Tech Bytes
Columbus City Schools eLearning K-12 Monthly Bulletin
It's NOT about DOING Technology. Its about finding and using essential TOOLS that SUPPORT teaching and LEARNING.
October 2017
- Professional Learning and Licensure Technology Professional Development Support
- Upcoming Professional Development
- Using the SAMR Model to Evaluate Technology Use
- Clever Update
- Tip for Google Classroom
- Tip for Google Forms
- #MustHave Chrome Extension - Save to Google Drive
- Chrome Book Tip - How to Get Rid of Large Mouse Cursor and On Screen Keyboard
CCS Professional Learning and Licensure Technology Professional Development
- Certified Google Educator Level 1 and Level 2 Exam Vouchers - Show what you know with certification. This is your time to shine and join the ranks of Google Certified Educators around the world. Get certified on your level to demonstrate your knowledge of Google online tools. In order to receive the exam voucher you must complete the Fundamental Training Course and send a screenshot of your completed course to Karmen McCaslin (kmccasli@columbus.k12.oh.us).
- Ashland University Course for CCS Teachers and Administrators - Click here for the 2017-18 Calendar for Columbus City Schools PDS Classes. There are many offering for PD on Google Apps and Blended Learning. Please direct questions about this process to Ashland University Columbus Center: 614-794-4850 or email their office at: wbigelow@ashland.edu
Upcoming Professional Development
- Introduction to Smart board Use for Beginners - Tuesday, November 28th
The PAR Consulting Teachers will present sessions this fall open to all CCS educators. Sessions are held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Hudson Center in the Professional Library, 737 E Hudson Ave. Register on CiMS—PD Planner for CEUs.
Using the SAMR Model to Evaluate Technology Use
Clever Update
Clever is a web-based service Columbus City Schools is using to manage data feeds to multiple learning applications. Instead of teachers and students accessing multiple sites, many partnering sites are accessible through Clever using your district credential single-sign on (SSO). Within Clever, student and teacher accounts are matched to learning apps by school, grade, or class section. Once logged in, your learning apps will populate in your portal. By clicking on the application you want, you will gain access to either your teacher or student experience.
Check out the updated directions for signing into Clever on Chrome books, Thin Clients, and outside the district.
Quick Tip for Google Classroom
Google Classroom gives you 3 ways to attach documents in an assignment.
- Students can view file
- Students can edit file
- Create a copy for each student
When using Google Classroom as a replacement for the Xerox machine, realize that it functions a lot like the Xerox machine. When you take your document down to the copy machine and print off 100 copies and then realize you have a typo, you can NOT fix the 100 copies you made. You have to re-photocopy or live with the typos.
Choosing “Create a copy for each student” creates a copy of YOUR original at the moment you attach it in Google Classroom. This means when you make updates to your original, the updates are NOT reflected in Google Classroom even if zero students have accessed the assignment.
Google Classroom does not create a copy of the teachers document until the student clicks on the OPEN button and opens the document.
If you "Make a Copy for each student" and want students to be able to type in the document it MUST be in Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawings, or Sheets format. PDF and Word Documents cannot be edited. Attached below are instructions for uploading to Drive and converting Word documents to a Google Doc.
If you chose "Student can edit file" all the students in the class will be working in the same document.
Source: http://www.alicekeeler.com/
Quick Tip for Google Forms
Use Cases for Multiple Correct Answers
One use for this new option would be to allow for variations on the correct answer. For example, if you were to ask "What is the tallest mountain in the world?" wouldn't it be nice to be able to accept "Mount Everest" or "Mt. Everest" or "mount everest" or just "Everest"?
Use Case #2
Another scenario where this new feature could be helpful would be for more open-ended questions. For example, a question such as "Name a president from Ohio" would need to allow for seven different possible last names. (How many can you name?)
Thankfully, with Google Form, we are now able to accept multiple correct answers for "Short Answer" questions.
Chrome Extension - Save to Google Drive
Ever wanted to save web content you find directly to your Google Drive? If yes, then be sure to get the 'Save to Google Drive' extension from the Chrome Web Store. This extension allows you to save documents and images by right clicking and selecting 'Save to Google Drive'. You can save the currently viewed page using the 'Save to Google Drive' browser action.
Below is a video tutorial to add the extension to your Chrome browser. Click here to add the Save to Drive extension.