When to use Technology

Our DLC team recently ran across this Triple E framework rubric for when to use or not use technology in the classroom. It's a great resource! Technology isn't always a best fit, and when it's not, I'll tell you! 

The rubric evaluates Engagement in learning, Enhancement of learning goals, and Extending the learning goals. Take a look!

Google Add-ons for the Classroom

Richard Byrne at FreeTech4Teachers has created a great list of Google Add-ons that are helpful in the classroom. Take a look at his list to see what fits your needs and let me know if you have any questions!

Technology Integration ≠ Projects

Technology Integration does NOT mean projects. Technology Integration includes anything using technology to engage students in their learning or show what they have learned. It can include:

• collaborative note taking (during lectures, research, etc)
• sketchnoting 
• collaborative creation of work
• using a back channel during class (TodaysMeet)
• online discussion forums
• review materials (GooseChase, digital breakouts, etc.)
• student created tutorials or videos
• researching and evaluating sources
• flipped lessons
• extension activities
• remediation options
• and much more

Chrome Extension: Mercury Reader

The Mercury Reader Chrome Extension for Chrome removes ads and distractions, leaving only text and images for a clean and consistent reading view on every site.

Features: 
- Disable surrounding webpage noise and clutter with one click 
- Send To Kindle functionality 
- Adjust typeface and text size, and toggle between light or dark themes 
- Quick keyboard shortcut to switch to Reader on any article page 
- Printing optimization

Drive File Sync: Access Google Files Offline

If you haven't already switched to Google's new Drive File Stream, you should. While you're at it, make this change to your Google settings so that if Google happens to ever go down, you'll still be able to access the files syncd to your computer! 

50 Best Education Accounts on Twitter

Check out this 50 of the Best Education Accounts on Twitter. Don't fall for the ads that look like a pdf to download. The list is further down on the page. My favorite Twitter accounts are on this list!

Outlook: Clutter and Junk Mail

Don't forget to check your Clutter and Junk Mail folders often. 

Clutter is determined by your reading patterns. If you routinely delete an email without opening it to read, after the pattern is identified, future similar emails will be moved to your Clutter folder. 

To get it back, drag it from your Clutter folder to your Inbox and email will learn that you want to keep those in your Inbox.

Read more about Clutter

Turning off Clutter

Junk Mail is determined by a filtering system and by senders/emails that you mark as Junk. 

Read more about Junk Mail 

6 Strategies for taking high-quality notes

Unfortunately for our students, the art of note-taking isn't taught as regularly as it was when we were younger. Here's an article titled 6 Strategies for Taking High-Quality Notes that addresses how you can help your students!

Google's new Drive File Stream (replacing Google Drive Sync)

Earlier this semester several teachers shared concern about articles they came across saying that "Google Drive was going away". I shared at the time that only Google Drive SYNC software was going away and Backup and Sync was the only replacement option at the time. 

Now Drive File Stream has also been released. If you're currently using Google's Drive Sync or Backup and Sync software, please take a minute to update to the new Drive File Stream before December.

To install or update:

• Visit www.google.com/drive/download
• Under Drive File Stream, select Get Started.

• Follow directions on the screen. Select to NOT sync anything from your computer to the cloud.

October Fun Contest

Participate in CHS's October Fun contest!

1. Pick up a coloring sheet from the mailroom or print your own (link).
2. Decorate with solid black shapes and return (write your name on the BACK) to Penney Matos or Tammy Turner by Fri, Oct. 20.
3. Stop by the Library Mon, Oct. 23 – Mon, Oct. 30 to view submissions in 3D and to vote for your favorites!

• Scariest/Creepiest
• Cutest
• Most Original
• Best Overall

Winners will be announced Tuesday, October 31.

If you’d like to see your own picture in 3D, download the FREE Quiver app.

** Note: The app does not pick up colors like their other coloring sheets do. It only picks up the black spaces as cut-outs.

Quizlet's Interactive Diagrams

Quizlet recently added interactive diagrams. Read more.

Add these to your online classes!

These are some helpful links to add to your Google Classroom classes and your Learning Hub page. 

Google Classroom -- 
On the About tab, click Add class materials... then fill in the information (#1, 2, 3) and Post (#4).

This is what it looks like on a student's phone:

Learning Hub -- 
1- In your course, click Add Resource.
2- Make sure Topic list is the targeted location (this is the top of the page under the CHS logo).
3- Click URL.

4- Copy and paste in the information. 
5- Change Appearance to New Window.

6- Click Save and return to course.


