Hapara Teacher Dashboard- A bird's eye, real time view of student activity on the Chromebooks

Did you hear our district approved this software for teachers to go with the Chromebooks?!  I am very excited about it and can't wait to use it this year.

While I was piloting the Chromebooks, one thing I really wish I had control over was what the students were doing REALLY doing on the Chromebooks (my students were always on task...haha).  Of course I was walking around the room, trying to monitor each student to make sure they were doing what I had asked them to do.  And of course, there were students that were trying to get away with doing other things (listen to music, playing games, etc. Luckily I was able to figure out what to look at on each Chromebook, over their shoulder, to make sure they didn't have another tab or window open to something else.)  But this got really overwhelming and tedious.  I wished there was something available so I could "see" exactly what they were doing during my class.  Then on day the light came on, angels sang and my wish came true!  I was at a technology meeting for our district and another teacher (a teacher trained at Google in California, so cool!) showed us the Hapara Teacher Dashboard for the Chromebooks.  (I swear I heard birds singing outside ;)

Thoughts

I can not tell you how awesome this software really is!  Here are a couple of things that this software can do.

Teacher Dashboard 

One application of this dashboard is that teachers can share docs and websites to students directly and students can more easily share docs with teachers.  They just have to drop their doc into the folder for the correct class (already set up for them) and the teacher has access.  Much easier than having a huge list of shared items in your Google Drive "Shared With Me" folder. Watch this video for more information about the dashboard.

Remote Control 

Now this is the best thing EVER!!  You can push websites to each student in your classroom and it will be opened automatically onto each student's Chromebook. The best part, you can see what they are doing on their Chromebook during your class in real time!  You can close tabs and windows that the student has open when they shouldn't. Now I can make sure all of my students are on task. :) Watch this video for more info:

Seriously, cool or what?!  (Do you hear the birds singing too? :) 

Jen

Google Tools Day 5- Read & Write

Read & Write works from a toolbar within Google Docs and provides tools that are useful for all learners, including a robust dictionary, image dictionary, fact finder, translator, and text-to-speech tool.  This is a great tool for students on IEPs, but this assistive technology can be beneficial for all students!

Thoughts

The dictionary in Read & Write will read the word and the definition out loud.  The picture dictionary will show images to make the definition understandable.

Students can use the "text background color" to highlight information.  Students can choose different colors to highlight different ideas and the Read & Write tool will extract the highlights in a pop-up window and sort by color or order, students choice.  The highlights can be copied and pasted wherever the student chooses.  As I type this I can see us using this when we do CAR (Close and Analytical Reading) including highlighted reading.  Teachers can upload any document into a Google Doc to be shared with students.

Students can set the voice and speed for the speech aspect of this tool.  Students can have any part of the text read to them.

Students can highlight words from the document and click on the Vocabulary button on the Read & Write toolbar and it will create a list with definitions and pictures!  ( I can just see my students using this while reading a science text!)












This tool seems to trump the Google dictionary and image dictionary but it costs money. You can add it to a Chromebook for a free trial but the full version has to be paid for, which seems to have a lot more to offer like a speech recognizer (students speak into the microphone and it writes their words for them).  I did use one but to have it embedded into Read & Write would be great! Our district has money in the bond for apps and I hope this is added to the list. (I plan to give my suggestion to the powers that be :)

How I Have Used It

Since I found this tool later in the school year, I have only used it with a few students, mainly students with IEPs.  They used their headphones and had the text read out-loud to them.  They also used the dictionary for help with unknown words.  It also helped for them to hear what they typed out-loud.  Sometimes hearing what we write helps in the editing process. I hope to use it more next year, especially the extracting of the highlights, that looks very interesting and helpful.  And that vocabulary list?!?! WOW!!!

Becoming more of a tech geek everyday,

Jen

Google Tools Day 4- Google Dictionary and Image Dictionary

Google Dictionary and Image Dictionary can be used while reading any website. There is no need to open a new browser tab or open an actual dictionary.  Each tool has to be downloaded from the Chrome Store but they are free and the download takes seconds.  Also, the tech department can download any app to as many Chromebooks you want all at once!  Another reason Chromebooks are great and easy to use, the management of them is a snap.

