Tyler's Tech Tips
Issue # 6 - May 2016
To help promote one of my PDs this summer, "Digital Illustration and Design," images in this newsletter are digitally-drawn.
Summer Tech PDs
My summer PD listing is out. Check out what I will be facilitating below:
June 23 @ 8:00 - 11:15 Google Apps for Education
June 23 @ 11:45 - 3:00 Formative Assessment using Technology
July 12 @ 8:00 - 11:15 Digital Illustration and Design
July 12 @ 11:45 - 3:00 Coding with Kids
August 16 @ 8:00 - 11:15 YouTube Me
Quizalize
We have heard of Kahoot and Quizziz, but here is the newest tool on the block. Quizalize is a neat addition to your assessment arsenal. The difference with this one is that it has a neat scramble/spelling feature. Instead of choosing an option, students have to spell the answer correctly with the letters that become scrambled. This would be great for any assessment that you want spelling to count. To enable this feature, when you are making your assessment, only add your correct answer to your multiple choice. If you leave "B", "C", and "D" blank, it will automatically turn into a scramble question.
Quizalize is also very simple to use and free!
Too Loud Kids Noise Meter & Timer
Can you tell that it is spring? If it is not from the weather, than I can guess that it is from your students behavior. Here is an app that Bad Axe teacher, Joanne Steinbus showed me the other day that she was using with her students. This app gauges the noise level in the classroom and will either give students a positive or negative sound when it is quite or too loud. The sensitivity can be adjusted and a timer can be set. The goal for your class is to receive as many positive sounds as possible during their time period.
The app is free and is a great way to switch things up this spring. A computer microphone is needed.
CK-12 Brainflex
Do you ever have parents or students asking you for material to work on over the summer? Instead of scrambling to find extra work books or material, CK-12 is a self-paced website where students can work on K-12 math and science skills in the summer months. Teachers can send invitations out to their students or parents/students can create their own free account and learn about any topics they wish. It is also available as an app through the App Store or Google Play.
PEXELS - Free Photos
I have posted different websites before that offer free pictures without having to cite them. I came across PEXELS the other day, and love this site. If offers HIGH QUALITY pictures that are free, do not require a login, and students/teachers do not have to cite them. Of course, it is always good to practice using citations, but these pictures are great for any sort of digital project. Check out PEXELS at https://www.pexels.com/
(Picture not digitally-drawn)
Unite for Literacy
Are you looking to find more narrated books for your primary students? BookFlix is a great option, but Unite for Literacy is another great tool that works on most devices. It has hundreds of books in different categories that can be read to students. The first time you access the site, you will have to put in your zip code to set your community. This site makes a great center activity as students can watch and listen to many books.
Google Updates and Neat Features
It has been a crazy last few weeks in the Google world. There are many new updates or features you may not know about. Check them out below!
- Create a running outline in any of our lengthy Google Docs. This gives you a clickable navigation. To get started, click on "Tools" and then select "Document Outline".
- Very similar to an outline, Google Docs also has a table of contents feature. This is also a clickable navigation tool, but this can be inserted on any page of your Doc. To use, click on "Insert" and select "Table of Contents".
- Are you a Google Form user? Well if so, don't forget that they have many templates already created for your use. Check them out at docs.google.com/forms/u/0/
- Google Slides earned a couple of new features. You will notice that when you go to hit "Present" there is a drop down option. This option allows presenters to have a presenter view. This mode allows for Q&A which can be presented to your audience and includes speaker notes. There is also a laser pointer available in your presentation. It can be found while in presentation mode in the bottom left corner. For more information on this, click here.
- Google Calendar now has Task Reminders, Goals, and can help search for available meeting times between Google users. I use Task reminders all the time because they sync between all your devices and I need many reminders.
- When adding comments to a Doc or Slides, you can now mention the name of the person you are leaving a comment for, and it will send them an emailed reminder about the comment. Great for editing papers as students get emailed about changes.
To see more, click here.
Digital Illustration and Design
Here is some of my artwork that I drew on my iPad. Check out my "Digital Illustration and Design" PD this summer to learn how to become a digital artist.
More PD Opportunities
"Leadership Mindshare" August 4-5 Grand Rapids, MI
"MACUL" March 15-17, 2017 Detroit, MI