Free Technology Curriculum from Google

Looking for Lesson Plans to Teach Google to Secondary Students? 

CS-First from Google has the answer

CS-First from Google has recently published video-based lessons for teaching Google to grades 7-12 students. This course uses instructional videos and creative projects to teach students how to use G Suite applications. Students will develop digital literacy through creative projects.

Getting Started as a Teacher:

• Click this link CS-First from Google to sign up.
• Click on Get Started 
• You need to sign in as a Teacher first.
• You will be prompted to connect to your Google account (use your @aurorak12.org) and school. 
• Next you will create a class and be given a class code for students.

Benefits and Features:

• Prepares students for future careers. Prepare them with practices like communication, collaboration, and research
• Contains project-based curriculum that allows students to apply their new skills to real, relevant problems.
• Teaches students to behave ethically online. Digital citizenship is embedded in the lessons and encourages student to use technology tools safely and responsibly.
• Utilize the videos for a blended learning model in order to give individualized attention and foster student growth.
• Personalizes learning for students by giving them the opportunity to explore their interests, use their strengths, and develop important skills and ideas.
• Students gain computational thinking and programming skills along with creative problems solving.
• Lessons are more than "how-to" use an application. Students express ideas, collaborate with others, analyze and solve problems, and create.

Interactive Training and Walkthroughs, Right within G Suite

GAFE (Google Apps for Education) has changed the name to G Suite for Education. In addition to changing the name, Google has added several new features to some of the apps included in the G Suite. These features use "machine intelligence" to facilitate and add more functionalities to Google Apps. You can read Google's education blog to learn more about those new features.

In order to help APS staff, the G Suite Training extension (formerly Synergize) has been pushed to all staff. 

When staff login to Chrome with their APS Google credentials and utilize any G Suite core app (Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Hangouts, etc.), the following icon will show up in the top right hand corner of their screen:

The G Suite training extension is a tool for staff to use for self-guided training on how to use Google core apps; this will be helpful in the transition to Gmail/Calendar. When the icon is clicked, popular “how to” topics for that app will automatically populate. The option to search for specific content will also be available. After a topic is selected, an interactive based video will be presented within the app the person is in showing them exactly how to perform the function or feature they searched. For additional information on how the G Suite training extension works, got to the following link: http://www.androidcentral.com/googles-app-training-chrome-will-make-you-google-docs-master. 

Please let your Ed Tech Coach or IT Help Desk know if you have any questions or need support.

Have a Hoot with Learning & Assessment!

I was recently able to use the online tool Kahoot when facilitating some professional learning. I had heard about the tool over a year ago but never tool the chance of using it when leading a session. The feedback I received from the use of the tool was extremely positive. Users were incredibly engaged with the experience and had tons of fun while going through a simple quiz game I had created.  There was laughter and excitement which made the learning fun and interesting.  I found it incredibly easy to use the tool and engage my audience which provided an atmosphere of genuine learning.

Kahoot is a simple and easy to use tool in any learning environment. You can sign up for free and create assessments quickly and easily which is a crucial component to any learning environment. Kahoot works on any device with internet access including all mobile devices. One of my favorite features is the ease of use for participants. There is no need for them to create accounts to participate. Each "game" or activity that you create has a special pin and the only thing your participants need to get started is to enter the game pin and their name.  Another great feature is the ability to override or "veto" any inappropriate or misused names. If any participants enter names that aren't correct or are inappropriate, you can immediate reject them and they are dismissed from the game.

It's incredibly easy to get started with Kahoot. This VIDEO allows you to get started using Kahoot in under 3 minutes so there's no need to worry about spending hours learning a new tool. You'll need to visit getkahoot.com to sign up and create your first game/assessment as well as facilitate it.  Your participants will go to kahoot.com to play and enter the game pin. I created my first interactive experience with Kahoot in about 15 minutes and we were off and running. Participants earn points for correct responses but it doesn't end there.  Points are also awarded for how fast they respond which means the element of competition is very clearly present at all points of the game. The person who responds first gets the most points awarded and so on. I loved watching the looks on participant faces as they worked to respond as quickly as possible with the correct answer.  After each question a summary of the leader board is displayed allowing the competition to grow even stronger. Life involves competition and participants love fun, friendly competition so let's incorporate more opportunities in our learning environments.

