Lemon Tech Tidbits

PRIVATE COMMUNICATION IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM One of the things that I like about Google classroom is the ease in communication between the teacher and the students by creating a post. But whenever a post is made, it is placed on the Stream where everyone in the class can see and read. There are times though when you want to encourage students to make a comment that is private so you can provide individualized feedback. But how do you do it? Alice Keeler has a solution. She recommends teachers create an assignment in which the task is to post a private conversation.  In this blog post, she provides the step-by-step instructions: http://alicekeeler.com/2016/08/24/google-classroom-private-comments/ Now, let’s take this a step further. We all know of a student or two that may have general questions over a concept or two but are too scared or nervous to ask, especially in a classroom setting. Why not make a general assignment with the title Questions and allow students to post privat

QUIZLET: NOW WITH LABELING GAMES Quizlet is one of my favorite sites to use to create easy study guides and games for students…..especially in creating flashcards. What makes it so great is its FREE, easy to use, and there are already thousands of study sets already created for the busy teacher to use and/or modify. But Quizlet use to have one flaw, it did not include a way to study diagrams…..until now. Quizlet has just announced you can use diagrams and illustrations to create a study guide (flashcard set) for your students. From Quizlet itself, ”Creating diagrams on Quizlet is simple. With convenient annotation tools, locations and definitions, you can quickly add new layers of customization to your study material.” What is more, they already have some created for you to check out and use today: https://quizlet.com/diagram-showcase

New and Updated Destiny  (Library Catalog)

Gmail:  creating groups, adding labels, and using filters Creating email groups in Gmail Creating and Adding Labels to Emails

8 TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS USING EMAIL by Alice Keeler The other day, I was going through all of my notes from blog posts, tweets, facebook post, etc. about technology that I was too busy to read but still looked interesting. This was one of those posts and I feel it is very timely to share it now that school has officially started for most of us. In this post, Alice Keeler explains 8 simple tips to remember whenever we are communicating with parents by email. These tips include: Using BBC for the addresses to help protect privacy Using a specific subject line Putting important information in the body of the email instead of relying on links Using Google Keep to help create the body of the email Eliminating or reducing attachments Platform independent communication How to include a Google Form And another hint about using Google Forms To read more about the tips as well as full explanations, visit her blog post at: https://goo.gl/dEHh82

TEMPLATES IN GOOGLE DOCS & SHEETS Google recently announced they were going to be changing the templates available in Google Docs and Sheets. Before, Google would create templates over popular documents and sheets to help save time with formatting. At the same time, 3rd party developers were creating Add-ons to help customization of the same forms. So Google thought…..why not combine the two? Now, when you access some templates, you will see a small icon on the bottom letting you know there is an Add-on that will help make the template functionality. When you click on the template, the Add-on is automatically included. An example of this is the MLA Report Template. When you click to use this template, it will automatically attach the EasyBib add-on. Try it out. Click here for the Google Doc Template Gallery: https://goo.gl/vui5V8 Click here for the Google Sheets Template Gallery: https://goo.gl/Q7zfjT

Must-Have Chrome Extensions For Teachers There are hundreds of Chrome Extensions currently on the market with new ones being developed every week. Everyone has their favorites tips and tools to help make their day more efficient. Chrome Extensions are no exception. Everyone seems to have a favorite one or two. Before we get started if you don't know how to install Chrome Extensions or have questions on how you can manage them, visit:  https://goo.gl/k7mkjf Here are my favorite Chrome Extensions for Teachers.  goo.gl URL shortener (unofficial : This is my personal favorite URL shortener. It was one of the first Chrome Extensions I learned about, the first I started to use, and is still the one I use the most today. It is so easy to use. When you find an online site you want to share, all you have to do to shorten the URL is to click on the icon. Not only will it show you the shortened URL and give you the option to copy, it will also provide you with a QR code. Al

Updated Teacher's Guide to Google Classroom https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3aY4GDxqKu6YjRZTDFxbm16SXM

Google Calendar I use Google Calendar all the time, especially during the summer. With all of the baseball games, sports camps, different work schedules, and everything else, it is vital to have a calendar that is easy to use and access but can also be synced with everyone in the family....like Google Calendar!  Here are  5 Google Calendar Tips for New Users by Richard Byrne :  https://goo.gl/thvVCw 

