JEFFCO ED TECH

Chrome Apps, Extensions, Add-ons and Android Apps... What are they?

10/30/2019

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What's a Chrome App?

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Generally speaking, Chrome Apps are bookmarked websites. Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides, Hangouts etc. are all native G Suite Chrome apps. These apps can be found by clicking on the app icon (the "waffle") in the top of your chrome browser. You can also install third-party Chrome apps from the Chrome Webstore; however, fewer companies are continuing to manage and develop Chrome apps, as many people just choose to bookmark the website for easy access. 

Pro Tip: When bookmarking a website, delete the words to create a simple favicon. This allows you to add many more bookmarks to the top of your browser. 

Favicons:
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Jeffco Ed Tech's Google Chrome App Webpage

What's an Add-On?

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Google add-ons live within G Suite for Education Chrome apps: GMail, Docs, Sheets, Forms and Slides. Add-ons are often created by third-party developers, and they enhance how the app functions.  
  • Add-ons in Sheets, Slides, and Docs can be found in the Add-on tab in the top menu. 
  • Add-ons in Forms can be found in the 'More' (three dots) menu. 
  • Add-ons in Gmail can be found in the 'settings' cogwheel. 
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Pear Deck, one of Jeffco's digital tools, is an Add-on that functions within Google Slides and is available for all staff and students. It allows for interactive slides that provide opportunities to formatively assess students while delivering direct instruction! 

Jeffco Ed Tech's G Suite Add-on Webpage

What's an Extension?​

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Extensions boost the functionality of your Chrome browser. They customize the experience you have while browsing the internet, and are often created by third-party companies. Extensions can, and should, be managed regularly to ensure your browser is functioning efficiently. If your browser is acting slow or inefficient, clean out the extensions you are no longer using on a regular basis. Also, consider only adding extensions that provide a strong value to your daily browsing experience. 

Read and Write for Google and EquatIO, two of Jeffco's digital tools, are extensions that alter how the Chrome browser works.
  • Read and Write for Google has two extensions (Read & Write and PDF Reader) that are automatically installed for all staff and students on Chromebooks (they must be manually installed on a laptop).
  • EquatIO has a single extension that must be manually installed from the Chrome Web Store by staff and students on both Chromebooks and laptops. *EquatIO is purchased for grades 6-12 in Jeffco. 

The Power Up Pear Deck extension can also be added to increase the functionality of Pear Deck Slides. This extension ensures that videos, animations, and GIFs embedded in your Pear Deck slides play at full resolution. 

Jeffco Ed Tech's Extensions Webpage

What's an Android App?

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 Android Apps are new in Jeffco and are available on TechforEd 5th and 9th grade Chromebooks; they can be installed through the Google Play Store. Android Apps were built for mobile, touch-screen devices and are similar to iPad apps. ​Although many of the Android apps also exist on the web (or as Chrome apps) the functionality between both versions may be different. For example, the Google Classroom Android app contains an annotation feature not available on the Chrome App (web) version of Google Classroom.

All apps available in the Jeffco Android App store are free to download and have been vetted for student privacy and security. You may request Jeffco add additional Android Apps through the standard district-vetting process. 

There is currently an Android App for several Jeffco digital tools: Soundtrap, WeVideo, Schoology and many of the G Suite for Education tools. 

*Currently the Seesaw Android app does not function on student Chromebooks 

Jeffco Ed Tech Android Apps Webpage

Do These tools need to be approved?

All Chrome Apps, Extensions, Add-ons and Android Apps used in the classroom should be vetted for student privacy and security. You can find out which have been approved thus far by searching Jeffco's Digital Tools website! To request that additional tools be vetted and added to the site, please complete the district's vetting process. District tool vetting occurs twice a year, during summer and winter break. If you would like to submit tools for second semester, be sure to submit them for vetting by December 1st. 
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Share the Pear

9/18/2019

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Make any Google Slide Presentation Interactive with Pear Deck

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Pear Deck is an online tool that provides formative assessment in real time.  It's web-based so it works on any device.  Teachers are able to check for understanding in their classroom through a variety of question types.  When teachers use Pear Deck they are able to adapt instruction based on student understanding and students can receive feedback in real time.

