CMS is a 21st Century School

Hello all!

As a tech coach, I aim to support the development of 21st Century skills for both students and teachers. I decided that it was time for my communication methods to take a 21st Century turn. Instead of continuing to publish our "What the Tech" newsletter, I will be keeping a blog to highlight new tech tools and to spotlight the technology integration that I see happening around campus. I am fortunate to work with so many amazing digital educators at CMS, and I am truly excited to have this opportunity to highlight the work you do so we can all grow from shared experience. Each post will focus on specific tech tools, integration ideas, and include a "how to".

Blog Features
On the right panel you will see a link to tools that we have already highlighted in previous newsletters and meetings. I will continue adding to this document as we continue sharing the new and exciting things we are doing with tech integration.

Have you tried QR codes yet? 

You may start to see some QR codes popping up around our school. These codes will direct students, parents, and other visitors to relevant websites. We are proud of the fact that at CMS almost every teacher maintains an up-to-date website to promote communication with students and families. If you have a website that is posted on our staff directory, then check in your box for your own QR code poster! Guests who scan this poster will be directed to your classroom website. Feel free to hang these on your doors or anywhere you would like them in your classroom.
*Contest Alert* A special prize will be given to the first teacher to email me and tell me where the QR code in the image directed them.

Integration Idea
QR codes can be used to direct students to any online content. For instructional purposes, they are great for sharing student work or organizing gallery walks (hint: everything in Google Drive can be shared with a link). The picture below shows a lesson where students created their own quizzes on real-world word problems with negative and positive integers in Google Forms, then used the link to generate a QR code which they pasted in their posters. The class then rotated around the room and took each others' quizzes to practice the concept.

QR Code Quiz Gallery Walk

How to...
Generate the QR code:

• Copy the URL of the website you want the QR code to link to.
• Go to an online QR code generator, such as https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com
• Paste in the URL and click save. The QR code should automatically go to your downloads.
• Drag the QR code into a Word document to print, or where you want it on the web.

Scan the QR code:

• Download a QR Code reader (QR Code Reader by Scan is one of the district apps and won't have adds).
• Open the reader and hover over the QR code, aligning it within the rectangular section on the reader.

Enjoy! As always, feel free to contact me with questions or if you would like support with any tech integration tool.

Lindsey

lblass@campbellusd.org