Challenges

Challenge #0: Join the Challenge

Congratulations! You have already done the first step...You Accepted the Challenge!

Below is your very own Digital Tech Challenge Badge Chart (𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴). Each week I will put a sticker badge in your mailbox for the challenge you complete to put on your paper chart to hang up for all to see and brag about your progress. I will also email you any earned digital badge your earn at the end of the week it was assigned (𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 "нєℓρfυℓ яєѕσυя¢єѕ" 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦). You can "stick" these (𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨) on the attached digital chart if you wish.

Get ready to get your Tech-On!

Grab your Badge Board here: Challenge Board

Challenge #1: Screencastify (Create a GIF)

GIFs...(I am on TEAM JIF so it is pronounced "J"if)...are awesome! They are basically animated images. They allow you to insert a video-like image into documents, slides, websites, or anywhere images can be inserted. They are most beneficial in documents since you can not embed a viewable video within a document, but you can add an animated GIF. If you have viewed any of my "how-to" documents in the past you will see many GIFs in them to show how to do steps.

Your Challenge: Create a GIF using Screencastify

I know there are other tools out there, but please use Screencastify for this task. That is the learning challenge.

1. Make sure to have the Screencastify Extension (https://tinyurl.com/2xkb2drd)

2. Create a short screen or camera recording (Imaginary Bonus points for entertaining me!)

3. Export your recording as a GIF

4. Upload it to this assignment. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your GIF: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Upload your GIF to Classroom using the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "File" (or use the other locations if applicable).

   2. Browse for the file or drag the file into the screen and click "Upload".

   3. After uploading the image click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, students, and even your Tech Coach to help you!

Below is a video showing how to create a GIF with Screencastify.

🔹 Screencastify Extension

🔹 Create a GIF with Screencastify

Challenge #2: Google Sites (Create a Site)

Creating a Google Site is easy! Google has taken all the hard work out of this process and given users a simple, fast, and easy interface to make everyone look like a webmaster. With Google Sites, you can share content, create professional web pages, and organize resources for others. Head into Google Drive and easily create a Google Site in minutes.

Your Challenge: Create a Google Site

Create a basic (or awesome) site and share the link with me. Here is an example that took just a few minutes to do by copy/pasting my "How-To" document into a site: https://sites.google.com/gulllakecs.org/demo1/home

1. Create a Google Site. This can be a simple practice or even something you are currently using. You can have as many pages to visit as you wish (1-?). They do not need to have much content on them more than just text if you want, or go all out and make something amazing. I just want you to explore and create.

2. You can create a very basic site (takes about 5 minutes) or get as creative or useful as you want. You can add Google Files, Images, Links, Videos, or anything you want...or just keep it plain text. I just want to see that you explored, created a site, and shared it with me.

3. Important...Share the PUBLISHED Site with me, not the editing side. When you are ready to share your site with me click the drop-down arrow to the right of the “Publish” button and click “View published site”. This will give you the web link (in the new tab’s address bar) of your site. Copy this and share it with me through Classroom. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your Link: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Click the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "Link".

   2. Paste your link in the popup.

   3. After adding your link click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, students, and even your Tech Coach to help you!

Below is a document showing how to create a Google Site.

🔹 Create a Google Site

🔹 Create a Google Site Document in Site Format

Challenge #3: Pixton (Create a Comic)

Comics are great and almost every kid enjoys reading them. With their bright colors and text bubbles for easy reading, they are also very useful in education settings. Storytelling, character traits, explaining math concepts, social studies facts, and science concepts can all be presented in simple comics!

Your Challenge: Create a Comic Strip using Pixton

I know there are other tools out there, but please use Pixton for this task. That is the learning challenge.

1. Head over to https://pixton.com and create a teacher account.

2. Create a simple comic. It can be something you are actually going to use in class or one just for fun.

3. Explore characters and talking bubbles.

4. Publish your comic and share the link to me through Classroom. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your Link: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Click the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "Link".

   2. Paste your link in the popup.

   3. After adding your link click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, students, and even your Tech Coach to help you!

Below is a document showing how to do all this!

🔹 Creating Comics with Pixton

🔹 Pixton Site

Challenge #4: ClassTools.net (Fun Web Tools)

The web is full of little gems to help educators. The only issue is often the cost of these precious gems. ClassTools is a site that has been around for a very long time but still has some basic and easy-to-use tools to help educators make learning fun. Even though it has been around for a long time, it is so easy to use and helpful that you are getting the chance to explore it.

Your Challenge: Explore ClassTools.net

It is Conference Week so let's do something super quick and easy!

1. Head over to https://classtools.net.

2. Look around and try one of the activities.

3. Take a screenshot of something you explored (imaginary bonus points if you created something super cool!).

4. Upload that screenshot to this assignment. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your Screenshot: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Upload your image to Classroom using the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "File" (or use the other locations if applicable).

   2. Browse for the file or drag the file into the screen and click "Upload".

   3. After uploading the image click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, or even your students to help you!