Thoughts

Google Dictionary

Students can highlight a word, click on the dictionary icon at the top of their browser and choose to see the definition.  Or they can double click on the word and the definition pops up right on whatever they are reading, which is much easier.

I like this since it is so easy to use and the word can be read out-loud.   The "More >>" button opens up another tab with an internet search for the word highlighted.

Image Dictionary

When a word is highlighted students can right click (on the Chromebooks this is a tap with two fingers on the mouse pad at once) and choose "Image Search "(highlighted word)". An image of the word appears right on their current screen.

This Google Tool is also really easy to use and quick for students.

How I Have Used It

Students use these tools while reading websites for research assignments and for current event assignments. It allows them to keep reading and not be bogged down by asking what a word means or just skipping the word because they are too embarrassed to ask.  A simple click and the definition is there, with a picture if necessary!

Have a great day....it's a steamy one today!  Stay cool!

Jen

Google Tools Day 3- Research Tools

Having more than one internet window or tab open while working on a project can be confusing and cumbersome, especially with a touch mouse pad on the Chromebooks.  Google has a Research Tool that opens within Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Drawings, and Presentations so students can search to find images, video, quotes, or references. Not only can links and media quickly be inserted from the research pane, but citation information can also be added as footnotes.

Thoughts

With students able to research directly from their Google drive project, it is much faster and easier for students to get the information they need.  I really like the ability for students to drag pictures into their assignment without leaving the window. You access it by clicking on Tools in the top menu and the pane shows up on the right hand side of your window.  

Then students can type in anything they need to research and find images, quotes, definitions, or just a simple web search for more information.

Students can also highlight the word or phrase, right click on it and choose "Research (highlighted word)".  It will bring the results up in the research pane.  I think this would also be great for students to learn more about a topic if the teacher provides a document.  They can highlight any word or phrase and click research to learn more.  

How I Have Used It

Students have used this tool when creating their 8th grade advice presentations to add in images. My 6th graders used it to fill in their Weathering and Erosion booklet since they needed both definitions and pictures.

Google Docs and Drive is a great place for students to work and research and Google is making it easy to use. We are so lucky to be getting Chromebooks so we can access these tools in every class, every day.  What a great way to transform your classroom :)
Research on!
Jen

Socrative Teacher- An online student response system

I was planning on getting back to my discussion and examples of Google Tools but I have to share what I read about and tried over the weekend.  

Socrative Student Response System

Socrative is a student response system similar to clickers but it is web-based and everything is done online.  Here are some things that I learned while using Socrative and some thoughts on how I plan to use it next school year. (Click link under the picture)





1. Teachers can create activities and quizzes in advance or right in the middle of class for formative assessments.  Thoughts: I can use this as a exit ticket, a review for a test or for an actual quiz. I also noticed that when you create a quiz, an image can be uploaded for each question. I really like the questions asked on the exit ticket (the first question is for the student to type in their name.)

2. The answers to the single question activities are shown immediately to the teacher.  In the case of short answer, open-ended questions there is a feature that then allows the class to vote on the responses that students give!  Thoughts: The Common Core wants students to be able to debate and to defend their answers.  This can be used to create groups and have students defend their answer to convince the "other side". It is also great for quick true and false and multiple choice questions.

3. The answers to each activity can be downloaded as a report or emailed to you.  It opens it as an excel file or a Google spreadsheet and can be edited and saved. Socrative also grades the multiple choice and true/false items for you!  Thoughts: I am really excited about this since the data will be gathered and organized for me!  What a time saver! This is all done online and paperless, much easier than most data-gathering tools.

4. There is a place for teachers to share resources and ideas to use with socrative. They also post ideas on their blog.  Here is the site, click the picture below.  Thoughts: I love to see what other teachers are doing and this would be a great place to learn more about socrative.  I'm not a fan of reinventing the wheel and with everything else that we have to learn, this would be a great place to start with socrative.

My mind is now in overdrive and I am so excited to try this with my students in the fall. 

Hope you find it helpful too!

Ok, Google Tools Day 4: Research Tools tomorrow....unless something else really cool catches my eye :)

Jen 

The 7 Habits Of Effective Connected Educators

Good Morning!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  We are still in Caseville, MI spending time at the beach on the lake.

My dog, Charlie, went swimming in the lake for the first time.

