Assabet and Wirecast and Feeback by Polling Audience through Google Slides (Chrome Extension "Polling in Google Slides")

Two items to blog about
1. We hosted  the Assabet ITS job-alike showcasing Wirecast at Nashoba this month. This inspired some colleagues to test out Touchcast on the iPads for news reporting. Sme of the schools that are PC-Based are interested in learning more about Wirecast.  We plan to upgrade Telestream/Wirecast to output to different video formats and install on a laptop so we can do mobile reporting, or even stream the Pep Rally live from the auditorium this year.

The other topics I wanted to explore was using Poll Everwhere, a chrome extensions or assessment.  I plan to use in our January PD during our Google Demo Slam Session

2. Have you ever attended a meeting where you have watched slide after slide but never actually felt like you participated in the presentation?  As a presenter getting feedback from your audience can be intimidating but yet provide you with valuable insight.  Earlier this month I did participated in a Google Demo Slam at a conference.  I thought a great way to show the polling option would be to demonstrate a few extensions and apps and then poll the audience to see what they found most useful.

In the past I have occasionally used Poll Everywhere but was recently informed they just came out with a Chrome extension that allows you to use directly in Google Slides by embedding Polly Everywhere questions right in a presentation! Poll Everywhere does have a free educator account, but it does limit you to 40 responses per question.

Step 1 - Get the Poll Everywhere Chrome extension. The title to search is "Polling in Google Slides"
TIP: Important to note that you will NOT see the chrome extension with the rest of the extensions in the Chrome browser. Instead, a new menu option will show up when you have a Google Slide opened on your screen. Also your district may push this extension out automatically.

Step 2 - Go to Poll Everywhere and sign up for the free K-12 Educational Plan. Click here for the direct link, get username and password so you will be able to login under step 4.

Step 3-  Open up a Google Slide presentation that you would like to include a question or two in your presentation. You will notice the MENU option: Poll Everywhere (not with the other extensions on the toolbar!) This took me a little while to figure out.

Step 4 - Log into your Poll Everywhere Account

Step 5 - Create a Poll - Go to Poll Everywhere Menu and select - "Create Poll"

A pop up window will appear for you to choose the type of question.
There are different options to pick!

Once you press insert poll, it will automatically insert a slide with that poll question on it.

Note: The actual poll question will not show until you are in present mode of your slide presentation. While in editing mode, you will see the following:

Phone image/option (details)

 

Step 6 - Showing Audience how to text or go to the URL to vote and view live results.

The audience was  completely engaged at the demo slam and loved the fact not only did they share their favorite app, extension or tool during the demo slam. As a presenter, I got direct feedback from the audience for general consensus. Ideally, I could see using a polling techniques on several slides in the presentation. Doc link or  https://goo.gl/Sfi27B 

Internet Safety - Presentation

Last year I posted about an Internet Safety Session panel/presentation that I organized for the freshmen class/2018. I will be presenting again this week for the class of 2019.
I have been using current event opportunities to talk with classes about their Digital Footprint/Reputation, the Boston Globe featured (Six Ways Social Media Can Ruin your Life)

Presentation Link - December 11th - 2015

I have updated the presentation from last year with current events:
- Good Nashoba Cup on Twitter
- How did Social Media Get so Vicious? Glamour Survey

2015 Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference - Google Demo Slam

I had the pleasure of co-presenting with +Nicole Tomaselli on December 2nd at the "2015 Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference" last week.   We created a site  and a survey  that we tweeted out and posted on FB.  We helped teacher connect to the site at the start of the demo and the showed the results to an audience.  We had over 50+ teachers attend.

The "Demo Slam" allowed participants to interactively share their best Google Apps for Education (GAFE) tricks/tips. We setup two projectors in the session, so we could rotate quickly between two projection screens to fit in as many 2-3 minute GAFE tips as possible - "Slam."

I showcased, Google Keep, Screencastify, Google Slides (with the chrome extension, Poll Everywhere) and actually polled the audience on their favorite app/extension thanks to +Craig Sheil giving me a heads up and a link to his blog post on this topic!

I used this model in my district last year and loved the collaboration.

I plan to propose a Google Demo Slam and a "Mini Edcamp" model for our PD session next month using the same format from the conference.

New Google Form Features and Google Voice

A few new Google discoveries this week. I noticed a few weeks ago that Google Forms had a new look while attending a session at MassCUE. To check out the new "purple" log look go to forms.google.com.  Here is a direct link https://goo.gl/3rrExI  to launch the new format and don't worry you can do back to the older version,

I was preparing to give a quiz this afternoon and wanted to make sure the new form worked with Flubaroo.

Note: The new option for responses that the owner of the form can view, so you quickly see information and select the spreadsheet option if you would like to sort and view the summary of the data.

There are also lots of new themes that you can select rather the just a few options.

If you do not like the new format you can go back by clicking on the icon in the bottom left of
the screen. It looks like a person running.









