If you are interested in continuing to have your students code and have the information save, then make sure to log on to studio.code.org/courses (this is also the link to place in a site such as Google Classroom where students can log on throughout the year).
In the upper right select sign in and then create an account (if in a Google District I would recommend choosing Continue with Google).
You are then in "My Dashboard"
On this screen you can scroll down a bit and create a new classroom section
When you select Create a section you can then choose picture, word, or personal logins. If you work in a Google District be sure to scroll down just a bit and choose Google Classroom.
You can now add your particular classroom and choose what course you would like them to start
Please note that you do not need to sign up your class for accounts if you do not wish to (if you do - click here for a short video - Going beyond the Hour of Code).
I hope you and your students enjoy this time for students to be creative, show some grit, laugh, and have fun creating!
Embedded below is a 2 minute and 30 second YouTube tutorial I created followed by information from Hadi Patovi (founder of Code.org).
Hello,
The Hour of Code is a month away, happening this year from Dec. 7-13, 2020, and
we’re excited to announce 115 brand-new tutorials and lesson plans! Many
activities were created with remote learning in mind to support the various
classroom models taking place during this time.
Introducing CodeBytes:
New mini-lessons for virtual classrooms
We hope everyone can join us this year for CodeBytes, our brand new series of easy-to-digest, 20
minute interactive lessons that will stream twice daily during Computer Science
Education Week, Monday through Friday, December 7-11. If you’re planning for a
classroom that’s gone fully virtual, CodeBytes
are designed to fit smoothly into a distance learning plan. Episodes are
tailored to different grade levels.
Whether students have a computer or a smartphone, they can interact with and
tune-in to every episode. Each lesson is hosted by Code.org staff and blends
computer science with real-world topics, including artificial intelligence and #CSforGood.
Take a look at our planned
activities, and add your favorites to your calendar so you don’t miss out.
Explore endless computer
science topics with brand-new tutorials
This year’s activities dive into tons of different CS topics like AI, data
processing, and app & game design, as well as programming concepts like
events, loops, and variables!
No computer? No problem.
Unplugged resources for students
Every student deserves to learn computer science regardless of what technology
they have at home. A number of engaging
new unplugged options from our partners at Google, Kodable, iRobot, and
elsewhere are available to learners with low or no connectivity or limited
device access.
We’ve also created a printable Hour
of Code Unplugged Activity Packet for ages 4-18. Please include these
resources in your next communication to parents and caretakers so that your
students can still join this global event.
Find a remote volunteer
for your Hour of Code
To make this year’s event even more engaging for students, try inviting
a volunteer to speak to your classroom! Many volunteers* are eager to help
in-person or virtually and are also CS professionals who can speak about their
career path.
Whether your students are learning in-person, at home, or a hybrid of both, we
hope that these resources can make it simpler than ever to bring an Hour of
Code to students of all ages. However you choose to participate, we can’t thank
you enough for your effort and support.
Hadi Partovi
Founder, Code.org
*Please note that Code.org
is not responsible for individuals who sign-up to volunteer
If you would like to have a complete list of students in a particular Google Classroom there are a few quick steps to make it happen (Google currently does not have this readily available).
Below are the steps:
Access the classwork section of your classroom
Choose an assignment and select view assignment
Select the settings gear (upper right of page)
Copy all grades to Google Sheets
I like to remove the first 5 rows to clear out the excess data
I also like clearing column C
Since all cells are frozen you have to unfreeze the columns
view>freeze>no columns
Since Classroom has last names in column A simply highlight column A and drag to column B
In the example I highlight 1 A - hold down Shift and then select the last name in Column B (in this case it is 8 B)
Right click (or Ctrl C) Select copy and now you can paste where you would like to place the names
Make sure to rename your Sheet as well for future reference
Ever added extensions in Google Chrome and then can't find them? I have 2 quick suggestions to try:
See if you have what looks like a puzzle piece to the far right of the url (looks like what you see below.
if you see the puzzle piece simply click on it and then "pin" the extensions you want to see by clicking on the pin
if you want to remove this puzzle piece you must go into chrome://flags/ and then type in extensions and disable the experiment Extensions Toolbar Menu
you will then need to relaunch Chrome for this experiment to be removed
The 2nd way is that possible it is hidden to the right of your URL.
you can try either clicking on the three dots in the upper right of Chrome and seeing the extensions there
or go to the left of where the extensions are stored and drag the bar to the left.
