Apple has purposefully built many accessibility features into their devices to improve the experience for a wide range of users. Some of the accessibility resources described below are native to the MacBook and some are Chrome extensions that students can download. This is not an exhaustive list. The focus of this article is identifying specific lan...

In this issue of our BLC Newsletter, there is a lot to digest! Just like a holiday feast. Don't overdo it! Pick one or two things you can sink your teeth into. Topics include: Become an Apple Teacher! Awesome New Features of iPadOS 15 (now live for students) Apple Accessibility Features: Text to Speech Apple Classroom + Managed Apple IDs January Too...

What is it? Shadow Puppet EDU is an iPad app that enables users to tell digital stories using photos, videos, audio recording, and text.  Photos can be used from the camera roll or searched within the app. You can also use the drawing tool while recording to emphasize a particular part of the photo or story you are telling.   Key words can appear on...

TECHknowledgy! We are rebranding our newsletter to highlight the fact that Blended Learning Coordinators live in the intersection of technology, teaching, and learning. In this issue you will find Tool Time updates (check out this blog post for updated Tech Tools session information), the latest Tech Tools articles (Smore, Clever, and Lumio), as wel...

What is it? Adobe Express (Formerly Spark Post) is an iPad app used to create graphics, infographics, collages, or social media posts. There are multiple templates and styles to choose from. Select a template and customize fonts, colors, video and imagery, or start from scratch. Browse the templates to get ideas for class projects! Read more about A...

What is it? Adobe Spark Page is a web-based tool and an iPad app which allows the creator to make a digital web story. This is a fabulous resource to create newsletters, reports, or storytelling projects. There are multiple templates and styles to choose from.  Select a template and customize fonts, colors, video and imagery, or start from scratch. ...

Apple has purposefully built many accessibility features into their devices to improve the experience for a wide range of users. Some of the accessibility resources described below are native to the iPad and some are apps that students can download. This is not an exhaustive list. The focus of this article is identifying specific language and readin...

What is it? Canva is a tool that allows you to create all sorts of projects such as infographics, presentations, flyers, posters, brochures, invitations, and just about any other graphic image you'd like to create! Shakopee Schools now has Canva for Education which means we all have free accounts and it can be used by all students and staff in the d...

Fall is a busy time of year, but we wanted to take time to introduce ourselves and share ways we can support teachers. In this newsletter we highlight Canvas updates, Apple Classroom updates, Apple accessibility features, and the Tech Tools website. We'd like your feedback about how best to meet your needs and what support you'd like to see built ou...

What is it? Chatterpix Kids is an iPad app ideal for students in Early Childhood and elementary. With Chatterpix Kids, you can take a photo of any object and make it talk! Students can record 30 seconds of narration and there are options to use filters and add stickers. Why use it? ChatterPix Kids is a fun and easy app that can be used across subjec...

In order to extend course access to a Canvas course for just those students with incompletes once a term ends, you will need to create an Incompletes section. Please avoid changing the end date of your course. When a course is extended beyond the term end date ALL students can continue to participate in the course and the course will continue to sho...

What is it? Canvas has created various course-level roles with specific permissions that determine what access a user in the course has to the content and grades in the course. These roles range from teacher (most permissions) to observer (very limited permissions). In the People tab you can view the users in your course and their role.  Why use it?...

BLCs are offering short before and after school virtual sessions every month. Follow this page to learn more about topics and to access archived resources and video. Look for Outlook invitations with Google Meet links.  Next Up!  Canva for Education: Look for calendar invites for sessions offered on January 28 (updated date). iPadOS 15 iPadOS 15 Ses...

What is it? Adobe Spark Video is an iPad app used create brief videos by using images, text, music, and audio recordings. Adobe Spark Video may also provide you with an alternative to making a Google Slides presentation or iMovie video. It is very easy to use and it has a variety of templates that will provide you with many ideas for your class proj...