Hour of Code in GUHSD!

In a world dominated by technology, the opportunities for computer programming have exploded. Every time you play a game, open an app, or surf the web you are benefitting from the hard work of coders from around the world.

The international Hour of Code week (December 7-13) challenges teachers to provide students with an opportunity to explore the world of coding for an hour. Numerous resources have been developed to help and you don't need to know how to code. If you are interested, please check out the Hour of Code event website. There are hundreds of thousands of people who have already committed to participating. It does not matter what subject you teach. 

Let's get GUHSD involved! Sign up to have your class participate!

If you plan to host an event in your class or would like some assistance, request support from one of the Digital Learning Coaches.

Resources:

• How to Teach One Hour of Code
• Potential Tutorials to Use
• Star Wars Coding Resources

GUHSDtech Update - November 13, 2015

It’s been a busy year in the GUHSDtech world! Almost 6500 students are taking Chromebooks home with them every day. The ETS team has continued to respond and adjust to the needs of this massive rollout. Our students are getting more and more innovative opportunities thanks to the efforts of teachers and staff across the district. Thank you! Here are some updates from the GUHSDtech team.

GUHSDtech Vault

The availability of web tools have certainly changed everything. However, we know it is sometimes tough to keep track of the new tools available or exactly how they can be used with students. To help you figure out the best types of tools, strategies, and lesson ideas, we have created the GUHSDtech Vault. This collection of resources is organized by subject, strategy, and type of resource. Each one has a dedicated page on the GUHSDtech website to help you integrate it into your classroom. Visit the GUHSDtech Vault today!

GUHSDtech Innovation Day

To celebrate and share the achievements of the first semester, we are starting a bi-annual event called GUHSD Innovation Day. On December 10, teachers and students across the district will be encouraged to share their inner love of learning and innovation at school. Whether you are participating in the Hour of Code (see below), working on a big digital project, participating in an authentic learning experience, or just getting some Kahoot on - we want you to share! Use the #guhsdinnovation hashtag on Instagram and Twitter.

Hour of Code

2015 Hour of Code at
Grossmont Middle College.

The annual Hour of Code event is just a few weeks away during the week of December 7th. We challenge you to join thousands of other teachers around the world to provide your students with an hour (or more) of time to learn more about computer programming. Don’t worry if you aren’t a coder. Check out our post on the GUHSDtech Blog for more information.

Save the Date for TechFest 2016

GUHSD is set to host the third annual East County TechFest on Saturday, February 20 at West Hills High School. Last year, over 200 teachers gathered to learn about new strategies and tools. A call for speakers announcement will be sent out after Thanksgiving.

Digital Learning Coach Update - From April and Reuben

It’s been a whirlwind couple months for us, but we’ve definitely enjoyed the ride!  While we are still in the process of learning the ins and outs of these new positions, we are thrilled to be collaborating with teachers as they integrate technology into their classrooms.  We’ve visited over 50 classrooms in the last two months, and wanted to share some of the great thing that teachers are doing around the district…. Read More

If you need support integrating technology strategies into your classroom, help is available! Visit the DLC Support Request Page.

Update from the GUHSDtech DLCs!

Hi from your GUHSDtech Digital Learning Coaches, Reuben and April!

It’s been a whirlwind couple months for us, but we’ve definitely enjoyed the ride!  While we are still in the process of learning the ins and outs of these new positions, we are thrilled to be collaborating with teachers as they integrate technology into their classrooms.  We’ve visited over 50 classrooms in the last two months, and wanted to share some of the great thing that teachers are doing around the district.  

Over at Grossmont, students in Joann Phillip’s English class were using infographics to explain their idea of The American Dream.  Students developed a plan, conducted research, and then created their infographics to share with classmates. This was a great way for students to combine visuals and text to express their ideas! If you're interested in learning more about using infographics, check out these websites: Infogr.am and Piktochart. Here are a couple examples - Sports in America / America's Contradictions

Infographics in Joann Phillip’s English class

El Cajon Valley students in Kelly Verioti’s Biology class had a great time creating collaborative Google Drawings to illustrate the structure of DNA.  It was exciting to watch the discussion as students worked together to create their virtual posters.  The best part was when they inserted images of their posters into a group Google Slide deck to share their finished products with each other! Check out the GUHSDtech Google Drawing page for more information.

Collaborative Google Drawings in Kelly Verioti's class

Jen Johnson, science teacher at IDEA, just finished an awesome technology “bootcamp” project to kick-off this quarter.  She wanted students to feel comfortable using a variety of technology tools so that the technology wouldn’t overwhelm them when they started using it in conjunction with the content.  Students created a very cool Zombie Apocalypse Guide using Google Docs, Google Drawing, and WeVideo, and had a blast while learning the tools they’ll be using often in class. Here is Jen's intro emaze presentation and assignment instructions.

Technology Day in Jen Johnson’s class

One thing we’ve learned from our journey thus far is that teachers in GUHSD are ready and willing to see how technology can enhance the learning experience for their students.  We love seeing teachers and students take risks as they implement new ideas in the classroom.  We can’t wait to see what’s in store as teachers and students continue leveraging the power of technology.

How to get support:

Do you need help with digital lesson and project design, web tool integration, Google Apps for Education products (Drive, Docs, Forms, etc.), or other ed tech instructional support? Simply fill out the DLC Support Form and one of us will contact you.

Until next time,

April and Reuben