Below is a video and a document showing how to do a screenshot if you need help.

🔹 ClassTools Link

🔹 How to Create a Screenshot

🔹 Snip & Sketch

Challenge #5: Charts in Google Sheets (Creating Charts)

Data is part of daily life for educators (I'll wait for the groans to settle). There are many ways to look at data, but charts and graphs are the most beneficial. They show things that "number" data can't show, and oftentimes can help us make sense of all the data we collect.

Your Challenge: Create and Edit a Google Sheet Chart

Using the assigned Spreadsheet, create a chart or graph with the data and edit the chart color/font/layout/etc.

1. Use the assigned Google Sheet to create and edit a chart or graph. (How-To here: https://youtu.be/fe-cSqkiGwE)

2. You can add the chart to the existing Sheet or make it on a new tab.

3. Edit the colors and chart style. Make the chart different than the default one that comes up.

4. When you are done. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your Sheet:

1. 1. Click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, or even your students to help you!

Below are some videos and a document showing how to edit charts in Google Sheets, and one for visualizing data.

🔹 Charts Template

🔹 Adding Charts in Sheets

🔹 Google Sheets Templates

🔹 Google Sheets Themes

🔹 Visualize Numbers in Google Sheets

Challenge #6: Blooklet (Create Fun Learning)

You have no doubt played Kahoot or Quizizz over the past few years. These are all fun trivia-style games that have other options to make reviewing material and learning fun. Blooket is another one of these game-based learning tools with a twist! Check it out!

Your Challenge: Create a Blooket Question Set

You do not have to play this with anyone, just create a set and share a screenshot of your Dashboard.

1. Log in to Blooket https://www.blooket.com/ (create an account if you don't have one).

2. Create a game (question set) with at least 4 questions.

3. Take a screenshot of your Dashboard showing any games you created.

4. Upload your screenshot to this assignment. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

5. Optional: Play this game with your class or others...just for fun (not required)!

Turn In Your Screenshot: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Upload your Screenshot to Classroom using the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "File" (or use the other locations if applicable).

   2. Browse for the file or drag the file into the screen and click "Upload".

   3. After uploading the image click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, or even your students to help you!

Below is a document showing how to use Blooket.

🔹 Blooket: Review Made Fun!

Challenge #7: Google Tasks (Get Organized)

Getting (and staying) organized is important for us all. Sometimes it feels like a losing battle. There are so many apps and tools out there to help that sometimes they just make you feel less organized. One tool that helps me is Google Tasks. The reason I use it is that it lives within the Google tools I am already using daily. I do not have to open a new tab, it lives right in Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. It is simple and an integrated part of the Google Workspace so it is easy for me to always have access to it when needed. If you are looking to better organize your tasks, give Google Tasks a try!

Your Challenge:

I know there are many tools out there, but this challenge is to explore Google Tasks. Please use it for this challenge.

1. On your computer, go to Gmail, Drive, or Calendar. (If you are using your Mobile Device you will need to install that app.)

2. On the right, click the “Tasks” icon.

3. Create a "List" and a few "Tasks" in that list.

4. Take a screenshot of one of your "Lists" of tasks.

5. Upload that screenshot to this assignment. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your Screenshot: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Upload your image to Classroom using the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "File" (or use the other locations if applicable).

   2. Browse for the file or drag the file into the screen and click "Upload".

   3. After uploading the image click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, or even your students to help you!

Below is a document showing how to create lists and tasks.

🔹 Get Organized with Google Tasks

🔹 Google Tasks (How-To Video)

Challenge #8: Canva (Remove Background)

So, you have that perfect picture but you really want to have a different background. For example, your students are studying landforms and you want to put a picture of them on the top of a mountain. If only you could take the object of the picture (you or your students) and put it on a different background. The good news, you CAN! You can use Canva to strip the background of any image away and make it transparent so you can overlay it on a new background. The curricular possibilities are endless! Give Canva a try!

🅘🅜🅟🅞🅡🅣🅐🅝🅣

*Make sure you sign up for Canva for Education first to get all the FREE upgrades!* https://www.canva.com/education

Your Challenge: Replace the Background of an Image Using Canva

1. Make sure you have a Canva for EDU account: https://www.canva.com/education

2. Head to https://www.canva.com and sign in with Google.

3. Create a new project and replace the background.

4. Upload it to this assignment. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your Image: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Upload your image to Classroom using the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "File" (or use the other locations if applicable).

   2. Browse for the file or drag the file into the screen and click "Upload".

   3. After uploading the image click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

💡 After you turn in your assignment, explore some of the AWESOME things you can create in Canva (presentations, interactive games, posters, newsletters, comic strips, Flipgrid backgrounds, headers, videos, schedules, and many MANY more project ideas). Just use the search bar at the top and look for something to create! Here is an AWESOME Template Gallery: www.canva.com/p/teachcheat

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, or even your students to help you!

Below is a video and a document showing how to do this.

