Thursday, September 28, 2023

Week of September 25, 2023

Classroom Communication Tools UPDATE

Our primary communication method with families is Remind for teachers and staff, while Blackboard is the preferred tool for school-wide communication from the office. Remind messages are delivered to the parent and student's email InBox, and if a cell phone number is provided in Synergy, they will also receive a text message. Parents and students can use the Remind App optionally, but the app is NOT necessary it to receive or send messages.

However, Remind lacks direct communication features for individual students and formatting options for longer messages. To address this, we've explored Synergy options. Synergy Mail, introduced for teachers at the beginning of the school year, requires parents and students to log into Parent/StudentVUE to reply, adding a barrier to communication.

Remind:

  • PROs

    • Remind allows for two way communication WITH TRANSLATION

    • Remind is synced nightly with Synergy (classes, student and parent contact information).

    • Archived communication to protect staff and students.

    • SMS, email, App - allows for parents, staff and students to customize HOW they are notified of a new communication.

    • For students under 13 yrs old, teachers can send direct messages by finding the student under the People menu to initiate a new Message.

  • CONs
    • Staff/Teachers cannot easily message multiple guardians of a student (without knowing who they are)

    • No formatting options.


* Click HERE for Knowledgebase Articles on how to use Remind.

As of 9/28/23, Synergy's "Communication" tool has returned to TeacherVUE under the Home menu, to address the specific limitations of Remind listed above. 


 

Friday, September 22, 2023

Week of September 18, 2023

 Managed Apple TV UPDATES:

  • Starting on Friday, September 22, 2023, all TTSD (managed) classroom TVs will undergo TWO important updates
    1. Reduced Connection Delay: We're making a significant improvement to reduce the extended delay when connecting your laptop or iPad to the AppleTV. Say goodbye to those frustratingly long waits!
    2. Pass Code to Connect - ONLY 1st Time: We're modifying the code to enable connection attempts only on the initial connection, eliminating the need to reconnect "every time." This change will simplify the process and save you time.
These updates aim to enhance your classroom technology experience, ensuring smoother and more efficient interactions with our AV equipment. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we strive to improve your learning environment.




TTSD Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee


In May 2023, we launched the TTSD Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee. We're inviting staff, community members, and students to join us in our ongoing efforts to evaluate generative AI tools in PK-12 education. The committee's core objectives are:
  1. Develop TTSD AI Policy: Create a district-wide policy for the responsible use of generative AI by staff and students.
  2. Provide AI Professional Development: Offer continuous training to empower staff and students to effectively utilize AI tools in education. Join us in shaping the future of AI in education.

If you'd like to join this committee, please fill out this form TTSD AI Committee Membership Interest Form.





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