Critical Windows Updates and New Software

Starting December 5, 2012, the EC Technology Operations Department deploys critical Windows updates to computers across the District. In this blog entry, you can find the letter that went out to campus principals and technology coordinators, as well as tutorials for a new software program that improves on the Office suite installed on computers.

While GoogleApps for Education provides us with access to word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, data collection forms, and drawing tools, it is necessary for some to have an Office suite installed on their Windows or Macintosh computer. One excellent, no-cost solution is LibreOffice, and this solution will be deployed on all District computers. LibreOffice improves on OpenOffice, featuring greater compatibility with MS Office docx, pptx, xlsx file formats. You'll find some tutorials for LibreOffice included in this blog entry below.

EMAIL TO CAMPUS PRINCIPALS/CTCs
From: Miguel Guhlin, Director, EC Technology Operations

Re: Critical Windows Computer Updates

Date: 12/05/2012

Thank you for taking the time to review the information in this time-sensitive memo. To enhance performance of campus computers using the Windows operating system, the EC Technology Operations (ECTO) will make critical updates available to campuses. Your assistance is needed to make this successful.

STEP BY STEP FOR STAFF
Please notify campus staff that have Windows computers that they will need to take the following steps:

1. Shut down computers (go to START button, then click SHUT DOWN) at the end of the day your campus is scheduled below. This will cause the computer to begin processing critical software update instructions.

2. The Shut Down process will turn off the computer when updates are complete. Please avoid shutting down the computer prematurely. The update may take an hour or longer.

3. The next morning, turn on the computers and allow them to continue processing updates as necessary. Completion times for updates will vary from computer to computer.


UPDATE SCHEDULE
The update schedule for allowing updates is as follows:

Dec 5th - Legacy, Salado, Sinclair

Dec 6th - Heritage, Oak Crest, John Glenn, BCLC

Dec 7th - PV, Harmony, ECDC, Highland Forest

Dec 10th - Trans, Custodial, PSC, Athletics, Central office, P.D., Learning Academy

Questions?
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the EC Technology Operations Department at 210-649-2343 or speak to your campus technician.

LIBREOFFICE TUTORIALS
Please note that these tutorials were not created by the ECISD, but rather, BVCC.

Lesson 1, Getting Started with LibreOffice Writer

Lesson 2, Formatting Text with LibreOffice Writer

Lesson 3, Formatting Page Styles with LibreOffice Writer

Lesson 4, Formatting Paragraph Styles with LibreOffice Writer

Lesson 5, Styles, Tables, and Frames with LibreOffice Writer

Lesson 6, Adding Graphics with LibreOffice Writer

Complete LibreOffice Writer Book (6.11 PDF File)

Creating 3D Text with LibreOffice Draw

Creating DVD Covers with LibreOffice Draw

Creating Greeting Cards with LibreOffice Draw (Click here to see the video presentation)

Creating Custom Business Cards with LibreOffice

Seven Questions and Tips for Developing a BYOT Campus Strategy

Note: I wrote the following and thought I'd share it for critical feedback and improvement suggestions. Please leave those in the Comments area.
Thanks, Miguel

7 Questions (and Tips!) for Developing a BYOT Campus Strategy
by Miguel Guhlin

“Have you stopped and taken a breath about what BYOT means for YOU, your teachers, students, and parents?” That’s a question that is screaming its way into the rarified atmosphere of public schools, like a cataclysmic meteor that some may avoid thinking about until it smashes their reality. If that seems unnecessarily confrontational, it's an apt analogy for students' changing expectations for what school should be like.  With that reality-smashing scenario in mind, many schools are coming to terms, one way or another, with bring your own technology (BYOT).

Bring your own technology (BYOT) intrigues many, frightens others.  As a result of that fear and concern, it’s critical that campus leadership teams craft a strategy to implement BYOT.

This article offers two approaches you can use as part of a “strategy session” for campus leaders: 1) BYOT Scenario - In this problem-based learning scenario, explore BYOT issues from your particular role and try to develop a solution. This is best used for open discussion in a face to face meeting session.

