Tech Tips

9/1/2020 - Get Google Drive Organized

Once students start sharing assignments back to you that Google Drive can get out of control. Here are some helpful ideas in sorting out that drive, and how best to deal with "Shared with You" files too. Get Google Drive Organized Manage that Shared With Me Space

9/8/2020 - Daily Start Tab

One nice way to start your day instead of opening the same 5 or 6 tabs every morning is to create a bookmark folder in the chrome bookmark bar. In it place all the windows you open to start your day. Perhaps {Genesis, GMail, Drive, Google Classroom x2 (one for stream and one for classwork), Calendar, third party app (such as Newsela). Then all you do at start up is right click the folder and pick open all! Boom all set to go.

Twitter Video Demonstrating this process

9/8/2020 - Enabling Zoom Breakout Rooms

It's a bit hidden in settings and the instructions actually point to the wrong place. Quick steps to enable

9/8/2020 - Grade Transferer - Move Grades From Google to Genesis

This Chrome Extension actually works on a number of different platforms full list at their site. Those familiar with this tool will remember it as a free extension. This is no longer the case, though the price has been kept quite low. $1.99 a month is what they charge now, and there is new increased abilities explained on their promo page and website. If you are interested here is a link.

Now that GradeTransferer has moved to a pay model this is a little more cumbersome to do with the Google Classroom export feature and Genesis Import feature. However it's not that bad. Check out the Posts on the Shared Teacher Resource Padlet by Ms. Leah Hoffman on using these features of Google Classroom and Genesis. It's in the column labeled Teacher Guides to Tools. Self Padlet of Teacher Resources

9/22/2020 - Using Google Keep to Help Grade Writing

Pairing Google Keep with Google Docs to grade writing in a more time effective manner is a great tip from this EdTech blog Cntl Alt Achieve. Each comment could also have a link to your Screencastify video that elaborates that specific point or just points to other resources for reflection and improvement. Keep + Docs

9/22/2020 - Self-Paced PD on ScreenCastify and EdPuzzle

The self-paced courses that exist for these two new district resources are fantastic. They each take your from beginner to Expert/Coach level. This is a great way to learn more about these products but at your own pace and in way merge them with your current teaching practice. Check them out! EdPuzzle Courses Screencastify Courses

10/12/20 - What is a Shelf Padlet, and how might you use it?

Padlet is a flexible platform that allows for teachers to share information in a variety of way. Depending on the organizational structure you choose you might use it as a Class Library of Resources, or maybe as an interactive write with feedback, it all depends on the format you choose. Padlet is restricted to 3 active Padlets so you'll have to be creative with how you use and reuse the templates but regardless it's a nice tool in your toolbox. Check out this Padlet that was created using the "Shelf" organizational structure to sort all of your fellow teacher's shared resources. Self Padlet of Teacher Resources

10/15.2020 - Using Pear Deck to Level Up your Slides

Pear Deck is a district resource that we all have access to. The platform is a way to take a static lesson slide deck and make it interactive. Adding in special Pear Deck slides to your Google Slides to turn your existing lecture into a formative assessment as you go. Ask open ended, multiple choice, free draw responses from your students within your Lesson presentation and discuss the results of those slides as you progress through your lesson. Please check out this short tour from one of teachers in district Ms. Jamie Wasco uses Pear Deck in her classroom. Also please check out the Professional Development page on Pear Deck's site for further information. Ms. Wasco's Short Guide to Pear Deck Pear Deck PD Page

11/10/2020 - Student Groups in Edulastic for Differentiated Instruction

Not only does Edulastic allow for individual classes but students can also be fluidly grouped with other tags as well. This allows for ease of differentiaiton across your classes and get the supports needed to those students in whichever section they are in. Read more about it here.

12/20/2020 - MOTE - Leave voice comments in G-Suite

With the MOTE extension for Chrome you can leave quick personalized feedback to students with voice comments. It works in Google Docs, Google Classroom, etx.... Learn more about it here. Download the extension here

1/20/2021 - Extract Text from Images and PDF's

When students send you a picture of their work but you would like it in a text format you can try this trick out. If you open an image file or a pdf file as a google doc, google doc will automatically try to export the text it sees beneath the image for you to grab, edit, comment and use. Here's a video of the process in action. YouTube Shake up Learning

2/12/2021 - Google Teacher Podcast final episode #126

The Google Teacher Podcast has ended however the archive of all their episodes is still available on their website and on your favorite podcast catcher. Great material worth listening there. Check out the archive here.

3/19/2021 - Establish a Differentiated Classroom with Slides + Meet

This was from a session that was ran during a Full-Day PD. Here is a document that walks through the needed skills for the activity.