2020 Year in Review...

2020 has been difficult for all of us especially teachers and students.   There were celebrations, deaths, isolation, loss of human interaction, online learning, mental health issues, racial and social justice awareness, political unrest and through all of it we have prevailed. 

I sent my daughter to college this fall and it was not the "college experience" she was expecting, but she was able to live on campus, meet new people and still get some college life. My son who has dyslexia was challenged this fall with a new learning style which did not suit him well.  To say there were several "bumps in the road" is an understatement, but we muddled through. 

Covid -19 took over and has not let up.  2020 has been one of the busiest years I have had in a very long time. I have done more meetings online then I ever thought I would. Spent more time looking up ideas and solutions for teachers and students.  TicTok took over as the number one PD for teachers sharing out tips and tricks and even though you have seen it from one teacher, another is using the tool in a different and exciting way and it is fun to watch, especially for me being out of the classroom.  Bitmoji's made an appearance in education on Google Classroom headings,  presentations, docs, sheets, sites, etc... and we love them.  Personal Learning Network circles have been expanded and we are following and asking questions to groups we have joined on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Teachers are getting advice on projects, tips and tricks and sharing and receiving ideas from people across the world.  No longer are we isolated to our classroom, building, district; there is a whole world out there sharing information and willing to provide help.  All we have to do is look for it.

2020 put us all on notice that life is precious and human interaction is a must.  Take a look at the resources for 2020 in review.  Maybe you can use some to open up and spark some conversations for the beginning of 2021.  

Dear COVID-19 from Anthem Creative on Vimeo.

Resources:

• Best Selling Books of 2020 - Amazon 
• 2020 An Extraordinary Year In Photos - The Washington Post 
• 2020 In Photos: A Year Like No Other - The New York Times 
• 2020: The year in pictures - CNN.com 
• Hopeful Images From 2020 - The Atlantic 

• Best Songs of 2020 
• 2020: The Year In Review - Time
• Year in Search - Google
• Best of the Year 2020 | People Are Awesome
• Google Year in Search 2020
• YouTube Culture and Trends

• Historical Events in 2020 - On This Day 
• 2020 in Review Fast Facts - CNN 
• Best Inventions of 2020 
• Year in Review 2020 Together Apart - Facebook
• 20 Trends That Will Define 2020 
•  Top 100 TikTok viral videos ( May need to watch on your non-school device if blocked)
• 2020 Hottest EdTech Tools (Some of these I have not heard of) 
• Netflix 2020 Year in Review
• Black Lives Mater - Getty Images 2020 Year in Review
• Empty Spaces - Getty Images 2020 Year in Review
• People We Lost - Getty Images 2020 Year in Review

While the year is ending there is hope for this new vaccine and children will be back in schools, teachers will have a whole new playbook to embed in their teaching, and we will eventually be able to take off the mask, hang out without being 6 feet apart, and really laugh and smile with each other.   Enjoy the holiday/winter break and know that 2021 will be better!  

Google Classroom Originality Reports

Google originality reports is an in house plagiarism checker for students which has been around since January 2020. In the Basic version, students could only run it 3 times before there was a charge. Since moving to Google for Education Enterprise, we now have originality reports as an unlimited option for students to run BEFORE they turn in their papers.   Teachers will simply turn it on for any assignment they would like the student to run originality reports. Take a look at this video to learn more. 

Instructional Tech Updates for December 2020

Take a look at the U5 Instructional Tech Updates for December 2020.  

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and look forward to getting out of 2020 and into 2021 and hopefully back into the classroom.  Stay safe, and have a wonderful holiday!  

PBS Learning Media Resources for K-12

Did you know that PBS LearningMedia has digital learning media that is great for in person and remote learning?  It also has Teacher Planning kits for PreK-12 for New School Routines.  You can Download these for free!

PBS LearningMedia has a plethora of great resources available for use. Sign in with your Google Account and filter by Subject, Grade, and Standards. Once it takes you to the topic, you can dig deeper into the discipline and the type of activity you want; such as Video, Interactive, Lesson Plan, Media Gallery, Audio and Images.   Pick the lesson you are interested in and read the About, Supporting Materials and Standards sections.  

Under Support Materials you will see multiple docs you can use, select the Supporting Materials Teaching Tips.  This doc has many resources and helpful hints on teaching the lesson. Students will use the interactive material to take notes, highlight, organize, write and highlight and comment.  The BEST part about these, is they are FREE!

Take a look at the videos on how to get started: Part 1

The Launch: Part 2

Getting started through Google Classroom, and Submitting the work in Google Classroom. Part 3.  Remember all work generated throughout the lesson is saved in MyWork and can be printed as a PDF and uploaded to Google classroom.  Take a look at the video below to learn more. 

Here are a couple to try:

• Rounding to the Tenths Place - Elementary
• Why Summer Days Have More Daylight - Middle School 
• DNA and the Science of Genetic Engineering - COLLECTION - Middle/High

U5 Tech Updates & Tips for November

 Take a look at the November U5 Tech Tips!  

Alarm Me Extension - Great for Remote Learning

Great little tool for students/teachers and whoever else needs this to keep them on track during remote learning..   Brought to me by Carlie Newton... our Counselor at CJHS.   

Turn off the Alarm by finding and clicking on this icon in the upper right of the Extension Bar.

