UTB eNews NZ: March 2022

Despite the masks and social distancing, it’s fantastic to be back in schools and see all your wonderful faces (smiling behind the masks!). 

Now that the MoE is allowing PLD providers back in schools we’re thrilled that so many of you are welcoming us back on site. With each and every one of our UTB training team fully vaccinated (including booster shots) we are looking forward to seeing you very soon if we haven’t already!

Content Overview


1 Tech Tools for Teachers: Accessibility Tool: Safari Reader

2 Trainer Tip: How to Create Fool Proof Templates
3 Lesson Planning Made Simple: Teacher Resources: Wonderopolis
4 OutClassed Podcast: A New Year, A New Series
5 Live Online Training Courses: New Training Offering
6 PLD Update: 25hrs FREE PLD
7 Blog Bites: How to Use Kahoot Inside Google Classroom
8 Events: Data & Security Summit Early Bird Tickets

9 UTB Team Milestones: Celebrating Work Anniversaries

Tech Tools for Teachers


Accessibility Tool: Safari Reader 
Research can be a challenging task for a number of students, especially those who struggle with literacy. 

Safari Reader (on Mac and iPad) is a great tool that supports students to make sense of information on the web. By eliminating ads and restrictions Safari Reader also enables students to change text size and font so it’s easier to read. 

For Microsoft users, Immersive Reader is a similar tool that makes information more accessible for students.

Watch below to help boost accessibility for students with Paul’s Safari Reader tips in just 60 seconds!

Trainer Tip

How to Create Fool Proof Templates
If you haven’t come across this handy tip already, it’s a total game changer. 

You know when you create a Google resource for your class, and even though you tell them very clearly that it’s a template that they need to make a copy of, they don’t? It’s frustrating, right? 

And let’s be honest, it’s not just your students. I’m betting at least one of your colleagues has used a template that was never meant to be edited. Maybe you’ve even done it yourself.

Use this simple 2 step process to prevent templates from being accidentally edited ever again!

1 Look at the document’s URL (in the address bar) for the long complicated file name that looks something like this:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GmzUmdkSflHuTVMF5QBHNUeR8yMGFo85L8as/edit#

Notice the word ‘edit’ at the end of the URL. Simply delete ‘edit’ and change it to ‘copy’. This will automatically force students (and colleagues!) to make their own copies without accidentally altering your template.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GmzUmdkSflHuTVMF5QBHNUeR8yMGFo85L8as/copy#

* This works for all Google apps, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.

Lesson Planning Made Simple


Teacher Resources: Wonderopolis
Every now and then we come across a really awesome website with tools we can implement in our day-to-day teaching. Wonderopolis is one of those sites. 

Wonderpolis has a bunch of awesome ideas, resources, videos and quizzes that really get students thinking on a deeper level and kick start provocations. 

Every day there is a new question with supporting articles that highlight and unpack potential new words to help grow vocabulary. There is also a built-in immersive reader!

Check it out. We promise you won’t be disappointed!

Click here to find great teaching tools at Wonderopolis.

OutClassed Podcast


A New Year, A New Series
After a 12 month hiatus, the eagerly awaited OutClassed podcast (hosted by UTB Commander-in-Chief, Mike Reading and special guests) returns with two new episodes.

Ep 29: Hyper-Immersion, Student Engagement, and Discerning Meaningful Tools

1. How to determine if a tool is meaningful, such as 3D printers
2. Can VR teach empathy
3. Hyper-immersion and the benefits to learning
4. Latest trends in requests for professional development for staff
Click here to listen to Ep 29

Ep 30: Presentation Tips to Increase Engagement & Connection

1. How to build connection and engagement with your audience
2. The place of the traditional slide deck
3. How to leave people feeling supported and valued
4. Digital tools that can elevate your training
Click here to listen to Ep 30

Click here for all OutClassed Podcast episodes (with written transcripts)
Watch below to see a snippet from the latest OutClassed episode.

New: Live Online Training Courses


We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes developing a new selection of live online training courses guaranteed to develop your tech skills in meaningful, practical ways. 

Live and accessible from anywhere in the world, you can take any course you like from any where you are. 

Get expert training that follows best practice, delivered by trainers who are Google, Apple, Microsoft certified (not just self-declared experts). Get the certification you need to level up and make your next career steps with our new courses.

Click here to check out our selection of live online training courses.

