Distance Learning Week #3

Hello from 6 ft away! I hope you are all well and keeping your distance.

Resources for screen annotation.

• Screencastify has built in annotation tools
• Screen Sketch and Sketchpad: Tap on the Windows Ink Workspace icon next the the time and date in your bottom toolbar (it looks like a pen and a scribble). Screen Sketch allows you to annotate on top of the current screen you have pulled up. Sketchpad allows you to annotate on a blank space. You can then save this file or discard it right after.
• Google Drawings
• Jamboard:This is a collaborative whiteboarding tool. Similar to other G Suite apps, Jamboard allows for another space for collaboration. You can sketch, draw, erase, add notes, add pictures, and add things from the web.
• Awwapp: An online whiteboarding app
• Canvas app

Any of these annotation tools can also be used in conjunction with Screencastify.

Wide Open School is a free collection of the best online learning experiences or kids curated by the editors at Common Sense for teachers and families.

There are many webinars and mini courses you can take to help you navigate distance learning.

• Common Sense Media Privacy mini course
• Michigan State University MAET mini MOOC on Remote Teaching (Earn up to 16 SCECHS)
• Michigan Virtual Keep Michigan Learning Webinars
• Google Edu on Air Webinars
• Screencastify Genuis
• Google Applied Digital Skills: Teach from Anywhere
• Google Applied Digital Skills: Work from Anywhere
• Distance Learning for Educators Unit from Google

Confidential Email Tip

You can send confidential email in gmail. When you turn confidential mode on, recipients won’t have the option to forward, copy, print, or download the email. When you turn this on, you have the option to set expiration parameters and choose whether or not you want to require a passcode to view the message. Learn more about confidential emails

Distance Learning Week #2

Check out Social Emotional Learning during COVID-19 and Learning at Home Youtube channels for families.

When exploring new educational technology tools, make sure that you are aware of age requirements and terms of service before implementing them. G Suite tools are great for collaboration and connectivity. For more on Google tools you can check out the Google Teacher Center, Teach from Home with Google, Google’s Distance Learning Hub, Applied Digital Skills, Be Internet Awesome, and Wellbeing.Google.

Read Alouds

For read alouds with students, there are a variety of avenues for guest readers. Many of you have already seen this as you’ve been in contact with me but I want to share it with all. Make sure you are aware of copyright and read alouds. Many publishers have adapted their policies.

• Copyright and Online Read Alouds
  • Penguin Random House OKs Online Storytime and Read Alouds
  • Scholastic Revised Policy
• Storyline Online

Digital Citizenship

It is very important that we are modeling good digital citizenship to our students during this time. Be mindful as you are engaging with social media and public digital spaces. Make sure you are protecting student identity and privacy in all digital spaces. Balance screen time. Talk about credible resources, media literacy, netiquette, and safety and security online. Common Sense Media has put together essential digital citizenship lessons for the Coronavirus Pandemic. Below are the digital citizenship standards for students and educators. Click on the links to view the more specific sub-standards.

ISTE Digital Citizenship Standard for Students: Students recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in ways that are safe, legal and ethical.  

ISTE Citizen Standards for Educators: Educators inspire students to positively contribute to and responsibly participate in the digital world.

Work-life Balance

Everyone is balancing a lot, both personally and professionally, during this pandemic. Self Care is especially important at this time. Google has some tips on finding work life balance at home in this blogpost: Make “work from home” work for you. Headspace is also offering free accounts to all K-12 teachers, school administrators, and supporting staff.

Distance Learning Resources Week #1

A plethora of educational companies are offering free resources while school is closed. There are A LOT and I do not want you to feel more overwhelmed. I just want you to know these are there for you when you are feeling ready.

amazingeducationalresources.com

Google resources for distance learning (Resources from Google)

Google article on distance learning (Blogpost from Google)

Google Classroom for Families: Guardian Summaries (Explains to parents what Google Classroom is like for a parent/guardian)

Remove.bg

The tool I have to share with you this week is Remove.bg. This is a free website that can be helpful when you do not have access to a green screen. It will remove the background of an image and allow you to replace the backdrop image for FREE! Imagine how engaging this can be for students. I’m happy to help you get started with using your tool for one of your lessons!

Before:

After:

I call this “Gnomy goes to vote”

Will the gnome escape the leprechaun trap?!

Fun fact: If you are in presentation mode for a Google Slides presentation, hit the “b” key or the “w” key to quickly blank your screen. The “b” key will make the screen black and the “w” key will make the screen white. To show your presentation, press the “b” or “w” key again.

March is Reading Month & National Day of Unplugging

It’s March is reading month! This week I’m sharing several books with you. Happy Reading!

• Here are some great picture books that go along with digital citizenship and STEM that would be great for your students.

• Digital citizenship books for middle and high school.

• Here are some great reads for professional learning. This list is always growing!

National day of unplugging is March 6-7. This is a great time to promote reading! Sign up to take the pledge to unplug to receive free activities. Share out your celebrations of unplugging using #nationaldayofunplugging #unplug #wb2020 on social media! If you need ideas for an activity, please let me know. I’m here to help!

Digital Learning Day

Digital Learning Day is this Thursday. This is a day to promote high-quality digital learning opportunities for students. In West Bloomfield, we are frequently offering digital learning opportunities to our students. While this can be promoted any time of year, Digital Learning Day is a great time to highlight this work. Google has curated some Digital Learning Day activities in Applied Digital Skills. Share out your celebrations of innovative practices using #DLDay on social media! If you need ideas for an activity, please let me know. I’m here to help!

Everyday DigCit

The tool I have to share with you this week is the Everyday DigCit app. This Prek-12 app curates talking points for you and your students to discuss digital citizenship. The app sorts through discussion topics by grade level, too. From privacy to communication, this app provides a lot of food for thought. Curious about how this app was created? Check out Glide Apps to learn how to create an app through a Google Sheet. Let me know if you’re interested in integrating either of these into one of your lessons. I’m happy to help!

Merge Cube

The tool I have to share with you this week is Merge Cube. This cube uses augmented reality to allow you to hold virtual 3d objects in your hand and learn in a new way. I have one of these available to borrow. You can also find files for the paper template online. Here are some activity plans that they have put together. Let me know if you’re interested in integrating this into one of your lessons. I’m happy to help!

Math Tools

The tools I have to share with you this week are all related to math and can be applied at any grade level.

EquatIO is an extension to help with digital mathematical notations. You can type, handwrite, or dictate equations and formulas on your computer. There are two modes of simple and advanced input.

Wolfram Alpha is a computational tool for not only for math, but also science, technology, society, culture, and everyday life. The step by step solutions can be very useful.

Math Buddy Question of the Day generates a new math problem every day for each grade level. These are great bell ringer and warm-up activities. It will also show you a pie chart of the days responses and the percentage of people who got the answer correct or incorrect. This is helpful in pointing out the difficulty of the problem.

Desmos is a digital graphing tool that students can access on the chromebooks. The have curated classroom activities. This is a great resource for a digital calculator.

Wellbeing.Google

The tool I have to share with you this week is Wellbeing.Google. Finding a healthy balance with technology is a very important piece of wellbeing. Great technology should improve life, not distract from it. I challenge you to reflect on your experience and relationship with technology both at work and at home. Understanding your technology habits is the first step to fine-tuning them. My presentation on Technology Health & Wellness is also posted on the Technology Integration Hub for you, as well. This is all a part of digital citizenship and modeling good habits for students. What are your technology goals for 2020 both personally and professionally?