How to transfer Google Drive documents When you leave Chapman High School, your Google Account will be deleted during the summer. If you want to take your stuff “with you”, then you need to follow these steps: Open up your Google Drive Account and make sure you are logged in. There are TWO different ways to transfer your data. Google Takeout Visit Google Takeout and create an archive of your account data. (https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout) unselect all of the boxes select only the boxes you need click next download as a zip file send download link as a file to email open link - convert zip file and upload into your personal account Old method - Google Drive transfer Open up your school Google Drive account Select all of the files by holding down the shift key and highlighting OR Create a new folder and move all of your folders and files into this new folder Click on the three dots at the top right-hand corner Sele

Free Technology Curriculum from Google! Earlier this year, I spent countless hours creating lessons and guides for a high school tech essentials class. At the time I was creating them, I was wondering why Google didn’t have an online curriculum site for students like they do for teachers (i.e., the education training sessions for getting your certifications). Well....now they do! And the best part? It is FREE! Google has created a site that contains video-based lessons for grades 7-12 over different G Suite applications. As a teacher, you can sign up to create an account by simply using your google login. Students can join your class using a special code just like with Google Classroom. Each unit is over one theme but as students work through the lessons, they will learn how to use the different applications such as slides, sheets, docs, and more. Check it out:  https://goo.gl/wucZH1  

Every month, it seems like Google comes out with more and more updates to all of its apps. Some of this updates apply more for the business world than education and others apply more for those that handle Administration of the site than teachers. However, there does seems to be a few updates every time that applies directly to teachers and students. Here are a few of them: Google has a search feature called  Google Cloud Search.  This is an app you can download on your phone that will search across all of your G Suite applications to find the exact file you want. Before, this was only available for android phones but it is now available for iPhones and iOS devices. For more info:  https://goo.gl/RfbtHU Google Classroom is now available through personal accounts (i.e. you don’t have to have a Google Account to create and use Google Classroom). For more info:  https://goo.gl/KMBsp4 Google Accounts login page will have a new look at the end of this month. For more info:  http

I have found myself multitasking more and more as the school year winds down. This is the time of the year when I am either running on full-stress ahead mode or find myself doing tasks that are mind-numbing such as scanning in every single book and item to complete inventory. To help break things up.....and to use my time as wisely as possible, I have started to listen to  webinar podcast  while I work. When I am scanning in books or driving long distances, listening to podcast helps keep my mind active and I find myself learning while I work or drive. I have my guilty pleasure podcast that are purely enjoyable (looking at you Hardcore History and Working by Slate) ....but I wanted to share one designed specifically for educator’s..... YouMediaNetwork Learning Labs . YouMedia Learning Labs is “an open community of educators & mentors who share knowledge, questions, and collaborate with colleagues... across the network.” They have several webinar podcast you can listen to

The Not So Sexy Google Apps by Gail Ramirez Earlier this year, I attended the wonderful M.A.C.E. conference in Manhattan Kansas. One of the workshops I attended was by Gail Ramirez who is a Google Educator Trainer and works for the Topeka School District. Her presentation covered all of the Google Apps that don’t get as much attention as the big five (Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Forms). In her presentation, she talks about the lesser known Google Apps and how they can be used collaboratively within a class curriculum. She shared a presentation that breaks down each one of these apps into a brief summary of what they do and a tutorial video of how to use it. I would encourage everyone to take a look at her presentation and discover one or two Google Apps you can use in your classroom. The presentation can be accessed here: https://goo.gl/lfXTHv 

This summer, why not sign up for  FREE  professional development webinar’s offered on  edWeb.net ?  edWeb is a place where teachers can sign to create a personal learning network. On this network, teachers and educators collaborate, share ideas, and more. Many of these are through webinars. Each day, there is a new webinar that is usually an hour long over technology and best practices for education. All webinars are free and many are hosted by experts in the field. After attending one, you will receive a CE certificate for attending.  Some of the upcoming webinar’s include: “Fake News” and the Case for Media Literacy Across All Grades Making the Most of Math Models Strategies for Encouraging Reading Readiness in Young Children   For more information:  http://home.edweb.net/ 

You are already familiar with the Google Apps tools, why not show everyone what you know by getting your Google Certified Teacher level 1 and level 2 badge? Here are the steps: Login to  https://goo.gl/LhEfpC Take the  Fundamental’s Training sessions.  Each session is broken up into many small lessons with a short quiz to check for understanding at the end. You don’t have to go through them all to take your final certification test but I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU DO....even on lessons over topics you have a high comfort level. When you are done, sign up to take the Educator Certified Level 1 exam. This exam cost $10.00.  When you finish level 1, repeat to take Level 2. The level 2 exam cost is $25.00.  •  The exams will take around 3 hours. You will be asked permission for Google to use your camera - this is how they check to make sure you are in fact the one answering the questions. Feedback on how you did is very quick. For more information: https://goo.gl/t5Nwlr 