2) 7 Question Checklist - Use this checklist to self-reflect as individuals or as a group as to whether you have addressed some key ideas. Links are provided to help you access appropriate resources.

Before exploring these two approaches, consider the inevitability of BYOT in schools.

THE INEVITABILITY OF BYOT
“BYOT- it happens no matter what, it's only called BYOT," shares Josh Davis, "when your curriculum takes advantage of it."

Some statistics to keep in mind:

1. Young adults tend to have higher-than-average levels of smartphone ownership regardless of income or educational attainment. (Source: http://bit.ly/VgOU9U)
2. More Hispanic (49 percent) and African-American (42 percent) middle school students are using their smartphones for homework than Caucasian students (36 percent). (Source: http://goo.gl/eGUQ2)
3. Smartphone use for homework also crosses income levels, with 29 percent of the students from the lowest-income households reporting smartphone usage to do their homework assignments.(Source: http://goo.gl/eGUQ2)
4. More than one in three middle school students  are using mobile devices to complete homework, and more of those who use these devices for learning in the classroom express a strong interest in science, technology and math than those who do not, according to a new national survey.  (Source: http://goo.gl/eGUQ2)
5. Nationwide,  55% of middle and high school students, as well as 25% of elementary students, own a mobile device (e.g. cell phone).
6. Teens in the lowest income category are most likely to use their phones, instead of computers to go online.

PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES“Effective leadership without consistent, clear communication,” shares one District Technology Director, “does not exist” The scenario below--intended to tease out differing perspectives on BYOT--will help you reflect on the issues that arise when implementing BYOT:

In a few weeks, students like John and Maria at a 5A high school will be bringing their own technology to school. While some teachers like Jennifer are excited about the possibilities--mainly, those that have taken the time to learn how to use the Read/Write Web to collaborate, create, connect in alignment with academic goals--others like Rick are afraid things will not work as well. He’s comfortable with students working on paper and pencil/pen, not using their own devices and what they might do on them when he isn’t looking.

James, the campus principal  recognizes the need for a campus strategy towards BYOT.  He’s worried that teachers will fail to take advantage of BYOT in their lessons and BYOT use will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. “Failure,” he points out with a smile, “just isn’t an option in our small community.”  This is a fact the District Technology Department and District Leadership are well aware of as well. The Classroom Learning Activity Rubric is one instrument that’s been offered to help teachers employ strategies that take advantage of technology in the classroom.

Parents like Ms. Jones (involved in the PTA) are wondering, How will the school communicate with me about this and will there be a consistent message from campus leaders? Will that message match what teachers are saying and doing in the classroom when students misbehave? So much is at stake, jobs are the on the line, high stakes accountability is in play. At a time when technology is everywhere, teaching, learning, and leading with technology has real consequences.

As you reflect on this scenario, ask yourself some questions, such as the ones below:

1. What hunches (intuitive guesses) do you have about this scenario?
2. What do we know for certain about the problem?
3. What questions can we ask that will get us the information we need to help the protagonist solve the problem?
4. Who are the stakeholders in this scenario and what solutions do we need to develop for their particular situation?

Pick a stakeholder role--teacher, campus leader, technology department, student, parent--that you have some affinity with, then try to develop a solution. Consider using a KWHL chart like the one below to get you started.

Here's an example to get you started; it's not intended to be all-inclusive of the conversations embedded in the role of Campus Leader.



Stakeholder Role: Campus Leader

What do I Know?	What I Want to Know?	How will I find Information?	What have I learned?
BYOT is a certainty Not all teachers have the training to take advantage of BYOT Parents expect consistent messages about this initiative from all staff I’m not sure why we’re doing this myself. This is a high-profile project that can’t fail. Digital citizenship is key to successful behavior for students.	What is expected of me as a campus leader? How can I better support classroom teachers and encourage them to use BYOT? How can BYOT enhance instruction rather than become a self-fulfilling prophecy? How do I hold teachers accountable for what they are doing or not doing?	The District’s BYOT Support site has resources online at http://bit.ly/ecbyot Check the webinar schedule on the BYOT Support Site for more training at http://bit.ly/ecbyotteacher

7 Questions and Tips for Developing a BYOT Campus Strategy
Another approach, once you’ve explored BYOT from various stakeholder roles, is to review the checklist on the next page and ask, How am I going to get there from here? Make this as specific as you can for YOUR role on campus.



