HELLO SUMMER!

REPOST - Tackk in Education

I originally posted this article on September 23, 2015. I love this website, so I thought I would post it again in case anyone missed it.
I love easy ways to publish content to the web and Tackk for education makes it so simple for teachers and students to create beautiful projects that include photos, videos, text, links and much more. Plus, students can sign in with their edmodo, O365 or Google accounts.

Students can construct products to share with others and get feedback from peers and teachers. If we have our students creating, shouldn't we make sure they can share with people other than the classroom - let's share it with the world!

Tackk for Education

REPOST - Convert a Google Doc to a Webpage

I originally posted this article on September 8, 2015. I think it's a great tip so I thought I would post it again in case anyone missed it.

Did you know you could convert any Google Doc to a Webpage in just a few clicks? Yes you can!

Here are the steps to make it happen - 

1. Open the Google Doc.

2. Click File > Publish to the Web.

3. Click Publish.

4. A link is created that you can copy and paste anywhere - your website, blog, wiki, etc. OR post it to Google+, Facebook or Twitter.

5. Make sure to select Published Content and Setting > Automatically republish when changes are made. If you update the Google Doc, your webpage is automatically updated!

6. If you ever need to unpublish the webpage, just open the doc, click File > Publish to the Web and then click Unpublish - it's that simple!

This would be a great way to publish an online newsletter for parents every month, make announcements to staff members or students, provide a quick list of website resources, post lesson plans, have students post writing assignments, etc.

How would you use this in your classroom? 

REPOST - Adobe Voice - Just a Few Steps to Great Videos

I originally posted this article on October 26, 2015. This is one of my all time favorite apps. I thought I would post it again in case anyone missed it.

Adobe Voice is a free iPad app that has me jumping for joy!

Adobe voice combines great search tools with simple layouts and easy voice recording to create an outstanding finished story in a video format. 

Check out this video to get a quick overview of what Adobe Voice is all about - Adobe Voice. Show Your Story. In Minutes.

Then check out the Adobe Voice Channel to find tips and tricks to make your Adobe Voice the best it can be. You'll also find videos for using Adobe Slate - another great free app from Adobe.

Discovery Education - A Video Library and So Much More

Our school district pays for a subscription to Discovery Education for all teachers. Discovery Education contains thousands of videos, images, audio files, articles and interactives that you can use with your students in class. 

Here are just a few things you can do with Discovery Education - 
1. Download videos and video clips to use in your lessons.
2. Download and use images.
3. Download and use audio files.
4. Access lesson plans, an interactive calendar and other professional development resources (Teacher Center).
5. Create and manage classes and assign videos and projects to your students.
6. Create writing prompts, assignments, quizzes and boards for your students.
7. Give access to students so they can get to all the content too.

If you are interested in using Discovery Education, you just need an account. Contact me at techtraining@saisd.org and I'll give you a campus code to get you started. If you want your students to have accounts, just let me know and we'll get them set up.

Eduhero - Professional Development Online

Eduhero is an online professional development service provided to all San Angelo ISD staff members as a district resource. It contains courses in technology, classroom management, dyslexia awareness, vocabulary strategies and much more.  I encourage staff members to create an account and look through all the offerings. I know you will find several of interest to you.

I've provided you with instructions on how to set up your account.

Stay Connected with Twitter

Summer is coming and I can't think of a better time to start using Twitter. If I could only pick one social media tool, I think it would be Twitter. Thank goodness I don't really have to choose.

Twitter can be accessed from any device, but I love how easy it is to use the Twitter app on my phone. I can view posts, send a tweet, upload an image and find people to follow all from my phone. 

Many people say they just don't "get" Twitter. Here's the best way I can describe it - global connections with others. 

Why do you need to connect globally?  Think about this - if you are on a campus with three other 3rd grade teachers and they are all great teachers - you have a nice little network to share ideas, find resources, get help. If you connect to thirty other 3rd grade teachers and they are all great teachers - you have a nice large network to share ideas, find resources and get help. There are great teachers all over the country (heck, just in Texas) that are doing awesome things and they are sharing them on Twitter. You have awesome ideas too and people want to hear about it. Share it on Twitter. 

If you're not sure how to get started - try this link.

Kids.gov - I'ts Not Just for Kids

Don't let the name fool you. Kids.gov may be geared towards students, but there is great information on the site for everyone. 

Kids.gov provides resources in all subject areas plus online safety, jobs and careers, and exercise and fitness.

Each category takes you to well thought out lists of websites for your students to use for learning. The site is filled to the top with options, and that may be a little overwhelming for students. I would recommend teachers review the site and find the exact links they want to students to use. 

Archiving Teacher Tests in Aware

The end of our school year is fast approaching. Before you pack things up for the summer, remember to clean up your Teacher Tests in Aware. At the end of the year (or each semester) it is a good habit to archive any teacher tests you are no longer using for the year. It keeps your test list shorter and makes it easier to find what you need.

To archive your teacher tests - 
1. Log in to Eduphoria and click Aware.
2. Click on the Assessments tab.
3. Click My Teacher Tests > Active Administrations > Grade Level > Subject > the test to be archived
4. In the upper right corner click the Archive button.
5. This test will now be located in the Archived Administrations portion of the Teacher Tests.

Tests that are archived are not deleted, just stored away. The same test should not be used the next year. You will make a copy of the archived test for the new year.

To make a copy of an archived test - 
1. Log in to Eduphoria and click Aware.
2. Click on the Assessments tab.
3. Click Create a New Teacher Test.
4. Select the option to Copy an Existing Test.
5. Drill down to the test you want to copy, select it and continue through the wizard.

By using a copy of the archived test, you ensure that data gathered is correct.

To see the archiving process in action, click here. 

Art Made Easier with Hello Oil Painter & Hello Water Color

My father is an artist. When I was younger I remember going driving with him through the country so he could take photos of landscapes he wanted to recreate on canvas. He painted beautiful landscapes of bluebonnets, towering oak trees, farmhouses and fields. He tried, with much patience, to teach me his craft. Needless to say, I am not the artist he is, but I have found that I can channel my inner artist using apps on my iPad. 

Hello Oil Painter is an easy & fun oil painting app with a palette that lets you mix and manipulate colors. The free version doesn't provide too many colors, but with the mix option, you can create your own. 

Hello Water Color is a watercolor app with several brush types and a pencil to outline your designs. I was impressed by the realistic look of paintings. The full version comes with additional brushes, colors and colored pencils.

Download the free versions to see how you like them. The full versions are only $1 each. I think students would enjoy using these apps to create illustrations for books, projects or designs.