Thing #8: Google Drive Forms

You have all taken a Google Doc Form, and some of you have even created one, which makes this Thing really easy.  If not, you can do this in as few as 10 minutes!







Google Form is similar to Survey Monkey.
Watch this screencast I made.  By the way, you'll  see I'm working hard at NOT being a perfectionist in the video.

  It includes:

• Creating a new Form
• Tips on getting your survey out (via standard link or TinyURL)
• Viewing student responses (including hiding columns)
• Sharing spreadsheet to colleagues or students without requiring them to log into Google
• Setting notifications (you can get an email if responses are submitted--or not)
• Viewing Summary of Responses (pie charts and bar graphs)

 

Do you have a world of ideas to use Google Forms in and out of school?  Me, too.  Have fun with it, and let us know in your blog what you create!

If you are new to Google Drive, you'll find that the others are near self-explanatory.  

Document is like MS Office Word, Presentation = Power Point, Spreadsheet = Excel  Just don't forget to change your privacy settings to share so someone else can edit.

Due date: Please be done with all Things 1-8 by the end of April if you are shooting for the iPadAir prize!

We need to squeeze in the last two before June 1.  Suggestions are welcome!

Thing #7: Student Response Systems

Feedback!  

This Thing will give you an excuse to try out ways of gathering information to:

• monitor learning so you can adjust
• gather anonymous info for sensitive topics
• lighten the mood with a silly question
• force reflection
• re-activate and re-engage during a lecture
• collect data
• grade 

Please choose a tool that is new to you and experiment.  As usual, share your experience on your blog!  I started a little research to help you get started.  If you add the tool you are trying out on the participant spreadsheet, it might help others plan.
Keep plugging away! Teachers who complete all 10 could win the AirPad Air, and those who complete any 8 could still win the iPad mini!

	Student access	Types of questions	Student tracking/feedback	Misc.
http://www.polleverywhere.com/	Old phones that text Smartphone iPod with texting app tablet Web browser	Multiple choice Open ended Clickable image (upload	Only tracked if students provide name in open-ended response; Real-time feedback	tips page Poll everywhere has made some sweet upgrades, including a clickable image poll.  Set to multiple responses per phone for sharing.
https://www.mentimeter.com/	Smartphone with internet access	Multiple choice or open ended	Real-time feedback No tracking for free accounts.	Students go to website on phone, add ID# and respond.  Embed into PowerPoint option.
http://www.socrative.com/	Smartphones with app iPod touch with app Web browser Tablet with app	Multiple choice Open-ended	You can create accounts for students in classes, track, and store responses over time; realtime feedback to students/teachers	For best results, check with Darron V. Responses emailed in spreadsheet to teacher
http://www.infuselearning.com/ looks great for iPad students	Any device	Draw response! T/F, multiple choice, scale, numerical, open ended	Real-time feedback; view student responses on your computer!	Nice if we had an iPad cart or if you have groups with enough iDevi ces
http://www.classmarker.com/	Web browser Tablets Smartphones	Embed Images, files, videos	You can create accounts for students in classes, track, and store responses over time OR let students respond on the fly to a link	Free accounts are limit # of quizzes. Students & teachers can see results immediately See Kerith M. for tips and examples
http://www.gosoapbox.com/ Soap box also has:  a “Confusion Barometer”; Social Q&A enables students to submit and vote on questions.  anonymous (or not) discussions. Embed images, videos, urls	Multiple choice	Multiple choice/short answer;	Real-time feedback to quizzes Download spreadsheet with answers.	Social Q&A enables students to submit and vote on questions.
Google Drive Forms  Similar to Survey Monkey, this will be Thing #8, so you might want to try something else!	Phone with internet access, tablet, computer	Multiple choice, check boxes, scale, grid, multiple choice Embed videos	Feedback is in a spreadsheet and in graph form. Optional for class to see all results.	You can now embed videos.  See Darron’s blog on screencasting. Use with Flubaroo to automatically have responses graded.

Poll Everywhere 

now has images, in addition to open-ended and multi-choice

 

 

Mentimeter

 Socrative

(so-CRA-tive) intro video: http://vimeo.com/27564554

Infuse Learning

Check out How to Get Started With InfuseLearning by Infuse Learning on Snapguide.  

