Free Google Basics Course

How have you dealt with workflow since we went one to one? Are you frustrated with the mass amounts of emails you can get when students share google documents? We have a solution! Starting November 18th, you can take a free online Google Basics for Teaching course. In this course, you will learn how to use Google Apps for Education tools to enhance the efficiency and innovation of your teaching in a one to one classroom.

This is an online course that can be completed at your own pace when you have time! It consists of text lessons, videos, practice activities, and a final project. It is divided into the following units:

Research and Communicate: search for online resources and distribute information to school communities.

Create and Share: make online documents and foster collaboration using word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and survey tools.

Enhance Classroom Experiences: use online tools to build community, save administrative time, and add visual resources to lessons.

If you are interested register for free here: https://basicsforteaching.withgoogle.com/preview

Explain Your Thinking Using Movenote

This week at TPACK Tuesday we will discuss Movenote. Movenote is a free tool that allows you to easily create video of a presentation. A teacher or student can take a presentation, document, or series of images, upload them to Movenote, and record themselves explaining what is being viewed in the presentation.

Movenote can be a powerful tool for student reflection. After going over a set of problems/questions in any content area, ask students to take one problem/question they missed and explain why they missed it using Movenote. Below are some other ideas for Movenote.

Teachers can use Movenote to:

• Create sub plans for when they are out.
• Explain a concept.

Students can use Movenote to:

• Explain a concept.
• Create book reviews.
• Self assess the writing process.
• Analyze a website.
• Analyze lab results.
• Practice speaking a language.
• Explain their work in a digital portfolio.

The possibilities are endless. Stop by TPACK Tuesday and check it out!

Google Classroom Resources

What's all this buzz about Google Classroom? In anticipation of the upcoming TPack Tuesday, check out this short preview of what Classroom can do for you. Want to learn more? There's a new Google Classroom Learning Module on the BHS EdTech website with some great resources and ideas. Check it out and stop by the Innovation room (formerly Library Lab 1) on Tuesday, September 30th to set up your Google Classroom or learn and share ideas on how to use your existing Classroom.

Google Classrooms

Google Classrooms is a great tool to manage workflow in a one to world classroom. With Google Classrooms you can:

• Share resources with your class.
• Make class announcements.
• Simplify turning in assignments in a one to world classroom.
• Create online discussions.
• Email students.
• Differentiate instruction.
• Provide timely feedback for students.
• Protect your classroom privacy.

Stop by the next TPACK Tuesday to learn more! Check out the TPACK Tuesday schedule on the Ed Tech Website.

The Day Has Finally Come!

The day has finally come! TPACK Tuesdays will start tomorrow 9/23/14! We will meet in the collaboration room of the library. You can view dates and times for all TPACK Tuesday on the Ed Tech Website.

TPACK stands for Technology Pedagogy and Content Knowledge. It is a framework that explains how to coordinate content knowledge, pedagogy, and technology to enhance student learning or make you more efficient.

This week, we will discuss using Google Apps to promote collaboration. Below is an example of how integrating Google Docs into the traditional Think Pair Share instructional practice can improve student collaboration.

Think Pair Share involves students individually formulating ideas and then sharing these ideas with a peer and finally the class. Instead of having students individually write their thoughts on paper, have the entire class enter their thoughts into a Google Doc that can be edited by everyone. Right from the beginning of the activity, students will be able to see the thinking of their peers and build upon each others' ideas.

Here is a sample, I did during an ERO class this summer.

Here are the steps I took:

Step 1 - Created a Google Doc that is editable by everyone.

Step 2 - Shorten the Google Doc URL with tinyurl.com and enter it at the top of the Google Doc.

Step 3 - Type a subjective question under the shortened URL.

Step 4 - Create a one column table with enough boxes for each student in class.

Step 5 - During class, students will type in the shortened URL and answer the question in one of the boxes.

Step 6 - Give students time to review student responses with a partner.

Step 7 - Discuss student responses as a class.

If you would like to learn how technology can support other instructional practices, stop by one of our TPACK Tuesdays this year! We hope to see you there!

New Google Drive

If you log into Google Drive  and notice a different look, congratulations, you are upgraded to the new Google Drive! Google is gradually rolling out a new interface this summer. If it's been rolled out to you, a message should appear when you login to Drive, or you can click on the gear icon in the upper left corner and choose "Experience the new Drive".  If the new Drive doesn't appear yet, keep checking. More information can be found here and by watching the short video below.