Category: Resources

READWRITETHINK

A GREAT RESOURCE FOR K-12 EDUCATORS

ReadWriteThink (RWT) is a free online resource to assist in improving reading and writing skills for K-12 and adult learning. The RWK app allows students to engage in literacy-learning using tablet devices. No internet connection is needed for the app once it’s downloaded. There are materials for math, science, life skills, and history.  RWT has classroom-tested online resources including student interactives and games, lesson plans, timelines for teaching objectives, classroom resources, and downloadable printouts. These resources are a helpful tool for educators looking to extend their student’s reading and writing skills. There are also professional development opportunities for educators and afterschool resources for parents and students.   

Lesson plans and activities are well-designed by reading and writing experts and encourage depth of learning. Many of the games have integrated content matter. There are hundreds of engaging activities, lesson plans, and printouts for educators to use in designing lessons for their students. This site is easy to navigate and information is easy to access. There is an abundance of information including resources in Spanish available for both educators and parents. All of the lessons correlate to reading and writing standards. There is even a literacy calendar that includes literacy history with resources added so students can always find something special about any day to read about.   

READWRITETHINK USING GOOGLE CLASSROOM

http://www.readwritethink.org/

VIDEO CONFERENCING IN BLACKBOARD

Blackboard Collaborate is a video and web conferencing tool used for virtual classrooms in Blackboard. Sul Ross uses Blackboard for its Learning Management System (LMS). With the importance of using online video and audio conferencing during COVID, Blackboard Collaborate is a beneficial addition to the Blackboard LMS that is available for use in the course design itself. It was specifically designed to provide synchronous learning using live video and multimedia. There are many features including two-way audio, multi-point video, interactive whiteboard, application and desktop sharing, breakout rooms for group work, polling options, and session recording. Blackboard Collaborate provides all the online tools for learner engagement, academic effectiveness, and education insight. With more educators teaching online, Blackboard Collaborate can help with using effective teaching practices that have students collaborating, creating, communicating, and critically thinking.  An advantage of using Blackboard Collaborate includes improved security and packaging on content within the LMS or Blackboard course.

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM TUTORIAL USING BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE

Blackboard Collaborate makes it easy to reach your students wherever they might be. After you record your lessons, they are stored in a default room in the course so students can go back and view at any time. Recently upgraded it is convenient and simple to use. Everything you might need for your flipped classroom is quick and easy to design. Your students will find that a huge benefit is it is mobile-friendly. 

There are many learning resources online to help understand the features in Blackboard Collaborate. Available resources are also found on the Sul Ross State University website. 

FOR FACULTY:

https://www.sulross.edu/page/3286/faculty-e-learning-resource-center

FOR STUDENTS:

https://www.sulross.edu/sites/default/files//sites/default/files/users/docs/gradcenter/student_access_collaborate.pdf

Madison Owen

Administrative Assistant for the Education Department

Madison Owen is here for you!  As the administrative assistant to the Education Department at Sul Ross State University, she helps students and potential students with general questions regarding our Education programs. Ms. Owen is located at the front desk in the Education Department and greets everyone with a smile.  

Her duties are extensive including assisting with the process of student teaching placements every semester for each student, organization of student files, and providing answers for students that call. Ms. Owen is there to assist and direct in any collaboration of communication with all faculty, staff, and students. She enjoys working with a supportive community that welcomes anyone. “Working with and helping the SR students are my most favorite part of my position. I feel that a hard-working college student deserves a University that works just as hard for them”.  

Ms. Owen’s mom, Jennifer Mustain is a Sul Ross alumni and brought her along to her classes on some occasions when she was young. Feeling the excitement of university life and feeling “the big kid life” inspired and motivated her to work hard to earn her bachelor’s degree in 2018. This fall, she started pursuing her master’s degree in Licensed Professional Counseling here at Sul Ross and is enjoying it. Ms.Owen is family to Sul Ross State University. The experience she brings to her position is an asset to the Education Department.    

