Have You Looked At Google Add Ons?

Google Apps for Education is proving to be a fantastic collaboration, cloud-based tool for the classroom. While there are many pros to using the suite of tools that comes with your Google Apps account, Google doesn't do everything that other word processing, presentation, or spreadsheet programs can do.  To try to alleviate some of those drawbacks, Google has what are known as scripts that will run in a program and perform some kind of function.  Recently, Google changed the name of their script gallery to Add Ons.  

Here are a few of the really great Add Ons that may help teachers and students perform a task that is otherwise not available in Google.

Google Docs

1.  Kaizena - this Add On allows the teacher to create voice comments in a Google Doc.  Instead of typing out all the comments you want to make after a student turns in a paper, create voice comments that students can listen to.  

2. gMath - this Add On allows you to create awesome math equations in the proper format in a Google Doc.  The equations are inserted in the document as a picture, allowing them to be moved and copied and pasted into other applications.

3.  GFormIt - this is a great tool for those teachers who already have quizzes created in a word document.  Using Google Docs, a teacher can create questions and answers, and then use the Add On GFormIt to turn all the questions and answers into a form that students can type into.  It even creates the spreadsheet for responses, and inserts the answers into the first row, if a teacher wants to use Flubaroo or SuperQuiz to grade the answers.  *Drawback - the Add On only creates text questions, not multiple choice quizzes.

Google Sheets

1.  Doctopus/Goobric - If you are NOT using Google Classroom (and why aren't you, it's a fantastic organziational tool for teachers and students!) you may want to look into Doctopus and Goobric.  Doctopus takes your class roster and allows you to create a folder for each of your students in your class, then send documents, presentations, spreadsheets, etc. to the folders on each students drive. You can collect documents through Doctopus also, and make a list of students and the links to their documents in a spreadsheet.  Goobric works through Doctopus to insert rubrics that you create into student work, allowing your to grade assignments and pass them back through Doctopus.  It sounds complicated, but the Add On gives you step by step directions.

2.  Flubaroo - When teachers create a form to use as an assessment, a spreadsheet is created when responses are submitted in the form.  Flubaroo is a tool that will automatically grade the responses in the spreadsheet, giving the teacher immediate results in a color coded list of right and wrong answers in a new tab.  It's a time-saver and an easy to use tool.

3.  Super Quiz - Flubaroo on Steroids!  This form as assessment tool not only grades the submitted responses in a spreadsheet, it also creates several other tabs that analyze the graded responses, allows the teacher to set up responses to give as feedback to students, creates a document for each student with their grade, the teacher feedback, and extension questions, AND emails the documents to each student who submitted a response.  A fantastic tool for grading and providing feedback to students.

Google Presentations does not have an Add On menu option at this time.

While these are merely a few of the Add Ons available with your Google Apps for Education applications, already you can see what great functionality they can provide.  I urge you to check out these, and other, Google Add Ons. Simply open Google Docs or Google Sheets, find the menu options Add Ons, and click Get Add Ons.  I hope you do!

Google Slides in Math: Episode II

In this episode of Google Slides in Math we will look at creating interactive quizzes. So ask yourself, "What is an interactive quiz?" An interactive quiz is one in which a user clicks on an answer that takes them to another slide that gives them the correct or incorrect answer. On that slide the user is given an explanation to why they got the answer correct or incorrect. Below you will discover how to build a template and you will see an example of a quiz that has already been built.

Building a Template

Step 1: Decide How Many Answers

The first thing we need to do is decide how many answer choices you will have for your questions. This will determine how many slides you will need per question. Just remember that you can always add to your original document. For example, if I have 3 answer choices per question then I will need 4 slides per question. This gives you 1 slide for the question and 3 slides for each answer choice.

Step 2: Create Answer Buttons

Our next step will be to create our answer buttons. This is where our user will click in order to choose their answer choice. You will build your buttons on the slide with your question. Your answer buttons can be whatever you like. I choose to use colored squares with letters in them.