How Does Pear Deck Work?

Pear Deck is an Add-on that works with Google Slides so it is easy to use! We have automatically added it for  you in Google Slides! To utilize Pear Deck, you can create a new Google Slides presentation or add Pear Deck to an existing presentation.  Once you've opened the Pear Deck Add-on, you can create your own questions or use the Template Library.

Template Library

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​The Pear Deck template library offers pre-made content for your google slides.  The template library offers a variety of ways to get students engaged in the lesson.  Students can type in answers, draw, answer numerically, or answer a question on a continuum.  Students can answer open-ended questions for all content areas.  Pear Deck even provides templates specific to math, social studies, critical thinking, and social emotional learning.

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Pear Deck Math Templates

Get Started with Pear Deck

Here are some great ways to start using Pear Deck in your classroom:​
  • ​Add a questions to existing Google Slides through  "Ask Students a Question" 
  • Use a Beginning of Lesson template to get a discussion started in the classroom.
  • Take a pulse of the classroom using the draggable slide
  • Use the Newsela Daily Deck for a ready to teach activity 
  • Use vocabulary lists and play Flashcard Factory

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​Formative Assessment with Pear Deck

Pear Deck is designed so that all students are engaged in the learning.  Students answer questions in real time and teachers are able to give quick, immediate feedback to the students.  Teachers can see who is answering and able to project student responses that are anonymous.  Through the teacher dashboard, teachers can see each student's responses.  Teachers can even add a question on the fly to help alleviate misconceptions or get additional information from the class. At the end of the session, teachers are able to publish student takeaways.  These takeaways are sent to the students and the teachers.   

Present With Pear Deck

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After creating your slides or adding your questions, it's time to present.  Make sure to use the green present with Pear Deck Button. When you Present with Pear Deck, your students will join your class with a code and your lesson can get underway.  Pear Deck is a great tool to get students and staff engaged in their learning.  Being a Google Add-on allows anyone to create a Pear Deck slide presentation.  Contact your Ed Tech Specialist or your Digital Teach Librarian to get started using Pear Deck.

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Spotlight with Mr. Locks at Pomona HS

8/27/2019

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When I was asked to write a post for Jeffco Ed Tech blog, I was stymied. Education technology is a huge topic. It’s complicated, demonized, canonized, hotly debated, and full of strife & potential. Finally, after six or seven digital wads of paper, I’ve settled on discussing how I rolled out 1:web Chromebooks for my freshman classes this year. It’s timely, and I hope it proves helpful.

First of all, mad props to Pomona’s administration and our campus IT staff. It all starts there. Without a clear and shared vision of what technology will look like and a commitment to goals we set out to achieve by using it, the results would be confusing to everyone involved. Our tech gurus, Matt Daniels and Judy Sims, have been great at keeping our campus focused and practical about everything from how to track each device to which apps make the most sense for teachers to use. They are absolutely central to the success of the roll-out of over 700 (!) Chromebooks (and chargers and cords and screen protectors and id tags and Velcro strips and screen cleaner cloths and styluses and...et al) for our 9th & 10th grade Panthers. I shudder to think how absolutely chaotic this initiative could have turned out, and I’m so appreciative of their strong leadership from the beginning. 