Embedded below is a 1 minute and 30 second YouTube tutorial.
How I did it was to open Zoom's Cloud Meeting on my computer and then sign in and check for updates.
Another way to get to Zoom's Cloud Meeting is to start a meeting and then end it. When you end it - make sure to sign in and then select your icon in the upper right and then check for updates.
If you have created a form in Google forms and would like to return the form to the participants (a quiz to your students) after you have reviewed and added any feedback simply follow these steps:
in forms make sure you select the settings gear next to Send
in the general tab be sure to check collect email addresses (you can see other options as well below that)
in the section 2 over from General you will see Quizzes
choose to make it a quiz
release grade
in my example below I show Later, after manual review
this is important for marking open-ended questions as well as leaving feedback
the reason this happens is also the reason why sometimes it may not work - it is because the creator of the video either allowed (or do not allow) embedding
the Google for EDU video allows embedding; however a video such as the Philly Special does not - see here -
If you are on a website (such as Zoom) and are having audio and/or video issues (like video is not showing at all) - check out what looks like a lock next to the beginning of the URL (in Chrome). This is called view site information and will give you some helpful info such as cookies used, location sharing, JavaScript, etc.
If you would like to have documents and webpages read aloud to the user - try the extension Read&Write.
The extension (free version) allows the user to have a webpage or document read-aloud as well as the ability to practice reading a selection aloud and listen to it.
Embedded below is a 2 minute and 42 second YouTube tutorial.
This is just a friendly reminder that if you place any file within Google Drive in the trash they will be deleted after 30 days. Previously, trashed items would be retained indefinitely until the trash was emptied by the user.
While this is a change if you really like the idea of placing items in an area and returning to it later on, one work around is to create a folder called "Trash" and place the files in there.
Flipgrid is an amazing tool for amplifying student voice. Built into Flipgrid is the ability to add feedback to a student's response.
For educator's to add feedback - scroll down to the bottom of the screen when creating your topic and you will see the option for basic as well as custom feedback.
When students add their videos scroll down and select the feedback link directly under the video.
Add the feedback and then you have the options that you see below. You can copy the feedback link and send on to the specific user or select email feedback. The issue you may have with email feedback in schools is the fact that outside emails may be blocked by your organization. You could talk to your IT department about opening it up. However, I would suggest the students use the link https://my.flipgrid.com/
The Myflipgrid link allows the students to see their videos and see any feedback available.
Embedded below is a 2 minute and 11 second YouTube tutorial.
A few years ago I shared one way to create your own crawl, unfortunately that site no longer works. However, if you click on this link - https://starwarsintrocreator.kassellabs.io/ you can then adjust the text to fit your needs and then share the link with others.
I would recommend typing up the information in a Google Doc, Word, or somewhere you can refer back to just in case.
It is nice though because you can use the unique URL that is created for your creation and edit in the future. However, I do not know how long that URL will last. So please keep your work in a Doc.
Please note there also is a Game of Throne, Westworld, and Stranger Things Intro creator.
Embedded below is a 1 minute and 40 second YouTube tutorial.
Select the custom cursor extension and choose upload cursor
find your adjusted Bitmoji
Click on extension again and choose your Bitmoji
One last item to point out is that if you want to clear your Bitmoji cursor - select the extension and then choose the default cursor (looks like a power button in the upper right when you select the extension.
Embedded below is a 2 minute and second YouTube tutorial.
If your class is using Zoom for instruction of your class and you have a support teacher in your class and would like them to be able to visually work with the student in a one-on-one setting for a part of the time, try the following.
Name the meeting (I recommend the student's first name - but whatever works for you and your district).
Start the meet
Make sure the student has Google Meet set as a bookmark (choose star to right of url) or (Ctrl+Shift+D) or select the three dots in upper right and choose bookmark this tab.
