Note: I spent about 5 hours doing this post. With an hour (or more) of that dealing formatting issues! I did not like the way Sites was acting with adding pics, so I tried using a Doc, which made it much easier to add photos and change formatting. Unfortunately, when I tried to copy/paste, the added pics were gone. When I tried to Publish to the web, add as a Doc, insert via URL or embed, I was having the same and different issues. The pics would be there, but I could not make it fit full screen. It would only show a small part in the window without scrolling one paragraph at a time. When I tried to insert an image, it would not do it within my 'text box' AKA my writing. When I moved the image into my text box, it was way to big. When I made the image smaller, it made ALL my text smaller! So, I added to my other blog. If you need to see the pictures associated with the assignments, please go HERE. I am very frustrated, angry and stressed out. I am sure there is a better way, but I am not happy with some of the function of Sites. I am confident with (and enjoyed) the reflection piece. Not happy with other Googly stuff right now. Not at all. I feel like MySpace was user friendly.

TEC 902- CUE Workshop Blog

Introduction

I wasn't sure what to expect with my first CUE workshop with the CUE Digital Innovator's Program. It was scheduled for 2 and 1/2 hours! But, man, did that time really fly. The presenter was Marlena Hebern. One of the folks in the cohort said she was coauthor with Jon Corippo of The Eduprotocol Field Guide. It is now in my Wish List. DISCLAIMER: Marlena never mentioned the book, and I don't get any kickbacks from mentioning it.

Drive/Add-Ons/ Extensions

This was a quick activity to share about Add-ons and Extensions. the difference between them is that Extensions are a part of your Chrome browser and Add-ons are a part of the G-Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, etc). Marlena (I wonder if I can call her that- she seems nice enough) had us add an extension and then the Add-on called Orange Slice. Orange Slice was a cool Add-on that helped us quickly create a rubric that we can paste (and score) right within a Doc. the Orange highlights in the image are the teacher scores on the document. Plus, having the students download the add-on and grade their own writing using the rubric is something that I see having a value in the classroom.

(This used to be a cool picture.)

Forms

Most of us knew about Forms, but Marlena showed us how to use them create a self grading quiz. Like many tech things, it does take some input up front, but the other side of that is that once they are created, you will not need to recreate it next school year. Forms is becoming a valuable tool in the G Suite collection. I will definitely start adding these, more, to my toolbox.

I was even thinking that I could probably teach my 3rd graders to create them too. Next year I will be teaching 3rd grade, but I thought it was a great idea to be able to use picture as questions and possible answers for the littles.

Hyperdocs

OK I had heard many folks on podcasts and blogs talk about the amazingness of Hyperdocs. I glanced over, thinking it sounds nice, but moving on because I only have so much time in my day.

Once Marlena showed us a couple and how simple it was to do, I was hooked! And then she seriously blew my mind because I realized she was doing our presentation from a Hyperdoc!

This is a section of the instructor’s Hyperdoc lesson.

Then, like much of the Workshop, she had us try out the tools and tricks. I was really impressed about the feature for making a label like “Page 3” could be made into a bookmark and hyperlinked to that page or section. This section was certainly a highlight for me. There are so many uses for this. I plan on using this to help my students be limited a little with some of their research (and sites). We have a solid filter, but my students have often ran across some things they shouldn’t. Any way I can limit that and protect their innocence a little longer, I am all for.

Eduprotocols

Eduprotocols are templates that we can use to guide our students in their learning and we can use the template for many different topics and content areas. The idea behind it seems to be that if we can have the structure repeated, there becomes a familiarity with the structure and it becomes one less thing for the students to have to learn and navigate during the lesson.

One of the ones we tried was called the Booka Kucha. It is based on a Japanese-styled presentation called Pecha Kucha, similar to the Ted Talk. Fun fact: Pecha Kucha is an onamotopoeic term that means “chit-chat”.

The Booka Kucha is like a mini book report. Depending on the level of your students, there are several variations. The example we were given was a literary example. It was 4 or 5 slides. Students say what book they are reading and the page number. The prompt was: Three Problems, One character. On the next slides, the students would add a couple sentences and an image that corresponded.

When they are done, they have basically 20 seconds per slide to present for a total of about a minute. This is a great way to get students up and presenting as well as just a quick reflection activity. I am all about having activities (multi-use tools) that I can use the same structure and just change the content.

Session Reflection

What did you think was valuable? Why?

Most of the 2+ hours was pretty valuable. I am not just saying this for a grade. Frankly, it could have gone on for several more hours and not been long enough. So many good tidbits of info. Part of the value was not just someone talking for hours. It was very interactive. She would talk, she would demonstrate and she would make us do or reflect on something. I think a big part of being an effective teacher is modeling and reflection. I, especially, plan on using the Hyperdocs and Eduprotocols on a regular basis.

What did you NOT think was valuable? Why?

For me, while Orange Slice is a very useful tool, I almost feel the steps involved with it may be much for just a teacher assessment. Though, by stepping it up and having a peer review and student self-review, it may be more valuable.

Plus, I was sad we didn’t get to Sheets. That is the application I am least comfortable/proficient at, and I wish we had time to get to it. Maybe next time.

Will the discussion change any of your teaching practices? How?

If it doesn’t, then I may need to get out of teaching. Seriously, even if I was new to tech, the instructor was very helpful and was willing to back up as needed. One of the important things I have learned is that the tech is there to support or enhance my teaching, not simply to try out a new fun toy. One of the ways this will help me is that these tools are useful no matter my level, the level of my students and there is not much extra prep on most.

What do you think is worth sharing with colleagues?

Considering I have already shared the Booka Kucha, and CyberSandwich, and using pictures on Forms and Hyperdocs, there is much to share. I am certainly going to be sharing these as much as I can, until my colleagues begin to take a different route when they see me coming. Hopefully, not that bad.

What are you inspired to do, think, etc?

One of my ideas for my final product was the use of Hyperdocs for helping guide some of our PBL units. Even if I don’t use it for that, I know I will be trying many of these things in the new year. I am hoping to be able to add to the conversation happening during our cohort.

Derrick