Data Analytics Make Schools More Effective!

Is this program working? What about that software? Data tells the story of how successful the processes you’ve put in place are. A recent report from the Data Quality Campaign shows K-12 school districts need to invest in training administrators in data analysis.

Why Examine Data?

The report shows using data improves students’ academic outcomes and should be a goal for administrators as well as teachers, parents and even state policymakers. Administrators that can effectively use data can understand trends, examine professional development and personal needs, and marshal resources to support student achievement. 

To do this, administrators need to have the right tools including access, time, training and common understanding. Once they have the skills they need for data analytics, they can use their existing technology make the entire process come together.

Spreadsheets

Both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel can aggregate data on student learning, administrative tasks and other types of classroom performance factors. The data can be sorted, divided, highlighted and filtered in an endless array of possibilities.

OneNote

OneNote can help teachers track all-important student data with Classroom Notebooks. Administrators can use it the same way with Staff Notebooks. Not only does OneNote put all the information into a collaborative space, the information can easily be shared with parents. Engaging parents in the story that data tells about the school, helps with both successes and challenges, according to the report.

Presentations

Providing teachers and district staff  with ongoing training on effective data use helps them recognize how valid it is for their schools. Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides were both made for presentations. Besides being able to easily add information into these programs, they make everyone – from novice to expert – look like a pro.

Security

When gathering all this student and staff information, it’s imperative to keep it safe. The privacy and confidentially of each student and adult is a priority that Microsoft OneDrive’s security measures can handle. It offers a two-step verification protect and support to help protect your information.

Schools and districts are most successful when adults have the data to see the full picture of their students’ learning needs, according to the report. It is suggested school and district administrators need to model and support effective data use at every level, including as part of classroom instruction. What are you doing to support data analytics in your school? Share with us below.

How OneNote Enhances Memory in Students

Technology has improved education in many ways, from immersive learning through augmented and virtual reality to improved communication between teachers, parents and students. But there are a few “old school” methods that have no substitute and one is handwriting. There was a study published in Psychological Science in 2016, authored by Pam Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel Oppenheimer of UCLA, that showed handwriting is the best way for students to recall what they learn. With Microsoft OneNote, your students can have the best of both worlds. 

OneNote is Handwriting-Friendly

It has been shown that hand-note takers tend to digest, summarize and capture the meat of the information better than typing it, leading to improved understanding and recall. In relation,  when we type, we try to notes every word we hear instead of what they mean, leaving our comprehension of the subject matter more shallow. Using OneNote’s stylus (or a fingertip) is like putting pen to paper so note takers get the recall advantage.

While using OneNote gives the traditional benefits of pen and paper, it goes above and beyond by giving you the ease of being digital.

OneNote Quickly Transfers Handwriting to Digital

Once you’re done taking notes you can convert your handwriting to text by choosing the Lasso Select button on the Draw tab. And, unlike the set pages of a notebook, there’s no limit on how many notes you can take in OneNote, except for how much storage you have. And with cloud storage options, you should be free to take a lot of notes!

OneNote Keeps Notes in One Place

Once you’ve recalled information you can easily reference it. Keeping track of scraps of paper and multiple notebooks is a thing of the past as OneNote is searchable. Took a note about ordering a new shipment of Chromebooks? Simply search by “Chromebook” and OneNote will pull up all your options. You can even pull up content from OneNote if you’re offline. And because you can create multiple tabs in each notebook and pages within tab, organization options are endless.

OneNote Allows You to Save and Store

Gotta run out on a lecture? No problem. OneNote allows you to stop, save and open your note at a different time, so you write some additional notes. Since OneNote goes with you, it’s always in the palm of your hand when inspiration strikes.

What do you love about Microsoft OneNote? Let us know.

Who is Arey Jones?

The New Year is a time to look forward, make resolutions and leave old business behind. That’s not to say you forget your roots, your history. So who is Arey Jones? We have a long history that’s been weaved into technology and education for more than 100 years.

We’re a Trusted Leader in Educational Technology

We’ve been involved with Educational Solutions since the early 1990s by providing hardware, software, integration, configuration, service and support. We’re dedicated to working exclusively with the k-12 marketplace. Every employee within the Arey Jones company has experience working with the hundreds of school district customers around the county we have contracts with. Our employees are trained in all aspects of our business and must adhere to our strict policy that requires background checks on all employees and current fingerprinting or registration. We understand the importance of having trustworthy employees working with schools.

We’ve Been Around a Long Time

We were founded in 1897, yes 1897, in San Diego, Calif., as a business serving the stationary and administrative needs of the local educational market. As writing technology evolved, so did we. In 1972, Arey Jones was purchased by Broadway Typewriter Company, owned by the Scarpella Family. Since that time, the Scarpella Family has operated and expanded the business as Arey Jones Educational Solutions and remains active with the company. The Scarpella family is involved in day-to-day executive management and operations of the company and our management teams have been with us for more than 10 years.

We’re Equipped to be Your EdTech Partner

Our services are backed that a structure of regional configuration centers that allow us to design and implement technology architectures unique to each of the districts we serve. We have offices in California (San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco), Alabama (Mobile, Baldwin), Georgia (Atlanta) and Florida (Broward). Our centralized services will not only provide tech tools, like Chromebooks, (which can be shipped preloaded with integrated curriculum packages at competitive prices) but we also offer solutions that include peripheral, network architecture, data centers and cloud integration.

