Chanatown

GSuite Updates - March 28, 2017 - Capitalization and Calendar Privileges

2017-03-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Quick access to ALLCAPS and lowercase, as well as Title Case now available in Google Docs:

Admins also have the ability to assign Calendar Privileges, specifically managing Calendar Resources and/or the Calendar app settings in general.

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Keep on Google Keepin' On - Why I'm Moving to Inbox by Gmail and Google Keep and Away from Google Tasks

2017-03-28T15:12:00.003-05:00

Long time, no blog. Yep, now that that's out of the way, let's dig into why I chose to write after a nearly two year hiatus.

I pride myself on being responsive via email. My colleagues probably get sick of me talking about Inbox Zero, and my family probably despise me for keeping a mobile device nearby too often, but it's how I work. Until recently, my workflow has pretty much involved GMail, GCal, GTasks, and GDrive. I have given workshops and presentations on "Striving Towards Inbox Zero", and I haven't had much reason to change. However, Google's increasing attention to Reminders and their lack of love for GTasks have gotten me thinking about alternatives and not holding my breath that they will magically merge the two applications. Add to that the resurrecting buzz that Google Keep is generating in the edtech circles, and you've got a perfect time and opportunity for a change. That and it's spring break, which also explains my back to blogging status.

So, the biggest change is not using GTasks anymore. I'm slowly but surely migrating all of my tasks over to Google Keep. One of the biggest reasons for me not changing over sooner was the one feature that Gmail has where you can "Create a Task" from an email. I loved this, shared it at conferences, and it was my way of creating an action item from an email. Google Keep didn't have a way of doing this, and it wasn't until I rediscovered Inbox by Gmail, Google's pet project, second email application, that I realized that this feature has been there right under my nose the whole time.

Without a doubt, Inbox takes some time to get used to, but I think I've figured out how it can and will work for me. First, that email task creation bit. If you pin an email, you'll have a Reminder field pop up where you can create a task. Now, the part that I had to come to terms with was how to set a due date for this task. That's where the Snooze filter comes in. It's not the best term IMO, but I guess it fits the bill. I mean, that's what I'm doing here, isn't it? I'm delaying a response to this email, and creating a reminder (task) for me to complete it at a later date. I'm snoozing on the email.

Once created, we then see where the benefits of being a reminder and not a task come into play. Reminders can be found on one's GCalendar (at their respective date/time), and look, there's the "View in Gmail" link to take me back to that message directly. Just like Tasks, and hopefully future proof from being sent to the Google Graveyard. Back to Snooze. In this case, it's not merely that "If you snooze, you lose", but rather quite the opposite. In Inbox, unlike Reminders, which seem to list all of your reminders in the order that you added them (not at all useful to me), Snooze has them listed in the order of upcoming date/time. That's what I want to see, that's how I've always used my task lists, and that means I'll be cruising the snoozin' quite a bit more often in Inbox. More to come in a future post on Google Keep - it's quickly becoming a "go-to app" and "must-open tab" for me.

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Video Demo/Tutorial: Google Chromebooks Domain Autocomplete

2015-07-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Video Demo/Tutorial: Disable Download in Google Docs

2015-07-23T17:30:00.003-05:00

Google Apps Feature Demo: Gmail Undo Send

2015-07-14T19:49:00.001-05:00

FanDuel App Allows Easy Play On The Go

2014-10-31T16:59:00.000-05:00

Fantasy sports in general have certainly evolved in the last few years. During the early stages, people had to play fantasy football and fantasy basketball by keeping their own score or sending selections in through the mail through some sort of prehistoric league. These days, it is certainly much easier to get a fantasy sports fix. There are numerous websites that offer standard season-long leagues, but FanDuel offers shorter, one day leagues for those who want to play fast, quick games on a nightly basis. The FanDuel App makes it easier than ever to get everything set up and ready to go.

Since players are signing up for just one day leagues, time is always limited. There are times in which people can’t get to a computer in order to set a roster full of players in time for the games to start. That is why the mobile app has been developed to allow a person to make all the changes they need. A person can sign up for a league and set the roster in a matter of minutes from any smart phone without having to sacrifice anything compared to the full website version.

Not only does FanDuel offer a platform to play with, but they also offer several links for people to check as far as statistics and match up numbers are concerned. This allows people to make an informed decision before randomly picking people out of the blue. Doing this all on the go can allow a person to even play in a league if they’re going to an actual game that night. It certainly beats having to find a computer with an Internet connection like people were forced to do less a decade ago.