BEST PRACTICES FOR PASSWORD SECURITY

It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Creating strong passwords, different passwords for multiple accounts, and changing your password frequently prevents others from stealing your information. Using a password manager is an easy option for keeping your passwords protected and accessible to only you. Keeping your password secure is your digital responsibility. Read more about it here:

NCAM Message 2 – Password Management

POLLING IN ZOOM: CRITICAL THINKING AND THE 4C’S

Using Zoom for incorporating the 4C’s (communication, creativity, critical thinking, and communication) into discussions and virtual lessons present an opportunity for increased engagement with students. Keeping students’ attention can be difficult, but using the features in Zoom for engaging your students is easy.

Create a poll to interact with students! Feedback and reflection are excellent ways to keep students engaged. Everyone likes to know what people think about their work. Giving student’s a chance to respond in a poll supports critical thinking skills and gives them self-efficacy.

ZOOM POLLING TUTORIAL

What are ISTE Standards?

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has standards for technology use in education. The organization provides a framework of technology standards for educators and students and is available free in a downloadable format. Adopted by all states in the US, these standards address ways technology can be utilized and implemented for educators, students, and educational leaders to be innovative in today’s world.

Why do ISTE standards matter?

These standards are designed to create effective and quality teaching and learning through the use of technology. Digital citizens and digital leaders are needed to compete in a global market that focuses on the many uses of technology, work collaboratively on projects using technology, and interaction in different working environments. Learners gain digital fluency, develop higher-order thinking skills, and exhibit digital citizenship skills. Empowering students with the opportunity to be innovative, creative, and collaborative using technology provides meaning and motivation to their work.

Join today or browse the many resources available to you for free.

https://iste.org/

CREATIVITY IN ZOOM LECTURES AND DISCUSSIONS

Using Zoom for incorporating the 4C’s (communication, creativity, critical thinking, and communication) into discussions and virtual lessons present an opportunity for increased engagement with students. Keeping students’ attention can be difficult but using the features in Zoom for engaging your students is easy.  

Screen Share in Zoom (Creativity)  

As the host, you can share your videos, publications, examples of coursework, and project-based work. Instructors can also let others share their screens by making them the host. No worries. Instructors can switch back to the host whenever you like. Any creation starts by observing other’s creations. Choosing the whiteboard during your zoom class allows you and the class to annotate.  

SCREEN SHARING AND WHITEBOARDS IN ZOOM

TSTA-AE EVENT

INVITATION

We will be electing officers and honoring our December graduates.

Congratulations TSTA-AE Graduates:

Alma Baeza 

Destany Munoz           

Rebecca Ramos       

  

We are so proud of you! Best Wishes in your career!

If you are an education major and need an organization that inspires and supports educators in Texas consider joining TSTA today.

JOIN TODAY

INTERACTIVE ZOOM AND THE 4C’S

Using Zoom for incorporating the 4C’s (communication, creativity, critical thinking, and communication) into discussions and virtual lessons present an opportunity for increased engagement with students. Keeping students’ attention can be difficult, but using the features in Zoom for engaging your students is easy.

Need a virtual project? Use the option to assign students to breakout rooms. Instructors can monitor and participate in each room to instill they are on target. Make sure to tell them when to come back to the main room or assign a time in the settings.

COLLABORATE WITH BREAKOUT ROOMS

INTERACTIVE ZOOM AND THE 4C’S

Over the next few weeks, we will provide suggestions on how to integrate technology into your lessons using Zoom.

Using Zoom for incorporating the 4C’s (communication, creativity, critical thinking, and communication) into discussions and virtual lessons present an opportunity for increased engagement with students. Keeping students’ attention can be difficult, but using the features in Zoom for engaging your students is easy.

Use the Zoom Chat Feature (Communication)

Putting directions and links into your chat will send to all your participants immediately. Maybe it’s a link to a slideshow or additional resources. By putting links into the chatbox, the entire class can simply click and copy. Instructors can also require a response from everyone during a lecture to keep them engaged.

Explore How To:

ZOOM FEATURES