Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Voicethread in Spanish Language Classes

An oldie but goodie- Voicethread!
My Spanish teacher needed to upload Power Point shows and narrate them online for her students.  Our solution- Voicethread!

Voicethread How-Tos






Here's a sample of her project- SUPER simple to upload, record voice, and share the URL.
https://voicethread.com/?#q.b5382116.i27380964

There is also a free app for using VT on an iPhone or iPad.


Sunday, January 12, 2014

#GAGAFE 2014 Google Apps Closing Keynote


Molly Schroeder -Closing Keynote: Moonshot Thinking. 
Be ready for failure and you'll be successful. Improve on what you do in your classroom by creating an environment where it is ok to fail. 

PROJECT LOON- Google's vision for Internet access for all. 
http://www.google.com/loon/

An incomplete manifesto for growth. http://www.brucemaudesign.com/4817/112450/work/incomplete-manifesto-for-growth
Capture some accidents next week. Don't get frustrated. 

tinyurl.com/moonshotmanifesto we will write one single idea that has changed me this weekend. 

The 20% project: All Google employees get to create a project of their choosing... A passion project... Using 20% of their time. 

Allow events to change you. 

Turn the worksheet over. There's a blank space on the back! 

Saturday, January 11, 2014

10 reasons I NEED #GoogleGlass NOW!

Google Glass: #ineedthisnow
Today I learned how Glass works, and got details on the features, functions, and limitations of Glass. I learned where Glass is moving in the future. Why do educators need to know about it? What are the implications of such technology? I determined I NEED it.  Now. 

Here are 10 reasons I need Google Glass!!
- I can get real-time VOICE activated driving directions.  If you know me, you'll know this is critical.
- I can make videos for my students, co-workers, friends, and family demonstrating how to do all the the things around the house I do... like setting up my Google Chromecast, connecting wireless TV receivers, installing printer drivers, etc.  (side note: This will come in handy when I go to summer workshops like #DENSI2014 or any other event and I'm not around to troubleshoot my family's tech issues!)
- I can document all the things I learn quickly and efficiently
- I can update social media more frequently
-I can translate foreign languages
- I can improve my sports abilities
- I can use Apps to help my quality of life improve (such as in the kitchen!)
- I can record myself traveling and share with others
- I can model lessons for other librarians
- I can read books and share stories by sending videos to You Tube

Sign up to be a Glass Explorer-  or just cross your fingers that they'll pick me.  Soon!
http://www.google.com/glass/start/how-to-get-one/

P.S.-
Check out this classroom application- 365daysofglass.com
Follow https://twitter.com/googleglass 
#ifkidshadglass #GAGAFE #googleglass


#GAGAFE 10 Ways to Drive Google Apps Adoption at Your School

#GAGAFE Georgia Google Apps for Education Summit 2014:
 10 Ways to Drive Google Apps Adoption at Your School- Peter Henrie  peterhenrie@amplifiedit.com http://www.amplifiedit.com/
@amplifiedit
goo.gl/8v5XE7

  • 1. Plan your adoption and set milestones (example: everyone upload one Power Point file into Google Apps per month)
  • 2. Track usage with Reports (Admin console> Reports> Drive & Docs> hover over graph)
  • 3. Curriculum Focused PD: Transform Current Lessons with GAFE- not use technology for technology's sake
  • 4. Synergyse Google Apps Training: http://www.synergyse.com/ Use Synergyse Google Apps Training- a fee-based service-- it is  interactive, low cost- 10.00 per staff member per year & students are free, online, current & up-to-date training ... when Google changes the training always stays up to date.)
  • 5. Prepare a Rich Template Gallery (Create> Document> File> From Template.. to submit your own, click "submit template" on top right.  In your Admin console you can create your own template gallery for your district.)
  • 6. Identify Administrative Use Cases (Calendar- shared calendar for reserving rooms or resources), Groups ("Google Groups" previous conversations archived, shared mailboxes, discussion groups), Sites (including internal staff portal), Drive (- document repository, data gathering with forms)
  • 7.  Highlight useful 3rd Party Apps
  • 8. Remove Obstacles: Do not give anyone an excuse to not use the new system
  • 9. Teacher Dashboard-- http://hapara.com/ It communicates with your LMS (4.00 per student or 6.00 per student with remote control ~real time observation of tasks~ push out websites to a class~ management factor.  Makes digital classroom safer, easier to set up/use/manage/reset passwords... need a browser policy to only use Chrome browser not firefox or safari)
  • 10. Lead by Example (Don't attach Word Docs, use Google Calendar, what Chrome Extensions do you use regularly?)

#GAGAFE -Getting Started with Google Apps

Georgia Google Apps for Education Summit 2014:
The Google in Education Southern Summit is all weekend at The Lovett School in Atlanta.  I'll post a few interesting findings over the next couple of days.

Getting Started with Google Apps- w/ speaker Chris Craft-   www.christophercraft.com
We are trying to get Google Apps set up for our students to use in conjunction with Edmodo in our 1:1 iPad initiative.

My main takeaways:

Google Apps for Business= $
Google Apps for Education= FREE
SAME PRODUCT!

You get 30 gig free space w/ Google Apps for Education account (combined mail + docs)- however-- if you create an item in Google is DOES NOT COUNT toward your space!

Use Google Hangouts to archive parent conferences in a private environment on You Tube.  The conferences are easier for busy parents to attend, and you have a video record of the discussion.

DOCTOPUS: http://youpd.org/doctopus  deploy documents to your students all at once- a spreadsheet is also created with links to each student's document.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9yC1AzHMilU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Google Sites for e-portfolios-- purchase domain for each child with their name at the end of senior year so they have a complete personal portfolio to take with them.

http://www.google.com/inputtools/: type in any language with new chrome keyboard add-in on top right

Comments in Docs: File Revision history for writing process, highlight text > insert> comment

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

I'm Speaking at ISTE 2014 in Atlanta!

Join me in person at ISTE 2014- I am presenting with my colleague and parter in crime Selena Ward- aka The Tech Tiger. 
Our session is called 'Baby Got Back- Engage all Students with Backchanneling'

The session will be MONDAY at 10:45. 
We hope to meet some of our blog followers in person!