ePals Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Important Note With all the Web 2.0 tools, if a teacher decides to use utilize these tools with their students, they should maintain and monitor all the information exchanges, including but not limited to s, forums, and discussion boards. There is no one else that will maintain the information for you. So if you decide to use ePals, know that you have to edit, preview and send all s for your class. Students should not receive s without the first going to the teacher for review. Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

3 Created Revised 6/7/2010 While Waiting (Do Now) Log on to Internet explorer Access Click : Join Now and use the teacher registration section

Office of Information, Technology and Accountability 4 Created Revised Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship Student Learning and Academic Performance 1. Digital Access: full electronic participation in society 2. Digital Literacy: the process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology 3. Digital Communication: electronic exchange of information School Environment and Student Behavior 4. Digital Security & Safety: electronic precautions to guarantee safety/physical well-being in a digital technology world 5. Digital Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure 6. Digital Rights and Responsibilities: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world Student Life Outside the School Environment 7. Digital Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods 8. Digital Health and Wellness: physical and psychological well-being 9. Digital Law: rights and restrictions

Office of Information, Technology and Accountability 5 Created Revised Digital Citizenship Links spx spx

Office of Information, Technology and Accountability 6 Created Revised 6/7/2010 Standards Addressed Standard 3. Demonstrate the ability to use technology for research, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

Office of Information, Technology and Accountability 7 Created Revised 6/7/2010 Introduction to ePals By the end of this session you will know and be able to:  Create an ePal account  Set up a profile  Search for classrooms projects

Office of Information, Technology and Accountability 8 Created Revised 6/7/2010 You will demonstrate this by ~  Logging into ePals and creating an account  Setting up your profile

Office of Information, Technology and Accountability 9 Created Revised 6/7/2010 Getting started Go to and sign up for an account. If you are a teacher use your SPS account and an will be forwarded to you.

Next steps Check your for a message from ePals and then click on the link It will take you to this page and you are ready to fill in the information provided and you are ready to begin Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

How to create an account? Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Continue to create an account Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

After your account has been developed Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Profile Once you read and accept ePals terms and conditions, you will be directed to create your profile. A profile is needed to have full access to the ePals site. Please note that students cannot create profiles, only teachers, parents and other adult learners are permitted to do so. Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Sample profile Copied from Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Searching for a classroom Keyword Search by common terms, such as book club or Spanish language Project match Search for another classroom interested in the same ePals Project Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

New profiles for the day Search all profiles approved that day Advanced search Search according to parameters you set Searching for a classroom Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Searching for a classroom Map search Search based on geographic location ePals Wanted, Teacher Talk Answer or Post on Forums for Partners Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Searching for a classroom Ongoing Projects, Teacher Talk Answer or Post on Forum Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

School SchoolMail provides multilingual solutions to classes, schools, families and districts worldwide. With this easy-to-use product, educators can create protected, customized, collaborative environments. Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

continued… You and your students will use ePals SchoolMail to interact with ePals all over the world. You can use ePals SchoolMail as you would any other system. Again, depending on how you joined ePals, you may not have access to all of the features listed below. Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

ePals SchoolMail, you will find the following features: Monitored Instant Language Translation Virus Checking Anti-Spam Filters Spell-Checker File Sharing & Storage Manuals & Tutorials Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Let’s visit a project projects/info.aspx?Div ID=NaturalDisasters_ overview projects/info.aspx?Div ID=NaturalDisasters_ overview Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Link to downloadable PDF filled with information for you to understand ePals further… com/downloads/Sc hoolMail_Administr atorGuide.pdf com/downloads/Sc hoolMail_Administr atorGuide.pdf Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Another important reminder… Once you are finished your project with the class remove all access for students. Go to page 106 of the manual for help. Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Your Turn Office of Information, Technology and Accountability 27 Created Revised 6/7/2010 Start exploring ePals. Visit these pages: Projects for Classroom CollaborationProjects for Classroom Collaboration Each project is designed to be used as is or customized to your classroom's needs. Project topics are of global interest including Global Warming and Water.Global WarmingWater Global ForumsGlobal Forums Talk about the issues that are relevant to you. Discuss potential projects, learn how to use technology, or find other ePals. Take our ePals TourTake our ePals Tour Learn more about ePals. Download guides for SchoolMail or SchoolBlog. Watch a video testimonial of how teachers are using ePals. SchoolMailSchoolBlogvideo testimonial

 Set up classroom account Set up profile information  Search for a classroom to interact with or search for a project  If desired set a account for your class Your Turn…part 2 Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Checklist  I was able to set up a account  I was able to verify my account through an set by ePals.(check your Barracuda account if you did not receive one)  I completed my profile.  I was able to search for projects and/or classrooms. Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability

Resources ISTE Publications, Digital Citizenship in Schools by Mike Ribble and Gerald Bailey, copyright 2007, ISBN No: Created Revised 6/7/ Office of Information, Technology and Accountability