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January 31, 2022
New Year - New Trends! 5:05 PM
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Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I'd like to use January to highlight "what's new" in the world of Education Technology at Mt. Lebanon.

I am a big fan of ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education. Membership in their society has p[aid for itself countless times throughout my career as a school district technology administrator.

Last month, they published an article, The Hottest Topics in Edtech for 2022!, that points us in some exciting post-pandemic directions...you know, other than "back to the way things used to be."

A compelling quote from Camilla Gagliolo, ISTE's senior director of event content:

"It took a pandemic to give every kid a device. Now the challenge is to get meaningful learning with these devices."

Sing it again! Pandemic-era education (heck, pandemic-era life) has been a stressful, beleaguering, exhausting challenge for everyone...so who needs one more thing?

I believe our students need one more thing: a recognition that in this different world (with enhanced levels of access to devices and Internet and teachers and each other!) our students deserve a shift in our approach to their learning that draws from the painful lessons we've learned over the past almost-two years. Lessons like making the most out of in-person time and shifting things that can be done alone to times when our students are actually alone.

In that spirit, Diana Fingal (in the article referenced above) shares the top 8 hottest topics for 2022 based on all of the submissions to present at their annual conference in June:
  1. Augmented, mixed, and virtual reality
  2. Social-emotional learning
  3. Equity and inclusion
  4. Online tools and apps
  5. Distance, online, blended learning
  6. Computer science and computational thinking
  7. Instructional design and delivery
  8. Project-based learning (PBL)
I love that PBL made the top of the list...you can never have enough. There's a reason why, when we think back on our own educational past, we tend to remember the projects much more than we do the tests...don't we? Technology can make for some very exciting PBL opportunities with our students - stay tuned for some amazing examples at Mt. Lebanon!
Posted By: Chris Stengel Leave a Comment
January 24, 2022
New Year - New Chromebooks! 5:04 PM
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Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I'd like to use January to highlight "what's new" in the world of Education Technology at Mt. Lebanon.

Last week, we received a MONSTER order of Chromebooks that we ordered back in October.

We knew when we ordered them that a number of global realities would impact their eventual delivery date: supply chain shortages, logistics issues, etc. What we didn't know was that they would all arrive just one day after we got a notice from CDW that they were coming!

Amazing shout out of thanks to our Mt. Lebanon Facilities Department folks who pivoted and rolled with the late notice with impressive panache: carting 1,800 Chromebooks down to our offices, as pictured above.

Once we are able to get these beauties scanned into our inventory system, our plan is to upgrade our secondary students who have borrowed Chromebooks from the District. These Chromebooks have twice the RAM as the previous versions, so we're very hopeful that if and when they need to be used for videoconferencing/remote learning, they will perform that much better than the ones we've currently loaned out!
Posted By: Chris Stengel Leave a Comment
January 17, 2022
New Year - New Gadgets! 5:03 PM
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Razer Zephyr

Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I'd like to use January to highlight "what's new" in the world of Education Technology at Mt. Lebanon.

In a normal year, the first days of January usually bring with them one of my "life-list" conferences: The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

In the years prior to the pandemic, this conference was a packed extravaganza of futuristic imaginings in tech. People would pack showroom floors to see the lastest and greatest products from both major and minor vendors alike.

In this, the first in-person year for CES since the pandemic, a deserted version of CES unfolded.

And although CES was attended by far fewer people and vendors this year, some fun products still stood out as interesting (to me at least :) for their potential impact/use in education:
Posted By: Chris Stengel Leave a Comment
January 10, 2022
New Year - New Employee! 5:02 PM
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Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I'd like to use January to highlight "what's new" in the world of Education Technology at Mt. Lebanon.

This week, we welcome the newest member of our technology team
at Mt. Lebanon, Mike Froelich!

Mike is our Multimedia & Data Support Specialist, and as such, is responsible for all of our audio-visual services including the operation and support of our local cable access channel, multimedia training, support of distance learning/video conferencing equipment for both professional development and instructional settings.

On top of all of that, Mike also provides much-needed support for our student information systems.

Both facets of Mike's job are so important to us, and we are so pleased to welcome him into our crew! Keep an eye out for him in your building...reach out to Mike and say hi!
Posted By: Chris Stengel Leave a Comment
January 3, 2022
New Year - New Technology Map! 5:01 PM
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Click to View the Details!

Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I'd like to use January to highlight "what's new" in the world of Education Technology at Mt. Lebanon.

Since 2013, we've been assembling our "Tech Plan" using a subway map format that I originally discovered on Vodkaster.

It's a fun way to visualize everything that we "do" in the Technology Department. It's also a useful reference point for us in making sure that everything we do is on this map as well as ensuring that what we don't do is not on this map.

For that reason, we update this document every couple of years. COVID put quite a spin on our support and equipment priorities! It's also helpful to time these updates to the month when we typically welcome new school board members so we can provide them with a fresh overview of our services.

