DISD Ed Tech News
February 26, 2016
Favorite Google Chrome Extensions
To make the web page even more readable, with extensions like Open Dyslexic or Dyslexie you can adjust to a font specialized for ease of reading by dyslexic students and the Google Docs add-on Pupil Pref will even allow you to change the background color of a document for ease of reading as well!
Read & Write for Google - Amazing Tool!
Boost reading and writing confidence. Offer support for Google Docs/web to students with learning difficulties, dyslexia or ELL/ESL.
Read&Write for Google Chrome offers a range of powerful support tools to help students gain confidence with reading, writing, studying and research, including:
• Hear words, passages, or whole documents read aloud with easy-to-follow dual color highlighting. There are multiple voices and speeds to choose from.
• See the meaning of words explained with text and picture dictionaries or go straight to a Google Search of the word with the click of one button
• Hear and see text translated into other languages
• Get suggestions for the current or next word as you type
• Turn words into text as you speak
• Highlight text in documents or the web and collect for use in other documents
• Create and listen to voice notes directly inside of Google Docs
• Simplify and summarize text on web pages
Read&Write for Google Chrome is a user-friendly chrome extension for use with PCs, Macs and Chromebooks. It works with web pages and common file types in Google Drive, including: - Google Docs - PDF - ePub - Kes
Install Read&Write for Google Chrome to access ALL of these features FREE for 30 days! After 30 days, teachers can get a FREE premium subscription to Read&Write for Google Chrome. To register and activate your subscription, go to rw.texthelp.com/freeforteachers after installing the Read&Write for Google Chrome trial. Get more information on Read&Write for Google Chrome™ features, licensing, and pricing at http://rw.texthelp.com/drive/Support/premium.
Gmail Mini Tips
Once you have the emails you want to select in your Gmail view, either by selecting that label on the left-hand menu or by searching for all emails with that label by using the search box at the top of your window you can click the top check box on the page to select all emails on that page. BUT.... Look at the top of your message list and it will say that "All xxx messages on this page are selected" and you can also now pick "Select all xxx messages in (the label that you selected)". It's just a quicker way to select a multitude of messages that can't all fit on one page in your Gmail window.
Share to Classroom Chrome Extension
Share to Classroom button.
Adding the Extension
Sign into your Chrome account:
- Click the Chrome Menu (the three hot dogs in the upper right corner)
- Click Settings
- Click Extensions
- At the bottom of the list click on Get More Extensions
- This will take you to the Chrome webstore where you can search for Share to Classroom in the Extensions section
- Click Add to Chrome
Using the Extension:
1. While on a site you would like to share, click the Share to Classroom extension button found in the top, right corner of your screen.
2. Select the desired class(es) and complete the process by completing the options in the Share to Classroom window: Push to Students, Create Assignment, Ask Question or Make Announcement.
Find more information on the Classroom Help page
Instructional Technology Resources On The New DISD Website
You will also find a growing list of resources for online teacher learning on the Online Resources for Teacher Learning page. This page will be growing and if you have good resources for online teacher learning that you would like to suggest please email Rhonda Artho to add your information to the list.
Create a Newspaper with Google Docs
For a more detailed tutorial on producing a newspaper type Google Doc you might also want to check out this 9 minute video from MrJainPUSD. Richard Poth also has a detailed 8 minute video on how to Create A Newspaper using Google Docs.
AND..... if you'd rather not know how to make your own newspaper in Google Docs but you just want a pre-made template where you or students can just concentrate on the writing check out the templates available from Google here. You can click on Use This Template to make an editable copy of the template that is automatically saved in your Google Drive.
There are many wonderful learning tools to be found on YouTube and you can "subscribe" to the channels that have the content you are most interested in. You can receive email updates when the channels that you subscribe to add new content. It's a great way to grow your professional learning network by learning from other educators and experts around the planet.
UPCOMING TRAININGS FOR SPRING 2016
Remember - trainings are open to anyone who would like to attend! They are not just for teachers. You can pre-register for any of these trainings in Eduphoria.
If you would like to arrange a training on your campus or a personal one-on-one session please email Rhonda Artho at rhonda.artho@dumasisd.org.
February 2016
02/25/16 - Mobi: What Do I Do With This Thing? (at Cactus Computer Lab)
02/26/16 - Mobis in the Classroom - Interactive White Board in Your Hands
March 2016
03/01/16 - Get Your Google On! Chrome Apps & Extensions
03/03/16 - Discovery Education - So Much More Than Videos
03/08/16 - Google Drive - Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms
03/09/16 - Google Drive - Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms (at DJHS Computer Lab)
03/10/16 - PBS Learning Media in the Classroom
03/22/16 - Mobis - An Introduction or a Refresher
03/23/16 - Google Classroom
03/24/16 - What Can I Do With My Document Camera? (Samsung Doc Cams)
03/29/16 - Symbaloo in the Classroom
April 2016
04/05/16 - Video Creation in the Classroom
04/12/16 - Texas Gateway - Online Resources for Texas teachers
DISD Instructional Technology
Email: rhonda.artho@dumasisd.org
Website: dumasisd.org
Phone: 806-935-6461 1029