Links to share
YouTube login directions
URL: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZjPDWLiKkAGPkR8p7Y2r4ghLpKki5vuSqMBYuhypbmM/edit?usp=sharing

Filter login directions
URL: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z5SvQwugeRUJRJeh1P-TODVDPZ3OeYkdrckI0oeslCM/edit?usp=sharing

Wilson Center's Collection of Declassified Documents

This is the Wilson Center's Collection of Declassified Documents. Find documents on all kinds of events in our history!

Chemistry Rap and Periodic Table resources

Check out Richard Byrne's post at Free Tech 4 Teachers with a Chemistry Rap and Periodic Table resources. Science is fun!

YouTube's Video Editor is Going Away

Google announced back in July that they are discontinuing the YouTube Video Editor. Enhancements are remaining, the clip editor is going away. Read more about it here and here.

Google's EDU in 90

EDU in 90 is a new video series from Google for Education. Each episode, we'll focus on an important topic for educators, administrators, and school leaders - things like product updates, new programs, and helpful resources for the classroom. 

Subscribe to the Google for Education channel to make sure you don't miss an episode!

FISD's Online Workshops

If you are looking for some professional learning courses, check out Eduphoria's Workshop or Strive for many online workshops. From Workshop, look under the Technology Integration category and under the T-TESS domains. Look for technology workshops like Everything Moodle, Google, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Communication. (Yes, these are 6 different workshops. We like our everythings!) Also checkout curriculum workshops like Power Standards, Formative Assessment 1 & 2, Differentiated Learning 1 & 2, Marzano's 6, and QSSSA! Holler if you have questions and if don't know the answers, I will find them. These workshops are delivered online so you can take the workshops in your pajamas from the comfort of your couch.

Google Drive Sync

Several people have recently run across articles stating that "Google Drive is going away". The old Google Drive Sync software is what's going away, or more accurately, being replaced by new software. Google Drive storage isn't going anywhere. 
Right now Backup and Sync by Google is the only functioning replacement. Later this month, Drive File Stream will also be available. I'll send out more information after we've had time to check it out and see which is the best option for FISD teachers and staff.

Science Teachers: Win Free Stuff!

Science teachers -- Ward's Science wants to know what inspires you to love to teach. Enter your submission and you could Win Science Supplies, Technology, and Cash for Your Classroom!

Google's Digital Safety Resources

Google launched their Digital Safety Resources for educators in June. The list includes resources for educators personal learning and for use with students in the classroom. Add this to your list of Digital Citizenship resources and, as always, see Penney Matos and Tammy Turner for additional support!

Google Docs: Web Clipboard

Did you know Google files have a Web clipboard? This isn't just any clipboard. It stores items for 30 DAYS, not just 1 item at a time. Read more about it at technology rocks. seriously.'s post titled "I Didn't Know Google could do THAT: Web Clipboard. 

Powtoon FREE Teacher Accounts!

Powtoon is giving away FREE teacher accounts! 
Get yours ASAP before they run out!
https://www.powtoon.com/lp/back2school2017/

Google Forms on iPhones

If you or your students ever receive this message when trying to open a Google Form on an iPhone, open the link in Chrome instead of the default Safari. Also make sure the user is logged in to an FISD Google Account and not a personal Google/Gmail account.

To switch accounts: https://myaccount.google.com/

Backwards Planning EdTech Flowchart

As you plan lessons, always start with the end in mind; what do you want your students to accomplish or do? This backward planning edtech flowchart can help find a good tool to fit the lesson's end goal. Please see Penney Matos if you have any questions or would like to bounce ideas around! Read more.

Format Painter

Format Painter is one of the most amazing tools ever! It's available in MS Word, Google Docs, and others. Check out this post from technology rocks. seriously. titled I Didn't Know Google could do THAT: Paint Format. Read more.

What's New in Google Classroom

If you haven't looked through the list of new features for Google Classroom lately, I recommend you take a peek. We don't have Gmail for staff members so many of those features don't work for us but the others do. See Penney Matos with questions! Read more.

6 End-of-Year Tips for Google Classroom

If you use Google Classroom with your students, check out this list of 6 End-of-Year Tips for Google Classroom as part of your end-of-year clean-up. Read more.

10 Writing Tips from Stephen King

I found this interesting and thought you might too. It's an infographic version of the Top 10 Writing Tips from Stephen King's Memoir. Read more. 

10 Math YouTube Channels Not Named Khan Academy

Richard Byrne at Free Tech 4 Teachers compiled a list of 10 Math YouTube Channels Not Named Khan Academy. Some are more elementary but several include high school level content. Read more. 

