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Weekly Tech Tips 11 October 2020

 Dear Friends,


I would like to thank you for allowing me to train and help you with your Edtech needs and questions particularly in regards to Google for Education Suite. It is because of you that I was able to earn my Google for Education Certified Trainer last week. I literally could not have done it without you. What’s more I cannot keep it without you. I am now obligated to perform 12 training sessions a year! The idea is to make as many teachers Level 1 and Level 2 Google Educators as possible. So if you are neither or just the first one, please let me know if you are interested. Here is a form to fill out if you’d rather do that now. This is the same form I sent out last week as an example of  “branching”:

https://forms.gle/9Earqqf8nj3EUvkp8


Weekly Tech Tips


Google Applied Digital Skills for Civic and Government


Premade lessons that simultaneously teach valuable digital skills. Last week was Social Studies and Language Arts. This week is Civics and Government. Just in time for the US election!

 

Adaptable lessons to teach civics and government

Engage your students' interests in current events to cover civics and government topics like voting history and debating public policies with these adaptable lessons.

  

THE PATH TO THE VOTE

Research and interview historic voting advocates

2020 marks two huge anniversaries for voting rights: 150 years for Black men after the 15th Amendment and 100 years for women after the 19th Amendment. Let students "interview" figures like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and others with this lesson.

Start lesson 

 

 DISCUSS AND DEBATE POLICY

Explore and argue public policy positions

Let your students explore different perspectives on a public policy issue that affects their community. They'll learn to build strong arguments and counterarguments.

Try it out 

 

 RUNNING FOR OFFICE

Design a poster about you

Teach your students about campaigning for political office in the U.S. They'll design a poster, which can contain their proposed platform or policies as if they were a candidate.

Create posters 

 

 CHECK YOUR SOURCES

Evaluate credibility of online sources

This lesson shows the importance of conducting thorough research and verifying facts with multiple sources. Tie it into a discussion on staying safe online or being a good digital citizen.

Start learning 

This Week’s Apps and Resources



I feel like we all probably have enough apps for now. Sometimes you really just have to spend time with the ones you have or have been meaning to try. We have a busy few weeks coming up with WASC/IB and Q1 grades/PTCs. So just one app that has really helped me relax because I love the sound of rain.

Noisli

You can mix several relaxing sounds. Rain, thunder and wind is my favorite mix, but there is also fire, flowing water, or the murmur of a coffee shop. It is still free, but now I think they ask you sign up for a free account.


Stay strong and positive. Let me know if I can help you. I am available during homeroom time especially on Fridays to help you figure out any Edtech questions you may have.


‘...without freedom [one] cannot exist authentically.’

Paulo Freire

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