Now that we have our answer buttons we need to add our blank answer slides to the presentation. Remember this is where our correct and incorrect answer choices will go. At this time we will need to add our problem to the page and add our answer choices. (Hopefully before you began this project your students have solved the problem with correct and incorrect answers )

Step 3: Linking Slides

At this time we need to link our answer choices to our blank slides. It does not matter which slide we link to, but keeping them order can save you time when building your answer choice slides. In our example, slide 1 will have the question; slide 2 will be answer 'A'; slide 3 will be answer 'B'; slide 4 will be answer 'C'. After we have linked each answer choice we need to add a back button to our incorrect slides and a forward button to our correct slide. Again you can choose to use any shape or image you like for your back and forward button. Once you have your back button, add it to your incorrect slides. That button is now going to be linked to the question slide (which in our example is slide 1).

Now add your forward button to your correct slide. This will be the button users will click to move to the next question in your quiz. (FYI: If you do not want more questions in your quiz your forward button could move to a congratulations slide)

Step 4: Add Correct/Incorrect Information

All the slides are linked, the question has been added and now it is time to add our answers to the slides. The information that is listed on the slides is up to you. I personally have students add enough detail that the user would know why they choose the incorrect or correct answer. (This is completely up to you as this will be used in your classroom)

Step 5: Create each page to only link 1 object

This step is very important. Normally in Google Slides you can advance each slide by clicking anywhere on the slide. Since this is a quiz, we do not want to advance unless they click on the object we want them to (answer choices). To accomplish this you will need to link all objects and text to the current slide you are on that are not your answer buttons. This will tell the program to stay on the current slide. Next you will need to add a shape, like a rectangle, to the background and link it to the current slide also. Send this object to the back and have it be transparent. This will allow users to click on the slide, but it will not advance them until they click an answer button. (An easy way to add the background shape to each slide is to add it to the first slide and link it. Then copy and paste. Google Slides will automatically change the link for the current slide you paste the object on.)

Template Example

This activity is very advanced for students based on the amount of explanation required to fully complete their quiz.

Example Coming Soon

Google Slides in Math - Episode I

Math can be more than pencil and paper practice. Most of the time students find problem solving uninteresting and most will not "fully" show their work for you. When you add technology to your class routine, students become more engaged and depending on how the technology is used you can enhance the lessons you already teach.

Steps to Begin Using Google Slides for Comic Strips

Step 1: Build a Template
Start by building a template. The template will help students to focus on the math and not the process of building the comic. I am not saying you should not give students the choice to how it will be completed, but having a template will help to guide them along the way. When they are more comfortable using the tool, then they can be more creative.

Below is an example of a template that I created.

Step 2: Share the Template
Once you build the template for students to follow, you must give them access to the document. There are several ways you can do this within Google Apps.

   1. You can email the document link to your students
   2. You can share the document with your students
   3. You can post the link to your website
   4. You can write a shortened URL on the board for students to type in the browser
   5. You can create a QR code that students can scan

As you can see there are several ways to get the document to your students. (Of course this is just a small list of what you could do.) Since you are working with a template you will want students to 'view' the document and not be able to 'edit'. Make sure before you send them the document the share settings are set to 'view'.

Step 3: Students make copy

Once students have the template they will need to be able to work on the document. With being view only, students will need to make a copy for themselves. To do this the students will click on the 'file' menu and then 'make a copy'.

Once they make their own copy you will want to make sure you have a naming convention setup with your students. That way it will be easy for you to identify each students work. (Example: lastname-project name.) 

Step 4: Students turn in work

Now that students have made their own copy, they can begin working. Except how will you as the teacher see or collect their work? There are several ways to collect the students work, but I will only go over two different ways. 

   1. Students share the document with you

   2. Students turn in document link

Before you decide on which way to have the students turn in their work, you must first think about the purpose you will have for the document. If you are wanting to just see the work and not edit or comment then you will want the students to turn in the direct link. (Of course students can change their settings to edit or comment with the link also) If you are wanting a copy in your Drive then you will want the students to share the document with you.

Sharing the document - Students will click on the share button located in the top right corner of their document. Students will then type your name in the people box and determine if you can edit, view, or comment.

