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Tech Talks

2022 May Issue

Tech Talks2022 May Issue

As we countdown to summer, the technology team would like to help you close your school year with information about updates, reminders of tasks to be completed, and suggested digital resources to help prevent summer slide.


We wish you a wonderful, relaxing break and hope to see you at our upcoming professional development offerings in June.

Updates

Eduphoria- Aware

One of the missions of the STAAR redesign is that questions and answer process mimic what students do in the classroom every day. As a result, there are more tactile and creative question types being added to STAAR and EOC tests regularly. TEA has released a chart of preliminary question types by grade level and content area. Eduphoria has kept up and now offers each of these question types for the creation of district and teacher Aware assessments. Being aware of these updates, allows you to consider ways to gradually implement these interactive question types into classroom assessments for practice.


If you ever need any assistance creating Aware teacher tests or inputting interactive question types into previously used Aware assessments, please call ext. 7070 or submit a work order.

EOY Reminders

As you clean your classrooms for summer, we have listed a few reminders for consideration before the end-of-year check-out.

Teacher and Paraprofessionals

Instructional Materials/Equipment/Library

  • Students/Staff/Faculty return all library books.
  • Collect and return instructional materials to the campus Textbook Coordinator/Assistant Principal.
  • Verify a count of devices in your classroom.
  • Check closets, drawers, cubby's, baskets for items to be returned.


Eduphoria

  • Archive Teacher Assessments.
  • Complete and Archive Goals in Strive.
  • Electronically sign evaluations documents.
  • Print Portfolios and certificates.


Remind students to return instructional materials and devices.

Administrators

Instructional Materials/Equipment/Library

  • Remind students/staff/faculty to return library books.
  • Ensure teachers collect instructional materials for inventory.
  • Collect and prepare devices in an accessible location for Technology.
  • Collect and inventory classroom technology, such as audio devices.


Eduphoria
  • Approve Professional Development Credits for campus staff/faculty/admin.
  • Approve all goals.
  • Electronically sign evaluation documents.

Library

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Summer Edition Wordle

Ms. Arcangeli has found a creative way to countdown to the summer break. She created a custom, summer themed Wordle challenge for each school day in the month of May. Students passing by the LPH library can access each day's Wordle by scanning the QR code. To create your own custom Wordle to challenge your students, visit this link.

Asian Pacific History Month

Use the following direct links to resources celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month:
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Sora

A romantic thriller, Natalile Richards' YA novel We All Fall Down is the most circulated item this month.


You and your students can read more ebooks and listen to audio books all summer using your district credentials with the Sora link from the district website or Sora app.

La Porte Public Library

Download the Summer Calendar of activities and events hosted by the La Porte Public Library. There's sure to be something for everyone.

EOY Ideas & Activities

Tech Free

We know preparing students for the end of the school year can be challenging, especially when all technology has been turned in for summer storage. Instructional Technology has created a OneDrive folder full of paper-based and tech-free activities to use at your discretion. Explore fun, La Porte-based word games along with pixel coloring art, end of year reflection projects and more. Use them to supplement your campus end of year activities and, hopefully, have a little fun! If you need any assistance with any of the activities in the folder, please feel free to call the help desk at 7070 or put in a technology work order.

Read Alouds

The following Wakelets house a plethora of QR cards for virtual storytelling. These resources are copyright free to play in the classroom or share with students and parents.

Prevent Summer Slide

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AudioSync

Borrow and listen to Free YA Audiobooks All Summer!

Each week throughout the summer, two thematically paired audiobooks are released to borrow for free. Once borrowed and added to your shelf, you can access the titles anytime. To get your free audiobooks, follow the instructions.

  1. Register for Sync with this link to enter your email address.
  2. In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).
  3. Select Add library.
  4. Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.
  5. Enter the email address you used to sign up for SYNC.


  • New titles will be available each Thursday night at 11:00 PM. You can access the titles for 7 days, until the next Wednesday at 11:00 PM.
  • To keep each audiobook, you must tap Borrow. Each audiobook is available to borrow for one week. Once you’ve borrowed an audiobook, it stays on your Shelf in Sora indefinitely.
  • Don't miss a week. You can't borrow last weeks' titles.
  • Use the pdf below for title release dates.

Tech Sightings

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Trading Card Creator

After learning about the Trading Card Creator during a 10-minute PD session at LPH, Coach Lien decided to give the program a try. Students were asked to research a historical person from WWI, WWII, or the Cold War. After learning about the historical figure they chose, they were able to easily create a trading card by adding pictures and answering the default prompts located in this program. What a great way to get those students writing!
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Do you have a Tech Sighting you want to share?


Please email your Instructional Technology team at ITC.ITS@lpisd.org with activity information and picture (s) or invite us to record your classroom to be featured in the newsletter.

Support

The Technology Services Department serves to facilitate and support your technology needs. For help, submit a work order using the Track It! link on the Faculty Portal, select the button below for the Technology Reference Manual, or call the HelpDesk at Ext. 7070.