902 CUE Workshop- Search, Calendar, Hangouts

Introduction

I should know by now, but each week I get all snooty thinking how can we spend 2 and 1/2 hours on a session. I naively thought this again with Search and Calendar. Oops...Was I wrong, again.

I should know, by now, that I will always learn something from someone associated with CUE. This session was no different. Melissa Hero was our presenter and she shared on Google Search, Calendar, Plus and Hangouts.

Google Search

We spent about an hour just learning some of the features we can use with Search. Below are just a couple of them.

Search Operators

We learned how to use Search Operators, which reminds me of Boolean Logic from my CIS class in community college. You can use this to help limit searches. The example she gave was searching jaguars. If we are searching the animal's speed, we do not need to know about the cars. So, what we could do is type jaguar speed -car to filter out the cars. Below, you can see many other possibilities. Or go HERE for more.

Image Search

This was a cool function that allows the user to upload or drag and drop a picture and search the web. If we are on a site with a picture, we can right click and click Search Google for image. One example she gave was taking a picture of a bug to identify it. That got me thinking of using that to do the same with my kiddos. One that came to mind is the crane fly. We see them around and they FREAK out...and not in a calm way. (Is there a calm way?)

Anyway, I could have them take a picture and learn about the crane fly and that it IS NOT a mosquito, even though it may look that way.

Especially because they don't take my word for it.

Custom Search Engine

The last one I will share is the custom search engine. This is another hidden gem that I wish I knew about when we were learning about animals and habitats. What this tool does is allow the user (especially a teacher) to create a search area for the kids. Basically, I can define what sites I want them to search, instead of the whole web. So, I could give the students a link that takes them to the custom search. The one below is only going to search San Diego Zoo and LA Zoo websites, for example. You can add at least ten websites to your search. This will be a good way to help kids 1) stay focused, and 2) not go to sites that are unrelated. I plan on using this a lot.

Google Plus, Calendar and Hangouts

I am going to try and wrap this up with a quick bit. No reason for my post to take 2 and 1/2 hours to read. :-) She briefly mentioned Google Plus. We use this for discussion. It is like Google's version of social media platform.

Calendar- There were many cool tips I did not know about. Some I won't access much, since my school email has not been updated to new Gmail, so some features may not be accessible for some of you. A couple tips I liked were:

Embedding a calendar in your Site.
The ability to set up text notifications with GSuite for Education
Changing emails into a task or event!!- That was a super cool idea I will definately use, since there is no shortage of deadlines and due dates as a teachers.

Hangouts- The big takeaway here: Use it! Try it! Mystery Hangouts! Virtual Field trip! Plus hangouts record to YouTube, so that's cool.

Reflection

What did you think was valuable? Why
- So much, as you could see above. The hardest part is not getting overwhelmed (good or bad) with all the cool tools I don't know about or don't use. Melissa was very good about interacting with us, having us reflect or do a task. That is very helpful in processing the new learning.
What did you NOT think was valuable? Why
- Most of it was valuable, but honestly, except for the people in the cohort, I don't see myself using Google+. I tried it before, and there is a lot out there and I just don't have time.

Will the discussion change any of your teaching practices? How?
- It always does. If it doesn't, there is something wrong. :-) I will be using the Custom Search, above all.
What do you think is worth sharing with colleagues?
- One of the difficult things is that when I share, most people don't really care. Most times, I don't care. But sometimes it is a challenge, and frustrating when folks don't seem to want to hear it. (I don't even share much, anymore). That said, I share to whoever will listen. I already shared changing emails to events and custom search engines.
What are you inspired to do, think, etc..
- I hope I already captured this above. I keep striving, keep learning, keep Googling. My challenge will be to try to use one or two of each new trick or tool so I don't completely forget it all before the new year. So, I am inspired to keep using these and growing.

P.S. I'm not a fan of the fact that when I type up this post and post it it looks completely different with pictures in weird places. So, sorry for the formatting issues. :-)

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