Want to put content on a Jamboard that students cannot move or alter? Check out the Insert image feature. Here is a short video demonstration.
In this blog post from Mandy Froehlich, she provides suggestions on integrating SEL opportunities in daily classroom activities.
When I’ve shared a Google document with someone and then made changes, I don’t often think to notify them of the changes. Alice Keeler has some good suggestions in her blog post here on how using email can smooth the process. (You need to have shared the document first before you can access the email collaborators option). Please see her post here.
I used Google Sites to host the resources- but you could share content in any Google tools (i.e., docs, slides, sheets).
Up until this point, there has not been an easy way to permit a student to go back to a form. Alice Keeler comes to the rescue with her code that automatically builds a spreadsheet and saves the link needed for the student to reopen their form.
Matt Miller published these Escape Rooms (both in Google Sites and Microsoft Sway) late last month- I shared them around Thanksgiving. This is another post to remind you of the Christmas, Hanukkah, and Holidays Around the World rooms. Everything you need (including the clues for the keys) is here.
OK, they are not real dice - but this gameboard Google Slides from Alice Keeler would be perfect for virtual and hybrid learning. From her colorful board (with game pieces) to the Dice and her quick tutorial on using the Slide Master as an editing tool- this is worth your time. Please see the blog post (with directions and video) here.
Many of you may be familiar with the Spotlight on Strategies (SOS) from DE. These are techniques to integrate technology in your classroom.
Shelly Kakouris (from my DEN friends group on Facebook) recently shared this slide deck with 15 SOS with a digital flair. Each one contains both the teacher's directions as well as a slide you could use for your students. The link is here.
Most folks know how to turn a form on or off- but what if you only want certain students to be able to access the form? That’s where form passwords enter the picture.
From this week pro tech tips:
To eliminate pop ups in YouTube ad go full screen:
Catherine Zank shared her YouTube tip (and she says it helps reduce the lag)
If you add: _popup after the word watch in the URL it will remove all the other videos on the side as well as ads and put it in full screen.
To eliminate the videos on the side and go full screen:
Pam Gunter shares this tip to eliminate the ads in YouTube videos:
I saw in School Librarians Workshop on FB the other day a post from Shannon McClintock Miller about this new hack. Simply insert a - (minus sign) between the t and u in the URL of any Yout-ube video and it removes the ads.
Sarah Kiefer recently shared an informative blog post (and a Google slide deck) with suggestions on how you could have paperwork submitted online. It provides a template where students can insert a photo- and she even has a slide that explains that process! In this digital journal, she provides additional slides as well as instructional slides for the students.
Looking for a quick way to provide an SEL option for your students or perhaps an exit ticket at the end of a lesson? And if you are doing this hybrid or all remote, you know how efficient you must be.
Six-word stories (Link for non-Discovery Education accounts -DE users can search after logging in) provides a quick way to obtain feedback from every student in a timely manner. It is a tool that helps students to summarize. Special thanks to Wandalyn Jones (SC) for her suggestion at the Discovery Education Virt-Con.
I have to admit, when I saw this reference to an improv game (that could be adapted for online school), my first thought was “isn't this a song?” Guess that’s what happens when you listen to Glenn Miller, have been in a high school band, or watch old movies! But this String of Pearls is an interactive storytelling exercise. Please click here to see the video. And if you need a little Glenn Miller, click here!
In her blog post, Alice Keeler shares her ideas for using sections in forms. Not only does it allow you to break up questions into pages, but it si also useful when you are changing the flow of a form. While answers can send people to other areas, it can only send them to another Section (and not another question). I try to clearly label my sections to make this process easier! Please see her post here.
Shared from Meredith Pisaeno (3rd Grade- Truman)
When doing a Google search, how often have you opened a link- realized it is not what you want, and then use the back arrow to go back to the original search? Or you could use the Ctrl key to select what you want to view in a new tab.
I’ve attended this session for several years and wanted to share this year’s information.
It’s called the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit. There are nine video presentations from awesome presenters on topics related to tech and solid teaching and learning. Including previous years’ sessions, you’ll have access to more than 60 video presentations!
Get your free ticket at: DitchSummit.com.
HOW IT WORKS: New presentations are released every day from Dec. 14-22. They remain available until Jan. 8 so you can re-watch or catch up on any you’ve missed. They’re pre-recorded, so you can watch them whenever you want until Jan. 8. After that, the summit ends and the videos are unavailable to watch anymore.
FREE PD HOURS: You can get FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS for watching the videos. There’s a form to fill out after each presentation, and you’ll get an automatic PD certificate emailed to you.
Sign up for the digital summit at DitchSummit.com.
This year’s new speakers include:
Dr. Lindsay Portnoy, cognitive scientist, professor, and parent
Knikole Taylor, educator, lead learner, and Google Certified Innovator
Dee Lanier, educational technologist, equity enthusiast, and Solve in Time Creator
Dr. Desiree Alexander, education consultant, presenter, and speaker
Esther Park, high school ESL / ELA teacher
Maria Arfanakis (Galanis), innovation curriculum specialist, Google Certified Trainer
Paula MartÃnez, designer and slide template creator, Slides Mania
Nyree Clark, curriculum program specialist, culturally responsive teaching advocate
Matt Miller, author of 5 books, Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit host
This interesting video from Math Boardom has several good ideas for Jamboard in the math classroom. Don’t worry about the Zoom platform-these will work in Google Meet (not so much with Breakout sessions) and in Webex (breakout rooms will work there). New to Jamboard? This video also does a nice overview as well.
He’s got some good ideas about keeping a copy (so you always have access to a new game) and the YouTube link includes copies of the games shown.
In the most recent We are Teachers newsletter, I saw this captivating collection of slide templates. While I have used SlideMania and Slides Carnival before, some of the others were new (there are some from Teachers Pay Teachers but they are free). SlidesGo had a few interesting game formats that would work in a blended environment.
Student engagement in this time of hybrid/virtual instruction can be challenging. So what if you could make it more like a game (with new levels and XP) and add some choice? Alice Keeler has the answer- her badge game template will allow you to add activities (to an assignment), allow student choice (yet there is ample space for directions), and then make a copy for the students!
Matt Miller has shared a digital escape room for Thanksgiving- and even better he 1) provides it in two formats (Google Sites- which our students cannot access as well as Microsoft Sway -which our students can access) and 2) he provides the answer key! This download includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Holidays Around the world! Download this PDF for the FREE holiday digital escape rooms!
Slides Carnival has introduced another template- and this one is filled with a variety of robots! Click here to view.
