Teaching with Technology

Using educational technology to enhance the learning environment and increase student engagement!

Easy Tricks and a Template for Sub-Plans

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Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you’ve had an awesome weekend and that you’re readying yourself to crush the week ahead! This week, the back-to-school craziness officially commences for our family, as both of my daughters’ afterschool activities are in full swing. I told my husband this morning that I almost feel like I need to take a day off to plan, do homework, and run errands because I don’t have time to do ANYTHING after school! Do you ever feel like you blink and your planning period is over? Ok, good – glad it’s not just me! Speaking of taking a day off, trying to plan for a substitute is never an easy task. I often hear teachers say that it’s harder to plan for a substitute than it is to just go to work! Below, I’m sharing my favorite tips and tools for easily creating sub plans and a free template that you can use over and over again!

PADLET
It’s no secret that I love Padlet! I’ve been using this tool for many years in a variety of different ways, ranging from global collaborations projects to mini-research activities, reflection opportunities, and digital study sessions. It’s a super versatile tool and, though it’s a “freemium” site, teachers can easily create a sub-plan template that can be modified and reused without exceeding the storage of the free account. One of my favorite Padlet formats is “shelf,” which is best described as columns that can be added to, regardless of the activity. Each column has its own title and the option to add additional posts below the topic. We frequently use the “shelf” format for class collaboration and my students appreciate that they can work together on the same topic while posting their thoughts and contributions individually. Here’s an example of what a sub-plan made with Padlet might look like:

GOOGLE SLIDES
I ❤️ Google Slides! It’s just such a versatile option for teachers and students that goes WAY beyond “just” a presentation. Just last month, I shared how teachers can easily create their own “app” using Google Slides. I’ve seen teachers upload scanned images of worksheets, then add them as backgrounds on Google Slides, and insert text boxes over the background where students can type their responses. I use Google Slides in my classroom to share our daily learning targets and objectives (be sure to use Topics on Classroom to organize what you share!) which is especially useful when students are frequently out of the classroom for various reasons. Teachers can easily use Google Slides to share sub-plans with their students and substitute teacher, and can quickly edit slides to modify plans and expectations throughout the year. Here’s a free sub-plan template! Just make a copy to use in your classroom!

GOOGLE CLASSROOM STREAM
Yup, I’m sure you probably guessed that Google Classroom was going to make my list of tools for quick and easy sub-plans. It’s just so darn easy to use! My students are already so comfortable with Classroom so using this platform is a no-brainer for me. I add quick information to the Stream of Classroom for each class and include simple instructions for my substitute that direct my students to access their Classroom Stream for their task list. That’s it! Super simple for all involved.

BIT.LY
I flipping love bit.ly, don’t you? It’s so much easier to direct students to a brief link that includes a customized URL (that makes sense as opposed to random letters and numbers!) as opposed to a super long, drawn-out address. And, if you’re using Padlet, Google Slides, or any other web-based tool for your sub-plans, it’s super simple to create a bit.ly address that directs your students and substitute to your plans. Do you use bit.ly in your classroom? I’d love to hear how!

Thanks for reading! I hope you’re staying healthy and well 🙂

Great Features of Google Forms #3

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Happy Wednesday, all! I’m writing to you on my LAST DAY AS A 34-YEAR-OLD. Yup, that’s right. Tomorrow I’m turning 35! I had a minor meltdown a few days ago and my husband reassured me that I’m doing good things in my life and have made positive contributions to the world in many ways – namely, giving birth to and raising our fabulous daughters. So, that made me feel great! The cup of coffee I sipped after that didn’t hurt, either 😜  To celebrate another trip around the sun, I’m geeking out about two of my FAVORITE features of Google Forms –> response validation and go to section based on answer!

I use response validation so often in my classroom, I sometimes forget that it’s not a commonly used feature! So … what is response validation and how does it work?

Response validation can be used on a short answer, paragraph, or checkbox question on a Google Form to require the correct response to a question. If someone answers a question incorrectly or gives invalid data (if you ask them to enter a website and they just type random words) on their submission, response validation gives the user a “try again” or “not quite right” (or whatever you choose!) message, prompting them to try again.  To use this feature, create your question and then click the “3 little dots” at the bottom of the question. Then, choose response validation. Next, you’ll want to select “regular expression” from the first drop-down menu. Then, you’ll choose what the responses should include or not include in the second drop-down menu. Next, you’ll enter the response you’re looking for and then an error text.

That’s it! Now, users who don’t provide the correct response will be encouraged to “keep trying” until they get it right! This is great for digital BreakoutEDU activities as well as other assignments that you create for students which require them to answer correctly before moving on!

