techsavvyteacher

Google Forms Update!

2014-09-03T13:53:00.001-07:00

FINALLY, you can customize your own Forms theme. If you are like me, you are bored with the standard themes for Forms, well...Google is finally allowing you to customize your own theme. Here's how it's done. In Forms, select the 'change theme' option and in the list of themes on the right of your screen go to the 'in this form' theme and select the customize option underneath. Then, in the header image, select 'choose image...' You can go the bottom of the insert image box and choose to upload, take from your albums, or select from your Google Drive.

Don't want to customize? You can select from Google's new list of 23 cool themes as well. Many of these new themes even contain gifs for those who want motion in their themes. Well, there it is guys. Try it yourself and see how many cool forms you can create.

Best,
#mr.ford

ADD-ON ALERT!! SUPER QUIZ!

2014-08-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of Flubaroo you have to check out Google's latest Add-On, Super Quiz! Oli Trussel O Trussell - Google+ is the creator of what many educators are calling Flubaroo on steriods! So what makes Super Quiz overshadow Flubaroo? Well, other than a more intense version of student feedback and teacher analyzation, Super Quiz boasts a self grading script like Flubaroo that automatically grades submissions immediately after they are electronically submitted without updating the instructor. This means that late submissions are graded without the teacher having to manually activate the self grading script. Perhaps the best part of Super Quiz is that it features a triggered mail merge option for immediate student feedback. This particular feature has been unavailable in Google's new spreadsheets and has been a hold up for developers like Andrew Stillman-creator of Autocrat, G-Class folders and Doctopus; whose Add-Ons rely heavily on mail merge. Mail merge combines information from a spreadsheet with a pre created document to mass produce and personalize submission results.

Super Quiz is available as an Add-On Google in Sheets and is easy to install and the creator is readily available to answer questions and updates on Google+. To find out more and check out a video, click on the Google+ link above!

Best,
#mrford#techsavvyteacher

SCRIPT ALERT!! AUTOCRAT!

2014-06-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I just finished making my first successful mail merge with autoCrat. autoCrat is another script or add on by Andrew Stillman that lets you merge results from a spreadsheet of a Form survey with a document template to mass produce individual returns or feedback from the submitted Form. Sound confusing? It's really not so once you have ran a couple of them yourself.

For example, this week I did a flipped class assignment and had my students give a YouTube Video Review on the assigned topic of Perfect Tenses of English. After filling out the form, I wanted to send my students an e mail confirmation resulting in a mail merge product.

In their class blog, I pasted a link to a Google Form for reviewing a video (see below). Once the students completed the Form, I went to the response spreadsheet of that same Form and inserted Autocrat from the scripts gallery option. Previously, I had created a shared document in Google Docs (see below) featuring carrots <<>> of where I wanted the information from the response spreadsheet to appear in their future mail merged confirmation. I also had to create folder for the final destniation storage of the final mail merged documents. After I ran Autocrat, I checked my destination folder in Google Drive and found a mail merged copy of responses and the document I created for each Form submission by the student. Perfect!! Next, I emailed each student a copy their own individualized email merged confirmation document.

I honestly feel that this script is probably more effective for administraation purposes versus classroom. I also understand that certain features that were available in the old Google spreadsheets, like automatically triggering return responses, are not available in the new Google spreadsheets so you will have to use an old sheets version if you want to have Google email the final mail merged documents to students without you having to do so. To find out how to create your own mail merged document using autoCrat, check out this link to a video by Jesse Thorstad! http://youtu.be/xeRhzz4RuCA

Best,
#mrford#techsavvyteacher

My YouTube Video Review Form made in Google Forms

Shared document I created in Google Docs for mail merge

Final mail merged product via Autocrat

SCRIPT ALERT!! formLimiter!

2014-05-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite little scripts is formLimiter. Have you ever given a Google Form quiz or test and ended up screaming at your students who refuse to turn in the damn thing at the end of class because they want more time? Have you ever sent a link of that Form to a student who missed the quiz/test and it takes them two weeks to a month before their responses end up in your spreadsheet because the student knew there would be no time limit to handing it in? Have you ever used Flubaroo to batch grade an assignment only to have that one student tell you they just handed it in after you have already sent student scores back? The reinforcement of deadlines in a Google Forms can be ever annoying. Well, with formLimiter, reinforcement of submission deadlines just got real.

Unlike most scripts, formLimiter is easy to set up for beginners in script using. It is pretty straight forward. After you install the script, select how you want to limit the responses to the form by time limit, total number of responese or spreadsheet cell value. For me the time limit is most useful. I can select a date and time to set for deadline submission. After set, the form will no longer accept submissions. This is great mostly because it will train students to respect deadline submission time and allow the teacher to stay better organized. You can even send a notification to editors when the time limit is reached. For more on formLimiter or more scripts in Google Forms, check out http://cloudlab.newvisions.org/

Best,
#mrford#techsavvyteacher

APP ALERT!! MOBILE ATTENDANCE!

2014-05-20T18:16:00.001-07:00

Mobile Attendance - Android Apps on Google Play

Well, it's bee n a minute, but we (me) are back with another app that must be brought to the attentnion of every tech savvy teacher, and it's called Mobile Attendance by INNOVA Apps. A few months back I was struggling to find an attendance app for my classroom. After a few trial apps, I settled with Eval Safety Attendance in The Google Play Store. I loved the idea of using QR Codes to take attendance from my smartphone and so did my students. It was easy to use, but the reports didn't produce the spreadsheet format in Google that I wanted. All that is different with Mobile Attendance. The spreadsheets are easy to set up, report in real time, and are shareable like any other Google document. The app creates QR Codes in Google Docs for print out. Perfect, everything stays in Google. The best part of the whole process is that students love to use their phones, tablets, or laptops to check in. I had my students take a photo of their personal QR code and save it to their phone or tablet homescreen for easy pull up. If they forget their device at home, they should keep the original copy on them somewhere, but worst case scenerio, you can print up a back up copy of all your students' codes and keep it on you as well. The olny downside to this app is that the free trial only lasts for only two weeks, after that it's at least $6.85 a month (yikes!). Check the video below or click the link under the photo above to check out Moblie Attendance for yourself and see if you want to try it! Best, #mrford#techsavvyteacher

3 Ways To Use Google Forms in Your BYOD ESL Classroom

2014-04-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

3 Ways To Use Google Forms in Your ESL Classroom

Tests/Quizzes
Surveys
Progress Check-Ins

Tests and quizzes. Google Forms is the easiest way to create online tests/quizzes for your BYOD or m-learning classroom. Choose from many colourful backgrounds and after naming your form, start creating right away. Originally designed for surveys, using Google Forms as a test/quiz creator allows you to input videos, images, headers, and page breaks to make your form more interactive for your students.

Surveys. Surveys are a great way to conduct peer evaluations on BYODs. Google forms lets you easily create evaluation surveys that are perfect for Public Speaking or Presentation classes. Share the survey link via G mail or cross platform sharing apps like Whatsapp. Surveys for peer evaluations allows students the power to critique their classmates and give valuable feedback.

Progress Check-Ins. Using Google Forms to create survey Progress Check-Ins helps the teacher stay updated on the progress of student essays, presentations, or term papers. Google Forms lets teachers create some pretty cool and personalized progress check-in forms that can easily be shared ans collected by Google.

Best,

#mrford#techsavvyteacher

Techsavvy Tips for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

2014-04-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

There are literally hundreds of articles about BYOD in the classroom, so I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring and share my experiences with you. As a paperless educator, BYODs are the common core for my flipped ESL classrooms as they are already common use and practice in the business world both domestic and foreign. Employees of big companies and adult learners carry their personal devices into the boardroom and the classroom. BYODs were first shunned from big companies and businesses for the obvious lack of control and security issues, but as more and more companies are taking advantage of secured cloud storage; school systems public and private are beginning to accept the idea that students can be responsible for their own devices and conduct in the classroom. Though the most popular BYOD is the smart phone, laptops and even the handheld gaming console are also popular BYOD devices.