​So that’s the Big Picture. As for incorporating this technology into our daily classroom environment, I am still a novice. I still ask the Annoying Question of the Day to Matt and Judy and have impractical requests that are met with “You really don’t want to do that, Clint”. “Why not?” And then he patiently explains the Why Not. I’m moving in the right direction, though, and zealously embracing the feel-good-It’s-OK cliche of our times: failing forward. A LOT. My students laugh at me when my “app-tempts” explode. We all laugh together, though, because I’ve found that true humility and vulnerability sometimes creates powerful community. It’s better than the option of playing the immutable sage on the stage, a role that would last, at most, a few measly seconds, and quickly scuttle any vestige of ethos I do have. They teach me more than I could ever figure out myself, and at 1/10 of the time, and they feel powerful when they teach the teacher. I like that. Empowering kids is fun. It’s a rush. Often, when you give That One Troublemaker a Chromebook and a purpose, they are transformed...just like the task they’re working on.
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One last thing. At the end of the year, Nick Steinmetz, who I’m sure you know or, if you don’t, you should, challenged us to write a letter about how it went--the inaugural mass Chromebooking. I did that, then ended up writing an alternate version addressed to this year’s students. The letter is friendly yet informative, and includes memes, hyperlinks, footnotes, and other elements that they will run into on digital platforms. Joining our Google Classroom and reading and responding to that letter was their first assignment of the year. Once they join the Classroom, they also have access to the GDoc that I use everyday in class. Even if they’re absent, they get a good idea of what went on during their absence. Here’s a screenshot of (a portion of) that document:
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Regarding technology, it’s going well. The kids are excited and potentially a bit intimidated. They see the potential inherent in the system. Even if they are not used to seeing it that way, they recognize their tech as a catalyst to learning and maybe even prosperity. The responsibility they have with that makes them feel like an adult. ​
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​Twenty-six years ago, when I first started teaching, “technology” meant the new-fangled electric pencil sharpener that was bolted to a desk. It’s safe to say a few things have changed since then. Heck, we don’t even really need pencil sharpeners. But I still have one. My students still use it. If you need it, it’s right over there by the door, next to the Chromebook cart and the Cell Hotel phone holder.

Happy teaching, everyone!

Clint Locks
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​Teacher, Pomona High School

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Google Goodness: April

4/29/2019

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Important: Transitioning from Hangouts to Hangouts Meet & Chat

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In 2017 Google announced that they will be replacing Classic Google Hangouts with 2 new products, Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat. In August, Jeffco will officially transition from Classic Hangouts to Hangouts Meet and Chat.

Hangouts Meet and Chat are currently available on the web for those that are interested in trying out the communication tools (see document below for setup directions). Please know, that in this transition period, some features of Classic Hangouts are not operable in Meet and Chat. Until August, it is important that those who have relied on Classic Hangouts continue to keep that tool available to avoid missing essential communication.  More detailed communication will be available in August. 

Tech Tip: Hangouts Chat Support Document

Fix: Chrome Cast for Education

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We have noticed that some schools are having trouble with Chrome Cast for Education connecting to student and staff Chromebooks. In this scenario, staff and students see the message "no device found." IT has created a Tech Tip document to help you troubleshoot this error. 

This error is caused when cloud services has been disabled on the Chrombook. This error is likely caused when a staff or student member added an extension that turned off the cloud service. Because extensions change how your browser functions, it's important to be thoughtful and selective with the extensions you and your students choose to add.

Tech Tip: Chrome Cast for Education Issue 
What are Extensions

Goo.gl Shortener End-of-life

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As announced last spring the goo.gl URL shortener reached its end-of-life on March 30th, 2019. No new shortened links can be created with this tool.

Our contact at Google has suggested, as a best practice, that we begin to change out old goo.gl shortened addresses. Google does not plan to remove or delete these shortened URLs but it’s never a good idea to rely on outdated technology for important documentation. We have seen some instances where links are receiving errors.

If a shortened link is needed, please consider using bit.ly or tinyurl.com. Also, before shortening, consider when you would need to use a shortened URL:
  • you need to get people directed to a URL quickly (ex: on a presentation for a large group)
  • you are limited by the amount of text (ex: posting a link to a blog or website on Twitter)
  • you need a memorable URL for marketing and branding purposes (ex: you are creating a flyer or logo)

If users are accessing a link from a digital document (ex: lesson plan, HyperDoc, playlist etc.), you do not need to use shortened URL; simply hyperlink the text or copy paste the actual URL.

