Offline Google Tools

Google is offering productivity tools "outside" of Google Drive for mobile devices.  Take a look, One Month After Microsoft Office Hits iPad, Google Debuts Dedicated Productivity Apps For iOS | TechCrunch  .  Google Docs and Google Sheets are available now and Google Slides  is a recent addition. There is offline support so students will not have to connect to use these Apps.

Student Reflection Questions

www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-stw-replicatingPBL-21stCAcad-reflection-questions.pdf?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=stw-free-download

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If you have other suggestions, kindly share in comments.

What have you used Google+ Hangout for?

Jeanne Rogers Feb 26, 2013 7:38 PM

I had the opportunity to 'hangout' with a friend last week.  At first it seemed to be just another video chat, but then I realized how much more it could be!  Google+ Hangout allows for collaboration and in education, it's a great way to share and learn.  If you are new to Google+ Hangout, take a look at this wiki that describes how to use this Google feature.  What have you used Google+ Hangout for?  If you need ideas, check out 50 Ideas for Using Google+ Hangouts.

Using the screenshare feature is a great way to offer assistance to the friend or relative that needs a bit of tech support!

More STEM Resources

Videos | STEM Career

Welcome to A Sightseer's Guide to Engineering

PBS Teachers | STEM Education Resource Center

MASTER Tools

For Educators | NASA

Search, Collect, and Share | SMILE

Scitable | Learn Science at Nature

NSTA :: Outstanding Science Trade Books: 2013

Google Search and Reading Levels

You are able to check the reading level of non-fiction text by using the advanced feature in Google Search.

How To Google Search By Reading Level

1. First, choose a term, and Google it as you always have, whether you’re looking for a copyright-free version of an American classic or National Geographic's Animal Jam.

2. Next, click “Advanced Search” which is located at the bottom of the search page.

3. Scroll to the bottom, and filter results by reading level.  Use the drop down arrow to reveal your options for narrowing your search.

After you have clicked on the "Advanced Search" button, your search page will reload with this information located at the top of the page.

You are able to sort search results for the three levels.

PDF's in Google Drive

The use of Google Drive continues to provide folks with an alternative to the Microsoft Office suite of products.  Parents will find this to be good news because a child's school work, done in Google Drive, will be available to that student when they log into a computer anywhere/anytime.  So, they can finish an assignment at Grandma's or on a mobile device on the way to soccer practice or a doctor appointment.  Many schools use Google Drive, which includes documents, presentations, drawing, and spreadsheets.  This makes sharing assignments with their teacher a snap. One of the nice things Google Drive provides is the ability to download the item/document.  One download choice is in pdf format and this is explained nicely in How to Create PDFs in Google Drive in Three Steps.

Share Google Docs as "View Only"

Here's a good tip from Richard Byrne: Make Copies of Google Documents Shared With You As "View Only."  Screenshots and directions are provided.  By sharing "view only," the original documents or presentations will not be able to be altered.  This is really great for those sharing directions with students.  However, students will be able to make a copy and then alter it.  Consider creating a template for a book report or lab activity sheet, share 'view only'.  Students are able to copy the template, complete, and share back with you.

YouTube Blocked?

If you are working at a school that blocks YouTube, consider checking out this shared Google Doc, Eighty Alternatives to YouTube.

Using Digital Images

I’ve observed middle school students work on projects about U.S. landmarks, countries and cultures, science projects and more. Students are searching for resources on line, gathering information and copying photos. It seems that the students are not recording any information on where the images are coming from. There seems to be a lack of awareness, even on the instructor's part, that both text and images require a citation.

Students need guidance on what is allowed to be copied from the Web, and what isn’t. This could easily be a topic for a pre-writing activity. There are several resources on copyright within the Thinkfinity community. Do you know copyright law?, posted by Lynne Hoffman is one discussion post.Understanding Copyright in a Media-Rich World provides links to lessons for use in the classroom that will lead your students to respecting the work of others.

Many educators prefer to use only royalty free web sites when images are required as part of an assignment. Some instructors explain what Creative Commons is and use sites like Flickr. There are sites that offer many images that are available and are in the public domain. FCIT and Pics4Learning are two sites that are a source of royalty free images. I realize Google Images is one of the first resources that comes to the mind of many, but it isn’t necessarily the best tool to use in school. A good example of why not is that kids don’t always know the best keywords to use. Today, the use of “whitehouse” in a Google search and then selection of ‘images’ on the left, brought some very graphic images to view that were not of Washington.

This post is to act as a reminder that educators need to provide direct guidance and be available to intervene whenever students are working on the Web. As to citing sources, why not use BibMe? Students will find this to be very easy to use and guidance is provided to cite magazines, books, film, and the Web.Son of Citation Machine and EasyBib are similar sites. ReadWriteThink provides an internet search organizer.

Using Checklists

Many educators have found that there is nothing like a checklist to focus attention on necessary tasks. With the end of the school year approaching, many will find the varied lists made to include closing out their classroom, grading final papers and projects, and calculating grades for that final report card. The Checklist Manifesto is a book on making and using checklists. For those of us that use checklists and know they are a good thing, don't really need convincing from a book; we've been using them for years. Have you helped your students see the value of list making?

To Do lists are extremely popular. I've heard folks say to be sure at least one item is on the list that can immediately be checked off. That way you feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation. It seems to work for me. As with all things these days there are good Apps for helping one stay organized. Remember The Milk: Online to-do list and task management is a favorite of many.

Many schools provide their staff with an end of the year checklist. It is often the final thing submitted to the administration along with room keys before heading out for summer break. Summer should be a chance to replenish the patience level and interest in the subject one is teaching. So here are a few suggestions for your summer checklist:

__Take time to enjoy the special moments of a day

__Treat yourself the gift of time to spend with someone special

__Read a book

__Write, email, or call family and friends you've not touched base with in awhile

__Rent or go see a movie

__Enjoy a day in the sun and at the beach

__Lunch with friends

Resources:
Why Checklists Work – ProfHacker - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right: Atul Gawande: 9780805091748: Amazon.com: Books
Editing Checklist for Self- and Peer Editing - ReadWriteThink
Homework Checklist
Quality Rubrics / Checklists
Essay Writing Checklist
Checklist for Papers and Speeches
Classroom Arrangement Checklist
Every Teacher's Checklist for Struggling Readers

Well done!

Educators! You made it.  Perhaps this has been your first year of teaching.  How'd it go?  What did you learn?  Are you happy?  Are you already thinking of things to do next year? Remember to rest and relax over the summer.  Recharge yourself. Take time to smell the flowers and enjoy the sunshine.  You've earned some time for yourself!

Congratulations to all those folks retiring from education this year!  You have much to be proud of!