Headspace and Headspace now offer a new series called Guide to Meditation. In this animated series you will learn more about the tools to build a meditation practice as well as the science behind it.
Personally, Andy Puddicombe's (co-founder) work with the Headspace app as well as his work with Chris Bennett on the Nike+ Running App has been a revelation. I handle situations differently than I did in the past, think differently, and feel much more grounded.
Last night, my family and I watched the first episode together and really enjoyed it. We will watch the 2nd episode tonight!
A reminder for teachers - you can start your free subscription to Headspace by clicking on this link https://www.headspace.com/educators and filling in the necessary information.
I am in the process of converting a hardbound family cookbook to an E-Book using Google Slides. It is a project that will take some time, but in the long run I hope people will enjoy it and add on to it.
The biggest issue of course is time and typing all the information from the original cookbook to the Slide. Well, Google Photos can help out a ton.
Here are the steps:
Take your photo(s) and upload to Google Photos
Using Google Photos on your mobile device, open the image and select Copy text from image
Your device will then search for any text in the image
Choose Select all
Choose Copy text or Copy to computer
If you select Copy text this allows you to copy the text on your device and use it as you like
We want to choose Copy to computer
You will then see your choices of what computer to copy the text to
Make sure you are signed in on your computer's Chrome browser under the same sign in as your Google Photos
Choose the computer you wish to use
You can now paste the text where you would like to
Pretty cool huh?
Embedded below is a 1 minute and 35 second YouTube tutorial I created showing the process.
In case you missed it, Flipgrid now has Mic only mode. This mic only mode includes all the other effects such as emojis, inking, styles, etc - just no video.
Of course the impact this has on those that are camera shy (like I would have been in elementary school) is huge.
Other ideas include:
Podcasting
Audio messages to students in Google Classroom or your LMS
Audio messages to cheer up students
Audio messages for instructions on a QR code throughout your classroom
Positive audio messages to display around the school (again QR code)
Orchestra, band, and chorus audio files for students and others to listen to
Mixtapes of multiple audio files to share with others
Embedded below is a 1 minute and 47 second YouTube tutorial I created. as well as Flipgrid's Tweet.
Introducing Mic Only mode 🎙
Whether learners are podcasting or simply a bit camera shy, they can now record using only audio while still accessing the full @Flipgrid creative suite of boards, live inking, styles and emojis!#FlipgridForAll 💚 pic.twitter.com/1ZCX1ZjM0P
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.