Kahoot will provide instant feedback to the participants in terms of right or wrong answers.  It also will provide you a summary of participant responses to each question so you can easily collect great data to reflect on at a later time or when the game is finished. The data can be downloaded as an excel spreadsheet for easy analysis or you can also save it directly to Google Drive if you prefer to utilize your Googliciousness.  Either way, you can have access to instant data and make real-time instructional decisions to support your learners. You can even replay any of your previous Kahoot's at anytime so learners can challenge themselves to beat their previous score(s).

The next time you're thinking about assessing learners or want to have a conversation with them that involves data collection, check out Kahoot and watch the engagement soar.  Learning can be fun and Kahoot is one simple tool to bring the fun and engagement into your learning environment.  If you have questions or would like support with additional strategies for utilizing Kahoot in your instructional practice, contact your APS EdTech Coach.  It will certainly be a hoot!

Teachers, Would You Like to Try an All-in-One Grading Tool?

Try JoeZooApp

I recently participated in a Google Hangout Online with Carl from JoeZooApp. I am excited to start using this Add-on and the share with others.

He demonstrated the ease of using JoeZooApp as a Writing Feedback Tool, Rubric Builder, and a Grading Tool

The JoeZooApp is an add-on to Google Docs, and it works with Google Classroom.

Using Flubaroo to Give Students Meaningful Feedback

Flubaroo is a google add-on tool for google sheets that will automatically grade submissions based on the criteria that are set by the teacher. It's an extremely popular add-on. In its first iteration, it was a tool that worked best just with multiple choice or single word text/number questions. Recently it has undergone improvements that make it much more student-centered and teacher-friendly.

ReDesign Aurora

Check out this post from APS Director of Teaching & Learning, Laurie Marcellin:


ReDesign Aurora

Using Goobric to Support Student Self and Peer Assessment

Many APS Teachers have been using Doctopus and Goobric to digitally grade student assignments. Now Doctopus/Goobric support student self and peer assessment! Students will need the "Goobric for Students" Chrome extension for these features to work

It will only work on newly issued assignments or assignments that have had rubrics newly re-attached.  

Allows students to see rubric alert and button in Google Docs editor

Rubric-based assessment is designed to guide student learning and revision, and rubrics work best as an instructional tool when students are aware of their criteria while they are working, engaging with them regularly as a form of self-assessment and peer-assessment.

That is why Goobric for Students provides a pop-up reminder and a button in the Google Docs editor designed to encourage students to review the teacher's scoring rubric as they are creating or revising an assignment.

Tutorials:

Self-Assessment and Peer Assessment with Doctopus and Goobric Presentation by Lance Nishimura

Save Time With Writing Feedback Using JoeZoo Express

Literacy skills are necessary components of any content area. They are often becoming a focus for students of all ages and all classes in schools. Research has shown that students with strong reading and writing skills are able close achievement gaps and have accelerated learning experiences. One of the essential components to becoming a successful reader/writer is good feedback. When students receive timely, actionable feedback on their writing, they are able to improve dramatically. 

Providing feedback for student writing can be overwhelming and time consuming, however, technology is quickly making it possible to provide students with almost instant feedback when it comes to the foundational skills necessary to become a great writer. JoeZoo Express is a great new tool that can save teachers large amounts of time in providing feedback to students and quickly get them moving forward. Take a look at this video to see an example of how it works.

Formative Assessment Made Easy with Superquiz

Super Quiz is a great new formative assessment tool that has just been released.  Super Quiz is an Add-On for Google Sheets that quickly creates data and statistical displays of any student responses. Flubaroo has been another popular grading tool for Google Forms & Sheets for a long time and now there's another option that teachers can choose from. With Super Quiz, you don't need to wait for data on your students, you can instantly get breakdowns that will allow you to make quick instructional decisions and support struggling students.

Great Professional Learning Opportunity

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is coming to Denver next summer. This event is one of the largest and most popular professional learning experiences in the world when it comes to technology in education.  It's time to start thinking about your registration and plans to attend now so you can get the most out of this experience.  Registration for the 2016 conference in Denver, CO. opened yesterday so you can get set up at anytime.  If you're interested in attending this world class professional learning event, you'll find all the details below.  

Supporting Students with Reading and Writing Difficulties

One of my favorite Chrome extensions is Read & Write for Google. This extension has been added to all the APS Chromebooks, so students using these devices, automatically have this extension. Although students have the free version and do not have as many features, Read & Write provides text to speech and dual highlighting (yellow & blue) for any text on any website, PDF, or Google doc. It also provides an in the text translator.