I first employed BYOD when I was expected to deliver quality ESL material to a large group of students with very little or no technology. During my interview with my first ESL company, they boasted to me about their use of technology in their classrooms. They even showed me a room with a whiteboard and overhead projector; only to find out that was their ONLY room with a whiteboard and projector and you had to reserve the room a week in advance. I also got tired of standing in long lines to use the crowded copy machine or have my printed documents disappear into thin air after I sent them to the printer.

Though I have successfully managed to flip my classroom by way of BYOD, it doesn't mean that I haven't been met with obstacles along the way. I have been met with resistance by both administration and my own students when I first implemented using smart phones in class. I had challenges trying to share information to all students with different devices. Poor Internet connection always ruined my day. And you can only imagine how I felt when a student just forgot to bring their device to class.

So if you are thinking about starting your own BYOD classroom, or already have started yours, here are a few tips I would like to share with you from my experience.

Slowly impliment BYOD into class. Sure, your excited about BYOD, but not everyone else is. You'll be suprised to see how your admin, co workers, and students will show resistance towards BYOD. You'll definatly want to be ready to answer a bunch of questions and face criticisms. Your best bet is to create a policy for BYOD in your classroom, register your students for a Google account if they don't already have one, and create a classroom circle for your students in your Google Hangouts account for sharing.
Create your own BYOD policy for your classroom. I'm very liberal with the use of BYOD in my classrooms, but establishing a policy for using BYOD, like a class syllabus, makes it clear and cut what is expected/tolerated of the students use of BYOD. If you don't already have one of your own, here is a link to a nice list of sample BYOD policies. 11 Sample Education BYOT Policies To Help You Create Your Own
Use cross platform sharing applications. Cross platforms are ideal for sharing links, documents, audios, videos, and messaging. Apps for phones like Viber, Tango and Whatsapp are popular with smart phones, but not compatible with many pads, notebooks, and laptops. Your best bet is to utilize Google. Not only is its messaging system, "Hangouts" available on Apple and Android products, you do not require your student's personal phone number to register. You simply use their Gmail address.
Take advantage of cloud storage accounts. Once again, Google folks! Cloud storage systems like Google (Drive) and Dropbox allow your students to pull their work from any device and free themselves of hefty laptops and those easy to lose jump drives.
Don't be afraid to use social media. Social media outlets like FB, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, and Glide are great tools for creative assignments and finding resources outside of the box. Use blogs as a place to display student writings. Share or make YouTube videos to help students understand grammar points, Have your students create a survey with their FB friends. Use Glide for a one-on-one video debate. Use Google Hangouts for a video conversation and then make it a YouTube video on your YouTube page. There are so many ways you can use Social Media in your BYOD classroom. Get creative. Here's a link to my current class blog via Blogger. EF Atlanta B2.1
Be ready for things to go wrong. With technology, things WILL go wrong. Sometimes, emails won't get delivered. Some devices just won't be compatible no matter what you do. Internet connection will be slow. And yes, some of your students will spend more time on their own social media sites rather than their classwork. Be prepared by using alternative resources, and if worse comes to worse, there's nothing wrong with making paper copies of resources before class starts if you can foresee the problem ahead of time.
Be consistent. Start with one aspect of BYOD and stick with it. The worst thing you can do to your class is start them out with the idea of BYOD and then two weeks later, bring them back to paper and pencil. Pace yourself and stay consistent. You as the instructor are their key to success. No computer, smart phone, or Mobile device can replace the leadership of an instructor.

