Poll Everywhere is a great site to use to have your presentation be interactive all while you are gaining some data.
If you click here you will be taken to the extension which will allow you to access the site quickly.
In the 3 minute and 58 second (4 minute) video embedded below you will see another extension Tab Resize which allows you to have multiple screens running at one time.
Underneath of that is a short 1 minute and 4 second video showing how the extension is built into Slides so you can add your poll with one click.
If you are in need of finding a file (or files) in Google Drive quickly - look at the top of your Google Drive and you will see a Search Drive bar. You can search by file name, user name, as well as many other possibilities.
Below you will see an embedded 39 second YouTube video showing how to search your Drive.
If you are ever working with someone on a Google Doc (or if you are editing your own work) - try using the suggesting mode in a Google Doc. What I like about it is that you (and whoever else is working on the Doc) can see the original work as well as what was suggested. If you like the suggestion you just click the check - if you do not you select the x.
Take a look below at the 49 second embedded YouTube video below to see how it looks.
If you are in need of a site that you can quickly and easily add notes, lists, photos, audio and store them neatly across all devices - try Google Keep (there is even an extension).
If you click here it will take you to a nice article summing up what Google Keep is capable of.
Below you will see an embedded YouTube video I created showing how to use Google Keep.
If you are interested in creating your own computer - try Kano.me. As of right now - the kit is around $99. You will need a monitor as well (can buy one through the site or go to the thrift store and buy for a bit less money.
Kiwi Crate offers amazing delivered to your door STEM projects that get the creating juices flowing. Not only are the directions easy to follow - they come with video directions as well.
My 7 year old daughter Sydney has been creating these projects for a few months now and is so excited for the new projects to come in the mail. She has created her projects (we use Tinker Crate ) with the help/guidance of parents and grandparents.
An automaton that moves three wooden balls up steps using a crank.
A mechanical hand
Using fiber optics to create stars
Kiwi Crate offers age appropriate projects for ages
If you use G-Suite and have questions while you are working in Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, etc) - try using the G-Suite Training Extension to help guide and answer your questions.
In order to add the extension - please see the 1 minute and 13 second embedded YouTube video.
Take a look at the embedded 1 minute and 39 second YouTube video below for how the extension looks on your computer. Included in this video is a 37 second video on how to create an average of data in a sheet.
Announcify! is a great tool for users to listen to an article written on the web. What I really like about it is that the extension will grey-out everything but the one paragraph that is being read aloud to you.
Take a look at the embedded 52 second YouTube video below.
A big thanks to Layla Lyons for showing me this awesome extension!
If you would like to change the background on your Windows 10 machine as well as change the amount of time until your computer goes in to sleep mode - please watch this 1 minute and 21 second embedded YouTube video below.
If jokes, riddles, games, and magic is something you enjoy and want to pass on to others - check out Funology.
The site does a nice job of providing you with everything from jokes and riddles to recipes, magic, and crafts.
With this site being a free site - it does have a number of advertisements - one time an ad for a dating service came up. So - just be careful if you are going to project this site in your classroom or at home.
Embedded below is a 1 minute YouTube video I created to show you what the site looks like.
If you would like to enrich your students' or your child's vocabulary using a game - try Words With Friends EDU. It is fully COPPA compliant as students can only play with other players in their classroom.
Below you will see a 1 minute and 30 second video I created to show you what the site looks like.
StoryCorps is an app that gives people the chance to record interviews of people to record their bits of advice, wisdom, funny memories, etc.
The Great Thanksgiving Listen 2016 is geared more towards students who are in high school - but could certainly be done with younger students (as long as they have a family members' permission to run the app).
If you are interested - there is a teacher's toolkit available by clicking here.
The app does a nice job of getting you ready for the interview (some pre-set questions already set, walks you through the interview, etc.)
I would recommend (especially if you are thinking of using this with children under 13) to try this out on your own first and see what the app is capable of and then using as you see fit.
Embedded below is a short 1 minute 18 second YouTube video showing you what the app looks like followed by a nice video with 5 interview tips by NPR's Steve Inskeep (host of NPR's morning edition).
This post was inspired by Richard Byrne's post earlier this week - check it out here.
If you ever need to export your bookmarks in Google Chrome (maybe you are getting a new computer - or upgrading to Windows 10) - watch the 50 second video that my 7 year old daughter (Sydney) and I put together.
Symbaloo is a great free way to store all of your favorite sites and bookmarks. It is very simple to use and in fact you can search Symbaloo for other users' symbaloo page (you just can not change the page if you copied it).
There is a lot you can do - but if you watch the video below - it will give you a start!
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Brad
At the district where I teach we use Dell Latitude notebooks. A nice feature on the "newer" machines is the ability to have keyboard lights behind the keys (known as Backlit Light).
This is extremely useful when working in an area that is darker.
If you have been looking for a free on-line gradebook - www.chalk.com is an option worth looking in to.
A number of teachers in and out of the District in which I teach have enjoyed the ease of use of the site as well as the support in case they have a question.
Below I have created a 5 minute tutorial on how to get your class(es) up and running.
Chalk.com also offers a plan book as well - but this purely focuses in on the gradebook.
Just a nice reminder out there to turn on your personal (or District issued) Chromebook at least once every two weeks so it will get the updates it needs. The update will take place in the background and you will not need to do a thing.
This will keep your Chromebook working to potential.
Click here for a nice short overview on Chromebooks.
If you would like to create a Post-it style note on a particular website - try using the extension Note Anywhere.
Note Anywhere will enable you to post reminders on almost all websites. The one site I found only stayed on for a few hours was ESPN as the main/lead story changed. Just something to look out for.
Embedded below you will see a 1 minute and 28 second YouTube video explaining how to use the extension.
Thank you to Richard Byrne for his post about this great extension.
