Digital Journal

Tech Tip Tuesday

With upgrades in technology resources like Google Docs and Microsoft Word, how wonderful it is to be able to create a digital journal that teachers do not have to endlessly scroll through in order to find student entries for that day or week. It's easier than ever to go digital when journaling with the a linked table of contents. 

Watch this short video on 

How to Insert a Linked Table of Contents using a Google Doc

Watch this short video on

How to Insert a Linked Table of Contents using Microsoft Word

Now even better, once your journal is set up, you and your students can share the document whether you are using Google Docs or Microsoft Word. 

Become a World-Class Digital Citizen

Website Wednesday 

Digital Citizenship Week: October 17 - 21, 2016

I think most of us would agree that while most students have and use mobile devices and computers; they don't always know how to use them properly in an educational setting. I believe it is up to us to make students aware of the difference between personal and professional technology use. And how to safely and responsibly use technology devices in any setting. 

Digital Citizenship is a user's appropriate and responsible behavior with regard to technology use. So what makes a model digital citizen? Check out this link to read about the 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship. 

In preparation for Digital Citizenship Week, we want to share some resources to help you prepare activities not only for the week but for the school year. 

Common Sense Media - A wonderful website that contains all you need to know about digital citizenship and how to spread the message to your students and their family. Check out the curriculum, posters, tool kits, videos, and online activities for K-12. 

YouTube - Has created a curriculum, Understanding YouTube and Digital Citizenship, for students aged 13-18. The link provided is a teacher guide of the lessons available. 

Join us for our first SAISD PSA Challenge 2016 - Create (up to) a 90 second video in which students communicate their understanding of one or more of the Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship and the positive effects that result from being a model digital citizen.

Guidelines for PSA:

• PSA must address authentic issues relevant to digital citizenship - 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship
• PSA must be appropriate for a mixed audience (from grade level to school board)
• PSA must follow appropriate copyright guidelines
• PSA must stay within the 90-second limit (including credits)
• Entries must be uploaded by 4:00 pm, November 4, 2016.
• Winning entries will be selected and notified on November 8, 2016 and showcased on SAISD Channel 4 throughout the school year.
• Important information and details can be found in the Teacher Guidelines & Submission Form

PSA Resources:

PSA Rubric

Student Checklist

Parent Permission Form

Citation Guidelines and Resources

Center for Digital Education: How to create a PSA

Digital Citizenship - Common Sense Education

9 P’s for Proactive Knowledge by Vicki Davis

Become a World-Class Digital Citizen

Website Wednesday 

Digital Citizenship Week: October 17 - 21, 2016

I think most of us would agree that while most students have and use mobile devices and computers; they don't always know how to use them properly in an educational setting. I believe it is up to us to make students aware of the difference between personal and professional technology use. And how to safely and responsibly use technology devices in any setting. 

Digital Citizenship is a user's appropriate and responsible behavior with regard to technology use. So what makes a model digital citizen? Check out this link to read about the 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship. 

In preparation for Digital Citizenship Week, we want to share some resources to help you prepare activities not only for the week but for the school year. 

Common Sense Media - A wonderful website that contains all you need to know about digital citizenship and how to spread the message to your students and their family. Check out the curriculum, posters, tool kits, videos, and online activities for K-12. 

YouTube - Has created a curriculum, Understanding YouTube and Digital Citizenship, for students aged 13-18. The link provided is a teacher guide of the lessons available. 

Join us for our first SAISD PSA Challenge 2016 - Create (up to) a 90 second video in which students communicate their understanding of one or more of the Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship and the positive effects that result from being a model digital citizen.

Guidelines for PSA:

• PSA must address authentic issues relevant to digital citizenship - 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship
• PSA must be appropriate for a mixed audience (from grade level to school board)
• PSA must follow appropriate copyright guidelines
• PSA must stay within the 90-second limit (including credits)
• Entries must be uploaded by 4:00 pm, November 4, 2016.
• Winning entries will be selected and notified on November 8, 2016 and showcased on SAISD Channel 4 throughout the school year.
• Important information and details can be found in the Teacher Guidelines & Submission Form

PSA Resources:

PSA Rubric

Student Checklist

Parent Permission Form

Citation Guidelines and Resources

Center for Digital Education: How to create a PSA

Digital Citizenship - Common Sense Education

9 P’s for Proactive Knowledge by Vicki Davis

Insert PowerPoint Themes into Google Slides

Tech Tip Tuesday

Still like that PowerPoint Theme? But want to use it in Google Slides? Now you can in 6 easy steps. 

1. Begin a new Google Slides presentation or Open an existing presentation.

2. Click Slide

3. Click Change Theme. The Theme panel will open on the right-side of your screen.

4. At the bottom of the Theme panel, click Import Theme button. 

5. The Import Theme window will open. Choose a presentation from your Google Drive and click Select or click Upload to choose a presentation from your computer. 

6. Once you have found your file, click Import Theme.

Your new theme is now applied. 

Digital Citizenship

Mobile App Monday

With Digital Citizenship Week around the corner, here are a few resources to help your students be more responsible and conscientious of the digital footprint they leave behind. The apps provide students a chance to make decisions and see the outcomes in a safe environment.  The following resources  from commonsensemedia.org will give students a chance to learn and practice 

the Nine Elements which all users should be familiar with when it comes to being a member of  and participating in a digital society. . 

Digital Passport is an online app ($2.99) for Grades 3-5. It includes 5 games that teach students how to be safe and respectful in a digital community while on their mobile device or computer. It also offers offline activities for the teachers to use in the classroom and aligns with the digital citizenship curriculum from commonsensemedia.org.

Digital Compass is a free online app for Grades 6-9. It is a choose-your-own adventure game available in English and Spanish. Students choose from one of the 8 available characters and navigate through the ins and outs and ups and downs of daily digital life. This program aligns with the digital citizenship curriculum from commonsensemedia.org. 

Digital Bytes is an online experience for teens (13+). Teens can work individually, with a partner, or in a small group to complete a project that deals with today's digital issues. The program is designed to give students a voice and help impact and change for the better their digital community. Students will need to create a free account at commonsensemedia.org.