PLD Update


MoE Pandemic PLD Relief Package: 25 Hours FREE PLD
Schools and kura can still apply for an extra 25 hrs of PLD support while we’re in ‘red’ alert level. Help your teachers navigate hybrid learning with a little extra support from the MoE.

As always, our trainers are here to help you get the support you need so you can keep your sanity and help your students thrive no matter what.

Click here to secure your MoE Hybrid Learning PLD Support.

Want a helping hand to get you started? No problem!
Click here to schedule a PLD call to get you moving.

Blog Bites


How to Use Kahoot Inside Google Classroom
If you’re seeking fun and innovative ways to foster cooperation and teamwork in your classroom (either your physical one or a virtual one), Kahoot is a great tool your students will love you for. 

Click here to learn how to use Kahoot within Google Classroom in just 10 easy steps.

Events

 

Data & Security Summit 2022


ONE WEEK LEFT: Get Your Early Bird Tickets Now!

Join the conversation at this month’s online Security & Data Summit where you’ll hear from cyber security experts at Microsoft, Google, New Era, Network for Learning, RTG, Cyber Safety Project and NZ Ministry of Education, who will arm you with the knowledge you need to mitigate serious damage.

Click here for early bird tickets + FREE session recordings.

* Early Bird passes include FREE session recordings (of all 25 sessions, worth $79) and will end Thursday 10 March 2022 when prices increase to the standard ticket price.

UTB Team Milestones


Celebrating Work Anniversaries

As we celebrate our work milestones each month, we’ll be sharing what it means to us to be part of the UTB family.

“Being a part of a team that exists for a purpose beyond themselves is refreshing. It’s been so rewarding being part of a company culture that inspires, challenges, and encourages me. Professional and personal development go hand in hand at UTB. 

Aligning morally is a breath of fresh air. I’m so grateful to be a part of the team and the mission behind UTB and I’m always trying to recruit my family and friends!”
Julia Anderson, 3 years

“When I joined UTB a year ago and saw the faces across NZ, AU and PH, I said to myself – this is a great team! I love the culture, diversity and inclusivity. This is where I belong. I appreciate how everyone is so understanding and helpful.

Although my journey with UTB has had ups and downs, I can say I am a better me, a new version of myself now. 

I am proud to be part of this awesome team and look forward to many more years to come!”
Grace Rebueno, 1 year

“Although many companies claim to provide a great work culture, few actually do. UTB is not just one of those few, they are a leader in this space! 

Looking back at the past three years I can genuinely say I’ve had a range of amazing experiences and have thoroughly enjoyed working with some brilliant people, all while being able to make an impact on people across multiple nations!”
Glen Pringle, 3 years

Related Post

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What Type of user are you?

🫣 Entry User | 🤹 Skilled User | 👑 Elite User

Take the quiz to find out. 

Privacy Policy

Using Technology Better Privacy Commitment

Introduction

We hold the privacy of your personal information in the highest regard.

Using Technology Better regards customer privacy as an important part of our relationship with our customers. The following privacy policy applies to all Using Technology Better users, and conforms to Internet privacy standards.

This policy will be continuously assessed against new technologies, business practices and our customers’ needs.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, you should first contact the support team on our Contact Us Page.

Collection of Information

In order to use the Using Technology Better website, we may require information from you in order to provide the best service possible.

All correspondence may also be collected and stored, particularly in regard to sales, support and accounts, including Email.

Any information collected by Using Technology Better is collected via correspondence from you or your company. This may be via the telephone, Email, mail, fax or directly through our website.

Visitors and customers of japan.usingtechnologybetter.com will have their information shared back to DAIWABO INFORMATION SYSTEM CO., LTD. and DIS Service & Solution Co., Ltd.

Use of Collection Information

Any details collected from Using Technology Better customers is required in order to provide you with our

products and/or services, and a high level of customer service.

Correspondence is recorded in order to provide service references, and to assist in our staff development.

Web Site Use Information

Similar to other commercial Web sites, our Web sites utilize a standard technology called “cookies” (see explanation below, “What Are Cookies?”) and web server log files to collect information about how our Web site is used.

Information gathered through cookies and Web server logs may include the date and time of visits, the pages viewed, time spent at our Web site, and the Web sites visited just before and just after our Web site.

Storage of Collected Information

The security of your personal information is important to us. When you enter sensitive information (such as credit card numbers) on our website, we encrypt that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL).

