RUSD represents at Google Innovator Academy

       The first Google Teacher Academy was held ten years ago with the idea that bringing together educators on the forefront of technology would allow for the growth of new ideas and projects. The program has since been modified and is now the Google for Education Certified Innovator program. Although renamed, the program is operating under the original goal of bringing educators together to explore and grow, to help to transform the organizations and communities they serve. 
       Last month, the revised program opened the application process to educators all over the world. The Innovator program will be a 12-month professional development experience for the selected teachers. Each individual is focusing on launching transformative projects to help improve education in their communities. Innovation and Learner Engagement had two applicants who were notified that they were accepted! Arianna Flewelling and Steve Kong will be visiting the Google campus for two and half days for an in-person Innovator Academy where they will be collaborating with other educators from the United States, Canada, England, India and South Korea. They hope to bring back some amazing ideas back to Riverside, as well as identifying the best implementation models and ideas for their own projects.

January 26, 2016 — Arianna Flewelling and Steve Kong have been selected as participants in the Google for Education Certified Innovator Program. The program begins with an Innovation Academy to be held at Google headquarters in Mountain View, CA on February 24-26, 2016.

34 participants worldwide were selected for the Google for Education Certified Innovator program based on their professional experience, their passion for teaching and learning, their innovative use of technology in school settings, and their potential impact on other educators. Arianna and Steve are honored to be selected to represent Riverside Unified School District in this prestigious program. In addition, Innovation and Learner Engagement is proud to be the only district to have two staff members participating in this inaugural Innovator Academy.

At the Innovation Academy participants will discover how to unlock creativity, translate insights into solutions, experiment rapidly, and build an effective innovation culture in schools and organizations. Participants will come away with practical approaches, valuable tools and techniques, and the beginnings of an Innovation Project. This project will drive change in education, impact educators and students, and be documented for other educators to follow.

The Certified Innovators are ambassadors for change and empower other educators and students. They strive to change the world of education by tackling complex opportunities to develop new-to-the-world solutions.

For more information on the Google for Education Certified Innovator Program, please visit www.certifiedinnovators.com

Super Computers at Every Price

As the world gets more dependent on computers and powerful smartphones, the ability to navigate through life requires access to technology. Applying for jobs, researching, studying, are all done on devices. One of the biggest ways to close the opportunity gap for our students is giving them access to new technology. Less than 20 years ago, computers were expensive machines that required hefty investments. If you couldn't buy a Dell or HP, you could purchase an eMachine, but even those devices were at least $400. Recent advances in technology and mobile computing have allowed us to have powerful devices in the palm of our hands. For our students who do not have access to smartphones how can we provide them with a device to get them learning?

Raspberry Pi shocked consumers with its $35 price tag. To follow it up, they just released the Pi Zero. Priced at $5, Pi Zero is set to reduce barriers to developing and creating new software.

Need something with some more power? How about a full-fledged desktop PC for $99?

The Kangaroo is the size of a smartphone and runs a complete version of Windows 10, meaning it has all the power of a laptop hidden inside the casing.

If versatility is your thing, meet Pine A64. Pine is open-source, expandable, and is the first 64-Bit computer priced at $15.

You can purchase optional accessories for Pine or use Bluetooth to connect ones you already have.

Promoting equality requires every student to have an opportunity to engage in new learning opportunities. Computer science has typically had a high investment as an entry point since not everyone could afford devices. With these new tools, students now have a greater opportunity to start learning and engaging with computer science.

DIY VR

       Remember when RUSD students had a chance to be Google Expeditions Pioneers? One of the most requested features from our teachers was, "Can our students make our own expeditions?" With Google's newest app CARDBOARD CAMERA they can! Using your Android device (sorry iPhone users it isn't available for you yet), open the app and take a panoramic shot wherever you are. Once you're done just pop the device into your viewer and you can now share your VR experience! The app does not require a sign-up or account, although you do need an account to download from the Play Store. One of the best features from this new app is the ability to include sound. This gives the viewer the ability to see and hear in VR.

Pocket VR

       Virtual Reality is continuing to emerge and become more accessible as evidenced by apps on smartphones and 360 videos on YouTube. Samsung will release their consumer version of Gear VR, Oculus Rift is on the horizon, and Mattel's ViewMaster is now available for anybody interested in trying out virtual reality. If you don't want to spend too much money, affordable Cardboard kits are readily available on Amazon and eBay.
       Hardware for VR can be easily obtained, but the portability still remains an issue as the user is required to have their phone and a separate accessory to view content. So how do you combine portability, ease of use, and VR? A new company Quantum Bakery may have come up with a solution. Their approach to VR was to create a phone case that doubles as the viewer, which they call the Figment VR. The kit is currently being financed through crowd funding via Kickstarter but could pave the way for new devices that combine practical use with portability.

Virtual Reality on YouTube

       Last week RUSD students had an amazing opportunity to pilot Google Expeditions. While the app won't be available until sometime next year, YouTube just released an update that allows virtual reality videos. VR videos give the viewer a sense of depth as they look around in every direction through stereopsis. If Expeditions made students excited with 360 photos, imagine the level of engagement that would arise with VR video.

        The second update is where things get really interesting. Viewers now have the option to make any video in YouTube viewable through Google Cardboard (or any viewer). This means the entire existing library of content can be used as a virtual movie theater. Load up the video you want to view, select the "Cardboard" option, stick your phone in your Cardboard and press play!

"Finally, I Get to See Snow in Real Life"

       The first words a student said as he strapped on his Google Cardboard and explored with Expeditions. Imagine how immersive the environment had to be for the student to process the visual image as a real life experience. So how does all this work? Expeditions allows teachers to use photospheres from Google Maps to take students on "field trips buses can't go." Hawthorne Elementary and RUSD welcomed the Google Edu team, participating as a part of their Expeditions Pioneer Program. The Pioneer Program is a pilot program from Google that is sending out classroom kits of Google Cardboard units and Nexus tablets with the Expeditions app. The app allows the teacher to direct students to specific locations to engage students with questions and opportunities for discussion. Students from Hawthorne visited The Great Barrier Reef, Rome, and Amazon jungles.
       RUSD has more than one school participating in the Pioneer Program as Expeditions will be visiting Liberty Elementary on Thursday and Sierra Middle School on Friday. Check below for some pictures from the day.

Close the Gap

      In two states, there wasn't a single female student who took the AP test in computer science. In 47 other states where girls did sign up for the test, they made up less than a third of the test takers. In a time where girls earn 57% of bachelors degrees that are awarded, there is a severe gap in their representation in the field of computer science.
      One of the greatest ways to get girls involved with technology is early exposure and opportunities to see positive role models in technology based professions. Popular culture and media already do a poor job of showcasing women in technology based roles in television and movies, so it is imperative that educators provide opportunities for their female students. Award winning documentary filmmaker Lesely Chilcott hoped to address this with her newest film "CODEGIRL."
       Starting November 2nd to November 5th, your class can watch the documentary "CODEGIRL" for free via YouTube. The film tells the story of 5,000 girls from 60 different countries as they compete in a coding competition. The Technovation Challenge offers $10,000 in funding for the creators of an app that tries to solve a local problem in their community. In the film, you and your class will get a chance to see girls of all ages and ethnicities learning how to code, interacting with teachers, and collaborating to create something amazing.
       The film also addressees RUSD's unique element of the Socially Engaged Contributor as it relates to Personalized Learning. The girls come from various parts of the world so the local problem varies widely depending on where they are from. However, their passion shines through as the film progresses.
       Click on the video below to watch "CODEGIRL."