If you need to show "data" for formative assessments, Forms automatically creates summary charts for you!

Not all the features from the older version have moved over to the new version, but I like what I am seeing and its a great way to collect data.

Now, only if they would add creating quizzes directly in Google Classroom that might make me really happy!

The second item, not that it's new but it is now open in our school, we now have access to
Google Voice, a telephony service that provides call forwarding and voicemail services, voice and text messaging, as well as US and international calls.  I curious how it compares to Skype.  To get started you can create and account and phone number by going to voice.google.com. A few of our World Language teachers have been exploring options to record audio and found some resources to share here.

Below is a quick overview of Google Voice


I hope to explore with a few teachers this month and post and update!

Link to Google Newsletter with Tips and Tricks!

Google Keep -- save your thoughts from wherever—including iPhones

I heard about Google Keep http://keep.google.com a Google product for digital sticky notes that is also an App for mobile devices that syncs with Google last spring through twitter colleagues, but never really took the time to check it out, until I heard this month it was available for IOS, to use on my iPhone. During a PD session on Writing last week I started to show a group of teachers how we might want to think about connecting Keep with Google for writing, however this happened to be the Friday afternoon that Google went offline and we didn't have time explore.  Working with a teacher and class the following week I was ready to test out but found although Keep was opened for staff it was blocked for students.  Fast forward to yesterday, it's now open for staff, students along with the Chrome Extension in the App Store .  So, next week I plan to start pitching with staff and students and hope they enjoy Keep as much as we do Google Classroom.   

My approach, send out an email to staff with a link to my blog along with a list of some of the things they can do to get started with Keep in their personal and teaching life and encourage them to show students. 

Here is a quick overview of some useful features of Google Keep:
Information from Google:  Forget fumbling with sticky notes or trying to recall that last item on your to-do list. When you’re trying to capture a moment or remember a task, Google Keep can help. And starting today, the things you love about Keep on the web and Android are now available on iOS: 

• Find what you need, quickly by searching and filtering your notes by color and type like images, audio and text. You can also add labels to help you organize your thoughts. 
• Set time or location-based reminders so you won’t forget to swing by the dry cleaners or miss an item on your shopping list. 
• Do more, together by sharing your notes so you can divvy up the packing list and watch as the items get checked off in real time. 

Learn more about Google Keep see video

A few things that jumped out at me that may immediately benefit students was the reminder feature and Voice Recorder.

When researching new tools I always jump over to Richard Bryne's blog for his take on a tool or an App.  Here is a link to his blog and a review on Google Keep.  The other go to person is Alice Keeler who appears to be the most knowledgeable person on Google that I found on Twitter, here is a link to her take on her blog.

I plan to explore using this new tool over the next few weeks as I think this is going to be a great tool for school and home!

I will also be re-certifying my Google Educators/Trainer Certification by taking the five tests again this month.  I wish Google would focus more on the tools that teachers use and less on calendar and Gmail functions.  Maybe we will see Google Keep added to their list!

Math, Science and Windows Tablets

We are in the process of updating some of our staff Tablet PC's/Windows 7 with new Lenovo Yoga 12 Tablet PC's this month.  I surveyed the staff and decided to hold three after school training sessions and update my class site with Yoga/Windows 8 resources.

Session one focused on the following:
Getting Started - Basics/Level 1 (9/15/2015)

1. Windows Basics 8 (touch screen) basics link
   - Arranging icon and pinning programs
2. Projector Wireless Connection (Epson - install software)
3. Inking with Journal / Sending a PDF  - Print Journal to ink
   - Different Papers/background
4. Inking in MS-Word
5. Snipping Tool - Ink and Annotate
6. Adding an APP (example Graphing Calculator, etc)
   - Explore APPS for content area
7. Homework: Practice the above 

The session went great. It got everyone on the same page and excited to use the new features.

For the few teacher that missed the session, I was able to meet with the during their prep periods to day and review session one so they can join us for session two next month.

Upcoming Topics for Session two

Level 2  - Meeting 2 (10/20th )

1. Review (Projector, Journal and Word Inking)
2. Apps - Recommend to Colleagues
   - Math editor
3. OneNote 2012 should be installed (may need to be added to Yoga 12's)
4. Recording your screen (screencastify or screencast-_matic)
5. Publish and Post to Google Site / Classroom
6. OneNote - Basics

Taking the time to explore the features of touch screen, Windows 8 and the inking capabilities was very informative for all teachers!

 

Mentoring Meetings and Technology with Google Classroom

Last week I had the chance to attend the new mentor meeting to introduce myself and discuss technology in the building.  The district mentor meetings start at 3:30 so I can going to focus on the high school teacher needs prior to the meeting.  

Last week we discussed a few options  and we decided to start with joining a Google Classroom and creating a class.  I also setup up "Staff Meeting" class site to help gather information disseminated at staff meeting and hope to introduce the discussion option.   I think it will be helpful for the new staff to see the student view of opening and assigning documents.