Google Applications Training

There are several upcoming opportunities to build your professional expertise using the Google suite of applications.  These are all online courses, offered through the AEA Online Course System.

Intro to Google Apps:  Tools to Integrate
        January 31 - March 27
        April 3 - May 29

Doing More with Google Drive - Classroom Application
        January 11 - March 6
        April 21 - May 15

Google Sites
       January 31 - April 27, 2016
       April 3 - May 29, 2016

All three of these courses are available for 2 License Renewal, Graduate Credit, or Substitute Authorization Renewal Credit

            $190.00 License Renewal Credit (2)

            $190.00 Substitute Authorization Renewal Credit (2)

            $340.00 Drake Graduate Credit (2)

            $300.00 Morningside Graduate Credit (2)

            $340.00 Viterbo Graduate Credit (2)

For more information, contact Kay Schmalen, AEA267 Technology Consultant

Hour of Code

“Hour of Code” is an initiative to introduce all students to coding, or computer programming during Computer Science Education Week, which was Dec. 7-13.

This year, we worked to have all students in grades 5-8 at Grinnell Middle School included in activities. GMS was one of over 190,000 organizations worldwide to participate in 2015.

Learning coding is not just about learning computer science, but also building problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity. It also helps provide a foundation for many 21st Century careers.


Activities included:

	Students in 5-8 worked through introductory activities on the code.org website.   They started with simple programs that were Star Wars, Frozen, or Minecraft themed. Student recorded their minutes as to 'compete' with 11 other area schools in. gmscoding.weebly.com
	Students in Mrs. Schade’s class used a MakeyMakey kit to build a robot controller for 3 different activities:   -Play a piano keyboard -Control a Pac Man game -Play different parts of a drum set. Students wrote reflections then from their experiences.
	Mrs. Strawser’s class worked to build animations and learn some basics of game design using a programming language, called Scratch. The class also had a guest, Dr. Ursula Wolz, a computer science expert, visit the class.
	Students learned the basics of programming using the new Finch robots and SNAP! programming language during the Technology Exploratory course. Students simply snap together block commands to build a program.
	In the Technology Exploratory Course, one of the students’ first coding challenges was to build a program that included controllers to play a game of Robot Soccer.  The 'ball' was a hacky-sack and the 'goals' were small boxes. With each challenge, students are to write a reflection about their problem-solving process.

Importing Content into Canvas

I just recently had a very similar blog posting about importing class content, such as assignments and quizzes, into a new Canvas.  Canvas is the learning management system that our school district has supported for the last few years.   This link will take you to that posting.

I want to make a little update here though with this posting, based on a question that several teachers have asked in the last couple of weeks, that is, ...
Can I import my content from the 'paid' version of Canvas into the 'free' version of Canvas?

The answer is YES.

Here is how it works.

First off, set up your own free canvas account at this link.  This is a different address than the 'paid' version.  If you are familiar with the 'paid' version, navigating around the free version will be relatively easy.  I won't go through directions on how to export course content.  This link will walk you through that process.

Once the account is created, navigate to
             Dashboard ->

Once it is named, follow these steps:

Within your course...

         

Select Settings on the left side of your window.

      

Select Import Content into this Course.

       

Select the dropdown to Copy a Canvas Course

        

You can select any or all of the content from a Canvas course that has been set up.

Some extra notes:  

** The free version continues to support other applications like Noteflight, ALEKS, or ConnectEd, just like the free version.  If you used it before, it should also continue to work.  This is also found under the Settings tab.

** As the teacher, you will need to add students/teachers/observers as needed.  Students should be added by using their school email addresses so that they don't have to remember a new password.

** Please send me feedback if I need to either clarify or walk through any additional directions on this posting.  I will modify as needed.

** For any of our G-N staff, I will be happy help you through this process, too.  Please check with your PLC team first.  It would be much more efficient to work with a group of 5 in one meeting, for example, than having 5 different meetings.