Then select the X to turn off the alarm!  Quick and Easy! 

Forgot to add the turning off in the video. 

YouTube Links POP-UP with NO Ads TRICK

Every time I send a YouTube video I look on the right side for the types of vides that are going to display when teachers or students watch.  Students get distracted from what they are supposed to be doing very quickly, so here is a little U5 Tech Tip I recently learned about!  Check out this video as well Peardeck vs Nearpod Tutorial!  

How to setup your YouTube to share in Full Screen Mode:

Google NEW CITATION TOOL

OH my!  We have been using add-ons like EasyBib for awhile now for citations.  This internal tool is a game changer for Google when writing papers and showing students how to correctly cite their resources.  Take a look at the video below by Shake Up Learning.

Bitmoji Murder Mystery for Students!

Creating a Bitmoji is so much fun.  You get to make it look a lot like you or nothing at all.  When I was creating our Coaches Corner Bitmoji heading, it was fun getting all the Bitmoji's from everyone and to see how much they all look like the people who made them.  So, I decided I needed to join the FB Group Bitmoji Craze for Educators.  Once I did that, the ideas started coming in and the help from other educators when needed.  Many times you will have several educators who had the same issue and knew how to fix it. I think one of the best things about this group and the others I have joined is the PLN I have developed.  What is your favorite PLN group? Fill out the form!  Look at the results!

Murder Mystery Trailer:  What a great trailer, created by Tania Tasneem.

Murder Mystery Activity: Created by Frances Elizabeth

• You have to join the Group to get the Activity
• All Slides can be COPIED and EDITED.
• All Worksheets can be COPIED and EDITED.
• Adjust the Characters for your own mystery.

While you are on there, please tell them what you did to yours and share it out so others have different ideas they can select from. 

Connecting the DOTS (Distant, Online Teachers & Students

 

Connecting the Dots is a webinar series and website designed to support teachers and families in navigating the uncharted terrain of remote and hybrid learning during COVID-19. Brought to you by Illinois State University's College of Education, and open to all, this site is here to provide the latest approaches positively influencing teaching and learning. 

On the Connecting the DOTS website, you will find 10 Considerations for Remote and Hybrid Learning. For each topic you will see resources curated by ISU's College of Education faculty, and an upcoming free webinar that can be joined to talk with fellow educators who have promising practices to share.

Educators can register for the webinars at the Connecting the DOTS website.

Resource from ROE #17 Newsletter

Windows Video Editor for Teachers

Using Windows video editor is pretty easy to learn and use. The question is, why?  Well take a look at this video and find out why you may want to use this handy tool during our Remote/Hybrid learning days.  

iPhone Users - Notes as a Scanner

Did you know.....

If you are an iPhone or iPad user, you can use the notes app to scan a document and send it to whoever you want.  This has been a lifesaver for our family, as there have been several things lately we have needed to print, scan and send off.  Watch the screen record to see how easy it is. 

U5 Tech Updates & Tips

Trying something new this year.... as we have had a lot of change over the last several years and this blog has been neglected.  We are going to try to correct that.  Take a look at the first Monthly version of the U5 Tech Updates.   More fun learning tips will be posted weekly. 

Are You Investing in New Technology for this School Year?

As I sit and read this article published by Richard Byrne, I realize it will probably answer many of your questions on what to get if you need to invest in new tech as we move forward with our Hybrid school year.  

I have already invested in a tripod that will hold my cell phone so I can do videos.  Click on the link above and read what he suggests to get this school year started. 

Google Classroom

Google Classroom has been around for awhile now, but I sometimes I forget there are several people who have never used it before and/or have never seen the student side of what they are assigning.  While I try to help teachers out  by providing them with a "sample student" they can use to see both side, it is also important they really understand what they are putting out there and how the student sees it on their end.  

Here is a really great article and video via Free Technology For Teachers which shows the assignments from the teacher and student perspective.  There are nine things this video teaches.  Click on over and take a look.  

If you have not followed Free Technology for Teachers or Richard Byrne on Facebook or Twitter I would do so.  He has a lot of great teaching with technology advice.  

Using WebEX UPDATED

Our District owns WebEx for Video Conferencing.. This program is wonderful when you are wanting to connect with outside people who can't come in and talk to your students in person, you can bring them in virtually.  Now with Covid-19 and Remote Learning in progress, it has also become a tool for our teachers to connect with their students. 

Have you checked out our Remote Learning Website?

Take a look at  WebEx.... Teacher Setup.




Take a look at how STUDENTS Join:

Screencasting Video Recording - Remote Learning

Are you looking for a good Screencasting Recording software?

Have you checked out our Remote Learning Website?

Try Loom  Free to Students and Teachers.  Or Screencasify. Below are videos to get started..

E-Learning with Google Meet

In this unprecedented time, we understand the need to retain the connections to students and keep building those relationships.  Here is a short video on how to get started with Google Meet.

Have you checked out our Remote Learning Website?

Keeping up with Google Docs...

Google has made some great updates to Google Docs.  Take a look at this video on the following updates:

• Word Count
• Fonts
• Spelling and Grammar

Did you also know that you can in any tab key in Docs.new, Sheets.new, Slides.new and Forms.new and it will bring up a new doc right in the tab.....   Lots of great ideas in the video below.