Parent Tech Tutorials

      Visit my Parent Tech Tutorials playlist on YouTube for videos you can share with parents.  You can find posts on these topics (and more)....

• How to log into a School Chromebook
• Creating seperate accounts in Google Chrome (so data from a personal account isn't synced with a student account
• Using Clever to log-in to multiple sites (your district must have access to this)
• Google Classroom Tutorial for Parents
• And more....

Creating Interactive Lessons Using Google Slides

Here's some YouTube tutorials for creating interactive lessons using Google Slides...

• How to Create Drag and Drop Activities with Google Slides by ShakeUpLearning - Apple Tree Activity
• Using Google Slides to Makea. Drag & Drop Activity by Michelle Austin - Math Number Sort Activity

Additional Tech Posts

Here's some additional tech posts shared by the Librarians in my district...

Google Apps (Docs, Slides, etc) training https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/training

 

Distance Learning training from Google https://edu.google.com/latest-news/covid-19-support-resources/?modal_active=none&topic=distance-learning-training

 

Getting Started with Google https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/resources/general?tags=gettingstarted

 

Special needs accessibility https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/resources/general?tags=specialneeds

Adjusting Email Notifications on Google Classroom

     You can change what notifications you receive and what classes they come from.  Here is how to edit how often you get notifications...

You start at the beginning where you can see all your classes.

1. Click on the three bars on the left side.  

2. Go down to Settings.  

3. Select your preferences for notifications.  

4. If you click on 'Class Notifications,' you can choose to turn off emails for a specific class.​

All Webinars

Upcoming Webinars:

• ​Technology Questions and Ideas - Click here to post questions related to technology and setting up technology.  I am also including ideas on how to organize and implement Digital Learning that I thought up or that others have thought of.




I'd like to offer these live webinars to help teachers as we transition over to Distant Learning.
• Creating a Google Classroom - learn how to create a classroom, learn the layout, attach students, create assignments, learn some shortcuts.  It will be interactive with you able to ask questions. 
  
  • Tuesday 3/24 starting at 3:30pm. ​
• Creating Interactive Lessons - We will explore how to create interactive lessons online using SMART Learning Suite.  We may also discuss ClassFlow and Pear Deck as other platforms for making interactive lessons.   (This will be recorded for those who can't make it).
  
  • Tuesday 3/24 starting at 8:00pm.
• ​Office Hour - I have had requests for an office hour to just have time to ask questions and share ideas.  Please also consider using the Padlet!  If you have the question, so does someone else somewhere!  
  
  • Wednesday 3/25 from 4:00pm-5:00pm
• How to Access These Webinars
  
  • Click here to join these webinars via Google Meet: 
     https://meet.google.com/bmd-gxyd-ydm 
    
    Or Call in:
     +1 231-742-8131‬ PIN: ‪928 936 800‬#
    
• Past Webinars - Past webinars can be found here - http://grotonpvtechnology.blogspot.com/search/label/Webinars
• Tech Blog - You can also visit my Tech Blog for other resources and information - http://grotonpvtechnology.blogspot.com/
• Recorded / Past Webinars

• Getting Setup with Google Classroom
• March 18, 2020 - Provides an intro to Zoom at the beginning and uses Google Drawing for an interactive lesson.
• March 20, 2020 - Support Staff - Geared towards Special Education, ELL, Speech and Language, Math + Reading Interventionists, Specials, etc.  Focused on creating posts in one class and reusing it in other classes.  Includes creating lesson that uses all features of posting an assignment.
• March 20, 2020 - General Teachers - Geared towards regular classroom teachers.  Includes creating lesson that uses all features of posting an assignment.
• Implementing Interactive Lessons
• March 18, 2020 - Using ClassFlow - overview of the interface, general overview of how to create and share either lessons or activities with students.  Shows what it looks like from the student's perspective.  (May have to download the video to view it.)

Here's what I've been covering in the"Getting Setup with Google Classroom" webinars:

• Creating a Google Classroom
• Navigating the interface
• Adding Students
• Looking at the different types of activities you can assign
• Creating an activity
  • The 5-6 choices - Assignment, Kami Assignment, Quiz Assessment, Question, Material (Lesson Post), Reuse Post
  • Attaching resources - links, Google Drive, document, YouTube, etc.
  
  
  
  Attaching an activity for students to complete - Doc, Sheet, Slide, Drawing, Form



Organizing your assignments using the Topics Feature
Using the 'reuse post' feature
How to add parents
How to minimize emails about posts :).
Looking at it from the student perspective and complete an activity as a student
Looking at it from the teacher's perspective (providing feedback).
Other possible discussions - sharing across the district, creating interactive lessons, video taping

Online Platforms for Interactive Lessons

        In our area, there are two major companies that provide smartboard software - Promethean (through ActivInspire) and SMARTBoard (through SMART Learning Suite).  Both companies have online platforms that don't require Smartboards.  The students can use any device to access the content.  Promethean has a free web based app.  Click here to learn about ClassFlow!  SMARTBoard has opened up their SMART Learning Suite to all teachers impacted by recent school closures.  Click here to learn about their SMART Learning Suite!  Since everyone is working from home, you could use either platform to model lessons and send activities to students!  You should consider though that if you plan to reuse your work when school starts, which platform will you have access to in your classroom?  In my class, I have an Epson Projector so I could use either program!  Both apps can be used on multiple devices, has polling features, has the ability to assign activities to specific students, able to create interactive lessons, plain whiteboard feature, and able to create games for your students once you put in the content.

