10 helpful links you should visit!

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups and skim through Twitter. The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my top 10 links for August 2019!

1. Explore art using Augmented Reality (AR) – this is a pretty sweet project from the Google Arts and Culture team. Art teachers should definitely check it out!

• Requires Android or iOS device
• Download Arts & Culture app and click on the camera icon
• Like pokemon-go for art!

2.  Meet the 2019 Google Science Fair Winners! – these students are incredible! Use this article as an inspiration for your STEM students!

• 24 finalist from 14 countries
• The Google Science Fair Grand Prize winner, Fionn Ferreira, is from Ireland. He found a novel approach to removing microplastics from water.

3. 10 Ways to use Emoji in the Classroom – July 17 was world emoji day! I wrote this blog post to help you celebrate!

• My favorite emoji extension (Emoji Keyboard by Joypixels)
• Add emoji to your Google Calendar events
• Use emoji to add flair to Google classroom
• Use emoji to identify Google Drive folders

4. Technology integration is a major stress factor for college professors – While I mostly support K-12 teachers, I have worked with universities as well. Let’s help our higher Ed friends embrace technology!

• 500 US professors. The study commissioned by D2L
• Only 30% of college professors felt equipped to help prepare students for the modern workforce
• 60% of respondents felt comfortable using technology to share course materials, grade student essays and detect plagiarism
• 60% percent of lecturers say they have experienced stress based on institutional pressure to use technology
• A generational gap appears between professors 55+ and those under age 55
• Institutional support appears to be a big issue with a majority of respondents indicating they don’t receive adequate training or tech support.

5.  Thoughts on the Google Classroom Gradebook – This opinion piece from Alice Keeler includes some good questions to ask yourself as you set up your courses for the new year.

• Alice does NOT like the new Classroom gradebook
• Wants classroom to focus on feedback, not scores
• Recommends creating your own gradebook (of sorts) in sheets or using your district gradebook.
• “Yes, it is easier to just roll with the bad math calculations in Google Classroom. It’s a pain to do double entry. However, did you become a teacher to distribute points or do what is best for students?”

6.  Rubric Repair – If you plan on using the new rubric feature in Google Classroom I recommend listening to this episode of the Cult of Pedagogy podcast.

• Measure what really matters.
• Weigh criteria appropriately
• Check your math

7.  Chromebook Getter Add-on – This Google Sheets add-on will help IT admins manage and organize district Chromebooks. If you have been using the Chromebook Inventory add-on (discontinued), this is your replacement!

• New Chromebook  management add-on for Google Sheets
• Replaces Chromebook inventory as a free solution

8. LearnZillion – Math and ELA teachers should check out the free lessons in the LearnZillion database which integrates with Google Classroom!

• Thousands of short video lessons with resources and activities

9. Chromebook Quiz: use this as a self-assessment to see how well your students can navigate their Chromebook

• Works with locked quiz mode
• Can be used as formative or summative

10. 8 new Google features for the new school year – This simple graphic recaps 8 major updates announced for the coming school year. Feel free to snag this image from my Insta accout and share it with the teachers at your school!