Google Jamboard

What is the Google Jamboard App?

The Google Jamboard App is a digital whiteboard that incorporates lots of Google 'goodness' to facilitate communication, collaboration and learning.

In a Jam, you can:

• collaborate with others in a whiteboard environment
• add Docs, Sheets, Slides & PDF's from Drive
• add photos and images
• search the web
• draw and utilize autodrawing
• write and utilize handwriting recognition
• add sticky notes
• add emojis and more!
  
  

There is a physical Jamboard (55-inch digital whiteboard); however, it costs a lot. 😢 The great news is the Jamboard app is free with GSuite for Education and can be used across all devices - laptops, tablets, and smartphones. 😃

Locate your Jamboard app in your Google Apps Launcher (aka the waffle). 

Jamboard allows for 50 concurrent collaborators working together - so yes, you can have your entire class in one Jamboard brainstorming or gathering research! 

Here is a quick video introducing you to Jamboard. (This video highlights how you would use Jamboard with a business team, but its functions are applicable to the classroom.)

Here is a longer Google for Education video about using Jamboard in the classroom.

Give Google Jamboard a try and let us know what you think!

iCan iPads

iCan iPads - Tip #1: Customizing the Control Center

iCan iPads - Tip #2: Searching on an iPad

End of Year Clean Up

Before leaving for summer break, there are a few things you may want to do to prepare for next year and make your August return a little more smooth.

If you are a Seesaw user, complete the following steps to archive a class:

#1 - Have Families and/or Students Download Their Files

1. From a computer using the Chrome or Firefox browser, sign into your FAMILY account at https://app.seesaw.me
2. Click the PROFILE icon in the top, left corner:
   
3. Click ACCOUNT SETTINGS:
   
4. Scroll down and select DOWNLOAD JOURNAL ARCHIVES:
   
5. Click the DOWNLOAD JOURNAL button:
   
6. A zipped file will be downloaded that is organized by month and year. Read more here.
   

#2 - Archive Seesaw Classes

Seesaw does not recommend deleting classes or students. Read more here.

1. While in Seesaw as a teacher, tap the PROFILE ICON in the top, left corner
2. Tap the preferred class
3. Tap the in the top right corner
4. Tap CLASS SETTINGS
5. Scroll down and tap ARCHIVE CLASS
6. Tap to confirm

If you are a GOOGLE CLASSROOM user, complete the following steps to archive a class:

1. While in the Google Classroom, click the 
2. Select ARCHIVE:
   
3. Click ARCHIVE to confirm:
   
   NOTE: The class files remain in Google Drive. 
   
   The class may be deleted once archived, however note the deletion is permanent. 

STUDENTS

Students will have access to the 2018-2019 courses until May 23, 2019, 7:00pm. After that, the courses will be removed from student dashboards and they will have READ ONLY access.

TEACHERS

Teachers will have access to make edits, score assignments, and make changes to grades in courses until May 23, 2019, 7:00pm. After that, teachers will have READ ONLY access. (NOTE: access to COPY or IMPORT that content will continue to be available.)

Those planning on working on a Canvas course over the summer can copy the course for summer revising.

If accessing the course past the end date, complete the following steps:

1. While in CANVAS, click  in the global navigation menu on the left
2. Click 
3. View the course(s) under  at the bottom of the page

Copying a Course

NOTE: The course can be imported into the district-rostered course the following fall session. Stay tuned for further information....

Keller ISD 19-20 Equivalency Time (aka EQ)

Keller ISD teachers - it's that time of year. If you are on a 187-day contract, you most likely are required to participate in Equivalency Time (aka EQ).* For the coming school year, you have 3 built-in EQ days - 

October 14, 2019
November 25, 2019
November 26, 2019

This means that our School Board approved the 2019-2020 KISD Calendar with these 3 days of compensation- but no requirement to be present at work ON THAT DATE.

How does that work? The School Board in return is asking you to EXCHANGE 18 HOURS of professional learning (learning that occurs on your OWN time & OFF of your regular contract time) for these days. 

The great thing is the 18-hour requirement OPENS May 25, 2019 and isn't DUE until May 1, 2020.  You have 11 months to fulfill this contract obligation!

What should you do? 

1. START NOW if possible. It's always easier to get these done in the summer before the school year is in full swing - there is an abundance of summer 'off-contract' time! (See summer Keller University opportunities here. Outside KISD participants are welcome, click here.)

2. COMMUNICATE with your campus principal. They have authority in approving and granting EQ opportunities.

3. REMEMBER the GUIDELINES - EQ time cannot be an activity that you receive a stipend for, cannot be accrued on sick or personal days, and cannot be accumulated while on FMLA.

The KISD School Board EQ Administrative Regulation about Equivalency Time can be found here. 

*Please always speak with your supervisor about whether EQ is applicable to your contract. 

What You've Been Waiting For in Gmail

Emails in Gmail may now be scheduled for a later time. View below or read more here.