Blog Archives

Google KEEPS on Giving Goodness

3/31/2017

If you have not met Google Keep - it is time that I introduce you to it!

Google Keep, Meet our teachers!
Teachers, Meet Google Keep.

Let's get to know each other!

Casey Bell, describes Keep as "a robust G Suite tool that can help teachers and students create and share notes, lists, and reminders". On a basic level, Google Keep is a digital sticky note. The best way to better acquaint yourself with Google Keep, might be to check out Casey's Cheat Sheet below and through Matt Miller's video

Google Keep Cheat Sheet
File Size:	1350 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

See more of Matt's ideas for using Keep on this post.

I love how Google Keep works within Google Drive! Quickly you can access feedback, instructions, etc. for quick responses. You can see an example of this with Eric Curts video and post.

You can also personalize and organize Google Keep by adding images! Check out the example to the right and Casey shows how here. Casey says that, "It’s easy to add an image to a note in Google Keep. Just click on the image icon and upload an image."

Be sure to introduce your new friend to your students as well!

Casey has a list to the right of 15 ways that students could use Google Keep.

They also can/should learn how to buddy Google Keep with their Drive. This might be just the organizational tool that a student needs for that big project!

Check out the example below with Mario Anima's GIF

And what about Matt's #10 idea from his post:
Transcribe printed notes or words into text.
Snap a photo of someone’s notes or a quote you need to transcribe. Choose “Grab image text” from the three dots at the bottom. Keep reads the text and changes it into editable text in your note.
(Note: It struggles with handwritten text, especially if it’s small and it’s not in straight lines.)

*Side note*
You can do similar action within Google Drive - if you would like more information on that see this previous Explore post.

Enjoy your new friendship with Google Keep! I'm sure your new friend will help you in some way -- organization, collaboration, save time, etc.

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Getting a kick out of ClassKick

3/30/2017

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This post is contributed by Carmen Zeisler -- Thanks Carmen, for sharing a great find!

Hello!
I came across an app this weekend and I am BLOWN AWAY by it! I had to share this with you all!

In some ways it is a lot of Seesaw, but in someways very different! It is called CLASSKICK and it can be used on the Chromebooks as well as IPADS. Sometimes apps don't work as well on Chromebooks, but this works BEAUTIFULLY!

A few things I loved about it:
1) I can upload a worksheet in a PDF format and students can answer the worksheet online. BUT I can turn a worksheet into an interactive activity as students can answer by writing, pictures, or even voice recordings!
2) The EASE of use! I watched an intro video and within 10 minutes my class was ready to go!
3) I had a packet ready to print this morning for our Graphic Novel unit. I decided last night to use CLASSKICK instead today. SO I didn't print ANYTHING. I told myself I could always print the packet after school to use on Tuesday, if it didn't work. WELL, it was a HUGE success and SO much more interactive and personal. I will NOT be printing any packets for this unit.
4) Here is the KICKER! While my students were doing the activity I can log on and SEE WHAT THEY ARE EACH DOING. I could tell really quickly who was struggling or not getting started just by glancing at my computer screen. I can ALSO jump into a student's assignment and leave them feedback or stickers!

OH AND It's FREE!
I would highly recommend that you check this out! I know I sound like a commercial, but I haven't been this excited about an app since finding Seesaw last year!
www.classkick.com

Happy Day!

Happy Day indeed! This is an incredible tool and helps in some many ways -- reduces paper, realtime collaboration/assessment, differentiation...Be sure to check it out!!

If you have a tool to share or want to showcase a special classroom project - let Carol know and we might post it here!

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Google Drawings Hack - Graphic Organizers

3/27/2017

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Credit for this idea/hack again goes out to Matt Miller and his "Meaningful Tech Workshop".

Google Drawing Hack -- Graphic Organizers
Matt says, "Drawings gives users a blank canvas where they can add text, shapes, lines, etc. When done, they can save their work as image files or PDF files and can add those images to documents, slides and spreadsheets. It’s a perfect medium for creating graphic organizers."

Matt has created/collected some graphic organizers that are ready for use! All you will need to do is make a copy.
For a complete folder of organizers visit here or click on only the one of interest from the images below.

Venn Diagram

Hexagonal Thinking

KWL

Timeline

Vocabulary Cluster

Vocabulary Concept Map

Think About Your Thinking

Frayer Model

Flow Chart

Character Map

Cornell Note-Taking

Plot Diagram

Evaluation Chart

Fishbone Planner

Cause and Effect Chain

Word Web/Semantic Map

Want to try to make your own? Start with a Venn Diagram!
Need help? Let Carol know.

Enjoy hacking Google Drawings!

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Google Drawings Hack -- Comic Strips

3/13/2017

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Credit for this idea/hack again goes out to Matt Miller and his "Meaningful Tech Workshop".

Google Drawing Hack -- Photo Comic Strips
Matt says, "Take photos of students using a webcam and add them to a Google Drawing. Add speech bubbles to the photos. Then save those images and add each one to a different slide in a Google Slides presentation."
I would add that you could start with an online photo and Google Drawings search makes it easy to find photos for use in projects!

To get started click here (drawings.google.com/create)

Simply click on the photo icon or choose Insert - image.
Then choose "search" - this will search for photos that are free to use (no worries about copyright). If you were using your own photo - you would choose "upload".
To make it into a comic - add speech or thought bubbles.
You can make as many or as little comic frames as you like -- you can see an example of one I made with four frames below.

In order to make it more of a frame look - I added the outline. To do this make sure that your photo is selected.

You can see the blue around the photo - showing it is selected.
Click on the line weight icon (see photo) and choose the desired weight (or thickness) of the line. In the example above, 1px was used.

Another tip-
You can change the size of your page!

I love Google Drawings more and more - with each awesome hack/idea that I find! It is a very under used tool, in my opinion.
Now you have one more way to put it to use!
And here's a resource to check out for more information and ideas:
Comics with Google Tools & Creativity Games

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Google Slides Hack: Animation

3/6/2017

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I recently attended Matt Miller's "Meaningful Tech Workshop" and he shared this fun hack (non-traditional use) of Google Slides.
Hack = Creating Animation with Google Slides

Check out this amazing example below:

Now 450 pages probably seems overwhelming, but it is really just about duplicating your slide. Give it a try!

Create your 1st slide.

Here is the first slide that I created as an example.
I used simple shapes to create this.

Duplicate the slide you just created

Right click on the slide
Select "Duplicate slide"

Make a small change to show movement (I moved "pacman" to the right - by one arrow)

Repeat the process of duplicating slides and making small changes.
Add in some content - I turned my animation into a math lesson. Check it out here! Be sure to view in presentation mode (click present)

I think kiddos will enjoy making their own animations! Check out this student example that Matt shared with us!

Love this Hack! Look for more Google Hacks this month!!

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Google KEEPS on Giving Goodness

Getting a kick out of ClassKick

Google Drawings Hack - Graphic Organizers

Google Drawings Hack -- Comic Strips

Google Slides Hack: Animation

Ed Tech Tools

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