Class Marker

Soap Box

Getting Started with GoSoapBox - September 2013 from gosoapbox

Thing #6: Screencasting

In Thing #5 you discovered a plenitude of resources to share with students.
As you know, there are many great videos to share but sometimes nothing is quite right.

Sometimes you want to reinvent the wheel!

 http://www.oocities.org/templenh2000/Zog.jpg

This month you will create your own screencasted video to share with students, parents, or colleagues.  This a great tool to start flipping your classroom.  You can add it to your website, blog, Gaggle, or just show it in a class or at Open House night.  You might also have students demonstrate navigation of a site as well.

There are two good options. 
Screencastomatic http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/ is wicked easy--except that you can't edit in the free version (feature breakdown on right). I recommend writing a script to limit your "takes".  When done, upload it directly to YouTube or save it as a file.  The first video below shows you how. 

Camtasia is an expensive paid program that is on my computer in the library.  You can arrange to use it, or download a free trial at home.  It allows you to edit, which can be a mixed blessing.  I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to edit out my less-than-perfect dialog.

Choose a website that you want students to become familiar with--maybe your website, blog, subject specific site, or an introduction to yourself and what services you provide.  The screencast needn't be long, and will hold your students attention better.


Here are a few of mine:

Screencast-o-matic tutorial (using Camtasia): 
When done, "produce video as..."
Custom production > NEXT
WMV or AVI > NEXT
I left everything at the default setting (and kept hitting NEXT since I don't know any better.  On the last screen, pay attention to where you save it (My Videos?) so you can find your file later.

You can then use the file as is, upload it to your website, or  to YouTube for other access.

Photostory Tutorial (using Screencastomatic) and uploaded directly to YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRVUhlBSl3k&safe=active

We have others on the Library YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV-1GShBTh9D5UkLh3Isk6g

Thing #5: Resources for Teaching and Learning

Welcome to Thing #5!

The point of this Thing is to help you locate new resources to help you teach and to help your students learn.

Many of you are interested in Flipped Classroom, or probably better, Blended Learning.

Rather than creating your own resources, which takes immeasurable time you don't have, how about harvesting the work of others to share with students in class, or through home viewing?

I have begun to collect resources and have added them to a Symbaloo.  Please share others you'd like me to add if I forgot anything vital!

Your Task:

1.  Browse the resources in the Symbaloo.  If you click on the screenshot above, you will arrive at my Symbaloo "Resources for Teaching and Learning" page. Symbaloo is funky when embedding, so pardon any pitiful attempt below.  By clicking on any tile, you will open the page.  It essentially is a pretty bookmarking site.  Start with EduTecher (the very first tile).

2.  Collect any sites that seem useful to your subject area.   You're sure to find something!  I would of course recommend that you bookmark these with whatever tool(s) you chose for Thing 4 to keep organized. 

3.  Use and share your edu-booty as any good tech pirate would.
a.  Share on your blog (required by Tuesday, February 18 for credit towards iPad drawing)
b.  Share on Twitter (nice)
c.  Share with colleagues, department or building administrators (swell)
d.  Share by spreading the word for Digital Learning Day, February 5 (peachy)

Thing #4: New Year's Organization and Efficiency Tools

Now that you have more tools, you need a tool bag--or new pockets--or just the impetus to clean up.
This Thing is meant to help you organize your professional life. 
My plan was to add curation (selecting, annotating, and sharing) as a tool for you and your students but I'm sensing that you are overwhelmed.  I added some curation resources on the bottom for a varsity option. 

Browse the tools suggested below (or find others).  Select one (or more) to try out.  I think Diigo or Evernote are your best bets.  When you find something to fit your needs, dive in.  The idea is to find something that helps you permanently--not just try, check off a list, and move on. 

 

As with any successful diet,

you need a New Year's organization tool

that you can stick with for true work-style change.

 

Assignment:

1. Blog about the tool(s) you choose.  Feel free to mention others that you investigate, as your findings could help others. 
2. Mention the tool in a tweet.