Best,

#mrford#techsavvyteacher

Top 10 uses for the smartphone in the ESL Classroom for an ESL Instructor

2014-03-17T12:13:00.001-07:00

Top 10 uses for the smartphone in the ESL Classroom for an ESL Instructor

Dictionary/Thesaurus- This is so obvious, but necessary for anyone working with international students. Apps like Dictionary.com and Oxford Dictionary of English are among the most commonly used.
Attendance- Apps like Foursquare an even FB are awesome for check in. My favorite app however is Eval Safety Attendance which creates a specific QR Code for each student as you scan their phone to take attendance.
Quizzes- Using Google Forms is a great way to deliver quizzes to your students on their devices. Use a script/extension like Flubaroo to grade them and email scores to students.
Platforms for sharing-Whatsapp, Viber, Line, and even FB Messenger. These platforms are a great way to share pages, videos, photos, documents, etc.
Video conferences-Google Hangouts can be installed on both Android and Apple devices and is the best video conference sharing app on the market. Have up to 10 people in one conference.
Paper scanner- This is great not only for scanning pages of school books with very limited supply, but I can't tell you how many times students have asked to use the facility scanning machines to send something to their embassy.
ESL Podcasts-Podcasts are a great way to help lower level learners increase their vocabulary and listening comprehension skills.
Gradebooks- Engrade is a great way to enter grades while you are on the go and not in front of a laptop or desktop. Other apps like QuickGrader are just as good.
Scorative- Socrative is a killer app that makes your classroom more interactive for learning. Assign your quizzes as a team race game and watch how students get excited as their team scores and their rockets move forward in a 'Space Race".
Note Card Maker- There are several versions of note card makers available on the Android and Apple market. Have your students make note cards of their vocabulary words to help them study for their tests. Just remember to have them put away their phones during a test to ensure no cheating.

Best,

#mrford#techsavvyteacher

Google Chromebook: Review

2014-03-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

I bought my Acer Google Chromebook C720 back in November 2013 from a Best Buy in Newnan, GA. My previous laptop, also an Acer, but was infected with a virus from a memory stick that was given to me by my job. After my employers refused to accept responsibility for infecting my laptop, I was in desperate need of a replacement at an affordable price. As an educator who spends over 60% of his day inside Google, I figured that a Chromebook was the obvious choice for a renewal. The price was also a great lure. A Google laptop for under $200 was flipping Awesome! Boasting features like; virus resistant security design, extremely light weight and to go size, instant on, web based applications and video conferencing, I was overwhelmed by the salesperson who seemed to be a bigger Google guru than me. The personalization aspect became apparent as soon as I signed into Google and all my Google applications appeared at the bottom of my screen. Instant access to my files in Google Drive, my videos on YouTube, my Calendar and Gmail. It seemed like Chromebook was perfect for me. But after a few months, I'm starting to think I should have done a little more research before I just dived on in. Here are my gripes;

No VPG plug. This is a big time deal buster for me that I didn't notice before I purchased. Not only are VPGs necessary for class presentations, but conference presentations as well.

No CD player. For me this is not a big deal, but for those big movie goers who have no idea that the same movies are available online and faster download speed, this is more annoying than a car alarm that refuses to stop blaring off.

Can't install Windows. Since there is no CD player, of course installing programs is impossible. Personally, I am not a huge fan of Windows, but as I have recently been searching for part time work as an online tutor, I am finding that ALL online tutoring companies require Windows.

Small storage capacity. This is a big deal for some, but then again, when you do most of your storage in the clouds, do you really need a laptop with a lot of storage space.

Overall, I am satisfied with my purchase. I love the battery life and its quick recharge time. Its weight and small size takes up more space than most books in my book bag; And for $200, I can't complain too much. I just wish I had done a little more research before I purchased. So, with that being said, I hope this quick review helps you make a sound decision if you have been in the market for a Chromebook.

Best
#mrford#techsavvyteacher

Using Google Forms to Create Quizzes for Your ESL Classroom

2013-12-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

I've been a paperless teacher for over a year now and I honestly can't tell you the last time I actually had to stand over a copy machine. Thanks to Google, myself and tech-savvy educators across the world have ditched the traditional paper based Microsoft Word and opted for cloud services. For me, the transition was almost invisible. I didn't even notice I had become a paperless teacher. Features inside of Google Drive such as: Docs, Presentations, Spreadsheets, Forms and the Chrome App Store with their easy integration and organization have made it easier for educators to create, share, and store information like never before without the need for printing papers or documents.

Such is the case with Google Forms. Over the last few months, Google Forms has been my most used app inside Google Drive, especially when designing interactive TOEFL quizzes to be delivered to students over their phones or tablets. Most ESL teachers I come across have NO idea that Google Drive even exists. They are still avid users of Microsoft Word and rarely touch a Word product other that MW and PowerPoint. They still consider Google to be just a search engine. During my presentations at conferences all across Georgia, I can't tell you how many times I still hear educators with over 20 years experience in the classroom scream, "WOW" when I show them how to use Google Drive products in the classroom.