ClassFlow - ClassFlow syncs with Google and has always been free.  I found the way you create activities and lessons to be cumbersome and challenging to navigate.  It has a similiar format to Google Classroom from the student side - which can be challenging for younger kids.  It has a different feel then ActivInspire, so it's like learning a new platform when working with it.  Activities created in ClassFlow do not sync well with ActivInspire and the same goes for when you convert your old ActivInspire Charts to ClassFlow.

SMART Learning Suite - SMART Learning Suite now has Google integration.  The user interface online is the same as on the computer - so there's no learning curve creating new charts.  Also, if you create charts online, you can download them at school and use them in the classroom.  Their Games/Activities section was much easier to use.  The interface was more kid friendly.  You can also record your lesson to then share with kids at a later time!  They charge per year (starting at $109 for one teacher).  (Right now its free).  Click here for all their features!

Implementing School and District Wide Google Classroom Idea

A couple teachers and I brainstormed these ideas for implementing Google Classroom building wide.  We have also discussed the desire to share activities district wide.  Google Classroom allows teachers to create an activity in one class, then reuse it in another class.  Every teacher who has access to a class can then reuse that post in another class. 

• All Special Areas 
  • All Special Areas are added to all classes.
  • All Special Areas can create their own Google Classroom and created all their lessons and materials in that class (with no students).
  • When they want to forward an activity to a class (maybe the day they had their original special), they would go into their lesson and check the box next to the class they want to send it OR go into the teacher's class, select 'reuse post' and add it to the teacher's class.
• All Special Ed, Speech, Pscycologists, and Support Staff
  • ​All Special Ed, Speech, and Support Staff can be added to all classes they have students in.
  • ​All support staff can create their own Google Classroom and create all their lessons and materials in that class (with no students).
  • When they want to assign an activity for a specific student - they go into that student's class > select 'reuse post' > and check that student's name.
  • Only that student will get that assignment - no one else will see it in the class.
  • By following this model - parents and students would not be able to see who else gets services.  They would only see that their child is part of a whole class.
  • In addition, if a Support Teacher creates a student sensitive activity within their own class first, it prevents them from accidently sharing it with a whole class (there's no students in their own class).  
• ​​All Reading / Math Specialists
• All Reading / Math support can be added to all classes.
• They can share resources to a Building or District Group that other teachers can pull from
• If specialists want to work with their students, they can do the same as Special Ed, Speech, and Support Staff
• They can create all their lessons and activities in one class.  (no students)
• They can go into the student's class, select 'reuse post' and assign it to the students they work with.
• All Classroom Teachers
• Have their own classroom where they create their activities.
• Classroom teachers can also be members of a district wide grade level Google Classroom.  They would select their class and the district group when creating the activity.  Then any teacher would be able to take the activity from the original post and add it to their own class.

By following this model, there are other benefits....

• All classroom teachers would be aware of what activities their students are receiving from support and special areas.  (They would see the workload that their student is receiving).
• All support and special areas would see what work teachers are sending out and be able to better support the student.  
• Teachers can organize their own Google Classroom Activities in which ever way works best for them.
• It would be alot having a Classroom Teacher and Support teacher creating and saving drafts in the same space while interacting with students.
• Parents would not be overwhelmed with seeing possibly 5+ groups (Classroom, Art, Music, Library, Gym, SPED, Speech, Reading Support, Math Support, OT/PT).
• It makes it easier to see what work their child has to do (it's all in one place).  
• Everyone with each group could see that Google Calendar (if they are scheduling meetings or check-ins) as well.
• Also, if you created building or district level Google Classrooms, there would be a common Google Drive folder that teachers could add resources too and they would have a place to collaborate and share ideas (on the activity wall).
• Also everyone gets to muddle through using Google Classroom with no students to worry about seeing posts and mistakes :).

Google Meet (Video Conferencing)

      Google Meet is another great resource for being able to have a live class, small group, or 1:1 tutoring session with students.  (You can use Google Meet to show the lesson, but use other platforms like Google Classroom, Classflow, Seesaw, etc to distribute materials).  You have the ability to share your computer screen with your students, but .  You may also just use it to record a lesson for you to then send to students at a later time.  You can also chat with particpants as well.

      Setting up a meeting is very easy.  Go to https://meet.google.com/.  You may sign in with your Google information. (if you are already logged into your device, you will be automatically logged in).  Click 'Join or Start a Meeting.'  You will be prompted to create a name for the meeting.  Once the meeting is created, you can share the meeting with students by looking up their names, sharing a link, or scheduling it through the Calendar.  The interface for Google Meets is simplified.  

