Google Slides Templates + Student Gmail Groups + New Google Forms

Templates for Beautiful Google Slides Presentations

Creating a visually appealing Google Slides presentation can take quite awhile if you're starting from scratch. Now you don't have to. Slides Carnival is a website that has templates complete with background images, layouts, fonts, and re-sizable icons. The best part is that they are all free!

I've added all of their templates to this Google Drive folder for you to easily access. After opening the one that you would like to use just click "File" and then "Make a copy" to start crafting your own stunning presentation.

Here is their latest template for Halloween 2015. 

Student Gmail Groups Synced from Skyward

Groups of student email addresses are now automatically generated for every class that is in Skyward.  No more creating email lists for your students in each class.  These can be used to send emails to classes, to enroll students in you Google Classroom classes or push Android and Chrome apps to student accounts.

Here are the steps to finding those addresses (if you prefer a video see below):

1. Go to groups.google.com

2. Click the "My Groups" button

3. Click the "isd624.org" link (under the Red Create New Group button, last one on the right)

4. Open the Group for the class you are looking for

5. Click the "about" link on the right side

6. You will see the address for that group.

100 second video shows all the steps.  https://goo.gl/xTs2zc

---

Pushing Android Apps

Pushing Chrome Apps

The New Google Forms

Have you seen the new Google Forms? They just made a few changes including a more simplified design, new themes, and a faster way to view the summary of responses.

Get started with the new version of Forms

You can learn more about the new features here.

Lucidpress and Lucidchart Add-ons, Google Voice Typing, and Computer Timers

Lucidpress and Lucidcharts

You and your students can create stunning visual displays with Lucidpress and concepts maps or flow charts with Lucidcharts. Lucidpress and Lucidcharts are add-ons available to you and your students in your Google Drive making them easy to access and share.

To access Lucidpress and Lucidcharts...
1. Go to your Google Drive
2. Select "NEW"
3. Select "More"
4. Select Lucidpress or Lucidchart from the menu - You may need to connect these apps by clicking "Connect more apps" and searching for them.

Click here for a video on Lucidpress and click here for a video on Lucidcharts.

Google Voice Typing

You and your students can type with your voice using Google Voice Typing. Click here for more information. Click here for a video on Google Voice Typing. This could be a great option for students who struggle with typing when typing is not the focus of the writing activity.

Computer Timers

This tech-tip comes from Otter Lake Elementary teacher, Luanne Oklobzija! You can set music timers on your computer to cue students. You might consider using this to schedule brain breaks or a time when student may begin packing up their things. Click here for instructions to set up computer timers.

Google Calendar Integration in Classroom + Google Expeditions + Adding People to Schoology Groups

Google Calendar Integration in Classroom 

With Google Classroom's new feature you can now see any assignment that you post to the Stream in a calendar view. Click here to get some directions on how to make sure your calendars are setup. If you already use a shared Google Calendar with your classes, you can learn how to transfer events from one calendar to another here.

The great thing about having your assignments sync to a Google Calendar is that the calendar can now be shared in other places like Schoology. This makes it easy for you to post assignments in Classroom for students and still be able to let parents see what is happening in your class within Schoology. Watch this video for instructions on how to embed your Classroom calendar on your Schoology page. 

Help Bring Virtual Reality Field Trips to White Bear

Google just announced it's new Expeditions program that will bring virtual reality (VR) field trips to schools free of charge. Their program facilitators come to schools with VR headsets and all of the other tools required for teachers to lead kids on over 100 immersive learning experiences. 

Unfortunately, Minnesota is not on their initial list of locations that the Expeditions team will be visiting but if we can create enough buzz about it here in White Bear we can get their attention. If you are interested in taking your students on a virtual field trip sign up here to get our district noticed. 

In the meantime, you can learn more about VR technology and do some exploring of your own with the relatively inexpensive Google Cardboard viewers and almost any smartphone.

Manually Adding People to Courses or Groups in Schoology

All of your Schoology courses sync rosters with your courses in Skyward so that you do not have to manually enter students if they join your class or delete them out if they leave. However, there may be times when you want to add someone to your class roster or invite them to be part of a group. 

When adding new members to a course or group you must first select the building that they are associated with before searching for their name. This will help ensure that you add the right person.