Just like on the regular website, free games and paid games can be signed up for. This method of play is becoming more and more popular with those who play on FanDuel the most. Convenience is always going to win out, and that is probably why you do not see anyone these days mailing in fantasy basketball or fantasy football results like they did prior to the Internet taking off.

The above post was written by guest writer Matt Stevens.

So you can record a Screencast on Google Chromebooks - a 60 second intro to Screencastify

2014-02-17T16:30:00.000-06:00

This one's been eagerly anticipated. It's nowhere near perfect, but it's definitely a step in the right direction and takes far fewer steps than recording a Google Hangout just to capture a simple screencast. Below is an embedded video made using the free Google Extension "Screencastify".

Sharing and Embedding YouTube Snippets Using TubeChop

2013-12-12T21:39:00.004-06:00

During a Google Sites project earlier today, a student asked whether it was possible to use just a portion of a YouTube video. I recalled being able to do this through other web applications, but only where you would be able to start at a certain point (http://youtubetime.com/) or by manually modifying the link (http://google.about.com/od/googleblogging/f/Time_YouTube.htm). A quick Google search revealed a tool that's actually been out for awhile (where have I been?), but I'm happy to have found it today.

Challenge: Show a snippet of a YouTube Video

Solution: TubeChop

TubeChop is extremely easy to use. Simply paste the URL or even search directly from the website. Use the sliders to designate start/stop points for the video, and chop it. You'll get a dedicated URL for the chopped video, as well as a link and even an embed code. This was a perfect match for the website design projects, as the students now have a way of showing just a specific piece of some potentially long videos.

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Crocodoc - An Online Web App for Annotating Office and PDF Files

2013-11-26T16:30:00.000-06:00

The challenge: Finding an easy way for students to use the Chromebooks to annotate PDF files.

The solution: Crocodoc

Recently, I attended a conference presentation on Subtext, which looked awesome on the iPad, but sadly, the web version is still in its infancy. I just gave it another go, and couldn't find an easy way to upload and start inking on a PDF. I had demo'ed PDFescape during a recent presentation on Chromebooks and Accessibility, and the web application gets the job done, but it does so with an abundance of ads, as well as some clunky behaviors.

So, in preparation for a meeting with a teacher who is interested in having her students annotate on the Chromebooks, I stumbled upon Crocodoc and I must say that I am impressed. Right from the initial first use, the interface for Crocodoc is very clean, minimalist, and easy on the eyes. The feature set is extensive for a web app. You can write comments on the margins, add pointers, box or highlight text. Free hand drawings, highlighting and text boxes are also one click away. So far, all of this has taken place without needing a login. You can even collaborate with other users by sharing a link or via an email address, and the notes appear in near real time. At the end, you can download the either or both the original and marked up text. Signing in with an account gets you some additional features such as upload history, the ability to delete files and management of folders and documents from one location.

I'll post an update once the teacher goes live with the assignment and tests on the Chromebooks. However, for now, I've found my go-to app for PDF annotations.

Try Crocodoc Personal for free at: http://personal.crocodoc.com/

49ers Levi’s Stadium Offers A Glimpse Of A More Tech-Friendly NFL

2013-07-08T09:28:00.002-05:00

Despite the NFL being by far the most popular sport in United States, the league is feeling a bit of pressure when it comes to technology and their fans. Just about everyone is connected to the internet or television throughout the weekend, which means that the NFL has to come up with new ways to get people off the couch and into the stadium. With new information regarding Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, will the 49ers usher in a new era?

A person can be a rabid fan of the NFL who enjoys watching as many games as possible every Sunday. With that being said, in order to watch a lot of games and stay connected, a person needs to be at home or at a bar with a lot of televisions. Levi’s Stadium looks to change that thought process by allowing fans to actually stay connected while watching live football.

The plan is to have wireless internet across the stadium, free of charge. Many seats will also have upgrades such as tablet orders on seats, television options and in-house video that provides constant updates from around the rest of the NFL.

Implementing all of these changes in older stadiums will be difficult, but at the very least, offering wireless internet at every stadium is pretty much a must at this point. Just about everyone who wants to stay connected has a smart phone or tablet, which means that the internet is a necessity. In the age of fantasy football, people would love to check how their team is doing during timeouts and half time.

