April 11, 2017

Getting Going With G Suite -

An Online Course for Teachers

(graduate credit is available).

From Practical Ed Tech for Teachers and Richard Byrne is an opportunity to earn PD points and/or College Credit while learning all about G Suite (Google Apps).

This is a webinar series so you can attend while sitting at home in your pajama’s. The cost is only $147.00 to participate ($450 with college credit). There are four different sessions so you can pick which one works the best for you.

This online course will cover:

• Basics and Tips over Google Drive

•Google Calendar

• How to create a Google Sites (website) & use it as a blog

• Basics and Tips over Google Classroom

For more information:
https://goo.gl/jGqqrf 

March 14, 2017

Google Drawing:

One of my favorite Google App.

When people think of G Suite and the Google Apps, they think of the big three: Google Sheets, Slides and Docs. Today though, I want to talk about one of my favorite apps that often is overlooked.....Google Drawings!

Google Drawings reminds me a little bit of using Apple Pages and/or Publisher. It’s a place where students can be creative in designing posters and so much more.

Recently, I stumbled upon a blog post by Matt Bergman, technology leader extraordinaire, who provides a cheat sheet over Google Drawings as well as ideas on how to incorporate Google Drawings into your own curriculum. Here are a few of his ideas:

• Create and share graphic organizers
• Create interactive worksheets
• Infographics
• Provide screenshots of computer instructions
• Explain complex concepts with images and captions
• Create, collaborate and share visuals and diagrams
• Create, collaborate and share timelines • and many more.

All of these activities could be created by the teacher OR you could have the students create to show their understanding of the unit or subject. 

March 14, 2017

PrepFactory is a website that provides help for those who are about to take their ACT or SAT test. The best part? It’s FREE!

Go to https://www.prepfactory.com/

Sign up takes about a minute, quicker if you use your Google account. You can sign up as a student or as a teacher.

The website is filled with games to help practice those pesky questions, content maps full of video’s to help refresh knowledge, test-specific strategies to use, and practice sets to give you an understanding of the tests. 
There is even a Middle School section!

As a teacher, you can create a class and have your students join. PrepFactory walks everyone through a step-by-step system complete with a pre-test in one or all of the core subjects. After the assessment, PrepFactory provides video instructions to help brush up your knowledge.

If you don’t want to access the website but would like to use the video’s as a refresher, visit the PrepFactory Youtube Video playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/user/prepfactory 

March 7, 2017

Google Keep + Google Documents

Together at last

Okay, I admit I am slightly old-fashioned when it comes to making list &/or notes. I have a pile of scrap paper on my desk in which I like to grab to jot down a note or two while I work. In most cases, this system works very well as the notes serve only a temporary purpose. Once I am done, there is something intrinsic about throwing this scrap paper away. But there are times when I find myself hurriedly stuffing these small pieces of paper in my computer bag or purse as time runs out or the days become hectic. This results in a huge mess as these small single pieces of paper just beg to get lost. Enter Google Keep....

Google Keep is an easy to use platform designed by Google as a way to store your lists, notes, doodles, and much more. For some, it was useful but having to open up a separate browser or app wasn’t that convenient. Today, that’s no longer a problem. Google Keep is now integrated within Google Docs with a Keep tab in the Tools bar. This allows you to seamlessly add notes to Keep while you work or vice versa.

To find out more, watch this short video:

https://youtu.be/59A8PFj-boU

Great tip on using Google Keep instead of Comments for Grading: https://youtu.be/FgV1ypW6ZL8 

March 7, 2017

PBS Kids Video

Did you know you could watch videos from PBS Kids television series for FREE at anytime or anyplace as long as you use the app?

PBS KIDS Video” features more than 1,000 videos from over a dozen top PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, including Curious George, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, Dinosaur Train, SUPER WHY!, Sesame Street and Wild Kratts.” New videos are added every week.

For parents, the app allows them to add favorite shows to a child’s app or learn more about a series.

Children have access to all of the shows in a vertical and visual menu on the right-hand side with their favorites at the top. The format and graphics of the app make it super easy to use.

The app can be downloaded on any device. Check it out at: http://pbskids.org/apps/pbs-kids-video.html 

February 21, 2016

NEW! Use Gradient Colors on Google Slides

Google Slides just keeps getting better and better!

You can now choose gradient colors for your background or shape in Google Slides.

It's very simple, just select Background, click Color and then select the Gradient tab on the right. When you’re happy with your color hit Done.

You can do way more with Google Slides than a simple presentation. Here is an article from Tony Vincent on how teachers can get creative using Google Slides in their classroom.

Get Creative With Google Slides

• Some of the ways include: • Narrations

• Connect Four

• News Letters

• Math Manipulatives • Graphic Organizers • E-Book Creation

• and many more 

February 21, 2017

VocApp - Multimedia Flashcards on iOS and Android

This article comes from Richard Byrne’s excellent blog Free Technology forTeachers.

VocApp is a tool that allows you to create digital flashcards complete with audio.

“To create flashcards on VocApp you need to create an account and sign-in. Once you're signed-in you can click "create flashcards" and begin writing out a list of words. Choose the language that you want to learn and VocApp will automatically translate words from English to the language you've selected. On the flashcard creation screen you can add an image to represent the words you're entering into your flashcards. The case of common words, VocApp will automatically add images to your flashcards. To help students learn how to pronounce words, VocApp offers audio support.

VocApp does offer some pre-made flashcard sets for sale, but you don't have to purchase anything in order to use the service to create and study your own flashcards. There is also a large gallery of public flashcards created by other users and made available for free.”