April 18, 2017

Become a Google Certified Teacher

You are already familiar with the Google Apps tools, why not show everyone what you know by getting your Google Certified Teacher level 1 and level 2 badge?

Here are the steps:

• Login to https://goo.gl/LhEfpC
• Take the Fundamental’s Training sessions. Each session is broken up into many small lessons with a short quiz to check for understanding at the end. You don’t have to go through them all to take your final certification test but I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU DO....even on lessons over topics you have a high comfort level.
• When you are done, sign up to take the Educator Certified Level 1 exam. This exam cost $10.00.
  
• When you finish level 1, repeat to take Level 2. The level 2 exam cost is $25.00.
  

• The exams will take around 3 hours. You will be asked permission for Google to use your camera - this is how they check to make sure you are in fact the one answering the questions. Feedback on how you did is very quick.

For more information:
https://goo.gl/t5Nwlr 

April 11, 2017

Team Folders in Google Drive!

As the school year winds down to a close, it is time to start thinking about ways to store and save all of our wonderful files, video’s, pictures, forms, and more for next year.

In some cases, there may be a PLC in which a member may be leaving.....or a Parent/Teacher organization who will have new leadership.......or a technology committee that will have different members next year... or even a new student lead activity group.

Whatever the case may be, it is important for all of the files for the committee/team to be accessible to both incoming and past members. This is why everyone is so excited Google Apps recently announced the addition of TEAM DRIVES.

What are Team Drives?: “Google Team Drives are shared spaces where teams can easily store, search, and access their files anywhere, from any device. Unlike files in My Drive, files in Team Drive belong to the team instead of an individual. Even if members leave, the files stay exactly where they are so your team can continue to share information and get work done.”

For Information on how to set up and use Team Drives:

https://goo.gl/bjvk1g 

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