Google Forms is originally designed to execute questionnaires, inventories, and surveys, but can also be used to design classroom quizzes featuring images and YouTube videos. Along with a very famous script known as Flubaroo, theses classroom quizzes quickly become self grading and scores are stored in spreadsheets and emailed to students within minutes. I first discovered Forms when as a student life coordinator, I wanted to make a small questionnaire for students exiting the institution I worked for. After playing around with it, I quickly discovered that Forms could be used as a replacement for multiple choice tests we administered to our students who took their level up moving tests. Not only was my discovery very effective, it eliminated the use for our outdated scan tron machine and the expensive papers that were piling up in our storage room.

The best part of Forms in my opinion, is that it provides transparency between students and teachers as the answer sheet can be attached to the students' email reported scores. I usually review the quizzes immediately after they are scored and the answer sheet helps make it easier for students to recognize their mistakes.

Forms comes with a nice amount of colorful themes for its templates and includes a question types such as; Text, Paragraph Text for longer answers, Multiple Choice, Check Boxes, and Choose from a List. To find out more about Google Forms, try it yourself today! Just go to your Google Drive and select Form from the 'Create Menu.'

#mrford#techsavvyteacher

In Search of the Perfect Attendance App for My Smartphone...

2013-12-08T08:37:00.000-08:00

As a paperless teacher, one of the things I look forward to is eliminating the need for those annoying attendance sheets. I can't tell you how many times I've misplaced one or two of them, or found one lying at the bottom of my car floor with a muddy footprints all over the front. One of my major hangups with traditional attendance taking is that there is no transparency between teacher and student; it's almost like the attendance is hidden from the students after the role is called. I believe if students (some, not all) are given the option to actually see their attendance as often as they like, as well as have the option to check in themselves by not having to scream 'here' or 'present', than their attendance will increase by at least 20%. So earlier this year, I set out to find the perfect attendance app for my smart phone and my students. The Google Play Store has a large amount of these particular apps available, and I've only just started to test them; but so far, my first three have helped me to determine exactly what I want in the perfect attendance app!

Foursquare was very exciting to use. I really liked the social aspect of it. My students and I even enjoyed the badges for rewards, but it ended up being more a social app because students started checking in and having conversations EVERYWHERE they went. Not only that, but I soon found that students were checking themselves in class even when they weren't there. Just like FB, you don't have to physically be in a location to check in and that was definitely a deal breaker for me.

Attendance Tracker by PETERMAN was my second attempt at finding the perfect attendance taking app. What I really liked about this particular app was that it easily imported students from my contacts/Google contacts list -making it super easy to set up. Other than that, I felt like I was just calling out the role and the students weren't actively involved in their attendance taking. There was no way for students to check themselves in and take ownership of their attendance. And this was another deal breaker for me.

Recently, I have been using Safety Attendance by FORSAFETYSOLUTIONS from Google Play Store. It was easy to integrate my contacts from my phone or Google and the app also lets me email the students their attendance. What caught my eye about this app was the option to take attendance via QR Codes. I had to figure out on my own that I had to personally create a QR Code for my students and email it to them via QR Droid; this is something that I felt the creator failed to inform app users about and should definitely integrate into the app or at least provide a tutorial for app users to understand how to set up QR Codes for this specific app. I can say, however, that my students LOVE the scan in option because they get to use their phones to scan in with me and many of them have no idea what a QR Code is or how they work. I also like the seating chart options and the customization options. So far, this app is my favorite among the three I have tried. Unfortunately, the free version of this app only allows you one class of up to 15 students. Though I have only been using it for a couple of weeks, I really think this app is a great way to help convert those teachers who are against using smart phones in the classroom by introducing them to the simplest functions that smart phones offer in education. Feel free to down load and try these apps for yourself.

