Google Apps and Chromebooks
Helpful Tips and Engaging Ideas for the Classroom
October 2015
The goal of this newsletter is to provide campuses/classrooms using Chromebooks with helpful tips for managing the devices in the classroom and ideas for integrating Google Apps into instruction.
Google Accounts
All students and staff have a Google for Education Account. If you have not accessed your account, try it today.
Staff Logins:
- Username - firstname.lastname@chisd.org
- Password - Hello123 (first time log in only)
Student Logins:
- Username - firstnamelastname@chisd.org (no dot between names)
- Password - 8-digit Birthday (mmddyear)
Ideas for Integration
Key Points for Integrating Technology
Remember Integration doesn't have to be hard.
- Keep it simple.
- Start slow.
- Focus on your content not the technology.
- Think about what you want the students to do or know in the end and then how/what technology can assist me with that.
Below are a couple of suggestions for starting slow and easy while utilizing technology. You're not changing WHAT you do, you're just changing HOW you do it.
Chromebooks - A tool in your Technology Toolbox
Remember the Chromebooks are connected to the internet. So if it can be done online, you can have students complete it on the Chromebooks. Below are some recommended sites to use with students:
- Kahoot! - Take your pencil and paper quiz and make it digital. This engaging websites turns everyday quizzes into an online fun game activity.
- Socrative - similar to Kahoot! Students can take online quizzes using any device.
- Padlet - a virtual wall that allows students to express their thoughts on a common topic easily. It works like an online sheet of paper where people can put any content (e.g. images, videos, documents, text) anywhere on the page, together with anyone, from any device.
- Shout It Out! - a SMART Notebook LAB Activity that allows students use a website to share their thoughts directly to your SMART Notebook file.
Formative Assessment with Google Apps!
Formative Assessment does not mean worksheets, quizzes, or tests! It can be anything that allows students to draw, choose, write, or say what they know. Below are some Google Apps that you can use with students to see what they know:
- Google Drawings - Google Drawings lets students add elements to a blank canvas, including text, images, shapes and lines. It’s a very simple Google App, but the options for its use are endless. Some ideas include interactive posters or graphic organizers.
- Quick blog with Google Slides (drive.google.com) – Make writing assignments more collaborative with this quick blog. Create a slide for every student … this will be their writing space. Students write and then write comments on each other’s writing, much like a blog (or — gasp! — social media!).
- Google Voice (google.com/voice) – Don’t have devices? No problem! Google Voice makes recording audio easy and only requires a phone. Google Voice is like digital voicemail. When you create a Voice account, you choose a phone number (for free!). Students can call that phone number with their phones (or your classroom phone) and leave a voice message. Put a twist on short essays by letting students call their answers in instead of writing them!
- Still a fan of tests and quizzes - use Google Forms!
Apps for the Chromebook
Student Login Poster
Post this sign near your Chromebooks to remind students how to login.
Tracey Willyard - Instructional Coordinator - Elementary Technology
Email: tracey.willyard@chisd.net
Website: http://www.chisd.net/Page/114
Location: 285 Uptown Boulevard, Cedar Hill, TX, United States
Phone: 972-291-1581
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CedarHillIsdInstructionalTechnology?ref=hl
Twitter: @CHISDTechnology