Turn in the link - Students will click on the share button located in the top right corner and then click on get shareable link. Students will then email this link to you using their Google email or they can turn in this link using a Google Form (will discuss this in another post)

One suggestion is what every method you choose have the students do this right after making a copy. That way you have access to their work at all times. That is the nice thing about Google, all changes they make you will see in real time. There is no need for them to save and re-turn in!

Now what?

Remember the idea for bringing in Google Slides is to enhance your lessons and to get student to 'fully' explain their processes. Have fun! Let students add their own elements. This will help them in better understanding the math involved to solve the problem. Here is an example of a math problem.

Problem:
Parents donated fudge for the fundraiser in your classroom. 40 pounds of chocolate fudge sold for $2.15 per pound and vanilla fudge sold for $1.90 per pound. Your class sold a total of $158.20. How many pounds of fudge were sold?

iPod Meeting 10-30-14

2014 Summer IT PD

Find out what all the Hype is about!!

Summer of Choices!!

SMART Notebook And Response Ideas

Ideas for Instruction

Modified from http://www.tech4folks.com/social-studies--smart.html

1. Use Page Recorder for recording the annotation process over maps or visuals (records only what you’re doing on screen w/in Notebook...but good for troop movements, trade routes, etc and can be combined with on screen text). Nice because these recorded pages can be placed wherever you’d like them within a Notebook file, and can be played and replayed by students. Export format: .Notebook file which can be opened in SMART Notebook (full version) or SMART Notebook Express (test this option as the express version is not as robust as an installed version). Bonus: Any page within notebook can be pulled in the My Gallery folder for anytime access from any .notebook file you have open.

2. Use Recorder to record what you’re saying and doing on screen, both in SMART and outside of SMART...this is useful for when you have a substitute and anything that require slots of explanation. You will need your own mic (you already have a webcam that all core teachers were given). 

3. Use clickers (quick test key or printed Notebook file) to immediately grade homework as students come into class...then review/reteach as necessary. Sets tone/expectations and provides valuable data to take as a *grade or for formative assessment. * Use spinner to determine if daily clicker quizzes will be for a grade (perceived accountability) to get higher levels of engagement w minimal amount of data (gradebook) entry. 

4. Use built in maps and annotate/crop to more closely align to your needs/goals/teaching...or pull in images from Google maps or other online map resources. For each one you crop or annotate to get just right, pull it into your My Gallery folder for anytime access from any .notebook file you have open

5. Use snipping tool (or smart capture) to grab questions from other sources with quick test key so you don’t have to retype/recreate anything but have benefit of having question right there to review alongside the data breakdown

6. While working out answers to questions, give students clickers and have them “ask a question” when they feel a mistake in the process is made

7. Use the clickers for guided practice, where you post a question, have the kids figure out the answers, then use that data to determine who begins working on the homework (they get it) and who you need to work with some more (they don’t get it yet)

8. Use clickers for determining how to prioritize unit reviews...have actual questions and analyze data or list topics and have students vote to determine which they have the most  problems with...


9. Have students create lessons within SMART Notebook that illustrate a particular strategy or skill...they can even embed response questions to poll the class as they deliver their lesson (just create a new .teacher file for this purpose)

10. As part of your blog or digital newsletter (ask me about email center in School World), showcase a student recording that illustrates and explains best approaches to a particular type of problem


11. Have students use laptops and built in microphones to record math strategies. This could be used also as an assessment. Students record themselves completing a problem and explaining it as they go, then take the video file and send to you via their Google Drive account. The best of the best could be used to share on your website for unit  review/six week review/STAAR test review that they can access on demand. You could include their name to give them kudos...and after uploading to SchoolTube, use Symbaloo,  Lino, or Mural.ly to showcase the videos. 

12. Use Activity Builder to create customized activities that test students’ ability to associate various images with particular events, historical figures, or geographic areas.

13. Use SMART Eduphoria Connector for common assessments and district benchmarks and never scan another bubble sheet!

14. Explore SMART Exchange and use their templates to save time! Geography, History, Social Studies