Varsity option: Share a tool (or more) with students.  You might simply promote one, or you could include it in an assignment.  Our students need organization help even more than we do, and that is a scary thought!
Another idea is to take the next step and curate for others--students and teachers.  Select the best resources you find and share them out.  Check out the Curation Addendum on the bottom of the page.

Diigo

I only use about 10% of Diigo's capabilities but it is my main organizational tool.  I use the bookmarking features to organize the gazillions of links that come through my inboxes. I set it up to automatically bookmark any post I favorite in Twitter.  It works from my iPhone, iPad, work and home computers.  I already helped Amy set it up--then she really started to see the value of Twitter.  You can also highlight notes, annotate web articles, and share to your PLN.  My library is public: , so feel free to check it out: https://www.diigo.com/user/kaluzynskis Note: And yes, my new year's resolution is to clean that up, along with my inboxes!  Right now, anything tagged "twitter" was favorite from Twitter.  If it is tagged "tweet", the link is actually about Twitter.

Pocket App

 is Darron's find.  Formerly called Read It Later, it saves your favorites to Twitter from your device

Livebinders

This is a virtual binder.  You can add notes, files, embed links and videos.  I created a livebinder to organize my library renovation plan.  http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=753231 

I know some teachers and librarians who have had students create Livebinders for a project or a whole class.  I think I heard that you can sync it with Twitter also.

Another virtual binder is Three Ring.  I haven't tested it yet.  Good for organizing your goods, or with students, I hear.

Evernote

I sense I'm using about 5% of Evernote--for note-taking in workshops and meetings.  I think it is the most popular tool out there among educators.  Below is an intro video.  If you choose Evernote, check out their video library.

With browser and app add-ons, you can clip web content directly into Evernote, save the full text of
articles and web pages complete with sections highlighted, email notes and content from multiple devices, store documents, take video notes, record audio and more. And that's just the free version.

Best of all, Evernote synchronizes with all your computers and portable devices, giving you access to your notes everywhere. Content can be organized into notebooks that are private or shared with
others as need be. Notes can be tagged with your own keywords to help you find content later.
 

 Symbaloo

 

Symbaloo is a shortcut page.  It creates a pretty version of bookmarks.  I prefer creating and editing symbaloo with the iPad over the computer--a little more user-friendly.  Fun to slide the buttons around, too.  Feel tree to try it out or make your own to put on a class webpage.



Curation addendum

The next few are more of curation tools but I'm adding them in for Varsity players.  If no one gets to them, I'll make this a separate thing.  I'm pretty convinced that curation for students will be a Thing-at-large, as it puts into play Common Core skills. "Argument Curation: An Effective Approach To Develop Critical Thinking Among Students"  http://digitalis.nwp.org/resource/5227

 

Scoop it

is really easy to use, and makes you look awesome with very little effort.  It reminds me of Pinterest.  When you see something useful posted by someone else, you click and it is added to your Scoop with an annotation--or not.  Here's my first attempt: http://www.scoop.it/t/common-core-for-hs-librarian 

 

Smore

This is really a digital flyer but I saw someone use it as a curator at a conference.  Here's my Common Core S'more, which I think will make my SEED goal look swanky.

Educlipper

Check out this nifty Thinglink overview of Educlipper.  Just hover over the image and discover Tags.

MentorMob  @MentorMob

Looks pretty promising.  I created an account but haven't played much.  It is self-described as:

1. Learn What You Want:
Find a Learning Playlist to narrow down that bucket list, or discover a brand new obsession. 'Save' your favorites to stay organized!

2. Teach What You Love:
Create your own Learning Playlist or edit those that need your help! Organize great Youtube videos, the best blog posts, or even your own content!

And for your entertainment...
a visual from an article called "15 Time Management Tips Every Connected Educator Should Know" but really should be renamed "15 pitfalls and 1 tip" to use onlineclock.net. Or just type "timer 5 minutes" in Google search bar.

Thing #3: Eye Candy--use visuals to engage learners

This month, you will explore web 2.0 tools that generate pictures, avatars, comics, videos, animations and other visually stimulating THINGS.

