Tech Tips
September 2015: Volume 3- Number 17
Enjoy the Beautiful Weather!
Numerics Calculator & Converter
"Powerful calculator and converter for Chrome. The easiest way to calculate. Works offline
Numerics Calculator is fast and very user-friendly application to make your calculations easier and faster. It is the leading solution on Chrome Web Store for variety of both simple and complex calculations."Math vs Zombies
"Four Awesome Worlds with Twenty Eight exciting levels let you sharpen your addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills along with having loads of fun at the same time!
The Math vs Zombies game contains visually rich environments and extremely fun and addictive game play to keep players engaged for a long time!
Questions support addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems.
BioDigital Human
"A better way to understand health and the human body. The BioDigital Human is a free 3D platform that simplifies the understanding of anatomy, disease, and treatments. The most comprehensive set of true 3D anatomy and health condition models ever assembled, all accessible through your browser! Choose from 1000’s of interactive visualizations to build your own custom library of models. Interactive tools combined with detailed medical descriptions provide an unprecedented new visual format to learn about your body. "
The Language of Choice and Support
"Language shapes our worldview. The narratives we hear around us influence our perceptions and understandings. Take Carol Dweck's concept of fixed versus growth mindset. One of the primary tools for fostering a growth mindset is changing how we talk about learning, from how we give feedback to how we address failure. Dweck's work shows that simple shifts in language of praise and feedback can hold immense power in children's view of themselves and of learning. We should harness this same power to better support our students who struggle with mental health challenges on a daily basis."
Google Classroom in Kindergarten
"Have you tried Google Classroom? Google Classroom is a blended learning platform for schools. It is part of the Google Apps for Education (#GAFE) tools.
I never in a million years imagined using it with kindergarteners. But, guess what?! I did!
I was amazed with my students ability to navigate the system and its overall ease of use."
Making Learning Visible: Doodling Helps Memories Stick
Making Learning Visible: Doodling Helps Memories Stick
“I sat through two 45-minute lectures in high school social studies and not only was I super focused because I was doodling, I could also basically give the lecture afterwards,” said Paul, who is director of learning design at Woodward Academy. “And if I look at the doodle again today for three to four minutes, I can basically remember it all again.”
These experiences convinced Paul and Gough that something powerful happens when auditory learning is transposed into images. It didn’t take much to excite students about the idea.
“It really is amazing how much, with just a tiny bit of introduction, most kids will take to it,” Paul said.
Google Search
20 Google Apps Activities for Classroom Innovation
(These are great!!)
"One of the best parts about the entire Google Apps suite is that teachers and students can use these versatile tools to create their own custom-made learning experiences. The power grows when they share with others, letting them try the same concept or change it to meet their own needs.
When the #DitchBook community on Twitter started talking Google Apps for Education, great classroom ideas flew around for the entire hour. The chat, which has been meeting at 10 p.m. Eastern / 9 p.m. Central / 8 p.m. Mountain / 7 p.m. Pacific on Thursdays, examines different ways to “Ditch That Textbook” in the classroom.
To see the entire chat, check out the Storify of the evening by clicking here."
15 Characteristics of a 21st Century Teacher
"Obviously, teaching in the 21-century is an altogether different phenomenon; never before could learning be happening the way it is now -- everywhere, all the time, on any possible topic, supporting any possible learning style or preference. But what does being a 21st-century teacher really mean?"
12 Free Add-Ons that Take Docs & Sheets to the Next Level
"Add-ons are third party plugins that take your Google Apps usage to the next level. There are countless add-ons to choose from and it can be overwhelming to filter through them all to find the true superstars. But don’t be disheartened, there are definitely plenty of add-ons that can kick your work efficiency into hyperdrive.
Send a fax from a Google Doc or create personalized mass emails from Google Sheets, the sky’s the limit when you are using the right add-ons. This list of 12 of our favorite add-ons for Google Docs and Sheets will leave you wondering how you ever got your work done without them. And the best part is, they’re free!"
Share NEWSELA to Google Classroom
"Love Google Classroom? We do too. Now you can instantly share a Newsela article with your students in Google Classroom."
Differentiation with Pear Deck
Google Forms
Embed a Google Form in Pear Deck to give students a differentiated quiz during your lesson.
- Design a form to move to particular questions based on what a student answers. For example, if a student selects #1, they will atomically skip to question 3. If they select #2, they go to question #4.
- Once your Google Form is created, embed the link in a Pear Deck Web Slide. Students will be able to move forward at their own pace.
In the example below, if a student selects that they are interested in learning “Scientific and technological advancements” they are then directed to questions that prompt their current understanding about the topic.
Grit! (See Video Below)
SCS Instructional Technology Information
Contact me if you have any questions or would like help using these tools.
Email: vturner@scsmustangs.org
Website: http://www.strongnet.org/InstructionalTechnology
Phone: 440-572-7067
Twitter: @vturner8