Check out this page regularly for new updates and information! I'll move this content into the main site navigation as well!
**This setting does not currently work on our WiFi networks or desktop computers at school, but our IT department is working on adjusting the settings to allow it to function! Hopefully this will be resolved soon!**
Check out this amazing new updated from GoGuardian to allow for even easier interactions with students when learning virtually!
Activate Lecture & Presentation mode in your teacher session!
Share your camera with all students immediately
Present your screen
Lock students from navigating elsewhere!!!
Follow the steps here to set this up!
Want to test it out? Create a new session on your desktop computer or SMART board, and login to your Chromebook using one of the test accounts below. Add this account as the only "student" in your classroom so you can see how this works in action!
There are a wide variety of FREE or low cost professional development opportunities available this summer that would be excellent opportunities for staff to further develop their skills to prepare for any learning scenario that may arise this fall. I encourage you to take a look at these resources and find some to explore to further develop your instructional technology skills!
July 13 - 31: ISTE Summer Learning Academy - 3 weeks of learning about distance learning for only $20! Take a look at the sessions linked here!
This event sold out right away, but I managed to register and have access to all the live webinar links and recordings of each session. If you'd like access to check out the recorded sessions, let me know and I'll share my ISTE login information with you!
I registered for all of the sessions listed below, and can share the webinar recordings with you! Just email me :)
July 14: Webinar: Project-Based Learning in a Virtual Environment
July 16: Building Environments Ready for Anywhere, Anytime Learning
July 27: Digital Tools to Assist with Elementary Remote Learning
July 29: Digital Tool to Assist with Secondary Remote Learning
July 29: Virtual learning with Google Classroom & Google Meet Workshop (4 dates, $130 for entire workshop)
This is an excellent starting point for educators who would like to dive a bit deeper into using Google tools to facilitate online learning
I also strongly suggest that staff consider working through the training materials to become Google Certified with Educator Level 1! Working through the training materials teaches you everything and anything you ever wanted to know about teaching with Google applications! If you are already familiar with most Google program and applications, the level 1 training and exam will be fairly simple and only costs $10
Level 1 Certification - Training materials FREE - Certification exam $10
Level 2 Certification - Training materials FREE - Certification exam $25
Certifications last 3 years
Excellent way to build your resume and skill set as an educator
A wide variety of webinars available on demand!
Check out these great virtual EdCamp events! All EdCamps are being done online, so you can participate in events around the globe from the comfort of your home :)
I'll continue sharing resources as I find them to help all of our teachers prepare for the unique learning environment that we know we'll face this fall.
Check out this new book by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey! The author is offering a free virtual book club to work through the book with other educators nation wide, and there are also online workshops and webinars associated with this book. The book is broken into 9 modules, which are considered the 9 pillars of a strong distance learning program (see image below).
Check out the video at the right for some ideas for how to prepare to blend both virtual and in-person instruction to prepare for any and all learning scenarios!
#1: Set up a well-organized, easily navigable Learning Management System
Post ALL classwork, assignments, and resources on Google Classroom daily
Organize your classrooms by WEEKS, label each week similarly, and keep resources and materials for that week within that topic to be found easily later on
This ensures that ALL students, whether virtual or in-class, will receive the same foundation for learning
#2: Prepare to flip our classrooms
Students receive a majority of direct instruction through pre-recorded video tutorials or curated content
Use in-class time for feedback and discussion
#3: Use interactivity tools to make synchronous learning more effective
Use programs to boost engagement: Padlet, Google Jamboard, Kahoot, Pear Deck, Nearpod, etc
#4: Emphasize Lesson Design
Strategically sequence lessons
Use tech programs matched with instructional goals
Engage students in authentic, meaningful learning experiences
#5: Prepare to teach students foundational technology skills
Start the school year with a technology pre-assessment
Assemble tutorials and lesson plans to target student skill deficits
Check out the video at the right for some great suggestions for extensions to consider using!
How to use Canva to create a professional and beautiful looking image to share with families
How to post this image to ClassDojo
How to share links using Bit.ly
Google Sheets Basics
Filtering Data
Conditional Formatting
Data Validation
Protecting Cells and Sheets from Editing
Google Slides settings
Inserting pics, videos, audio, and more!
Presentation modes and Q&A feature
Unique links for each page
Linking within presentation to separate pages
Hyperlink: PC: control + K, Mac: command + K
Adjusting page layout for printing and viewing
Closed captioning in presentation mode!
