Monday, April 20, 2015

Engage Your Students with Game Show Style Learning

What motivates kids and creates a desire for hard work? What do they like to do in their free time? If you answered play games (video games, outside games, sports, etc.), than you are correct!

I stumbled across a new learning tool called "Kahoot". Students can join a survey, discussion, or quiz that teachers have created from any device. In the quiz portion of the tool, teachers flash questions on the screen about whatever subject matter they choose. As students participate, they get points based on the speed and accuracy of their response. After each question, students get to see what "place" they have been awarded. A top 5 leader board shows on the screen in the front of the classroom. The students love the motivation of attaining a high score, much like on a video game!

Example of Kahoot in the Classroom

If you want to take your classroom a step further and have your students help to design a Kahoot to share with others. Their understanding will skyrocket as they work to create multiple questions on the assigned learning goal.

If you're looking to inject some excitement into some learners that are craving engagement, this tool is for you!

Click here to start using Kahoot.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Tech. Tip of the Week: Boomerang Calendar Group Scheduling

Have you ever had to schedule a time for a number of people to get together, but have trouble finding time that everyone is available? Do you tire from sending and receiving countless emails to finally settle on a time? I found a tool a few weeks ago that will help to efficiently schedule a meeting called Boomerang Calendar.

Here is a video that introduces the magic of the Group Scheduling feature in Boomerang Calendar.

https://vimeo.com/41044757#t=156s

To get download Boomerang Calendar, click the link below.

http://boomerangcalendar.com/

There are many other useful features included with Boomerang Calendar as well, but the is one of the features I found to be the most helpful. Enjoy!

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Tech. Tip of the Week: The Best Email Tool Ever!

All right. A few months ago I posted a tech. tip that presented what I believed at the time to be the best email tool ever. Well, I found a new tool that I'd like to put at the top of the list.

Boomerang is an email app that integrates beautifully with Gmail on your PC or your Android device. It allows you to schedule emails to be sent at specific times, and "Boomerang" emails out of your inbox to return at a later time. Don't worry if you're an Apple user! You can still use Boomerang on your computer effectively. Here are more details about the amazing features Boomerang offers!

Boomerang allows you to schedule emails to be sent at a time of your choosing:

Boomerang allows you to put an email away until a more convenient time. It will disappear from your inbox until you schedule it to return, hence the name Boomerang!

If you are interested in using Boomerang, go to http://www.boomeranggmail.com. When you get to the page, click on the "Add this to your Gmail" button and get ready to be wooed!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

How to Unsend an Email in Google Mail

Have you pressed the send button on the email, but want to take it back? Have you looked helplessly at our computer as you watch your mail go off into cyberspace? For this week's Tech Tip, we're going to discover how to "unsend" an email. The video link below teaches you how to set your Google Gmail so that you can undo sending an email for up to 30 seconds. Just click the link below to get started. Have a great day!

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Crestwood Technology Learning Menu

For this week's tech. tip, I'd like to introduce the Crestwood Technology Menu. This is a way for me to meet your individual and/or team needs more effectively than having a generic class before or after school. Just like a restaurant, you can order what you'd like. You can also order unlimited appetizers, main dishes and treats too! They are calorie free so they won't destroy your diet. Please don't "dine and dash".

You may also want to check the menu to see if you'd like to try out a new entree. Maybe something that will help you stretch your abilities a little? Maybe something in your class that technology can help you do more efficiently, or in a way you never possibly imagined?

Finally, if you don't see what you're looking for on the menu,you can have our chef prepare your own customized dish. Just me know what you'd like to learn about and we'll go from there.

Just an FYI, the menu is currently under development right now, so keep checking back for future additions. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedules to support technology! Have a great day!

Monday, February 23, 2015

Let's Geddit Formative Assessment Tool

To compliment the tech. tip for last week, I'd like to introduce Let's Geddit. This tool makes formative assessment quick and easy for teachers that have Chromebooks in their classrooms.

The teacher simply sets up a class and has the students join by entering a code. Once the students have joined the class, the teacher can use this tool for 3 basic functions:

  • Students can ask for help by clicking a hand in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Teachers see a virtual line on their computers so they know who to help first, second, etc. Students don't have to keep their hand raised and can continue working while they are waiting for help.
  • The teacher can get a "Status of the Class" Students can enter their comfort level with the material being covered. Students can also enter any messages or questions they'd like to send the teacher. The teacher will be able to sort students by comfort level and respond to questions through their own interface.
  • The teacher can ask questions of the students. There are a wide variety of response types available from multiple choice, to short answer, to true/false. Teachers can quickly determine which students are getting it and which students are not. 
If you'd like to give this resource a try, or see it in action, please don't hestitate to contact me. Here are a few links to explore if you're a self-directed learner:

Simple Formative Assessment Tool: Your Cell Phone Camera

Would you like to instantly gather data about how your students are doing on a particular subject? Do you want to find a method where students won't have to open their Chromebooks, or don't have Chromebooks? I've got just the tool for you!

Plickers is a new app/website that allows you to instantly collect data about how your students are doing. Simply give a multiple choice question, have the students orient their cards to their desired answer and have them show them to you. Use your phone, tablet, etc. to take a picture of the class holding up their cards and viola, you will now have instant results. You'll be able to not only see how the class did as a whole, but individual student answers as well.

The set-up for Plickers is quick and easy (around 30 minutes). If you are interested in using this tool, I'd love to help! Just let me know if you're interested and I can help you get started. If you're more of a self directed kind of person, just click on one of the links below. Have a great day!

http://youtu.be/zye3fyKl65c
https://www.plickers.com/help