Reminder: Sharing Permissions

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When sharing documents, it is important to be thoughtful about how you permission the document. When sharing a file in Google you have several choices:
  • On - Public on the web: This type of file is globally accessible. Anybody with internet access can search and open your file. If you need to publish a document to the world, this is the share setting you would use; do not use this share setting for sensitive files or files that are only intended for a select group or person.​

  • On - Anyone with the link: These types of files would only be accessible to anyone (in or out of Jeffco) who has the direct link; however, if the link is shared beyond the intended audience (via email or another means), all recipients would be able to access the document. Do not use this share setting for sensitive files or files that are only intended for a select group or person.
  • On - Jeffco Public Schools: Files with this permission would be searchable and accessible to anyone (staff or students) with an @jeffcoschools.us account. This is similar to public on the web, but restricted to just our district. Think of it as public to Jeffco. Do not use this share setting for sensitive files or files that are only intended for a select group or person. Remember that students (and parents who have access to their student's log-in information ) would be able to find and access.
  • On - Anyone at Jeffco with the link: This permission setting is similar to anyone with the link, but is restricted to only those (staff, students, and parents who have access to their student's log-in information) with an @jeffcoschools.us account. If you tried to access this document with a personal account, Google will notify you that you would need to request access. Similarly, if the link is accidentally shared in an email, unintended Jeffco recipients may have access to this type of file. Do not use this share setting for sensitive files or files that are only intended for a select group or person. 
  • Off - Specific People: This sharing permission is the most selective way to share files with other users. Only users that you directly add by name will be able to access the document. If the URL to the document is shared with outside users, they would need to request permission to view the file. 
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Google Drive Help: Sharing Files from Google Drive
Docs Editors Help: Make Google Docs, Sheets, Slides &Forms Public

What's new in Google Classroom?

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Classroom is one of Google's fastest-changing apps and April brought a few new features to make using the tool a bit easier. 
  • New work posts to the top: Previously, when you posted an assignment, it would add your assignment to the bottom of the classwork feed. Now, when you post a new assignment it will appear at the top, making it easier for students to find the work, without having to rearrange the tasks. 
  • Filtering by topic: As you probably know, you can assign your assignments to a topic. This groups them together and makes organization easier. You will now notice a table of contents on the left-hand side to which makes navigation easier. Additionally, you can click on a topic and show only those assignments for that topic. 
  • Remove a co-teacher:  Co-teachers can now remove themselves from a classroom using the "people" tab. 

Google Educator Certification: Level 1

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This fall, Jeffco 5th and 9th grade students will be receiving a personalized learning device. When each student has their own device, the learning (and teaching) experience should change. One way teachers can prepare for this change is to become a Google Certified Educator! The Certified Educator program teaches you the fundamentals for using the G Suite for Education in the classroom. Once you've completed the training, you can elect to take the exam ($10) and receive your official certification. Additionally, you can submit your certificate to Jeffco to receive clock hour credit to support credential re certification (ESS: ETGCER). The Level 1: fundamentals course covers the following content:
  • Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership 
    • Get ready to use tech in the classroom 
    • Expand your access to help and learning 
  • Increase Efficiency and Save Time
    • Have a mostly paperless classroom
    • Save time communicating 
    • Organize activities for yourself and others 
    • Bring meetings online 
    • Bring student work online 
    • Measure, understand and share student growth
  • Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity 
    • Teach students online skills
    • Build interactive lessons 
    • Captivate your class with video
    • Facilitate group work 
    • Promote digital citizenship and positive online behavior 

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Google Goodness: February

2/22/2019

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New Feature: Chrome Remote Desktop 

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​Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD) is a remote control software that allows a user to access one device remotely from another. CRD is now approved and available for use by all educators across Jeffco. With CRD you can control a desktop, laptop, or Chromebook from across the classroom without a wired connection. For example, a teacher can use an iPad or Chromebook to control a desktop or laptop that might be connected to a projector, SMART board, television, or other display solution. The power of this tool opens up un-tethered instructional opportunities for educators as they can move around their classroom in complete control of what's on the display without being connected by cables. 

​CRD install requires administrator access on the device being controlled. To get set up, begin by submitting a work ticket  in ESS with your request to use CRD in your classroom. A support tech will contact you to install CRD. Once the install is complete, you'll be able to install the CRD app on an iPad, Chromebook, or other device to begin remote controlling your desktop or laptop. CRD works on Windows, Mac, and Chrome devices on both district devices and BYOD's  More information and support can be found in Tech Tips or by contacting your Ed Tech Specialist. 

