Google Classroom: An Administrator's Perspective

This year at the TechSpot we are offering perspectives from those out in the trenches working with students and technology. 

In case you missed it...

• In September, we had a guest teacher talk to us about her incorporation of Google Forms in the HS English classroom. 
• In October, Class Tag was presented by one of our own elementary teachers. 

For this Tech Tuesday I decided to have a conversation not with a teacher, but with an administrator regarding our Google Classroom journey here at the middle school.

The conversation is presented as a podcast in hopes that you find time to have it playing in the background as you are getting those last minute grades entered for the end of Q3.  

You can expect to hear thoughts on...

• how we got started
• where we are now
• what the future holds 

"I'm a huge fan of Google Classroom from more of an organizational standpoint... 

When people need something they have one place to go."

"My biggest concern/need is that every teacher wanted computers in their class..... 

It's a good problem to have." 

"Our students would definitely benefit from a 1:1 environment."

"I don't necessarily have to be in the room to see what they (the teachers) are doing."

"Our students are engaged and we don't want to lose that engagement by pulling out the old paper and pencil again... "

- SMA Administrator

Instead Of Another Poster...

Recently for a conference I was asked to create a poster.    

After the trip to Wal-Mart, some frustration, and a nasty paper cut...... 

3+ hours later I ended up with these guys. 

 Not too bad, eh? 

Benefits:  A poster like this was large enough to catch the attention of teachers from across the room who then came over to learn more. Without access to a large television or monitor this was the next best option to get people to me.  Once there, multiple persons could engage in the presentation at once.

Limitations:
- Space
- Static words/images
- Could only work on it at home
- Couldn't collaborate nor ask for peer review without inviting people to my house
- No new learned skill for the future
- No flexibility, nor means to edit
- Time, Time, Time

Why do we use posters as a means of assessment in the first place?

• It forces the students to synthesize information, potentially raising DOK Levels.
• It is created to be viewed by others, potentially changing the audience from who we get feedback. 

However, we are now 18 years into the 21st Century! 

- Let's step it up a notch.

(....or at least give the students the option.  They may surprise you!)

Below is a flyer I created on smore.com and was able to embed it into this website for free.  

Little to no time was spent on formatting/fonts etc.  The entire investment was on content.  

Explain Yourself.

Screencastify Lite Chrome Extension

Ready to take your tech integration up a notch?   

Move into the deeper end of the SAMR pool of tech integration by incorporating screencasts into the teaching and learning that happens in your room. 

Screencasts are video/audio recordings of your desktop.  The Screencastify Chrome extension allows you to easily take and share videos of this type.  (Scroll down for the how-to's)

Top Tips for Teacher-made Screencasts

#1 Remediation / Flipped Instruction 

#2 Teach the Tech / Formatting

#3 Give Video/Oral Feedback while reviewing work

Top Tips for Student-made Screencasts

#1  Explain the thought-process while solving a problem

#2 Narrate a Google Slides or other Presentation

#3 Dub a video with new language/narration

Teacher-Made: 

• Remediation 
• Make a video to re-explain tough concepts.
• Put this video in a Google Form or an EdPuzzle to check for student understanding.
• Did you know? Google Forms can send students to a remediation video if they select the incorrect answer.  
• Use the video as a must-do before retaking an assessment.

• Flipped 
• Record your teaching and assign it to students before you teach it in class, or even have them watch during class. 
• Give checks for understanding,  then differentiate the lesson for those who need remediation vs those who require a challenge. 

• Teach the Tech / Formatting
• When giving a digital assignment, most students can figure out the tech.  So, why waste valuable in-class time teaching it?   Post a quick how-to screencast to demonstrate the tech and/or formatting of your project.   
• No time?  See if your tech coach has one to lend you ;-)

• Feedback
• Record yourself while reviewing a student's work.  Allow them to hear your feedback for each section as you show it with your mouse.  Works great for projects that don't offer a comment section. 

Student-Made: 

• ANY OF THE ABOVE !  
• That's right! Have a student create any of the above resources instead of doing it yourself.  Perfect for the student that finishes earlier than others, is tech savvy or simply needs a challenge.

• Explain Yourself 

• This is the $$$ maker!  Whether it is math problem or a project, try at least one time this year to have your students record their thinking over their assignment.
• Instead of doing 10 math problems.... 
• Do 3 !  Have the students record themselves doing one of the problems and thinking out loud. 
• Put all the videos in a Google Slides for the class to share
• Teacher puts feedback in the "speaker notes"
• Project Explination
• Have the students submit a video of their project going over what they did.  You will be better able to give feedback when you hear the justifications for their choices. 

• Narrate Google Slides 
• Instead of presenting 1 at a time during class....
• Have each student record himself talking over his presentation
• Post these presentations for the entire class to see 
• Padlet
• Google Slides
• Give students the task of offering thoughtful feedback to 3 presentations

• Dub a Video 
• Synthesize information!  Raise DOK levels by having students create dialogue over a video
• Find a video on YouTube, mute the sound and talk over it
• Great for World Languages
• Retell literature with a twist
• Recreate historical scenes

Or Click HERE to see a Screencast of the above presentation.

How can you (or have you) used Screencasts in your class? 

Comment Below!