Add Ons: FlatIcon, Noun Project, Unsplash (images and icons)
Quick tutorial showing you HOW to create Google Meet links to use with colleagues or to use with families and our preschool students.
**NOTE: For ANY and ALL students from grades 2-8 ONLY create and share links created within Google Classroom!**
What is a PDF?
The advantages of using PDF's when sending files to families and students
Image file types and their advantages/disadvantages
Taking a screenshot of an image to edit or share it elsewhere
Tools to turn files from PDF to JPG (or the other way) and to automatically separate or converge the pages.
How to create PDF's from photos on your phone, or pictures you take (use your phone as a scanner!)
Annotating an image with the photo markup tool on any phone
Annotating using Instagram or Facebook
Creating fillable Google Slides worksheets
Using Kami to send students PDF worksheets they can edit and engage with
Additional benefits of Kami: Google Classroom integration that allows you to schedule assignments to multiple classes in advance!
--> Do you constantly have trouble unmuting yourself on a Google Meet?
--> Would you like to be able to do this by just clicking your spacebar?
--> Install the Google Meet Push to Talk Extension!
Also consider learning the handy keyboard shortcuts below!
This site is searchable!
Did you know that if you click the magnifying glass/search icon in the upper right hand corner that you can easily SEARCH this site? Try it out!
Here's a quick review of some updates to ClassDojo, how to help parents with Student accounts/portfolios, and how to better manage your story/stream
Google Meet Grid updates
You can now enable "screen capture mode" within the Google Meet grid, which removes student names, so you can take photos safely without compromising student privacy!
This also locks videos in place!
Google Classroom Organization Tips (see below)
Organize the work for each week in Topics labeled as "Week of April 20th" to help students find the work for a single week more easily!
Remember to use the "Make a copy for each student" option for MOST assignments!
Consider converting your PDF's to Google Slides for students to complete!
Google Classroom - Grading Tips
Student Perspective vs Teacher Perspective
Where students go to see their grades
How to return and score student work
Adjusting your grading settings in Google Classroom
Having trouble with Google Meet sessions with large groups of students? Are students getting kicked out, losing audio, or are you having trouble with your camera/mic or other functions?
In general, live video streaming is challenging instructionally and technically. Consider using these live video sessions for check ins, Q&A sessions, informal chats, and just to build community with students. Since we know it's VERY challenging to make sure ALL of our students are present for a scheduled session, it's best to use pre-recorded videos for your primary instruction that you need ALL students to receive. Keep your live sessions for the "extra" but not necessary content.
Take a look and the suggestions in the video and slideshow linked below and on the right!
Want to be able to schedule Google Classroom assignments to MULTIPLE classrooms at the same time? USE KAMI!
Kami is a tool that allows students to annotate ANY PDF document and submit it back to you as an assignment. So students could add notes, arrows, drawings, shapes, and other annotations to ANY document and then submit it. Envision students doing this on a text, an article, a worksheet, and assessment, or another other PDF doc!
ALL our staff that create a Kami account using their @bgcsedu.org and @uccacostams.org email address will automatically have access to a free PRO level license through April 30th, 2020 (and most likely longer)
--> Create your Kami account here
--> Get Kami Add-On
--> Kami Extension
Once you add these tools, when you go into Google Classroom you will now be able to create a KAMI Assignment when creating an assignment in Google Classroom (see image to the right). Within the Kami assignment window, you can select MULTIPLE classroom to schedule a post out to in advance!
Kami Resources:
Video showing you HOW to do this will be posted soon!
Here's a couple great resources to check out that may help you address some present issues you are having:
Having trouble viewing your presentation screen AND seeing your students faces? Check out this post that shows you 3 ideas for how you could better manage this!
Interested in scheduling individual meetings with students? Check out this video to see how you could do this in Google calendar by setting up appointments with your students!
Check out this great short video that review 7 great apps or programs for distance learning!
Google Classroom
Screencastify
Jamboard
Ziteboard
Google Meet
Zoom (use for recording YOUR instruction with annotations and a built in whiteboard - DON'T use when meeting with students)
Flipgrid
And just for fun ... here are some tips for making your time working from home feel more productive!
Unique Google Meet link is now embedded in every Google Classroom!
Tailor your Google Classroom notifications to better manage email notifications!
Watch the video to see how to do this here -->