Mr. B EdTech Blog

Many educators use a school provided online gradebook of some sort, usually provided with the school Student Information System (SIS). Some popular programs include Skyward, Schoolmaster, and PowerSchool. However, some may not have this option or they want another place to create a personal backup of all the gradebook information. Google Sheets Gradebook Add-on https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gradebook/gemkopljgkgplboijpanmegimckjncnc?hl=en This add-on for Google sheets is free for those that want to track grades. One feature that may be worth the price tag are the reporting features. With this add-on teachers can create and email individual student progress reports or create whole class reports. This is an incredibly powerful tool that can make managing grades and tracking student progress easier. Instructions for Gradebook Add-on http://codebytony.com/gradebook-for-google-sheets-instructions/ Google Apps (G-Suite) Other Gradebook Templates https://drive.go...

To help automate my posts to social media, I have linked my blog with my various social media sites with Twitterfeed.com. This app automatically forwards my blog posts to Twitter, Facebook, and, most recently, Linkedin. However, Twitterfeed.com is set to shutdown on October 31, 2016. Now, when users visit Twitterfeed.com, they are greeted with a message about two other apps that will help with automating social media posts. I have included links to those apps below along with my initial impressions. **************** 1) divr.it This is the app that I have chosen. This app is capable of positng to Facebook, Linkedin, Pintrest, Google+, Tumblr, and a few other social media sites. Setup was easy, but the free version is limited. I was able to set up everything I need except for Pinterest, which requires a paid subscription for the service. As I like to stay with what is free, I will stick to manually posting to Pinterest. 2) buffer.com Buffer.com can post to every site that...

It is often the little things in life that add up to make life great. That statement may sound like an overreaction to something as simple as having page numbers in your Table of Contents, however this is a feature I have long since hoped for. I have created many documents that are published to the web. Since some of these documents over 40 pages in length, I really like adding a Table of Contents to my documents. This tool automatically creates a link to each one of my document headers (or bookmarks) and puts it a the top of my document. This makes it easier for readers to scan and find information in the document. However, if I print (or save as a PDF), it is great to have page numbers to go along with the header as a reference. How to Create a Table of Contents in Google Docs Google's Support Article:  https://support.google.com/docs/answer/116338?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en For more information on the update: https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com...

http://www.apple.com/apple-events/october-2016/ Apple's September conference focused almost exclusively on the new Apple Watch and iPhone 7. This time around, apple is expected to release details about the next generation of the device that started it all, the computer. There is much speculation about what Apple will unveil, but nothing in official until the conference (October 27, 2016). The conference starts at 10am Pacific Time (1pm Eastern). You can stream the event using the link above, or follow live via numerous tech blog coverage on blogs or Twitter. What will Apple reveal? (Speculation and Rumors) https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/22/apple-october-27th-event-macbook-focus/ http://venturebeat.com/2016/10/23/what-to-expect-from-apples-october-27-event-macbooks-duh/ https://9to5mac.com/2016/10/22/top-aapl-news-apple-oct-27-hello-again-mac-ios-10-more/ Requirements to stream the conference (From Apple.com) Apple's Live streaming uses Apple’s HTTP Live ...

Challenging Traditional Grades Looks like it is time to ruffle a few feathers on a Monday morning. This is an older article, but one that still has a large amount of relevance in what is currently being discussed in education. A lot of research is being done on the antiquated grading system almost every school has been using for over 100+ years. The earliest record of a letter-grade system comes from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts in 1897. (There is a passing reference in the Harvard archives to a student receiving a B grade in 1883, but no evidence of a complete A-through-F system.) (Quote from Slate.com) The struggle to change this grading system with something far superior in measuring student learning is very similar to converting Luddites to education technology. However, more parents, teachers, and students seem more willing to adopt technology rather than a new grading system. The letter grade system is easy to understand for parents, as this method was used in ho...

PROS: Catchy sounds and easy navigation make for an engrossing, endlessly engaging viewing experience. CONS: The content is uneven, and kids could come across inappropriate videos or ads. BOTTOM LINE: With adult guidance, this is a fun way for young kids to browse online videos. Read More at: https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/youtube-kids

Chrome (Version 53) included a large amount of updates. Some of these caused some havoc in our enterprise environments, but for the most part, those bugs were quickly resolved. One of the "hidden" features in this update is the ability to access and install apps from the Google Play store on Chromebooks. Although this ability is currently in Beta and is only available on a select few Chromebooks, google has plans How to install Android apps on Chrome OS :   https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en List of Compatible Devices:  https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/chrome-os-systems-supporting-android-apps?visit_id=1-636118137093447771-931875932&rd=1 In Education, this may help bridge the gap between two competing platforms. Schools have largely bought into either iPads or Chromebooks. With this new ability, those that need a more tactile interface (such as early education PreK - 2, will be able to use education apps previousl...