This is an exciting week. Not just because it’s the week before Spring Break (although that is a good reason)…this week was the announcement of the INTERACT 2014 participates. Once again, we have a great group of participates representing every campus within the district. For most of us, thinking about work is something we do not want to do. I intend on avoiding e-mail for most of the week just to maintain a little separation. Even though we have a week off, and I hope you are doing something fun with it, take a few moments to think about the remainder of the semester. What are your plans? How will you keep the students focused and engaged through the remaining weeks of the school year? If I can be of help, let me know. We have a lot of technology that can be used for a variety of activities.
At a Glance:
- TodaysMeet in the Classroom
- Final Foundation High School Program Details
- Spring Break Discounts for TCTA Members
- Entertainment
- Staff Development Opportunities
TodaysMeet in the Classroom – website – TodaysMeet is a free and simple, yet versatile, tool that is easy to use and can be very beneficial in the classroom. It’s designed as a backchannel — the conversation behind what’s going on. TodaysMeet creates personal chat room that you can set up and invite people to. They can quickly and easily write comments or questions for anyone in the chat room to see. Looking for some ideas on how to use it in the classroom, take a look at this article: 20 Useful Ways to Use TodaysMeet in Schools. This is a great opportunity for the students to be part of the conversation and reflect back on what was said at a later time.
Final Foundation High School Program Details – website – On February 12, 2014, TEA posted a PowerPoint presentation that provides the latest details of the new Foundation High School Program graduation requirements and endorsements after the State Board of Education finalized the rules January 31. Also available is a side-by-side comparison of the Foundation High School Program with the current minimum, recommended, and distinguished graduation plans.
Spring Break Discounts for TCEA Members – website – TCTA members, you can log in to the TCTA website to access members-only codes that will help you save money on hotels, car rentals and trips to SeaWorld, Six Flags, Schlitterbahn, Splashtown, and more.
Entertainment – Early stages of the Internet, take a look – website.
Technology Staff Development Opportunities – Log into ASCEND to register
| Date |
ASCEND Section# |
Training | Location |
| March 18 | 98016 | App Smashing 101 | iCafe |
| March 27 | 98009 | Tips and Tricks for Office 2013 | iCafe |
| April 8 | 98010 | Become a Skydrive Pro | iCafe |
| April 24 | 98005 | Introduction to Microsoft OneNote | iCafe |
| March 17 | 98022 | Webinar 6 – Self-Regulation | Online |
| March 24 | 98023 | Webinar 7 – Skilled Communication | Online |
| March 31 | 98024 | Webinar 8 – Certification Presentations | Online |