The Digital Scoop

NETA 2016 Treasures Explained- Photos For Class

Photos for Class provides a nice place for students and teachers to find images licensed under Creative Commons.  The site even attaches citation to the images!

From the site:

"Teachers have told us they need a place to access safe images that are available to be used in the classroom and for educational purposes. Plus, they want accurate image citations. We’ve heard you and created “Photos For Class” to meet your needs for images! "

Here I searched for cheetah pictures:

 

I downloaded the first image and this is what is looks like:

 

As you can see, the photo contains attribution and cites the author and location on the Internet.  If you or your students need images, check out Photos for Class!

:) 

Creating Quick "Graphs" using Google Sheets on the iPad

This idea is perfect if you need a quick graph of classroom data from a question you ask your students.  You will not actually be creating a formal graph...your spreadsheet will just look like one!

Start with a Google spreadsheet like this one: 

I've added five columns for categories and placed 23 spaces in each column.  If you have more students, you can add rows.

Next, replace the categories with items you are collecting data on.  (I forgot to do this when taking screenshots!)

You could either have students individually color a cell for their vote or ask for a raise of hands for each category.

Tap on the number 1 cell for the category and tap and pull up on the left-hand circle.  Pull up until you have selected the number you need.  

Tap the paint bucket and switch to fill color.  Select the color you want.

Repeat until all the categories have been completed.

 

Now you have a quick graph of data that you can project and have a class discussion about!

Click here for the graph template. 

Want to make a real graph on the iPad, the Create A Graph website will work on an iPad or desktop.

Happy graphing!

 

Comparing Coding Languages- Unplugged Activity and Posters

Last summer, I had the idea to create some visuals for my students about different coding languages.am just now getting around to that and thought I would share what I came up with!

My goal was to show what the same outcome would look like coded in each language.  I decided to use drawing a square.  I  I am by no means an expert in any coding language.  I took screenshots of Code.org blockly (course 1 and course 2) and Scratch.  I also "opened the hood" on the blockly from Code.org to see the JavaScript underneath.  We use LOGO in MicroWords, so I added that as a language.  Finally, I asked a high school teacher from our district to help me with the Python.  If anyone reading this notices something not quite right with a poster, please let me know!  Also, if anyone knows another language I should add and can help me with the code I would love it!!!

I was really happy with how the posters turned out.  Next, I started thinking about where to hang them in my room.  I got to thinking that I would really like the kids to get their hands on each of the posters and discuss similarities and differences.  I ran back to the computer and quickly printed out the posters four to a page. 

I randomly gave each student a different small poster.  I asked them to then get in groups of 4 with each member of the group having a different coding language.  Once in their groups, the kids sat on the floor and arranged their cards based on similarities and differences.  It was really interesting to see how they grouped the languages (block/text, all together because they all tell how to do the same thing, grouped based on when you might learn them).

This activity sparked great discussions about coding languages!  They really studied the cards and noticed small details.  I also love the fact that the posters hanging on my walls now have meaning and context for the students.

Please feel free to download and use these posters in your teaching!  If you come up with another idea or activity for them, I would love to hear about it!

Full Sized Comparing Coding Languages Posters

Small Sized Comparing Coding Languages Posters

 

NETA 2016 Treasures Explained- Google Templates

This is for all of my readers who couldn't attend my NETA 2016 presentation on Technology Treasures.  Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to "unearth" some of the treasures shared.  Today is all about Google Template resources.

 

Slides Carnival provides wonderful free Google Presentation templates.  I'm like a kid on Christmas morning when I open one of these templates! Each free template offers so many fabulous designs and layouts to choose from.  The presentations contain detailed descriptions of all design features used, such as, what specific fonts and colors have been utilized. 

For instance, here is the Puck Presentation Template:

 

 

These are just a few of the slide designs you get with the template.  I can't say enough good things about these templates!!!

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Google has also recently created several web sites with great templates for their Documents, Slides, Spreadsheets, and Forms.

An easy way to find the templates is to open a Google app, such as, a Presentation and click the colorful icon in the top left-hand corner of the screen.

You will be taken to a site full of templates for education, business, and personal use.  Just click on the template you would like to use and it will be added to your Google Drive.

You can also go directly to each of the sites instead of opening a new document using these links: documents, slides, spreadsheets, and forms.