Team Folders in Google Drive! As the school year winds down to a close, it is time to start thinking about ways to store and save all of our wonderful files, video’s, pictures, forms, and more for next year. In some cases, there may be a PLC in which a member may be leaving.....or a Parent/Teacher organization who will have new leadership.......or a technology committee that will have different members next year... or even a new student lead activity group. Whatever the case may be, it is important for all of the files for the committee/team to be accessible to both incoming and past members. This is why everyone is so excited Google Apps recently announced the addition of TEAM DRIVES. What are Team Drives?: “Google Team Drives are shared spaces where teams can easily store, search, and access their files anywhere, from any device. Unlike files in My Drive, files in Team Drive belong to the team instead of an individual. Even if members leave, the files stay exactly where they a

Getting Going With G Suite - An Online Course for Teachers (graduate credit is available). From Practical Ed Tech for Teachers and Richard Byrne is an opportunity to earn PD points and/or College Credit while learning all about G Suite (Google Apps). This is a webinar series so you can attend while sitting at home in your pajama’s. The cost is only $147.00 to participate ($450 with college credit). There are four different sessions so you can pick which one works the best for you. This online course will cover: •  Basics and Tips over  Google Drive • Google Calendar •  How to create a  Google Sites  (website) & use it as a blog •  Basics and Tips over  Google Classroom For more information: https://goo.gl/jGqqrf 

Google Drawing: One of my favorite Google App. When people think of G Suite and the Google Apps, they think of the big three: Google Sheets, Slides and Docs. Today though, I want to talk about one of my favorite apps that often is overlooked..... Google Drawings! Google Drawings reminds me a little bit of using Apple Pages and/or Publisher. It’s a place where students can be creative in designing posters and so much more. Recently, I stumbled upon a blog post by  Matt Bergman ,  technology leader extraordinaire, who provides a  cheat sheet  over Google Drawings as well as ideas on how to incorporate Google Drawings into your own curriculum. Here are a few of his ideas: Create and share graphic organizers Create interactive worksheets Infographics Provide screenshots of computer instructions Explain complex concepts with images and captions Create, collaborate and share visuals and diagrams Create, collaborate and share timelines  •  and many more. All of

PrepFactory  is a website that provides help for those who are about to take their ACT or SAT test. The best part? It’s  FREE! Go to  https://www.prepfactory.com/ Sign up takes about a minute, quicker if you use your Google account. You can sign up as a student or as a teacher. The website is filled with games to help practice those pesky questions, content maps full of video’s to help refresh knowledge, test-specific strategies to use, and practice sets to give you an understanding of the tests.  There is even a Middle School section! As a teacher, you can create a class and have your students join. PrepFactory walks everyone through a step-by-step system complete with a pre-test in one or all of the core subjects. After the assessment, PrepFactory provides video instructions to help brush up your knowledge. If you don’t want to access the website but would like to use the video’s as a refresher, visit the PrepFactory Youtube Video playlist at:  https://www.youtube.com/

Google Keep + Google Documents Together at last Okay, I admit I am slightly old-fashioned when it comes to making list &/or notes. I have a pile of scrap paper on my desk in which I like to grab to jot down a note or two while I work. In most cases, this system works very well as the notes serve only a temporary purpose. Once I am done, there is something intrinsic about throwing this scrap paper away. But there are times when I find myself hurriedly stuffing these small pieces of paper in my computer bag or purse as time runs out or the days become hectic. This results in a huge mess as these small single pieces of paper just beg to get lost. Enter  Google Keep .... Google Keep  is an easy to use platform designed by Google as a way to store your lists, notes, doodles, and much more. For some, it was useful but having to open up a separate browser or app wasn’t that convenient. Today, that’s no longer a problem. Google Keep is now integrated within Google Docs with a Keep

PBS Kids Video Did you know you could watch videos from PBS Kids television series for  FREE  at anytime or anyplace as long as you use the app? PBS KIDS Video” features more than 1,000 videos from over a dozen top PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, including Curious George, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, Dinosaur Train, SUPER WHY!, Sesame Street and Wild Kratts.” New videos are added every week. For parents, the app allows them to add favorite shows to a child’s app or learn more about a series. Children have access to all of the shows in a vertical and visual menu on the right-hand side with their favorites at the top.  The format and graphics of the app make it super easy to use. The app can be downloaded on any device. Check it out at:  http://pbskids.org/apps/pbs-kids-video.html  

