Mr. B EdTech Blog

This web based app was forwarded to me by some science teachers Suitable for Grade: 6-12 Subject: Science http://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/dl/free/0078695104/383950/BL_14.html

I just wanted to share this great tutorial video that shows how you can access your Google Docs offline, without an Internet Connection. https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2375012?p=offline_set_up&hl=en&rd=1 This is a great tool that no one should be without.

Here is a list of the most popular classroom extensions. Students (and teachers) can add these via the Chrome Web Store. http://www.teachthought.com/featured/50-of-the-best-google-chrome-extensions-for-teachers/ Here a few that I took an interest in from the list: VideoNot.es - Makes it easier to take notes from a video. Quizlet - Yes, now an app/extension for Chrome. Create review games and flashcards for terms. Hangouts - For Teachers, you can chat (text, video, or audio) with other teachers in D140. Lucidchart - Create flow charts and diagrams. Great fpr brainstorming. Newsela - Daily news at your students' reading levels (grades 3-12) Biology Pop - Content specific and very useful site. 3D Solar System Simulator - This drew my attention instantly, and I spent way too much time playing around with this on my own. Very well done! Awesome Screenshot: Capture & Annotate - Ever needed to direct students where to go on a website? Make it easier with screen shots and

What should leaders look for when Teachers are Using Technology? I came a cross an article (see below) that mentions some factors that one should look for when evaluating the use of technology in the classroom. Who is using the technology? Is the technology being used exclusively by the teacher? By the students? Is there a mix of both? If you took the technology away, how different would the lesson be? How much variety with the technology is there? When you see students using the technology are they always doing the same things. Are they just using Wikipedia or the calculator? What opportunities do students have to collaborate with or through the technology? What opportunities do students have to create new knowledge or products with the technology? Two commonalities between each of these questions are, the focus is on the student and the focus is also on what does the student create? Looking at Student Creativity A lot of research in the field of education technology

This document was created by Peter Vogel. What can you create on a chromebook? Want to know how to do things you would normally do on a PC, but on a Chromebook? This document shows how to do the most common tasks and the tools to do them on a Chromebook. This was, quite possibly, the most useful document for me as a District Technology Specialist as well as a teacher. Do you have tools that are not on this list, please list them in the comments.

MYTH #1) "Chromebooks are useless offline, without internet"  FALSE The Chrome Web Store has an entire section full of applications and extensions that work just as well  offline  as they do online.  All bases are covered, work essentials like Google Doc to Gmail. View Offline Apps MYTH #2) "Chromebooks are just Web Browsers"   FALSE Chrome OS provides much more than a web browsing experience, apps running from within the Chrome Browser are able to run because of Chrome OS. For example, Picture editing and Video Editing are possible, rather than just browsing for images. See my " What can you create on a Chromebook Google Doc " MYTH #3) "You might as well buy a "normal" laptop"   Not always Studies have shown that many tasks that "normal" users do on a laptop can easily be done on a Chromebook as well, see previous document.  Chromebooks can also do multitasking as well as extending to a

I think we (educators) have all been guilty of some of these mistakes when integrating technology into the classroom. I know I have throughout my 4 year tenure. This article from Tech&Learning.com shows some of the most common mistakes teachers make when integrating technology. The main points of the article are below. ► Technology being used to substitute an analog activity ► Technology use being seen as an add-on to allow students to use devices, the Internet, a program or an app as a reward, for entertainment, as a time filler for students who finish early ► Technology use as a separate subject area ► Technology as a $1000 pencil initiative ► Technology seen as the solution to motivate and engage students Taken one step further, here is the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) used by the Arizona Department of Education. A lot of these are "Entry Level" integration, found using the matrix on page two of the linked document. What steps can educators make to move

Windows 10 is announced to be a free update for those using Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1. However, what should you know before you make the upgrade 1) Windows is ending native DVD player support Additional drivers and codecs will need to be downloaded, but Windows Media Player will no longer be able to play DVD Movies. Many media burning suites come with DVD playing software. 2) Windows Media Center is going away Some people use Windows Media Center to watch TV on their PC or to record TV shows to watch later. You can also create a media library to share across Windows Media Center receivers (such as XBox 360). This is similar to how iTunes can work with Apple TV. However, windows is saying goodbye to Windows Media Center. It is not certain what, if anything, will take its place. 3)Windows Live Essentials becomes OneDrive Inbox 4) Windows 7 Gadgets will be removed Windows 7 was the last version of Windows to offer Desktop Gadgets. This feature may be unnecessa

I came across this list for summer learning opportunities online for students. This can be used for enrichment, remediation, or fun! Feel free to use or pass along to colleagues or parents. Each program is linked to various grade levels and subject matters. This can be a great way to get parents involved in education and offers opportunities for parent/teacher collaboration! 10 Online Summer Learning Opportunities for Students Brain Chase - A online five week program for grades 2-8. This adventure has students working in the subjects of math, reading, writing, and more, while watching animated episodes and solving educational problems. CK-12 Brain Flex - A free and self-paced online summer program that has students working on the subjects of math and science. Connections Learning - A nice collection of technology related online courses for math and reading grades K-8. DimensionU Summer Chill - A fun online competition that has students of all ages working in the subjects

http://www.chromestory.com/chromebook-user-guide/ This guide can really help students and teachers get acquainted with Chrome OS and its many features. Getting Started with your Chromebook PDF Guide For those of you that enjoy having a printable guide for your Chromebook, this is an excellent resource with great pictures and detailed explanations. Here are some of my favorite sections from User Guide Basic Tasks How to take a screenshot on Chromebook How To Keep Chromebook Stay Awake with Screen On How To Use Google Drive on a Chromebook How to Change Screen Resolution on Your Chromebook How to transfer files from iPhone and Android devices Productivity on Chromebook Editing MS Word Documents on a Chromebook How to Screencast from Your Chromebook Getting Ready To Go Offline With Your Chromebook Chromebook Security 7 Things That You Can Do Right Now To Make Your Chromebook Secure