Tech eNews 2-17-2012

Topics for this Tech eNews 2-17-2012

1. New E-mail Login Screen – why you might get “incorrect password”

2. Next Round of Innovation Grants $2,500

3. Want to turn off the “Web Clip” headline in your e-mail?

4. Online survey for Strategic Planning – please give your input

5. OSPI Required Survey for Certificated Teachers and Administrators

6. Rescheduled Document Camera “refresher” 3-7-2012 4-5:30 PM

7. Have an idea for a Tech integration class for

8. Filter warning on projector – way to extend the life of your projector’s bulb!

1. New E-mail Login Screen – why you might get “incorrect password”

Please read this: A common frustration that’s come up with the new e-mail system is getting a message saying you’re entering the “incorrect password” when you know it’s the right one. The problem might be this: When you follow the link from the district website, For District Employees page, to the e-mail login screen, it knows that you’re using a washougalsd.org e-mail, and you don’t have to enter that part. If you click Log Out, it takes you to a generic Google or gmail login page, where you do need to enter it.

Here’s a handy way to remember which is which:

If the background is green, and you have a district logo, enter just first.last as the username

If the background is grey, and there’s NO district logo, enter your WHOLE e-mail as the username.

The password is the same for both!

2. Next Round of Innovation Grants $2,500 deadline 3/9/2012

The Washougal School District Technology Committee is interested in having teachers pilot new and innovative technology that might be adopted into wider use as part of the standard classroom model. To further this goal, the technology committee is seeking proposals from staff for technology they are interested in piloting. Applications must meet these criterion:

Technology funded through this mini-grant must lend itself to Tier 3 teaching. (for a definition of Tier 3 teaching, please visit the OSPI Tech website at http://www.k12.wa.us/EdTech/ ) The Technology should have an impact on student learning. Technology funded through this mini-grant should have applications for several curriculum areas and grade levels.

The technology should have reasonable support and system requirements. Technology should be inexpensive enough that it could be made part of the district standard. Applications should cost less than $2,500, and cannot be for software or subscriptions to online services.

Grant seekers should be interested in piloting the technology, and also willing to share their experiences with the committee, and to co-teach a class on utilizing the technology if it were adopted in wider use.

If you are interested in learning more, or would like to fill out the application, you can find the application on the District webpage under Business/Operations then Technology.

If you have any questions, please contact your building's tech committee representative or Les Brown at ext. 3310.

3. Turn Off the “Web Clip” headline in your e-mail

Tech Support Specialist Anthony Collver has provided these directions:

Many people have asked how to remove the advertisement that can be seen above your inbox in the new web-based e-mail. This is the "Web Clip" feature and display content from Google partner sites. In order to modify or turn off this feature, do the following:

1. Log into mail

2. On the right side of the screen click on the gear icon and select mail settings.

3. One of the headings under settings will be for "Web Clip".

4. Once you have selected web clip, you will see a list of places web clip pulls headlines from. You can now modify that list to present items of interest, or you may turn it off entirely.

4. Online Survey for Strategic Planning – please give your input

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee is collecting input via a voluntary online survey on the state of and use of the district’s facilities. WSD Staff are invited to share their thoughts via an online survey. You can find a link to the survey on the main WSD webpage, or click this link:

http://www.washougal.k12.wa.us/survey

5. OSPI Required Teacher & Administrator Survey

Certificated Teachers and Administrators are required to take the annual technology integration survey, or PILOT survey. Classified staff do NOT need to take this.

Go to http://www.edtech.wednet.edu/pilot/

Click on the "Login" button, and enter your NEW Washougalsd.org e-mail address in the Username box (I have updated the PILOT site to use the new ones instead of the old e-mail addresses). Enter the password you selected previously in the next box, and click login.

If you can't remember your username/password combo, you can have it automatically e-mailed to you using the "Forgot Username/Password" link. The PILOT site will e-mail you your login and password.

Once you get in, please choose the "Technology Integration and Proficiency Self-Assessment". After clicking this link, it'll ask you for your grade level, please choose either Grades K-4, or Grades 5-12 as appropriate.

When you're done, make sure to click "Submit Answers" at the bottom, and your scores are saved. You can view your results from the main menu, and see how you've improved over the past year.

Teachers must complete the survey by 3/15/2012.

6. Rescheduled Document Camera Refresher Class – 3-7-2012 at Hathaway

Space is available in the rescheduled "Document Camera Refresher" course that Philicia Weaver is facilitating. The class will be on March 7, 2012, from 4-5:30 PM, in Philicia's classroom at Hathaway (Room 126). Please let Les know if you're interested in attending. Philicia will show how to hook up the document camera, some neat tricks on using it that you may not have discovered, and will talk about curriculum applications. There will also be lots of times for questions or hands-on instruction if people have specific things they'd like to learn. Teachers who attend the class can pay themselves to attend, if the class aligns with their professional growth plan, they have professional growth funds available, and their principal signs off on the timecard. Classified staff are also welcome to register/attend this class, but there is not a mechanism for them to pay themselves to do so.

7. Have an idea for a Tech integration class for 2012-2013?

WSD Tech staff have started planning for the tech integration classes for 2012-2013, and we are looking for ideas! If you have a topic or class idea you’d like to see offered, please let Les Brown know, and he’ll include it in the survey that’ll go out in April. Course offerings will be based on the interest as expressed in the teacher survey. Teachers who participate in the Technology Committee will also be helping seed the topics for the survey. If there’s a Tech class you’re interested in co-teaching, contact Les, and he’ll add it as a proposal. If enough other teachers are interested, Les will work with you to plan and facilitate the class, and you’ll get paid both for planning time and the time you teach the class.

8. Filter Warning On Projector – Way to Extend the Life of Your Projector Bulb

WSD staff have been doing a great job of letting Sean Elkinton and Anthony Collver know when their projector’s filter needs to be cleaned, and we’re seeing this in how long the bulbs last! Given that the replacement bulbs cost around $250, this is great news. As a reminder, the filter timer on most projectors comes on around every 100 hours. When it does, let Sean or Anthony know, and they’ll come clean it out for you. It’s quick, easy, and it prolongs the life of your projector bulb. A dirty filter can increase the heat inside the projector, causing premature failure of the bulb or the whole projector!

If possible, please use the School Dude system to make your request. You can find a link to it on the District website, under “For District Employees.” Click on the link in the left hand sidebar to get started. Contact Sean, Anthony or Les for the password, if you don't have it already.