Teaching with Technology

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

Review Game – QR Codes and Google Forms

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I’m always looking for fun ways to review course content with my students! Today, we reviewed vocabulary from last semester using Quizlet Live which is always super fun. Read more about how we use Quizlet Live here. Today, I was thinking about a different review game to try and I thought, why not smash together two of my favorite EdTech tools …QR Codes and Google Forms!

Creating the QR Codes

I love QR Codes. They’re easy to make, easy to use, and provide a fantastic way to share information with students. I also love Google Sheets …  especially the add-ons and formatting options! And, wouldn’t you know there’s a QR Code add-on in Sheets! It’s fabulous and so easy to use! Simply open a new Google Sheet, click the “Add-Ons” menu, choose “Get Add-ons,” and browse away! To create QR Codes from Sheets, simply search “QR” in the search bar on the “Get Add-ons” menu.

Next, add definitions (or anything really) to a column in your sheet. I would suggest including a number in your description (ex) 1. this amendment abolished slavery) to prevent confusion in your QR Code.

Then, select “QR Code Generator” from your Add-ons menu and click “start.” You’ll see a box on the right side of your screen with many options.

To create the QR Codes for each cell, simply highlight the cells and select “generate.” You’ll notice a progress bar as the add-on gets to work! When it’s finished, select “open document,” and you’ll see your QR Codes on a Google Doc! Rename the Google Doc to save your sanity in your Google Drive. Print the document, cut out the QR Codes and post them throughout your classroom or your building for a fun scavenger hunt!

Creating the Google Form

I also love Google Forms. They’re just simply fabulous. For this activity, you’ll create a Google Form that uses data validation to require students to enter the correct term before submitting the form.

I’ll be using this activity in the coming weeks with my students!

Here’s a brief instructional video for creating this activity!

 

Thanks for reading 🙂

 

Presidential Debate Activity

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Don’t you love when you’re sitting at your kitchen table on a Sunday morning, enjoying a cup of coffee (perhaps a second or third cup) when inspiration strikes?

Your heart pitter patters as the pieces of a neat project fall into place, and you frantically open a Google Doc to jot down the rough specifics.

Well friends, I experienced this wonderful feeling yesterday morning!!

My brainstorm project? Presidential Candidate Campaign Headquarters!

[Read more…]

URL Shortener & QR Code Creator

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As I sat at the SEMO EdTech Conference today, I learned an extremely easy way to create QR Codes!

Typically, when I create QR Codes for my students, I copy and paste a URL into QR Stuff or a similar program. I then download and/or save the image, or copy and paste the image to a document, presentation, etc.

NOW…using the goo.gl Chrome extension, I can simply click the extension on my browser and VOILA! The extension automatically creates a shortened URL and a QR Code for the website! How awesome is that? A simple copy/paste and the QR Code is wherever I want it to be!

I, like many of you, LOVE QR Codes and will most definitely be using this trick in my classroom. Check out the image on this page for a brief explanation of this tool.

Thanks for reading 🙂

 

“Techify” Your Book Review Assignment and Incorporate Common Core!

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With the huge emphasis being placed on reading and writing in every classroom through Common Core standards, teachers are looking for ways to integrate ELA skills in new ways.

Here’s a project idea that involves, reading, writing, speaking, and 21st century technology skills!

  • Create a multimedia presentation (Canva, Piktochart, Google Presentation, Prezi, etc)
    • Students can include brief talking points on their presentation, such as…
      • an important quote from the book
      • a “Twitterfied” review of the book (140 characters or less)
      • an image of the book 
  • Create a screencasted video of the presentation with student discussing
    • Students can use a free tool such as Screencastify, which is my personal favorite, to create a screencast of them discussing the book they read. Teachers can place time requirements on the video based on their students’ grade level.
  • Create a QR Code of the screencast
    • Students can choose to upload their screencast to YouTube or simply store it in their Google Drive. From there, students can EASILY create a QR Code for their video by accessing www.qrstuff.com or a comparable website if your school blocks qrstuff. 
Students can then copy and paste their QR Code on a class blog or website, or print and post around the school to encourage other students to read!
This type of project would work very well in a 1:1 environment where all students have access to a device that can create a screencast. Instead of screencasting, students could create a brief video on their smartphone or other electronic device. Students could then create a QR Code from their video, and copy and paste that code in their multimedia presentation!
I love QR Codes…can you tell?!
Thanks for reading 🙂

QR Quiz Maker=AWESOME!

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If you are a QR Code nut like me, you are going to LOVE this tool.

This QR Code activity (from classtools.net) is amazing, of course because it deals with QR Codes, but also because it does not require an Internet connection to work!

Before your class can begin this activity, they obviously need to download a QR Code reader (many are free) from their device app store.

This activity is SO easy to create. Teachers can type or copy and paste their questions/answers into the generator following this scheme

  • question*answer
The answers are NOT displayed in the QR Code…it is just for the teacher’s use.
I’m in the process of creating a review game with this tool right now. My students are beginning to review for the EOC…so, here is how I plan to use this tool.
  • Landmark Case review
  • Vocabulary review
  • Constitutional principle review
Since my students can access Google Drive now, I’ll create a chart in Documents, and use Doctopus to share it with the students. I may even put them in groups and let Doctopus do the distribution work for me!
This is a different way to review information…and allow the students to use their electronic devices for EDUCATIONAL purposes!
If you can’t tell, I’m a little excited about using this tool. Check it out by clicking here.
I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for reading 🙂