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.

Grade 8 1:1 Chromebook Initiative and Digital Footprint

Tomorrow our district will embark on our Grade 8 1:1 Chromebook initiative with Mr. Newton (@GreggNewtonNRSD) at Hale Middle School. We will be reviewing Chromebook Guidelines (Read more here) along with the importance of managing your online presence that I discuss with high school students on my class site.

Here are a few resources that we will use:

• Introducing the Chromebook
  Upcoming Announcements - Twitter/District Technology
• Managing your Footprint/ Commonsense Media
• My Class Site with Chromebook Resources
• Presentation for incoming Freshmen / Digital Footprint

Chromebooks



Digital Footprint / Commonsense Media


Discussion Topics - The Good - The Bad and The Ugly
- Presentation/Prezi for incoming Freshmen / Digital Footprint

THINK before you post .......

Consequences of Posts and please remember to "THINK" before you post or publish!

Examples:

•  "One bad tweet can be costly to a student athlete" shar.es/1vk6bi 
• 5 Tips for Parents in the Digital Age buff.ly/1hU1KIC

http://

My Twitter feed mmarotta

Welcome Back!

We are back to school!  Teacher are updating their Classroom Websites this week.  A few teachers wanted to have their twitter-feed appear on their Google site.  As a reminder, check out my class site and note under the Google Menu http://googleforeducation.blogspot.com/2015/08/head-back-to-school-with-new-features-in-Google-Classroom.html there are  tips on embedding a twitterfeed to your site.  I was happy to see the presentation on Digital Learning on opening day and the discussion around SMAR.  Our HS staff have been working on the SAMR model and posted reflections last year.

Additionally, there will be new features with Google Classroom coming soon!

Keep students engaged with question-driven discussions 

Since Classroom launched last year, teachers have been using their class stream to host student debates, Q&A and discussions. Starting today, you’ll be able to do this in a more collaborative way. You can post questions to your class and allow students to have discussions by responding to each other’s answers (or not, depending on the setting you choose). For example, you could post a video and ask students to answer a question about it, or post an article and ask them to write a paragraph in response.

Reuse posts 

You know those lessons that worked so well last year that you want to use them again? Now you can reuse assignments, announcements or questions from any one of your classes — or any class you co-teach, whether it’s from last year or last week. Once you choose what you’d like to copy, you’ll also be able to make changes before you post or assign it.

Calendar Integration 

In the next month, Classroom will automatically create a calendar for each of your classes in Google Calendar. All assignments with a due date will be automatically added to your class calendar and kept up to date. You’ll be able to view your calendar from within Classroom or on Google Calendar, where you can manually add class events like field trips or guest speakers.

In case you missed it 

We know YouTube is an important source of educational content for many schools. Because it also contains content that an organization or school might not consider acceptable, last month we launched advanced YouTube settings for all Google Apps domains as an Additional Service. These settings give Apps admins the ability to restrict the YouTube videos viewable for signed-in users, as well as signed-out users on networks managed by the admin. Learn more here.

Read the Google for Education blog and posed comments for more details!

Great advice about growing professional each day. Set aside 10 minutes and i would highly recommend learning to use Twitter as a professional development resource.  There are many chats available to specific content.  Or start small and follow a few people that may inspire you!

Here's to a great year!

Creating Classroom Websites with Google Sites

When returning to school each year teachers have so much on their plates especially during the first month of school.  Updating curriculum, syllabus and teaching resources, not to mention class rosters, setting up their phsical classrooms and more.  For the past severals year we have been using Google Sites as our classroom interface for parents, community and students.  Do you need to update and refresh your class site?  Here is a link to a tutorial page  to remind you about setting up your site. For new staff we will be using PD time the first day of school to create your site.

Many of you have started to use Google Classroom, Blogging and microblogging with Twitter as tools to engage students and the community.  If this is your first year using any of the tools, I would recommend you start with one and that would be Google Sites for your interface to students and community.  It's also a great way for you to review what you colleagues are doing in their classrooms.

When ready take a look at Google Classroom.  It's a more efficient way to manage students Google documents and assigments.  I will be setting up some sessions after school on Tuesday's know at Tech Tuesday's to help you get started.  I am also available to work with you in your classes and during your prep time.  Let's use technology to engage students and to streamline your classroom this year!