Google Hangouts: What It Is and How to Use It

It has come to my attention that some of my friends and family aren't familiar with Google hangouts. If you have a Google account (which, at school, we all do!) you can use this awesome communication tool. 

Here's a great link on how it works. 

On a laptop, using Chrome as your browser, it's easiest to google "google hangouts for chrome." Go to the Chrome Web Store and Click Add to Chrome.

You should then see the google hangout symbol next to your omnibar. Click on that.
You should get a Hangout area in the lower right hand corner of your screen. 
Click on New Conversation. Type in an email address. 
You can then text or video call that person. They need to have Hangouts, too, though. 
You can make a group to chat with several people at the same time.
Lots of webinars are using Hangouts, too!

Enjoy!

NCTIES 2016: Rethink PD- Personalize, Gamify and Badge

Wow! The Rethink PD session presented by Brittany Guy and Marty Creech was so interactive and inspiring that it was difficult to take notes! 

They started us off with a badging game that you can find here:    

bit.ly/pdgame16

Fun badge game

Check out their presentation at Bit.ly/rethinkpd16 and be sure to look at the links.

The Burke County PD Challenge is worth checking out. too!

NCWiseOwl Updated

On April 1, NCWiseOwl was updated. All of your favorite resources are still there, but the look is completely different! Check it out! And share with your students.

NCTIES: Fail Forward, Fail Fast

The "Fail Forward, Fail Fast" session was one of my favorites! Created and presented by Allison Reid, it was inspiring and challenging.

You can follow Allison at @MrsAReid. 
Here's the link to her presentation:

Tinyurl.com/nctiesfailure
There's definitely some great stuff for Professional Development in here! If you have the chance to attend one of these sessions, it's a Must See!

WCPSS Grants

There are a ton of great grants available right now. In Wake County, you must complete the "intent to apply" form before actually applying for the grant. It's easy and only takes a minute and is required. 

If you click here, you will be directed to the WCPSS Intranet with the intent form and a comprehensive list of grants. 

Some of the grants open and approved right now are:

These grants represent education venture capital to nurture unique projects. These new ideas that evolve into best practices that improve education across the county.

TEACHERS! CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR A 2016 – 2017 GRANT!

Last year, our grants:

• Reached more than 4,400 students
• Helped a teacher train school staff in the latest education techniques
• Gave nonverbal autistic students a way to communicate with teachers
• Provided real-world STEM experiences for elementary school students

View our 2015-2016 Teacher Innovation Grant recipients.

Voya Unsung Heroes™ Awards Program

For nearly 20 years, and with over $4 million in awarded grants, Unsung Heroes has proven to be an A+ program with educators. The program's "alumni" have inspired success in the classroom and impacted countless numbers of students. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.

The Voya Unsung Heroes Awards Program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America. Scholarship Management Services is the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals.

Apply by April 30, 2016

Click here to read more: https://unsungheroes.scholarshipamerica.org/