My YouTube Channel

My favorite YouTube Channels

We all have our favorite TV channels or magazines.  Do you ever flip through 100 channels of what seems to be nothing good on?  Do you peruse through a magazine to only find a single article that interests you?  YouTube provides everything that you would want to watch.

Did you know that you can Subscribe to a YouTube Channel in the same way?  A subscription gives you quick access to your favorite video resources.  If you have a Google account, then you already have a YouTube account, even if you have never used it.

Here are a some of my favorite channels for the classroom:

From YouTube, click on the icon to the right of the YouTube logo.

NOVA - Based on the long-running PBS TV show, these are science-based.  They include impressive insight and acccess to the most amazing parts of our world. Example: Schmoop - This video series is relatively new.  The accompanying website at this link includes complete lesson plans for a wide range of curriculum.  Only a part of the resources are free, but the videos are freely available. Example: Crash Course - These  nice library of science and social studies resources were created by a pair of brothers. They are typically 10-15 min. long. Example: Crash Course Kids - This collection would include the same type of content, but for a younger audience. Example: How Stuff Works - I always liked taking things apart to see how they worked.  Videos like these may have you thinking about what you want to tear apart next. Example: Frontline - Here is another channel based on a PBS show. These provide amazing insight on many serious global issues.  (I always wanted to be able to talk like the narrator) Example: Khan Academy - Any topic at any level, this massive video library corresponds to lessons. It all started when a guy was just trying to help out his middle school niece with some math problems. Example:

Create a YouTube Video and Embed it into Blogger

The following are from a teacher request:

1)  How to create a video in YouTube -

All of our teachers and students have their own YouTube accounts, often without realizing it.  Since YouTube is a Google product, any Google account will also be connected to a YouTube account.

Here is a basic version of how to create your first video.  In this case, I used a home video of my youngest daughter from a while back.

How to upload your first YouTube video:


Here is the actual video that I uploaded:

2)  Here is how to embed any YouTube video into a Blogger site (such as this one):

There is no audio included with this one




YouTube can be used to manage videos that you have created as well as any that others have uploaded in the same way that a Google Drive document can be managed.  Here, however, instead of having a Drive, we have 'My Channel', and instead of having folders, we have 'Playlists'.

Subscribe - think of this as a magazine subscription.  This is like putting the magazines on the end table for us in the living room.  You can quickly see the latest update without doing any searching.

Playlists -  We can save others' videos to our own playlists.  Playlists can be made Public/Unlisted/Private, depending on the purpose, and shared with others.

Importing Canvas components

This posting comes from a teacher-generated request regarding Canvas, our 7-12 Learning Management System.

The question - Can a rubric from one course be used by a different teacher in a different course?  
        The answer is Yes.

Basically,     Assignment 1 in Course 1 can be imported as Assignment 1 in Course 2
                              and
  Rubric 1 in Course 1 can be used as an assessment tool  for any assignment in Course 2

Rubrics are an important assessment tool for student work.  They provide detailed guidelines for students to use as they complete and create important projects.  It also provides a clear and consistent tool for instructors to use with assigned work.

Canvas is a very versatile learning management system.  In Canvas, any variety of course content may be imported.  The directions below are directed towards using a rubric, but may be slightly modified to include quizzes, assignments, pages, and more.

1. Export the course assignments:

  - >    ->

2. Now, download those contents:

3.  Transfer that data file to the 'new' teacher's computer

(Email / sharing over Google Drive / or just logging into the 'new' teacher account can work)

4.  Navigate to the 'new' course.  Navigate to  Settings -> Import Content into this Course 

5.  Select  Import Canvas Course Export Package

6. Choose the file that was exported from the previous course.  

Select specific content will let us import only what is needed.  Click on Import.

7.  Click on 'Select Content'

8. Here, you can either select a specific assignment OR select the desired rubric

9. To use a 'Rubric' for a different assignment,  go ahead and create the desired assignment.

Then choose 'Add Rubric'

10.  The desired rubric should show up now.

  

Teacher Collaborations

Teachers -

Are you looking for classroom collaborators for your kids, but don't quite know where to look, besides the classroom next door to yours?  Advances in technology have made the world so much smaller and accessible.  Social media can lead us to collaborators, but can be tough to wade through all the distractions to get to real connections for your students.

