The Tech Integrator (Winter 2015)

WINTER 2015 WWW.ROMECSD.ORG THE TECH INTEGRATOR

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!YOUR IT TIPS, TRICK,

AND NEWS INFORMATION CENTER

WHAT THE TECH IS GOING ON IN OUR K-4?

MAURA & MARYANN

IPADS - ONE WAY TO

DIFFERENTIATE TEACHING

CRAZY SWEATER FOR A GREAT CAUSE AT RFA

THE TECH INTEGRATOR

Rome Website Upgrades!

In this issue.

Picture - Rome Free Academy

Athletics Model Schools Workshops Data Analysis BrightLink Tips

Like the Rome City School District on Facebook

EDITOR & GRAPHICS

: Carl

Manganaro

In this edition -make sure you click on our interactive features


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What other tricks could you find in

here?

Read these articles to help you use technology in your classroom and find ways to

save yourself trips to the copier machine. Also find

ways to having to keep overriding the filter to watch

videos in your class. Look for our School Spotlight videos

coming soon. Your school could be next!!

PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) While New York State has not adopted PARCC operational test the state remains an active participant in the PARCC consortium and currently is considering seeking bids for a contract to create new electronic ELA and math state assessments for 2017. It is conducting field test across New York state in 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years, both as a pilot of the PARCC assessment in ELA and Math and as a test of school readiness for computer-based testing (CBT). Be it PARCC or NYSED computer based testing is on the horizon for our students.So what does CBT mean to our students.out goes paper and pencil in come keyboard and mouse and technology skills.

Below are just some of the technology skills needed for PARCC.

!!!!!!Computer and keyboarding skills have become increasingly important in our daily lives, students included. If you know how to use a computer efficiently it becomes easier to get things done quickly. Great keyboarding skills results in getting things done quickly and efficiently. So how are we doing this you ask, (with great excitement) have no fear EasyTech is here. EasyTech a component of Learning.com provides our students the opportunity to develop the technology skills needed for college and the workforce. For the past two years the K-6 schools have used EasyTech in our computer labs to teach 21st century technology skills with a focus on keyboarding. The Big Picture below shows how students start with the basics in grades K-2 to prepare for long response by grade 3 and continue to improve upon their keyboarding skills by enhancing student speed and accuracy.

To ensure students find keyboarding fun and engaging, EasyTech has many additional activities that complement the learning and re-enforce keyboarding lessons. The students number one re-enforcement activity is (drum roll please) Keyboard Climber. Students love getting the monkey to the top, but watch out for the coconuts. Check it out and see if you can keep up with a kindergartner http://www.funtotype.com/game/keyboard-climber/. Teachers like Chris Takacs love coming to the computer lab with his students because computer lab is a refreshing part of our school daywe learn new skills that are relevant that everyone needs in their future.

For some of you PARCC and the technology skills needed to be ready for College and Career may seem amazing, mind-boggling, vast, overcoming, exciting, eye-opening, wondrous.remember the The Big Picture and EasyTech will get our students there.

For more information on PARCC and NYSED CBT seehttp://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/Technology%20Skills%20for%20Computer_Based%20Assessment.pdf

http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2015/02/19/state-looks-to-make-its-own-computer-based-tests-puts-off-switch-to-parcc/#.VOuK9svwu70!!

IT MINUTE with Pam Mazzaferro

A Walk in the PARCC ( & EasyTech to the Rescue)


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With Wendy Ahles

Note from the Assistant Superintendent - Jason EvangelistThe Rome City School District is committed to providing the most updated and relevant resources to help support our students and teachers as we drive to meet the expectations of the Common Core Learning Standards and become 21st Century Learners. Whether its an excited kindergarten student using a smart board to show the class how to solve an addition problem in front of the class or an inquisitive group of fourth grade students using the internet to research a topic for a class project, technology is playing a vital role in our instructional program. Teachers are leading the way as they work diligently on finding different strategies to help our students meet the expectations of the Common Core Learning Standards. There are many resources that are available at our fingertips to support our students' needs as they become 21st Century Learners. Our students are actively engaged in their classrooms as our teachers constantly find creative ways to infuse technology into their instruction. !Our classroom leaders have also been utilizing technology to help our families become better informed on the progress their childrenare making in the classroom. Teachers have established effective communication platforms for our families to monitor student behavior, post homework support, and establish a forum to communicate directly to support home - school connection. Teachers are embracing these opportunities to open their classrooms to our families and provide important information on the growth and achievement of their students.