NEW! Use Gradient Colors on Google Slides Google Slides just keeps getting better and better! You can now choose gradient colors for your background or shape in Google Slides. It's very simple, just select  Background , click  Color  and then select the  Gradient tab  on the right. When you’re happy with your color hit Done. You can do way more with Google Slides than a simple presentation. Here is an article from Tony Vincent on how teachers can get creative using Google Slides in their classroom. Get Creative With Google Slides •  Some of the ways include:  •  Narrations •  Connect Four •  News Letters •  Math Manipulatives  •  Graphic Organizers  •  E-Book Creation •  and many more 

VocApp - Multimedia Flashcards on iOS and Android This article comes from Richard Byrne’s excellent blog  Free Technology forTeachers. VocApp   is a tool that allows you to create digital flashcards complete with audio. “To create flashcards on VocApp you need to create an account and sign-in. Once you're signed-in you can click "create flashcards" and begin writing out a list of words. Choose the language that you want to learn and VocApp will automatically translate words from English to the language you've selected. On the flashcard creation screen you can add an image to represent the words you're entering into your flashcards. The case of common words, VocApp will automatically add images to your flashcards. To help students learn how to pronounce words, VocApp offers audio support. VocApp does offer some pre-made flashcard sets for sale, but you don't have to purchase anything in order to use the service to create and study your own flashcar

NEW UPDATE: You can now insert video from Google Drive right into Google Slides! Before, the only way you could insert a video directly into Google Slides was if it was on Youtube. The problem? There are many great video’s online that are not available on youtube. Plus, if a student creates their own video using something such as iMovie, there was no easy way to add it into a Slide presentation.........until now. All you have to do is upload the video directly into your Drive folder. (in some cases, it maybe easier to download onto your desktop and then upload into Drive). Once you have the video into your Drive account, open up the Slides presentation you want to insert the video into. Next, click on Insert - Video. There is now an option to select video located in your Google Drive. Navigate to the right video and viola! - you have it inserted! To make it play automatically, you will need to right- click the video to designate a start and stop time. To watch a short video

Google EDU Google Tips This site was created by Google Edu as a way for teachers to share how they are using the features available on G Suite for Education. It is updated with a new “slide” every Tuesday. Much of the tips revolve around using Google Classroom efficiently and effectively but occasionally, there are tips for Docs, Slides, and more. Today’s tips include: Integrating current events into Classroom by use of third-party apps Why setting up a class just for all of the Seniors in your school can be extremely useful Ways you can use rubrics within classroom. Check out the site yourself at: goo.gl/7UH8vB

Three Android Apps for Creating Whiteboard Video’s. From the blog:   Android 4 Schools comes this post about android apps that can be used to create whiteboard videos. Know Recorder   is a free Android app for creating whiteboard-style instructional videos. In only four steps, you can create a video on the app and upload it to youtube to share with your students. To watch an video how to use Know Recorder, click here:  https://youtu.be/2f_VnLvi1qI Know Recorder also uses what it called a Know Lounge in which you can store and share your videos. Here is Richard Byrne show you how to use it:  goo.gl/83NwnH Clarisketch   is a very easy to use app that has been around since 2014. You simply take a picture, highlight the details while recording your voice, and share it with others. To watch a video on how to use Clarisketch, click here :   https://youtu.be/njKSAu2ilDY The last one is one that has also been around for a while but is till good to mention and that is  Explai

Reminder about  Thinglink and Haiku Deck After reading the post about apps for Androids....I started thinking about other apps/websites that have been around for a while that we forget to use. In particular, two of my favorites: Thinglink and Haiku Deck. Thinglink   is so very easy to use. You simply start with a picture and then you can layer on text, video, graphics, links, and more. To find out more, please watch this video:  https://youtu.be/SlEAmtuR4Do What is great about Thinglink is there are so many already created by other educators. All you have to do is remix to add in your own content or edit what is there.   Here is how:   https://youtu.be/SbhdEXZ_Jkw Another one that I absolutely love due to  how easy it is to use is   Haiku Deck .  Haiku Deck lets you add pictures and text to create an amazing presentation. It is now available on the web as well as an iPad app. To see how to create a Haiku Deck, watch this video :  https://youtu.be/5crVTsJk9QE 

Is this website/ online source  CRAAP? An easy to way to check to see if the source you found online is trustworthy is to use the CRAAP test. This  acronym was developed by California State University Meriam Library and is a sure way for students to remember. It stands for the following: C - Currency:  what is the timeliness of the information? R - Relevance :  does it fit with what you need? A - Authority:  who is the author/ publisher/organization.  Can you trust them? A - Accuracy:  what is the reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content? Can it be verified by other sources? P - Purpose:  Why is the information online? Is it to sell, inform, or persuade you? For more information:  goo.gl/fBQub7