      Google Meets allows you to record the session and automatically downloads the meeting to your Google Drive.  You will receive an email once it's available in your Google Drive.  Please make sure you keep the security settings locked down!  When setting up a video conference, you do not have the option to mute or block participants Video Feed.  (You can mute someone, but then they can unmute themselves).  Just a reminder about confidentialty here!  Students can not be taped or video taped without parental consent!  I have a Google Form that I am going to create and have parents fill out ahead of time (just in case).

Some other tips if you choose to do a video conference...

• Do not have any music playing in the background (intellectual rights issues can come up if you post your video online.
• Ask students to mute their side unless they have something to share - it can be distracting if someone's sibling is crying or a dog barking in the background.
• Students and parents can see what's in the background.
• Make sure everyone in the area is aware that you are recording, students are watching, and students are listening.  
• Keep in mind, if you are sharing your whole screen, your students/parents will see what ever is on your computer screen.  If you select to share only a particular window, then they won't see other content that's on your computer.  
• ****When you leave the meeting, your students can stay and chat!  Make sure everyone has left the meeting before you leave!****
• **You must click on 'record' to record a session and you must click it at the end to stop the recording.**

Video Tutorial: Click here for a video tutorial of Google Meet's features!

Kahoot

Kahoot provides a way for students to answer questions through multiple choice or true/false using any device that they have.  It's a great substitute for the old ActivInspire Voters.  With the COVID-19 Virus, Kahoot is allowing free access to their Pro Features for the rest of the school year.  This opens up open-ended questions, puzzles, polls, and the ability to include informational slides in between questions!   You may create an account using your Google information.  Students do not need to create an account - they will use a code you post of your Kahoot to access it.

Tutorial: Click here for a 5 Minute Overview of Kahoot!

Teacher Access: www.getkahoot.com
Student Access: www.kahoot.it

Zoom (Video Conferencing)

      Zoom is a great resource for being able to have a live class, small group, or 1:1 tutoring session with students.  (You can use Zoom to show the lesson, but use other platforms like Google Classroom, Classflow, Seesaw, etc to distribute materials).  You have the ability to share your computer screen with your students and they are able to share their screens with you.  Zoom does have a whiteboard feature as well that you can pull up anytime and annotate on during a lesson.  You may also just use it to record a lesson for you to then send to students at a later time.

      Setting up a meeting is fairly easy.  Go to www.zoom.com.  You may sign in with Google information or create a new username and password.  After setting up a meeting, you can send a link to students/parents via any communication tool you use.  They only need to do a small install that takes a couple seconds before being able to join a meeting.  With the COVID-19 outbreak, the founder of the company has lifted restrictions on teacher accounts - allowing you to have multiple participants for more than 40 minutes!

      Security is something we all must consider as teachers.  Zoom allows you to record the session and downloads the video to your computer after the session is done.  Included with the download is a video only file, a transcript of any chats that occured, and one other file.  If you are concerned about space on your computer, transfer it to an external drive, upload it to Google Drive, or other video storage platform.  Please make sure you keep the security settings locked down!  When setting up a video conference, you have the option to see participants' video feeds or not.  You may want to select not to see students' faces until you have an agreement with each parent that you have permission to video conference.  They can still participate, just no one can see each other (except you and what you share from your screen).  Just a reminder about confidentialty here!  Students can not be taped or video taped without parental consent!  I have a Google Form that I am going to create and have parents fill out ahead of time (just in case).

Some other tips if you choose to do a video conference...

• Do not have any music playing in the background (intellectual rights issues can come up if you post your video online.
• Ask students to mute their side unless they have something to share - it can be distracting if someone's sibling is crying or a dog barking in the background.
• Students and parents can see what's in the background
• You can setup a virtual background to block out everything behind you that works really well.
• Make sure everyone in the area is aware that you are recording, students are watching, and students are listening.  
• Keep in mind, if you are sharing your whole screen, your students/parents will see what ever is on your computer screen.  If you select to share only a particular window, then they won't see other content that's on your computer.  

Click here for a tutorial on how to use Zoom!

Setting Up Google Classroom (Updated 3/20)

        Google Classroom is a great resource for posting lessons, sharing documents, and having students complete assignments.

• Click here for a Zoom Video Conference with fellow teachers 3/18/2020.  
• The first couple of minutes talks about how Zoom works.
• Learn the layout of Google Classroom.
• Learn how to create a class and add students to that class.
• Learn how to create an assignment and assign it to students.
• See how to make an interactive lesson using the assignment feature and Google Draw.

Here's some other helpful resources...

• Here's the District's Resources for Google Classroom!
• Click here for Google Classroom's Support page.
• The NEW Google Classroom YouTube Video - this video shows some of the key features of Google Classroom.
• Here's another Google Classroom YouTube Video.

OTHER WEBINARS ON THE SAME TOPIC

• Support Staff Webinar - Special Education, School Pscycologists, ELL Tutors, Speech/Language, Special Areas
• General Teachers Webinar - This one goes in depth on creating a lesson and showing all the different options attaching tasks for students to complete.