And our services don’t stop with the sale. Our support system is on point to make sure your classrooms spend more time learning instead of troubleshooting. Our teams of designers, installers, systems engineers, and support staff who are proud to be Arey Jones employees, are just one call away and ready to serve you.

Want to learn more? Contact us today to see how our education technology solutions can help you.

Most Popular Devices of 2018

Chromebooks are at the forefront of edtech devices and for good reason. Need a device that’s sturdy enough to take what kids can dish out? Go for a Chromebook. Need something powerful enough to meet all your app and online needs? Grab a Chromebook. How about something that does all of the above, while still staying comfortably in budget? You got, Chromebook.

Acer, HP, Dell, Asus and Lenovo all launched new Chromebooks in 2018 each with different options and features that set them apart. The most popular were Dell, Lenovo and HP.

Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 5190

Dell’s Chromebook 11 2-in-1 offers the best of both the laptop and tablet worlds. Its 11.6-inch, 2-in-1 screen features multiple viewing modes that allow students to view and write on the Chromebook from any angle - flat, tent, tablet or laptop - making it easy for them to create, collaborate and share ideas. Its Intel dual- and quad-core processor offers at least 10 hours of battery life and can be charged from either of its two USB Type-C ports, which also allows the Chromebook to be connected to a multitude of other devices.

Built for durability, the Chromebook 5190 2-in-1 comes with a sealed, spill-resistant keyboard that is able to withstand up to 12-ounce spills, rubberized protective bumpers along the base and an LCD screen. And, if that wasn’t enough durability, it has been tested to withstand 30-inch drops onto steel so it can easily survive lockers, lunchrooms, backpacks, buses and whatever else a student can dish out. It starts at $369.

Lenovo 500e Chromebook

The 11.6-in 2-in-1 500e Chromebook is made with the same rugged materials as the Dell Chromebook and features similar modes: laptop, tablet, tent or stand. But, one of its best features is the EMR pen. It is great for extended notetaking and writing, fine art or graphic design, detailed math problems requiring a student to show their work, and more. The EMR pen is pressure-sensitive and highly accurate. It runs on machine intelligence from Chrome OS to predict where the writing will go, giving it more of a real pen experience. One cool feature is that no charging or pairing is required, so the pen can be shared between students and across devices. And it’s garaged inside the Chromebook when not in use.

The Lenovo 500e also has two HD cameras to improve collaboration and videoconferencing. The 720p front-facing camera is great for capturing creative projects from anywhere, while the 5MP world-facing camera makes it easier to record and take pictures in the correct orientation from all four modes. The world-facing camera is on the keyboard side of the 500e Chromebook, so it can take photos while being held like a tablet. It starts at $319.

HP Chromebook x360

HP’s x360 Chromebook was created for both the education and consumer markets. It is a 2-in-1 with an 11.6-inch scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display. Combine that with the spill-resistant keyboard and the x360 is ready for what the classroom can dish out. This Chromebook combines a rugged frame with the 360-degree touchscreen; which is essential for running Android apps. It is built to survive drops and tumbles, and still run like a top. 

The specs are pretty standard: 1.1GHz Celeron, 4GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. There is an upgraded version with 32 GB of storage if you need it. HP’s x360 also comes with a part of USB-C ports and a microSD card reader. At $299.99, this Chromebook is good place to start if you’re curious about Google’s Chrome OS.

Wondering what the most popular devices of 2019 will be? We have a few ideas.

9 Tools for 2019

You’re back from winter break, refreshed and ready to get back to work. Why not implement some of the best tools for 2019 to help? There are a plethora of apps and extensions that can help you, your teachers and students make the most of the new year.

1. Flipgrid. We’re going to keep talking about Flipgrid because we think it’s only going to expand in use, especially since Microsoft Teams integrated Flipgrid into its Microsoft Teams for Education. Flipgrid is a video discussion platform for educators and students. It allows students to share their ideas, wonderings, projects and questions in new and creative ways. Administrators can use Flipgrid to engage their professional learning network and build community among staff by creating conversations.

2. OneNote. Come for OneNote’s Staff Notebooks and stay for its other tools. Aside from Staff Notebooks’ collaboration space, shared content library and personal workspace for every staff member, OneNote also allows users to add any content and use digital inking. It also supports Flipgrid.

3. Google Keep. Google Keep is the online note-taker that goes with you. Webpages, images or quotes are saved with a single click when using this Chrome Extension and they are synced across all the platforms you use. Easy.

4. Microsoft Teams for Education. This popular software is free for educators and has recently been updated. We expect even more improvements to roll out in 2019.

5. Google Authenticator. In a time where BYOD is becoming commonplace in schools, making sure your device is secure is a top priority. Google Authenticator helps with that. It generates a code that gives a second-step verification when you sign in.

6. Google Docs Offline Sync. Believe it or not, there are times when you don’t have Internet access, or you just don’t want to use your data. Because Google Docs is available offline, now you don’t have to. Create, view and edit files on Docs, Sheets and Slides all offline.

7. Even the most seasoned writers can use the extra pair of “eyes” that Grammarly provides. The base app, which checks spelling, is free or upgrade to the Premium version which not only checks spelling but grammar and punctuation. You’ll be asking yourself, “How long have I been writing everything in passive voice?”

8. CheckMark. This Chrome extension, created by EdTechTeam, gives teachers the ability to provide students feedback quickly and easily. Highlight text in a Google Doc and an overlay pops up with quick shortcuts to frequently-asked comments like “Check Punctuation” and “Spelling.” It works on Slides too.