Do you know another great resource for Google templates?  I would love to hear about it!

 

 

Code Like A Boss! NETA 2016 Presentation

Here is another NETA 2016 presentation titled Code Like A Boss.  This was another collaboration with my good friend Jason Rushing.  We shared ideas to use beyond the Hour of Code involving unplugged learning lessons, Scratch coding, websites, iPad apps, and robots.  Please feel free to leave a comment if you would like something explained or further information on one of the slides!

If you are reading this in an email, you will need to visit my blog to see the presentation. 

 

Code Like A Boss - NETA 2016 from Jason Rushing

 

Wish you all could've been there! :)

NETA 2016 Technology Treasures Presentation

Here are all the technology treasures that Jason Rushing and I  shared this year at NETA!  Have fun exploring!

Presentation on Slideshare:

Neta Technology Treasures 2016 Presenation from sprabul

 

 

 Symbaloo Webmix of Treasures:

 

 

:) 

Growth Mindset Labels (stickers) For Students

This weekend, I sat down with the goal of creating something to hand out to my students to highlight their Growth Mindset moments.  The Word Swag app and Avery Create and Design Online were the perfect combination to create some "stickers" to give out.

I started with the Word Swag App just playing around the text and layouts. I ended up using the transparent background, black text, and the Shout Out theme.  I created several designs for each phrase.  I can easily spend hours creating with this app!!! :)

I couldn't decided between creating little cards or stickers with the phrases.  I finally decided on the sticker so students could proudly show their accomplishment throughout the day. I immediately turned to the Avery Create and Design Online site.  It truly is the easiest way to create labels images.

I was able to select the specific label type I was using (Avery 5260), then chose a plain design, and finally added my Word Swag image.  I was then able to print and save the file as a PDF.  

I created three different designs, which you can download below!

Awesome Problem Solver

Kept Trying Even When It Was Hard

Achieve My Goal

It has brought me so much joy to see my students faces when I hand them a sticker and tell them how proud I am of their effort, grit, and determination!

:) 

Growth Mindset Resources

Last year,  I had been hearing about the concept of Growth Mindset and I became very curious as to what it was all about.  I found and began reading the book Mindset:  The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck.  I loved the ideas in the book and couldn't wait to implement them in my teaching! 

From the Mindset website:

"In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong.

In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities."

I started a Pinterest Board and have been collecting anything Growth Mindset related.  Feel free to follow or re-pin ideas!

I have also really been loving the Big Ideas video series on Growth Mindset from Class DoJo!

I am currently working on some motivational poster and stickers to help students focus more on developing their Growth Mindset.  I will share as soon as they are done! 

I have really seen a big change in my approach to motivating students and how my students respond to challenges after implementing Growth Mindset ideas in my classroom!

Have you tried Growth Mindset ideas in your classroom?  I would love to hear about them!

Student Boggle Game in Google Drawing

 

I am a huge fan of word games, so I was super excited when I found this example of a Thanksgiving Boggle Game for Google Drive.  They used a Presentation.  I thought it would work just as well using a Google Drawing.  The result is a fun activity that early finishers could work on for some fun word building practice.

I was easily able to fill up the table with words and could've used more space!

Here is how I created the game:

• Create a new Google Drawing.
• Right-Click or Control-Click the drawing to select a background color.

• Insert Word Art and add the word Boggle.

• Insert 2 tables.  One you will fill with letters (3 x 3) and one you will leave empty for words (6 x 8).

 

• Use the Paint Bucket and Pencil buttons to change the color of the table. Set the size, font, and alignment of the text in the table.

 

• Click and Drag the sides of each table to resize.

• Insert text boxes for directions.

 

• Optional:  Use the Research Tool to add an image or clipart if you are creating a themed Boggle Game!

 

 

Not sure what creating your own yet?  You are in luck!  Grab  a copy of a blank Boggle Template here and the Earth Day Boggle here. :)

These would also be a great printed activity if you have younger students who are not using Google Drive yet!

Write About This Pinterest Boards

If you love the Write About This app or you are just looking for some fun writing prompts, you need to check out the Write About This Pinterest boards!

 

Each writing idea contains a picture and corresponding writing prompt.  

The ideas encourage both fiction and nonfiction writing.  Teachers could display the picture as a daily warm up and have the kids use the prompt to journal.

What will you be inspired to write about? :)