Google + Shut Down

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Google +  has acted as Google's social media platform for the past several years. Due to low engagement, some Google+ communities will be shutting down in April. Google has been notifying, via email, members of G+ communities that are being shut down. Currently, Google plans to keep the product available for educational groups who use it to facilitate conversations among co-workers. If you are a member of Google + communities created outside of Jeffco, you will want to connect with that group to make plans for how to continue communications in another manner. 

Classic Google SItes Shut Down

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Google has updated their timeline for the depreciation of Classic Sites. The final date to transition from a Classic Google Site to a new Google Site is the end of 2021. Google has recognized that the Classic Sites tool still offers some unique features that are not yet built into the New Google Sites product. Some of the features that will be coming to New Sites are as follows:
  • New site themes 
  • Improved text controls with greater choices of fonts, colors, styles, etc...
  • Standard & custom templates 
  • Better integration with other G Suite products
  • New page elements like a table of contents and image carousels (image slideshow).
  • Version history

​​NEW Feature: ​GOOGLE GRAMMAR SUGGESTIONS

A new beta program in Google has arrived in Jeffco!  Google uses machine technology to recognize and help correct potential grammar errors in real time! Previously, Google Docs checked text for spelling, offering suggestions when appropriate; however, now it will highlight possible grammar errors in your text and help you correct them. 
When a possible grammar error is detected in Google Docs, it will be underlined in blue. Similar to the spell-check functionality, users can right-click to see possible suggestions, or users can choose to dismiss the suggestions. 

​This new feature has the ability for students to receive real-time feedback on their grammar and to contextualize ideas for how to improve their writing. Additionally, teachers can focus the feedback they provide to students around context and content, rather than on grammar. ​​​

New Features: Google Classroom

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  • Stream notifications: you can now choose to expand or collapse the view for classwork notifications on the Stream tab of Google Classroom. There is also the option to hide classwork notifications completely from the stream. 
  • Stream organization: you can now drag and drop the order of posts in the stream tab. 
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Google Goodness: January (2.0)

1/23/2019

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​GOOGLE FORMS: LOCK-DOWN MODE 

Need help with Google Forms?
​Visit the Google Forms Learning Center
Jeffco has entered the beta program for the new lock-down feature in Google Forms! Locked mode prevents students from navigating away from the quiz in their Chrome browser until they submit their answers. 

To enable locked-quiz mode, click the settings wheel at the top of your opened Google Form. Select the Quizzes tab, make the form a quiz, and then check the box to turn on locked mode. ​

GOOGLE CLASSROOM: CREATE A QUIZ IN CLASSROOM

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You can now create a quiz assignment directly in Google Classroom. With a quiz assignment you can lock a quiz, import grades, see student answers and return grades. To add a quiz assignment, click your Classwork tab, click the "+ Create" button, and click "Quiz Assignment." As with all assignments in Classroom, you can decide when the assignment will be posted, make edits, reuse the quiz in another class, and add class comments. 
  • ​Classroom Help: Create a Quiz Assignment​

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Learning with Digital Annotations

1/11/2019

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Digital annotations are not new to the realms of technology and education. Digital annotation tools continue to be available and ever changing. The power of digital annotations rests with the user and their abilities to capture their thinking, as well as, share it with others. In K-12 classrooms, digital annotations can be a great tool that empowers learners to begin capturing their thoughts and ideas leading to artifacts of learning which demonstrate understandings. Digital annotations can also be a great source for digital/e-portfolios allowing learners to reflect on their growth and development. 

Why use digital Annotations? 