9. LastPass. It seems like every website, app, social media platform and even software requires a password; that’s a lot to remember. LastPass makes it easy and secure to kept track of them, plus it’s free.

Have a tool that you can’t live without? Let us know in the comments.

Our Favorite Tech Updates in 2018

The next few months will likely be spent looking forward at all the great tech and updates rolling out in 2019, that we wanted to take a breath and look at all the updates we loved in 2018.

• Lenovo VR. The Lenovo VR Classroom started shipping out to schools last June. The VR headset allows students to go on virtual field trips anywhere at any time, no permission slips or bus rides required. The kits include everything administrators need to introduce this type of immersion learning to students. The entire VR system is easy-to-use, easy-to-clean, highly-durable and offered in 3-, 10- and 24-student kits, but adaptable for up to 30 students. And it’s backed by support and a one-year warranty.

• G Suite for Education. In January 2018, Google announced it was making this product even better with security updates for G Suite for Education and a new edition, G Suite Enterprise for Education, an expanded version built specifically for large educational institutions. Its new capabilities included mobile device management, cloud search, Gmail logs analysis in BigQuery, a security center and the ability to record meetings and save them to Drive.

• Microsoft Teams for Education. This popular software ushered in its sophomore with some big news, it’s free for educators, and also some new updates that helped make it even better for those users. These included page locking in OneNote, being able to mute students, join codes and reusing existing teams as templates.

• Flipgrid joining Microsoft. In 2018, Microsoft Teams integrated Flipgrid into its Microsoft Teams for Education. Flipgrid is a video discussion platform for educators and students. It allows students to share their ideas, wonderings, projects and questions in new and creative ways. This social learning app is now supported by OneNote, Microsoft’s digital notebook. Teachers add the topics, students respond with short videos, and everyone engages.

• G Suite Allowing Comments. In a February 2018 update, Google Drive started to allow users to leave feedback on Microsoft Offices files, PDFs and images bypassing the need to convert them into Google Docs, Sheets or Slides. With this update, you can now comment on those files in Drive the way you’re used to in Google Docs. In the Drive preview pane, comment, assign tasks or mention coworkers and the people you work can reply back, even if they’re not using G Suite.

These are some of our favorite updates in educational technology in 2018 — and some of them, we carry as part of our services.

Plan Your Winter Break Now

Winter break is almost here. For a few short weeks, the halls will quiet down and emails and phone calls will slow to a trickle. While this time promises a moment to relax, it is also a mere speed bump until the next semester and the accompanying laundry list of to-dos. But before that busy time comes, take a moment to set goals and expectations for things you want to accomplish during these precious few short weeks. 

Here’s what we suggest:

Attend a conference.

Conferences, or any other networking opportunity for that matter, are a great way to recharge your batteries over winter break. EdTechTeam hosts multiple events, like summits, bootcamps and workshops across the United States, that unlock the mysteries surrounding G Suite for Education. If none are near your school, you can bring one there. If winter break travel doesn’t appeal to you, or a conference isn’t available during your days off, take the time to look at the ones you might want to attend and put them on your schedule for next semester.

Research devices.

Grab a blanket, some hot cocoa and tuck in with a good wish list for your school. Winter break is an ideal time to read reviews and compare the benefits of the devices your school could use most. Wondering about the differences between all the different Chromebooks? Now’s the time to dive in and do some research. Catch up with our blogs by re-reading this one about choosing your next Chromebook. Or, go to the source. Microsoft Education lists all of its budget-friendly devices here. And, Google For Education’s website has information about the tools the tech giant is currently offering, including G Suite for Education, virtual and augmented reality and digital tools and apps.

Complete budgets for next year.

This task may not be tops on your list of fun things to do over winter break, but think how much better you’ll feel when it’s done? Also, you can budget those items that you’ve been researching all break. A helpful tip to getting your edtech approved is to have a plan for its use. Also, consider the cost of old vs. new tech, noting that new tech has less maintenance costs and is more efficient. 

With your winter break list of to-dos ready to go, you’ll be able to enjoy some rest and relaxation. Let us know what your plans are winter break, and if we can help.

What will the Classroom Look Like in the Future?

Do you remember a time when classrooms didn’t have laptops or the Internet? Technological advances such as these have become such a huge part of our daily lives that most of us can’t remember life without them, or even want to. But, believe or not, there was a time when photocopiers and handheld calculators were the height of educational technology. Thankfully most classrooms in the United States have graduated to bigger (or smaller), faster, more efficient technology. It begs to ask the question then, what will the classroom look like in the future? 

Here’s what we think:

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) offers the ultimate immersion learning experience. It provides students with unbelievable, even otherworldly, experiences they can’t get anywhere else - all without leaving the classroom. The benefits are many, including helping to develop empathy as students can personally witness communities in crisis or by allowing students to experience different careers through the eyes of a surgeon, soldier or other professional fields, plus it promotes curiosity and wonder. This technology is already available in classrooms. The Lenovo VR Classroom is being shipped out to schools across the country. The kit includes everything administrators need to introduce this type of immersion learning to students. We think it’s just a matter of time before more classrooms catch on and VR becomes as common as a Chromebook.

