Google Drive is today’s fast and efficient way to demonstrate, show, share, submit, and learn with others! In the past, doing so was complex, time consuming, and requiring multiple steps. For instance, sharing a project containing website content and research for classroom implementation, would sometimes require teachers a windy or bumpy path, perhaps needing to: open and locate parts the different software programs that the presentation was created, locate researched text or typed research on a USB flash drive, log on the websites used, open an email account, try to upload and attach the entire presentation—and if that doesn’t work— converting the presentation, or hoping to determine the proper printer setting that’ll enable printing and making dozens of copies of the presentation for others!Hear, hear! To a direct and smoother path for educators (or anyone)! I learned more about utilizing Google Drive, Google Forms, and Google Applications and extensions this week, than I have in the last few years at any PD workshop or "training!" My liberated and motivated mindset has compelled me to share with fellow educators, the importance of working smarter, instead of harder!
GOOGLE FORMS provide teachers ONE PLACE to make, save, share, change, and organize it all…
- professional, student, and parent documentation
- data entry
- monitoring and analyzing student performance data of content skill areas
- PD research info. and lesson planning
- interactive student learning activities per subject area
- parent responses and ongoing communication
Check out the Technology Classroom Learning Resources tab on this blog, and select Getting Started with Google Forms link, to begin organizing your teaching needs more efficiently and accessibly when creating, saving, changing/adapting, and sharing a plethora of educational resources!There are several beneficial applications through Google you must check out and explore! You can easily narrow your search according to interest.
Three Preferred Reliable and Versatile Google Chrome Applications:
- The Voice Typing app excited me the most! I have severe RA everywhere, so writing by hand and typing can be painful. Now, I can use voice recognition easily and anywhere with Google Chrome! When you speak clearly, it works anywhere typing is needed when using a computer. You can select your own command shortcut through your microphone computer settings to access the voice typing app. This is a great tool for students that struggle with expressing their thoughts or have difficulties in language and/or written expression.
Note: Devices and microphones vary, so check out the two links below, for specific step-by-step links to enable the microphone and adding this Chrome App
Mac: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH22070?locale=en_USPC: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13764/windows-where-is-control-panel
2a. If opening a document through Google Chrome browser, click Tool and Voice Typing to access the app (Microphone icon appears)
2b. If opening any document or program outside of Chrome Browser, use your shortcut command keyboard function (you previously set up and chose when enabling your computer's microphone), to access the app (Microphone appears)
3. When ready to speak, click the microphone icon, and begin
speaking clearly, at a normal volume and pace
4. Click the microphone icon again when finished speaking
3. Students may select or complete passages and writing tasks of their choice or assigned specifically by their teacher
4. Each passage and writing tasks require students to either answer comprehension questions or written task responses
5. When students are finished, they submit & share the completed reading passage or written task with their teacher
3. When ready to speak, click the microphone icon, and begin
speaking clearly, at a normal volume and pace4. Click the microphone icon again when finished speaking
- Fluency Tutor is a Google App that facilitates motivated students to enjoy and maintain enthusiasm for reading, writing, & comprehension. Provides students efficient help to improve their overall reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension skills. Students can have the passage read aloud, use annotation tools when reading on their own, and record their own voice reading it aloud to improve reading skills. Fluency Tutor enables teachers to collect, track, & monitor students' progress in these content areas. Having student performance data provides teachers direction toward future instructional approaches & tiered interventions needed to increase students' academic success.
1. Teachers create a free account, and class roster(s)
2. Students use class code to access Fluency Tutor on iPads, Macs, or PCs3. Students may select or complete passages and writing tasks of their choice or assigned specifically by their teacher
4. Each passage and writing tasks require students to either answer comprehension questions or written task responses
5. When students are finished, they submit & share the completed reading passage or written task with their teacher
- Sketchboard.oi is another fantastic app, that can easily be added on your drive. This application provides an excellent way to communicate, document, take notes, and use with students to practice key content skills through mapping, drawing, typing notes, and using symbols and shapes to connect common themes in classroom learning. This would be great for spatial and visual learners, as well as students struggling with written expression or are unable to write.
2. Select more, and then connect more apps
3. Search for sketchboard, in the search engine box
4. Check out this link, Getting Started Step-by-Step to begin use and adding Sketchboard.oi app to your Google Chrome account. This enables your Sketchboard.oi account to used anywhere, with Google Chrome Browser. When the Sketchboard
app. is added it should appear as:
