November 2016 - Learning and Teaching with Digital Sources 
New Brunswick Public Schools
Technology Newsletter
Google Topic of the Month: 
Searching with Google

The words "Google" and "search" have become synonymous. Many times when we hear people talk about looking up something online, they say that they are going to "Google" it.
GOOGLE SEARCH:
Google Search is a helpful tool for locating digital content and is updated regularly with new features. Some of these features include:  clicking the microphone icon to search by voice, shortcut commands (like including the word "define" in your search for a definition or "weather" in your search for a city to find out the current weather conditions), and the ability to solve complex equations.

For an overview on the features of Google Search, click here. 

SEARCH TOOLS:
When you search in Google, you have a set of tools to help narrow down your search. You can filter your results to include recent news on your topic, related maps, only videos or images, and even narrow down the date that the results were posted.

To narrow down the date, you will click "Search Tools" and then get to choose from a menu of options that include results from the past hour, past week, or past year.



SEARCH OPERATORS:
You can use search operators to narrow down your results. For example, you can narrow down your search to a specific website, and find exact phrases in your search results by putting quotation marks around the phrase. 

For more information about search operators, click here.

ADVANCED SEARCH:
If memorizing the search operator seems a bit daunting, take a look at Advanced Search. This tool filters your results based upon the information you fill out. Advanced Search asks you for things like the language you would like your results to appear, the region you would like to search, and a timeframe for your search results. 

For a link to Advanced Search, click here

November Twitter Chat Archive



Click here for the archive. 

New to Twitter? 
Click here for directions for signing up, using hashtags, and joining your first Twitter chat! 

Digital Citizenship: 
Smart Online Search Tips for Kids

These days, most information we want access to is available online. It is important that our students know that not everything they find online is a valid or reliable source. When searching online, we have to prepare our students for encountering advertisements and information posted that may be inaccurate or intentionally misleading. 

Here is a video with some tips on how to guide students as they navigate online information. 



After watching this video, please share your thoughts on the video and ideas for discussing these topics with your students and their families in our Google+ Community. 

Upcoming Voluntary Professional Development

12/2/16 ~ 

Google Apps Work Session,

A301, High School, 2pm-4pm (Click here to register)

 

12/7/16 ~
Discovery Education,
A301, High School, 11am-1pm ( Click here to register)

 

12/7/16 ~
Discovery Education,
A301, High School, 3pm-5pm ( Click here to register)

 

12/9/16 ~
Google Apps Work Session (focus on Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides),
1st Floor, Central Office, 2pm-4pm ( Click Here to register)

 

12/14/16 ~
Google Apps Work Session,
A301, High School, 8am-10am ( Click here to register)

 

12/14/16 ~
Google Apps Work Session,
A301, High School, 11am-1pm ( Click here to register)

 



Update on Online Unit Assessments

The first Online Unit Assessments were completed at the end of marking period 1. We learned a lot through this first experience with using our new online testing platform.

We appreciate all of your feedback and ideas about this process and will take them into consideration as we continue to prepare the Unit 2 online assessments. 

The data collected from Unit 1 assessments will help guide instruction as well as specific RTI needs moving forward. 

Please see your Vice Principal with any questions and stay tuned for future updates about this project. 

To leave feedback and suggestions about the DUAs, please visit this form


Software Inquiries

Please remember that a new category has been created in SchoolDude for all software inquiries this year.

If you have a question about access or support for a district program or
application, or are inquiring about a program other than ones supported in-
district please put your request in through an IT ticket in SchoolDude under the category of "software."


Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

We're constantly working on updating and improving the many aspects of our technology infrastructure and instructional resources. 

Please submit feedback and share any questions, ideas, and/or suggestions regarding our district's technology initiatives by clicking the following link: 




Evan Abramson , Director of Technology
Melissa Morris Inoa , Supervisor of Instructional Technology


STAY CONNECTED
#ALLIN4NB
We're rapidly expanding our social media presence here at New Brunswick Public Schools and encourage all of you to follow us on  Twitter and  Instagram , while liking us on  Facebook. 

Always remember that your online posts are an extension of the classroom and school community, so there can never be negative remarks about students or colleagues. 

If you have any questions about managing your social media accounts, please reach out to Melissa Morris Inoa, Supervisor of Instructional Technology.

We look forward to seeing you online. 

Follow us on social media, and use the hashtag #ALLIN4NB.
New Brunswick Public Schools
268 Baldwin Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-745-5300