Tech in The Middle
#TechinMS - Your Weekly Middle School Tech Tip by @tinamonte
Keep the App Smashing Coming!
When you use multiple apps simultaneously or when you use them to create an ultimate final product, you are App Smashing. App Smashing is a powerful way to harness the digital talents of our students. Here is a brief tutorial showing you how to use a text-to-speech tool along with an online annotator and curator to create a more interactive productive work space. What a great way to help your students to use online close reading tools and increase their capacity for digital content and ultimately improve their comprehension skills. This is also a perfect example of how you can enhance their digital literacy skills!
Link to two minute Video Tutorial
Link to Scrible Website and Scrible Extension
Your Favorite Google App, Just Got Better!
Google Slides just got a major new set of updates that will enhance what you and your students create and communicate! Along with better viewing and presentation options, Google has now integrated Add-ons to enhance your work and they have also included Google Keep in the mix as well.
Check out a brief video overview of all the latest updates. Want to learn more about the new Add-ons? Click here to read a great blog post by Matt Miller- Ditch That Textbook
Make it "Stick" with Google KEEP!
If you haven't heard about the neuroscience behind Retrieval Practice, now is the time! Retrieval Practice is the act of trying to recall information without having it in front of you. The key is to be intentional with the way and the varied time frames in which you retrieve the information that you are trying to store into long term memory. Did you know that the more you pull a piece of information from your brain, the stronger the pathway grows for future retrieval? Why not try it with your students?
SO WHAT? Here's what! Check out this link to a short Demo Video that includes a "brain dumping" activity using Google Keep. Want more information? Here is a link to a fantastic blog post and podcast by Jennifer Gonzalez, featuring the powerful learning strategy called Retrieval Practice (https://www.retrievalpractice.org/)
Creating Interactive Content
Google Drawing is an amazing tool to help you and your students create interactive multimedia posters. Why not promote important digital skills in your classroom by having students practice their research, design, and communication skills all in one shot! All content areas can integrate this into their classrooms by creating the following:
- Interactive diagrams of a plant or insect
- Key locations of a battle on a map
- Examples of geometric shapes in real life
- Cultural interactive maps
- Interpretation of different lines in a poem
- Interactive visual biographies
- Steps in a lab experiment
- Novel or Storyboard Infographic
- Final unit interactive study guide
Check out this link to a short demo video.
THANK YOU Eric Curts! Check out his blog post here.
Make Your Content Come Alive!
- Interactive stories
- Digital portfolios
- Math concept collector
- Research journals
- Poetry books
- Science reports
- Instruction manuals
- Comic adventures
Take a quick sneak peek at this awesome, powerful creation tool for you and your students (Link to 2 minute video). Want more? Here is the Link to a Book Creator Article & the Website.
Keep'em Coming Google!
New Updates to Classroom are HERE and just in time for the new school year. It is obvious that Google is listening to what teachers have to say. Some of the new functionalities are amazing time savers, like being able to view all the work of one student with one click. Another great new feature for those of us that teach multiple subjects or sections, is to be able to customize and arrange your classroom tiles. Take a peek at this Video Tutorial by Teacher's Tech to get a live demo of all the new features. (Link to Image Source)
Google Classroom Closeout-YUP!
Let Them HAVE IT!
Students need to HAVE plenty of opportunity to build vocabulary knowledge and to be able to access complex text. Want to see a great tool that could help? The Academic Word Finder is an amazing tool that can identify and measure the complexity of vocabulary in a text. YES, this is an awesome tool for Science, Social Studies, and ELA! It is both a teacher tool and a student tool. Check out the short video and see why :)
Link to 3 minute video tutorial
Link to the Academic Word Finder tool by Achievethecore.org
Got a Minute? 🚀🚀🚀
Want a fast and easy way to clean-up articles or text on a website? You need the Mercury Reader extension! Not only will this tool clear away the clutter, but it will also adjust the article for easier reading and future sharing in Google Classroom.
Is Time Your Enemy? ⌚👎😡
Welcome to Google Teacher Tribe Podcast. What?! You have never listened to a podcast!! Podcasts are a great way to learn anytime, anywhere... when you are driving, working out, doing laundry, etc. Why not fill that time with new learning :)
Check out the list of great Google PD Topics and start with one that works for you - Google Teacher Tribe Podcast. You won't be disappointed to get "anytime" relevant PD like this. Matt Miller and Kasey Bell are the amazing educators behind the podcast. Their blogs and podcast are chocked full of effective classroom application ideas.
Chrome Extensions Are a Teacher's Best Friend!
Who Needs Diamonds, When You Have Gems Like These :)
Want to save time sharing websites, videos, and articles with your students and fellow educators? These are guaranteed shortcuts that you will love. Below you will find a quick video tutorial and the links to each Chrome Extension. If this is your first time using an Extension, please take a peek at the beginner video first (link to beginner video).
Add Audio to Google Slides...Wait, What?!
If you are ready to try it yourself, here is the Link to How-To-Video
Math Resources & Google Tip
Link to 20 Excellent YouTube Channels by Educational Tech & Mobile Learning
If you want to see some cool ideas of how to use Google Slides and Google Drawing for fun with fractions then check out this blog link. Link to Control Alt Achieve
3 Tech Tips in 3 Minutes- Google Drawing
No matter what you teach, this is an amazing instructional tool!
Link to 3 Ideas in 3 Minutes Video - Graphic Organizers, Diagrams & Problem Solving, and Infographics
Link to Graphic Organizer templates by Eric Curts
Link to Creating Infographics with Google Drawing by Matt Miller
G Suite Training Tool at Your Finger Tips!
Link to 3 Minute Video Tutorial by Teacher's Tech
Create Instructional Videos with one Click!
Link to ViewedIt Video Tutorial
Wait, What?! Not a Google Tech Tip!
AWW is a simple application that can turn any screen into A Web Whiteboard. Why is this an amazing function? This will give you and your students a space to brainstorm, create, calculate, and collaborate with each other. Great for all content areas! Think solving word problems, drawing a life cycle, creating a map of Egypt, drawing a plot diagram, sketching a physics or battle layout, and MORE!
Link to AWW website by Ditch that Textbook
Wanna Know More About G Suite Explore?
Here is a great way to launch your tech knowledge into the new year...have you seen that little star icon in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides? Well, there is a lot of power hiding behind that star. The new Explore functions not only as a research tool, but also as an intuitive helper. Check out the short video below and get "Exploring"!
Link to 7 minute video tutorial by Teacher's Tech
Google Drive "Refresher"
Create Instructional Videos in FIVE Minutes...Yes, you can!!!
Google App Smashing...Say What?
Did you know that...
Link to Google Keep tutorial Video by Teacher's Tech
Google Add-ons...See what they can do!
Did you know that...
Confusing Tech Terms-Check out this quick video below!
Did you ever wonder...
Picture Credit: Lifehacker.com
#GOTTAHAVE!
Three MUST have Google Chrome Extensions for Teachers & Students
Tab Resize-Creates two or more side-by-side browsers (split screen), allowing the user to view a website, video, or text while utilizing a Google App.
Speakit-A text-to-speech tool that can be used for reading websites and Google Docs.
Did you know that...
Did you know that...
Link to Google Forms Quiz Video by Teacher's Tech