Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Rethink Google Slides


Google Slides aren't just for presentations anymore!

Go through the presentation above to find out more or click here to open the presentation in a new tab.

Have an idea for using Google Slides in your class?  
Contact a Tech Coach to help you get the ball rolling!

Monday, December 12, 2016

ActivInspire connects with Classflow




Remember these guys? 
Image result for activexpressionImage result for activoteWow! They were really the cat's pajamas! 
Image result for cat's pajamas


But now, their batteries are dying, kids don't remember how to text with a number pad, etc... 

So how do we gather feedback from our students with all these fantastic flipcharts we already have? 


This button right here should be at the top of your ActivInspire Flipchart.  
(If not, let a techcoach know you need updated!)

Go ahead!  Click Connect!
Now just click the "G" to sign in with your @smdutch.net account!


Here comes the money!  Your class code.  Best part - it NEVER changes!  So, make that poster for your classroom that says: 

classflow.com/student 
> Join
> Q9772 (use your unique class code)

*Students do not need an account & you don't have to pre-prepare anything!

Image result for activinspire expresspollAll the student needs is a device with the Internet and you are in.  

Use your Express Poll button to send out these types of questions on the fly.  No prep needed.

- Multiple Choice
- Text Response
- Numeric Response
- Sort in Order 
- True / False 

Image result for activinspire expresspollStudents will receive a copy of your slide with a place to submit an answer.  All the data comes to your flipchart with an immediate pop up graph of responses.  

AND - as if there couldn't be more - the responses are stored in a separate page at the end of your flipchart for you to reference later for individual data collection.  

Unique ideas I used last week

- Send the slide to your students to take notes without squinting to see the board.  Send them a Yes/No question to find out when they are finished copying.

- Instead of sending students to the board to go over answers, have a representative from each group send their answer to the board as the response to a text or numeric question.

'Tis the season to RECEIVE!  Contact a techcoach for a demo before break!


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Give Googley Feedback

You've done it!

  • You've made your Google Classroom.
  • You're students are in it.
  • You have created an assignment.
  • Submissions are rolling in....
Now what?                                                                      


Sure you can print them, but why?  Then you just need to lug your papers back and forth like you always had.  Put that Surface to work for you and join me as I show you ways to assess a Google Doc (or Google Slides) submitted by a student.

Commenting:
What does it do? ~ It leaves a comment for the reader in the margin of the doc.
     
How do I do it?  ~ Put your cursor on the word you want to comment on or highlight the text.  
            Hit Ctrl+Alt+M. Type your comment in the box and then click Comment.


     Tip #1: If your students are revising their work, tell them NOT to click "Resolve".  This way you can decide if the correction was adequate and get through your final copies faster.
     Tip #2: Use the comment box to provide resources that will help them fix their error.  Copy a web address to direct them to notes or a tutorial.
Tip #3: Copy and paste your rubric at the end of the student's doc.  Then comment, giving feedback  on the box/score/level he achieved. 



Suggesting: 
What does it do? ~ It adds a suggestion directly into the text of the document.  Letting the author know what you think it should be.

How do I do it? ~ Click the "Editing" button in the upper right hand corner of your doc.  Change it to       "Suggesting" mode.  Highlight the text that you want to replace and begin typing.  The       highlighted text will have a strikethrough appearance and your text will be there between brackets.

Tip #1: Please note that the student will simply have to accept or reject the suggestion for it to take effect.  The original author does not have to type in the change himself.  Therefore this may be a better tool for students to use with each other on a group assignment, leaving commenting the tool for a teacher to guide a student to improving his work.


Returning Grades in Google Classroom: 
What does it do? ~ It gives you a place to store your grades for the assignment until you are ready to put them in PowerSchool.  Seemingly taking place of a paper gradebook.  You can view the grades for each of your Google Classroom Assignments individually, or you can view all the grades for that class in a spreadsheet.

How do I do it? ~ Click on the assignment in Google Classroom.   Change the total points at the top.  Add your grades in as you evaluate each student's work.  (Don't forget to return the grade to the student with any comments you have).  Click the gear in the upper right to see a spreadsheet of all of your Google Classroom grades for this class.  Copy them to PowerSchool periodically.

Tip #1: At this time you can't put in 1/2 points.  It will round the number up.  
Tip #2: If students have the Google Classroom App, they will get your grades and comments as a notification on  their ipod, tablet or phone.  This greatly improves feedback speed as well as submission of redos.
Tip #3: You can give individual comments as well as group or whole class comments when returning a grade/assignment.

       What tricks do you have for giving digital feedback to your students?  Comment below!