Instructional Technology
The Instructional Technology Department supports educators to enhance instruction through technology for all learners. The goal of the Instructional Technology Department is provide relevant and authentic learning opportunities that offer students the chance to be creative, curious and academically rigorous by incorporating the use of technology. The technology approved for use is reviewed for data privacy and safety. Educators work to ensure the technology selected supports learning excellence.
Below you will find information about the most used technology resources in Frederick County Public Schools. Educators will provide more information regarding other technology resources they may use in their individual classrooms, with students.
For more information about any of these resources, please contact Jodi Zeis, Supervisor of Instructional Technology
Exclusive for Elementary
Seesaw
SEESAW is a learning platform which enables educators to create authentic and engaging learning experiences for students. Students also are able add any of their work to their Seesaw portfolio. Educators use Seesaw to communicate with families.
Typing Club
Typing Club is a resource that incorporates literacy and typing together. This program helps instill fun, critical thinking, and learning cross curricularly, into typing lessons.
Exclusive for Middle/High
Quizizz
The division provides the paid version of Quizizz for secondary, though elementary may use the free version. This may mean extra features are available at the secondary level. Quizizz provides teachers with a way to create customized, interactive learning and review strategies for students. This includes online content related games, interactive videos, online flashcards
Remind
Educators can use email, Google Classroom and now Remind Hub to contact students and parents. Remind Hub is everything parents and students need to communicate with teachers, coaches, and club leaders, all from the ease of a text. There is an app available but it works with sending regular texts, too. Each group that your child is a part of (class, team, etc) will receive a join code for students and parents. You choose how you receive messages. This is how all club leaders and athletic coaches will communicate. More information to come!
Instructional Technology Across All Grade Bands
Canva (for Education)
Canva provides an outlet for creativity, creation, and collaboration through its platform. FCPS uses the education version of this which allows access to thousands of ways for students to create, record, and develop projects. This version is for school use only.
Google Workspace for Education
Google Workspace for Education is a suite of tools that increases opportunities for students to collaborate, receive feedback, grow executive functioning skills, think critically and communicate. Teachers (who are not using Seesaw at the elementary level) will use Google Classroom to post course materials and assignments. Students are encouraged to learn how to use Google Calendar to add assignments and track when they are due. Google docs and slides allow students to create and submit work. Parents can sign up for Google Classroom notifications.
Pear Deck Learning
Pear Deck is a product that allows regular slide decks to become interactive and engaging systems for learning. Teachers give students a code to join each Pear Deck to participate and interact with the content.
WeVideo
WeVideo is a video and editing site available to students. A student's teacher will give them a join code to have access to the full library of tools. This site helps students show their learning and creativity.
Discovery Education
For students at all levels, Discovery Education provides reading selections, interactive science labs, educational videos, and interactive lessons. There is so much that Discovery Education can do! At the middle level the science and social studies textbooks, which are called Techbooks, are accessed through Discover Ed!
Many textbooks and other resources are approved to be used online. Please reach out to your student's educators for more information!
Common Sense Media- Digital Citizenship
Educators carefully select specific lessons from this site to provide relevant learning regarding digital citizenship- using technology in an appropriate and useful way.
Instructional Technology Tools
In addition to online tools, here is a sampling of instructional technology that students can use to code, create, engage, think critically, and communicate. There are many more tools available. See your child's teachers for more information!
Hummingbird
Hummingbird is tool that students can use to create art, devices, robots, tools, replicas, and more. These devices include motion sensors, lights, moving parts, and other tools that allow students to create and solve problems. There are multiple coding languages that can be used including block and Python.
Imagilab Charms
Imagilab Charms are for students in upper elementary through high school. They provide an opportunity for students to create something functional and creative while learning how to code in Python. Students are able to see their creation without the charms, using their Chromebooks. Once students create, they can borrow/sign out a charm to show off their work!
Ozobot
Ozobots redefine coding and learning in the classroom. They help students understand how coding and computational thinking plays a role in many of the tasks that we do on a daily basis. They can be used k-12.
Beebots
Beebots are typically used in pk-grade three. They provide an opportunity for students to learn the process of coding while also integrating learning with reading, social studies, science, math, and more.
Special Microphones
The Yeti microphone is designed to help students learn the elements of sound while integrating it into projects. Students can use these to create podcasts, record video and more. We also have access to 360 cameras, digital cameras, and additional AV tools.