Filtering Data in Excel 2013: Part I The Basics If your worksheet contains a lot of content, it can be difficult to find information quickly. Filters can be used to narrow down the data in your worksheet, allowing you to view only the information you need.

1. In order for filtering to work correctly, your worksheet should include a header row, which is used to identify the name of each column.

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2. Select the Data tab, then click the Filter command. Filtering options can also be accessed from the Sort & Filter command on the Home tab.

3. A drop-down arrow will appear in the header cell for each column.

4. Click the drop-down arrow for the column you wish to filter. In our example, we will filter column F (Gender) to view only Males.

5. The Filter menu will appear.

6. Uncheck the box next to Select All to quickly deselect all data.

7. Check the box next to the data you wish to filter, then click OK

9. Lets say that you want to find a list of all the students with the last name of Smith. Click the drop down arrow in the Gender column last namecolumn and check Select All to view all records. Click the drop down arrow in the LastName column and type SMITH in the Search field window andclick on OK.

10. To remove all filters from your worksheet, click the Filter command on the Data tab.

! Stay tuned for Part 2 Multiple Filters & Conditional Formatting to be published in the Spring Edition of the Tech Integrator!


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Students used the ScreenChomp iPad app to capture a self-image and draw a background scene. They

exported the image to Microsoft Publisher and added text to create holiday cards.

Greeting Cards

After a field trip to the Iroquois Museum, students were asked what their lives would be like if they were an Iroquois. Using the PicCollage iPad app, students documented their Iroquois lives in pictures and

captions.

Field Trip Reinforcement

In Other Words After reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Elf on the Shelf, students wrote their own version of the stories. Students wrote about the demands of a horse in If You Give a Horse a Hat. The Elf on the Shelf book told about the adventures of the elf in their classroom.

Christmas Around the World Students used multimedia research to explore how other countries celebrate Christmas. The end product was a MS

PowerPoint presentation for parents and staff.

Libraries Around the World Groups of students were assigned a country to report how

students access books in other countries. Students created an iMovie or a brochure using the iPad or MS Publisher.

Take a look at how our K-4 buildings are using technology to enhance learning!


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Mottleys Crew

Do you start your PPT show and all of a sudden, what is on your desktop is not projecting on the screen? Well by default, PPT goes

into Presenter Mode and while it has some very nice features (ability to write, to see notes & next slide, etc) it has created some issues

after you are done. You still have two screens and you have to go into the Graphic Options to correct it. If you just want a straight forward PPT, before you go into PPT Slideshow - uncheck the Use Presenter View located under the Slideshow tab. This will clone your screen so

what is on your desktop will be projecting on the screen.

Having issues with PowerPoint presentations?

WEB Help Desk

When using the Web Help Desk (computer help icon) to submit work orders the request type you

select sends the work order directly to the person who takes care of the particular issue.

If you need a Student changed from AIMS Web, you would select Student User Account (at the

first drop down) and (AIMS WEB) at the second. Anything to do with a student, we will need their

student ID.

How to create a PDF in Office 2013. Click on File - Export - Create PDF/XPS

Select save location and name the file.

BATES Bits


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Couple of tips for Notebook usersExport a PDF

Wouldn't it be nice if you could take a PDF (ie - Modules) and export them right to your smart board so you can annotate them and even include them in your lesson? Well - you can!!

Download PDF - select Print - Choose SMART Notebook Print Capture

After you select OK, it will give you two options:

Print image or editable objects

You will want to select image so the document will not be compromised and will be locked

BrightLink Users who use Notebook

If you have this toolbar on your computer, you may have noticed it doesn't work anywhere but Notebook. The reason is because you are not using a

SmartBoard anymore. Do you want an interactive tool? Read the next page.

I.T. Dept SHOUT OUTStaley Upper ElementaryJason Cosser

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For his help with technology in the computer lab with the lessons on Day 2.

Sara Wojdyla

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Who helps with many of the classes on the days that Im not there.

Rick Edmunds - SYSOP

Staley Upper Elementary School


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BrightLink Information

Easy Interactive Toolbar:

The BrightLink toolbar will allow you to use your

projector just like the floating toolbar did for

the SmartBoard. You will have full function and control of your entire

board even when you are not on your Notebook

software.