The technology evolution has been going on for a while in the NFL, but Levi’s Stadium, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, looks to really change the game in more ways than one. Since they are hosting Super Bowl L that might be the big game that officially changes the way fans enjoy a life football event.

This post is sponsored by www.FanDuel.com.

Catching Up - Chromebooks, Sony Education, Presenting, and ISTE 2013

2013-07-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe that it's been a few months since the last post. During a recent offline plane ride, I took the opportunity to jot down a quick catch-up on my edtech life. Year of the Chromebook What started as an initial idea and prototype piece of hardware has now developed into one of the fastest growing contributors to the edtech world. Just as quickly as the iPad was annointed as a potential game-changer, the Chromebook has swooped in with its no frills, browser-based, low maintenance and easily managed iterations (the most popular being the budget friendly Samsung Series 3). It is hard to argue with the Chromebook as it manages to accomplish much of what is requested both from the IT department and classroom teachers. The devices are easy to deploy and manage, and they reduce the time needed to get students up and running. Could this be the machine that pushes more schools into the 1:1 playground and gets computers into the hands of all of our students? For our school, we have tried a variety of options, ranging from PC laptops to iPads to Chromebooks. We will continue to support what teachers feel works best with their classes, but as evidenced by the moves of several schools in our neighboring districts, the 1:1 movement may just feature the little laptop that few thought would ever gain traction without all of those bells and whistles.

Sony Education Ambassador Earlier in the summer, I learned that I was accepted as a member of the second cohort of educators to be named Sony Education Ambassadors. Aside from receiving an amazing gift (the ridiculously light Sony Experia Z), I am looking forward to making contributions to the Sony Edu team, and I have already been impressed with the vibrant spirit found in the growing community. I look forward to improving the teaching profession through this opportunity to connect with an amazing and dedicated group of individuals, as well as a company whose products I have always admired ever since my first Sony Walkman. The Presenter Life The end of the school year unfortunately did not mean the immediate beginning of summer vacation for this author. Instead, I headed straight to Milwaukee for the 2nd Annual Google Apps Summit at Wisconsin Lutheran College. A five-day immersive experience, the Summit allowed teachers and administrators the opportunity to dive deep into Google Apps, earn graduate credits, and explore the beautiful city of Milwaukee, all with a new and shiny Samsung Chromebook. I had a blast working with close to 90 educators on sessions including Google Drive, Forms, Sheets, Scripts, Sites, and Groups. I also was honored to deliver the opening keynote for Wednesday, and this happened to take place at the Discovery World Museum. The presentation was an updated version of one that I also gave at the Commission on Technology conference at the Moody Bible Institute earlier in the year.
ISTE 2013

Worth 10,000 points in the ISTE Scavenger Hunt!

I was fortunate to attend ISTE once again this year, this time as part of a six member team sent by our school district. I presented on Chrome Apps at the Google Booth, as well as Hapara’s Teacher Dashboard. As a team, we divided and conquered the thick program book, each taking away long lists and pages of ideas. Needless to say, we are all excited to come home, share our new knowledge with others, and we hope to increase our contributions to the edtech community locally and globally. One immediate application of something we enjoyed at ISTE was the creation of an edtech blog that will be a collaborative effort from our teachers. Hope this newborn grows and continues to helps us move forward as a school. Check out the beginning here. Aside from the blog above, I’ll also work on a self-instituted summer blogging assignment. My goal is to document all of the tools that I use from my favorite company in Mountain View, CA. Similar to ESPN’s 30-for-30 series, I will blog about my own 30-for-30 journey with Google Apps and Services. Stay tuned - the adventure begins later this summer.

Thank You! Prezi Adds Music and Voiceovers

2013-03-13T16:30:00.000-05:00

Prezi just keeps getting better and better. I remember first using the web based presentation tool in its early stages. Sure, there were some ups and downs, (or zoom ins and outs if you will), but overall, the tool has proven its worth and enabled students to engage in collaboration (live editing works really well) and build more engaging presentations (always a plus). Yesterday, the company added a feature that was so often requested: sound. Check out the Intro Prezi after the jump, and get ready to spice up those presentations. This takes Prezi one step closer to a true digital storytelling tool, as it resembles more a moviemaker (web based as opposed to a favorite in client based Windows Photo Story 3) and with sound, the app offers a more continuous flow as opposed a silent, static presentation.

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Best Online Countdown Timers for the Classroom, Kitchen, etc.

