Text to Table Notetaking

Why not take advantage of all Google has to offer to enhance the note taking experience. There are many ways to to take advantage of Google's versatility  when it comes to note taking. First, you have to find text. NewsELA, Tween Tribune, and Britannica are a few of my favorite "go tos" for nonfiction text. Once you have found your text, copy the text (ctrl c) and paste it (ctrl v) in a Google Doc. Now the sky is the limit on annotation techniques. 

The technique I am going to focus on for this blog is putting your text in a table. You can add your text in one column and then have a space for student notes in the other. You can even add a box under each section for summaries. Check it out. 

Implementing Genius Hour

One of Google's most famous management strategies is something called "20% time". This is where employees get to spend 20% of their working day on a project of their choice. It has to be on a project that will benefit Google, but employees are encouraged to follow their own passions when it comes to this sacred time. Recently, the education world has harnessed this same concept for the classroom. Many classrooms nationwide are integrating something called "Genius Hour". Much like Google's 20% time, Genius Hour is one hour during the school day dedicated to supporting students in researching and developing a project around a topic of their choice. It is an opportunity for students to explore their passions and drive their own personalized instruction. Sound interesting? Use the linked resources below to learn more about Genius Hour and be sure to watch "How I Integrated Genius 1/2 Hour in my Classroom " video to hear from one of our very own District 86 teachers on how she incorporates this concept into her day. 

        

       

How I Integrated Genius 1/2 Hour in my Classroom (video)

Genius Hour 

6 Tips for Getting Started with Genius Hour

Your Top 10 Genius Hour Questions Answered

Student Choice through Learning Menus

Empowering students to have voice and choice will help them to take ownership in their learning and be a catalyst for an engaging classroom environment. Learning menus is one way to do just that! Learning menus can be created around any subject or for any purpose. It may be a menu of project options students can choose from to "show what they know". Perhaps you will give students choice in the learning activities or resources they will experience throughout a unit of study. In addition to being used in a variety ways, learning menus can also take on a variety of formats. One of the easiest menus to develop is a tic-tac-toe board. Many teachers use this format making the middle box on the board their "non-negotiable" and providing choices through the other squares on the board. Take a look at some of the examples below and click on the links to get your own, ready-to-use version of the board.

4C's Digital Learning menu

Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Menu:

Digital Menu for Student Creation

From PLC to PLN

PLCs have helped us come together grade level teams. Why not take it to the next level by starting to build your PLNs! (Professional Learning Networks). District 86 now has grade level (K-5) and content area (6-8) Google Communities! This resource was introduced as a way to broaden your scope of support and make cross-district connections. Google Communities are built by teachers, for teachers, as a way to  collaborate, share, ask questions, and provide general support for one another. Don't stop there! There are many communities out there that you may find beneficial to what you teach. Check out:
 10 Google Plus Communities Every Educator Should Know About. 

All You Need to Know about Joining Google Plus Communities.....

Google+ & Google Communities Overview Video Google Communities Introduction Slideshow	These resources explain what Google+ and Google Communities are as well as how and why are are using them as a District.
District 86 Google Communities List:	This Document contains links to all of the District 86 Google Communities.  Join whichever you find relevant to your position
Getting Started with Google+ and Google Communities Video:	This video walks new users through the Google+ experience.  You’ll learn how to create your account, join Communities, Follow other users, and share content
Getting Started With Google Plus & Google Communities Slideshow	This slideshow provides a quick overview of Google+ with screenshots.

Adding Video to a Google Drawing

Google Drawing does not have an "insert video" feature. the good news is there IS a work around for that! If you add a video to a Google slide, you can copy and past that video over to Google Drawing (see the steps below).
Why you ask? Imagine how much more interactive and engaging poster projects in Drawings could become. What if you pushed an assignment out in Drawing that asked students to watch the video and create a graphic organizer as they view the video? Think of the potential for flipped learning! Having an instructional video right there as a point reference while working on a Google Drawing assignment. This is exciting news! The possibilities are endless! For more ways to integrate Google Drawing check out 8 Creative Uses of Google Drawings You Shouldn't Ignore.