Check out ePal.  This online resource provides a venue to connect classrooms with each other for just about anything project.  The bounds of geography do not have to limit the collaborators that students have access to.  This tool will facilitate connecting students to a global community.

Setting up and a teacher account is quick and easy.  Try it out.  You may be amazed at who will get a chance to meet to create meaningful collaborations.

How to add a Chrome Application or Extension

There are many useful free applications and extensions available on the Google's Chrome App Store.  Some of these simply link you to another website that you can log into using your Google username and password.  Others are a part of the web browser.

Here, I'll walk through how to install the Chrome Application call ScanQR.  This application will use the computer's webcam to scan any QR Code.  These little images are often used as web links, but also have many other uses.  My favorite place to create a QR Code is at qrstuff.com.

Now to install,

Open your Chrome web browser.  

_________________________________________

Open your Chrome Applications.

You can do this either by going to this web address OR 

by clicking on the Apps icon in the upper left corner of your browser.

________________________________________

Your Chrome applications should now be displayed on your screen.

Now, to ADD an application, click on the Web Store in the lower right corner of your browser window.

______________________

In the upper left corner, complete a search for the Google Web app, "qr code scanner."  Now, ScanQR should be one of the top hits.  Click on where it says "Add to Chrome."

When you first open this application, there will be some type of popup related to connecting to your video camera.  Go ahead and agree to the terms.  It's not very painful. 

_______________________________________

To open the QR Scanner:

Select the Apps button in the upper left corner of Chrome:

Now select the ScanQR application:

By the way... you will know if your webcam is turned on if the green light next to it is turned on.

You should be up and rolling now to scan QR Codes.  Just hold up your QRCode image in front of the camera.

If this doesn't work, or if you need more steps included, please let me know.

Here are a some other very useful Chrome applications:

Desmos - a great graphing calculator with all the functions you expect to see on the popular handheld versions and it's free.
Mindomo - a graphic organizer tool.  It will require a login, but this will allow multiple users to work on the same documents.
LucidCharts - another graphic organizer It is easy to use and collaborative. This doesn't have all  the features of Mindomo, but maybe you need something simpler.

Bill Gruman, Tech Integrationist

Grinnell-Newburg Community Schools

Programming with Finch Robots and SNAP!

Programming Finch Robots using the SNAP! programming language:

We have 20 Finch robots on loan from the manufacturer, BirdBrain Technologies, until mid-December to use as we plan programming activities for all students in grades 5-8.  The programming language can be used to create animations, video game design, music/sounds, or as a robot controller.

For more information about these robots and the programming language, click on this link.  As coding activities are planned, implemented, and celebrated, they will be posted at this link, our collaborative code community website.

Much more will be posted here in the coming days and weeks.

Below is my first attempt....
(Student results will be coming soon)

and here is the corresponding programming 'code':

How to Remove a Chrome Extension

Google Chrome Extensions

Do you have a bad Chrome extension that you want to rid yourself of?
You can quickly and easily remove it.

Chrome-> Preferences -> Extensions -> Select the trash can next to the extension you want to remove -> Select remove from the dialogue box that pops up.

20 Great Classroom Apps - Part 2

20 Great Classroom Applications - Part 2

(This is the first in my follow-up series of amazing classroom tools... check back soon for more)

1.  I included EduCanon my the first list.  It's a great tool to flip your classroom by embedding formative assessments within YouTube videos.

This application is very close to it.  It's called EDPuzzle and it's amazing.
It has been very easy for teachers to set up and for students to log in and use.  Read all about it on Tom Mullaney's blog at this link.

Below is a sample that I put together.
Assessment results can be recorded for each student in each of your classes.  
I just included the link here for you to preview so your score will not be recorded.





Additional audio or video comments could have been made on the video, but the host here already does a nice job.

