HOTSpot - Sean - Download & Save Files To Chromebooks

Sometimes when our students are on their chromebooks, trying to get creative and build a digital masterpiece, they face challenges with file downloading and saving because they are on a chromebook and not a “normal” computer. Their chromebooks actually DO have the capability to handle some file downloading and transferring, which can be used as a work-around if need be. Check out this little trick you can use with your kids to help them get past this stumbling block.

HOTSpot - Shona - Draw.IO

Draw.io is an incredibly easy tool that allows you and your students to seamlessly create flowcharts, timelines, genealogy maps, create concept maps, or graphic organizers. This tool is more user friendly than any previous tool and can be shared easily with others, just like any Google product. In my lesson I had students use this tool to create a skit that outlined various content skills. The students were able to easily navigate the platform, share, and use Draw.io to perform the skit. This tool can also import Lucidchart files, embed images, maps, computer files, and Google Drive files. It can also export in various ways, including PDF. And the last impressive feature: its ability to be saved in Google Drive.

New and Improved Voice Typing Commands in Google Docs

Check out this great updates to voice typing in Google Docs from the Better Cloud Monitor blog.

How to Organize pages in New Google Site

With the NEW Google Sites taking off, here are some simple tips on organizing pages. Check out this link from BetterCloud Monitor.

HOTSpot - Amanda - Green Screen

The HOTSpot now has a portable Green Screen for you and your students to use! The next time you assign a video feel free to check-out the Green Screen to bring to your classroom or if you want to make a video for your students you can stop by the HOTSpot and we can help you record. Don’t forget to schedule a time for a tech coach or Monica to meet with your classes to get you started with WeVideo.

HOTSpot - Chris -Teaching New Material with Blind Kahoot!'ing

Introducing new material can get dull at times, and I was in that very situation when teaching DNA Structure to my Human Genetics class. Luckily, just weeks before I had stumbled on the idea of Blind Kahoot!'ing. In a blind Kahoot!, you ask "blind" questions that you know students won't know (or should't know) the answer to. You give them plenty of time to struggle with the question (either in teams or individually) and then discuss the right answer and why the other choices were not correct. This creates a great opportunity to learn from wrong answers and then reinforce with follow up questions to deepen the understanding. Here is a simple template designed by Stephanie Castle, who coined the idea "Blind Kahoot!". Check out her video on "The Art of Blind Kahoot!'ing."

HOTSpot - Sean - Google Classroom Individual Assignments

A new feature in Google Classroom has made it fantastically convenient for us teachers to individualize instruction. We can now assign tasks / projects / challenges to individual students within a class, instead of being locked into assigning everything to the entire class. I’ve also found that this gives us a great work around with group projects. In group projects, I am now picking one kid per group to be the “digital point person” and only those students receive the assignment. They share their copy with their partners for working purposes and then they turn it in when the task is completed. This keeps them and me more organized throughout the course. I love this new feature, and I hope you find it useful for yourself as well.

HOTSpot - Cory - Late/Missing Work Mysteries

With hard copy, digital, or other assignments that follow a different format, it becomes very challenging when students do not turn items in on time. Trying to hunt down documents or finished tasks can steal unnecessary time from your schedule. Try using a Google Form that the students know they need to use in order to make you aware of all the details of a late or missing assignment. It’s a simple, yet effective approach to staying organized when absences or procrastination make a teacher’s life more difficult.

HOTSpot - Shona - Future Me

It’s a new year. What a great time to reflect and set personal goals. Futrueme.org is an awesome web based tool that allows students to be goal oriented which engages the students in a fun and meaningful way. In order to use this as a tool in your class, you can have the students write themselves an email to various time periods in their life. For instance, in my leader class, I had the students write a letter to their future self by the end of the semester, 1 year from now, and 5 years from now. I had them link their letters to my content area and had them copy one of their letters and send it to me the following day, so I am able to read their goals and wishes. Personal Excellence is a great supplemental resource for the students. Heads up though, Futureme.org asks for a donation after the students send their letters. This is something that needs to be discussed prior to assigning this exercise.

HOTSpot - Chris - Making Meaningful Comment Tips in GDocs

Using electronic documents has really improved the efficiency of handing out and collecting documents in my classroom, but with some trial and error, grading student work and providing them with constructive and meaningful feedback has been the biggest benefit for going “paperless.” I have to admit, at first I didn’t see the benefit of using the different choices in the heading drop down menu until Google came out with the Outline feature in Docs. By setting up my eDocs with headings tied to the outline list, I have saved a good amount of time that used to be spent scrolling to find the part of the document I wanted to make comments and grade. It is a great navigation tool that is really simple to use and requires very minimal setup. The add-on “feedback sheet” was something I discovered when I found myself making the same comment on several student documents. With some practice, I really think this tool will help provide more feedback to my students to help them improve their work. Hopefully, the creators of “feedback sheet” continue to improve this add-on.