Google Lit Trips on Chromebooks

If you are not familiar with them, a Google Lit Trip plots locations from a novel on Google Earth to create a 3D geographic tour of the story. At each location the Lit Trip can also include annotations, web links, images, videos, activities, and more, all related to that part of the story. This is a great way to put students in the story, helping them see where the events took place, and bring the story to life.

Google Lit Trips are now available on Chromebooks! Check out this article with screenshots and directions. 

150 Chrome Apps & Extensions

Kasey Bell's Shake-Up Learning has compiled 150 of the most useful Chrome apps and extensions for the classroom. Scroll down on the page and use the filters to find what you're looking for!

TED-Ed: The Writer's Workshop

TED-Ed collected several videos to help students become better writers into their "The Writer's Workshop" playlist. It contains lessons on basic topics like how to use punctuation and videos on more complex topics like how to make your writing humorous. Take a look! 

Google Docs: Change Case

Now you can more easily change text between lower case, upper case, and title case. Read more. Pick what you choose to yell at your audience wisely. 

Copyright flow-chart

If you're not sure if your use of media is a violation of copyright law or not, check out this flow chart. It's a little long but it has a good flow and great information! Click to zoom in. 

  

Google: Doc Stickers

https://youtu.be/4n5TjoW0vww

It may seem elementary but even high school students miss getting stickers on their papers. Use Doc Stickers (through Google Keep) to add stickers to their Google based assignments. See Penney Matos for help!

Google Drive: Team Drives

Several of you have noticed Google's new addition, Team Drives. 
This is great for sharing documents with a team of teachers or other staff. You can control of the level of rights for individuals added to your Team Drive. You cannot change the overall rights to a folder in a Team Drive or to the Drive itself (ex: "Anyone in FISD can view"). You can, however, still make those overall rights changes to individual files within a Team Drive. Read more here. 

Article: New Research Shows Students are Largely Unaware of News Personalization

Mediashift recently posted this article titled "New Research Shows Students are Largely Unaware of News Personalization". I have found that adults are largely unaware too, or if they're aware they may not understand how it actually works. I recommend you take a minute to read the article and include it in class discussion, if possible. 

Tally.ly: Simple polls

tally.tl is a new-to-me website for conducting simple, quick polls with your students. Type in your question and possible answers then give the short URL to your students. Using BYOD they select the option they want and you get instant feedback!
Here's an example: tally.tl/Q45lj

eSchool: Attendance Bulletin

The spring is a very busy time for field trips, competitions, and other various reasons for students to miss your class. To help you keep up with it all, check out eSchool's Attendance Bulletin. You can view students who will be out today as well as who has been out during the past week.

If you have any questions, please let Penney Matos know!

Fake News: A Library Resource Roundup

ProgrammingLibrarian.org put together this handy list of resources for teaching about fake news. It's good to look over the resources, even if you're not using it directly in class with your students. 

Kahoot's Jumble

Kahoot! has recently added a new Jumble feature. Check out TeachWithiPad.org's recent post on creative ways to use this new Jumble feature and Kahoot!'s write-up about it. 

History Gal's 5 YouTube Channels that Rock

The Musings of a History Gal posted a list of YouTube videos that are good for teaching history. It says there are 5 channels but she has added more. See her list here.

Learning Hub: Quiz Group & User Overrides

If you're hesitant about assigning quizzes through the Learning Hub, you can set a different open/close date/time and a different password to each group of students (class, if you enroll them in groups by class) or for individual students who may have been absent or who have an IEP/504 accommodation for additional time. You can even set a different password for a student who may need their own password to access the quiz. See this handout for more on Adding Quiz Overrides. 

Google Drawings Valentine Magnetic Poetry

Control Alt Achieve has put together Google Drawing Valentine's Magnetic Poetry... because, why not. Have fun!

Google Classroom: Updated Notifications

Google Classroom has added to the list of items for which it will send you a notification. Read more. 

From Google's Help:

As a teacher in Classroom, you can set up notifications for certain activities. You can also customize how you receive notifications on your mobile device. You can get a notification whenever: 

• A student submits work a second time, after it’s been returned from a teacher.
• A student sends you a private note.
• A student submits work after the due date.
• A teacher invites you to teach a course as an additional teacher.
• Someone comments on your post.
• Someone mentions you in a post or comment.

AnyoneCanView Chrome Extension

Alice Keeler has created a Chrome Extension called AnyoneCanView which makes it super easy (one click) to share Google files so Anyone Can View and also copies the share URL onto your clipboard. Watch the video below for more.