Have the student join the Google Meet (remind the student to have a bookmark or someway to easily join and be able to re-join)
The support teacher and the student can now work together
the student can show work they are doing
the student and support teacher can chat if necessary one-on-one
They can leave the Meet and re-enter the Zoom
Embedded below is a minute and second YouTube tutorial showing what it looks like in a Zoom meeting from the teacher's point-of-view as well as what it looks like from the student's point-of view when in a Google Meet.
Apologies as the Chromebook I was using did not allow for Screencastify to load so my daughter had to shoot the video with my phone. 📱 😀
Of course there may be other ways and I would love to hear them.
If you would like to show 2 screens at one time with your students in Zoom here is one way you can do it.
Select share screen
Make sure to choose Advanced, Portion of Screen, Share
You will then see a rectangular portion of the screen that you can stretch out to fit the whole screen
Then, if on a Windows based device, make sure you have the two sites you would like up (tabs), select the Windows Icon and either the left or right arrow
this will split your screen to either the left or right
Then, take the 2nd tab and drag over to the side
You can now show your students two screens at once
You can always bring the one site you want up by selecting the maximize square (in-between the minimize and X)
Embedded below is a 1 minute and 31 second YouTube tutorial.
If you use Google Classroom and have a student or students who work with another adult, it can be at times difficult to assist that student remotely.
One solution is to try the following:
Create the assignment as you typically would (with a copy for each student)
To have the adult who is working with the student be able to see the document and assist make sure to do the following:
In Classroom select the Class Drive Folder (available in the Classwork section in Google Classroom
Find the assignment folder and open it
Find the student's document and open it up
Select share in the upper right and add the adult's email
Now both the student and the adult can talk (in a breakout room in Zoom or Meet) and work together on the same document
The student still has the ability to turn in directly from the open document
Embedded below is a 2 minute and 40 second YouTube tutorial showing from the teacher point of view, student point of view, as well as the adult assisting's point of view.
Another solution is below:
create your document for the assignment and make a copy of the document as well
be sure to keep them separate
share the original assignment with your class except the one child (you will be sharing the same document with the student in the next step
with the copied document add the adult who works with the child directly from the sharing settings
create an assignment in Google Classroom and share with that specific student
now when students go into breakout rooms the student and the adult providing assistance can both work on the assignment together as they talk it over
note that there is no blue Turn In button on the top right of the doc
the student would need to go back into the assignment and select Mark as Done
the teacher would then need to go into the document in Drive (since they created it) and see the assignment that way
Embedded below is a 2 minute and 18 second YouTube tutorial.
If you are using Xtramath to have your students practice their basic facts below you will see two ways that students can log on.
1. As long as students are logged on to their Google account (they can always look in the upper right in Chrome and see if they are logged on.
They can then select sign in with Google
Type in the teacher's email address
Name as the teacher typed it in (typically first name)
Pin
This will then sync Google with Xtramath so they can just select sign in with Google and not have to always type in email, name, and pin.
2. Students can select sign in and type in teacher's email, name as teacher typed it in, as well as pin. Depending on the type of device (this can be frustrating) it may (or may not) keep them logged in on the device.
Embedded below is a 3 minute and 30 second YouTube tutorial showing from teacher and student point of view.
So it's the end of the day and you have a bunch of tabs that you want to re-open the next time you open your computer. Well, there are always multiple ways to do this. I created a 1:46 second YouTube tutorial showing you the three ways followed by descriptions below.
1. One way is to open up your settings in Google Chrome, scroll down to
On Startup
Choose Continue where you left off
2. Another way is to right click (or Ctrl + Shift + D) on an open area to the right of your last open tab and choose Bookmark All Tabs. You can then Name this folder as you like.
3. Of course there are other ways, but the third one is using Wakelet's Chrome extension.
I was working in a library and this guy comes up to me and asks, “Do you have a bookmark?”
I said, “Yes, we have hundreds, but my name’s Brad.”
Kami is an amazing resource to allow students and teachers the ability to use annotation tools (text, highlight, voice, video, etc) to a PDF and turn in directly in Google Classroom.
If you would like to add annotations directly to your assignment for students to be able to utilize (especially voice) - try the following steps
One of the many questions that has come up recently is how to set up a second monitor and then how to make sure the monitor displays the grid view in Zoom (we will be using Zoom in this example).
