Mr. B EdTech Blog

Earlier this year, Google rolled out the "LOCKDOWN" feature on Google Quizzes. According to Google, this feature will block students from being able to open new tabs, thus preventing them from cheating. https://techycoach.com/2019/01/24/google-forms-lockdown-mode/ I do find this tool useful for those that use this type of assessment. However, one question I would ask, Is this type of assessment the best way to assess what students have learned. I find myself moving away from question and answer based assessments and moving toward project based assessments. This philosophy is summed up by saying that I am moving away from having students tell me what they learned to having students show me what they learned, putting the skills to actual use. Though I still see where the old style Q&A assessments can be valid, I am not sure that I would utilize this function often. I would encourage those using technology for assessments to think how to transform their instruct...

Now you can add section headers to your Google Docs. This feature has been in MS Word for quite some time, but it was not built in to Google Docs, until now. This should be available to everyone by the time school starts back up in August. :) More Info https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2019/07/more-header-footer-options-docs.html

https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2019/04/new-tools-sheets.html New features include: Selecting objects like in slides, being able to select multiple objects at once, move, and resize. Copy and Paste an image into a CELL! (Finally!!!) Guides and more...

https://mcdreeamiemusings.com/new-blog/2019/4/13/gsux1h6bnt8lqjd7w2t2mtvfg81uhx PowerPoint was once a powerful, transformative tool in education. In more recent years, this tool has been criticized as being overused, improperly used, and causing disinterest and disengagement from learning. In this example, PowerPoint was used as a tool that lead to the death of 7 astronauts. How did this happen? Learning how to use a presentation assist tool is not always a life and death matter. Making sure your presentation connects with your audience is important. Otherwise, what is the point of doing the presentation? One of the keys to keeping an audience engaged is audience participation and interaction. These interactive components have to relate to the topic and be meaningful, not just ice breakers. Resources on effective slide presentations https://business.tutsplus.com/articles/37-effective-powerpoint-presentation-tips--cms-25421 http://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/legislative-s...

Hello everyone, I am at the Illinois Computing Educator's Conference 2019 Today through Thursday. I will post a live feed of my notable conferences and experiences to Twitter throughout the day. Feel free to check it out Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Mr_B_Ed_Tech

https://www.controlaltachieve.com/2018/09/collabordependent-slides.html This is an interesting idea that I would not have thought of. It is good to combine the idea of creating passwords and having a purpose behind the password. That idea would be reinforced each time the password is entered.

https://www.controlaltachieve.com/2018/10/gif-slides.html A potentially really useful tool. What are some of the create uses you could see for this tool in your classroom?

Scroll through this article to find a very detailed list of resources for teaching about Geography and Immigration. https://www.techlearning.com/features/november-is-ideal-for-teaching-geography-and-immigration

http://www.cyclesoflearning.com/home/5-ways-to-embed-coding-electronics-into-your-science-curriculum Why is Coding Important? Coding involves high level thinking such as creativity and troubleshooting. One obvious connection I can see to science is learning DNA sequencing and genetic traits. What traits will you end up if you have certain genes? That is very similar to, what product will I get if I input X? Teachers: Should I Even Try This If I'm not a Coder? Yes! Do not be intimidated by the words "coding" and "programming." Take a look at the resources in the article (linked at the top). You may already be a pro but don't know it.

Teaching Vocabulary with Keyword Searches https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/class-tech-tips-classroom-tips-for-teaching-vocabulary-with-keyword-searches The original idea detailed in the link above, shows a method of teaching vocabulary words visually with Adobe Spark. However, if I were to use this method, I would most likely modify this to use Google Image search. Mainly because my school district does not have Adobe Spark. To accomplish this, I could use one of two image search tools from Google, #1) Go to images.google.com  and have students search a vocabulary term. #2) Have students search for images directly within G suite using Google Docs image search. See how to search for an image with Google Docs at the following link :  https://www.bettercloud.com/monitor/the-academy/how-to-search-for-and-add-free-images-right-within-google-docs/ Example Activity Using this Tool Have students create a google doc and type out their Vocabulary word...

