It's amazing what we do in 60 seconds!
What's happening on the Internet for sixty seconds here's a sampling:
1500+ blog posts
98,000 new tweets
12,000 new ads on Craigslist
20,000 new posts on Tumblr
600 new videos (25+ hours worth) on YouTube
Diigo is one great web tool you should be using!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Diigo (http://www.diigo.com/) is an awesome tool for bookmarking, but it goes beyond that! That is like saying a Lamborghini is just transportation. (If you have ridden in one of these things... I need to get to know you!)
This is a tool you should be using personally as well as with your students. It allows you to bookmark websites, as well as highlight content on that site. It's a cloud based organization system. They have great browser add-ins that add all of the functionality, as well as an iPad app (http://goo.gl/XCNz3). (Make sure you try the Diigo Browser http://goo.gl/iOqAB, it is one of the best browsers for the iPad. Formally it was the iChromy browser for the iPad.) You can even download the content for off-line browsing.
If you are a teacher, apply for an educator account: http://www.diigo.com/education
Many services are free, and they offer some premium features for a low cost. Check it out... and add the Google Chrome extension here: http://goo.gl/RulSI (Not using the Google Chrome web browser??? You should be!)
This is a tool you should be using personally as well as with your students. It allows you to bookmark websites, as well as highlight content on that site. It's a cloud based organization system. They have great browser add-ins that add all of the functionality, as well as an iPad app (http://goo.gl/XCNz3). (Make sure you try the Diigo Browser http://goo.gl/iOqAB, it is one of the best browsers for the iPad. Formally it was the iChromy browser for the iPad.) You can even download the content for off-line browsing.
If you are a teacher, apply for an educator account: http://www.diigo.com/education
Many services are free, and they offer some premium features for a low cost. Check it out... and add the Google Chrome extension here: http://goo.gl/RulSI (Not using the Google Chrome web browser??? You should be!)
Some great Google apps features that most educators could benefit from.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
With the large number of Google apps and features being added constantly, it's hard to keep up as an educator. Here are just a few new features that you may not know exist, but could benefit your classes:
Comment only access in Google Docs. http://goo.gl/8R80j you can now share a worksheet, book review, or any Google Doc with students and allow them to freely add comments, but not change the content.
Page Level Access in Google Sites. http://goo.gl/KthNR You can now set permissions on individual pages in Google sites. This allows you to turn access on or off for specific individuals. You can share on your website that only a specific class or group of students can access.
Offline access for mail, calendar and docs: I have used Google Apps for over a year now, and have not really felt cheated by not having this option availbe to me, but it's a nice option to have avaialbe especially if you are headed out on a vacation and do not have access to the internet. It's also a nice option to have available if you are using a Chomebook. http://www.google.com/chromebook/ (I love these things.) Make sure you are using the Chrome Web browser (Shame on you if you are not.).
For more information:
http://googleenterprise.
Gmail offline: http://www.google.com/support/
Calendar offline: http://www.google.com/support/
Docs offline: https://docs.google.com/
Scripting for Google Apps: OK, this takes a little bit of reading and tech-savy use, but if you manage it, the power is unbelievable. Self-grading quizzes, forms that email you, and more. Read more about this at my March 2011 blog entry.
Forms: I am amazed at how easy forms are to create and use with Google Apps. You can link that form right to your Google website to create a powerful online tool for registrations, surveys, quizzes and more. Combine that with the spreadsheet features of scripting and conditional formatting and you are in control! (For Example: Conditional formatting in a spreadsheet will turn a spreadsheet cell a certain color if a condition is met.)
And the changes keep coming...
You can always keep current with new updates and Google Apps features from this site: http://whatsnew.googleapps.com/
Comment only access in Google Docs. http://goo.gl/8R80j you can now share a worksheet, book review, or any Google Doc with students and allow them to freely add comments, but not change the content.
Page Level Access in Google Sites. http://goo.gl/KthNR You can now set permissions on individual pages in Google sites. This allows you to turn access on or off for specific individuals. You can share on your website that only a specific class or group of students can access.
Offline access for mail, calendar and docs: I have used Google Apps for over a year now, and have not really felt cheated by not having this option availbe to me, but it's a nice option to have avaialbe especially if you are headed out on a vacation and do not have access to the internet. It's also a nice option to have available if you are using a Chomebook. http://www.google.com/chromebook/ (I love these things.) Make sure you are using the Chrome Web browser (Shame on you if you are not.).