Our entire 2022 Technology Map can be found on our District Technology page or you can get to it directly by clicking here!!

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December 27, 2021
Cybersecurity First! 5:04 PM
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Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I've taken some license and relocated "Cybersecurity Awareness Month" from its true home of October and placed it in December...just in time for some New Year's Resolutions!

This week I wanted to share some "Cybersecurity First" resources from CISA (the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency - part of the US Homeland Security Department):
  • Cybersecurity 101 Tip Sheet - Knowing how to protect the information that you have stored "out there" is a crucial skill that's good for you AND the company you work for.

  • Why is Cybersecurity Important Tip Sheet - Similar to the
    above resource...but just in case this one resonates more
    strongly with you :)

  • Cyber Security Starts with You Tip Sheet - Your security, the security of your school/company, and the security of our country can depend on you making educated and secure online decisions.

  • Approaching Cybersecurity Tip Sheet - They saved the best tip sheet for last...thirteen really good tips for becoming familiar with cyber essentials and taking steps to protect yourself and the networks you're on:

    • Be aware of risk
    • Train your employes
    • Keep antivirus software updated
    • Secure your networks
    • Use strong passwords
    • Backup your data
    • Control physical access
    • Play hard to get with strangers (my favorite)
    • Think before you act
    • Protect your personal information
    • Be wary of hyperlinks
    • Double your login protection
    • Install and update anti-virus software
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December 20, 2021
Cybersecurity - Explore. Experience. Share. 5:03 PM
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Click to Enlarge

Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I've taken some license and relocated "Cybersecurity Awareness Month" from its true home of October and placed it in December...just in time for some New Year's Resolutions!

This week I wanted to share some "Explore. Experience. Share." resources from CISA (the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency - part of the US Homeland Security Department). These resources are designed to heighten awareness of careers in cybersecurity...feel free to share these with anyone you know who may be interested in the career field of cybersecurity!

During Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week this year, CISA shared these resources:
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December 13, 2021
Phight the Phish! 5:02 PM
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Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I've taken some license and relocated "Cybersecurity Awareness Month" from its true home of October and placed it in December...just in time for some New Year's Resolutions!

This week I wanted to talk a bit about "Phishing" and share a couple of "Phight the Phish!" resources from CISA (the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency - part of the US Homeland Security Department).

Phishing is when someone pretends to be someone that you trust and tricks you into giving up some personal information. Here at Mt. Lebanon, we see a lot of emails come in to our staff members pretending to be a District administrator or a PTA officer and asking "Hey, do you have a quick minute?" Once the unsuspecting person replies, a conversation ensues where they ask for a cell number so they can text the person and/or some requests for gift cards. Sometimes these emails look like someone you trust has "shared" something with you, but for some reason, you have to sign in to view what they sent you...boom, they just got your login and password.

We catch and dispose of a staggering amount of emails like this every week...sometimes one or two will sneak through...education is the best medicine :)

Check out these two tip sheets from CISA to help you stay safe:
Posted By: Chris Stengel Leave a Comment
December 6, 2021
Be Cyber Smart 5:01 PM
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Continuing on the idea of a "monthly theme" for my blog posts this year, I've taken some license and relocated "Cybersecurity Awareness Month" from its true home of October and placed it in December...just in time for some New Year's Resolutions!

This week I wanted to share some "Be Cyber Smart" resources from CISA (the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency - part of the US Homeland Security Department):
Posted By: Chris Stengel Leave a Comment
November 29, 2021
Connected Educator: Your Neighbors! 5:05 PM
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While October was officially "Connected Educator Month," I see no reason why we can't dedicate November's blog posts to resources that will help you become a better connected educator too!

So this week I want to highlight and offer for your consideration your friendly neighborhood tech coach who is right down the hall or somewhere else in your building!

Mt. Lebanon has a teacher in every building called an Instructional Technology Coach. These teachers have volunteered themselves to the service of their building and the teachers in their building to help teachers learn how (and WHEN) to use technology to help their students learn better!

Specifically, your building tech coach works with us in the technology department to develop training, facilitate technology-oriented in-service days, and offer assistance directly to our teachers in either 1-1 or small group settings.

The Tech Coaches in each building also represent your thoughts, questions, and needs back to us in the Technology Department throughout the year so we know what's working well and what we should try to make work better.

ALSO: This year, we have the services of our amazing District-wide Technology Coach, Michael Hladio, who is working with all of our teachers to help them learn how to best use Schoology as well as all of the other education technology tools we have out there. Mike is in our Work Order system, so if you'd like to have a session with Mike, put in a "Training" work order!
Posted By: Chris Stengel Leave a Comment
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Blog By:  Chris Stengel Member Type: Administrator
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This is a public blog for my posts and thoughts surrounding technology used in the Mt. Lebanon School District.

In January 2011, I completed a 365 Day Challenge where I made one post every
day for a year...but for some unknown reason, I kept it going until Day 3000!!

I'm still blogging...but more like once a week...ish :)

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