WPS Professional Learning

 Resource Center 

Instructional Model Resources

G Suite & Google for Education Tools

Google #TeachfromHome

Check out this NEW platform developed specifically for educators teaching from home! Find a plethora of short tutorials specifically aimed at providing quick and easy ideas for transitioning to instruction via distance learning. 
Recommended for teachers, principals, and any WPS employee who works with students.

G Suite Learning Center

Choose one tool - or all of them! This platform offers training and tutorials on all of the G Suite tools and also includes specific training for those familiar with Microsoft products who are looking to learn more about their Google counterparts (i.e. Microsoft Powerpoint to Google Slides). 
Recommended for any employee who uses Google tools.

Google Voice

Google Voice is a telephone service that provides call forwarding and voicemail services, voice and text messaging for Google account customers. Google Voice numbers can be created for free with a generic Gmail account (not accessible through your wethersfield.me account).
ANOTHER OPTION: On your phone, dial *67 before a phone number. Your number will not show up on the other person's phone. The recipient will see "Private Number".
Recommended for any employee who needs to communicate by phone for professional purposes.

Google Meet

Google Meet is a video conferencing platform that syncs with Google Calendar and Gmail. By clicking a short link shared with you by the meeting leader, you will be automatically connected. WPS will use Google Meet as the primary platform for virtual meetings during the district building closure.
Recommended for ALL WPS employees.

Google Sites

The New Google Sites is an easy-to-use drag-and-drop platform for creating websites. Check out this video tutorial to learn how to create your own Google Site. Create your own website at https://sites.google.com/new .
Recommended for any employee who would like to learn how to create and manage a website using the free Google Sites platform.

Google Classroom

Nearly 90% of our 7-12 teachers and 60% of our K-6 teachers currently report that they use Google Classroom as a management platform for their students. Check out these tutorials created by Donnie Piercey, a 5th grade teacher in Kentucky, along with a menu of suggested student activities using Google tools created by a teacher in South Africa. Additional training on Google Classroom can be found within the Google Certified Educator Training.
Recommended for teachers, certified administrators, IT team, and employees who work with students/teachers on teaching, learning, and/or instructional technology.

Google Canvas

Google Canvas allows teachers and students to make digital drawings that automatically save to your Google Drive.
Recommended for teachers and employees who work with students/teachers on teaching, learning, and/or instructional technology.

Google Certified Educator - Level 1

Explore the broad range of digital tools available for teachers and students in the Google for Education platform. Develop proficiency in the tools, and consider taking the GCE Level 1 Exam.*
*If you choose to take the exam between March 16 and May 20, 2020, WPS will reimburse you for the $10 exam fee. Please send your exam certificate to Charlene Walsh (cwalsh@wethersfield.me).
Recommended for teachers, administrators, IT team, and employees who work with students/teachers on teaching, learning, and/or instructional technology.

Useful Chrome Extensions

Other Resources & Tutorials

Seesaw

Use Seesaw to connect with our youngest learners and their families. 
Recommended for PreK-2 teachers and administrators.

Screencastify

Use screencastify to create videos of your screen for your students. We now have a district Screencastify Premium subscription! 
Recommended for PreK-12 teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and tutors.

Read&Write

Read&Write is a Google extension with literacy features in an embedded toolbar that makes documents, files, and web pages more accessible and can be especially valuable for English Language Learners, as well as students with learning difficulties or requiring dyslexia tools. This tool provides “text-to-speech, text prediction, picture dictionaries, and summary highlighters”.  
STEP 1: If you are an educator, you are eligible for a free premium subscription to Read&Write. Sign up here. If you also work with educators who teach math, we recommend also signing up for access to EquatIO.
STEP 2: Add the Read&Write Google extension.
STEP 3: Click the purple puzzle piece in the top right of your browser, and the toolbar should appear! Your free access may take up to 24 hours to take effect.
Questions? Looking to learn more? Contact Sarah Harris (sharris@wethersfield.me).
Recommended for teachers, administrators, and employees who work with students/teachers on teaching, learning, and/or instructional technology.

Flipgrid

Flipgrid is a digital discussion tool that allows you to post topics to a virtual classroom. Students record, upload, view, react, and respond to each other through short videos.
Recommended for teachers, administrators, and employees who work with students/teachers on teaching, learning, and/or instructional technology.

Microsoft Productivity Tools

Word for Windows

Learn about the broad capabilities of Microsoft Word through video tutorials and learning modules organized by topic. 
Recommended for any employee who uses Microsoft Word to prepare documents.

Excel for Windows

Learn about the broad capabilities of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software through video tutorials and learning modules organized by topic.
Recommended for any employee who uses Microsoft Excel to organize or analyze data. 

PowerPoint for Windows

Learn about the broad capabilities of Microsoft PowerPoint through video tutorials and learning modules organized by topic. 
Recommended for any employee who uses Microsoft PowerPoint to prepare slide presentations.