Paperless Classrooms

Classrooms are quite possibly the one area where paper is still widely used, especially for younger students; but as apps and software improve, paper will disappear. Take Microsoft OneNote, which eliminates the need for handouts as it creates notebooks for each class, offers a collaboration space and holds all the content students need, like assignments and calendars. It even offers opportunities to communicate with parents. Don’t forget Google Forms which take the place of worksheets, quizzes and paper tests. And, if your school isn’t already sending newsletters electronically, we guarantee it will in the future.

Global Capabilities

The world is opening up to schools, both with speakers and knowledge networks. Classroom speakers are no longer regulated by who is available locally. With Skype in the Classroom, students in Indiana can hear from a speaker in Egypt about an archeological dig. Or students can questions directly to the author of the book they’re reading. There are also several global learning networks that connect students by collecting and sharing data internationally about issues like The Globe Program and The National SEED Project. These global capabilities show students just how much in common they have with others across the world and we think it is destined to become commonplace in all classrooms.

What do you think will be a “must have” in classrooms in the future? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft Teams For Education: Are you on board yet?

Microsoft Teams in Office 365 Education is just into its second year since launching in June 2017 and is being touted as one of the best ways to further classroom engagement, strengthen professional learning communities and streamline staff communication.

 Microsoft Teams puts everyone on the same page, especially if they aren’t always in the same room. Microsoft Teams works off one central platform where everyone can see what everyone else is doing. You can upload and share any Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint and Power BI) and also comment on others’ work. Teams is also a complete chat and online meetings solution allowing users to host video, audio and web conferences and chat with anyone inside or outside an organization.

Teams For Education

Educators have used Teams to transform the learning experience at schools. Its uses are many.

• Microsoft Teams allows any virtual student or collaborator to participate via webcast and encourages collaboration across classes.

• Teams Assignments helps develop a digital classroom. Content, conversations and assignments are all in one hub so students can sign in, get started and begin connecting with each other.

• Rubric grading is also being introduced into Teams. Your teachers can create, store and apply rubrics to assignments to make it easier for students to get feedback. Not only does this help students improve their work, but it is a consistent way for your teachers to grade.

• With Microsoft Forms, a teacher can quickly add a quiz for students to complete and return. Plus Teams allows educators to keep track of feedback and grades.

What’s New?

Microsoft Teams is the fastest growing business app in Microsoft history. It is currently being used in more than 325,000 organizations, 87 Fortune 100 companies and is available in 44 languages. It only makes sense that Microsoft will continue to expand this valuable tool.

• Page locking in OneNote assignments. The pages of the student will now automatically “lock” as read-only when the due date/time passes. The teacher can still edit and annotate these OneNote assignment pages with feedback.

• Mute all students. Educators can now pause students from posting in the conversation tab.

• Join codes. Teams allows administrators to create a simple code for members to join a class, PLC or staff team, making it easy for many people to join a team all at once. Display the code in ‘projector mode’ so that everyone in the room can see it.

• Reusing a team as a template. Teachers can reuse an existing team as a template when creating a new team, then customize what they want to copy over: channels, team setting, apps, and even users.

• Archive teams. Safely store a Class, PLC, or Staff team content in read-only mode. Easily reference archived teams while setting up a Teams experience for the next school year. 

Love Microsoft Teams for Education? Let us know how you use it in the comments below.

Combine OneNote And Flipgrid To Make EdTech Magic

Learning today is digital, interactive and even 3D, so why shouldn’t it be social as well? Microsoft Teams, the digital hub that brings conversations, content, assignments and apps together in one place, has integrated Flipgrid into its Microsoft Teams for Education.

Flipgrid is a video discussion platform for educators and students. It allows students to share their ideas, wonderings, projects and questions in new and creative ways. This social learning app is now supported by OneNote, Microsoft’s digital notebook. Teachers add the topics, students respond with short videos, and everyone engages.

Why is this a magical match made in learning heaven?

Utilizing both Flipgrid and OneNote allows educators to use fun, engaging ways to help students retain and care about the information being presented, all in one place. It’s like throwing the best learning products into a cauldron to brew up the best edtech tools.

Flipgrid works like this:

• Grids are the communities built by educators. Once created, you receive an automated Flip Code which is shared with students. The students don’t create their own accounts, giving educators the ability to control what’s being posted and seen.

• Topics are discussion questions or prompts. These can be text-based or include images, videos, emjoi, attachments and more. Educators can add unlimited Topics to their Grids.

• Student-to-Student Replies allow students to respond to their peers within a Flipgrid Topic and participate in ongoing dialogue. Replies-to-Responses is controlled by the educator and can be toggled-on when the creating the topic.

• MixTapes can be created for student portfolios, semester showcases, project highlights, school yearbooks and student TED talks. You pick what goes on your MixTape (any Response from any of your Topics in any of your Grids) and you set the order you want the Responses to play. Your MixTapes are view-only and can be shared anywhere.

• Students can use the camera to capture and share their ideas, reflections, projects, creations, environments, experiments, imaginations and more. The app grants the user the ability to trim video, plus they work on every device, including desktops.

Because Flipgrid is supported by OneNote, all of the grids, topics and videos created will automatically appear as soon as an educator or student posts a link into OneNote. 

Since Flipgrid joined Microsoft Education, it’s completely free for every educator and student in the world. Try it out today and let us know what you think!

Try These Webinars For Professional Development

Webinars have become a popular method for professional development and for good reason; they offer direct contact with an instructor, give you the ability to interact with an audience and save traveling time and expenses. It’s no surprise there are plenty of webinars out there to choose from.

