every time there is a post in Classroom and you haven't shown them how to go into the gmail inbox and remove those, we may be missing an opportunity to teach them email management. That conversation isn't one for today, but tuck it in you mind to discuss with them at some point. I am looking for helpful resources to share with you.

Anyway, wanted to bring up the topic in case it has been a pain point for you. Check out that blog post (and others by Matt Miller. He's pretty genius)

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Okay, friends--- (I am trying to stop saying "guys". It's hard. Testing replacements. Let me know if you are a recovering "guys" user, too.) --- Eduprotocols! I keep talking about them. Have you heard of them?

I want to you consider how you use routines with your students. Of course you use them! Why? Because it makes some things familiar so students can focus on the main thing. When everything is new all the time, it feels overwhelming and causes stress (boy has 2020 taught us THAT!)

Now--- image that the whole lesson structure is the routine. We do that, right? Why? So, eventually, you don't need to teach the routine, you just need to direct them to the content. But, Eduprotocols aren't just any lesson structure, they are lessons that will develop independent learning, include the 4 Cs, and include sound teaching strategies-- generally including technology. More learning, less stress for students, and usually less grading for teachers! THAT'S EDUPROTOCOLS!

Want an example? Check out the BOOK-A-KUCHA eduprotocol, a twist on a book report that doesn't require students to be done with the book, and let's you integrate any comprehension strategies you are focusing on in your instruction!

Some eduprotocol-experienced teachers have been doing free workshop and videos--- can I share them with you? There is a Facebook group called Teach Better and Work Less I would encourage you to join, but if you aren't a Facebooker, that's fine! Click this link and you can check out a video without even having to sign in to anything! Eduprotocol teachers must have paid close attention in Kindergarten--- they share like crazy! Let me know what you try!

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That is what COAST is all about. A bunch of activities, but you don't have to do them all. Want to know how to use break out rooms in Zoom? Sign into COAST and use the search button to find the task. Looking for some information about online lesson design? Check out the pedagogy mission in level 2.

It is all open and available to everyone with an @hueneme.org account. Coming soon--- a game for our classroom paras!

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Are you teaching in your classroom? Do you move around a lot while you teach?

Because the webcams, as you know, are attached to your computer and keep you in one place. For most of us, that is just fine. But for some who move around the classroom to teach, there is an option you might be interested in....

We have a few webcams that will follow your movement. If you are interested in testing one out, let me (Hi, I'm Liz! lhoppe@hueneme.org) know and we can get one to you as they are available.

If you like it, you can keep using it. If you don't like it, we'll let someone else use it. That sounds like a good plan, right?

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Helen emailed and posted these announcements in the 3rd-8th grade collaborative classrooms, but just in case you missed them:

KHAN ACADEMY

"KHAN Academy for Math - all students in grades 3-8 are to be engaging in the Khan Academy for Math app during their asynchronous time this year - if students are experiencing some app fatigue try cutting back on the assigned minutes each day - try 10 - 12 -- or 15 - make it work for your class - I met yesterday with Khan to look at our district wide data - participation and student progress - the data is very positive - very proud of our teachers and students - principals will share this data with you after the break. Happy Friday to all!"

SORA DIGITAL LIBRARY

"Please encourage students and families to read for enjoyment over the holiday break by linking them to our HESD Sora Digital Library. Here is a flyer to share!"

And, hey, guys--- I mean folks-- go check out the collaborative Google Classrooms. If you don't find something interesting, it is probably because you haven't shared anything! Have some conversation and collaboration! I don't know about you, but I sure miss teacher talk in the halls!

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There are actual real bilingual humans who answer the phone as much as possible at the help desk number! They can help trouble shoot and give basic information, they can set up appointments at the tech lab to repair devices (this is NOT a drop by situation, they set up appointments).

So, if you find a family that needs support, calling the distance learning help desk is a solid option to offer. Distance Learning Help Desk info is linked on every site webpage.

If you notice in Clever, there are several categories of buttons. That top one, Instant Logins, will show you the services where Clever acts like a gate to pass through and sign the student right into their account. That usually means we create the account through Clever and things will work best when the account is accessed through Clever. We want things to work best, right?

Why does this matter? For example, Seesaw *for a TK-2nd* grade student--- go through Clever to sign in. They can't sign in from the app. Or Sora digital library. Encourage students to use that Clever sign in for Instant Login apps. Things will work better for everyone.

Now, you will notice that there are other things that are shortcuts. Those Clever buttons are there for convenience, but don't sign student in.

We are getting some tickets from families who decide to "clean up" the student iPad by doing things like delete the filtering app or remove a profile. They will likely encounter inconvenient issues like the iPad not working. So, the idea of "cleaning up" an ipad and deleting apps that don't get used is not a great one. Please discourage this if you hear of it.

Unlimited cloud storage for recorded Zooms-- did you know that the unlimited part is NOT a thing? Why does it matter to you? If you are using Zoom recording and need a recording that is more than 30 days old, you need to DOWNLOAD it and store it in your Google Drive by the end of the year (like the New Year's Eve year).

Because starting Jan 1, recordings in Zoom will only be stored for 30 days before they are automatically removed from cloud storage. See that image? Recordings older than 30 days--- not in cloud storage. If you need something from the fall, download it now and save it in your Google Drive (you can do this in Zoom settings when you sign in at Zoom.us)

Many of you have been using Talking Points to communicate with parents and it has many awesome features! Some teachers have found that--- occasionally--- they get a notification that they have received a message, but when they to to view it, it isn't there. Here's what I have to say about that--- it is not ideal! But also, Talking Points is aware of the issue and they are working to resolve it.

In the meantime, their suggestion is to make sure your app is updated, or, uninstall it and reinstall on your phone or tablet. If you are using the website, you will automatically be accessing the most updated webpage when you open it.

As a reminder

---> If you notice errors (a phone number that is wrong, etc) contact your office manager because that information needs to be updated in Q. Then, it will be updated in Talking Points.

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Can I just wrap up with this thought? 2020--- woah. There are a lot of reasons to be glad it is on the way out. As if flipping the calendar by a day makes all things new. Maybe.

Here's what I want to suggest... If you compare who you were from Dec. 31, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2019, the change might not be huge. But if you compare who you are from new years 2019 to 2020, I bet you have changed a bit! Let's focus on the positive growth you have made, and the obstacles you have overcome and conquered due to situations you probably had very little control over.

You guys! You gals! You scholars! Whatever--- you! You have been doing great things that you probably didn't think you could do. Overcoming day by day things that might have felt defeating. And yeah, it isn't all sunshine, of course BUT make sure you take time in the next few weeks to really feel proud of what you have accomplished. The teacher you are today, I bet, is a lot stronger than the teacher you were this time last year. And that is something to celebrate!

-Liz

In case you haven't noticed, you are doing awesome and impactful work!

Email: lhoppe@hueneme.org
Website: www.hueneme.org
Location: The Hueneme Tech Lab
Phone: 805-488-3588 9832
Twitter: @hoppeteacher