If you are on a website or on a Word document,

you will have the ability to write, highlight and

use as a mouse.

If you do not have the Easy Interactive Tools on your computer, please

submit a work order and one will be installed.

Why only have interactive features when you are

on a software? With this update, you will have full access to your board at

all times.


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CRAZY SWEATER CONTEST AT RFA

This years Crazy Sweater Contest was a huge success.. Over 40 staff members participated and at the end of the long week - the school raised over $912. Of course the Davidson Auto Group of Rome matched whatever the school would make so that brought the total to $1824.30. All proceeds are going to the Rome Rescue Mission. The contest was simple. Find or make the craziest sweater you can and wear it for 3 straight days. The students could vote for their favorite one and after the 3 days, the final 8 were chosen. The final 8 consisted of Mrs. Mazzaferro (Director of Technology), Mrs. Diane Stevenson (ESL teacher), Mr. Fronzcek (Science), Mrs. Day (Math), Ms. Plumley (Math), Mrs. Olney (Foreign Language), Mrs Tiller (Instructional Coach) and Mrs. O'Rourke (Physical Education.)

These 8 brave souls had to wear their sweaters for TWO more days and the students and staff then started the "Penny Wars."

The rules were simple - for every penny that was put in your jar - you get a vote. However, for every nickel, dime, quarter or half dollar that was placed in your jar, you would lose votes (i.e. - a quarter would lose you 25 votes.) It was sabotage time but it was all for a good and noble cause.

The videos that you see on this page were played during lunch on the large TV for all students and staff to view (just in case they were unsure of who to vote for.)

If you want to view the first video with all the staff who participated, just click anywhere inside this box. The video will play automatically.

Next years goal is to increase participation, raise more money, and maybe get other schools in the district to participate as well. We are hoping to do this electronically so all students in the district can vote and help raise money for a great charity.

First Place Second Place Third Place

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Mrs. ORourke Mrs. Day Ms. Plumney

Click here to watch the first round video

Click here to watch the Final 8 with each

contestant using a theme


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NEW LOOK!

ATHLETIC WEBSITE!

The Rome Athletic webpage will be getting a majoroverhaul that will showcase our athletes & programs.

The Rome City School District Website is going through some changes and one of the sections that is getting a makeover is the Athletic Page. We are making it easier to navigate and also allowing staff, parents & students to see all of the sports offered here in Rome. Each sport will have it own page with the Coaches information, team stats and pictures (We will even have a Dropbox link set up so anyone can send in video) We can even set up different social media icons for each sport as well. We will be putting out information about how coaches, parents and students can help contribute to these sites.

Athletics in Rome has always been a source of pride so why not showcase all the teams, coaches, and athletes. Go to www.romecsd.org/athletics


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Model Schools Information

Emerging Technology Access Technology is a powerful tool for change, and access to emerging technologies creates the opportunity needed to bring about that change! Are you interested in purchasing new technologies but want to test out the instructional tools before deciding to purchase? Model Schools provides the following shared equipment for you to pilot with the students in your classrooms!

Regional Professional Development Model Schools is offering great regional workshops around technology integration including online courses, webinars, and workshops. Please go to www.modelschools.org and click on the Online Professional Development Calendar for more information. Sign up for our *New* online courses and receive 5 hours of professional development credit while taking a course from home!

3D Printers

LEGO Robotics

NAO Robot

Digital Citizenship Webinar Series 3/3, 3/10, 3/17

Assessment in the BYOD Environment

3/5 (9-3)

Solving the Paper Problem Webinar

3/11 (3-4)

NAO Robotics User Group 3/13 (9-12)

A Walk in the PARCC Webinar

3/18 (3-4)

SMART Notebook User Group 3/23 (9-3)

LEGO StoryStarter 3/26 (9-3)

Tech IntegratorSticky NoteDigital Citizenship in General, Fall 2014Learn to build an internet safety curriculum that fosters student responsibility while also meeting New York State mandates. Join us as we share resources for shaping district policies and providing safe spaces forstudents to create and collaborate online as required by the Common Core standards. This webinar will specificallyaddress the following topics: New York State Legislation, Digital Citizenship, Cyber Safety, Acceptable Use Policies, and Internet Filtering.Digital Citizenship in Social Media, Winter 2015Our students live and breathe social media. From Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to Edmodo, My BigCampus, and Schoology, social media is widely used for both personal and educational purposes. Join usto learn practical tips for helping your students communicate safely and positively in these social mediaforums while building their online presence and creating their digital footprint.Digital Citizenship in The Digital Footprint, Spring 2015Teach students to build a positive digital presence and footprint as well as engage in appropriate behavior on social media.