Ok … I know I said this post was #3 in the series and you might think that the post would only include one feature. I can’t help it – I love Google Forms! Very similar in nature to response validation is something I use ALLLLL the time in my classroom – “go to section based on answer!” This feature helps teachers easily create a “choose your own adventure” activity or a branched assignment for their students. Here’s how it works.

Create a multiple-choice question and include a variety of answer options. Next, I always create a variety of sections that correspond to the response options I provided. Then, you’ll click the “3 little dots” on the bottom of your question box and select “go to section based on answer.” For each response you provide, you’ll notice a drop-down menu appear to the right of the option. Click that menu and select the section to which you’d like to direct your user. Here’s an image for help:

In each of the sections you create, include directions, videos, questions, links, etc., that you want your students to view and interact with. That’s it! I love this feature for so many reasons, but namely because it provides students with CHOICE! I’m a fan of student choice when it comes to learning content – check out Create: Illuminate Student Voice Through Student Choice for tips!

So … how do you use these features in your classroom? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Nearpod Quick Launch + BOARD Time

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Heyyyyyy, all! Happy Tuesday, and welcome to the back-to-school, let’s start setting an alarm again and holding our bladder, whirlwind that is the season! Phew! My internal clock is starting to readjust and I’m falling asleep earlier than 11 PM, which is a good thing. However, that 5:00 alarm is getting snoozed until closer to 6:00 every day! Though everything is still nutty in the Petty household between getting my daughters back into the “yes, we have to get up early tomorrow,” and “no, you can’t bounce on the trampoline, it’s 8:30 at night,” routine, I am SO THANKFUL to be back in my classroom. Even with our COVID changes, it’s made my teacher heart smile to be in my classroom with my students. I hope we all stay healthy so we can keep this school year as normal-ish as possible! Speaking of my classroom and being normal-ish as possible, have you tried the new quick launch feature from Nearpod? It’s pretty darn cool! Here’s how we’re using it in my classroom 🙂

One of my FAVORITE Nearpod features (and that is really saying something, friends!) is the “draw-it” feature of Nearpod. If you’ve never tried this, here’s the just — you can use a super cool Nearpod feature, including “Open Ended Question, Timer, Collaborate Board, or Draw It, without creating a Nearpod lesson. Cool, right?! To use these features, teachers do not need to have an existing Nearpod lesson – just log in and click Quick Launch in the top right corner of your screen. Students will still join your activity by entering a code on Nearpod. Looking for a quick formative assessment? Click quick launch and choose to create an open-ended question. Do your students need to brainstorm or share their ideas with their classmates? Try a Collaborate Board! Or … if you’re looking for a fun way to review vocabulary or important concepts, use the “D” from BOARD time and launch a Draw It!

If you’ve read Create: Illuminate Student Voice Through Student Choice, you know that I’m a huge fan of BOARD time in my classroom. (You can also read a little bit about it here.) COVID has placed a hurdle (many hurdles, but you know that!) to using the dry erase boards and markers during BOARD time this year. I had initially planned to use Jamboard for this but found out later that it’s blocked for students in my district – UGH. So, I’ll be using the Draw It feature for the “D” (draw or discuss) portion of BOARD time! My students have touchscreen Chromebooks, so they’ll be able to easily sketch out their drawings. However, I’ve used Draw It from Nearpod only using my trackpad and have had great success!

Have you tried the Quick Launch feature, yet? How do you use it?!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Using Google Sites and Google Classroom in the classroom

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Hey, all! Happy Sunday! I hope you’re having an awesome weekend and, if you’re like me and heading back to the classroom tomorrow, you’re as ready as possible for who knows what this year will throw at us 🙂 My county is currently ranking high on the COVID cases growth chart for the country – NOT a chart you want to see your county on – and we’re going back face-to-face. 😐 Please send all the prayers, positive vibes, and best wishes that we’re all SAFE and HEALTHY during this school year! All throughout remote learning and summer vacation, I’ve seen the emergence of Bitmoji classrooms and, while they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, we can probably agree that they’re pretty darn creative! With the appearance of Bitmoji classrooms, coupled with the increase in use of Google Classroom for remote, face-to-face, and blended learning, I’ve seen a few posts questioning the use of Google Classroom or Google Sites for remote learning. Here’s my quick answer – I’m using both! Here’s how it works:

Google Classroom
Google Classroom is the information hub for my students. I share announcements, readings, material, videos, and of course assignments. I use Classroom as a way to provide feedback to students on their work, and to easily access our coursework no matter where I am – I cannot TELL you how many times the Classroom app on my iPhone has saved my booty! This year, I will probably utilize the “invite guardians” option found in the People column, which is something I really haven’t pushed before, since I teach juniors and seniors and they very rarely, if ever, have homework. If we do end up in a remote learning situation, my hope is that the lovely email guardians get daily will prompt them to remind their learners of any activities and assignments they need to complete for class. Fingers crossed 🙂