He really liked it even though he looks a bit apprehensive here :)

And he loved digging in the sand :) 

My kids had fun swimming and digging too :) 

This morning as I was checking my Bloglovin' account (it's a really cool place to keep track of all of the blogs that you read, go to www.bloglovin.com) edudemic.com (you should really follow this blog, it is great!) posted a blog about habits that teachers that are going to be teaching, or are teaching, with technology should remember.  Click on the link under the picture.

The 7 Habits Of Effective Connected Educators

I also like the reminder to take it slow and to really think about how to use the technology in your classroom and why.  

I'd like to think that I practice all 7 habits, I don't mind change (piloting a class set of Chromebooks was a huge cultural shift), I have learned to adapt (like when Google went down during a lesson in my math class and I had to revert to good ol' paper and pencil), I share (this blog :), and I care.  I really care about how to integrate technology in the best way for students.  Students love it and embrace it.  They are doing more and thinking more.  They are actively engaged and liking it (even if they won't admit it).  I think that is why #7 is so important and why I think they saved the best habit for last.

Have a great weekend! I plan to get back to Google Tools on Monday.

Jen

Google Tools Day 2- Google Forms

Google Forms

My second day of blogging!  I love sharing what I have learned and I hope it helps :)
**Note: Click on any picture to enlarge it**

Thoughts

As teachers we constantly assess our students.  Formative assessments are a great way to find out what your students know before they leave or as they enter your classroom.  You can create a Google Form very quickly and easily to use as an exit or entrance card.  You can also survey your students or teachers or use it to collect data.  Go to your Google Drive and click Create and then select Form.  

• You can choose a theme and title the form.

• You can add questions for students to answer.  Answers can be in paragraph form, you can give multiple choice, checkboxes, or students can select correct answers from a list.  (This reminds me of choosing multiple answers like the Smarter Balanced Assessment is going to have.) You can also add images to the form so questions can relate to images, maps, graphs, diagrams, etc.

• Students that need their assessments read to them can use the Read & Write Tool (which I will talk about later but it is item #7 on the 10 Creative Ways To Use Google Tools website. I noticed my free trial will end soon, I need to look into that!)

• The form then collects all students responses on a spreadsheet for you to easily review.

How I Have Used It

• I had students respond to an "email" using a form so i didn't have to open 100 emails, thank goodness. 

Here is the forrn

Here are some of the answers

• I have used it as an exit card to formatively assess what students learned.  I used this form after a 2 day lesson on volume of a cylinder.  Next time I will add an image of a cylinder for one of the questions.

Here are some of the responses from the form.  Notice I highlighted the incorrect answers and also gave a grade out of 3 for each student.  (The student names are there I just made that column smaller so their names were not on here.)  I was able to see the main area of concern for my students and reviewed that concept the next day. I can also use the data to make groups for the next day to review and extend the concept.

• I also used the form to ask students what they needed more help on from a review for our math 8 final exam.  We all know 8th graders won't raise their hand and this was a great way for me to get them participating and for me to know the main areas of concern so I could concentrate on those ideas.  As soon as the students responded, my results form was filled out, instantly!

I really encourage you to try Google Forms.  I really like them and find the best part is that the data is compiled automatically for me.  Plus the students really like it too :)

Happy "Forming"!

Jen 

Google Tools Day 1- Google Docs

I have been doing a lot of research this summer and came across this website 10 Creative Ways To Use Google Tools To Maximize Learning through the edudemic blog.  You should definitely follow them edudemic.com.

I have used six of these ten and plan to use the other four next year.  I will talk about one of the tools each day and share how I have used each in my classroom with students and/or with other teachers.

Google Docs

Thoughts

GREAT tool for students.  Just like the website article says, no more "I left my assignment at home on my computer." Or, "I lost my thumb drive," and "My printer ran out of ink."  It auto-saves (no more forgetting to press save before you exit) and students (as well as teachers) can create files in the "My Drive" to organize everything.

The gray file icon with the plus sign will create new files.

It's also a great way to share assignments with other students and for teachers to share documents.  In my class, I used this tool the most since it was the easiest to teach and learn.