2013-03-11T16:30:00.000-05:00

When I taught in the classroom, I would use an old fashioned egg timer, or keep an eye on my stopwatch. Nowadays, teachers can post an electronic timer on their projector screen, set multiple timers, and even make class a bit more interactive through a fun and engaging countdown. Here are seven options - feel free to leave a comment if you have more suggestions.

Classic: http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/ - does have ads, but they become minimal when in full screen mode.

Egg Timer: http://e.ggtimer.com/ - simple, clean, text based, and some cute extras if you're interested.

Really, an egg timer: http://timerrr.com/ - nice look/feel, reminds me of the old egg timer...

Online Timer: http://www.timeanddate.com/timer/ - different look/feel, plus a nice interface if you want multiple timers.

ClassTools: http://www.classtools.net/education-games-php/timer - silly/fun music to accompany some preset timer options, plus the ability to add your own soundtrack, includes embed code as well.

iPad Friendly: http://ipadstopwatch.com/timer.html - those on mobile devices may have some trouble with these timers if they're Flash-based. This simple appropriately named site shows up just fine. Ad supported.

If you like bunnies: http://www.timerland.net/ - random!!!

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Making of a Conference - MiniCon 2013

2013-01-25T16:00:00.000-06:00

The planning began one year ago, but the pacing has picked up during the last week. I've been co-chairing the 2013 NICE Mini Conference (now called "MiniCon") for the past year, and it's been a fun and exciting experience. Getting to work with an outstanding team in the NICE Board, sifting through an amazing system of notes, project plans, and details from our predecessors, and receiving creative freedom to modify, tweak, and add to 18 years of Mini-Conferences will culminate in tomorrow's big event. If you haven't registered for the "Best $5 Conference in the World", fear not. We'll be taking walk-ins, and you can join the 300+ other educators interested in sharing, learning, and networking on technology in the classroom. See you at the MiniCon (www.niceminicon.org).

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iPad Accessory Review: The Indy Bag by WaterField Designs

2013-01-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

Article first published as iPad Accessory Review: The Indy Bag on Blogcritics.

When you think of Indiana Jones, a few iconic images immediately come to mind. The rolling stone ball from Raiders’; the cheesy map transitions when traveling, and of course the accessories. Indy’s hat, whip, and satchel were all prominently featured throughout the movie series, and all were vital in ensuring that evil doers were thwarted while precious historical artifacts were returned to where they naturally belonged (in a museum, of course). With another round of iPads recently announced, and another surely on the way, it’s time to pause and reflect on accessories and some of the best ways to tote your prized portable tablet in style. In this review, we take a look at the Indy Bag by WaterField Designs.

Simply Put, Luxuriously Elegant
Immediately upon unveiling the Indy, I knew that this was a high quality bag. I had read some positively glowing reviews of other WaterField products, but words became a reality when I found myself uttering similarly boisterous phrases upon my first encounter with the leather bag. The minimalist design coupled with attention to detail brings to fruition an innovative carrying companion specifically made for the iPad. The large main pocket runs deep and provides ample space for your iPad, though not quite enough for a Macbook Air (No penalty here; I thought I might as well try).

Additional inner pockets provide space for cables and accessories, but bulk is not necessarily encouraged as the bag is constructed to maintain a svelte look with the zipper closure. Speaking of which, I loved the “hidden” look of the zipper. With nearly all of my shoulder laptop bags, there’s the traditional flap closure that can be a bit cumbersome at times. The Indy provides easy access to the pocket for the most important person (you) and keeps the access hidden from others looking to snatch your precious computer.
WaterField does not stop with the bountiful space on the inside. On the exterior of the Indy lies two additional pockets, one on each side.

The front contains a soft “Ultrasuede” pocket designed to hold your mobile device and keep it smudge free as well. For more security but easier access than opening the inner pocket, there’s a zippered pocket on the back of the Indy, and this is where I opted to store loose papers (ex. mail) that I would need to access in a jiffy. Both pockets are well stitched and I had little worry about anything getting lost or falling out as a result.

It’s Not a Purse, It’s a Carry-All
Surely, the biggest debate that will carry on with the Indy is its unique vertical rectangular shape. Some will call this a satchel, while others will deem it a man-purse or “murse”. A classic Seinfeld episode effectively summarizes the male carry-all stereotypes, but in this day and age, with larger phones, smaller laptops, and the in between category of tablets, it makes complete sense to have a transportation vehicle (read: bag) to effectively stow one’s device(s). This is especially true if we are aiming to leave the laptop behind and live solely on a tablet and a smartphone. In this case, a bag such as the Indy makes perfect sense, and why should we settle for something ugly when we can have a design that would please even those at Apple.