#mr.ford#techsavvyteacher

Google's Chromecast vs Samsung's AllShare Cast aka 'dongle'

2013-12-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Samsung AllShare Cast Dongle

So earlier this year I purchased a 'dongle' from Samsung in order to reflect images from my phone to my TV. I spent around $100 for a device that did exactly what it was advertising. I was so impressed by it, that I HAD to bring it to work the next day and show it off. I actually brought my own 32 inch TV with me to work in order to show off how my 'dongle' worked. My students and colleagues were not as blown away as I was, but they were nonetheless impressed. Seeing how I was then already on the verge of completely giving up on cable, I thought my 'dongle' would replace Comcast and I could spend all day watching YouTube and Netflix from my Note 2. And for a long time, I did just that. I let my cable bill go and I spent my free time watching The Young Turks and music videos on YouTube. If I wanted to watch a movie, I hit up Netflix.

Since I move around a lot, my 'dongle' was the perfect solution to entertain myself as I could plug it into any TV; and from my phone entertain myself. So when a few months back, Google was advertising a similar device known as Chromecast for $10-$15 dollars, I scoffed at it. I mean, I already had a 'dongle' and it worked flawlessly. I soon learned that the orders for Chromecast were set back for months and that it was damn near impossible to get one in a store.

Recently, I had seen a commercial for Chromecast again, but for $35. And again, I scoffed at it. That was until someone got a hold of my phone and broke it. I was forced to spend $175 in replacement fees just go get another phone of the same model (Thank God I pay the insurance on it).
Unfortunately, after I received my new replacement phone, it refused to connect to my 'dongle'.

Google Chromecast

Forced to live a day or two with no way to reflect my phone to my TV, I caved in and bought a Chromecast from Best Buy mainly because of its cheaper price. Even though the 'dongle' price is now reduced by $30, it is still not as cheap as Chromecast. I was also impressed by one or two features that Chromecast held vs. Samsung's 'dongle'. For example, with Chromecast, I can multitask; such as remain streaming live videos while taking phone calls or surfing chrome from the same phone. You can't do that on Samsung's device. On the other hand, it appears that Chromecast does not feature HD options on Youtube videos, something that Samsung 'dongle' does very well.

So at the end of the day my good persons, Chromecast is cheaper, works with multiple phone brands, and allows you to stream videos and make phone calls at the same time; as compared to Samsung's 'dongle'.

And there you have it. I'm #mrford, your #techsavvyteacher!

Google Drive for your smartphone!

2013-10-26T12:20:00.001-07:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6GE-1LMsSI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Using Dictionary.com to perfect your pronunciation!

2013-10-23T09:53:00.001-07:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOoKyV8wZc0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Flippity.net

2013-10-21T00:07:00.001-07:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1hsLvxP-p4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Whatsapp 001

2013-10-21T00:00:00.001-07:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q99ZKE2B_5E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

APP ALERT!! PODCAST ADDICT!

2013-06-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

For those of us who do not watch TV or want cable, podcasts are the best way to keep up to date with the 'outside' world, but did you know that podcasts are also great listening comprehension tools for ESL students in and out of the classroom?

Taking a survey of your classroom to see what your students are interested in is a great way to start introducing podcastst to your students. Next, develope your podcast lesson around the topics your students are interested in. You can devote one lesson to a specific field of interest, then another lesson to a different one. You can also opt to use new podcastst that focus on current issues and events like I choose to.

Worksheets are the best way to reinforce the contents of a podcast. Worksheets provide structure and focus on what the instructor wants ESL learners to get out of the lesson. Engage the students. Elicit their opinions. Make a worksheet that has different kinds of exercises.

Rather than settling for whatever programs that come standard with the podcast of your choice, Podcast Addict lets you select your own list of podcasts from all available internet sources. Video podcasts are also available if you choose to use them

Some of my favorite podcasts via Podcast Addict are:
Android Authority
Mossberg Review
AC360

What do my students think of m-learning?

