Noel Erskine, Technology Coordinator Norris Schools

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💥 Tech items - Google Classroom tricks, Flipgrid & Jamboard resources, Chromebook updates/orders for Norris, and more in this weeks tech tips.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

 


ERSKINE - Why are you posting all this stuff?   I am overwhelmed with tech ideas! I know.  We just want to share a few tech ideas and tools as we run across them. (Picking out the best of the best for you.)  Many may not fit your needs.  Don't try too many of them.  Just use them if they fit a need.  Feel free to ask us for help.  We don't just want to send out an email and leave you on your own! 

Remember... We have a core set of tools that we feel are amazing and every teacher should know how to use them within their classes.  Checkout "Required Tech & Remote Learning Teacher Tools and Skills" to see this list. 


Misc. tech and updates:

New - just like offline email, but now for calendar: Enable offline support for Google Calendar on the web from your computer

How to check if someone else accessed your Google account - Review your recent Gmail access, browser sign-in history, and Google account activity to make sure no one other than you has used your account. Check it out. 

Hundreds of teaching ideas and tech on Pinterest from Ditch That Textbook.  Check them out here!

MATH TEACHERS - Check out this FREE virtual manipulative site!! BONUS- the base ten block manipulation is AMAZING!!   Lots of great math manipulatives here... and not just for elementary classrooms!

How to Create Complete Sentence Requirements in Google Forms - Response validation in Google Forms lets you specify a minimum number of characters that students have to enter in order for their responses to be accepted by your Google Form.  -Check it out here

Three Google Forms Tutorials for Beginners -  A few short video tutorials created by one of the best - Richard Bryne.  Check them out here

7 Amazing Museums You Can Tour Virtually Right Now  Check them out.


Locking an entire page in SeeSaw - Checkout this short how to video. 

Flipgrid for ALL! 50+ ways to use Flipgrid in your class -  Flipgrid (flipgrid.com) is a FREE video discussion platform. You give your students a question or prompt. They respond with short videos to answer.

What's great about Flipgrid: Those short videos are REALLY easy to create. Plus, with all the features in the Flipgrid camera, students can get REALLY creative with their videos! Checkout this great resource from Ditch That Textbook. 



15 ways to create unforgettable multimedia with Adobe Spark - yes we love Adobe Spark too!  Creating great images, pages and videos can spark students’ interest in learning. Adobe Spark makes that possible for free. Checkout this great guest post and resource from Ditch That Textbook. 





How to Find "Lost" Items in Google DriveCheck it out here.  Another great resource from RIchard Bryne. 



An interesting video editing option. (Free for small projects.) - Type Studio's free version limits you to 20 minutes of uploaded video per month which is still very useful for small projects. (Transcribes videos and easily cuts/edits videos.)   More info here about this program.  Not sure on this new tool... it's different. 

Some Jamboard resources:

We keep a few Jamboard templates in our shared staff tech folder here. 


20 tips to use Google Classroom effectively and efficiently - a great resource from Ditch That Textbook. 






How to Link Directly to a Google Classroom Assignment

Did you know you can copy a link directly to an assignment in Google Classroom?

Yep! Then you can paste it in other places, like your website, in an email, on a choice board or other assignment template, or wherever you need it.

Checkout this great tip from Shake Up Learning. 


ANOTHER NEW INFOGRAPHIC TOOL: ICOGRAMS DESIGNER -   Looking for an infographic tool that makes creating cities, roads, warehouses, and much more, easier? Be sure to give Icograms a spin. - Check it out here. 






Problem: You push out a doc to your students in Classroom (To collect later) and your comments in the doc are not pushed out to the student's copy. 


Here's how it works:
  • First, install the Chrome extension linked above as normal.
  • Next create your master Docs and/or Slides that you want to push out copies to your students.
  • Add comments to your master Docs and/or Slides as normal.
  • Now create an assignment in Google Classroom and add your file(s) from Drive.
  • Be sure to choose "Make a copy for each student".
  • Fill in any other details for the assignment as needed.
  • Click "Assign" to push out the assignment.




The students will now get a copy of the file (or files) you attached to the assignment, however your comments are not copied along with the files. Here is where the extension comes in.



  • Click the "CopyComments for Classroom" extension.
  • Note: The first time you use the extension you will need to allow the needed permissions.
  • From the extension pop-up window, choose the "CLASS" you are working with.
  • Next choose the "ASSIGNMENT" you just created.
  • You will now see a list of files you attached to that assignment with the number of comments in each.
  • Click the "COPY COMMENTS" button.
  • Now the extension will take the comments from your original Docs and/or Slides and will copy those comments into all of the students versions of the files.

And that's it! The files that were pushed out through Google Classroom will now have your comments added for additional instructions, resources, links, and more.



Chromebook order updates for this spring and next fall: 



I am sharing some Chromebook plans for next year.  It's a crazy time planning for Chromebooks next year.  There is going to be a shortage next year and challenges with some brands and models. 

Middle School styluses-  You have spoken!  The stylus on the Chromebooks is a useful feature and will be in place next year.  (We had looked at going with a possible model for 6th grade that did not have a stylus.) 

Replacing staff Chromebooks - We are hoping to replace staff Chromebooks this spring.  We will not be offering these for sale at this time.  (Explanations below.)  When we secure a replacement model we will let staff know.  Hopefully you signed up for a new Chromebook from our earlier survey. 

Freshman Chromebooks - It could be a long time before they arrive so we may have to start school with some different models.  If that occurs, we are planning on using the olde staff units as well as the graduating seniors devices that they are not purchasing.  Seniors are given the option to purchase their devices after their 4 years of use in highschool. 



How to use images in Flippity game templates.
Flippity makes it easy to turn Google Sheets into neat games and online activities. Here's how you can use images in those templates.  




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