Sheldon ISD Tech Tips
November/December 2017
Region 4 Digital Learning Conference
Every year, Region 4 hosts a fantastic Digital Learning Conference. This year's conference will be on January 18th, 2018. If you are interested in adding to your 21st Century Teacher Toolbox, visit here to read more information and register: https://www2.eventsxd.com/event/3821/dlc2018/home
Gsuite Training
Have you noticed an icon like the one to the right in some of your Google Apps in the upper right corner of the screen? It is an extension called Gsuite training and was pushed out to all of us by our Google Admin. You will find this handy little tool in Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, Forms, Google+, and Classroom.
When you click on the extension, you will find brief steps and videos to walk you through something you may not know how to do. Not sure about team drives? Just watch that section. Can't remember how to do something in Google Classroom? Click the icon and look for your topic. Or- watch them all and become a Google pro!
Read more about the extension here: https://goo.gl/vQG7iP
Hour of Code
The National Event - Hour of Code - takes place during the week of December 4 - 10th with the goal of having students all over the world participate in one hour of learning coding and computer science skills. In past years we have had students on every campus participate in the event. For more information about how to participate in hour of code, click here: https://www.smore.com/krcmf
Google Chrome Extensions
Extensions are little mini-programs that you can add to your Google Chrome toolbar to make your work life more efficient. To do so, go to the Chrome Web Store and search Extensions. If you find one you like, add it! It will stay in your Chrome browser no matter which computer you use. Some of my favorites are below.
Please note: you may find 25 extensions that sound awesome - but don't install them all or you risk slowing your system down.
goo.gl
I use this extension all the time! Once installed, just click the button to get a shortened URL or a QR code. If you like to prepare QR code activities for your students, this is the fastest way to go!
Checker Plus for Gmail
If you hate having multiple windows open but need to check your Gmail - this extension is for you. With the click of the button, it opens your Gmail in a small window for you to check. This same maker has also created Checker Plus for Calendar and Checker Plus for Drive.
Save to Pocket
When you click the Save to Pocket button, the site you are on is automatically saved to a web location called your pocket. It is similar to bookmarking. I use it to save all of the web articles I read.
Semester Exam Review Tools
We all look for ways to help our students practice and retain content from throughout the first semester. The tools below are great for supplementing your reviews and providing students with multiple ways to practice with and review content.
Quizlet LIVE
Regular Quizlet sets let students practice in 7 different ways - flashcards, learn, test, match, and more. However, an awesome option for reviewing during class time with all students is Quizlet LIVE - where students are put into teams and have to work together to match up terms and definitions based on the items that each student gets. Make your own study set or search the TONS of set that are already made.
Quizizz
Quizizz is a good way for students to review content and get immediate feedback. It is very similar to Kahoot, except that students work through the quiz at their own pace. You can either run a Quizizz in class or assign it for homework where students can practice as many times as they would like. Quizizz's can now be easily shared on Remind, in addition to Google Classroom & Edmodo. Homework links can be pasted into Seesaw as well. Create your own Quizizz or search all of the Quizizz's that are already in the free library.
Escape Rooms
Escape Rooms are a great way for students to work together to review content. Escape rooms can involve physical lock boxes or digital codes. The general idea is that students have to solve a series of puzzles, using the content they learned, to unlock the box or decipher a code. You don't have to buy an expensive kit or acquire any extra materials, the big idea is that each correct answer "unlocks" - or allows students to move on - to the next item. Or, groups can work on multiple items at once. The first group to "unlock" all the correct answers solves the mission. Check out the library at https://www.breakoutedu.com/. Teachers Pay Teachers also has a large amount of activities already created.
https://www.pinterest.com/ldrees/escape-classroom-ideas/?lp=true
Or - go digital and have students plug in their codes (answers) into a Google Form for verification.
Annette Clark, M. Ed
STEM Academy Facilitator/Digital Learning Specialist
Email: annetteclark@sheldonisd.com
Twitter: @EdTechClark