See the Full Article https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/3-ways-to-simplify-streamline-and-empower-your-lesson-design I am going to focus on my favorite from this list, which is Leverage a Google Slide Template to Collect Student Work. I really like the idea of students creating a digital portfolio through Google Sites. This allows students to have a somewhat permanent record of what they accomplished in class. Many times at the end of the school year, I witnessed all I had taught them, quite literally get thrown in the garbage/recycling. This allows students access to their work after the fact as well as provides a snapshot of what was learned at the end of the year. See Example:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hfI8keDduTECDu6_uQ8VHLH3aNYCQNk8iJcZRvliWcI/edit?usp=sharing

See the Full Article http://www.bigguyinabowtie.com/the-blog/let-students-create-video-with-wevideo Recently I featured an article on Adobe Spark, an online video creation tool. However, in the past I have also recommended WeVideo, which is also an excellent tool. However, WeVideo does offer a premium version with more features for a price.  This article is not meant to compare WeVideo with Adobe Spark, but it is meant to show those of you who have seen Adobe Spark, what WeVideo can offer.

https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/mock-it-up-9-tools-for-learners-to-design-blueprint-and-visualize-their-innovations This resource offers great apps available on a variety of platforms to help students visualize projects. STEAM Up Learning! Ideas to Inspire Inquiry, Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving from Shelly Sanchez Terrell

In this article are 25 different uses for Google Docs in the Classroom. http://blog.mimio.com/25-cool-hacks-for-google-docs-in-the-classroom

Lately, I’ve been busy grading my students’ digital products. Each year my students accomplish so much with technology, such as brainstorming, collaboration, annotation, editing, research, and so forth. My students also create several digital products throughout my courses, such as mind maps, infographics, posters, presentations, video commercials, audio interviews, comics, ebooks, portfolios, visual prompts, speaking avatars, etc.  See the full process http://teacherrebootcamp.com/2018/07/16/techintegrationprocess/

See the Full Article http://www.bigguyinabowtie.com/the-blog/5-awesome-google-docs-add-ons Add-ons are apps that you can "add-on" to Google's G-Suite apps. These often add much needed features that are currently lacking in Google Docs. Check out a few listed in the article above to see if you can use some of these features. Also check out more in their add-on's section. Do you have an add-on for Google Docs that you can't live without? Post it in the comments.

See more details https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/9048510?hl=en There are several updates coming to Google Classroom this August. Teachers wishing to take advantage of these updates early can sign up in the article linked above. New Features (Launching August 2018) New Classwork Page (Top Picture) Create and reuse assignments and questions in one location! Organize the assignments and questions by grouping them into modules and units.  Teachers can plan their curriculum for the semester by reordering work to match their class sequence. This is an update that I (and many) have been waiting for in Google Classroom. With this update, teachers have the potential pre-build up a course and re-use it in future years without starting over. I am very excited to see how this update works. Improved Stream Page Stream is now the conversation center between students and teachers. This makes a lot of sense, as I've long considered the stream to be ...

http://www.bigguyinabowtie.com/the-blog/6-tools-to-bring-video-to-your-classroom I like this article as it shows at least one tool that is compatible with each device most classrooms use. I have used multiple apps on this list and highly recommend any of these apps for video creation. Have you thought about incorporating video into assignments as an alternative to traditional assignemnts?

https://www.edtechteam.com/blog/2017/02/desktop-publishing-easy-way-with-google/ When migrating from Microsoft Office to Google's G-Suite, some may have a question about what to do with their old Microsoft Publisher files. While these files, by Microsoft's design, are not compatible with any other publisher program, your projects can be recreated in G-Suite quite easily. The app to do this is not one you might expect. It's Google Slides! Yes, the GSuite alternative to PowerPoint is also great for creating Newsletters, Calendars, Flyers, Posters, Brochures and more. I have linked an article above that shows a great way to get started with publishing from Google Slides, however here are some great resources with templates you can get started with. Newsletter Template: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Newsletter-Templates-865442 Brochure Template: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1igOUwhOl1f5n2j4FoCXdYq7fOhO1fYqLE931Gw-WS0M/edit#slide=id.p How t...

How would you use this in your classroom? Computers are helping to dissolve away the walls of the classroom and take students to otherwise unreachable places. Now you can see inside Disney without waiting in line. http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/disneyland-disney-world-google-street-view