Here is a great list, from some of the best groups, organizations and companies out there, to get you started:

• EdTechTeam, the global network of former teachers turned educational technologists, not only has live webinars educators can pre-emptively sign up for, but archived webinars from this year and past are available as well. Educators can learn “Empathy in the Classroom,” “Chromebooks as Tools for Creativity,” and “Pathway to Google Certification.”

• ASCD, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development which represents more than 114,000 educators, lists free webinars on its website that address timely and relevant topics like student engagement, classroom technology and instructional strategies. Topics include: “Building Students’ Problem-Solving Skills Through Complex Challenges,” “STEM by Choice: Embedding Career Challenges in Classrooms and Communities” and “Shifting Our Thinking About Educational Technology: How to Place Tasks Before Apps.”

• Education Week offers both free and premium webinars. If you act fast, all webinars are accessible for a limited time after the original live-streaming date. Live viewers also receive a post-event confirmation email to prove participation. Topics include: “Reducing Chronic Absenteeism With School Climate and SEL,” “Maximizing Conference ROI” and “The Role of Ed Tech and Professional Development in Driving Personalized Learning.”

• Google for Education offers several webinars to watch live and on demand on Education On Air. Just sign into your Google account and hit play. Courses include: “Integrating G Suite with Instructional Tools,” “Back to School with Google Classroom” and “Google Data Studio: Build Custom Dashboards with Ease.”

• Microsoft Learning Consultant Program is hosting a Webinar Series throughout 2018. Session topics include: “Build it, make it, know it! Design thinking with Minecraft:EE and more,” “World changers unite! Level the playing field with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Translator” and “Won’t you be my neighbor? Skype, Teams and O365 building global communities.” Additionally, past webinars are available to view by following the links attached to those topics.

Webinars are awesome and cater to all interests and budgets, i.e., free. Attend a webinar that left you inspired? Share it below!

3 Ways to Inspire More Girls to Choose STEM Career Paths

Technology is a burgeoning career field and one that’s predicted to grow faster than any other in the United States between now and 2030, but girls still aren’t a big part of this industry. In fact, a Microsoft study shows only a fraction of girls and women are likely to pursue degrees related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects. 

That’s why Microsoft is encouraging administrators and teachers to close the STEM gap. This requires tapping into girls’ creativity, providing encouragement and connecting STEM subjects to real-world examples. 

Here are three ways you can encourage girls to get interested in STEM career paths:

1. Provide teachers with more engaging and relatable STEM curriculum, such as 3D and hands-on projects, the kinds of activities that have proven to help retain girls’ interest in STEM over the long haul. Microsoft offers products designed to ignite interest in STEM, including Minecraft: Education Edition, the 3D coordinate system, plus STEM lesson plans and hands-on activities.

2. Increase the number of STEM mentors and role models – including parents – to help build young girls’ confidence that they can succeed in STEM. Girls who are encouraged by their parents are twice as likely to stay in STEM, and in some areas like computer science, dads can have a greater influence on their daughters than moms, yet are less likely than mothers to talk to their daughters about STEM, the study found. Girls Who Code is a group that was founded with a single mission to close the gender gap in technology. It offers free after-school programs for 3rd through 12th-grade girls to join a supportive environment of peers and role models for girls to see themselves as computer scientists.

3. Create inclusive classrooms and workplaces that value female opinions. It’s important to celebrate the stories of women who are in STEM right now, today. Girls Who Code offers lesson plans on that focus on Women In Tech to showcase women who are excelling in STEM fields. These lesson plans introduce middle school students to female role models, like Dr. Ayanna Howard, roboticist, and spark the interest of girls to pursue computer science.

Keeping girls engaged in STEM starts when they’re young and needs to continue through high school. Encouraging them to succeed goes a long way to keeping them on the STEM path until after college. Have you found a way to inspire young girls about science, technology, engineering and math? Share it with us in the comments below!

Fight Back-To-School Momentum Loss With These Resources

Every year the same thing occurs - you return to school in the fall full of energy and tell yourself this is the year you keep that momentum going until May, only to slump after a handful of weeks. The reality is, come October many educators have already lost that back-to-school momentum. There is so much to do during those first weeks of school that many teachers play catch-up until winter break. Keep your educators on the right track with these Microsoft resources designed to help teachers be more efficient. 

Microsoft OneNote Class Notebook

This app allows teachers to set up OneNote Class Notebook for their classes. Each class notebook has three sub-notebooks:

Student Notebooks - These private notebooks are shared between the teacher and their individual students. Collecting and checking homework has never been faster and easier. These notebooks are only accessible by the teachers - who can view them at any time - not by other students.

Content Library - This notebook is for teachers to organize and share course materials with students. It eliminates searching for lost handouts or hearing, “I didn’t get that sheet.” Teachers can add and edit materials at any time, but this notebook is read-only for students.

Collaboration Space - This notebook is designed for all students and the teacher in the class to share, organize and collaborate. Teaching becomes interactive since educators can gather web content and embed lessons to create custom lesson plans. It makes working in groups a snap.

The only tools you need to get to using this app is an Office 365 subscription for Education that includes OneDrive for Business, an organizational account for the teacher with permissions to use the OneNote Class Notebook app and the students must have an Office 365 organizational account. Microsoft even has a step-by-step guide to help teachers set it all up.