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Why should digital annotations be a part of every classroom and learning environment? Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are all fundamental components of learning which lead to critical thinking and digital annotations have the ability to cover all four areas. Digital annotations empower us as learners to engage with text, capture our thoughts, share with others, and gain insights from others thinking. Writing is a great way to process our thinking and allows us to begin identifying the process to where our thinking is going. When we digitally annotate and begin to share those annotations in collaborative spaces, our annotations become the center of collaborative dialogue and learning in which we grow collectively. When we begin to learn about annotating for learning, collaborative spaces for sharing and engaging in digital discussion opens doors to understand annotation strategies and processes from other learners with more annotation experience. 

Getting started with Digital Annotations

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Where and how to begin using digital annotation tools can be daunting and intimidating however, there are a few simple tools that can empower us as learners to get started on the journey. The comment feature in Google is one of the simplest ways to get started. The feature is available on Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawings and a few other tools in the G-Suite. It is even now available on any file housed in Google Drive. Comments can be added to PDF's, images, MS Word documents and more when stored in Google Drive. A simple highlight of targeted text or information allows a user to capture thinking and share thoughts collaboratively. 

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If you're looking for a more robust tool with increased options, Kami is a great selection. Kami has paid versions with additional features however, the free version has plenty of options that are perfect for learners to get started annotating digitally. Highlighting, underlining, and strikethroughs (in a variety of colors) are all available at no charge. Additional features include adding text, comments, and drawing shapes. Under a 14-day free trial when you begin your account you'll have access to drawing, text to speech and a few other advanced options to try them out. Collaborative annotations with Kami are a breeze and users can save their annotated files in Google Drive if need be. It also works well with Google Classroom. ​

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Digital annotations can occur on web-based material as well. Hypothes.is is a great option to consider for annotating web sites. Hypothes.is is entirely free to all users for all features. The tool was originally created for medical professionals who were collaborating around medical journal readings to increase learning and growth. Hypothes.is requires a login which is fairly simple and free to set up. Users can highlight information on websites and even add annotations (notes) which appear in a side bar. Annotations can be public, private, or in collaborative groups. Tagging annotations is offered as an advanced feature at no charge as well for users to quickly access collaborative discussions or topics. Annotations appear to users when visiting websites while the Hypothes.is extension is enabled. ​

Digital annotations can be highly beneficial to us as educators along with our students. Collaboration is now easier than ever with access to new technologies and the tools shared above work just as well for adults as they do for kids. Curating and sharing resources saves us all time and energy and digital annotations can be a quick way for us to collaborate across schools, districts, states, and more. How are you thinking about using digital annotations whether for your professional practice or during instruction with students? We'd love to hear your thoughts using the comment section of this post and look forward to learning more about how you are transforming tasks through digital annotations. 
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Developing Jeffco Generations Skills through Learning with Technology

12/3/2018

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BY GUEST BLOGGER Christopher Brannon Church

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Brannon Church is a technology teacher at Carmody Middle School. He has been a teacher in Jeffco for 19 Years. For the first 18 years, Mr. Church taught 6th Grade and this year has joined the Carmody team as their Robotics Teacher. Here he shares how he is making impacts in student lives through the development of Jeffco Generations. Mr. Church provides some great examples of how students learn with technology and ways teachers can access resources to begin integrating technology that engages students in creative learning opportunities. 

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I have always felt the need to incorporate technology into my day. I realized early in my career that very few things can improve student engagement like introducing a new tool or program. However, this usually only works if the teacher is as excited to explore new opportunities with their students. Fortunately, opportunities are much easier to come by nowadays because of the availability of chromebooks and free software. 95% of the curriculum we are exploring at our middle school comes from free programs that coexist with student Google logins. The Jeffco Ed Tech team is extremely supportive, and has equipment/resources for teachers to borrow to show their administration how important purposeful play can be in learning.