As a teacher, you can get a free premium account for this extension by completing the form on this link. The premium version provides the same text to speech, dual highlighting, and translator features.  It also includes supports for Google Docs, specifically, multi-highlighting options for active reading, extracting highlights, a vocabulary chart, a regular and picture dictionary, and word prediction. This Quick Reference Guide will provide more details about the features.

In order to download this extension, you need to be logged into your Chrome account in the aurorak12.org account. Next, you can go to the Chrome Web store or click on this link to download it.

Check out this Read & Write for Google Presentation for more details on how this tool can help you in the classroom. Feel free to contact your Ed Tech Coach if you need help

Ways to Use Google Drive to Engage Parents

Looking for ideas to increase parent engagement this school year? Here are some ways you use can use Google Drive to collaborate with parents.

Benefits of Google Drive

• All staff and students already have a free Google account.
• Parents don't have to pay for Microsoft Office in order to read what you send them digitally.
• Parents use the same username and password they use for their Gmail account.
• Google Drive can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets, so parents can access every document without having to own a computer or pay for Internet at their house.
• Google saves everything you're working on, so you won't have to start from scratch when your computer restarts for updates halfway into creating your monthly newsletter.

Professional Development on your Schedule!

Promethean Board...check
Computer...check
Student Devices...check
Now...How do I use it all????

Your Ed Tech Coach is ready to help you with using these tools and more.

Did you know that you can have an Ed Tech coach come to your school and teach a group technology class?

There are many topics to choose from. Your coach can design a class to meet the specific needs of your group. Whether you want to improve your skills with Google or start using an online environment to blend your instruction, Ed Tech is ready to help you meet your professional development goals.

Google for Education on Air

Did you know that Google puts on a live conference that you can join or later access on your own time?  This year's Education on Air conference was hosted in May over the course of two days.  Take a look at what you can access at your fingertips today, tomorrow or whenever...

Chrome Tips and Trips

It was my pleasure to attend and present at the Google Apps for Education Summit in Breckenridge last month. One the topics I presented was How to Personalize and Differentiate Instruction with Add-ons, Apps, and Extensions. There are many, many helpful Chrome Tools that can be used to help students and teachers. This session focused on helpful educational add-ons, apps, and extensions for supporting reading and writing for all grade levels.

On the GOogle for Summer

Great teachers are experts at integrating real-world content or realistic experiences into their instruction.  With a summer full of activities, travel, and fun experiences, teachers can easily use their mobile devices to capture artifacts and experiences that can be used for instructional purposes during the upcoming school year.  Integrating real-life experiences into instruction provides sustainable and lasting impressions on students that create connections to solidify learning.  Here are some suggestions on easy ways to collect great experiences and moments using Google mobile apps.

Free Professional Learning on Your Schedule

Have you ever found yourself wanting to take part in some learning, but without having to commit to meeting the instructor or classmates at a particular time and place?  This summer and throughout the school year, you may want to take advantage of a MOOC, a Massive Open Online Course.  

Google Apps For Education Summit - autoCrat by New Visions Cloud Lab

Google Sheets addon - "autoCrat" - New Visions Cloud Lab

Our EdTech team had the pleasure of attending a two-day action packed Google Apps For Education (GAFE) Summit 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona.  This summit included two keynote presenters, 8 breakout sessions, a demo slam, and a closing session.  The sessions were beginner through advanced levels based on the uses of Google Apps in the classroom.

Ed Tech Unconference May 28!

Mark your calendars for May 28, 2015! From 9 AM - 1:30 at Columbia MS, your APS Ed Tech team is hosting a district-wide unconference.

What's an unconference? Glad you asked :)

An unconference is a professional learning event where the agenda is created by the participants on the day of the event. Anyone who attends can be a presenter because the underlying assumption is that all teachers and administrators are professionals worthy of sharing their expertise in a collaborative setting.

Nearpod or Pear Deck?

If you are getting comfortable with your classroom set of  Chromebooks or iPads and are ready for the next step, Nearpod and Peardeck are waiting for you. No longer do you need to present a lesson on your whiteboard and then have students complete the related assignments on their devices. Nearpod and Peardeck allow you to connect with your students in innovative ways. These powerful, web-based tools allow teachers to present information to the whole group or individuals. Then students show their understanding through quizzes, drawings or responses that are sent back to the teacher during the lesson.