Templates For Education

Why remake the wheel? Creating lesson plans, syllabus and course overview documents from scratch takes up a HUGE amount of time. Microsoft’s ready-made templates save tons of time, plus with so many different types and styles that exist, you and your teachers will have no trouble finding ones that work in your school.

Lesson Planner Templates - Make it easy to plan. These lesson plan templates are available in calendar, list and chart form.

Syllabus Templates - Traditional, accessible or teacher’s, all different types of syllabuses are available. These syllabus templates put all the course information in one tidy place for students and they can be personalized.

Course Overview Templates - Spend more time preparing students for classes by using an academic course overview template. They help organize and cover key points of a class.

Emergency Phone List - Gathering emergency information from students is essential. This template ensures nothing is left off the list.

These shortcuts were created to help educators focus more on teaching and less on housekeeping tasks. Download these timesavers to help keep the early-fall momentum going.

3 Steps To Become A Microsoft Innovation Expert

Looking for ways to promote professional development? Help your teachers become Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts. A MIE Expert is the last rung on Microsoft’s Innovative Educator program’s certification ladder. The journey starts by becoming a Microsoft Innovative Educator, then there’s also an option to become a MIE Trainer, and finally with earning the MIE Expert certification. These education specialists are skilled at integrating technology in the classroom. MIE Experts work hand-in-hand with Microsoft to lead innovation in education, advocate for the effective use of technology in the classroom, share ideas with a global network of peers and become thought leaders in the EdTech space. 

Joining the program is easy. The self-nomination tool is open year-round. Your teachers can nominate themselves at any time but the announcement isn’t made until August when Microsoft posts the official list. 

• Step 1: Make sure to join the Microsoft Educator Community and complete your profile. Keep in mind, you will need to submit the URL to your public profile as a part of the nomination process. You can find your URL by going into Edit Profile and looking under “basic information.”

• Step 2: You must earn 1,000 points on the Microsoft Educator Community and become a Certified MIE Once again, you must be a Certified MIE to become (or stay) an MIE Expert. Although you do not need to be a MIE Trainer to become an MIE Expert.

• Step 3: Create a 2-minute video or Sway that answers the following questions in a manner that creatively expresses what makes you a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. To share the video/Sway in your nomination, you will need to post it somewhere that allows you to create a URL to share it.

The questions are:

1. Why do you consider yourself to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert?

2. Describe how you have incorporated Microsoft technologies in innovative ways in your classroom. Include artifacts that demonstrate your innovation. Your examples should demonstrate that you have cultivated a strong 21st century teaching and learning environment.

3. How have you impacted the learning and growth of your colleagues? Have you reached beyond your classroom to coach/support other teachers in their growth?

4. If you become a MIE-Expert, how do you hope it will impact your current role in the next 12 months?

Once these three tasks are completed, the educator simply fills out this self-nomination form. MIE Experts have access to all sorts of opportunities like, professional and career development opportunities and certifications, speaking, training or coaching colleagues, participating in focus groups for Microsoft products, testing new Microsoft products and collaborating with innovative educators around the globe. Help your teachers get the most out of their knowledge of technology in the classroom and earn this badge of honor.

5 Steps To Getting A Guest Speaker On Skype

Skype in the Classroom’s guest speakers can help bring learning to life for your school’s students. Imagine this scenario, a couple of your classrooms are studying Ancient Greece and to enrich the experience a guest speaker, located in Ancient Corinth, Greece, speaks to the students, via Skype, about current excavations and describes how Greece looked in antiquity compared to the present day. And this is just one example. There are hundreds of volunteer guest speakers from around the world that are available to speak to your classrooms via Skype. These guest speakers are experts in every subject area you can imagine as they are authors, scientists, engineers, zookeepers, etc. Getting them in front of students is a snap as well.

Follow these five steps to bring a guest speaker into your school’s classrooms.

1. Sign Up On The Microsoft Educator Community. This is the portal for all things Microsoft Education. You can apply to become a Microsoft Innovative Educator, earn badges, points and certificates and check out courses and resources available to educators. The sign-in is at the top of the page. If you’re not a member, there’s also an option here to join the Microsoft Educator Community.

2. Get a Skype Account And Add Your ID To Your Profile. Skype is available on desktop, mobile, tablet, Xbox and wearables. It offers free voice and video calls, plus there’s a paid version.

3. Complete the Skype in the Classroom section on your Microsoft Educator Community profile. This is located under your Required Information (name, email, time zone, country, etc.) on your profile. Travel back to the Skype in the Classroom page for more information on: the lessons, collaborations, virtual field trips, and mystery Skype.

4. Go to the Find Guest Speakers page on Microsoft Educator Community. Type in the type of speaker of you’re looking for or scroll through the speakers listed on the page. You can also filter the speakers by student age group, subject, skype availability, country or language.

5. Choose one of the Guest Speakers and request a session. After you decide on a guest speaker, simply click on their name and you’ll be directed to their detailed profile. Once there, you’ll find a “Request A Guest Speaking Session” button. Check out their field of expertise and achievements they’ve earned.

Skype in the Classroom is a fun way to make learning relevant to your school’s students. It connects them with the rest of the world with the push of a button. Have a success story about Skype in the Classroom? So do we.