2013-06-25T12:25:00.001-07:00

APP ALERT! GOOGLE CHROME TO PHONE

2013-06-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's really not an app; it's an extension of Chrome browser. Extensions are like features of Chrome that should have already been incorporated in the world's fastest browser, but weren't. So in a sense-they really are apps, but just for Google Chrome (I know that was confusing for me too). This particular extension allows you to grab videos on your desktop or laptop and download it to your phone or tablet. Sounds useless to you? Have you ever been on YouTube and found a video on your laptop only to discover that the same video is not available on your smartphone? Well, just install Chrome to Phone in the Chrome Web Store and you can instantly download that particular video to your smartphone and share it with others. This really works well for mobile teachers who want to share specific videos with their students via their smartphones. I can't tell you how many times I have found a great ESL video on my laptop that I really wanted to share in Whatsapp for my students, but couldn't do so because Whatsapp and other SMS platforms are not compatible with desk and laptops. Now, all I have to do is watch the video in Chrome and click the Chrome to Phone extension in my browser and within seconds the video is downloaded to my phone for me to share in Whatsapp! This is a great extension and is most helpful to educators. Add Chrome to Phone to your Google Chrome experience today and try it for yourself!

Best,

#mr.ford

APP ALERT! WHATSAPP

2013-06-08T09:33:00.001-07:00

     So I was watching some videos on YouTube about mobile learning and someone on one of the videos mentioned Whatsapp and its popularity in Spain partly due to its ability to text for free worldwide.  So, I downloaded the app to my Samsung Note 2 and let it sit there for a week or so. Later that following week I mentioned the app to one of my students and she mentioned that she uses it all the time; even more so than the dominant FB Messenger. I asked her to explain to me how it worked and was kind of disgruntled at first to learn that I had to actually share my personal phone number with my students in order to engage with them. As of up until then, messenger platforms like Google + or FB only required an email address only. Considering I teach adults and was really curious about this platform, I shared my phone number with my student and she did everything else for me. She set up a chat group and gave it a name and cover photo. Within seconds, she sent a text with a photo, and then with a video, and then a voice recording within our group. Considering she had everyone else in the classes phone number, she invited all my other students to the group and within five minutes of a casual conversation with a student, I had (a student) created a class group and had my first experience with Whatsapp!

    The cool part about Whatsapp is that it is a great substitute for an online classroom blog! What a great concept! A platform that is so similar to a blog that is attached to a student's phone, not computer. Students don't think of it as blogging, they think of it as texting (which it really is).

    I post student assignments, homework, photos of class notes, YouTube videos on ESL, important dates, and last minute information making learning more spontaneous and personal, thus more engaging. No wait, no password, no apps to open just to participate.

Best,
#mr.ford

A student using Whatsapp to practice ESL.

APP ALERT!! ESL PODCAST

2013-04-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

     Are you a student looking for a great way to enhance your ESL/EFL listening skills? Are you an ESL Instructor who needs a quick listening activity to fill that missing gap in your syllabus? Check out my good friends Dr. Jeff and Dr. Lucy out in LA. ESL Podcast is the leader in podcasting for ESL/EFL students and instructors. Their podcasts are among the most popular and readily available online and on NOW your smart phone!

     A lot of people are unfamiliar with podcasting. Podcasting is basically a recorded dialogue that is intended to help enhance listening and reading comprehension skills. They rely on a large variety of topics and many of these podcasts contain videos. A short quiz is usually given or listeners are asked to write a brief summary following the listening to test their comprehension.

     I currently use this app in my Level 5 course at my institute as an instructor. After playing the podcast via my phone and speakers, I ususally distibute a self generated worksheet that asks seven to ten questions and a brief summary of the listening. I also request that my students download the app so that they can read along the second time the podcast is played for revision.

     Go to your Google Play Store and download the app today. Let me know how it works for you.



Best,
#mr.ford

JOB ALERT!! ESOL Teacher Needed (Johns Creek)

2013-04-30T12:49:00.002-07:00

ESOL Teacher Needed (Johns Creek)

Teaching criteria: Academic English focused ESOL

Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree and previous teaching experience preferred
Must be available to begin ASAP

Please send your resume to the listed email.