When you click on the red Create button, it allows you to choose what you want to do.  Each item, like "Document" or "Presentation" look exactly like a word document or power point.  Some differences here and there (like there is not a spell check feature, the program only underlines incorrectly spelled words in red in which you can right click and chose a correct spelling) but for the most part very easy to use. The red arrow button next to create is an upload button.  This will allow you to upload files to your drive.

How I have used it

I have used Google Docs in many ways.  From students taking notes together, filling in graphic organizers, to creating projects for a science unit.  I think they are the easiest to use and the quickest to create and share. Here are some examples of how I have used Google Docs. (They look a bit different than if they were to open in Google docs since I had to publish each one to the web for this blog.)

Notetaking: In my 8th grade math class everyone added to the notes while checking a homework assignment
https://docs.google.com/a/romeo.k12.mi.us/document/d/1Xt7wk5uS2y-sXyYU65i5JfC4wvQs2b-sw1Vt02RSPjU/pub

Presentations: Just like powerpoint.  My 8th graders created an advice presentation on how to survive my 8th grade math class for next year's 8th graders :)  I love these kids! I'm glad I made it into their intro picture!
https://docs.google.com/a/romeo.k12.mi.us/presentation/d/1ALtTutsiQJD_gkMDC9x9mNK1laLO1fh6Vn0kqD7hGUw/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000#slide=id.p

Graphic Organizer: My 6th grade science classes had to fill in a drawing that I created to illustrate the igneous rock chart.  I created the chart and then shared it with them (this was ugly at first because I shared it wrong, but I will talk about that on my Chromebook Lessons page when I talk about that lesson).  They made a copy, filled it out and shared it back with me.  I was then able to comment on it to give direct feedback.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1dvkDEGbFFJAETl3CW4vQOvsOQPXZSpA0PjazrsL3Pug/pub?w=960&h=720

Document Presentation: My 6th grade science students had to find pictures of each rock texture and the rock cycle for review before their test.  They created it on their own, no template this time.
https://docs.google.com/a/romeo.k12.mi.us/document/d/16Nu7Ogk2DYV0-2EUl7iV0rT_A8BqIY1tZEw704fdn9w/pub

Booklet: I gave 6th grade science students the blank template with the vocabulary words and they filled in it with definitions and pictures.
https://docs.google.com/a/romeo.k12.mi.us/document/d/1M8nNkLsFoHkQRgCVAZ0Icd7dVxte6yhrvDlfZKcgl7Q/pub

I plan to talk more about the planning of these on my Chromebook Lessons page as soon as I can.

Let me know if you have any questions so far!
Thanks,
Jen

Welcome

I need to also welcome myself to blogger. :)  This is my first attempt at a blog and wanted to create it to share my journey piloting Chromebooks in my middle school classroom.

Samsung Chromebook 550

I started the pilot in March 2013 with a lot of bumps along the way, as anticipated.  Throughout the last three and a half months of the school year I felt defeated, discouraged, encouraged, excited and surprised while using the Chromebooks in my classroom.  I plan to share the journey with you with the gift of retrospect.  I wrote everything down in a good, old-fashioned spiral notebook and will re-live each Chromebook lesson with you, even the bad ones since those were the ones that ended up being the most surprising and eye-opening for me.  The one thing that I need to share with you now is my biggest lesson learned in those months: students are awesome at technology and helped to save the lesson a lot of the time! When I was at a training at the Macomb Intermediate School District a few years ago (probably 5 now) for educational technology (as in how a teacher can integrate technology to use as a class and for accommodating all students, not 1 to 1), they told us that students are "digital natives" since they grew up with technology in their hands unlike us adults who are "digital immigrants" trying to learn and catch-up to them.  I never realized this more until I piloted 1 to 1 Chromebooks in my classroom.  I learned to grab a life vest (tech guys are awesome), jump in (created my first lesson over a weekend), and hold on tight.  We all need to ride the technology wave or we will be left behind.

Especially since our district passed a bond for each student to receive a Chromebook grades 6-12 and an iPad grade K-5.  We are so lucky!!! See the Facebook page (click on the link below the picture) that keeps us updated on the progress!

Romeo Tech Bond- Connected For Success

Final Thoughts

A colleague shared this youtube video with me and it really hit home:

"It is the death of education and the dawn of learning."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UDdCyr1DZM

Thanks for reading and I can't wait to share what I have learned with you :)
Jen