Some staff members have reported that their cursor seems to disappear (turn white) while using Google Docs. If you are experiencing this issue on your school laptop, follow the steps below to resolve the issue:
Disable Hardware Acceleration in Chrome
Edutopia’s 60-Second Strategies are perfect for discovering quick tips without a huge time commitment! Primary classrooms can build a kind culture with the Pom-Pom Jar, while secondary teachers might use Attendance Questions or Fishbowl Discussions to get everyone talking. Whether you need a movement break or smoother transitions, these short videos are full of ideas you can use in your classroom today!
A tidy Google Drive saves valuable time. This Shake Up Learning guide offers thirteen practical strategies to help you regain control of your digital files. Key tips include using consistent naming conventions, color-coding folders for visual cues, and starring essential documents. The article also demonstrates how to use search chips and manage the Shared with Me section for a more efficient workflow. Implementing these simple habits will streamline your daily tasks. Read the full list of tips and view screenshots on the Shake Up Learning blog.
The latest updates to NotebookLM offer powerful ways for teachers to transform complex research into polished instructional materials in minutes. With the new slide deck generator, you can now use the Slide Revisions tool to refine specific content with a simple prompt. Teachers can also leverage ten new infographic styles, ranging from scientific to sketch notes, to provide students with diverse visual summaries. These tools, along with the ability to export decks directly to PowerPoint (or convert to Google Slides), can significantly reduce the time spent on creating instructional materials.
The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) sets the requirements for renewing teaching licenses. Tier 4 teachers must complete 125 clock hours (CEUs) every five years. The CEUs must be approved by a local continuing education committee. In addition to the general clock hour requirements, PELSB mandates eight (8) specific PD topics that all licensed educators must complete.
NPAS provides annual, in-person PD for the following seven requirements:
1. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
2. Accommodations and Modifications
3. Mental Health
4. Suicide Prevention
5. Reading Preparation
6. English Language Learners (ELL)
7. Cultural Competency
An online PD option is available for the remaining requirement:
8. American Indian History and Culture (MDE: 1-hour course)
What is the procedure for taking the online PD option?
Step 1: Click the PD topic links to register for the required course.
Step 2: Complete the course and download the certificate of completion (CEU).
Step 3: Upload the certificate to Frontline (My File Library).
Step 4: Submit the CEU Request Form on Frontline (with the certificate documentation).
Note: NPAS compensates certified staff members $16.70 per hour after completing and submitting these requirements.
Google Classroom recently added a recording tool for teachers and students (grades 6-12) to capture up to five minutes of audio, video, or screencasts within assignments and comments. Recordings save automatically to Google Drive, simplifying the process of video feedback or tutorials. Read more about the Google Classroom update or watch this video.
To help families stay current on school accounts, MS and HS students with unpaid Chromebook fees will see an "Attention Needed" reminder when opening a new tab. While Infinite Campus sends automated emails on Tuesdays and Sundays, those messages can sometimes be missed. This new feature provides another reminder and includes direct links to the annual fee information, agreement form, and Campus Portal for online payments. We hope this helps students prompt their parents to settle balances, which helps reduce the need for costly paper mailings.
Notice #1 - New Tab (after fee is past due)
Notice #2 - New Tab & Lid Close (two weeks after first notice)
Streamline your next PrintNet (CEC Copy Center) order by merging your files. Instead of submitting separate print jobs for each document, upload multiple files in one job if they have the same paper and finishing needs.
You can choose to have the files as one collated packet or non-collated single-sheet stacks of handouts. This saves time by reducing the number of jobs to submit and ensures your materials are delivered as intended. For detailed instructions, review the PrintNet TIP Sheet.
Google Forms now supports automatic closing based on a date, time, or response limit. This update helps teachers automate quiz deadlines and allows clerical staff to cap event registrations automatically. These tools remove the need to manually stop accepting responses. View the screenshot and official update for more information.
Brisk Teaching now integrates directly with Kahoot! to streamline your lesson prep. Simply use the "Create" menu, select "Quiz," and choose "Kahoot" to instantly transform any resource into an interactive game. This update eliminates manual data entry, making reviews more efficient. Watch this video tutorial or read the Brisk newsletter for details.