Another alternative:  Bubblr.tv
______________________________________________

2.  Student Presentation Tools

There is a wide spectrum of student presentation tools.  Unfortunately, many are geared only towards lower order thinking skills.  There are other alternatives that help guide students to Higher Order Thinking Skills.  These can include:

Lower Powerpoint Google Slides Keynote Prezi Slides

<-------------------->

Higher Powtoons Moovly Wideo Movenote eMaze GoAnimate Buncee Animoto WeVideo iMovie Garageband

________________________________________________

3. Attention Grabbers

Teachers often are looking for attention-grabbers.  These video collections provide great starting points for classroom units.

Explainia TEDed FastDraw

-This is a library of great, engaging animated videos, all explaining a wide variety of topics. -Featuring amazing experts in many different fields, these are geared towards education, generally towards older students. - These two guys have had many great teaching videos on CBS news shows, asking many though-provoking questions.  These provide great starting points for classroom discussion.  This link  will take you to some of their first productions.

20 Great Applications - Part 1

Here are 20 great applications for the classroom.

My selection criteria for this listing:

1. Useful for learning.  

2. Free (mostly), 

3. Easily Accessible by both students and teachers.
There are going to be many other relevant applications so this is definitely not a complete list. They may be 'cool' apps, but really are not meaningful unless they help to achieve learning objectives in the classroom.  

In upcoming postings, we will look at some creative ways that applications are used to create engagement and promote learning.

Comment below and let me know what would be in your 20.

1	Zoom       Video Conferencing Tool alternatives: Skype / Google Hangout	Collaborate with experts, meet with your peers. This is free, easy to use and the only account needed is the host.
2	TED Talks and TedED Build a lesson around any of these amazing videos. (alternative: your Dad)	Looking for inspiring and innovative speakers on a vast array of topics.  They are always interesting and just the right length for classroom use.
3	Youtube - what you didn’t know (alternative: Vimeo and more)	The most popular video-sharing site on the planet. Did you know that you have your own school YouTube channel? ...and playlists? ...and video editor? YouTube audio library
4	QuietTube - YouTube without the distractions	Play a Youtube video in class without comments or advertisements.
5	Keepvid use with care - YouTube video downloader alternative: - ssYoutTube	You can download YouTube videos to your computer for later playback.  Be cautious about copyright issues.
6	TubeChop -	Link or embed only the portions of a video necessary for the lesson. YouTube allows a link to start at a defined time.  This give you a start and end.
7	eduCanon	Watch a YouTube video with formative assessment questions embedded within the video.  Responses are recorded for the teacher.
8	Quicktime	This does more than just play videos.  Users can create screen, audio, or movie recordings.
9	Remind	Communicate quickly with students in class and parents without compromising school policies.
10	emaze  - Online presentation software	This provides an alternative to Google Slides, Powerpoint,  Prezi, or Keynote.
11	Google Apps  - Blogger, Google Translate, and many more.... Blogger  -  for the teacher	This list just keeps on growing. Check out my weekly blog Here.
12	Chrome Web Store TweetDeck LucidCharts	There are hundreds of freely accessible applications to use within your Chrome web browser.
13	Kahoot  Create a Kahoot or Join a Kahoot	This is a quick formative assessment tool.
14	Collaborize	Build classroom discussion boards and much more
15	VolunteerSpot  alternate: SignupGenius, Jooners	Use this application to sign up for just about anything.  Create custom events with jobs you are looking to have filled.
16	Movenote	Create a production that pairs your video with a document or presentation slide.
17	Symbaloo  alternate: Diigo	This is a social bookmarking tool.  Share those important bookmarked sites with anyone.
18	SpicyNodes  alternate: Lucid Charts	This is one of many graphic organizers that students can use.
19	CreativeCommons youTube audio Library	This is a library of hundreds of audio files that can be used in video productions for free and without violating any copyrights.
20 How do you build your PLN? (professional learning network)	FreeTech4Teachers  Education Technology @TechTeach3r	A library of technology resources. How do you build your personal learning network?

AIW and Transformational Technology
Technology Integration Matrix


Coming Soon:
Digital Citizenship
Hour of Code