Take Your PD Virtual

Professional development connects educators and is necessary to build relationships and gain trust between administrators and teachers. But these interactive sessions of professional growth don’t always have to be in-person. Virtual PD is an ideal option for schools that don’t have the budget to cover travel expenses, guest speakers or consultants. Plus, it relieves the logistical headache of trying to schedule one PD session that works for everyone’s schedule. No wonder the idea of virtual PD is becoming a reality for many administrators.

Here’s how to make it work with for you.

1. Choose Your Weapon. Nearly every tablet, laptop and smartphone are equipped with a quality camera and microphone, putting the tools you need to video conference literally in the palm of your hand. All you have to do is choose which platform to use: Skype or Hangouts? Google users will find using Hangouts is second nature. Hangouts works for one-on-one conversations or group chats – up to 100 people. Plus you can add photos, maps, emoji, stickers and GIFs. Microsoft’s Skype is one of most well-known, most used video conferencing tools. Skype is also optimized for newer Android devices that allows it run faster and uses less device resources. Both of these platforms easily connect with their own networking groups like MSFT Edu #TweetMeets or #GoogleEI on Twitter.

2. Prepare Well. Make the most of your virtual experience. Choose a quiet space and make sure you have headphones or earbuds at the ready. Grab some drinks and snacks before you settle in. Block off time on your calendar so others know you’re busy; act like you are driving to a conference and thus can’t attend any last-minute meetings or appointments. Plan out the sessions you want to attend ahead of time.

3. Follow Up. Professional development is only as good as you want to make it. Take notes about the PD session and add them to your OneNote Staff Notebook page or blog. Or, go one step further and try collaborative note taking with a shared Google Doc. Once the PD is over, complete any evaluations and check if a recording of the session will be available for later use. Search out Twitter feeds in relation to the PD and follow anyone who has interesting perspectives about the discussed topics. 

Virtual PD is cost-effective, schedule-friendly and gives you access to collaborators, experts and consultants that you may not have had before. Are you a virtual PD convert? Let us know in the comments below.

Get These Free Tools From Microsoft

Free is always good. And, it’s even better when something that’s free is also super useful. Microsoft has three free tools for educators we think you should take full advantage of as they will organize staff and enable professional development. 

Flipgrid

Flipgrid announced last summer that its recent partnership with Microsoft means it will be free for all educators and students. Flipgrid is a video discussion platform used by tens of millions of PreK to PhD educators, students and families in 150 countries. It works on Chromebooks, iPads, iPhones, PCs and Android devices.

What’s special about this software is it has tons and tons of uses, including how administrators can use it to engage their professional learning network. Flipgrid can build community among staff and create conversation beyond small talk. Just returned from a conference and have something to share? Take a few minutes and use a grid.

The best part is if you already had Flipgrid, it was automatically upgraded to Flipgrid Classroom this summer. And if you bought it, no worries, Microsoft is prorating every educator who upgraded to Classroom last year.

Microsoft Teams

Organization is the name if the game. Get the entire team on one page with Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft teams is the tech giant’s complete chat and online meetings solution. With it, you can create collaborative classrooms, connect in professional learning communities and communicate with school staff from a single experience. Host audio, video and web conference or just chat with any staff member in your building, Microsoft Teams makes it all easily attainable. Oh, and it’s free.

What’s more is this handy tool is also integrated with Office 365 apps so you can easily co-author and share Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and SharePoint files. It is customizable and pairable with a phone system.

Microsoft Translator

Today’s school culture can include students and parents who speak another language besides English. When you can’t employ enough translators or bilingual teachers, download the free Microsoft Translator app.

The app works on any device to allow you to start and join a translated conversation. Microsoft Translator can translate more than 60 languages and its camera capabilities translate text in photos and screenshots. Voice translation mode allows you to have conversations with parents and students who speak a language other than English.

These three free Microsoft tools may be just the tech you need to make the new school year run as smooth as cafeteria pudding. Which ones are you planning on integrated into your school this semester? Share in the comments below.

How Virtual Reality Helps Education

There’s been a lot of talk lately about virtual reality and integrating it into the classroom. Is it all lip service or is there any substance behind this new type of immersion learning? While virtual reality or VR may seem a little Back to the Future Part II, its benefits make it deserving of a closer look. It can take students places they’d never be able to go in reality – an African jungle, the solar system and back in time to the creation of planet Earth.

Yet, some administers are still getting pushback from those that think VR is a silly idea. So we came up with some ideas to get teachers, parents and students on board with VR.

Teachers

Introduce this technology to the teachers in your school who are eager to experiment with new technology. Once they apply it in their classrooms and see how awesome it is for students, they’ll start to share their knowledge with their peers.

Remind teachers that technology is the future. Did they ever think Chromebooks would replace paper and pencils? 

Put together a quick presentation via Slides or PowerPoint outlining VR’s benefits. Be sure to highlight these attributes:

• VR allows students to travel all over the world without leaving the classroom.

• VR helps develop empathy as students can personally witness communities in crisis.

• VR enables students to experience different careers through the eyes of a surgeon, soldier or other professional fields.

• VR allows students to explore the human body and see how our anatomy works.

• Students can create and share their own VR content.

• It promotes curiosity and wonder.

Parents

Ask teachers to demonstrate this tech to parents during conferences and other one-on-one meetings and school events. Set up the machine so parents can use it themselves.

Encourage students to describe this tech to parents. Since students can create and share their on VR experiences, make it a project for students to give as a presentation for parents. 

Add VR field trips to parent newsletters. “This week our fourth-grade class is traveling to the International Space Station. No permission slip required.”