When Credit Card details are collected, we simply pass them on in order to be processed as required. We never permanently store complete Credit Card details.

We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it.

If you have any questions about security on our Website, you can email us at <ContactEmail>.

Access to Collected Information

If your personally identifiable information changes, or if you no longer desire our service, you may correct, update, delete or deactivate it by emailing us at <ContactEmail>.

Orders

If you purchase a product or service from us, we may request certain personally identifiable information from you.

You may be required to provide contact information such as:

Name

Email

Postal address

Your school or organisation

Financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date, name on card, card billing address).

We use this information for billing purposes and to fill your orders. If we have trouble processing an order, we will use this information to contact you.

Communications

Using Technology Better uses personally identifiable information for essential communications, such as

Emails

Accounts information

Critical service details.

We may also use this information for other purposes, including some promotional Emails.

If at any time a customer wishes not to receive such correspondence, they can request to be removed from any mailing lists by contacting support.

You will be notified when your personal information is collected by any third party that is not our agent/service provider, so you can make an informed choice as to whether or not to share your information with that party.

Third Parties

Using Technology Better may at its discretion use other third parties to provide essential services on our site or for our business processes.

We may share your details as necessary for the third party to provide that service.

These third parties are prohibited from using your personally identifiable information for any other purpose.

Using Technology Better does not share any information with third parties for any unknown or unrelated uses.

What Are Cookies?

A cookie is a very small text document, which often includes an anonymous unique identifier. When you visit a Web site, that site’s computer asks your computer for permission to store this file in a part of your hard drive specifically designated for cookies.

Each Web site can send its own cookie to your browser if your browser’s preferences allow it, but (to protect your privacy) your browser only permits a Web site to access the cookies it has already sent to you, not the cookies sent to you by other sites.

Browsers are usually set to accept cookies. However, if you would prefer not to receive cookies, you may alter the configuration of your browser to refuse cookies.

If you choose to have your browser refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of our site will not function as effectively when viewed by the users.

A cookie cannot retrieve any other data from your hard drive or pass on computer viruses.

How Do We Use Information We Collect from Cookies?

As you visit and browse our Web site, the site uses cookies to differentiate you from other users. In some cases, we also use cookies to prevent you from having to log in more than is necessary for security.

Cookies, in conjunction with our Web server’s log files, allow us to calculate the aggregate number of people visiting our Web site and which parts of the site are most popular. This helps us gather feedback to constantly improve our Web site and better serve our clients.

Cookies do not allow us to gather any personal information about you and we do not intentionally store any personal information that your browser provided to us in your cookies.

Legal

We reserve the right to disclose your personally identifiable information as required by law and when we believe that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights and/or comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process served on our Website.

Links

Links on the Using Technology Better site to external entities are not covered within this policy. The terms and conditions set out in this privacy statement only cover the domain name of usingtechnologybetter.com

Changes to Privacy Policy

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, and other places we deem appropriate so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it.

We reserve the right to modify this privacy statement at any time, so please review it periodically. If we make material changes to this policy, we will not use the personal information you have submitted to us under this Privacy Policy in a manner that is materially inconsistent with this Privacy Policy, without your prior consent

Delivery Policy

Most goods are digitally delivered instantly via email.  Our services may be delivered either via an online medium or live in person.

For our online delivery see below.  For services delivered live onsite, please refer to our speaker agreement form which is emailed to you on confirmation of booking.

Refund Policy

We do not offer refunds or returns unless we cannot supply goods or services or the goods or services are not delivered as promised.

Australian law is the governing body for all work, goods and services supplied by Using Technology Better.

Marketing Release

Using Technology Better (UTB) may film, record, and photograph me (the results of which are the “Recordings”). UTB may also incorporate into any production(s) any separate content (e.g., quotes, testimonials, biographical information, profiles, photos, videos, sound recordings, artwork, etc.) I provide to UTB or approve in writing (“Materials”).

1.License

I grant to UTB an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to, in its sole discretion, (i) edit, translate, and modify the Recordings and the Materials, (ii) attribute the Recordings and Materials to me by my name, age, and city and state of residence, (iii) incorporate the Recordings and the Materials into content to promote UTB, its programs, or products (“Content”), and (iv) publicly use, distribute, reproduce, create derivative works from, and perform/display the Content, and any excerpts thereof, in any language.

2. No Compensation.

I grant this permission without any financial or other obligation of any nature.

 

For any issues or concerns please contact us