eduCanon + Favorite Chrome Extensions

eduCanon 

eduCanon is an online learning environment to build and share interactive video lessons with your students. You can begin with any YouTube, Vimeo, or TeacherTube video content (screencasts, Khan Academy, Minute Physics, TED, NOVA, etc.) and transform what is traditionally passive content into an active experience for students. At certain points in the video you can add a number of different questions to assess understanding of what they are watching. You can also monitor their responses in real-time and decide how to proceed with your lesson. Oh yeah, it's also free! Click here to give it a try.

My Favorite Chrome Extensions

Chrome extensions add exciting new functionality to your Chrome web browser and help you get things done. There are thousands of them out there so it's hard to know where to start! Here a few of my favorite that I use almost daily. 

Nimbus Screenshot - Capture Web page, a part of it or the whole browser window, edit screenshots and save the images to Local File or Google Drive.

Adblock Plus -  The free adblock tool for Chrome: Blocks annoying video ads on YouTube, Facebook ads, banners and much more.

Clipboard History - Roll back your clipboard! The product keeps a history of a content, which has been recently copied to the computer clipboard. By selecting any last copied text you automatically copy it into the clipboard again. You can also see the time every text was copied. Don't lose your information!

Tab resize - Split Screen made easy. Resize the current tab and tabs to the RIGHT into layouts on separate windows. With multi monitor support.

ShortenMe - Quickly shorten links with goo.gl, copy them to the clipboard, and generate QR codes

OneTab - Whenever you find yourself with too many tabs, click the OneTab icon to convert all of your tabs into a list. When you need to access the tabs again, you can either restore them individually or all at once.

TechSmith Snagit - Take a screenshot, screen capture, or screen video recording. Collaborate and show what you know. (works on Chromebooks too!)

Google Educator Certification

This week we are working on the Calendar lessons and taking the exam. Click here to find the lessons. Remember that you will have to pay $15 to take the exam and will reimbursed for the cost of all of your tests upon completing the certification. Cassie or Matt will be available from 4:00pm - 5:30pm in South Campus Media Center on Monday, January 5th to offer help on the course. You are not required to attend these help sessions and you can move through the modules at your own pace! Please email ahead if you plan on attending the help session.

10 Tips for Becoming A Google Educator

Booktrack Classroom + Google Drive for your Desktop

Booktrack Classroom

Transform reading and writing in your classroom with Booktrack Classroom. With Booktrack Classroom you can take a piece of writing and add soundtracks and sound effects to create a complete experience for your readers. You can also read a number of books from the Booktrack Classroom bookshelf that have soundtracks already completed. Try this tool to increase engagement, comprehension, and enjoyment in reading and writing! Click here to check out a video.

Google Drive for your Desktop

Google announced that they are providing Google for Education accounts free unlimited storage. If you are still using your home drive, now is a great time to take advantage of Google Drive’s storage, syncing and sharing features.

Google Drive for your PC is an application that installs a folder on your computer with automatic syncing to your Google Drive on the web (White Bear Apps). It allows you to drag and drop files from your home and shared folders to Google Drive and gives you 24/7 access to Google Drive from your computer, even when internet connection is interrupted.

Click here for instructions to install Google Drive for your desktop!

Google Educator Certification

Join Cassie and Matt in becoming Google Educators! This certification includes completing 6 modules (4 required and 2 elective) that explore Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Sites, Chrome, and Chromebooks. After each module you need to take an exam to demonstrate your understanding. The exams are $15.00 each. Upon passing all 6 exams you will be reimbursed $90.00 for the cost of the exams by the technology department.

This week we are working on the Gmail lessons and taking the exam. Click here to find the lessons. Cassie and Matt will be available from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at South Campus on Monday, December 15th to offer help on the basics course. You are not required to attend these help sessions and you can move through the modules at your own pace!

If you are interested in this opportunity but have not yet signed up, please complete your registration here.

Upon completion of the 6 modules and exams you can submit for reimbursement here.

Google Educator Certification + Chromebook Tips

Google Educator Certification

Join Cassie and Matt in becoming Google Educators! This certification includes completing 6 modules (4 required and 2 elective) that explore Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Sites, Chrome, and Chromebooks. After each module you need to take an exam to demonstrate your understanding. The exams are $15.00 each. Upon passing all 6 exams you will be reimbursed $90.00 for the cost of the exams by the technology department.

This week we are working on the Basic lessons and taking the exam. Click here to find the lessons. This module is not required for certification but will provide a good starting point before we start working on the more complex courses. Cassie and Matt will be available from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at South Campus on Monday, November 24th and Monday, December 1st to offer help on the basics course. You are not required to attend these help sessions and you can move through the modules at your own pace!

If you are interested in this opportunity but have not yet signed up, please complete your registration here.

Chromebook Tips

This ThingLink has a great overview of Google Chrome features, Chromebook shortcuts and a few Chrome web apps for education. For those unfamiliar with ThinkLink, it is a great tool that teachers or students could use to link information about a topic in a visually appealing way. Think of it like an interactive poster. Create your own at thinglink.com.

Google Educator Certification + kidPicker Application

Google Educator Certification Opportunity

Join Cassie and Matt in becoming Google Educators! This certification includes completing 6 modules (4 required and 2 elective) that explore Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Sites, Chrome, and Chromebooks. Click here for additional details. After each module you need to take an exam to demonstrate your understanding. The exams are $15.00 each. Upon passing all 6 exams you will be reimbursed $90.00 for the cost of the exams by the technology department.

Cassie and Matt will be completing a module every two weeks. The module's materials will be sent out via tech tips. Cassie and Matt will be available from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at South Campus on Mondays according to the following schedule to help with the current module. You are not required to attend these help sessions and you can move through the modules at your own pace!

If you are interested please sign up here as this opportunity is currently limited to 25 staff members!

Schedule:

• Beginning Tuesday, November 18th - Learn the Basics Module* + Exam
• Help on Monday, November 24th or Monday, December 1st
• *The basics module and exam are not part of the certification described above, but are helpful to complete prior. The basics exam is free.
• Beginning Tuesday, December 2nd - Gmail Module + Exam
• Help on Monday, December 15th
• Beginning Tuesday, December 16th - Calendar Module + Exam
• Help on Monday, January 5th
• Beginning Tuesday, January 6th - Drive Module + Exam
• Help on Monday, January 12th
• Beginning Tuesday, January 20th - Sites Module + Exam
• Help on Monday, January 26th or Monday, February 2nd
• Beginning Tuesday, February 3rd - Elective Module I* + Exam
• Help on Monday, February 9th
• *Cassie and Matt will likely do Chrome as the elective module. 
• Beginning Tuesday February 17th - Elective Module II* + Exam
• Help on Monday, February 23rd
• *Cassie and Matt will likely do Chromebooks as the elective module. 

KidPicker Application

kidPicker is a tool that equitably randomizes the student selection process, allowing a teacher to maximize the spread of students selected on the same day. It also tracks simple teacher scorings (1,2,3) in a Google Spreadsheet. 

Check out these instructions to get started!

Google Play for Edu + Simple Chromebook Shortcuts

Introducing Google Play for Education

White Bear Lake Schools now have access to the Google Play for Education Store. This means that teachers can send out specific Chrome and Android apps to groups of students.

Google Play for Education is an extension of Google Play designed for schools. Here educators can discover Android and Chrome apps approved by teachers for teachers, as well as educational videos and a collection of classic books for their classroom.

Teachers can search for approved apps by grade, subject and standard, including Common Core State Standards. Instant distribution lets educators bring apps directly to classrooms and schools.

See this presentation made by our own Nicky Lavalley for instructions on how to send apps to students.

Please contact Steve Asper (steve.asper@isd624.org) with any specific questions related to Google Play for Edu.

Useful Chromebook Shortcuts

Here is a handful of Chromebook shortcuts that Sunrise 8th graders think will save you time! To see a full menu of keyboard shortcuts open a Chromebook and press Ctrl + Alt + ?

The screencast was made by 8th grade students in the Tech Depot. Tech Depot is an advisory group at both Sunrise and Central middle school that assists with Chromebook repairs, troubleshooting, and shares their tech wisdom with students and staff.

As always, please contact Cassie Knutson (cassie.knutson@isd624.org) or myself (matt.skogen@isd624.org) with questions. We are available to meet with you one on one or in small groups to help make your innovative ideas a reality.

Digital Citizenship, Chromebook Tutorial, and the Technology and Leadership Cohort

Digital Citizenship Resources

Teaching the norms of responsible technology use is becoming increasingly important as we continue to embed technology in our students' learning experiences. There are many online resources for teaching digital citizenship so that students have safe experiences as the communicate and collaborate online. 