Steps for Adding a Video to a Google Drawing

Step 1: Insert a Video into Google Slides (Insert-Video)

Step 2: Click on Video- Copy (Ctrl C)

Step 3: Go to Google Drawings

Step 4: Paste (Ctrl V)

Digital Vision Board

Happy New Year! With a new year comes new goals! Vision boards are nothing new, but have you thought of having your students take advantage of this visualization technique?  Use Google Slides makes it easy to collect images and words that represent student academic and personal goals. Have conversations around the difference between unrealistic dreams and realistic goals and what images may inspire them to reach their goals. Revisit vision boards throughout the year with students as they reflect on their progress.  Provide opportunities for students to document and share their accomplishments using a tool such as Flipgrid, Padlet, or Linoit.  Setting goals, monitoring progress and celebrating accomplishments are the foundations of success. The sooner we provide students with the tools and strategies to build that foundation, the stronger it becomes and the more likely it evolves into a lifelong practice.  

image credit

Filling Your Digital Stocking

With the holidays almost here hopefully you are planning some "down time" to relax and rejuvenate. You may even have some time to check out some new tech tools to implement in the new year. Today's blog is all about filling your digital stocking with some delicious tech goodies worth exploring.

Storybird: Students use pictures to inspire story writing. Students click and drag art work onto a story board and write!

Wonderopolis: This site encourages students to...Wonder! Click on the "Wonder of the Day" to find a probing question accompanied by a short article of related background information.  This site is a great resource for launching writing or research projects.

Geo-Guessr: This site provides geography challenges in which students are virtually placed somewhere in the world through the use of Google Maps. Using clues from their surroundings, they must determine their location.

PBS Learning Media: Pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate as you dive into this site.
It has LOTS to offer.   PBS Learning Media offers thousands of classroom-ready digital resources. All resources are aligned to Common Core Standards and include video and audio resources, as well as interactive tools, documents, and lesson plans. You can explore by browsing by standards, grade level or subject area. Enjoy!

AutoDraw: This is a fun one! Students can be creative and don't need to worry about being digitally artistic. The site is able to guess what the student is drawing and perfects it for them! Pictures can be downloaded or shared with a link.

Canva: Want to create professional looking posters, flyers, or brochures? Canva is your tool. The site comes with many free, ready-to-use templates. It allows you you to upload your own images or choose from their selection.

ThingLink: This site allows you and/or your students to dissect an image by adding "pins" that provide additional information about that portion of the picture. This information could be in the form of text, audio, video,  web links, or polls.

Voki and Blabberize: These sites are oldies, but goodies. Both allow students to put a voice to an image (Blabberize) or an avatar (Voki). What a fun way for students to be able to "show what they know"!

The Podcast PD

I have recently begun listening to podcasts for more professional development purposes. They are usually the perfect length for my drive into work and I can start my day with an inspired thought or practical idea related to  tech integration. Podcasts can be downloaded to your mobile device or accessed via an Internet browser. For Apple users, Apple's podcast app is what I use. For Android users, some options include the BeyondPod app or Player FM.
There are so many great ed-tech podcasts to choose from that you may have a hard time determining where to begin. I tend to listen weekly to the Google Teacher Tribe to make sure I am "in the know" about all things Google, but have also enjoyed listening to Cult of Pedagogy and the House of EdTech.  Here are a few more options to consider.

• The EdTech Podcast
• The EdTech Take Out                                 
  
• 10 Minute Teacher
• Wired Educator
• TED Radio Hour  (This one is not necessarily ed-tech centered, but is very thought provoking)

                                                                                                                               (Image Credit)

Image Masking in Google

Powerpoint has a feature that allows you to "fill" shapes with images. This feature works great to make collages or posters. I worked with a class a few years ago that made "All About Me" collages for the start of the year. Teachers were able to start the year by teaching a tech skill right off the bat along with a project that was the perfect Open House display. Collages could be created to represent a character from a book, a theme, or even a period in history. The ideas are endless and the process is EASY!
Introducing Image Masking...
You can now do the same thing in Google slides with a feature called "Image Masking" Check out this video titled, "How to Crop and Mask an Image in Google Slides" to learn how to apply this technique to create a cool and colorful collage....like the one below!

Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure!

I may be dating myself here, but growing up I loved the "Choose Your Own Adventure" stories. Is anyone with me on this?

(Image Credit)

Using the feature in Google slides that allows you to link one slide to another will let you and/or your students create their own "Choose Your Own Adventure" stories. Check out this example (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.done by a driver's ed. teacher.  What if your students created a "Choose Your Own Adventure" based on a novel being read or a historical period? They could create scenarios of what COULD have happened if other choices were made. If you are not sure how to link slides within a presentation, check out the video tutorial below. 

Linking within a Google Slides Presentation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Dynamic Learning

Check out all the ways technology can help your classroom be DYNAMIC!

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Catch the Flipgrid Fever!

I am "flipping out" over a tool called Flipgrid!  Flipgrid is a discussion platform that allows students to give video responses to questions posed. Utilize Flipgrid as a way to start a book chat, discuss a current project or unit, share a point of view on a current event, or as a means to practice summarizing skills. The free version of the tool gives students up to one minute and thirty seconds of recording time, so being precise with their response will be important. Flipgrid is very easy to use! Primary teachers are loving it as way for students to share their thoughts digitally as an alternative to a typed response. I encourage you to check it out. If you are interested in more ways to integrate Flipgrid click here!

Flipgrid.com

(Image Credit)

Play it Safe!

We are wrapping up anti-bulllying month this week! We had quite a few classrooms participate in our Anti-Cyberbullying Tic-Tac-Toe challenge. Whether it is during the month of October or not, it is important to find time to talk to students about how to be a good online citizen and what to do when they encounter those who are not. Common Sense Media for Education provides a wealth of information and ready made lessons to address this topic and so much more.  To access these lessons and resources, you will need to create an account. After that, go to the Scope and Sequence section of the site (as illustrated below) to find ready made lessons mapped out for K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 on topics such as "Cyberbullying and Internet Drama", "Privacy and Security", "Internet Safety " and more. They even have a whole section of their curriculum dedicated to "Creative Credit and Copyright" ; another important conversation to have with students as they producing and sharing digitally.  As our students become more and more digital literate as "producers with" and "consumers of" technology, let's makes sure the are equipped with the knowledge they need to "play it safe".

Start Small

The amount of technology that is available to us as educators is AWESOME and also... overwhelming. The fact is there are many tools out there that do exactly the same thing. There is no need to be a master of all things tech. The trick is finding the tools that are right for you, your curricular goals, and your students.  As you move forward with integrating technology in your classroom and using our new District 86 Tech Toolbox, start small!  Choose a tool that you feel will help your students meet their curricular goals and start there. 

Introduce this tool to your students with low rigor content.  Have them use the tool with content they already know. Perhaps using the tool to share information from a previous unit as a way of review, maybe using content that they have already recorded with pencil and paper, or even just using content about themselves are all low rigor ways to introduce a new productivity tool! The point is, having students learn a new tool AND construct new information at the same time can be  a recipe for disaster. At the bare minimum, be sure to give students time to explore the tool before assigning a task to accomplish with it.  Providing a 15 minute "explore" time and then giving students time to share their "discoveries" with the class can be a very effective way for students to learn a tool. Once students are comfortable with the tool, you are ready go! They can officially add that tool to their toolbox when they know how and when to use it. Take advantage of the fact that they have mastered the tool and provide them with multiple opportunities to utilize their new tech skills. 

Are your Students asking the Questions?

Are your students asking the QUESTIONS?

Tools such as Padlet, Google Classroom, and Answer Garden are perfect platforms to record those burning questions!
Padlet can serve as a "parking lot" that students visit when they have a question related to a unit of study or perhaps just a random inspirational thought. The Padlet posts can be visited once a week to engage students in a class discussion or as quick writing prompts.
Google Classroom lends itself to digital conversations. Students can post questions in Google Classroom to solicit feedback from their peers.
Answer Garden  could be used in conjunction with your Padlet Parking lot or as a stand alone tool. Post a questions from the Padlet parking lot or ANY question  and see what kind of answers grow!