Teaching with Technology

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

How to Use the “About” Section of Google Classroom

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Google Classroom is just awesome! Managing the flow of Docs and assignments has never been easier, thanks to this fabulous tool.

A vastly underused feature of Google Classroom, however, is the About section. When I first noticed the About section, my first thoughts were, “what is this?” and “what am I supposed to put here?” as well as “can my students see this?”

About section of Google Classroom

After toying around with this section … which is how I tend to figure out most things in the edtech world … I realized the enormous untapped potential the About section actually has. Here’s a quick rundown of how I use this section in my classroom.

It’s a GREAT place for frequently used Google Forms and Docs
Do you have a course syllabus? Stick it in the About section! Do you use Google Forms to collect student information? Stick it in the About section! Any resource your students need to access can be placed in the About section … and it’s easy for everyone to find.

Readings or PDF files
My students read substantial amounts of primary sources, especially in my dual credit classes, and placing them in the About section of Google Classroom seems to alleviate the “where do I find that reading” question I hear. Placing these files in the About section of Google Classroom also prevents them from becoming lost in the sea of Assignments, Announcements, and Questions that fill their Classroom stream.

Important links (review games, Padlet walls, etc)
Any links to Kahoot, Quizizz, or BrainRush review games that I share with my students are available in the About section of Classroom. Padlet walls that include requested review materials are also located in this section because students are able to find these resources quickly, without having to use “CTRL+F” quite as much 🙂

How do you use the About section of Google Classroom? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter!

Thanks for reading 🙂
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Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts

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We’ve been a GAFE school for many years, and have been 1:1 with Chromebooks for two school years. My students and I STILL have problems remembering specific shortcuts and how to find specific tools in Google Docs, because many features are in different locations in Google and Microsoft products.

To help everyone with this issue, I’ve created mini posters to display around my classroom that include specific instructions ranging from google docs and character counthow to locate the word/character count while working in Google Docs to how to bold, underline, or italicize your font, and also how to add comments without using the comment icon.

 

These simple reminders have helped students learn to navigate the various features of Google Docs, and have cut down on the complaints about Google Docs lacking certain features that Microsoft Word includes. Most of the time, we’ve found that Google Docs offers almost all of the features found in Microsoft Word…we just have to look in different places to find them!

If you are interested in using the “Word and Character Count …” printable in your classroom, please download the PDF below.

Google Docs – Word Count

To access a file with 11 shortcut printables to use in your classroom, please click on the link below. You will be taken to a different website to download the file. To aGoogle Doc Shortcutsccess and print all of the Google Docs printables at a discounted rate, please use the code teachwithtech at checkout!

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Thanks for reading 🙂
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Momentum: Great Chrome Extension for Teachers and Students!

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Chrome extension MomentumSince becoming a Chromebook school, I feel like I’m constantly searching for new Chrome extensions or apps to help enhance my classroom learning environment.

I recently stumbled upon Momentum, and Chrome extension that provides a personalized message and image when new tabs are opened.

After installing the Momentum extension, you’ll be asked for some quick information, including your name. That’s it!

Momentum allows you to…
-add quick links to sites you visit
-view current time and temperature in your area
-create a To-Do list AND check off items you have completed (there’s something magical about checking off a task!)
-list daily goals
-view inspirational quotes

My favorite feature of Momentum, however, is the beautiful image I’m greeted with every day! Opening tabs has become a daily discussion during my classes. Every class period I hear, “Mrs. Petty, where are you today?” This discussion has prompted more and more students to download the extension 🙂 Observing the use of the To-Do list feature is awesome as well!

Give Momentum a try. It’s great and free!

Today, I’m in Thailand. Where will you be?

Thanks for reading 🙂

Create Reading Lists with Curriculet

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Earlier this school year, my colleagues and I participated in a webinar about the wonderful features of the online reading platform, Curriculet.

Curriculet includes hundreds of ebooks, both free titles and those available for rent, that are assignable to students. Teachers sign up for an account, create classes, and share simple codes with students that allow them to join the class.

To read more about creating classes with Curriculet, please read my original post here.

While participating in the webinar, I began to think about how I could encourage my students to both read independently and monitor their reading at the same time….the answer? Reading lists on Curriculet!

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Share to Classroom Extension…Awesome Addition, Google Classroom!

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Today, the “Share to Classroom” extension for Google Classroom was pushed out to students in my building.

After reading about the new extension, and reading about teachers’ experiences on Twitter, I admit I was a bit hesitant about the purpose and effectiveness of this tool.

However, my fears were assuaged today when I tried the extension with my students.

I opened a website I needed my students to see, selected the Share to Classroom extension, and chose “push to students.” I was immediately met with “whoa, what just happened?!” and “did you just hack into my computer?!”

As soon as I selected “push to students,” the website I shared immediately popped up in a new tab (which was pushed to the front) on their screen.

Awesome, right?!

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