Google Doc Add-On: Wolfram Alpha

Add-ons!! One of the cool features of Google Docs is the ability to add on features to make it work for your needs. Want an easy citation tool? There's an Add-On for that. Want to create rubrics within Google Docs...yup, got ya covered there too.

One of the more powerful add-ons I've seen in some time is Wolfram Alpha. For those that don't know Wolfram Alpha or haven't used it before, its a computational program that aims to collect and curate any knowledge, idea, problem, equation, and provide solutions to it backed by data. The program is excellent across many subject matters and a quick viewing of their website will give you a sense for the sheer vastness of their content reach.

Where it really gets interesting is merging this powerful tool within Google Docs. Students will have the ability to type in research terms and have data returned to them that is accurate and usable by the student. Below is a gif of how to access the add-on store. With a Google Doc open, follow the visual steps, and type "Wolfram Alpha" in the search field. It will be the only on that pops up.

This add-on follows all your documents and your student will have access to it on any Doc they create. Below is a brief screencast of what it looks like in action. Please excuse the lame music...at least ya don't have to listen to my voice though...so....win/win.

Maths, Social Science, Science, ELA, CTE students and more can all benefit from this free easy to use feature.  I did a post last week on Research resources and I would certainly add this to the list!! 

Assessments: Performance Assessment Resource Bank

New State Standards have changed the game in recent years. Teachers and schools are struggling to transition from one paradigm to another. Students are noticing the shift and have been exhibiting a wide range of emotions. Teachers are still unpacking all the standards they must meet. Not to mention some subjects do not have updated standards ready to implement.

One of the biggest concerns for teachers is the assessment their Juniors must take in the Spring and how best to prepare them for the tasks. Coming from an environment in which the test was "THE TEST," this is understandable. For those that have administered the CAASPP tests in Math or ELA, you know its a beast! For years we modeled our assessments around the standardized tests of yesterday. We need a new model for assessment. Now that things have changed, how will we assess our students in a manner that assesses their knowledge, understanding, and application of skills taught in the classroom in an authentic way that also prepares them for CAASPP?


Enter the Performance Assessment Resource Bank out of Stanford University! And its all free!

23 performance task modules when searching "Mathematics" and "11th Grade"

This is an exciting collaborative project between Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning and Equity (SCALE), Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE), and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and was just released to the public. You can browse resources by subject, course of study, type of assessment task, or grade level. The resources provided are stand alone units or can be incorporated into already existing units. Each unit focuses on developing the skills laid out by Common Core and assessed on CAASPP.

Other resources include explanations on how other school districts have implemented the resources to have students create portfolios, resources to help you build your own Performance Tasks, and something called "Learning Progressions and Frameworks" - advice from leading education policy organizations on how to create frameworks for implementation.

Take some time with this site...there's a lot to unpack and explore.  But I think it goes without saying that with CAASPP creeping up as the days get shorter, this is serendipitous timing!!