Conclusion
As mentioned above, the level of detail found on the Indy impresses me, and writing about the bag makes me want to use it even more. I didn’t particularly care for the green accent stripe included on my review model, but you can select a different color scheme for yours (or maybe you’d like the neon). Without a doubt, you’ll be turning heads with the Indy. Of course, you’ll also need to be comfortable fielding an occasional question about your decision to purchase a satchel, but how many people are noticing your current black laptop bag nowadays? It’s 2013, and it’s time to establish new trends. The Indy can be purchased from WaterField Designs for $179 at sfbags.com.

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Reflections from IETC Day Two

2012-12-03T16:30:00.000-06:00

Day two at IETC - picked up several new ideas and always enjoy Jon Orech on presentation tips. Additional notes below - side note: had a wonderful meal at American Harvest on Thursday night. Highly recommend for future visits to Springfield.

Non-iPad Apps

Presentation handout
Google Tablet apps - no screencasting app? Best - AirDroid and record screen on computer
One of the questions I got during my presentation was support for Android tablets and Chromebooks. Unfortunately, while most apps for personal devices have made their way to Android phones, education apps and other enterprise apps are planting seeds in the Apple Store, and waiting it out to see if Google makes significant headway with their devices.

Jon Orech - Presentation Zen

Appeals: Logos, Ethos, Pathos
Tools: Finding images: Google, Life Photo Archives, Flickr Storm, Behold, CC, Photopin
Creative Commons - opposite of copyright - here's what you can use
Pixlr - online image editing
Movies, Screencasts, Presentation Zen
Video Resource page
Identify learning targets - 4 videos, assess who knows what, use videos to learn on own (instead of demo, etc)
PBIS - students making videos about other students - Shared Spaces
Creation vs. Completion - Movies For Students vs. Movies Made by Students
Digital Storytelling, Video Documentaries, Summative Assessments
Screencasting - don't forget my preso from yesterday! - Tutorials, Teacher Feedback, Student Created - summative assessment, or better - peer teacher - collect and have students use as resources
Community Clips - PC only free download tool
Life After Death by PowerPoint Comedy - YouTube
Use no words, all images in Presentation - puts focus on speaker
Presentation Zen - Garr Reynolds
Think of inspirational posters - image, quote
Teaching Presentation Zen

Luncheon Keynote
Teaching Through Social Media

More iPad resources
http://nlsdweb.nlsd122.org/schools/bentley/staff/hmorgan/Site/iPad.html

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Reflections from IETC 2012 Day One

2012-11-30T09:31:00.004-06:00

I'm currently at the Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC). I'll be presenting today on Screencasting later in the day, but first I enjoyed some moments from Dr. Gary Stager's keynote presentation. I've been a fan of Dr. Stager since I first heard him present - he's passionate, engaging, and a bit over the top (in a good way). For a detailed notes and tutorial site for my Screencasting session, click here. For my notes of some highlighted sessions, hit the jump.

Keynote...Notes:

Virtual handout available here
The "Best" Ideas in the World: Fab/Personal fabrication, Reggio Emilia, OLPC, Generation YES, El Sistema, 826 Valencia, Big Picture Schools
Common elements: Project-Based Learning and Personal Computing
Using the computer to make things that would have been otherwise impossible.
MIT Technology Review, Buzz Aldrin cover - "We've stopped solving big problems."
Constructive/Computational Media - greatest ROI/most learning
The DIY Revolution - literature, tv shows, returning projects to students, access to expertise and reducing passivity
Fab and Fab labs - Neil Gershenfeld, Bricolage
3D printers - design you own and actually make it
Super Awesome Sylvia - sylviashow.com
"If you make simple things easy to do, you make complexity possible."
Design video games: www.microworlds.com
Fractions: write a program that will draw a representation of any fraction in a circle.
Reggio Emilia - city in Italy - rebuild community by investing in early childhood education
Amusement Park for Birds
Better Prompts: Brevity, Ambiguity, (post it note and vague), Immunity to assessment (reality is the feedback)
Best advice: "Less Us, More Them!"
Saturday morning - Make Memories

iPads in the Classroom Notes

Poll Everywhere
Everything online
Edmodo
Reflection app to display iPad on PC
Handwritten Notes Lite for note taking
GoodNotes

