Google and SchoolWires: Awesome Integration!

Here are some great ways to make your Schoolwires website more functional through the use of our Google tools.

1. Create a living homework calendar that pulls its information from a Google Doc
2. Embed Google Slide presentations on your site
3. Create a simple, rotating banner of images from an embedded Google Slide
4. Add a section to your site that displays the contents of one of your Google Drive folders

Draftback: Watch Your Student's Creation Process in Google Docs

Welcome to Draftback, a Google Chrome extension that allows you to gain a wealth of knowledge about the writing process of your students.  With Draftback you can rewatch a "video" of your student typing out their paper.  Additionally, you can view detailed statistics about the document, such as how many individual writing sessions it took before the paper was complete, and how long students were typing in each of those sessions.  Let's take a look at what Draftback can do in a bit more detail...

Google Docs & Rubric Options | Orange Slice/Doc Appender

I hear this question all of the time, "Sean, I love using Google Docs with my kids, but I grade using a rubric, and it's hard to do that with Docs".  Here are two options that allow you to use your own rubrics, view them along side the document that you are grading, and have the rubric/feedback inserted directly into the student's work!

Google Training Center

Have you been interested in learning more about maximizing your instructional use of Google and all that it has to offer?  Would you love to do that on your own time, at your own pace, from the people at Google themselves? How about having all of your time invested in this professional development tracked and your progress easily shareable with your evaluator?  The Google Training center is what you're looking for!

Technology PDAs

We are incredibly excited to be hosting another round of technology PDAs starting the week of Feb. 15th!  These four session courses (spread over four weeks) are a great way to learn and implement instructional technology tools.  If you are deciding on which Professional Development opportunity is right for you, read on!

Maximize YouTube Videos with EdPuzzle & Zaption

These two services allow you to add questions and comments to an online video which cause the watcher to pause and respond before they continue.  This is a wonderful method to increase engagement in video delivery.

STEM READ Professional Development

What would you do if a supervolcano erupted, your house caught on fire, you are all alone, and you had to travel across the country to reunite with family? Find out with the fast paced thriller, Ashfall!

The author, Mike Mullin, visited schools in Unit 5 and District 87 during the week before the Teacher Professional Development and provided some insight into his creative writing process while discussing the science aspect of the volcano and how he obtained his research. Mullin was engaging and students were able to interact with him before, during and after the presentations.