7 Question BYOT Checklist

Item	Question to Ponder	Taking Action
1.	Have you defined and aligned the goals for the BYOT program to the Campus Improvement Plan and District Mission?	Tip: Connect BYOT use to differentiated instruction, the District’s mission, and specific instructional strategies in your CIP.
2.	Have you outlined expectations for teachers, students about using Edmodo.com and GoogleApps to create online, virtual classrooms?	Tip: Encourage teachers to spend some classroom time answering questions from students on how they will use technologies in class.
3.	Have you decided what to do when students and/or staff bring too many devices that slow down the network (1 BYOT device per person is recommended)?	Tip: Let students know they can only connect 1 wireless device to the network.
4.	How will teachers be supported on campus--not just District Professional Development--to transform classroom learning activities from being paper-focused to electronic to eliminate the need for printing (for example, students can’t print from BYOT devices)?	Tip: Use the Classroom Learning Activity Rubric at http://bit.ly/ecbyotteacher
5.	How will you share BYOT program goals, define expectations, show students what they can do with the device, help students connect to the wireless network, and address concerns from stakeholders?	Tip: Encourage teachers to attend online webinars they can participate in from their classroom or home; have frequent parent communications; share with staff what is appropriate to say about BYOT. Instead of, “It’s not working,” encourage them to say, “We’re all working together to learn how to best take advantage of BYOT in the classroom.”
6.	How will campus leaders and teachers respond to questions of equity (e.g. I can’t afford to buy my child a device)?	Tip: Share that the campus has devices available for students who can’t or don’t want to bring their own to school. The more BYOT is practiced, the more school devices are available for those with the greatest need.
7.	How should I answer questions from staff/students/parents about which devices to use?	Tip: Refer to the BYOT Mobile Device Chart online at http://bit.ly/ecbyot

Conclusion
As you have seen, the focus of these crucial conversations involves flushing out tough questions in advance, clearly laying out answers to anticipated questions so that all stakeholders know what's up, and constantly asking, What questions am I not asking that will enhance instruction now that we have these devices available?

Must-Have iPad Apps for Productivity

With AppsGoneFree sharing how many great apps are free and available, I've found that even my iPad has limits, especially when you're focused on creating content. So, after a similar conversation with a colleague, I decided to go through my budding app collection and get rid of the stuff taking up space...I'm still cutting.

In the meantime, here are my picks, all subject to change and unless otherwise noted, free. Note that I've decided to organize my apps into various categories, so that's what you'll see below:

Books

1. Readdle Docs ($4.99) - A multi-purpose viewer app that works with just about every file format out there. Very nice, easy to use.
2. Stanza - A wonderful ePub reader that just works. There's tons of free ePubs available online (if you aren't picky). I'm hoping ReaddleDocs, which I just invested in, will help me manage this area and read books better.
3. Nook - Since I'm a Barnes and Noble eBook buyer, I access my collection of DRM books here. 
4. Amazon Kindle - For those rare free Kindle books.
5. Cloud Readers - Free book and comic book (handles large-image CBR/CBZ) reader. I often wish it handled ePub, but c'est la vie.
6. Book Creator for iPad ($4.99) - Allows you to create ePub books on your iPad.

Browsers

1. Apollo + Add-Ons - One of my free favorite browsers and the one I use on a daily basis. I have to use Safari, but I want to use Apollo.
2. Puffin ($1.99) - Allows you to view Flash Content.
3. Chrome (free) - I hardly use this browser, but...it occasionally comes in handy when I need to edit Google Sites pages.