With all the free resources out there that appeal to the STEAM driven teacher, there is no excuse for not trying to implement computer science into some aspect of their day. Most educational apps use the Google Identity Platform which eliminates the burden of student login problems. I feel that Jeffco is headed in the right direction when it comes to preparing students for a successful future.
Demonstrating how to use Makey Makey & Scratch: 
An Exit Ticket Using Makey Makey. Students were given the opportunity to create a project using Makey Makey and Scratch.  I wanted them to see that they are limited only by their imagination. One on my administrators came to me looking for ways to make exit tickets more engaging and relevant.  With student input, we created our interactive exit ticket using Makey Makey and Scratch. It was a huge success, and students immediately tried to jump on the “aluminum foil switch” idea for their own projects.
Jeffco Generations Skills:  
These are examples of using technology as a tool to develop Self Direction and Personal Responsibility as well as Communication skills from Jeffco Generations.  As an initial activity with Makey Makey, students were to research their favorite childhood song, find the sheet music, create a piano in Scratch, and use the controller from Makey Makey to recreate their song.  The most amazing part of this activity is that students completed this project with very little guidance. Students relied on each other to figure out how to fix bugs in their program to make their music selection work.
Resources: 

How do I get access? - I am extremely fortunate to have 1:1 chromebooks in all of my Robotics classes, and nowadays there are hundreds of reputable websites that are available at no cost. Many of the hands on materials that I rely on have come from my own pocket, or were funded through the Donors Choose website. Any student can learn to code!

Funding is out there - After borrowing
Makey Makey kits from Jeffco Ed Tech I decided that I had to have a set for my class to take our scratch lessons to the next level. Believe it or not, it was fairly simple to acquire the funds needed for a Makey Makey kit. Donors Choose and Google’s CS First are practically giving away money to teachers that complete a few simple activities with their class.
Skill Application Across Content Areas:
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One of the favorite parts of my job is giving students an opportunity to show off what they have learned in Robotics/Coding and using those skills in other content areas. An example this year is a 6th grader who decided to retell the entire story of Maniac Magee using Scratch by taking her character on a journey through the story. It was amazing! This clearly demonstrates proficiency in computer science as well as a deep meaningful comprehension of a novel in literacy. 

​Below are just a few activities where application of the following Jeffco Generations Skills were imperative to complete the activity. As students completed these activities, they developed these Jeffco Generations Skills:
  • Self Direction and Personal Responsibility
  • Communication
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Collaboration and Leading by Influence
  • Agility and Adaptability​
Sphero Bridge Build: ​Students were to demonstrate Critical and Creative Thinking along with Communication skills as they used the Engineer Design Process to research, design and build a bridge with drinking straws.  Bridges needed to support the weight of a Sphero and span over 50 centimeters.
Friday Fly Day: During this activity, students were to research ramp design and create their own ramp to support the weight and acceleration of Sphero. This activity supports Collaboration and Leading by Influence.
Sphero Battle Tanks (captured with a 360 Camera): Students demonstrate Agility and Adaptability during their Sphero Battle Bots competition.  Students used the Engineer Design Process to create “tanks” for their Spheros.
Merge Opportunities: During our introduction to 3D design, students were able to use Merge Cubes and AR/VR Goggles to check their 3D Prints. Instead of wasting printer filament, we are able to upload our designs to Object Loader and see if there are any flaws to our design. Students demonstrate Self Direction and Personal Responsibility as they create their own designs using Tinkercad, view their design in Augmented Reality, and print a clean final project.

Oh no he didn't... @MergeVR @CarmodyMiddle pic.twitter.com/NRs0UsLIRY

— Brannon Church (@MrChurch) September 18, 2018
In conclusion, I would urge all educators who are interested in integrating tech into the classroom to join Twitter. I have found so many creative educators on Twitter that share an endless number of incredible projects or ideas. Feel free to follow me @MrChurch (shameless plug) and make some connections with teachers all over the world that are passionate about integrating technology into their classrooms. ​
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Google Goodness: November 2018

11/29/2018

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New: CLOSED CAPTIONING IN GOOGLE SLIDES

Presenters can now opt to show real-time automated closed captioning while presenting in Google Slides. Google uses your computer's microphone to detect your spoken presentation, much like using the voice-to-text option that is available within many G Suite tools. This feature can help make your presentation more effective for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, non-native speakers, visual learners, and in loud learning environments. 

