Ok Go Sandbox is an online resource for educators that uses videos from the popular rock and YouTube sensation Ok Go.  The videos incorporate various STEAM concepts and are designed to inspire classroom discussions and projects.  Educators will find resources for each video such as: question & answer video segments about the making of the video, challenges for student to participate, educator guide, science journal guide, and worksheets.   Spark your student’s curiosity and encourage learning with OK Go Sandbox.

Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

Canva is an online graphic design and photo editing program.  Professional flyers, social media posts, announcements, worksheets, newsletters, etc. can easily be created with a drag and drop feature.  It’s easy to start creating with thousands of templates to choose from. Take a look at Canva, and see what you think.   

Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

Quill.org is a FREE tool designed to help students become better writers and critical thinkers.   Quill provides over 300 writing, grammar, and proofreading activities using four different tools:  Quill Diagnostic; Quill Connect; Quill Grammar; and Quill Proofreader.  Each exercise designed from the Common Core Standards helps students build sentence construction skills, taking only about 10-15 minutes.  After the exercise is completed, it is automatically graded, and the student is provided feedback and hints to help the student improve.   How do you get started using this free tool in your classroom?  Go to quill.org and sign up as an educator and create your classroom.  Once your classroom is created, students can be added and activities assigned.  

Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

Last month I introduced you to Google CS First a free online computer science curriculum designed for students age 9-14.  Google Applied Digital Skills is a free-technology curriculum for middle and high school students.  The curriculum includes free lesson plans and digital skills training videos from Google designed  for success in and outside the classroom.    Students work independently or collaborating in groups while tackling financial decision making, event planning and project management.

Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

Students in grades K-12 are eligible to enter the Doodle 4 Google Contest.  The theme of the contest is “What inspires me.”  The doodle created by the student  must also incorporate the letters G-o-o-g-l-e.  The contest is open January 8th through March 2nd, 2018.  One national winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for their school, and their winning Doodle will be transformed into an interactive experience on Google.com.  

 Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

Google CS First is an online computer science curriculum designed for students age 9-14.  This free curriculum introduces students to valuable computer science skills and the programming language Scratch while having fun.  Nine different themes, which introduces core computer science concepts, are available to attract and engage students of varying interests.  Each theme includes videos to introduce the activity to the students, teacher lesson plans and digital materials.  Students are rewarded with badges upon completion of the lessons.   

 Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

Explore, play and learn with Santa’s elves all December long by visiting santatracker.google.com every day until December 24th for games and holiday cheer.  Each day new activities will be unlocked.   Students can create original artwork, learn to code, and learn about Christmas traditions around the world.  Teachers can visit the For Educators page for free educational games and lesson plans.  

It really is the most wonderful time of the year!  

 Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

Wouldn’t it be exciting to take your class on a field trip to snorkel in the Coral Reef, see elephants in Africa, or to watch brown bears hunt for salmon in Alaska?  With explore.org and their LIVE nature cam network,  all this is possible.  Your students can visit places like this and more to experience video footage of many different species in their natural habitat.    The site is very user friendly.  After selecting which species to view, a grid with different camera views will appear.  It’s also easy to switch between camera views by clicking within the grid.  Below the camera view is a detailed description of the camera location, map, current weather, a question/answer section, and fun facts.  Oh, and yes there’s an app for that!  Check it out and try it with your students.

Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

I was recently contacted by Mrs. Andrews,  a teacher from Webb Elementary School, about being interviewed for an upcoming article in their student newspaper.  The students are writing articles about former students and staff as Webb recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary.  They contacted me because I was the attendance secretary for several years and also a student!  When Mrs. Andrews and I first discussed the logistics of the interview, I suggested using Google Hangouts.  Google Hangouts is a communications service that allows members to initiate and participate in text, voice or video chats, either one-on-one or in a group.  I participated in the Hangout from my office at Earlywood with Corinne, Maddie, Jacob, and Mrs. Andrews in their classroom at Webb.  The students and I were able to meet “in person” and ask questions like we were sitting across the table from each other.  A couple of the students had not ever participated in a video chat and were very excited.  Hangouts is a resource that can connect students to so many opportunities such as:  guest speakers, virtual field trips, virtual book clubs, etc.  The possibilities of using Hangouts are endless.  Google Hangouts in Education (for Educators) has a community within Google+ with over 17,000 members.  I encourage you to join today to see how other educators are using Hangouts in their classrooms.  

 Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator

The Indiana Department of Education is celebrating Digital Citizenship Week September 11-15, 2017.  Why is digital citizenship important?  Because many tasks done today involve the use of technology, it is our responsibility to cover the elements of digital citizenship and teach students how to use technology appropriately.  Daily grade level activities for the week are available in the Resource Kit provided by eLearning Indiana Department of Education and Common Sense Education.

Gretchen Wood, Technology Coordinator