Thursday, September 29, 2016

Shameless Self-Promotion: EdTech Playground #1 in the Books!

The first gathering of educators at NU for the EdTech Playground is complete and .... it was successful!! A small (but a motivated and tenacious!) group got together from various sites and curriculum areas and got to work! We worked individually, we collaborated, we talked about life outside of school...we solved world problems!! And...there were cupcakes!! *cupcakes are not guaranteed at future EdTech Playground PDs

In all seriousness, it was an excellent 90 minutes of professionals doing what professionals do: working to solve problems, pushing their skill set to another level, and opening up lines of communication with peers to deal with common problems. Each individual worked diligently on whatever interested them in order to integrate more technology in their curriculum.

I could go on and on...but I'll let your colleagues say it all for me...

"Very helpful to be able to navigate Google Drive so I can teach my students"

"Working with other people was nice! Ready to take things to the next level"


"Learned how to make a test in Schoology and I'm ecstatic! This session was very helpful for me." 

"This session was exactly what I needed for technology and Professional Development....it gave me a chance to work on things I haven't had the time to work on."


"I was able to open up my Chromebook for the first time...and set up classes in Pearson"

"I appreciated the time!"

"This session was tremendously helpful!! I worked on figuring out why my Schoology grades weren't syncing with eSchools."




Don't miss the next one Monday 10/10 @BR - Sign Up Here

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

ELLs Needs: How EdTech Can Help

When I was in the classroom teaching Psychology, it wouldn't be uncommon weeks into the year to receive a new student in my class. These wouldn't be transfers from other classes. Those would typically take place around the first few days of school. These would be new students to the school. Foreign exchange students from Germany, Japan, Spain, China, Holland, France or anywhere else some lucky soul came from when they made the decision to get educated for a year in California. Often times these students had a basic skill set in the English language but it was always a challenge.  Especially since understanding Psychology is very difficult. We don't have as many ELLs in our area as other geographic locations in California, however we have a fair share. And their needs are very specific and need to be met if we are fulfilling our obligation of educating and preparing all students. But...its a challenge. One I found I struggled with often in my time in the classroom.

Below is a short clip to a 12-minute, short film called Immersion, from the WIDA Consortium that fictionalizes the struggles ELL learners face in the classroom. It captures very vividly the obstacles ELL students face in the classroom. But one thing that stuck out to me was the child in the clip had desire, drive, and thirst for participation in the lesson and success on a test to be taken in the future.


Although fictionalized, it's a good visual representation of how challenging the classroom can be for ELL students. It also demonstrates the need to differentiate instruction for our ELL populations.

Here is where EdTech can help....Below are some Web-based applications you can utilize in your curriculum to bridge this divide with our students. Now there are a ton of other products out there, and a lot of them can help with struggling learners...not just ELLs. Take a look and see what works for you! And if you use something that may be helpful to others, let me know and I'll spread the love!

What You Already Have:
Google Translate: Students can translate text ans whole web pages in their native language. Android and iOS apps too that allow you to use your camera to translate words in physical space (i.e. Stop sign), speak your native language to get the audio translation, and translate any app the student has; you could also ask the student to type up an assignment in their native language and use Google Translate to understand their ideas

YouTube: With their webcam, students can record (in Live Streaming Mode) their ideas, thoughts, processes, and practice their English language skills without the self-consciousness that comes with speaking in front of the classroom

Speech to Text in Docs: Great way to have students practice their English speaking skills without having to spend too long searching the proper way to spell

Extensions:
Read&Write for Google Docs & the Web- Great for ELL, students with dyslexia, and other learning needs; students can have words read aloud, see the meaning of them with text and images, get summaries of text on the website itself, annotation tools....this extension is a must-have
SpeakIt! - Simply highlight text on any site or document and the word will be spoken through the speakers

Web-Apps
Fotojet - Free online collages to allow students to express their ideas in visual form
Canva - Create beautiful web design graphics in many different formats
Clicker Docs - supports and develops writing skills for struggling students building their writing literacy
Newsela - Change the reading levels of current events and non-fiction text to meet your students' needs while building their reading comprehension. Real-time assessments are built into the articles as well.
BrainPop - Animated, synthesized content to help struggling learners comprehend complex material



Thursday, September 22, 2016

Digital Citizenship PD: Presented By Jason Bohrer

#whatsinthebeard?
Ever wonder what is hiding in that beard? I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it but every once in a while....

Anywho, the man smiling to the left is a Bear River CTE (Computer Science) & English Teacher as well as a NCSOS Instructional Coach with a wealth of experience in the world of EdTech. He is offering a 4 session workshop on Digital Citizenship, something he is extremely passionate about, and something we all should be teaching in our classes. The sessions are all free to Nevada County educators and it would be a great opportunity for you to see what you can do with your students (and children!!! - I have two small boys of my own who can benefit from this info). Check the flyer below and follow the instructions to sign up!

Go for the excellent (FREE!!!) opportunity to develop your understanding of Digital Citizenship and how to teach it.....stay to ask him "What are you hiding in that beard?" #whatsinthebeard??



Link to the above file

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

NJUHSD EdTech Playground #1 Sign Up

Sign up on the Form below for the District's 1st Monthly EdTech Playground where you and your colleagues sit around and play!! I mean work...but its fun!!

Sign ups close on Tuesday September 27th at 9am


Great PBL Site: StoryMap

As a History teacher, I was always looking to incorporate more maps into my curriculum. Google Maps & Earth have come a long way throughout the years, but I always wanted students to create visual products that were relevant to them and the concepts we were covering in class, were engaging throughout the creation phase, were easy to use, and looked sharp when complete. I've looked for and utilized products that did a fraction of these requirements. Never really satisfied....until now! Enter StoryMap!

StoryMap, built out of the Northwestern Knightlab, is an easy to use Project Based Learning tool that can be utilized in a slew of different disciplines to develop geography skills in students and allow them to create something they could be proud of and have fun doing it!! It's easy to use, you use your Google Account to sign up for it, it's free, and did I mention it's easy to use??

Everything starts with a map of the world and a search bar. The search feature uses Google Maps and typing the name of a city, country, physical boundary will pin that spot. From there, it acts like Slides or PowerPoint in that you add slides for the order of "flow" and the student can add text, include links, and media to each slide. The media supported are web url & uploaded pictures, gifs, Youtube videos, content from Vine, Twitter, Instagram, and a few others.

Click the pic below to see what one looks like. The following example comes right from the StoryMap website.
Click the pic to see one of the greatest BAs on that show!!!
This opens up opportunities for students to compare and contrast life in the same location at various time periods, built around a concept you are teaching in class, using media native to them. For instance:
  • The Visual Arts teacher may want students to research influential Middle Age artists and document their their journey through their life and career - documenting their physical movement, influential works, and a modern day connection (Tweets! Grams! Vids! Vines!) to the area and artist 
  • The Physical Education Teacher may want to track the developments of various weight training and exercise programs (CrossFit, Yoga, The Scandinavian Squat...I made that last one up, but it sounds cool) and show media of individuals using it throughout the journey
  • The History Teacher may....well....I'm sure if you're a History Teacher you've already left this post and are checking it out on your own
  • The ELA Teacher can plot the various aspects of a character's journey through a novel tracking the arch as well as media that is related to their physical and fictional journey
And as with any great story created, it needs to be told!! Presentation skills are essential to be taught and practiced across the curriculum and this product is made for student presentations in mind! It looks slick on a big screen and you can have students create an informal or formal presentation based on their creative product!

Some drawbacks:
  • Network issues and access! Building one at home is much easier than at school and they will have access to the media more readily at home
    • Work Around: Have them plot each "slide" at school after the research phase, add the titles and text at school, and have them build the media aspects of the project at home
  • When presenting, the students will need to present off of your laptop or Chromebook - they'll get stuck as the network here will iBoss them to death having Tweets, Instagram and Vine media on their projects
The possibilities and uses for this product are immense! Give it a shot and if you're interested in working with it but need some help, I'd be happy to sit down with you to show you the nuts and bolts or even conduct a mini-lesson and teach your students how to use it.

Below is an example I created last night with some minor edits today. I've included the link to view it in your browser and also how it looks and functions when embedded on a website.

Link to view it in your browser (Looks better there anyway and you can swipe on your screen if your Chromebook has that ability): Where I've Lived

Friday, September 16, 2016

Ideas: 20 Google Apps Activities for Classroom Innovation


DitchThatTextbook is a tremendous resource for the 21st Century Educator. Matt Miller has built an EdTech juggernaught with that site and created a go-to spot for those interested in learning more about integrating technology into one's curriculum. When you get a chance, venture over to his site to get some helpful tips and tricks.

He regularly posts helpful articles focusing on different ideas to incorporate into any classroom. One of those articles focuses on 20 different ways to incorporate Google Apps into activities for the classroom.  One of those activities (HYPERDOCS!!) I will focus on in a post in the future.  For now, get inspired by checking out the below link and think about how you can utilize these in your classroom!

20 Google Apps Activities for the Classroom

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Tips & Tricks: Set up an event in Google Calendar from Gmail

I don't know about you but lately I can't seem to get anything done unless my tasks are written in triplicate in various places with constant reminders to move my behind and get stuff done. Google Calendar has been great for that.

I update it constantly with daily life plans, work meetings and projects I'm working on, social functions (hahahahaha! <enter crying laughter emoji here>), and anything else of importance that I want and need to stay on top of. I check it every morning and evening on my phone (Android & iOS), its open all day long on my Chrome browser, and it sends me reminders of where I need to be at throughout the day.

One of the most effective ways for me to update my Calendar when requests or meetings come through Gmail is by creating an event from the email itself.  It saves me time and keeps me on top of a number of different daily and weekly requests that all come through email.

It's very simple to do and I have a screencast below to show you how if you didn't know about it before - its short!! and I don't talk over it...but I apologize in advance for the annoying stock ukulele track...they didn't have Led Zeppelin tunes to choose from.

You may have already learned this trick, but for those that haven't its a nifty little connection.

And not only is this a great trick to learn yourself, but it's a great one for students as you model and teach them good organizational habits!

Enjoy!



Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Chromebook App: Google Cast for Education

Ok...this one's a good one. Technology brings up some issues as we transition from the traditional classroom to a 1:1 environment. But it also provides opportunities as well. Google (especially) has been at the forefront of both solving issues and creating opportunities.

Issue: How can we maintain a student-centered learning environment where students feel empowered to create, to solve complex problems, and work together to do so?

Solution: Have access to their screens through Google Cast - this will allow the students to display their work to the entire class via your projector, ask for student input on solving common problems and mistakes, allow students to be the experts in the room and explain how they arrived at a solution, or created a wonderful product, or to demonstrate their own mastery.

How it works....well, you download an app from the Chrome Store, your students download an extension from the same store. A few things to type and a few buttons to press and away you all go.  The product syncs all your Google Classroom classes so those using Classroom will find the adding students part very easy.

For all you visual learners, have a gander at this ace bloke from the UK demoing the basic functionality of it:


This tool is extremely powerful, and my mind drifts to other solutions it can provide as well. For instance, can it grant access to multiple screens so you can watch everyone's screen during an activity or, better yet, an assessment? Hmmmmmm <enter thinking emoji here>

Anywho, check it out and if there are any teachers already using it or want to try it out in their classrooms, I'd love to check it out and work with you to see how it plays with the students!

Thanks for reading!!

~~~
Follow Up 9/15/16: The "Google Cast" Extension is blocked for students. Currently looking into solutions for that through the Tech Department.

Follow Up to the Follow Up 9/22/16: Was told that there were issues last year in using this product in class.  Looks like for the time being, students can not download the extension....I'm gonna keep shaking the tree

Monday, September 12, 2016

Chrome Extension: Virtual Sticky Notes!! Leave Post-It Notes on any page

I recently found an old college textbook of mine as I was clearing out my classroom. And I found out that I used to love sticky notes. I would have handwritten notes painstakingly detailing the information I was consuming in a clean(-ish) fashion in the event that I wanted to sell the book back for cash in order to buy...more books. 

Not actual aforementioned textbook, but you get the idea, ya know?

This method of breaking down text into words I could understand helped me learn difficult material and is a time-honored and research-backed method of learning. It is also an essential skill in need of developing in a Common Core, 21st Century learning environment.

Close Reading, research projects, tried and true reading strategies, "talking to the text"... these all require the ability to write in the margins of documents. But how to do it in a 1:1 environment? Oh let me count the ways...or at least two of them.

Two services (both free!!) are Note Anywhere and Stickies. Here's the gist of both: you can activate it on any site and any sticky note you leave on the site stays there until you remove it. Because its a Chrome Extension, it is housed in your browser and with the click of a button, a sticky note appears on the site.

So I've used Note Anywhere in the past with my students. I've used it to jot notes for myself on student work that was turned in virtually and I've taught students how to use it effectively when I have them read internet content. Check out my little screenshot vid of me using the service here (don't judge...I never screencast...gotta work on that).

There are other sticky note products Here Here Here and Here ... its really just which one works best for you and your students.

Chromebook App: Storybird

Looking for different ways for your students to communicate their understanding of concepts covered in class? Want them to get creative with their writing and storytelling? Have some aspiring writers that could use a push in publishing their work? Storybird is a web program that can engage learners in numerous ways and give your students the opportunity to publish their work within the Storybird community.

Often times when asking students that they will write (a story, essay, poetry...whatever it may be), the teenage eye roll isn't too far away. With Storybird, students will enjoy the creation process and develop their literacy abilities while doing so.

For Students: The ability to create and build high-quality and original stories (with images) to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, literacy skills, creativity, and (for the up and coming writer) develop their publishing and marketing abilities. It also has a collaborator feature which allows students to work with peers or even established writers and artists.

For Teachers: You can develop a classroom and assign projects within Storybird. Track their progress as they create and assess their understanding of concepts delivered in class.

I can think of many uses in ELA and the Social Sciences but it could be utilized in many different subject matters. Give it a shot! Below is Storybird's website and Chrome Web Store link if you're interested.

Storybird Website
Chrome Web Store Link

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Apps You Have: Google Hangouts

Google has an arsenal (Gooners!) of apps and web programs that you can utilize in various ways throughout your day. One of these is Google Hangouts - their Personal Messaging (PM) service.

This service is free, nimble, and accessible to all students and teachers in the district. With text, phone, and video conferencing features, this is a great service to use in a variety ways - in and out of the classroom. And all conversations/activity can be archived to save for a later date to demonstrate performance

Ideas to use for class:

  • Video chat with an expert in a field of study you are covering in your curriculum where your students can "ask the expert" 
  • Group Live Broadcasts as an assessment for group projects
  • Live chatting during a live event (Debates start this month!!)
  • Develop Online Portfolios through past video and text chats
  • Check out this link for more subject-specific ideas
Ideas for you:
  • Remote Professional Development/PLC/Collaboration
  • Video conference with educational and academic professionals during collaboration time/Department Meetings
  • Quick communication with colleagues throughout the workday or in off-hours
There are a wealth of opportunities using this tool and you all have access to it as well as to everyone in the District! Have fun!!