Every teacher needs:

QR code reader
QRstuff.com -free generator lets you create more than just URLs, customize the look too.
QR bookmarklet in your browser - creates QR code for current website
Free cloud storage - Google Drive and Dropbox
Ability to open and edit office documents - CloudOn
Evernote -stores passwords,how tos and to dos
Timers- Jumbo Stopwatch, Chronolite (multiple timers)

Creativity tools:

Mind mapping tools- inspiration maps lite (5 maps at a time), idea sketch, poppet lite, mind mash
Sideshow creation tools- animoto, haikudeck (simple presentation editor)
Fun - Puppet Pals and Toontastic, Sock Puppet (voice scrubbing)
Screen casting - educreations, screen chomp, show me
Digital Posters- Pic Collage,
Story- Story Kit, Comic Touch Lite
Clickers- Socrative

STEM in Math and Science

Learning products- Google Sites,
Increased engagement, hands-on,
Products- Stella $500/district
Vision, Skills (cognitive and social/life)
Engineering Design/Problem Solving Process - mindset for students
Problem Based Learning - Inquiry embedded in curriculum
Library of STEM lessons
Robotics club, Lego mindstorms, Botball competition
STEM camp, family nights - exposure to activities
Lessons - 1-2 hour lessons focused on problem solving, embedded within core courses
Engineering is elementary curriculum (paid) www.mos.org
Student blogs- discussions
Lessons at goo.gl/PWi1L
Tryengineering.org - library of hands-on activities
Mindstorms - mobile collection devices, Vernier probes too
PhET - free online simulations

Online Discussions

Scenarios:

Too Long?
Not moving discussion forward
Setting Expectations - what is a substantial post?
Create a Safe Space
Substantial posts - move the conversation forward
Discussion Board Expectations - no points for flexibility, rubric

EducationOnAir: Oh The Things You Can Do With Google Sites!

2012-11-27T16:30:00.000-06:00

I chose to go with a Pecha Kucha style of presentation for my Google+ Hangout, as part of Google's EducationOnAir series. In my broadcast, I reviewed 10 Google Sites tips in 20 minutes. That's a cool tip every 2 minutes! Check out the replay and if you know the tip already, fast forward 2 minutes. Fast, relevant, and useful PD. Join me again on 12/10 at 4pm CST for another Google Sites preso, this time focusing on how to use the new Sites Layout and navigation features.

New Tutorial: Nearpod for the iPad

2012-11-20T16:30:00.000-06:00

I was able to spend much of the morning working with an iPad app called Nearpod. Honestly, I was impressed with many of the capabilities, and I saw real potential to do great things with the shared iPad carts. Essentially, Nearpod is an all-in-one presentation/polling application that allows users to deliver presentations to a group set of iPads. The interactive features include some traditional ones such as polling Q&A, self-paced student quizzes, and free response questioning. However, the Draw It feature is easily worth the efforts of downloading and installing Nearpod alone. Students can ink on blank canvases or preset background images and submit their drawings to the teacher for review and potential sharing. Here are just a few examples that came to mind when I demo'ed the app to our teachers:

annotation of text
showing steps for math problems
balancing chemical equations
labeling maps
translating sentences
illustrating concept maps
graphic organizers

Basically, anything that can be saved as an image (Powerpoint slides can all be exported as .JPG or .PNG files) can serve as a background for the student to draw on. Again, this is a very simple yet elegant solution to real time communication using the iPads in a classroom setting.

Nearpod is available for free from iTunes with upgrades available for additional features and storage.

My Nearpod tutorial page is available here at makingtechsimple.com.

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Day Two Notes from Google Midwest Summit 2012

2012-11-13T14:10:00.002-06:00

Day two from the Google Midwest Summit. No snow in the forecast today - it's sunny, blue skies and a crisp 42 degrees in the Dells. Day one was a great experience both as a presenter and a learner. I'm eager for another day of learning, and I'll be touching base with a few attendees from yesterday's session on Google Sites. Read on for more notes, links, and goodies picked up from day two.

Source Links/Session Pages:
Steven Butschi, Shared Notes
Minnetonka - Google and iPads
Chad Kafka - Google Hangouts

Google+ is coming soon to K-12, possibly for Staff first for professional development, PLC work, shared department initiatives.