Elementary School Resources:

• PBS Webonauts Internet Academy, Through the Wild Web Woods, and AT&T's Safety Land are great online resources for elementary students. 
• Professor Garfield Online Safety, Cyberbullying, and Fact or Opinion are free iPad applications that teach students how to be safe online, how to recognize and respond to cyberbullying, and how to decide if something is a fact or an opinion.

Middle School/High School Resources:

• Seven Digital Sins and Flocabulary's "Think Before You Post - Oversharing are great online resource for middle and high school students. 

Take some time to review these great resources and consider using them in your classroom!

Chromebook Tutorial

Our 8th graders at Sunrise each have a Chromebook in their hands and hundreds of additional Chromebooks are now available at our elementary, middle, and high schools. This Chromebook Tutorial is a self paced opportunity to learn basic to advanced Chromebook skills.

2014-2015 Technology & Leadership Cohort

Starting October 27, 2014, 30 teachers will begin White Bear’s second Technology & Leadership Cohort focused on improving leadership and technology skills through four blended courses. Members will also earn 15 graduate credits and a Technology & Leadership Certificate through Hamline. The Cohort will be taught in a blended format with all face to face meetings being held Monday afternoon/evenings once month. Applications are due October 9th!

Our New Face Lift, Google Classroom PD, Tech Cohort and BrightBytes

As you can see, we've made some changes to the way that we will pass on our tech wisdom to you. On this blog you will be able to search through the whole archive of Tech Tips to quickly find answers to your questions. 

Google Classroom PD for CEUs

On Monday, September 29th Cassie and I will be offering a 45-minute professional development session on Google Classroom. The session will start at 7 am in the South Campus Media Center.

You will receive CEUs for your attendance at this session! You will need to register in PDExpress to get credit for this session. (login here) Once logged in click "In District Events" at the top of the page and select "In District Event Catalog". 

2014-2015 Technology & Leadership Cohort

Starting October 27, 2014, ~30 teachers will begin White Bear’s second Technology & Leadership Cohort focused on improving leadership and technology skills through four blended courses.  Members will also earn 15 graduate credits and a Technology & Leadership Certificate through Hamline. The Cohort will be taught in a blended format with all face to face meetings being held Monday afternoon/evenings once month.

Last year’s Cohort was a huge success, and we are delighted to extend the opportunity to a new group of White Bear teachers!  Learn more in the brief description below and read the full description at bit.ly/WBLAS1415cohortinfo. 

Applications are due October 9th, so start crafting your responses soon!  

The focus of these classes will be to enhance practice of integrating technology into White Bear’s curriculum as well as build leadership skills in teachers in the field of technology and learning. 

Contact the tech department or one of last year's cohort members with any questions.

It's coming...

Be ready to participate in this year's BrightBytes survey in the upcoming weeks. Important technology related decisions for the district are made based on the data from this survey. Those who speak are the ones who are heard. Our goal is 100% participation at every school.

IFTTT, Community Ed Schoology Page, Schoology Notification Settings (May 13, 2014)

Tip #1: If This Then That

If This Then That is a service that allows you to make connections between many of your online services. You create recipes that trigger an action in one service when something happens with another service. An example that I used in class was every time the daily weather for White Bear Lake was posted on the Weather Channel, IFTTT would add  that weather data to a new row in one of my Google spreadsheets. My students then compared the weather data that they were collecting for class with the data that was automatically added to the spreadsheet from the Weather Channel.  Essentially it is a way to automate some of the tasks that you do already, freeing up some of your time. It also has features that can do some pretty cool and unique things.  For a more detailed description click here.

IFTTT is also an app for Android and Apple.

Tip #2: Stay in the loop: Community Ed Teacher Page

You may have seen the new "White Bear Lake Teachers" page in your list of courses in Schoology. This page was created by the folks in Community Education to keep you in the loop about professional development opportunities.

"This will be where we post all flyers from Colleges and Universities offering professional development for teachers. We are moving away from paper flyers being placed in mailboxes and moving toward an online posting of flyers. We decided Schoology is the way to go to forward this communication to teachers."

-Kristine Wehrkamp

Tip #3: Notifications or not. The choice is yours.

As you are being enrolled in various courses and creating your own, you may or may not want to get an email about everything that happens in the course. Luckily, the choice is up to you! This is how you change notifications for a specific course and here is reminder on how to change notification settings for your account.