For more information:
http://googleenterprise.
Gmail offline: http://www.google.com/support/
Calendar offline: http://www.google.com/support/
Docs offline: https://docs.google.com/
Scripting for Google Apps: OK, this takes a little bit of reading and tech-savy use, but if you manage it, the power is unbelievable. Self-grading quizzes, forms that email you, and more. Read more about this at my March 2011 blog entry.
Forms: I am amazed at how easy forms are to create and use with Google Apps. You can link that form right to your Google website to create a powerful online tool for registrations, surveys, quizzes and more. Combine that with the spreadsheet features of scripting and conditional formatting and you are in control! (For Example: Conditional formatting in a spreadsheet will turn a spreadsheet cell a certain color if a condition is met.)
And the changes keep coming...
You can always keep current with new updates and Google Apps features from this site: http://whatsnew.googleapps.com/
Another awesome Chrome browser extension.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Adblock plus is a really nice Google Chrome extension that a friend of mine just turned me on to. (Search the Chrome web store for this extension, or click here: http://adblockplus.org/en/ ) This add-on helps block a lot of the adds that are displayed on many of the sites. Does it catch all of them.. no, but it's a great start. I will say, I do not necessarily hate all ads, after all they help keep many sites free on the internet, but many adds, including flashing ones, or ones with skimpily-clad people selling weight loss supplements are really a pain. I give this add-on five stars... give it a try. Thanks to my friend, @joegehr for tweeting about this one!
Don't overlook KMZ files for turning Google Earth into a great tool for your classroom.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
If you do not know what KMZ files are, you are not alone... but maybe now is the time to learn what you are missing for you and your students. In short, KMZ files are data files opened by Google Earth. KMZ files can contain placemarks featuring a custom name; the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates for the location, and 3D model data.
Here are just a few sites and ideas to wet your appetite:
Track Weather, Hungriness and more: Visit from this site for more info: http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/weather/
Take virtual field trips with Google Earth, by downloading KMZ files:
http://geology.utah.gov/geo_guides/st_george/index.htm
How to create a virtual field trip: http://www.bridge.edu.au/verve/_resources/GoogleEarthHowToVFT.pdf
Identify key elements of what human life on the Moon would be like bu taking a Lunar Field Trip: http://www.realworldmath.org/Real_World_Math/Lunar_Field_Trip.html
Useful Google Earth Layers
Here are just a few sites and ideas to wet your appetite:
Track Weather, Hungriness and more: Visit from this site for more info: http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/weather/
Take virtual field trips with Google Earth, by downloading KMZ files:
http://geology.utah.gov/geo_guides/st_george/index.htm
How to create a virtual field trip: http://www.bridge.edu.au/verve/_resources/GoogleEarthHowToVFT.pdf
Identify key elements of what human life on the Moon would be like bu taking a Lunar Field Trip: http://www.realworldmath.org/Real_World_Math/Lunar_Field_Trip.html
Hopefully this has sparked your interest and opened up some ideas and ways you can use this within your classroom. A simple Google search for "kmz field trip"or "download kmz files" will turn up more resources and get you on your way to adding this resource within your classroom lessons.
Backup your Gmail with this tool.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
You may never need this tool, but it's great to know that there is a tool like this. This tool allows you to backup your Gmail or even transfer your Gmail from one account to another. http://goo.gl/qcecx This could come in handy if you ever want to backup your email from the cloud, or simply transfer to another account.
The most overlooked feature of the new Google Chromebooks.
Friday, July 8, 2011
I have used both the CR48 beta and now the Samsung Chromebook Models and there are a lot of things to love about the new Google ChromebooIks. Battery life, quick boot up, low maintenance, light weight, and more... But the best feature and use may be easily over looked. This is the perfect laptop for an older parent, tech-challenged person, or simply anyone who seems to break computers. There are no programs that can be installed to break the system. There are no settings to change. There is no need for anti-virus or anti-malware software to load. This thing just runs, and runs for a long time between electrical fill ups. This is the perfect notebook to give someone and not expect them to be asking you to reformat it six months later. And as the saying might go.... price of a Chomebook - $430. Not having to fix it later - PRICELESS.
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