"The Web is what you make of it." Google Chrome's current motto applying to education: the base platform for technology - the browser. It's not about tying to one device - web is unifying link (less licensing, specific apps)

Check out Google Apps EDU App Packs for bulk discounts on popular paid apps including Teacher Dashboard which we use at ETHS.

Making Google Docs Offline is tough - think about what it takes to make real time collaboration online work when offline. Spreadsheets are particularly challenging because many calculations are done in the cloud and need to be done locally.

iPad 1:1 in Minnetonka: iPads for all freshmen and sophomores (science, math, english during first year, control group = students w/out iPads). Using Google Forms, Schoology for formative assessments and access results/grades in real time.

Workflow: Schoology has a dropbox feature (connected from Google Docs) for getting work from students to teachers. Remarks app links to Google Drive. This is very nice since we have Google Drive folders already created for our teachers. (Link to comparison for annotation apps). We use Notability and they have just added Google Drive support, so I need to test this when I return. Schoology demo - looking pretty nice for 1:1, especially if it plays well on the iPad.

Using Quickoffice Pro HD instead of Google Drive because they wanted offline editing capabilities.

Google Drive app vs. Safari experience - additional editing capabilities but messing with tables and images can be a bit tricky. Stay with Safari for editing Google Docs and collaboration.

Schoology also has a plugin/connection with Turnitin.com.

Hangouts have started to be allowed in K-12 Apps accounts, but it's only the "Lite" version, 1-to-1 video only, no extra features (so far). Lite is in the URL.

Users can start hangouts directly from Gmail. No longer need to go through Google+ anymore. Uses include professional development - screenshare, text chat, show Google Drive files, teaching from home, podcasts

Gmail Labs - right side chat is great for moving your chat bar to the right side which allows for more room.

Hangout Tips - stop other apps that may be running in the background. Add as a Chrome for quick launching from a new tab, Google Hangouts toolbox - adjust volume of other people, additional apps available

Live hangout features - screenshare, live edit of Google Docs, effects, multiple screen shares

Honestly, I became a bit overwhelmed with how much can be done with all of these tools. This is a good thing, but just as I recall from my experience at the Google Teachers Academy (way back in 2009), I need to take a deep breath, let the head come to rest from all of that spinning, and go back to work with some goals of implementing these ideas into the classroom. Get ready ETHS - here we go!

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Day One Notes from Midwest Google Summit 2012

2012-11-12T15:30:00.002-06:00

Great day of sharing and learning at the 2nd Annual Midwest Google Summit (Wisconsin Dells, WI). I began the morning working with close to 100 attendees on creating and editing Google Sites. We had a lot of great ideas, questions, and I hope that everyone walked away with something new. With my presenter duties completed (thank you conference schedulers!), I got to sit back and enjoy the work of other presenters. Hit the jump for some notes from the day one sessions.

Sources Links/Session Pages:
Stacy Behmer
Lindsay Welch
Chad Kafka
Jamie Casap
"Bears vs. Packers" Session Notes

Lots of good stuff here, and as a side topic, I picked up a few new Chrome Extensions. Additional tips and tricks from Chad's preso.

Timer - great way to keep track of things without opening a separate tab or application.
Tab Cloud - great for bookmarking a set of tabs that opens up automatically (definitely will try this out for presentations in the future).

Picasa Web Albums - nice tip for collecting photos by having students send via email to a shared Picasa web album. Check out the Settings in Picasa Web Albums and type in a secret word which then gets incorporated into an email address. Share the link to others for a photos dropbox that send pictures directly to the web album.

Google Translate - World Language teachers can open U.S. websites and then use Google Translate to make it appear as another language.

More Google Translate - voice input (English original language) - after installing a Voice extension for Google Chrome, you can speak into the Google Translate box and then translate into a different language.

Google Inside Search and Google Search Posters offer some great resources for faculty and staff to educate students (and ourselves) on how to use Search effectively.

I forgot this tip, but students looking to search based on an existing image (already downloaded, looking for the source for citation) can do a "reverse image search" by uploading the image through Google Images and then viewing the search results.

Google Search Story Creator - I used this awhile back, but I was worried that Google discontinued this service. Alas, the link is alive and provides a fun way to create new and engaging Google Search stories.

And this just in from the Twitter wire: Google Docs Story Builder - looking forward to trying this out later in the week. The Wedding List story is always a crowd pleaser.

Quiettube - "videos without the distractions" - very cool way to eliminate the comments and "other stuff" that comes up when you use videos from YouTube. Available as a Chrome extension and you can then copy the direct link for use elsewhere.

