Troy Patterson

Dearborn Moodle Moot 2017

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This year, Dearborn will be hosting two Dearborn Moodle Moots. The Dearborn Moodle Moots focus on actual implementation for YOUR classroom. The first day is instructional. Lots of choice, models and tools are shared. The second day is all about implementation – YOU will be creating and/or installing resources into YOUR course. There will be experts on hand to assist.

If you are interested in learning more about iLearn, consider signing up. You can find more information at our Moodle Moot site. Watch your email for a discount code.

See the Dearborn Moodle Moot page for more information or to register.

4T Conference (Free PD)

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This is a great learning opportunity for educators along with the option of getting between 3-19 SCECHs for free.
4T Conference Logo

About the 4T Conference

The 4T Virtual Conference began as a grassroots effort in 2011 as an opportunity for educators from across the globe to connect, network, and learn from each other about issues in technology education.  The 4T conference is unique from other virtual conferences because all the lead presenters (all K-12 teachers) go through 15 hours of  professional development training on how to instructionally design an interactive and engaging virtual classroom (eg…webinar)!  We use a the Triple E Framework as our conceptual frame and measurement of quality of technology integration.  ALL of our sessions will be interactive, engaging and informative.

https://www.4tvirtualcon.com/schedule.html

Refreshing the Google Accounts login page

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Google will be updating the look of the log in page.

Starting April 5, 2017, we’re rolling out an update to the Google Accounts sign-in page to give users an improved experience to securely sign in to their accounts. This new design will make browser sign-in flows consistent across computers, phones and tablets.

Example of new Google Log in page

What will stay the same

  • The steps to sign in won’t change. You’ll enter the same information you usually do, like your email address and password.
  • You can use your account to sign in securely to the same Google services as before.

Why the page is changing

The new sign-in page will:

  • Have a cleaner, simpler look.
  • Make the sign-in process faster.
  • Be consistent across computers, phones, and tablets.

Free PD

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Free PD – April 2017

 

Virtual Courses. 6-9 SCECHs. FREE.

 

  • Each course is 3 weeks long, with rolling enrollment the 1st week of the month.  
  • All courses have two or three live webinars beginning the 2nd week. 
  • All courses below will be eligible for 6 (or 9) SCECH credits pending course completion.
  • For a complete list of Virtual Course FAQ’s click here.

 

Click on the title below for more information. 

 

 

Register Here

Google Classroom

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Please note that we’ve discovered an issue with Google Classroom. If you attempt to go to Google Classroom without already being logged into Google, then you will receive a 404 error.

Error 404. Unknown Link message.

However, if you are logged into Google, you will be presented with the Classroom. Thus, if you are trying to go to Google Classroom, but get an error page, please sign into Gmail and then go to Google Classroom.

DEC 2.0 Take 2.1

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DEC 2.0 is Coming!

Whilst we are hard at work creating DEC 2.0, we need your feedback. In lieu of trying to pull together teachers from across the district, we are reaching out to teachers via technology.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Please check out DEC 2.0 (5th Grade Marking Period 1 is where we’ve done some work as to what is possible – special Thanks to Amy Gwizdz!)
  • Let us know what you think by touching base with a Tech coach or entering a comment below.
  • Suggest specific improvements.

Need a quick overview? We have a video for you.

 

Clever Logins

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Our implementation of Clever is going well. Students and staff love the convenience of fewer user names and passwords to remember. However, we are noticing that some users are trying to log in using non Dearborn Public Schools accounts. This can happen in a couple of situations:

  • The user is signed into a regular gmail account (ends in @gmail.com)
  • The user enters @gmail instead of @dearbornschools.org
  • Someone is signed into the Chrome browser under a different gmail account.

This is fairly easy to resolve. Students (and staff) should make sure that they are signed into their Dearborn email account. Once they are sure that they are signed into the correct account, open another tab and go to the Clever link on the Dearborn Public Schools web page.

DEC 2.0 Preview

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DEC 2.0

As you may know, we are working on updating DEC. We are referring to the new DEC as DEC 2.0. Currently, it is very much in beta. We need your feedback to make it as polished as possible for teachers. I’ve done a video to give you an overview of DEC 2.0.

 

Please take a look at DEC 2.0.

Then:

  • Touch base with Curriculum Committees to provide them with feedback as to what you would like to see.
  • Catch a Tech Coach and give them feedback on the “look and feel” of DEC 2.0.
  • Touch base with me to let me know how we can make this most useful for teachers.

The Gift that isn’t quite ready yet.

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Gifts

In the spirit of Holiday gift giving, we are working on a gift for all teachers. However, that gift isn’t quite ready. Still, we are pretty excited about this gift, so we want to make a preview available for those who are interested. This is a gift that we hope all will love and appreciate. Students. Teachers. Staff. Administrators. Everyone. We are currently targeting February for the delivery of the gift, but, again, this being a gift giving season, (combined with our excitement over distributing this gift), we have decided to open up a “sneak peak” at this wonderful gift.

So, here goes. A wonderful gift for all. See, iLearn is an absolutely wonderful resource. However, some consider it a bit “clunky looking”. So we will be updating iLearn with a new, more modern user experience. (I told you it was wonderful). We want you to be able to play around and get acclimated with the new interface. Thus, we’ve set up a “sandbox” iLearn course for you to play with. Please note that students will NOT be able to sign in or use the course.

Note that this site is still being developed. However, it will give you a great feel for what iLearn will look like.

  • Gone are tons of Blocks on the right hand side.
  • Gone is the navigation block.
  • Gone is a look and feel that is dated.

Welcome

  • To an updated look and feel
  • To a navigation drawer
  • To a gear based editing system
  • To Tours to help guide users

Teachers can open a preview of a great present starting immediately. Simply head over to the iLearn Sandbox and log in using your district user name and password (soon to be passphrase).

We’ll be looking for feedback next year.

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