Check it out Google Form Add On

I was recently watching a video from Richard Byrne who I follow on YouTube and on his blog Free Tech for Teachers. The video was how to setup a Google Form for a check in and check out system.

The first thing I thought of was classroom libraries and departmental equipment.  No more, who has that book, where are the ipads, or who borrowed the PE equipment.  Now you have a very easy check out/in system you can post to your website.

Using a Google Form add on called Check it out, allows teachers to create a very simple form and system for students and teachers to check out and check in items.  Take a look at this video it explains it very clearly and is less than 5 minutes.

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.

Google Cultural Institute

 The aim of the Cultural Institute is to preserve and promote culture online

If you have not had a chance to browse the Google Cultural Institute, I highly recommend it.  Outside of simply navigating the art museums and  wonders of the world, you can examine primary source material on major historical events in history.

Finally, if access through our district Google accounts, you can create your own personal lists of personal collections that you value, curate your own galleries, and even push all of this material to your Google Classroom courses!

This is a powerful tool, and one that can be incorporated in to a wide variety of curricula.  Check out the YouTube Channel dedicated to the Institute.  Go explore today, and make sure to share your experience with your peers!

Sean Mullins | Instructional Technology Coach

New Google Feature: Suggested Edits

With Suggested Edits mode, you can now delete, add, and alter your student's Google Docs in a protected mode that automatically creates suggestions.  When students receive their documents back, they can accept or reject the suggestions, or make their own alterations that closely mimic the suggestions.  If you are familiar with the Track Changes mode available in Microsoft Word, you'll feel right at home with Suggested Edits.

Here is an example of how it works.

1. Student submits a Google Doc.  By default, the viewing mode is set at "Editing".  You will see this new icon in the upper right hand corner of the Google Doc.

1. You switch the viewing mode to "Suggesting".  The view mode button will change to a green color to indicate the new viewing mode.

1. Add a comma, change the formatting, or replace a word.  Any of the edits that you now make to the paper will automatically create a comment box to the side of the Google Doc explaining what edit is being suggested.  These suggestions can be accepted, rejected, or replied to by the student.

This new format is great for teachers who found it cumbersome to always add a comment whenever they wanted to make a student aware of something that needed to be fixed.  Comments are still available when you want to get a complex thought across to your students.  Suggested edits provide a quick way for suggesting grammatical changes.

And don't forget, students can use this as well during peer editing!

Using Google Drive for Literature Circles

My 7th Grade Literature class was joined by Amber O’Day, Technology Coach, who partnered with me to get students organized in their Google drive and use Google Docs for an online literature discussion. She took the lead role on Thursday and guided each student to set up folders in their Google drive for our team and each subject. Each student also created a Lit. Circle folder within their Literature folder. A lead student was chosen, while others gathered around the computer to demonstrate how to create and share a document with others. After each group created a shared folder and document, I typed two discussion questions into the shared document.

On Friday, students returned to the shared document to answer the questions and respond to each other. Students began by keying in their name on a bullet under the question to answer and respond to one other student. Students were taught how to use the provided bullets and choose a font color for their answers. They were then taught how to respond to a group member with an indented bullet. This activity allowed them to work on writing good responses, as well as discuss their common novel.

Mrs. O’Day instructed the first two periods while I assisted. I took the lead for the 3rd period as she assisted me. I was able to do the last period on my own. Overall it was a very successful activity and reinforced the Google Drive/Documents terminology while working on writing and discussion objectives.

In addition to the Lit. Circle discussion, I also created a Google Form on books for the next Lit. Circle session. This form is located on my website if you want to take a look. After having the students fill out the survey, I met with Mrs. O’Day again and we will be tweaking it to make it a little easier to sort by hour and student name. Overall the survey made it very easy to place students in their new lit circle groups.

Mrs. Coyle – PJHS 7th Grade Literature Teacher