Child Abuse/Child Neglect

New Jersey Administrative Code requires that all Boards of Education provide annual in-service training to all school personnel concerning child abuse/child neglect. This one hour in-service training can be delivered to you through this approved online, video-based workshop. Participants will receive professional development certificates upon completion of the workshop. Only ETTC member schools can register here for this on-line workshop.

Audience: All K-12 Personnel

Workshop Code: OT15OLCH

Dates: This is an online workshop

Cost: 1 ETTC Hour(s). Only ETTC Hours accepted. For info on membership, call the ETTC.

Instructor: ETTC Staff

Location: On-line REGISTER

Most Popular Education Hardware

As technology and education become more and more entwined, schools across the country are using many varying types of hardware to improve their students’ learning experiences. With funding, college acceptance, and the job market becoming even more competitive, staying up-to-date with technology trends in schools is a must.

With such a wide range of different types of hardware and so many different companies that make them, it can become hard to choose. However, if you look at the most popular choices and the facts about what has made them so popular, you can choose what technology will serve your students best.

Most Popular Hardware and What It Does

iPads

The iPad was one of the earliest and most popular hardware choices for classrooms, and for good reason. The highly intuitive interface makes it easy for people from a variety of tech backgrounds to use, and there are hundreds of educational apps that make learning more accessible and interactive. Furthermore, iPads can eliminate the need for textbooks, promoting sustainability and lessening the strain on students’ backs from carrying around pounds of books!

Interactive Whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards are becoming increasingly popular in both K-12 and college classroom environments. Combining, as the SMART board website states,  “the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer,” teachers can use these boards to show pictures, text and to write or draw charts and equations on the spot. Students can also use a remote control to select answers to multiple-choice questions, with an automatically generated bar graph showing how many students picked which answer.

Chromebooks

Chromebooks are in some ways an alternative to iPads, but in other a supplement to them. The advantage of Chromebooks, of course, is that they can be used alongside Google Apps for Education, which we wrote about here. Also, unlike the iPad, it comes with a keyboard (keyboards can be attached to iPads, but are usually used without). The Chromebook keyboard, also, is an advantage for older students needing to write longer papers and presentations.

Challenges Schools Face Incorporating Hardware

Implementing Technology

Bringing a new type of hardware into a school environment brings plenty of challenges. One of the biggest problems educators may face is ensuring that the devices are properly set up and ready for students and teachers. This involves not only networking the devices, but also ensuring proper firewalls and other security measures are in place.

Unprepared Teachers

The hardware options discussed here can be hugely beneficial to students’ learning and testing results, but only if used properly. If teachers are not instructed on the best usage of these technologies, it might actually inhibit students’ learning, not to mention frustrate the teachers. Make sure teachers are adequately trained and given plenty of examples of lesson plans that use whiteboards, iPads and other hardware in ways that make the best use of the hardware. New tools always require new training.

A New Frontier

Technology is changing the face of education, and the hardware used in classrooms shapes the unique way that students will benefit. Whether it’s a tablet, a netbook or an interactive whiteboard, the key is to make sure that both teachers and students are getting the most out of the experience. Be sure to look for local IT companies with good reviews to help you with all your security and installation needs.

submitted by http://blog.rddata.com/

Photo by US Department of Education

- See more at: http://blog.rddata.com/popular-education-hardware/#sthash.9rTs5zfT.dpuf

Customizable Themes in Google Forms? FINALLY!

Can we customize themes in Google Forms? Yes, it is finally here, the feature we have all been waiting for in Google's latest update.  By clicking on change theme, you will see the new themes that they have rolled out, or the ability to customize your own! If you do create your own them you can copy it to other forms. This will save so much time. There seemed to be a bit of a snag when trying to covert forms that were over a year old as they were not built using the newer form of forms.

Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts (Online Workshop)

When you and I were growing up, the words Trojans, worms, viruses and spam had considerably different meanings than they do today. We took a pole and went out fishing, but today we encounter phishing expeditions and electronic bait trying to hook us. We are victimized by spyware, adware, and malware of all types. These electronic parasites can be sucking your personal data and affecting the performance of your computer. This online workshop will give you a better understanding of these dangers and introduce strategies on how you can deal with them.
 Audience: Workshop Code: OD15004
Dates:This is an Online Workshop - What does this mean?
 Cost: $29 OR 1 ETTC Hour(s).
For info on membership, call the ETTC.
Instructor: Robert Heinrich Location: On-line N/A
  Register