 

Join the Technology and Leadership Cohort

White Bear Lake Area Schools, in collaboration with Hamline University invite you to apply to join the 2015-2016 Technology & Leadership Cohort.

Starting October 27, 2015, ~30 teachers will begin White Bear’s third Cohort, focused on improving leadership and technology skills through four blended courses.  Teachers will also earn 15 inexpensive graduate credits and a Technology & Leadership Certificate through Hamline.

The focus of these classes will be to enhance practice of integrating technology into White Bear Lake’s curriculum as well as build leadership skills in teachers in the field of technology and learning.  The Cohort will give you the opportunity to collaborate with WBLAS colleagues from different grade levels and buildings.  The Cohort will be taught in a blended format with all face to face meetings being held Tuesday (one exception) afternoon/evenings once month (on average).

Welcome Back Technology Tips

Welcome back colleagues!

This week's tech tips are very important for all teaching staff to read. We appreciate the time and consideration you are giving to these items:

Schoology and Skyward Grade Sync

You can now sync assignment grades recorded in your Schoology course to Skyward. Click here for instructions!

Google Drive: "Add to"

Be sure you are adding shared Drive folders to your drive by highlighting a folder and clicking ‘SHIFT+Z’ or right clicking the folder and clicking "Add to Drive."

If you receive the message: "others will no longer see this folder," realize that you are removing a document or a folder from a shared space and others who currently have access to that item will not if you proceed.

Schoology and the Remind App

If you have tried to use the Remind app in Schoology this year you have likely noticed that it does not load. Remind updated their website and it is currently incompatible within Schoology. Schoology has reached out to Remind, but Remind has not yet provided Schoology with a timeline for the fix. ​For now you can access Remind through their website (remind.com).

Schoology and the Drive App

The Drive app in Schoology is also experiencing some issues. A temporary work around for this is to add Drive files with their link.

Schoology and Google Document Share Settings

When you add Google documents to Schoology make sure that the share settings are set to "Anyone with the link" can view as opposed to "Anyone at ISD624 with the link" can view to ensure that parents can view these items as well as students.

Join the Technology and Leadership Cohort

White Bear Lake Area Schools, in collaboration with Hamline University invite you to apply to join the 2015-2016 Technology & Leadership Cohort.

Starting October 27, 2015, ~30 teachers will begin White Bear’s third Cohort, focused on improving leadership and technology skills through four blended courses.  Teachers will also earn 15 inexpensive graduate credits and a Technology & Leadership Certificate through Hamline.

The focus of these classes will be to enhance practice of integrating technology into White Bear Lake’s curriculum as well as build leadership skills in teachers in the field of technology and learning.  The Cohort will give you the opportunity to collaborate with WBLAS colleagues from different grade levels and buildings.  The Cohort will be taught in a blended format with all face to face meetings being heldTuesday (one exception) afternoon/evenings once month (on average).

Optional Item: Dell Deals

If you are looking to purchase a personal device for home use, consider the following deals exclusive to White Bear Lake employees:

• Awesome electronics. Exclusive savings. Members: Buy a PC $699.99+, get a FREE 32" LG TV*.
• Inspiron 17 5000 Series + Free 32" TV $799.99. Search Order Code: DNDNU2409BSO. Accomplish every task with this adaptable laptop featuring the newest processor, Windows 8.1 and beautiful display. 5th gen Intel(r) Core(tm) i7 processor - Windows 8.1 - 8GB memory & 1TB hard drive - 17.3" HD+ display. Offer Valid 9/1-9/15 8 a.m. EST.
• Inspiron Desktop + Free 32" TV $699.99. Search Order Code: FDCWRP207BW10SO. 4th gen Intel(r) Core(tm) i3 processor - Windows 10 Home - 8GB memory & 1TB hard drive - 3 Years Premium Support and - 3 Years Accidental Damage included. Offer Valid 9/1-9/15 8 a.m. EST.
• Xbox One Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Bundle plus Rare Replay and additional controller $379.99. Search SKU: A8502871. Apply coupon code 3C8W9CBQPQW09B in cart. Limited quantity available. Offer begins 9/1 at 8 a.m. EST.
• Get 5% back in rewards with Dell Advantage. Plus free second business day shipping. Join for free at checkout.

Shop at: www.dell.com/mpp/ISD624
Or call: 1-800-695-8133
Member ID: US138833471