Location: Johns Creek
Compensation: $15 per hour

REPLY TO THIS POST AT: x8fx4-3774839207@job.craigslist.org

JOB ALERT!! Need ESL Instructors

2013-04-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

Need ESL Instructors

English institute is looking to hire ESL instructors to start in May. This is a part-time & contract position. Hours and scheduling will be discussed during the interview.We are located in Duluth, GA. Please email resumes, cover letters, & recent photograph to email address listed above.
No phone calls please!

Only apply if you meet all of the following qualifications:
1.) At least a BA
2.) Prior ESL teaching experience
3.) Teaching certification preferred but not required

REPLY AT: j5j2x-3769968442@job.craigslist.org

Do I need a Social Security number to apply for a driver’s license while studying in the U.S.?

2013-04-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

No. You do not have to have a social security number to obtain a driver’s license in the U.S. The U.S. Government does not issue Social Security numbers solely for F-1 students to obtain a driver's license or a service that requires a credit check. A Social Security number is for individuals who are working and need it for work purposes, to collect social security benefits or apply for certain government services.

As an F-1 Visa student you are not permitted to work in the U.S. therefore; unless you are granted special permission to work or need a social security number for no work related purposes, you may not obtain one. Social Security numbers are often requested as a form of identification by some organizations and some states now do require that you have one to obtain a driving license.

If the state you live in does in fact require you to have a Social Security number to obtain a driver's license, then go to your local Social Security Administration and apply for a Social Security number. If you are refused a social security number, you may be issued a SSA-L676, "Refusal to Process SSN Application." Your SSA-L676 is accepted by your local DMV if you do not possess a social security number.

     Some states may issue you a 'temporary' license, but that is solely up to the state. In addition, you might have to wait to receive your license or have it mailed to your address. Note that you should wait at least 10 business days after your arrival to the United States before applying for a driver's license so that DHS has had adequate time to process your status.   For more information check out ssa.gov.

     Best,
     #mr.ford

List of documents that F-1 Visa students need to take with them to the DMV when applying for a driver's license:

•All signed versions of your Form I-20.

•Your current Form I-94

•A valid passport with visa (You do not need a visa if you are from a visa-exempt country, such as Canada or Bermuda).

•Proof of residence. This varies from state to state and might be a bill or a letter addressed to you.

•If your state requires it, an SSN card or a Form SSA-L676

•If you are on optional practical training, bring your Form I-766, “Employment Authorization Document”. The DMV will use the A number on this card to verify your status

How to Work LEGALLY as an F-1 Student!!

2013-04-17T08:40:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Government takes working illegally very seriously. If you as a student are caught working here illegally, you will face jail time and have to immediately leave the U.S. In some cases you will be able to return, however, repeat offenders and large profile cases will definitely be banned from the U.S.

Last week, a local ESL institute here in Georgia was shut down by ICE. Several students who were found either working or having their own businesses were arrested and now face deportation and possible fines.

As stricter immigration reform starts to take places across the United States, DHS, SEVP and ICE are tightening down on all ESL Institutes and investigations are ongoing.

"How can I work if I have an F (student) Visa #mr.ford?"

You're not supposed to. But, if you must; there are two ways in which students on F-1 Visas can legally work here in the U.S. The first is applying for an on-campus job. However, there are some limitations here. You can only work a maximum of 20 hours a week and must remain in Active status. Once you've started working, you will get letter from your from your employer and an approval letter from your school's Designated School Officer or DSO. Use both letters to get yourself a social security number. With a social security number you can get a bank account and be eligible for other benefits that come with having a social security number. On-Campus jobs work better in major colleges and universities better than small private schools and institutes where the need for on-campus jobs is significantly less.

    The second option is to apply for off-campus employment a year after you start studying in the U.S. A special authorization from United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) must be given to you in order to work. You must be recommended by your DSO and file a form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization. After USCIS approves your application (8-10 week wait), you will receive a form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You may not work unit you receive your EAD. Just as with the first option above, you are limited to only 20 hours a week for work.

    As a reminder, if you are here to study English as an F1 Visa student, work is not your priority here in the U.S. However, the U.S. government does realize that students need income to support them while they are in school. Students are also eligible for government benefits if they qualify.

   For more go to: www.http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/resources/working

Best,

#mr.ford