Please note - I am using the following (see picture below for ports on a 5480)
Dell laptop
2nd monitor is a Dell as well
HDMI cable
USB cable
A few tips about using a 2nd screen
Fn F8 (or just F8) will bring up options to extend your options for projecting.
A reminder if your screen ever gets stuck you can always select F8 and then toggle with your up and down arrow and select. Duplicate and you will be back to duplicating the screen.
If you would like your screen to instantly go to a 2nd screen select the settings cog in Windows and then system - display - change from duplicate to extend.
Embedded below is a 3 minute and 46 second YouTube tutorial I created.
If you do not have your own document camera, here is a way that was shared by Kristina Holzweiss - thank you Kristina!
Basically, you will need the following:
Headband to stretch over the top of your screen
A mirror of some sort (I used my wife's old compact mirror)
Flipgrid
Once the headband (or some sort of stretchy material) is set and the camera is placed over the camera, open Flipgrid, go into the Shorts section and start your video.
I recommend mirroring your video (under options) and then place your whiteboard over top of your keyboard and you have the ability to explain on the whiteboard for your students.
Embedded below is a 1 minute and 52 second YouTube tutorial I created.
If you are one that wants to allow students to share their voice and what they are thinking/feeling/questioning etc - Flipgrid is for you.
As always, Flipgrid has amazing updates every August and this year is no different. To access Flipgrid's blog about he updates - click here - https://blog.flipgrid.com/news/flipgrid2020
There are so many updates available - the main one that I love is the ability to add a split screen to your whiteboard when recording.
Embedded below I take you through creating a Group, topic, settings, as well as assigning to Google Classroom and what it looks like from a student point-of-view and then again what a teacher sees when a response has been submitted.
If you are interested in the ins and outs of Kami (teacher and student point of view) I have created a brief - ok it is 20 minutes - so maybe not too brief video below. I also have a document that Kami created available for you as well. This document includes 5 steps on how to use add Kami and use it for their assignment(s).
So you see your classroom from last school year and wonder what you can do with it. There are a few things and I will keep it brief.
If you select the three dots in the upper right of the classroom in question you will see the options to:
If you choose to archive it, the class will then be moved to the archived section (under the hamburger - the three lines in the upper left of your screen). This class can always be "brought back to life" if you desire.
If you copy it, please note that what it does it makes a copy of everything in the Classroom (just not the students). Every document, video, including your directions, course syllabus, and other 'view only' documents you provided to your students in their assignments. However, they are in draft form so you can use as you see fit.
Personally, with a new school year, I like archiving the class and starting from scratch - but that is up to you.
One bit of advice I have when starting your class is to make your stream be streamlined by removing the notifications of classwork being posted in the stream. I like the stream being clean ad only for announcements you make. Remind the students to always go into their classwork to see what their classwork is. Of course these are just my 2 cents.
Reminds me of Steven Wright's joke:
"Why is it, "A penny for your thoughts,"
But, “you have to put your two cents in?" Somebody's making a penny. 😀
Embedded below is a 2 minute and 8 second YouTube tutorial I created.
If you have a number of tabs open in Google Chrome and want to see a quick image of the site - simply enable the Tab Hover Cards and Tab Hover Card Images in Chrome Experiments by clicking on this link - chrome://flags/. You can see what it looks like in the image below as well as a second YouTube tutorial embedded below.
Want to turn your backyard, home, or any room into Jurassic World? You can now search for any of the following 10 dinosaurs in a Google search:
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Velociraptor
Triceratops
Spinosaurus
Stegosaurus
Brachiosaurus
Ankylosaurus
Dilophosaurus
Pteranodon
Parasaurolophus.
Once you search for one of the above mentioned dinosaur and make sure to select "View in 3D". Once you do so you can then adjust the size of the dinosaur. Click here for Google's article relating to the topic here - Travel back in time with AR dinosaurs in Search
Embedded below is a 1 minute and 23 second YouTube tutorial I created.
If you would like to add audio in your Google Slides I have two ways that you can do it (of course there are many more ways to do it - but these are two that I have found to be useful). Online voice recorder and the extension Screencastify.
A reminder to check your sharing settings for each audio file as you will need to adjust to fit your needs.
