Thursday, June 18, 2015

A Google+ Collection of Your Events

Several weeks ago, Google+ rolled out a new feature known as Collections--a way for you to group Google+ posts by topic.  At first, I thought it was going to be Google's answer to Pinterest, namely, a way to "pin" posts that you come across on Google+ to collections that you create.

I was mistaken.

Turns out, Google+ Collections will only let you group YOUR posts...so, a little less useful than I originally had anticipated.

One way I leveraged Collections recently is by grouping my summer training events.  This way, teachers can go to the collection and easily browse and RSVP to my *reFRESH trainings.

Here's how:

1.)  Create the first event.  Give it a custom theme.

2.)  Duplicate the event.  Change the Title, Description, and Date.


3.)  Repeat Steps 1 & 2 until all events have been created.


4.)  Go to Collections.  Create a new collection and give it a custom theme.



5.)  Go to your profile page and look for your Google+ Events posts.  Add each one to your Collection in the order in which you want them to appear within the collection.



6.)  Share the link to your Collection!



If you have a cool idea for leveraging Collections, tell me about it!  Leave a comment below or message me on Twitter (@rpetitto) or Google+ (+BobPetitto).

Happy Collecting!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Google Chrome Bookmark Groups




Ever wanted to open up a series of websites with a single click?  It's easy!


1.  open up the websites in their own tabs
2.  rearrange the tabs to your liking
3.  select Bookmarks --> Bookmark Open Windows from the Chrome Menu
4.  name your bookmarks group and you're set!


    Watch the video below for details:

    Create bookmark groups for the different subjects/sections you teach, your favorite teacher resources, your daily routine (email, attendance, etc.) or anything else that comes to mind!  Think of all the time you'll save...oh, and you'll also look like a rockstar in front of your kids.
    Monday, June 1, 2015

    Google Tone in the Classroom




    Google just released Google Tone, a new Chrome extension that allows someone to send a URL to all other Google Tone users within earshot.  Clicking on the Google Tone icon emits a series of pleasant chimes that are received and then interpreted (via microphone) on the other devices which prompt the other users to open the broadcasted URL.

    I see HUGE potential in the classroom.  Imagine the amount of time a teacher could save by simply broadcasting the URL to all student devices rather than writing it on the whiteboard, publishing it to a website/LMS, etc.  Of course, there are other Chromebook management resources (gScholar, Hapara, Insight) that offer the same functionality...for a price.

    Sure, there are several factors (broadcaster's speaker volume, microphones turned on/off, ambient noise) that would need to be considered before implementation, but the one feature that I feel must be made available is the ability for admins to make the extension hidden on student devices.  For all practical purposes, students probably wouldn't be broadcasting URLs regularly (or appropriately for that matter).  I feel students should simply have a "receive only" version of the Google Tone extension that's hidden (doesn't show up in the Chrome Extension bar).

    So, Google Tone.  Awesome concept, but until some refinements/versioning is developed, might only prove to be a novelty.  Check it out, try it out, and leave a comment below!


    Monday, March 30, 2015

    Google Classroom Rubric Hack

    I love Google classroom.  It's an easy and intuitive tool for managing student work.  It even comes complete with an online grade book that's exportable (via CSV) to your district's grading software-of-choice.  Grading student work in Classroom, however, is limited to point totals and qualitative written feedback.  Students are going to want to know why they received a 36/40.

    If you truly want to go paperless, here's a nifty hack to provide your students with quantitative feedback using a Google Sheets rubric Google Classroom assignment.

    Step 1

    Create your rubric template in Google Sheets.  Make your own or find one online (this one from +Alice Keeler is pretty awesome.)

    Step 2: 

    Create your assignment in Google Classroom.  Attach whatever resources are required to complete the assignment, but also attach the rubric template.  Be sure to select the "Make a copy for each student" option after attaching the rubric.


    Step 3: 

    After students have completed the assignment, open their rubric and their work and easily grade their work by switching between tabs.  When finished, close both tabs and assign them their score.  Done!





    The end result: a document with your qualitative assessment (feedback, comments, etc.), an automated rubric with your quantitative feedback, and the final grade with private comments in Google Classroom.

    No exchange of paper necessary!

    Try it out, and let us know how it works within your classroom by leaving a comment below!
    Tuesday, March 10, 2015

    Perhaps unpopular, but my kids will PARCC


    I'm a teacher, Instructional Technology Coordinator and parent in Illinois.  Apparently, I'm part of an increasing minority of parents who want their kids to take the PARCC assessment.

    Over the past year I've witnessed more than my share of grief over the PARCC assessment.  I've taken part in device acquisition, preparation and management.  I've led staff and administrator trainings.  I've created documentation and interactive tutorials.  I've even developed resources using GAFE and SMART Notebook to prepare students for the online testing environment.

    It's been said that "rigorous" standardized testing takes away a few hours of instruction over the course of the school year and that even more time is "wasted" in preparing the students to take online assessments.

    While I may not see eye-to-eye on the length of the test or the endurance a 3rd grader needs to muster to read 7 -10 passages in 60 minutes, I feel that the exposure alone to the online testing environment will prove to be invaluable in their career as a 21st century student.

