AACPS OIT Byte

     In 2020 we were all introduced to video conferencing tools to keep connected personally and professionally while meeting in person was discouraged. Because everyone relied so heavily on our video conferencing tools, we saw rapid, extensive growth in the capabilities of the video conferencing applications. In AACPS, we used Google Meet for virtual instruction. If/when schools shift to virtual for inclement weather or other emergency closures in the future, Google Meet will remain our go-to application for students and teachers to connect. Are you familiar with the awesome instructional tools built into this application? Screen sharing options When you click to present your screen, you will have 3 options to choose from. You can choose to share a Chrome tab, a Window, or your Entire Screen. But WHAT are you actually sharing with each choice?      Chrome tab - this option shares a single application on your screen meaning one program or one tab in your ...

by Tracey Brown, OIT Teacher Specialist A lot of airtime has been dedicated this year to talking about the new world of virtual instructional days for weather and other unplanned events. Maybe you are still unsure if you’re ready. Most teachers seem uncertain about Asynchronous days. If that is you, check out the January 17th Planning for Asynchronous blog post by Kerri Lambert. But if you just want a refresher on how to teach synchronously, this post is for you! The number one tool in your teacher toolbox for a synchronous VID is Google Meet. Below is a recap of tools and features you may need to dust off and brush up on. Also, it has been over a year since we had to rely on this tool daily for instruction. There are some cool new tools that you and your students should know how to use, and you should know how to manage before they take over your virtual classroom environment. What's New in Meet Push to Talk -  To unmute yourself, press and hold the spacebar. To mute again, relea...

b y Tracey Brown, Office of Instructional Technology Teacher Specialist Are you ready for the possibility for your school to offer virtual learning for a few days or a few weeks? Community spread of COVID is leading to staffing shortages and large numbers of students in quarantine. Neighboring districts have already made the decision to close individual schools for a period of time, and while nothing has been determined surrounding virtual learning in AACPS, we need to be prepared for a seamless transition to the virtual environment. The good news is, if you were teaching last year, you already know how to do this! You just need to dust off that knowledge, throw in a dash of “how to do this in Brightspace” and a pinch of “what is new in my favorite applications” and you have the recipe for success. So let’s break down some top tips to get ready for virtual learning: 1. Create your nicknamed Google Meet link(s). Nicknamed Google Meet links provide important added security like preventi...