Need to make a recording of your entire mini lesson or direct instruction while teaching? Enable the closed captioning feature and use a screencasting tool, wuch as Screencast-o-matic or Screencastify, to record the progression and pacing of the slides WITH the words you are speaking. This video can be distributed to students via Google Classroom or embedded on a website so that students who missed instruction or need reteaching can watch the video on an as-needed basis. 


For directions on using automated captions visit the Google Help Center


Tip of the Month: Create Smarter DOcuments With The Explore Feature

This Explore button was released last year, but not many people know it exists! You can find the explore button in the bottom right-hand corner of an opened Google Docs, Google Slides, or Google Sheets file. 

Google Docs: Find and add suggested content to documents in Google Docs. The suggested content is related to what’s in your document. You can also search your docs and the web from within a document. It will do a web search, suggest images and recommend files in your Drive related to the topics within the document you are typing! You can even cite related articles and add them to a footnote in your document - imagine the possibilities of supporting students with citing sources appropriately as they are researching and writing! 

Google Slides: Do your students (or you) struggle with making content on a Slides look visually appealing? The Explore button in slides will make suggestions for quick and easy slide layouts, based on the content you have added to your slide. Additionally, it allows the user to search for web images and google files related to what's on your slide deck. 


Google Sheets: Do you or your students have questions about data sets but struggle with using the proper function to determine their answer? Highlighting a set of data and then clicking the Explore button will suggest functions, formatting and more! Users can type in a question they have about their data and Google will use machine intelligence to answer their question. The Explore button will also suggest questions they might want to ask, as well as different formatting options to make their sheet easier to read and use. 
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Chromebook Tips & Tricks

11/25/2018

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Check out these helpful tips and tricks to make the most out of the mighty Chromebook for you and your students.  Open your Chromebook while you read and give them a try!

Keyboard shortcuts

​Many of us know keyboard shortcuts like ctrl+c for copy and ctrl+v for paste, but did you know that your Chromebook has many hidden shortcuts to make productivity even quicker?
Turn Caps Lock On/Off:  alt + search (magnifying glass)
Lock Screen: search (magnifying glass) + L
Open the Files App: alt + shift + m

Do you love how quickly Chromebooks turn on, but find them tedious to sign-out? 
Sign out of your Google Account:  ctrl + shift+ q + q
Learn all the keyboard shortcuts at your fingertips o
n your Chromebook: ctrl + alt + ?
Or visit this Chromebook help page: Keyboard Shortcuts

TouchPad Tips

Scroll: Place two fingers on the touchpad and move up or down to scroll vertically.
Right Click: Press or tap the touchpad with two fingers. You can also press Alt, then click with one finger.
Move Between Pages: To go back to a page you were just on, swipe left with two fingers. To go forward to a page you were just on, swipe right with two fingers.
​Learn More about your Chromebook touchpad.

Screen Capture

Do you need to take a screenshot? The ability is built right into the Chromebook.
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Files App: Where do my downloads go?

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Your screenshots, images and videos taken on the camera, downloads and other media are stored locally on the Chromebook in the Files app. 
Get quickly to your files using the shortcut alt+ shift+ m. 
Or open the app launcher and search Files.
The Chromebook has limited storage space and will delete files stored locally to save space. So keep your files safe by dragging them to your Google Drive for permanent storage.
Learn More.

Favicon: clean up your bookmarks bar

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Your bookmarks bar automatically saves an image and title of the website when making a URL favorite. Save room and store more bookmarks by editing your bar to show only the  favicons (the shortcut icon). 
1. Right click on your bookmark (two finger tap on a Chromebook)
2. Edit
3. In the Name box, delete the text
4. Save​

Screen Reader

Hear text read aloud with the built-in accessibility feature ChromeVox.  Learn more about turning on features such as Select-to-speak, which reads aloud only the text you highlight. 

Google Cast for Education: Project student work

Google Cast for Education allows students to cast their screen to their teacher's device connected to a projector.  It is free and available on all Chromebooks right now! Teachers can control who has casting privileges and works on any device using the Chrome web browser (laptops, desktops, Chromebooks). You can even use it in a BYOD environment. 
Learn more about setting up your teacher device and the simple two step process for students at our Ed Tech website. 
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