    Testing in the schools isn't going away.  Many schools have endorsed project-based learning and STE(A)M programs that offer alternative assessment models, but the fact remains, standardized testing is and will continue to be prevalent in our children's generation.  The one aspect of standardized testing that has changed since it's inception, is the technology required to take the assessment.  From graphing calculators to online testing, the trend is that access to technology during the assessment is becoming less optional.  Sure, the ACT states that "all problems on the mathematics test can be solved without the use of a graphing calculator," but it obviously puts the student at a disadvantage by not utilizing such an efficient tool.  It stands reason to believe that the proliferation of technology (namely 1:1 devices) in schools and households world-wide will ultimately transform the testing environment altogether.  Assessments, like the PARCC, MAT, MAP, ACT Aspire and SBA, are all evidence that online testing is already becoming the new normal.

    I compare these times to bungee jumping.  Some would say it would be crazy to launch yourself off a bridge when:

    • the equipment you're given isn't the newest
    • your base location isn't the sturdiest
    • your instructors on the process are novices
    • the time your spend training could be used for other activities
    You'd be crazy...that is, until it's mentioned that regardless of the considerations above, you'd be bungee jumping not off a 100' drop over bedrock but rather off of a 10' drop over a pile of marshmallows.  Heck, even I would do that.  If my rope breaks, I'm fine.  If the platform breaks, I'm fine.  If my instructor seems unsure of the result, I'd know that I'd be fine.  If I knew that all of my friends would have to jump with me, I'd be fine.

    Our kids, will be fine.  No...they'll be better off.  The hours they spend prepping and taking online assessments that, regardless of the outcome, do not negatively impact their chances to succeed in school will prepare them for the times in which they will.  If the implementation of online standardized tests follows its current trend, eventually our children will need to know the skills required to take these assessments.

    It won't matter how much they know, understand or study.  It won't matter how well they read or understand literary elements.  It won't matter fast they can calculate or solve complex equations.  If students are unable to perform the skills necessary to answer questions within an online assessment, it simply won't matter.  These skills (keyboarding, mousing, dragging, dropping, highlighting, selecting, scrolling, tabbing, etc) are imperative in any type of online activity.  The fact that teachers are using their best judgement to introduce these skills to their students is not a waste of class time.  It's preparation for the future.

    Yet, I've seen in the past few weeks countless parents writing letters and making phone calls to opt their children out of taking the PARCC test.  In reality, parents are not (yet) allowed to override their child's decision to take the assessment.  In addition, school districts are not required to provide alternative instruction, alternative assessments, alternative instructional environments, nor alternative enrichment activities for those who choose to opt out.  The result: student's staring at a screen or resting (unless the teacher allows activities that do not distract from the testing environment, like reading).  Mind you, students are not obligated to take the test, but school officials are obligated by both federal and state laws to administer the test for every student enrolled in their institutions.

    It also results in students wrestling with conflicting viewpoints from their parents/guardians//mentors.  Students have been preparing themselves physically, mentally and emotionally.  They've seen their peers doing the same.  They've received feedback, guidance and praise from their teachers regarding best practices and skills they're developing.

    Then, on the day of the assessment, exile.  Despite verbally expressing their desire to take the test, they were instead extracted from their class to do something school officials scrounged up last-second.  Why?  ...because their parents refused to let them take the exam.  I'm portraying this a bit harshly...I know there are many reasons why a parent would want to opt their child out such an experience.  As for the students I've interviewed, the only negative feedback I received was that they had to sit in the same chair for an hour and that they didn't get the immediate feedback they experience when doing similar activities via BrainPOP or Commonsense Media assessments.

    I've witnessed similar experiences nationwide.  It makes me ponder where in these sequence of events does the "wasted time" occur?  I, for one, will have my children take the assessments.  If, for nothing else, to expose them to an online testing environment, to build their confidence with testing and technological skills, to increase their endurance and to teach them to persevere in all things...even ones that may or may not seem relevant at the time.  Especially in this exciting time of girls becoming more accepted and empowered in coding/engineering-based workplaces, I want them to be successful in all tasks that are rigorous and that require endurance and strong technological know-how.  While the PARCC assessment, or any test for that matter, will most likely never be seen as a "fun activity", I believe it will at the very least help school districts reshape their environments and prioritize digital learning. 
    Tuesday, December 30, 2014

    Google Sites Cheat Sheet

    Need help navigating around Google Sites?  Here's a cheat sheet to get you started!

    Wednesday, July 30, 2014

    SMART Hackathon: 20+ Ideas Realized in 48 hours

    9 Teams of SEEs and their
    assigned SMART Developers
    Gotta give 'em credit: the developers over at SMART Technologies are an amazing crew.  Last week, SMART Technologies hosted the 2014 Global SEE (SMART Exemplary Educators) Summit.  76+ SEEs attended from all over the globe.  The week was filled with opportunities for collaboration and innovation.  One such activity was the Hackathon where 13 of the 76 SEEs (myself included!) were able to work alongside SMART software development team members to share and realize ideas they had regarding feature requests, modifications and improvements.  Within 48 hours, 9 teams of SEEs and their assigned developers realized over 20 ideas.  These ideas were then shared with and voted upon by the other 60+ SEEs.  Many ideas were met with enthusiastic head nods while others evoked roars of applause.

    What's truly incredible is that SMART Technologies took the time to listen to teachers about their product.  It was amazing to see them take our ideas and run with them, offering suggestions we hadn't even considered.  What other software company can say that they not only produce hardware and software solutions designed for teachers but also boasts that they allow teachers to influence the design and functionality of their products?  Not very many.

    SMART Technologies definitely has a good head on their shoulders and are (as they have been) proving that they understand the needs of the 21st Century Teacher.  #SMARTcares