Assignment:

1. Play with 3 tools (or more)
2. Evaluate tools you tested out
3. 3 Twitter posts about each tool
4. 1 Blog post to summarize your learning

1. Play:

Create accounts for 3 new-to-you visual web 2.0 tools.  Play around and make sample projects.  You might spend anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes on each.  A list is on the bottom by category, as well as links to websites and articles on similar tools. 

2. Crowd-sourcing evaluations:

For each tool, complete the *EVALUATION FORM* 
View the *RESULTS HERE*. to see evaluations by others of tools you might want to use.

3. and 4. Tweet and Blog

1. Write at least one post about each tool on Twitter.  Try to use the handle/username and hashtags to draw attention.
Example:       
"attn.HS Libraries: looking for pro/con on @BrainHive Please RT! Thx! #tlchat #AASL13"
is more effective than 
"Has anyone used Brain Hive?"
You can also search Twitter to see what others have posted.
I use Twitter for tech support (contact them directly or ask your PLN).  I often get a response sooner than email from the company or someone else in my PLN.
2. Write a blog post about your experiences with Thing #3, preferably toward the end of the month when more evaluations are posted.

Deadline to qualify for iPad raffle drawings: December 31, 2013

TOOLS

Picture tagging

• Thinglink

Photo editing, tools, and toys

• Fotoflexer
• Aviary
• PicMonkey
• Pixlr
• Big HugeLabs

Picture slideshow

• PhotoPeach

(Talking or not) avatar or image

• Voki
• Blabberize
• Pickaface
• Telligami--ipad

Comic strip

• Pixton
• Bitstrips app
• Toon Doo
• comic life
• comic creator

Animated cartoon/video OR movie

• Powtoon 
• Plotagon
• Moviestorm

e-books

• bookr
• tarheel reader

QR codes/Augmented Reality

• kaywa
• aurasma app (looks wicked cool!)
• tagmydoc
• visualead

Infographics

• visual.ly
• Piktochart
• infogram
• ease.ly

Timelines

• Timetoast
• Dipity
• Xtimeline

Digital poster/wall/graphic organizer

• Popplet
• Mural.ly
• Smore
• bubbl.us
• Padlet 

 

Word Tools

• Wordle-word cloud generators  or check this article
• ReciteThis -turn a quote into art
• Haiku Deck meme maker -ipad
• Superlame-add speech bubbles to pics

Just plain fun

• Fodey Talking squirrels, newspaper generators, wizard text above...

Visual conversations

• Voicethread (only 3 threads with free account, so don't overdo it!)

How-to guides

• Snapguide
• Explain Everything

RESOURCES

Check out my Diigo Tech tools Library  Search within or click a tag--in case it's tagged.
Tech tools organized by device is a handy spreadsheet organizing tools by function and device compantability for BYOD options.
I often use Google to find tools and You Tube for tutorials (example: You can also Google ("Powtoon alternative" or "online journal creator classroom" or "infographic generator")

 

 

Thing #2: Getting Connected is the best PD!

You will expand your PLN using Twitter!

Rough news:  There are mini-assignments due on a weekly basis for this month.   This is necessary as the rest of the 10ThingsTechie Team needs you.  And for you to see the benefits!
Good news: The mini-assignments look more time-consuming than they are.  Thing #3 will be easy and fun, so hang in there!!

Why?

We are going to get you connected to mentors by using Twitter. 
No doubt you have heard Twitter is being used in education.  Many educators use it to communicate to their students and parents.  Many more are using to it reach out to colleagues virtually.
If you aren't using Twitter as a professional development feed, I'm guessing that:

• you don't have time/haven't had a chance
• you aren't a fan of Social Media
• you don't know how/where to start

@MsVictoriaOlson says it all in a 4:37 minute video I'm asking you all to watch.

Basically, I can help you with the tech but I can't help you with your subject areas.  By expanding your PLN, you can 'meet' others who teach your subject, integrate tech, or hopefully both.

How?

Rather than making my own tutorials, I'm sending you the masters (yes, I found this on Twitter Monday morning). Go to this page: The Twitteraholic’s Ultimate Guide to Tweets, Hashtags, and All Things Twitter  You can also ask a student or offspring for help!

