Tech Tip: How to Curb Non-Academic Smartphone Distraction

This week's tip was curated from the PLUM Tech Tips that Cary Johnson sends out periodically. I discovered Todd Finley who creates a lot of great strategies on his blog "Brain Blast". Most of what is shared there is actually non-tech strategies.

This short infographic offers some suggestions on how teachers can protect time for human interaction, listening, etc.  

Tech Tip: Menti

Menti is yet another online polling service that you can connect to with your Google account for free. Of course, there are added featuers with a paid/pro account, but the free account still offers a lot of options for gathering input from the whole class. 

I especially like the Word Cloud option as well as the Q&A feature that has just been added. 

Beginner's Guides

Tech Tip - Glogster + Thinglink

Both of these tools allow users to create interactve images. They are great, novel presentation formats to use for either direct instruction or as a menu option for student projects. 
Glogster
ThingLink 

• Combine images, graphics, audio, video and text with a simple yet powerful Glog canvas
• Start with some predesigned templates, allowing you to quickly create impressive glogs
• Add flair to your glog with 10,000 unique educational graphics, categorized by subject
• Delete elements, close and preview glogs with simple gestures
• Edit photos and graphics with Aviary effects.

Tech Tip - Art Resources for Any Discipline

Calen reviewed a strategy of Close Reading an Image during our January Staff Meeting. There are some great sources of free images available online where teachers and students can explore ELA, Math, Science, History, etc. through art.

1 - Getty Publications
2 - Guggenheim


Previously reviewed sources of artwork:

• Behance - Contemporary (including graphic, digital, fonts, etc.)
• Google Arts & Culture

Tech Tip - Digitize Docs with Google Drive App

Google’s advanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology allows Drive users to easily convert text in images and PDF documents into searchable documents with the ability to easily edit and save editions. Check out this post to learn more about how you can use Google Docs to convert images and PDFs to editable text.

Tech Tip - Piktochart

Piktochart has added some really cool features and functionalities that make it super easy for users to easily design and share visually appealing infographics.

The video we have for you today will walk you through the process of creating a beautiful infographic in less than two minutes.  You can also check this page for a selection of video tutorials on how to use the different features provided by Piktochart.

Other interesting web tools for creating educational infographics we recommend include: Easel.ly, Canva, and Google Draw.

Tech Tip - Teach Students to Analyze Data with Google Sheets

Spreadsheets are an essential tool throughout industries, workplaces, and higher education. As we ask students to be able to read and extract information, we are also looking to provide them opportunities to collect & examine data, extrapolate meaning, analyze trends/patterns, and synthesize their explanations in writing. 

DIY Candy Key

DIY Candy Rubric

Data Analysis Key

Tech Tip: Google Expeditions

As an IB school in a Google district, this sounds like a no-brainer. Google Expeditions allows Virtual Reality (VR) experiences that can be hosted by teachers as you take students to explore historic battlegrounds, settings for novels, scientific exploration, etc. For $10-$15 per set, your department can consider buying a class set, or half a class-set to get started. No borders or boundaries! 700+ Expeditions listed by topic.

Tech Tip - Aeries Gradebook Email to Parents

I created this screencast to walk teachers through how to use the built-in communication tools within the Aeries.net Gradebook. This is great to communicate with parents either when students are achieving high marks (send this to students with 80% or above) or to send to students who are struggling or need additional support (send email to students with 70% or below -OR- send/print email to students with missing assignments).

Tech Tip: Easily Assess Writing in Google Docs

WriQ is a FREE tool that helps teachers assess writing in Google Docs. This Google Docs add-on helps teachers not only assess writing, including grammar, punctuation, spelling and more but also helps teachers track progress over time.

Tech Tip: Chrome Extensions "Tab Scissors & Tab Glue"

I use these extensions daily. When I'm working on 2 documents simultaneously, these extensions are invaluable. It will divide your screen evenly into 2 split screens and "Glue" them back together when you're done.

TAB SCISSORS
TAB GLUE

Tech Tip - Open Educational Resources (OEM)

Open Education Resources (OER) Commons is a platform that provides open access to a wide variety of open educational resources that are either in the public domain or are licensed under Creative Commons.  These resources include things such as :’ full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge.’

Tech Tip - Google Docs: Force Copy

Force a Copy

Using the File menu allows people to manually create a duplicate document. However, if you want to force a duplication of the file when sharing one, you will need to modify the document URL.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1c6jYEbJrV3_ten5MIykbBArJ8FGEjO5znHMhs2fWvwI/edit#slide=id.g50b4ebc505780bce_33

Look for Slash Edit

Copy the document URL (address). Notice it contains /edit at the end of the URL (and possibly some other junk). You want to replace the slash edit (and the junk) with /copy.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1c6jYEbJrV3_ten5MIykbBArJ8FGEjO5znHMhs2fWvwI/copy

Sharing the link that ends with this will prompt the user to make a duplicate document without having to use the File menu.

Tech Tip - Flipgrid

You still have free access to Flipgrid. Great way to have students share their learning via selfie video from phone, Chromebook, etc. or even upload a narrated screencast. 

Share with students - Students don't create accounts. Simply share the Flip Code and have them input the Code at flipgrid.com or on the free Flipgrid app. Students will verify via email, Student ID, or QR code to participate!

BONUS LEVEL: First 2 VHS teachers to record themselves (10-seconds) on this Flipgrid WIN a Starbucks Gift Card on Mike's dime. Talk about how you think you can use it or how you've already used it in your classroom. 

Tech Tip - SAMR Model: Practical Guide for EdTech Integration

With so many tools out there to choose from, it's useful to assess the relevance of the tool prior to knowing whether or not it has the appropriate impact/benefit for student learning. This SAMR model is useful in assessing a tool prior to its implementation. This article outlines how to use the model if/when you're thinking about using a new tool. 

https://www.schoology.com/blog/samr-model-practical-guide-edtech-integration

Tech Tip - Google Scholar

Google Scholar is absolutely one of the best academic search engines out there. It allows you to easily search for and access academic papers and journal articles related to your topic of interest.

1- Search for artilces by date, author, publisher or using specific phrases and words
2- Search for articles written in a specific language
3- Show library access links
4- Connect your bibliography manager
5- Create email alerts

Tech Tip - Google Jamboard

Next time your in the newly renovated VHS Library, check out the Google Jamboard mounted on the west wall. It's a collaborative whiteboard space where students can collaborate, brainstorm, share content, draw, mindmap, innovate, and synthesize learning. All this can be done through Chromebooks, Phones, or Tablets.

Tech Tip - Padlet + WICOR/5-for-All

Padlet is still a simple way to generate a shared and moderated space for:

1. Assessing learning with an entry or exit Padlet (Setting Up Lesson Tasks)
2. Monitoring collaboration where pairs or groups share out via Padlet (Structured Accountable Interaction)
3. Practicing the language of your discipline with sentence frames or vocabulary (Modeling Academic Register). 

Tech Tip - A Practical Google Drive Tool for Grading and Creating Rubrics

I subscribe to Educational Technology and Mobile Learning from my Feedly account. Found this cool new tool called JoeZoo Express to use for creating rubrics within Google Docs. This not only speeds up the process of grading but also builds in a grammar tool without auto-correct for students. Worth a try!

Tech Tip - Listenwise

This is taken straight out of Julie Walker's playbook today. Listenwise is a great "Podcast" resource for teachers across multiple disciplines to use in the classroom. It's free for the basic edition. Check out this quick video to see how you can use it in your classroom tomorrow.