Tech Tips
May 2014: Volume 1 Number 3
It's May already!
Animoto and TypingClub are available as Apps in your Google account.
Animoto
The free version is simple to use and makes a great "trailer" or easy video blurb to insert in a presentation. Available on the web and as a phone app.
TypingClub
TypingClub is available as a free app. It is one of a number of programs we are researching for keyboarding help.
Visuwords
Effort & Achievement Document and Spreadsheet
Effort & Achievement Spreadsheet Sample (Use with Effort Rubric)
As we know, "Grit" and effort are very important in regard to student achievement yet "research tells us that not all students realize the importance of effort. Many attribute their success or failure to external factors" (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn 2012).
The two links above were adapted from Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2012) and would be useful in letting students track their own effort and the effect it has on their scores.
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"Classroom" by Google!!
Classroom by Google
"Welcome to a preview of Classroom, a new tool coming to Google Apps for Education. Classroom weaves together Google Docs, Drive and Gmail to help teachers create and organize assignments quickly, provide feedback efficiently, and communicate with their classes with ease. And it lets students organize their work, complete and turn it in, and communicate directly with their teachers and peers.
Classroom was designed hand-in-hand with teachers to help them save time, keep classes organized, and improve communication with students."
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3 Practices that Support Innovation
Excerpt:
"Third, adopt new practices to model and encourage innovation:
- Embrace change: Don’t be afraid to try new things. Trying something you once dismissed might surprise you. Flexibility is key.
- Experiment more often: It will help increase comfort level when it comes to trying new things.
- Never stop learning: Educators and students learn side-by-side in today’s schools, and when educators continue learning, their peers and students benefit.
- Become an early adopter: Early adopters are often given a lot of freedom to try new technologies or practices. They are also considered leaders and help their fellow educators become comfortable with new and unfamiliar technologies or methods.
- Take a chance: There are lessons in failed experiments, and stepping outside the box can lead to surprising discoveries."
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9 Starter Tips for Teachers Who Just Got a New iPad
Teaching Copyright
"There's a lot of misinformation out there about legal rights and responsibilities in the digital era.
This is especially disconcerting when it comes to information being shared with youth. Kids and teens are bombarded with messages from a myriad of sources that using new technology is high-risk behavior. Downloading music is compared to stealing a bicycle — even though many downloads are lawful. Making videos using short clips from other sources is treated as probably illegal — even though many such videos are also lawful.
This misinformation is harmful, because it discourages kids and teens from following their natural inclination to be innovative and inquisitive. The innovators, artists and voters of tomorrow need to know that copyright law restricts many activities but also permits many others. And they need to know the positive steps they can take to protect themselves in the digital sphere. In short, youth don't need more intimidation — what they need is solid, accurate information."
Strongsville City Schools Instructional Technology Information
Contact me if you have any questions or would like help using these tools.
Email: turner@strongnet.org
Website: http://www.strongnet.org/InstructionalTechnology
Phone: 440-572-7067