Cloud Storage

1. Interact with Cloud Storage
1. Drive - Allows for easy access to GoogleDocs/Drive documents.
2. iFiles ($3.99) - This is an awesome app.
2. Cloud Storage Locations
1. Box.net
2. Dropbox
3. SugarSync

Photography

While there are a million photo editing/effects apps, here are a few of the ones I actually use.

1. Pic Stitch - Combine pictures in your Library quickly and easily.
2. Pic Collage - Make collages easily with this app.
3. Genius Scan - Turns your device into a scanner.
4. WebAlbums HD ($3.99) - Quickly pull images from Picasa and Google+. This app works very well and I use it whenever I need to pull pictures I've taken with my phone, which auto-uploads to Google +.

Pod/vid-casting and Video Stuff

1. Pinnacle Studio ($9.99) - The absolute best iPad video editing tool that allows for multi-track audio, recording, etc. If you had this, you really wouldn't need the others on this list but....
2. Sonic Pics ($2.99) - Great enhanced podcasting tool that allows you to narrate audio as you swipe through the slides. Once you've used this simple tool, you'll wonder how you lived without it. You can take the product you create in this and drop it into Pinnacle Studio for more work.
3. Hokusai - Free to start out with, but you might as well as buy the $10 ProPack.
4. MultiTrack DAW ($9.99) - Audio editing a la Audacity with multiple audio tracks, fade in/out, etc..
5. Explain Everything ($2.99) - Annotate photos/slides, whatever then push it out as a movie. Great stuff. If you can't afford Explain Everything, then EduCreations (free), ShowMe (free), or ScreenChomp (free) may be workable alternatives. At this point, only Explain Everything remains on my iPad.
6. SlideShow+HD ($3.99) - I wrote a blog entry about this app and I have to admit I haven't used it in awhile. I probably could have done the job with Pinnacle Studio but...it's still a nice app and easy to use for a newb, which is what I was when I used it.
7. iMovie ($4.99) - Barely makes the list, but I have to admit the trailer feature is pretty nice.
8. Video 2 Photo ($1.99) - Converts video to photos or still images. A must-have when you end up in a situation where you need a picture from a video or a series of pictures. I was fortunate to get it for free.
9. Videolicious - I don't use this much and I'm considering dropping it. But for now, it's pretty easy to use.

Productivity

1. Evernote and Skitch - Two great apps worth having on your iPad for note-taking and image-editing.
2. Keynote ($6.99) - Absolutely the best presentation tool for the iPad and it was worth every penny and then some. 
3. Pages ($9.99) - Nice word processing/"desktop publishing" and layout tool. Consider also getting Templates for Pages Pro ($4.99), although I was fortunate to get it for free.
4. Readdle Docs ($4.99) - A multi-purpose viewer app that works with just about every file format out there.
5. AudioNote ($4.99) - A nice audio recorder and more note-taking tool. If you're interested in handwriting apps, then you'll want to read this blog entry. Consider Penultimate ($.99) as an alternative tool with Evernote integration.
6. Office2HD ($7.99) - An inexpensive word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tool that also interacts with GoogleDocs/Drive content. Here's a comparison chart. It's experienced a few problems lately, but I've noticed them fixing it.

Social Media/Networking

1. Facebook - This one is obvious, huh?
2. Hootsuite - Manage multiple twitter accounts via HootSuite. Officially supported by Twitter. Twitterrific is also nice but I've come to prefer HootSuite.
3. Google+ - Access and post to Google+.
4. Zite - Read lots of great content available via Google Reader RSS feeds and organized into categories.
5. Flipboard - Read lots of great content available via Google Reader RSS feeds
6. Adobe Connect - If you use Adobe Connect, this app does a very nice job.