Tech IntegratorWorkshop DescriptionsWith the popularity of SMART boards and Notebook software, Model Schools is pleased to provide you with a user group to support educators in utilizing these tools in the classroom. Each session will provide districts with the opportunity to not only share and collaborate on Notebook lessons, but they will also give insight on the latest tips and tricks to make your lessons become more interactive and innovative.

Tech IntegratorWorkshop DescriptionsThe idea of going paperless may seem overwhelming and even a little scary at first; just think of the times during the school day that you and your students use paper! As we become more environmentally-conscious, educational institutions are expanding their offerings via online courses and more business is being conducted digitally. As an educator, it is important that we ensure our students are prepared to function in a paperless society. You will learn about reliable and easy to use technology alternatives, how to painlessly phase out paper from your professional and even your personal life, and determine just how paperless you want to go based on the comfort zones of you and your students

Tech IntegratorWorkshop DescriptionsLearn how web and mobile tools can save you time and support Common Core instruction by helping to assess higher order thinking skills, track and analyze data, and provide immediate feedback for highly effective formative assessments.

Tech IntegratorWorkshop DescriptionsLEGO StoryStarter is a hands-on tool that inspires students to collaborate while creating andcommunicating stories using LEGO bricks as their toolbox. Students work in groups to develop a storytogether. They build their stories with bricks then document them using a simple, creative digital interface.With StoryStarter, literacy becomes an exciting experience for students in grades two through five that isenhanced by LEGOs! Attendees will receive LEGO StoryStarter curriculum and software.

Tech IntegratorWorkshop DescriptionsCome learn how to use the coolest robots in the area. Naomi and Patrick will help your students learn coding and have fun learning about it.

administratorWorkshop DescriptionsThe Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is one of the first, and most high profile, Computer Based Test (CBT) that teachers and students will experience. Students will need tohave a specific technology skill set in order to successfully navigate and complete such assessments on acomputer or tablet. During the webinar, we will review the main online testing challenges that districtsinvolved in the PARCC Field Test experienced as well as solutions that enabled them to thrive!


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What is Differentiated Learning?

One of the major benefits of using technology in the classroom is the ability to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of every student in every lesson. Just as every student grows and develops at

different rates, they learn in different ways and at different speeds. Technology makes it possible to pace lessons appropriately for each students learning level and can be used to promote learning in

the multiple intelligences.

Verbal-LinguisticLogical-Mathematical

Visual-SpatialBodily-KinestheticMusical/Rhythmic

Interpersonal Intrapersonal Naturalist

The multiple intelligences can be met and enhanced through the use of technology. Many technologies overlap and address several of the intelligences at once. With a little

creativity and planning, you can create rich lessons that will meet your students needs and let them learn at their own pace and level.

Address the different learning styles in your classroom with the help of technology:

For specific websites that will help with all of these learning styles - please go to

h#p://teaching.monster.com/benets/ar5cles/8484-using-technology-to-dieren5ate- instruc5on?page=1

Instructional Technology


The next newsletter will be going out in the Spring (if that ever comes.) By that time, most of the school buildings in the district will have their iPad Carts updated and under our MDM system.

This will able us to track what apps are on the carts and allow us to add apps with a single click. Some schools are getting

additional carts and some are getting Macbook carts as well. Technology will be rolling here in Rome.

Something new in your Library Media Centers..Loaner iPads. We have just completed created a loaning center of 10 iPads for

every K-12 Library. Teachers can check them out to evaluate free apps and learn how to use an iPad. See your Library Media

Specialist for more details and check-out an iPad.

iPad Update!!

Next Edition of the:

THE TECH INTEGRATOR

!12 Common Core Apps Active Directory Updates More Tricks & Tips School Promotions

Wow almost done and thank you for reading the entire newsletter, just one more thing lets play - How Well Do You Know Your Acronyms? - The rules are translate all the acronyms and tell me if the sentence is accurate? You can email your

response to [email protected].