Using Google Voice in the Classroom - lots of great ideas regarding the use of Voice. One really cool use involves having students record messages on the phone to the teacher's Google Voicemail allows the teacher to access the recorded messages on the web, as well as offer the ability to fadd notes, email results, download as .mp3, and embed (through HTML add).

Using templates are a great way to share Google Forms for use in other classrooms or departments.

Color code by level - using color in a Google Spreadsheet (from form data), teachers can quickly assess where students are and regroup as a class to differentiate instruction.

Transform data from a Google Spreadsheet (form data) and then use the Word Cloud (use tilde (~) symbol) gadget (Insert, Gadget, Word Cloud). Too bad spreadsheet gadgets will be retiring in 2013. =(

Using generic answer sheets (blanks) Google Forms along with paper or projected questions can help with issues such as looking/searching for answers during an assessment as well as talk from one class to another later in the day.

Using Branch Logic with Formative Assessments - good idea for using Google Forms logic branching is for incorrect answers going towards a different set of questions whereas correct answers go elsewhere. Possible use for "flipped" classrooms and including assessments.

IFTTT - "If this, then that" - sets up automated actions based on If Then rules.

Live summary of results - nice trick - open the Summary of Responses for a Google Form in a new tab (command-click on link) and then use a Chrome Extension (Chrome Reload) set for a specific time interval (ex. every five seconds).

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Video: How to Pre-Populate Google Forms via URL Shorteners

2012-11-06T16:30:00.000-06:00

This topic came up on our Google Certified Teacher Group and I was so excited to see that there was a possibility of pre-populating Google Forms (thanks E. Curts for the source link). With this capability, you can have fields pre-filled with specific data (like an email appendage), checkboxes pre-slugged, or address fields pre-populated (different forms for different states, cities, etc.). Lots of possibilities and just a minimal amount of legwork in adjusting the URL. Hit the jump for the Google support link and a 2-minute tutorial.

Google Support Article

iPad App Tutorial: Socrative

2012-10-31T16:30:00.000-05:00

I had the luxury of having some time today to explore Socrative, and although I know that this app has been around for some time, I think it's still a bit under the radar for not only iPad carts but for any mobile device initiative. The application is essentially a polling platform, but what sets Socrative apart from every other app I've seen (and I still like PollEverywhere) is how easy, intuitive and functional the app is to use. Feel free to check out and share my tutorial page found here: http://www.makingtechsimple.com/socrative

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Save Those Dates and Let's Meetup, Hangout, and See Each Other Soon

2012-10-26T16:30:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year, no not the holiday where you have your kids dress up as baby animals and solicit neighbors for candy. No, it's professional development conference season, and we're hitting the ground running starting in November. I'll be presenting at a few local conferences, waiting for word on the big state and national ones, and will be co-chairing the local Mini-Conference held in January of next year. Hit the jump for more details on each of them, and let me know if you'll be attending!

Google Apps for Education Midwest Summit (November 12-13)
I missed round one, but I'll be in attendance and presenting on day one at this sold-out two day conference for all things Googley.

Illinois Education and Technology Conference (November 29-30)
The edtech caravan heads downstate to Springfield, IL for this great conference, my first as an official edtech employee. Springfield's a great place to visit as well - the Lincoln museum is amazing!

Google EDU On Air (October-December, 2012)
You have the best seat in the house to learn with educators around the world. Over 110 Hangouts. Over 70 presenters. All free on Google+. Education On Air. Register today. http://goo.gl/OyqFc

Specifically, I'll be presenting twice for EDU On Air - come hang out on 11/26 for Sites one month from today.

NICE Mini-Con 2013 - Call for Proposals
Lastly, the Northern Illinois Computer Educators (NICE) is having its annual Mini-Conference on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at Niles North High School. We've got presenter proposals rolling in daily, but we'd love to hear from you regarding any topics that you'd be interested in presenting. We've got a great keynote speaker in store and this year promises to be the biggest, best conference ever!

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New Features of Apple Configurator v1.2

2012-10-25T16:30:00.000-05:00

We've been using Apple Configurator for managing our shared iPad carts, and Apple recently released an update (v1.2) in early October. I discussed some of the immediate benefits in terms of fixing a paid app code bug in an earlier post, but I'm back to outline some of the new features that came with the update. You can read Apple's update post here, and after the jump is a 2-minute walkthrough.

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