Digital Starter Kit

Check out the PPS Digital Starter Kit. This suggested list of software and online resources is only a starting point for users to accomplish a digital task. However, if users find useful or innovative qualities of other applications, they have the ability to pursue that application to meet their needs.You can see the full list of resources by clicking on the link in the top-right. If you are interested in an allowed and adopted list of software or apps for purchase, please visit the PPS Digital Resources Menu.

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Bringing digital citizenship into the school curriculum

Google’s free online training course for educators helps them equip their students with the foundational skills they need to create a safe and positive experience online. By reading, watching videos, and doing different activities in the Digital Citizenship and Safety Course, they can learn how to integrate digital citizenship and safety activities into their school curriculum. There are five interactive units. Read more about the program here.

New! Recommended PPS Digital Citizenship Curriculum

The PPS IT Department and Library Services have collaborated to recommend curriculum for teaching digital citizenship concepts. This instruction is aligned with the Oregon Library Standards, Common Core Standards, and ISTE Student Standards. Recommended digital citizenship lessons for each grade level are outlined at the links at the top of the page.

Each building may develop a comprehensive plan for lesson delivery. For example, a school’s teacher-librarian and/or individual classroom teacher could cover these lessons in the course of a year or during October, which is Digital Citizenship Month.

You can see the curriculum at bit.do/ppsdigcit.

Google Updates 2017-2018

NEW for 2017-18:
Google Hangouts for Students No Longer Available
Due to recent incidents with students accessing inappropriate video chat within Google Hangouts, the PPS Google Apps Advisory Group has recommended that Google Hangouts be turned off for all students. Google Hangouts is videoconferencing software that allows for collaboration, communication and sharing. In Hangouts, we are unable to save video or chat transcripts and sessions cannot be deleted, so there is concern that students could access videoconferencing without adult supervision. Hangouts will continue to be available for all district staff. This change is planned to go into effect at the start of the 2017-18 school year. See full message here.

G Suite Training
This is a Chrome extension that offers simple and interactive training lessons to get you up and running fast with G Suite. Training is accessible directly within G Suite, so you don’t need to leave the application to learn how to use it. This extension is free and will be pushed out to all district users at the start of the 2017-18 school year. See more information and help.

Sync Google Classroom with Synergy
Did you know that you can sync Google Classroom with Synergy? Your building scheduler can check the “Google Classroom section” box to create a Google Classroom for any of the classes/sections you teach with the students already populated.

For more information on Google Apps, please visit our PPS Google Apps Resource Page. You can also find Google Apps news on the PPS Google Apps Blog.

Summer Technology Learning Bingo

Here’s a fun, self-paced activity to help you continue your professional learning through the summer. Record your progress on the form linked below. Check it out!

Bingo Card
Google Form

Google’s Be Internet Awesome

With school out and summer break giving kids more time to spend on the Internet, it’s a great time to introduce Be Internet Awesome: a new way to encourage digital safety and citizenship.

To make the most of the Internet, kids need to be prepared to make smart decisions. Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence.

Developed in collaboration with online safety experts like the Family Online Safety Institute, the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and ConnectSafely, Be Internet Awesome focuses on five key lessons to help kids navigate the online world with confidence:

•Be Internet Smart: Share with care
•Be Internet Alert: Don’t fall for fake
•Be Internet Strong: Secure your secrets
•Be Internet Kind: It’s cool to be kind
•Be Internet Brave: When in doubt, talk it out

The program includes a range of specific resources for kids, educators and parents, so everyone has the tools they need to learn and participate in the conversation. You can read moe about the program here.

6 End-of-Year Google Classroom Clean-Up Tips

Check out these awesome (and optional) tips from @ericcurts that may help you clean up your Classroom as you transition from one school year to the next.