We have a digital portfolio! What's next?

60+ DMS 7th Graders create Google Site Portfolios

In the first month of school, the USD EdTech ToSAs have helped over 60 classes get setup with digital portfolios. (This number doesn't include the teachers who got their classes setup with portfolios on their own!) In grades K-2 we are promoting the use of Seesaw and in grades 3-8 we are using the new Google Sites. The beauty of digital portfolios is that it gives students a place to display the work that they are most proud of throughout the school year. It also gives them an authentic audience and an opportunity to reinforce good digital citizenship skills.

3 Recommendations for Keeping Student Portfolios Updated

DMS student made globe digitized with Prisma.

1. Let students choose which assignments to display on their portfolio. It is not necessary to have them include everything that's done in class. Students take more ownership over work when they are given choice. Dedicate a period of time once every other week (or so) to have students update their portfolios with their favorite creations. 
2. Take non-digital assignments and digitize them by taking pictures. A series of photos can be used to document the creation process. Mobile apps like Prisma can take those photographs and turn them into interesting artwork. 
3. Reflections are an essential part of the learning process. When students add photos or work to portfolios, don't forget to have them give a description of the assignment and what they learned. 

Suggested Creation Apps to Try

Open image for all working links

Whether your students are on iPads or Chromebooks, there are an endless amount of apps that you can try with your students. Here are some of my favorites to help get you started. These apps were chosen because they are free and easy for students to use. Even though some apps may be very familiar to you, try using them in new and different ways!

• Google Slides/Draw
• Google Photos
• Adobe Spark (Spark Video or Page for iOS devices)
• WeVideo
• StoryboardThat (Web only)
• Educreations
• Screencastify (Chrome only)
• Sketchpad (Web only)
• Soundtrap 

*Note about adding video onto a Google Site: Once a video is in your Google Drive, it can easily be inserted into a new Google Site. It is possible to save a WeVideo to Google Drive.

Tips for Using the New Google Sites

For those of you who are familiar with the old Google Sites, there may be some changes that you are not used to. Here are some helpful hints:

1. You can no longer use the html embed code to embed outside projects into your Site. Instead, you can grab the link (not emebed code) from your project, click insert url, and Sites will attempt to grab an image, title, description, and link to the website. (See example on the left.)
2. Since we are trying to keep student's last names off of projects, if a student adds an assignment that was originally created in Google Classroom, make sure students take their last names out of titles before posting and publishing on the Google Site.
3. If students post anything from Google Drive, make sure that the share setting for that item is set so anyone with the link can view. You (the teacher) may occasionally want to preview students' Sites in an Incognito window to make sure it's viewable to others. 

If your students have not created a digital portfolio and you would like to get them started, here is a Seesaw and Google Sites step-by-step tutorial. If you need help having students create portfolios, or if you're ready to try a new creation project and need extra assistance, please email any of the ToSAs and we'll be happy to come into your classroom!

Want Apps? Find Out How to Get Them Here

Have iPads in your class and wonder what the procedure is for getting apps? Regardless of whether you earned an iPad from an Academy, or were given it by your school site, here's how:

If the iPad is primarily a teacher tool, you are asked to use the USD-Staff wifi network. The District also asks that you use the iTunes/iCloud account created with your USD username when downloading free apps. If there is a paid-app that is work-related, let your administrator know its name and cost. When they approve the app for purchase, they will let the Tech Department know. We'll purchase the app through Apple's Voucher Purchase Program. Then, we'll install the app.

For student iPads, please use the USD-Student wifi network. Each site has an Apple iTunes account for installing apps. You are asked to use it when you'd like to install free apps on to the student iPads. Your site administrator or secretary should have the username and password for you. Alternatively, you can set up each of the student iPads with your @unionsd.org iCloud account. Any apps you install will be available on any of the iPads signed into that account.

If there is a paid-app you would like to purchase, first talk to your grade-level colleagues. Apple has a Volume Purchase Program with a twenty license discount. Unlike your personal iOS devices, we'll need to buy a license for each device you would like the paid app on. Let your administrator know the app's name, cost, and the number of licenses your grade level would like to buy. When your principal approves the app for purchase, (s)he will let the Tech Department know. We'll purchase the app through the Apple's Volume Purchase Program. Then, we'll install the app.

From time to time, a paid-app is free for a day (or maybe a few). I try to keep my eye open for them using the Apps Gone Free iPad app, or the website Apple Sliced. If I find one I think teachers might be interested, I will tweet it and you'll find it in my Twitter stream in the right-hand navigation bar. However, you might enjoy keeping an eye out for them yourself.

EduWin

This week's EduWin goes to all the teachers who are welcoming tech into their classes and learning how to use it along with their students. This is a huge shift in how we have viewed ourselves as teachers and educators for a long time. We have felt that we needed to/were expected to know all the answers. The shift to using technology is a little scary since students take to it so naturally and their knowledge quickly surpasses ours. As I visit classes, I am proud to work with such a wonderful group of flexible thinking and risk-taking educators. Thank you.