💥 Tech items - Hour of Code, New Google Earth tools, great updates, new apps & extensions and more! In this weeks tech email.

Starting Dec.16th Drive file suggestions in Google Chrome will be available for all files. 

Drive file suggestions in Chrome allow users to search their Google Drive files directly from the Chrome URL bar, instead of drive.google.com. Currently, this functionality is limited to files that users have previously opened in Chrome. Starting on December 16, 2019, users who restart their browsers will be able to search for any Drive files that they have access to, including ones they haven’t previously opened in Chrome.

It's coming! The Hour of Code starts next week! 

Dec. 9-15 2019 is the week for hour of code. 

Click here: 20+ ways to celebrate the Hour of Code in any class  - From Ditch that Textbook. 

Our Computer Science & Coding Resources doc <--- check it out! has a wealth of info and resources for you.  (If there are others we need to add to this list - let us know~) 

"I hope my teacher sends me home with a packet of worksheets!" ...said NO STUDENT EVER.

Ditch those packets with family choice boards.  A great way to engage students in learning -- and include families -- without a packet of worksheets.  Check out this great idea from Ditch That Textbook. 

Need to have students take a simple picture with their Chromebook (webcam) - Check out this site- https://www.turncameraon.com/ Just allow camera access and shoot away! (I have added this resource to our Creating Audio, Video and/or Video Slideshows doc. )

Google Earth gets new creation tools -

Here's how it works:

1. Students create a new Google Earth project.
2. They add pins to different locations.
3. On each pin, they can add images, videos, links, text and more.
4. When they're done, they can present the project or share it with a link.

Click here: Creating with Google Earth: 10 ideas to try - From Ditch that Textbook. 

How to use Chromebooks offline for eLearning day activities, homework. - Check out this resource from Ditch That Textbook. 

Another great Chrome extension for Accessibility 

Use Immersive Reader on Websites [unofficial]  is another great extension that will read web pages to students as well as increase the page readability by increasing fonts size, removing page clutter etc...  Similar to  Easy Reader, Mercury Reader,  Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader, and Announcify.   Each of these have different feature sets to fit your needs. Note: All of these are on our approved list for student installs. 

A Google Slides Add-On ALL teachers need: OK, this is someone else's title for their article... so I am not sure EVERY teacher needs it...   But I can certainly see where it can be handy for many of you. Check it out here.  (This short article will also give you some ideas on using slide deck assignments and then adding to those assignments/projects/portfolios along the way with ease!) 

Add Different Page Numbers to Different Sections in Google Docs
G Suite Updates | You can now customize which sections to add page numbers to and which number to start counting from in Google Docs. This new feature will be rolling out soon. More info here. 

24 Google Docs Templates That Will Make Your Life Easier - Check them out here. 

Great digital citizenship site for classroom talking points with your students. (K-12)  (The website looks like an app on a phone.)  Use this on your classroom projector for some great talking points on a variety of topics. https://digcit.glideapp.io/ I have added this to our "Digital Citizenship Resources - Norris School District" doc. (Doc is available to all Norris staff.) 

Gameshow Classroom: Comparing Kahoot!, Quizizz, Quizlet Live and Gimkit - Check out the comparison here. 

Great Tools for Making Mind Maps and Flowcharts -  Article and ideas here. (Includes how-to videos.) 

How to Add Audio to Google Slides – And an Updated Tool for Easy Recording -  Article and ideas here. (Includes how-to videos.) 

20 Google Sites tips and tricks - A nice list of uses and ideas from educators like you!  

New Feature - Google SItes.  Review the latest changes to a new Google Site before publishing. Coming in the next few weeks!

Before publishing changes to your new Google Sites, you can now compare the currently published site with the soon-to-be-published draft site in an annotated, side-by-side view. More info here. 

The Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit is a FREE online conference for teachers, starting on December 21 and closing on January 8, 2020.
It brings together some of the brightest minds in education to discuss technology, pedagogy and more.  More info and registration is here. 

• All new videos: FREE
• All previous years' videos: FREE
• All certificates for PD credit: FREE

Great coding activity for the KG hat gets kids up and moving and unplugged. Kind of a cool idea!