Google Site
So, how does a Google Site work? Do I even need it? All of my stuff is on Classroom. Do I need to put it in two different spots? Won’t that get confusing? These are ALL questions I’ve been asked over the last few months. While there’s no right or wrong answer – this is your classroom and your students, folks! You know best! – here’s what I’m including on my Google Site:

  • About the Teacher – I’m definitely including this on our course website this year because we didn’t get a chance to have our traditional Open House. Heck, we didn’t have one at all! While I don’t have TONS of parents and students show up for Open House, probably since they’re juniors and seniors, I enjoy the opportunity to introduce myself to my students and their parents. Even the 8 minutes they’re with me (yes, literally 8 minutes) provide me with the ability to lay the groundwork for open lines of communication and an awesome parent-teacher relationship. I missed that this year, so the About the Teacher page will have to suffice. I’ll be adding a video that parents can watch to this page, too 🙂
  • Course Syllabus – Yes, the syllabus is kind of a bore, but it’s definitely something that needs to be available to parents, admin, and community members! It’s there just in case anyone wants to take a look – though I doubt they do!
  • Course Info – On this page, I include my classroom Cell Phone Policy and a link to our daily objectives slide that parents can access throughout the year. I also include my Open House presentation that includes required materials for our class (earbuds and a Chromebook!) and information about how they can join our section of Remind.
  • Classroom Happenings – This is my FAVORITE page! This is where I can share pictures of my students completing BreakoutEDU activities, talking with people from all over the world through Google Meet, hanging out with our elected representatives, try MREs, and more!
  • Remote Learning – This page will probably be super important this year. While I sincerely HOPE we can all go back safely, the reality is it … I hate to be a downer … probably won’t happen for long 🙁 This page will be a resource for parents, admin, and community members about remote learning procedures and policies in my class.

So … long story short … yes! You can use Google Classroom and Google Sites simultaneously in your classroom! They’re both fabulous in their own right and can be super helpful when used together.

Thanks for reading 🙂

Creating a Class App with Google Slides

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Happy Monday, all! I’ve been back in my classroom (for meetings and work time) since Friday, and I’m slowly growing accustomed to missing the afternoon naps that I have loved soooooo much during our summer vacation. Coffee to the rescue! In an effort to organize important information and make it more accessible for my students and their families, I decided to create a classroom app to share this year. Before you panic and say, “I can’t code an app!” I made this with Google Slides! You know how much I love Google Slides and use it for just about anything from HyperDocs, to presentations, to syllabi, and images, and more. Now, I can add an app to that list! Here’s how I did it:

OPEN GOOGLE SLIDES
To get started, simply open a new Google Slides presentation by typing slides.new in the address bar of your browser. No need to go to your Drive to create a new presentation!

Next, resize your presentation to make it look more “app-like.” I used 8 x 11.5 inches, but you can play around with the size. To resize your presentation, click File, then Page Setup, click the dropdown menu in the next dialogue box and select “Custom.”

Now, it’s time to design your app! You’re welcome to use my template as a starting point – grab it by completing the super short form here! One slide 1, you’ll see a “welcome” page as well as links to directions for adding the “app”  In the example/template on slide 2, you’ll see 9 circles that direct users to various external links, including my “About the Teacher” page, a Linktree with my favorite content related podcasts, our frequently-used sites, our school district homepage, and a “contact me” icon that prompts users to send me an email.

To customize your the “buttons,” click the icon and select CTRL K and enter the information you’d like the icon to link to, whether it be a slide from the presentation or an external link.

Next, you’ll publish your presentation, I mean “app,” to the web by selecting File, then Publish to the Web. This will create a live version of your presentation (AHEM, app) that users will only view in “present” mode (no slides on the left side of the presentation, menu buttons, etc).

Copy and paste the published link (from the Publish to the Web dialogue box) into your Google Site, Google Classroom, email, Remind message, etc., and share it with your students. Encourage your students (and their parents) to open the link with their smartphone. Next, you’ll follow the instructions on the presentation to add the presentation AS AN APP to the home screen of your device – this works for Android AND iOS devices!

That’s it! You’ve made an accessible, helpful app that your students and parents can use throughout the school year, whatever your year looks like.

I hope you’re having an awesome week and are staying healthy as we prep for a new school year.

Thanks for reading 🙂

P.S. — DID YOU KNOW CREATE IS AVAILABLE?! Grab your copy of Create: Illuminate Student Voice Through Student Choice today!