Utilities

1. AppsGoneFree - Find out when apps are available for free.
2. Calculator for iPad Free
3. Docusign Ink - Sign documents via your iPad. I haven't used it yet but await the opportunity.
4. Flixster - Keep up with goings-on at the movie theatre.
5. iKeePass - Allows for accessing KeepassX encrypted database files where you might store your password. Supports dropbox.
6. i-nigma - QR Code reader
7. My FitnessPal - Helps you track calories, exercise, etc.
8. Printer Pro ($6.99) - Lets you print to any printer on your network via IP address.

Video Players

1. Players
1. FlexPlayer - A great video player...you can sideload videos and play them here. No ads.
2. OPlayerHD Lite - Another video player similar to FlexPlayer but has ads. One neat point is that it can handle OGG/OGV file format.
2. Video Content apps:
1. Crackle - Watch free full-length movies, no account needed.
2. Netflix (I use this app on a daily basis and it works great!)
3. TED - Access a 1000+ TED talks with this app.
4. Showyou -  a video browser for YouTube, TED, etc. 
5. YouTube for iPad
6. HBO GO - I'd probably use this more if I had HBO or could pay for a subscription but...HBO folks aren't too swift in this department and haven't made that possible.

VOIP

1. Facetime
2. Skype

EDUCATIONAL APPS

Many of the best apps in life are free...check out this list from TCEA/McAllen ISD. And, 40 best iPad apps for Young Learners.

List of iPad Apps for Board Members

Some resources worth spending a few hours on:

• Preparing Your School for an ipad Implementation - This is the best I've seen on the subject. - http://goo.gl/skCAU
• iPad Dos and Don'ts - http://goo.gl/slTMN

• Kathy Schrock's Bloomin' Apps
• iPads in Schools
• iPad Apps for Information Technology Administrators
• Learning Together: The Evolution of a 1 to 1 iPad Program
• Teaching Kids with iPads
• An iPad Idea per Day

Here's a list of resources from school districts:

• Abilene ISD, Abilene, Texas
• East Central ISD, San Antonio, Tx

Podcast: EC Insight #3: Scaffolding Learning

 

View the EC Insight #3 - Heritage MS with Deborah Schroeder
(Length: 20 minutes)

Earlier today, I had a chance to revisit Heritage MS and chat with Ms. Gorzel and Ms. Schroeder about how they're using iPads in their 6th grade classroom. Ms. Schroeder went in-depth on her use, sharing how a rubric she developed for her students to use blend elements from 3 other assessment tools. The goal is to help students better understand what is expected of them and scaffold their learning so they can achieve Redefinition level of the SAMR Model.

Some examples--which reference Gluskabe--of student work from Ms. Schroeder's class:

Relevant Links

1.  Classroom Learning Activity Rubric
2. SAMR Model related blog entries

Podcast: EC Insight #2 - New Framework for Learning

 

View the EC Insight #2 - Sinclair ES with Ms. Zunker and Ms. Johnson

What great sharing Ms. Zunker and Ms. Johnson did this past week regarding their use of iPads in a 2nd grade classroom! Come along and watch this short video featuring them sharing what they are doing.

Relevant Links

1.  Classroom Learning Activity Rubric
2. SAMR Model related blog entries

eNews #2 - Taking the Sting Out of Tech (11/5/2012)

Welcome to the EC TechHornet electronic Newsletter, an EC Technology Operations (ECTO) production! In this issue, you'll find a variety of information and teacher features in multimedia format!

Taking the Sting Out of Tech
Issue #2 - November, 2012
In this issue, please find the following topics (click links to learn more about each):

1. Quick Updates
1. STaR Chart Update - A quick report as to where campuses stand in terms of completing the state-mandated School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires 100% completion by all campus teachers so that the District can be eligible for future grant and eRate funding.
2. Digital Citizenship: Getting It Done! Kudos to Oak Crest's Beverly Weatherington for doing a phenomenal job with students and teaching the two required digital citizenship lessons. 
3. Learning via Webinar - The EC Technology Operations office has begun holding webinars for staff, and more will be scheduled in the future! Find out about this new initiative. 
4. Power and Internet Outage - Due to a storm-related power outage, ECISD was offline on 11/5/2012 until City Public Service could restore power. Power and Internet access were restored at approximately 9:00am.
2. Podcasts -
   Catch up on various initiatives by watching a short video or listening to audio versions of the following:

1. Video: EC3 Insight #1 - Heritage MS: This video podcast focuses in on the EC3 ipad Cohort 1 teachers at Heritage MS and their work to transition learning activities from low order thinking to higher-order through the use of iPads in the classroom. 
2. Audio: Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Orientation - In this podcast--watch the video, too--you'll find out what High School teachers learned about the 2013 BYOT Initiative at ECHS.
3. Video: GoogleApps/Gmail for Students - Watch this short webinar on the subject of GoogleApps/Gmail for Students, and what you can do as a professional educator in ECISD schools to help manage the initiative.
4. Podcast: Teacher Academy with Mary Ray - This podcast takes us back in time to Summer and features Mary Ray (Instructional Technology) sharing about the vision for the EC3 iPad program.
5. Audio: Interview with Lisa Johnson - Find out more about what EC3 Cohort 1 teachers were learning this summer with Lisa Johnson.
6. Video: ECTechHornet Reflections #1 - Miguel Guhlin has been in the District about 7 months. Here are a few reflections on that time. 
3. Technology How-Tos:
1. Creating Enhanced Podcasts with an iPad: Are you a principal or teacher wanting to quickly create narrated image slideshows using only your iPad? The process is easier than ever!
2. BYOT How-To Videos: As the District moves towards BYOT at ECHS, we are crafting short how-to videos--as well as finding some on the web--to share. We are placing those online here. What would you like to see?

Thank you for viewing eNews #2 - Taking the Sting Out of Tech for November, 2012!

STaR Chart Update - 11/5/2012

ECISD Campuses are working hard to complete the TEA-mandated School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart. The STaR Chart is self-reported survey that involves every teacher, campus administrator and librarian submitting information centered around 4 domains. The Classroom STaR Chart data is used to develop a Campus STaR Chart submitted by the Principal, and the aggregate data composes the District STaR Chart.

The goal is a portrait of the District as seen from 4 perspectives including the following:

1. Teaching and Learning
2. Educator Preparation
3. Administration and Leadership
4. Infrastructure

To prepare campuses for the launch, the EC Technology Operations area prepared a STaR Chart Support Web Site featuring tutorials.

One of the most often read tutorials is the one for teachers new to a campus (whether new or transfers to a campus). The second tutorial most read is that of administrators who need to inactivate teachers/staff listed on their roster who may have left the campus or were added accidentally (e.g. paraprofessionals, counselors, nurses) who do not need to complete the STaR Chart.

Below is the complete list of tutorials available to campus admins and teachers:

Step 1 - Administrators - Prepare the Campus List of Teachers

1. Checklist for Administrators 
2. STaR Chart Basics for Administrators 
3. New Teachers or Teachers with Changed Names 
4. I don't know my password 
5. Verifying and Editing the Teacher List 

Step 2 - Teachers/Librarians - Complete Classroom version of the STaR Chart

1. STaR Chart Basics for Teachers 
2. New Teachers to ECISD or your Campus 
3. I don't know my Username 
4. I don't know my Password 

COMPLETION STATUS
Based on a report available through the STaR Chart web site, the following chart shows completion status as of 11/5/2012; 10:25am. Note that accurate completion status is dependent on whether teachers no longer on campus have been inactivated or not. 

Deadline for Classroom STaR Chart Completion:  January 31, 2013

Campus Name	STaR Chart Completion Status
Bexar County Learning Center	14%
East Central Development Center	0%
East Central HS	59%
Harmony	2%
Heritage	18%
Highland Forest	12%
John Glenn	10%
Legacy MS	40%
Oak Crest	80%
Pecan Valley	58%
Salado Intermediate	29%
Sinclair	98%

Kudos to Sinclair and Oak Crest for their fast work! Keep up the great work!

Another update will be shared in December.