November's Tech Badge Spotlight!

If you haven't had a chance to check out this year's Tech Badges, try to take a minute to stop by and check it out!

How to Get Started:

1. Go to the TechSpot Badging Center.
2. Select a category: Communication, Google, Assessment, Flipped Learning, Social Media... etc.
3. Find a badge that you already deserve, or want to earn. If needed, use links to tutorials and/or meet up with a tech coach to learn more
4. If you haven't already, start using the tool in your classroom
5. Fill out the badge request form.
6. Anxiously await the arrival of your digital and print badges
7. Display them proudly on your door & website.  
8. Share what you know with others.

Our spotlight badge of the month is the Hour of Code. 

The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.  It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts.  Check out the tutorials and activities here.  The official Computer Science Education week will be December 4-10, but you can participate in coding anytime!

What Should You Do To Get Started??

• Go to code.org and click the Sign In box in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
• Log in with your teacher account or create one if you don't have one.  
• Create a New Section for your class and sign them up.  (You can delete out any old classes you may have in your account).
• Print out sign-in cards so students will know how to log in.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to contact a tech coach for assistance!

October Tech Badging Spotlight

Again, this year, one of our goals is to transition from a TechPoints system to a TechBadging system. The idea is to have our district's amazing teachers share their tech talents with others. Here is a quick reminder of how the new system works:

How to get started: 

1. Go to the TechSpot Badging Center.
2. Select a category: Communication, Google, Assessment, Flipped Learning, Social Media... etc.
3. Find a badge that you already deserve, or want to earn. If needed, use links to tutorials and/or meet up with a teach coach to learn more
4. If you haven't already, start using the tool in your classroom
5. Fill out the badge request form.
6. Anxiously await the arrival of your digital and print badges
7. Display them proudly on your door & website.  
8. Share what you know with others.

Our spotlight badge of the month is the assessment tool Quizlet. 

Teachers can use Quizlet to provide differentiated practice for students both in and out of class by creating study sets and pushing out links to the study sets on your website or Google Classroom. With the same study set, teachers can combine technology with collaboration, teamwork and perseverance in class with Quizlet Live. This formative assessment gives teachers the data they need to effectively plan future lessons based on the needs of students.

Check out the Quizlet quickstart guide here and our original post on Quizlet Live here.

If Quizlet is a tool you already use often or now feel comfortable with, follow the steps above to get your Tech Badge and share your expertise with others!

All-New TechBadging

Welcome back to a new school year!   This year the TechSpot is back to bring your yet again your TechTuesday blog posts full of new apps, tutorials, showcases and the All-New TechBadge Program.

First we would like to Congratulate all of our former TechLevel earners over the last two years! These teachers went above and beyond to try something new in their classrooms with the end goal of providing a 21st Century Education for their students.

Congrats to the following:

Tech Level 1 Teachers:

Mrs. Eckels, Mrs. Bauer, Miss Defilippi, Mr. Snelick, Mrs. Penn 

Mr. Gavazzi, Mr. Demuro, Mrs. Defilippi, Mr. Henry, Miss Klein, Mrs. McMackin, Mr. Wurm, Dr. Millinder, Mrs. Beck & Mrs. Wensel.

Tech Level 2 Teachers:

Mrs. Sines & Miss Fera

Tech Level 3 Teachers: 

Mr. Brooks, Mrs. Gabler & Miss Stolarski

Thus, the goal of the TechLevel Program was met.  As you can see we have truly built a team of teachers who are great resources for all of us when it comes to tech integration.  So now, it's time for something new!

The All-New SMASD TechBadging Center is here.  (In Beta... or perhaps Alpha stage, but it's here!)

The Badging Center is a place for you to earn/request specific badges based on your savvy tech skills and know-how in the classroom.  It is time to celebrate SMASD teachers and their efforts!  Your badges will be displayed on your classroom door and/or website for other teachers to see.

The Goal?....  We want your TechEfforts to be contagious.  We want  you to learn from each other, but first we need to know what awesome things are happening behind your classroom doors.  

How to get started: 

1. Go to the TechSpot Badging Center.
2. Select a category: Communication, Google, Assessment, Flipped Learning, Social Media... etc.
3. Find a badge that you already deserve, or want to earn.If needed, use links to tutorials and/or meet up with a teach coach to learn more
4. If you haven't already, start using the tool in your classroom
5. Fill out the badge request form
6. Anxiously await the arrival of your digital and print badges
7. Display them proudly on your door & website.  
8. Share what you know with others.

Check Out the Badging Center Now!