I already have Twitter

If you have it, that is awesome.  You need one for professional use-- separate from your personal account! While some of you have class accounts, I'm not aware of any of you using Twitter professionally but I could be wrong. If you are tweeting out to your class, I highly recommend that it is different.
Here are mine (FYI--It is wicked easy to switch between accounts if you have an iPhone, iPod, iPad or other smartphone device.  Just click from one to the other.)

@SaraKLMS is my professional account.  I learn from Librarians and Techie Educators.
@SHSLMCtweets is from the library.  I share hours, clubs, bookish links.
@saraksarak is my personal account (I don't use it unless I'm checking on my kid.)

You can only have one email for each account.  I used Gaggle for one, Stratford for another, and personal for the personal.

Okay, now what's the assignment?

Rookies Don't freak!  It is easier than it looks.  It isn't enough to create an account and tweet once or twice.  The value comes from using it. 

 

Due Saturday, November 9

a.  Create a professional account.  Don't be afraid to be 'transparent' meaning visible to the public.  There's nothing wrong with being seen as a lifelong learner.  Use your 'brand' (recommended in Thing #1).

b.  Post 1 tweet out to our hashtag (conversation) so we know you are in! #10thingstechie  You can type it in and see my tweets already. 

c.  Follow me: @SaraKLMS.

 

Due Saturday, November 16

a.  Follow your teammates! Their Twitter names/handles (@******) will be in the #10thingstechie hashtag (which is why you can't put this off to the last minute!). 

b.  Follow educators in your field or techie people.  Follow the people who your followers follow.  Follow people who are active (not just tweeted 3 times in the last year).  Enjoy getting followers.  Block any weirdos (you'll get a couple).

c.  Be a Lurker! . You watched the video above, right?  Read posts of things you like. Lurk about 3 times a week at least.   I can't stress enough how important it is to check in often, even if for 2 minutes.  I check on line at the supermarket, waiting for my kid to get out of rehearsal...  Twitter is not blocked at school, so "favorite" it and glance at it during a prep period or after school.

When you see a good post you don't want to forget, "favorite it".  I'll show you how to access, organize, and share those in Thing #4!

 

Due Saturday, November 23

a. Be a Participant...or maybe an Author.  Jump in!  Share good links!  Encourage each other! Retweet posts.  Don't forget to add the #10thingstechie hashtag.  Your momentum will motivate others.  Again, do this more than once.

b. Share 1 #eduwin  When something awesome happens in your class, tweet it out and add the hashtag #eduwin

 

Due Wednesday, November 27 (before you enjoy the holiday)

a. Participate in 1 educator chat.  #15 on The Twitteraholic’s Ultimate Guide . This is the best!  I'm only asking for one (but I hope you'll get addicted!).  See this link to find a time/date that suits your needs: Weekly Twitter Educator Chat Schedule  Plan ahead.
For more more info: 101+ Twitter Chat Groups for Educators: Topical List
d. Post a quick blog about getting started on Twitter.  Hopefully you are seeing the potential by now.

Varsity  Quality and Quantity! Tweet regularly.  Share. Keep that #10thingstechie conversation full. Gather more followers and followees.  Check out/share articles about using Twitter.  Help support newbies. Write additional posts on your blog.  Don't forget to comment on each others' blogs.
All-State Are you already an active user of Twitter for Professional Development?   Add a Feed in your Blog showing your tweets.  We'd like you to continue tweeting with us, but you can also explore Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, EduBlog, Edmodo... You can also sit with a teammate who is just getting started.

Appendix on Twitter Chats

I browsed lists and have some suggestions for you to start!
Darron,  #SciChat, #flipclass
Geralyn #SciChat
Christina #Busedu (1st and 3rd Tuesdays only)
Alyce #collegechat, #collegebound #scholarships
Nancy #spedchat
Mark #musedchat, #edmusic
Marianne #hsmath, #mathchat
Kerith #psychat #sschat
Amy follow #StephenJenkin and @Latinlanguage
Olivia #langchat also check out #spanishteachers
Liz #engchat, #ell, #esl and follow Larry Ferlazzo (@larryferlazzo
Sarah #artsed
Going for 092? #edleadchat, Follow Eric Sheniger (@NMHS_principal)
Everyone and anyone: #smartee (Smart Board), #byotchat, #ccsschat, #edtechchat,