Students

VR education is new and exciting and students will naturally want to be a part of it. Many teachers recalled seeing that spark and excitement the first time a student goes to Jupiter or learns about pollination by getting up close and personal with flowers and bugs.

Students like have already had an experience with VR through VR games and VR headsets. VR ed tech is just another extension of the technology they’re already familiar with.

Virtual reality not only helps students keep up, but stay ahead in a world that’s learning faster every day. Contact us to see how we can help put this new technology into your teachers’ hands.

How to Be a Google Certified Educator

Tech tools for education are as essential today as pencils and paper. If you’re an educator that knows how to use tech like Google Apps for Education in the classroom there are programs that offer certifications for this ability. One of the most recognized is the Google Certified Educator program, which was designed for educators and classroom teachers who demonstrate proficiency using Google for Education tools.

Why should you be a Google Certified Educator?

The Certified Educator program not only validates learning, but it offers several other benefits as well. Being a Google Certified Educator means:

• You gain confidence with digital learning strategies and Google tools.

• You gain access to content that’s focused on classroom integration.

• You can create a paperless classroom.

• You can increase student digital learning.

• You can measure your impact.

• You can engage in professional growth and leadership.

• And, you can increase efficiency and save time.

Now that you’ve decided become a Google Certified Educator, the next step is determining the level you should obtain certification in.

What level of Google Certified Educator should you be?

The Certified Educator program is offered at four levels, a Google Certified Educator Level 1, Level 2 and Google Certified Trainer and Innovator. Each level requires varying degrees of dedication on your part. According to Google For Education,

• Google Certified Educator Level 1 and 2: Level 1 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully implement G Suite for Education into their teaching practice in order to enhance teaching and learning. The Level 2 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully integrate a wider range of Google for Education tools and other technologies in order to transform their teaching practice.

• Google for Education Certified Trainer: Google for Education Certified Trainers are passionate and driven education professionals with a desire to help others transform classrooms with technology. Whether you are a school’s go-to technologist, a stellar classroom teacher or an enterprising consultant, anyone is welcome to apply for membership in the program.

• Google for Education Certified Innovator: This is designed for education thought-leaders who create new and innovative projects using Google for Education tools.

Once you decide what level fits your teaching style and time commitment, the next step is to study and take the exam.

How do you finally become a Google Certified Educator?

Each of the four levels has a course and exam you must pass to gain certification. Google for Education Certified Trainers and Innovators must also submit an application.

• Google Certified Educator Level 1: Work through the Fundamentals course and take the GCE1 exam.

• Google Certified Educator Level 2: Finish the Advanced course and take the GCE2 exam.

• Google for Education Certified Trainer: Go through the Trainer Learning Center, take the Trainer Essentials exam and submit an online application.

• Google for Education Certified Innovators: Finish the Advanced course, take the GCE2 exams and submit an online application.

You can either work on your own to go through these levels or work with a Google Certified Trainer for face-to-face instruction.

Deciding to take that next step to become a Google Certified Educator can help you take your classroom and learning experience to the next level and show your dedication to ed tech. How many levels have you gone through? Tell us in the comments below.

Follow These 7 Steps To Secure Your Chromebook

It is more common than ever to see Chromebooks dotting the desks, offices and libraries of schools around the country. These devices are changing the way students learn and teachers teach. Unfortunately, that also means there is a greater risk for Chromebooks to go missing, be accessed by unauthorized users or even stumble onto sketchy websites, so it’s essential to keep your Chromebook secure at all times and in all capacities. 

Here are 7 steps to take to keep your Chromebook secure.

1. Set a strong password. The longer it is, the harder it is to crack. Avoid names, places and dictionary words and mix up the capitalization and use special characters. Keep your password in a safe place. You can also use programs and apps, like LastPass, to help keep all your passwords secure.

2. Maximize your security settings. Go into your Chromebook settings and make sure to restrict sign-in to just your account and use Google’s two-factor authentication. This generates a text message or a code through the Google Authenticator app that is required for any new login. If you plan on loaning your Chromebook out, say to a teacher or another administrator, you can wipe the data quickly with the Powerwash feature. Go to s Settings > Show Advanced Settings >Powerwash.

3. Never leave your Chromebook unattended. Even if you are just heading to the bathroom, put it to sleep. Have a co-worker monitor your device or lock it up in your office.

1. Make copies of collaborative documents. Keep originals of documents. Chromebook does a great job of automatically storing data in the cloud and encrypting any remaining data using tamper-resistant hardware, but it’s still a good idea to store any important documents in a separate, secure place.

2. Mask your web browsing. Consider installing a VPN if you want to mask your browsing from your internet service provider or other prying eyes. TunnelBear is an excellent option for the Chromebook because it offers a Chrome extension and Chromebooks with the Google Play Store can install the TunnelBear Android app.

3. Change your search engine. If Chromebook’s existing security features, like the Sandbox or Verified Boot features (both keep a watch on malware an viruses), don’t offer enough piece of mind, you can change your search engine from Chrome to DuckDuckGo or Startpage to hide what you search from Google.

4. Turn off malicious extensions. If your Chromebook has acquired a malicious extension, turn off extension syncing in settings (Settings>People>Advanced Sync Settings) and reset your Chromebook (Show Advanced Settings>Reset Settings).

Keeping your Chromebook secure will help it last from year-to-year, semester-to-semester. Have other great security ideas? Share them below!