AACPS OIT Byte

We are often asked about our favorite digital instructional tools and while I could talk about the student engagement afforded through Minecraft Education, or the real-world connections made with Google Earth, or even the formative assessment tools built into Nearpod's Activities, my real favorite is a tool brought to us by Google Arts & Culture. Artwork Zoom Google partnered with museums and galleries to allow high definition photography of some of the most famous works of art. This means that viewing them on your screen can allow you to get closer and visualize more detail than you would be able to see if you were visiting that artwork live, in person. With zoom, students can go from this: Under the Yoke (Burning the Brushwood) Eero Järnefelt To this: The zoomed-in view allows us to examine how artists can capture emotion in their work. We could even begin with the zoomed-in view and ask the students to speculate about what the girl in the painting is thinking, or feeling, or...

By Kerri Lambert, Instructional Technology Teacher Specialist In 2022, the Maryland State Department of Education adopted a new set of Digital Learning Standards for students. They are designed to ensure that students are college and career ready, have equitable access to resources, are provided learning opportunities to meet their individual needs, and become responsible digital citizens. In all, there are seven standards, each with several indicators, that are based on the International Society for Technology Education, ISTE, standards. Just like the other learning standards, the MD Digital Learning Standards should be referred to and referenced when planning an activity or lesson incorporating technology. In this series of blog posts, we will take a closer look at each of the seven standards, and explore ways that teachers can incorporate them into their everyday teaching. First up? The Empowered Learner. Let’s dive in. Here is the standard as it’s written: 1. Empowered Learner: ...

Have you ever wondered who you were emailing when you sent an email to that OIT@aacps.org email? Who's on the other end of brightspacesupport@aacps.org?  Well, here's your answer! Read on to learn more about each member of the Office of Instructional Technology.                                                           Stephanie Kelly, Senior Manager of Instructional Technology My career with AACPS began in 2002 as a teacher then Instructional Technology Specialist in 2006 and then was promoted to Senior Manager. Previously, I have taught every grade K-6 and a few high school technology classes. I am married and have 3 daughters and a grandchild. I enjoy hiking,experiencing new adventures and learning new things . Tracey Brown, Middle School Teacher Specialist I have been with OIT for 9.5 years as the middle s...

 By: Samantha Wilkinson, OIT Teacher Specialist One week of school has already passed, and we are entering into the academic core curriculum. Of course it is always time for learning, but we don't want to forget to continue to infuse the fun and getting to know you activities into this second week and beyond. Cultivating relationships and meeting social/ emotional needs of students must be a priority for student buy-in.  And we all know that building classroom community doesn't just happen the first few days, rather it is a continuous effort yearlong.  In that spirit, I want to remind you of all of the fabulous back to school resources on our Digital Take-Out site.  The site has been separated into 4 sections: Goal Setting , Building Classroom Community , Collaborative 1st Week Activities , and Independent 1st Week Activities.  The Goal Setting resources allow your students to think about what they want to get out of this school year. Short-and long-term goals ...

Happy New School Year!  While it still feels like summer outside, inside we know you are working hard to prepare the physical learning area for students. You are likely creating welcoming, functional, and intentional spaces so that your day can run smoothly, and so that your students know how to navigate the space. Your digital classroom is the same! Spending time setting up an efficient digital space allows you to keep organized and allows the students to easily find materials and assignments.  Here are some of our top tips for preparing your digital classroom. For more detailed steps on setting up your virtual classroom, see our Teacher Intro to Digital Tools Brightspace page. 1. Customize: This is the first thing your students see! It is nice to take some time to make it work for you and your students. For example, you may want to add a Google Meet link to your Nav Bar in the event of a virtual school day. You will also want to add a photo or Bitmoji of yourself to the prof...

Congratulations on a great school year!!! Our school staff and teachers are very deserving a nice, relaxing break to recharge and refresh.  We are wishing you all warm days, cool pools, good books, exciting vacations, peace and quiet when you want it, and time with family and friends this summer.  Should you choose to pursue an area of interest or need to get some APC credit, we highly recommend some of our Self-Paced Summer Courses. Just search the title in Unify Talent, or even just search "Self-Paced". These can be worked on anytime and range in length from 2 hours- 6.5 hours. You work on these on your own pace- think rainy day, or when you run through all of your Netflix shows. You can even do it together with a friend, poolside! New to our self paced courses:     Minecraft in Education 6 hours to complete/ 0.4 APC renewal credits      Finding & Customizing Digital Materials 6.5 hours to complete/ 0.4 APC renewal credits     WeVideo ...

Happy Summer! Hard to believe June is here already. This time of year is always bittersweet. It's a time to celebrate accomplishments and reflect on the year. As you gear up to say goodbye to your current students, consider reminding them and their families about how to stay fresh for next year.  Summer is a great time to build tech skills as well as review content. It also is a time for children to be creative and explore topics of interest. Using the application on Classlink is a safe way to have students research, create, and have fun! One application that students love for safe video content, research, and fun interactives is Discovery Education (DE). Kids can research their favorite animal or vacation spot, search the Vooks Channel to bring storytelling to life through animation and voice narration, or even find daily exercises to do. Parents can check out this guide for how to use DE at home. Running out of paint and crayons? Have your child create digitally this summer. Exp...