Ready, Set, Go! For APPR I used PIN with TAA for BEDS ePMF next SMS TSRV review before SIRS NYSED due date.

Next Newsletter we will play How Many Acronyms are in APPR? Do you think you know the total ..

Easy Interactive Tool Tips

1 To start Easy Interactive Tools on your computer, do one of the following: Windows : Select or Start > All Programs or Programs > EPSON Projector > Easy Interactive Tools.

Or, double-click the Easy Interactive Tools icon on your desktop.

Mac OS X : Select Applications > Easy Interactive Tools > Easy Interactive Tools. The Easy Interactive toolbar appears on the projected image, and an arrow appears on the other side of the

image. Two different toolbars are available, one for interactive mode and one for whiteboard mode:

Interactive ModeIn interactive mode, the toolbar appears on the projected image and lets you use the pen as a mouse to open applications, access links, and operate scroll bars, for example.

In this mode, you can also annotate whatever is displayed from your computer or document camera and save or print your pages.

Interactivetools

Annotationtools

Whiteboardtools

Annotationtools

Interactive toolbar Whiteboard toolbar

Whiteboard ModeIn whiteboard mode, the toolbar appears on a blank surface, background image, or pattern. You can write or draw with the pen, add images, and save or print your pages.

Annotating You can use the annotation tools at the bottom of the toolbar in either mode.

2 To toggle between modes, select the Annotation mode icon to display the interactive toolbar, or the Whiteboard mode icon to display the whiteboard toolbar.

3 To exit Easy Interactive Tools, select the Exit icon in the lower right corner of the toolbar. You can also minimize the toolbar by selecting the Close icon, then select the arrow to redisplay the toolbar.Tools for Interactive Mode

Switch to whiteboard mode

Save the current screen

Page up/down in a browser or other program

Use an on-screen keyboard to enter text in a browser or other program

Insert a circle, square, triangle, or other shape

Switch to interactive mode

Toggle between pen and mouse modes

Undo/redo multiple operations (one at a time)

Display the image from a document cameraconnected to the computer via USB

Use the magnifier to enlarge the image

Display additional tools for saving, printing, and more

Tools for Annotation

Hide/minimize the toolbar

Write or draw with custom pen

Write or draw with transparent highlighter pen

Use black, red, or blue penselect large dot for thick lines

Eraseselect large dot for thick eraser

Exit Easy Interactive Tools

Change custom pen color and width

Change highlighter pen color and width

Use black, red, or blue penselect small dot for thin lines

Eraseselect small dot for thin eraser

Clear all annotations

Toggle between hiding the toolbar after use and showing it continuously

Tools for Whiteboard ModeSwitch to whiteboard mode

Save the current screen

Undo/redo multiple operations (one at a time)

Open a new page

Delete the current page

Display a cursor that lets you resize or move an inserted image

Insert a circle, square, triangle, or other shape

Switch to interactive mode

Select from background patterns or colors, or display an image from a document camera

Display a list of pages currently being edited

Insert an image from a file or from a document camera connected to the computer

Use the magnifier to enlarge the image

Display additional tools for saving, printing, and more

Tools for Saving, Printing, and More

To display the tools shown below, select the Other tools icon on the toolbar.

Cover the image with a movable shade

Open the settings screen, which lets you select settings for saving your pages and more

Display help (interactive mouse mode only)

Display a movable spotlight effect.

Print the currently displayed image. In whiteboard mode, you can select the pages to print.

Change the next pen tap to a right click (interactive mouse mode only)

1 To save your screen or pages as .jpg files in your Documents > Easy Interactive Tools folder, simply select the Save tool. Easy Interactive Tools names your file automatically based on the date and time.

2 To select other locations and formats for saving, select the Settings tool, then select the Save settings tab, as shown on the right.

3 Select the location, file name, and file type for saving pages. You can save all your pages as one PDF file.

4 If you want to select different settings each time you save, select the Check when saving checkbox.

5 Select OK to close the Settings window. 2012 Epson America, Inc. 2/12 Printed in USA CPD-36473

Easy Interactive Tool Tips

Interactive Mode

Whiteboard Mode

Annotating

Tools for Interactive Mode

Tools for Annotation

Tools for Whiteboard Mode

Tools for Saving, Printing, and More