AACPS OIT Byte

By: Samantha Wilkinson We know summer is upon us and we are all ready to take some time to relax and enjoy the sunshine! But in between dips in the pool, cool beverages, and barbeques, you may want to dive into some of our digital delights this summer. As always, this summer we are offering a variety of self- paced virtual courses . These are available for APC renewal credits and you simply sign up in Unified Talent. Courses range from topics such as Brightspace, Engaging Digital Lessons, Minecraft in Education, WeVideo Basics and more! These are completed on your own in Brightspace. The courses utilize videos, slideshows, articles, and practical application tasks. It is a low-pressure way to learn about the applications we have available and allows you to start thinking about how you may be able to use them with students. Do a little at a time, as you leisurely sip your coffee, or take a break from the beach. Did you know that you can actually earn certificates as you master certain a...

By: Samantha Wilkinson Days of sunshine, warm temperatures, and summer fun are so close! Here are some reminders of how to "power down" your virtual classrooms in preparation for the break. General Tips : It's always good to wipe down your chromebooks, laptops, and other screened devices with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Tech safe wipes are also ok. Compressed air can help get rid of dirt and dust in the keyboard and ports. Be aware of how you store devices, not stacking them on top of one another to avoid screen damage. For desktop monitors, a lightweight fabric to cover them can be helpful to protect it from summer dust and damage. Store tech with its charging equipment and cables as directed by your school tech. Be sure to put in an AACPS My Support Portal ticket to report any damage or classroom equipment issues. It's good to get those resolved before the chaos of a new year, particularly if it involves updating the Smartboard, or getting a part replaced.  Bright...

As educators, we seek meaningful ways to conclude the school year, allowing students to reflect on their learning journey and growth. Digital reflection projects not only offer a dynamic and engaging avenue for students to showcase their progress and insights but also serve as a platform for teaching and highlighting students' valuable digital skills. These projects not only foster critical thinking and self-awareness but also empower students to curate their educational experiences in a creative manner. Let's explore how these three digital reflection projects can serve as a captivating conclusion to the academic year. Personal Learning Portfolios: Encourage students to create digital portfolios displaying their best works, projects, and reflections from the entire school year. Platforms like Google Sites , Microsoft OneNote , and Wixie portfolios allow students to curate multimedia-rich portfolios incorporating text, images, videos, and audio recordings. This comprehensive ...

  By: Koralina McKenna, OIT Academic Specialist Around this time of year I was always looking for something new and versatile to capture my students interest. I wanted something that I could use from simple things like one-pagers and then use later for their final projects. Which brings me to my absolute favorite tool on the OIT roster - Adobe Express! Whether you're having students create an infographic, one-pager, thinking map, video or presentation - Adobe Express has you covered. It’s simple and easy to use for any grade level, individual or in groups; it doesn’t matter if you start from a template or scratch what your students create will be polished and professional. Students will find exactly what they need from a robust image, video and audio libraries built right into the editor. Perhaps what is most conducive to building student capacity with Adobe Express is that the editor stays the same regardless of the type of project they create. Students can download their projects...

By Morgan Thompson, LMS Teacher Specialist Looking to use Brightspace in a new way next year? Keep reading for some inspiration from your fellow #AACPSAwesome teachers! This year, a Brightspace user Roundtable Discussion was included as a session option during our semi-annual eCoach Day on March 7 th, 2024. Teachers from elementary, middle, and high school shared their experiences of how they are using Brightspace to enhance personalized learning, establish effective routines, and facilitate improved communication. 🔷Meet the Panelists Jeremy Milligan Northeast High School Amanda Scheeler Riviera Beach Elementary School Alex Tougas Annapolis Middle School Michael Vigna Broadneck High School 🔷Engagement through Personalized Learning Paths Whether it's providing student choice or embedding multimedia content, Brightspace offers versatile tools to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities.  Jeremy, a science teacher, introduced the concept of using Brightspace's Game Map...

Meet Paige Richardson! Q: Tell us about your role in AACPS. A; My official title with AACPS is Instructional Technology Tech Support, but I deal directly with the MOI (Materials of Instruction) process and everything behind the scenes.  Q: Can you give us a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when coordinators find a textbook, website, software, product, etc. they want to use? What's the process? A: If a Coordinator would like to utilize a material for instruction, they must first check the Taimms (Textbook and Instructional Materials) catalog to see if it has already been approved or not. Once they have done that and determined it hasn't gone through the process, they must go to the Brightspace course and complete the request form. Once it has been determined that it can move forward, they must enter a request for evaluation in Taimms. If it is a digital material, AACPS requires technology documents to be completed before being brought to the committee for review.  Q:Can ...

  By Kerri Lambert, Teacher Specialist, AACPS Office of Instructional Technology This is the seventh and final post in a series about the Maryland Digital Learning Standards.  Collaboration, the third of the famous 4 C’s of the 21st Century is a natural fit for the Maryland Digital Learning Standards as technology allows for a variety of collaborative activities. Whether it’s working simultaneously in a document to meeting virtually with an expert or community member, technology allows individuals to work as a team to expand their knowledge base and find solutions. So what exactly does the standard say about this all important concept?  7. Global Collaborator  Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally. Students:  a) use digital tools to connect with learners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, engaging with them in ways that broaden...