🔹 Replace Image Background (Using Canva)

🔹 Remove Background with Canva

🔹 Canva for Education (Sign Up)

🔹 Canva (Log In Here!)

Challenge #9: Mote (Audio in Classroom, Comments, Gmail, Forms, & Slides)

The sound of your voice has power, especially with students. Being able to give feedback with our own voice carries more impact than just text. With tools like Mote, you can add your voice to comments, Slides, Docs, Forms, and many other tools. Check out what Mote can do for you and your students!

Your Challenge: Create an Audio Comment Using Mote

🔴 This has 2 parts to the assignment. Please do them both! 🔴

1. Add Audio to a Google Document Comment, Google Form, or Slide.

• Install the Mote Extension (link below). Make sure to refresh any page you are adding a Mote comment to after installing the extension.

• Take a screenshot of something you added a comment or audio directions in (a Doc, Slide, Form, Comment, etc.).

• Upload it to this assignment. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

2. Add a Private Comment to the Assignment.

• Add a private Mote comment to me in the assignment. (If you do not see the purple Mote icon make sure to refresh the Google Classroom page after installing the extension.) This can be how you will use Mote, a quick "hello there", a brief song, or just tell me a joke, or any words so I know you did it!

• Follow these steps to do this: https://www.loom.com/share/9a68209b974b4720b172fc27d9b88bc3

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, students, and even your Tech Coach to help you!

🔹 Mote Extension

🔹 Add Audio with Mote

🔹 Mote Advanced Features

🔹 Add a Comment in Classroom with Mote

Challenge #10: Adobe Creative Cloud Express (Create a Project)

Adobe Creative Cloud Express (used to be Adobe Spark) is an easy tool that allows teachers and students to create awesome projects! You can easily create all sorts of visual projects like flyers, web pages, videos, images, graphics, and more. With the EDU account, you have access to all the Creative Cloud Express tools, resources, and projects (but your district has to do some enrollment on the backend. If you do not have an Adobe account you can create a personal account for now ). Students can easily use Cloud Express to create projects to demonstrate their learning. Head over to Adobe and start creating!

Your Challenge: Create a Fun Image, Presentation, or Video using Adobe Creative Cloud Express

You can choose any kind of project...just explore and have FUN!

1. Head to https://express.adobe.com/sp/ and sign in with your Enterprise Account. (If you need help signing into an Enterprise account follow these steps: https://bit.ly/33RAHvd). If you can't create a EDU account, just create a personal account for this challenge (and then beg your Tech Director to get Enterprise accounts created...it is FREE!).

2. Choose what type of project you wish to create (any are fine, but have some fun)!

3. When you are done, share this project with me by getting the web link. (Directions Here: https://www.loom.com/share/a871d6e6b671428096c2f6e9a18bb6d2)

4. Turn in the web link to this assignment through Classroom. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your Link: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Click the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "Link".

   2. Paste your link in the popup.

   3. After adding your link click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, students, and even your Tech Coach to help you!

Below is a document showing how to do this.

🔹 Create Adobe Creative Cloud Express Projects

🔹 Adobe Creative Cloud Express Log In

🔹 Share Your Project

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 (𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵)

Deadlines...ugh! I, too, hate deadlines. I know many of you are like me and would wait until the last week to do all the challenges. Unfortunately, this would cause me to then be shuffling stickers, attaching individual treats, driving to buildings to deliver, and basically making a mess of the "Who got what and when" system that needs to be balanced with multiple buildings, and this many players. That would take the fun from me (so sad). I also don't want anyone to give up if they miss a Challenge deadline. This should be fun and hopefully inspire some new learning.

So...I am posting one "Bonus Challenge". This will make any single (just one single chance) "Late Assignment" worth the full point! Think of it as an "Oops" assignment. Life happens (trust me, I understand), and I don't want anyone getting frustrated when that happens. If you have a late assignment, just do this task and the late assignment will be marked for "Full Credit"! Keep in mind, you still have to complete the missing Challenge, but it will be counted as "On Time" and get full credit.

Bonus Challenge: Remove Background from a Video with Unsceen.com

Remove the background of a quick video clip and replace it with a new background.

1. Record a short (5 second) video of yourself. (You can use your PC/Chromebook camera to do this).

2. Upload this to https://www.unscreen.com.

3. Wait while it removes the background.

4. Choose a different background from the Unscreen options or your own.

5. Download this new video GIF.

6. Upload this new video GIF to me in Classroom. (Make sure to click "Turn In".)

Turn In Your GIF: (How to upload: https://youtu.be/2s-ytkj5OF4)

1. 1. Upload your GIF to Classroom using the "Add or Create" button to the right and then click "File" (or use the other locations if applicable).

   2. Browse for the file or drag the file into the screen and click "Upload".

   3. After uploading the image click the "Turn In" button to send it to me.

🅡🅔🅜🅔🅜🅑🅔🅡: You can have help! Ask friends, family, coworkers, students, and even your Tech Coach to help you!

🔹 Remove Video Background with Unscreen