The Home Stretch Google Gal One of the most powerful, yet often under utilized, features of Google is the ability for students to collaborate with each other on projects.  This is also one of the Communication & Collaboration Technology Standards for the State of California.   However, before we release our students to collaborate with others, we need to lay down the ground work for success.  Here are a couple of resources for you to use with your students before the start of a collaborative project.  You will be forced to make your own copy and then you can edit and adjust to suit your needs. Elementary Level Collaboration Slide Deck Secondary Level Collaboration Slide Deck And here is a great collection of Collaborative Projects to get you started! Amazing Aaron GoGuardian has beefed up its connection to Google Classroom. Basically, you can now directly open any and all of the students in a GoGuardian session to any specific assignment posted in one...

  Hybrid Learning: A Balancing Act Dawn's Digital Diary This is probably one of the best Hybrid Teaching resources I've come across.  This page by John Spencer gives very specific examples of how to implement each model with a sample lesson outline for each Model. He also has a Virtual Resources Page with  Recorded Webinars & accompanying Slide Decks. 5 Models For Making the Most Out Of Hybrid Learning Carter's Corner In our last month's Blog we featured our go-to EdTech resources for tips and tricks. I featured Kasey Bell at ShakeUpLearning, who is a knowledgeable and dynamic EdTech presenter. With the move to hybrid learning, Kasey has three Podcasts that feature the ins and outs of hybrid or blended learning. Blended Learning with Google (Part 1: Do This, Not That!)    In part one, Kasey explores how Google tools can help create dynamic blended learning experiences for students. Blended Learning with Google (Part 2: Storytelling)     Part two t...

Blogging About Bloggers Debugging Digital w/ Dawn I have followed Eric Curts for years now.  His blog, Control Alt Achieve , is full of top notch information and resources every month. Eric is a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator.  He is always a high demand presenter at ISTE and CUE.  His blog has an extensive archive of past resources and has everything labeled for easy searching. Follow him on Twitter as well @ericcurts Because I am such a fan of his work, I reached out to Eric and asked if he would be willing to present at our March Virtual Training event.  Lucky for us, he made the time!  One of the silver linings to our Virtual world is that getting top notch presenters like Eric has now become more accessible.  I hope you will all join us March 15th for Eric's presentation on using Google Tools for Struggling Students.  This presentation is full of resources and is applicable for all students.       Andrew's Analog Anthol...

 February Tech Tips Dawn's Digital Diary:  This digital scavenger hunt is good for grades 3-12 and is actually a lesson on Creating Google Slides.  The idea is to use this as a front loading and independent discovery lesson.  Pass out the lesson and see how much the students are able to figure out on their own. Then, provide the answer slide deck to help them learn the areas they were unsure of.  This is a great way to have students do some self exploration and often they find other nuggets of learning along the way. Google Slide Scavenger Hunt Google Slide Scavenger Hunt Answer Deck Cheryl's Creative Corner: Have you heard of Breakout EDU challenges? In a spin on the popular  escape room  challenge, a  digital  version combines: a virtual “ room ” (often a Google site or Google Form) filled with clues that must be figured out. A  digital  lock made from an online form (usually a Google form) that students try to unlock. These Digi...

Happiest of New Year to you all! We hope that this blog finds you well rested and ready for great things to come. The New Year brings the opportunity to continue to grow your education technology skills. We have it on good authority that more Tech Fest opportunities are coming our way. Stay tuned for more details to come! We will continue to provide technology integration support to you and your students. As your Digital Education Coordinators, we will be offering class lessons, beginning in January, as well as continued opportunities for tech coaching during our virtual office hours. We are here to support and guide your technology use in the classroom.  Dynamite Dawn Marsh Google Slides is such an amazing tool for teaching and learning.  I'd like to share a couple tips to make Google Slides even more useful for you.  Have you ever just wanted to share a clip of a video with your students, but thought the process of getting just a clip is too much work?  Google Slid...

December Tech Tips Dawn's Dope Digital Diary 📙 eBinders and Student Portfolios Both of these projects can easily be created using Google Sites. They are a wonderful tool to keep your students organized, engaged, and creative.  With learning happening online, providing students with a digital option to store and curate their work promotes creativity and an authentic method of sharing their content. Our own Kevin English, from WCW, has been using Google Sites as a platform for student portfolios for a few years now. Here is a student example shared with permission. eBinders are meant to be accessed and used regularly throughout your course.  Student Portfolios, are meant as a platform to showcase your best work. I love this teacher's video on how to create and use eBinders in the classroom.  He walks you through the entire process and how he uses these binders in the classroom.  Check out his website to see specific examples of student eBinders. Cheryl's Sees...

Dawn's Dope Digital Diary Leverage your Tech Savvy Students to create tutorials for your class! I recently had a Fourth Grade Teacher share with me a Screencastify  🎥 video that one of her students made to help his classmates navigate their online Math Curriculum.  This student saw a need and stepped right up to assist his peers. Watch the video below - I love this kid! Your students can use Screencastify for so many purposes.  Students experiencing technical trouble but you aren't able to see what is happening in order to help them?  Have them make a Screencast of what is happening to share with you. Make a Screencast showing their work on a Science project 📚Read a book out loud and give a book review using Screencastify Narrate a Google Slide presentation they have created Cheryl's Seesaw Savviness  🐴 Do you want to take your Seesaw skills to the next level? My go-to person for quick lessons that do just this is Kris Szajner. Kris is a tech savvy teach...