Getting to Launch: Strategies for a Successful Website Redesign – presented at NAIS 2016, San Francisco 2/26/16
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MassCUE Winter Camp Featuring Google Apps for Education
UncategorizedPresented 2/18/16, Manchester by the Sea, MA
Session 1 – Google Certifications
Google Certification Options & Study Resources
Session 2 – Makerspaces and Google Apps
Session 3 – Tame Your Inbox – Getting More from Mail
Tame your Inbox! Getting More from Mail
Session 4: Collaborative Video Editing in the Cloud
Getting the Most Out of MassCUE Winter Camp: Featuring Google Apps for Education (or any conference for that matter.)
UncategorizedWe’re looking forward to this year’s Google-themed February break workshop, MassCUE Winter Camp. Building off of last year’s Googlepalooza, we were struck with the overwhelming response by educators excited to take a day from their February break to dive into using Google Apps for Education to enhance and transform teaching and learning.
Spending a day at a workshop is an investment – how do you ensure the day is a success? How do you maximize your experience at Winter Camp, or any workshop?
Here are just a few things to keep in mind to get the most from Winter Camp:
1 – The Law of Two Feet
Too often we feel trapped to stay in a workshop or session that’s not meeting our needs due to the fear of seeming rude by exiting the room. The law of two feet, one of the core aspects of the EdCamp model, frees everyone to keep learning at the heart of the day. If you aren’t actively learning or contributing to learning, it’s your responsibility to respectfully find a place where can do one or both of those things. If you get into a session and it’s not the right fit for you, quietly find one that is! Don’t worry about seeming rude – the session facilitators expect and encourage you to find a space that works for you, and the seat you vacate will likely be filled from someone leaving another session.
2 – Learn by Doing
Be selfish in your learning and experiment with new ideas during the workshop. As teachers, we work to create hands-on experiences for our students to learn, as we know that active learning is the most successful. But when given the space to get active in learning new methods, techniques, and models, it’s easy to become passive. The sessions at Winter Camp are designed to be hands-on. Take advantage of it! Try out a new tool, start planning a new project, or start acollaboration. You can’t improve your student’s experience by listening – get doing!
3 – The Smartest Person in the Room is the Room
One of the best parts of a conference is being surrounded by other teachers who are passionate about improving education. Strike up conversations, follow each other on Twitter/Instagram/Voxer/etc, and make some connections. While Winter Camp has an experienced group of Google Certified Teachers and Trainers, the wisdom of the crowd is the most valuable asset of any conference. Don’t be afraid to share – what you’ve found in your classroom is likely really valuable for others.
During Lunch, join the Demo Slam, where attendees give fast-paced 2-minute tricks, tips, and more. Short, to the point, and potent, these slam sessions are always a highlight.
4 – Different Strokes for Different Folks
Learning is not one size fits all. We know this from our students, but with PD we too often give every educator the same experience. Winter Camp has something for everyone, with sessions designed for a wide range of topics and levels. Facilitators also work to provide hands-on experiences in each session so you can find something that’s right for you. Customize your day – make a schedule that works for you, challenge yourself, and find what works for you. And if you ever find yourself in a session that’s old hat or over your head, follow the law of two feet.
We’ve been working hard to design a Winter Camp that works best for you. By following these tips, you can help ensure your time results in better learning for your students.
Originally posted at OnCueOnline, Feb. 10, 2016
Digital Citizenship: Experience Lessons from the Student POV
UncategorizedWebinar: What Does a Model Digital Citizenship School Look Like?
UncategorizedGoogle Apps – Tips for Teachers by Teachers eBook
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I’m glad to have been included in this Google Apps for Education eBook. There’s a ton of great tips for anyone using or considering Google Apps for Education.
Creating 3D Prints from Scans & Photos Quickly and Easily.
UncategorizedWalk-Through
Use these instructions to create a 3D printable file from a scanned image, using Pixelmator, OpenSCAD, and MakerWare.
Edit the image
Rotate the image if needed.
Crop the image as needed.
Use levels to adjust the image
Apply levels
Adjust levels as needed
Export as jpg
Export as jpg
Open the image in OmNomNom
Drag and drop image to open.
Keep size
Settings
Export as Logo
The object will open in OpenSCAD
Editing variables
Editing variables
Preview and render the model
Prepare to wait
Export as STL
Prepare (slice) your file for your 3D printer
Scale object as needed
Export to file
Print and enjoy!
9 Must Have Chrome Extensions
UncategorizedOne of the great features of Chrome is the countless extensions that can add extra features. Here are the extensions I couldn’t get by without.
Buffer
I love twitter and use it in primarily two ways: to share resources and have conversations. Often, I’ll find links in bunches and at unusual times. Rather than deluge my followers with 10 link tweets in the middle of the night, I use Buffer to space my tweets out and post at times that the majority of my followers are online. I’m generally very wary of any tools that auto-tweet (spam) on my behalf, but buffer is different in that every tweet is mine — I’m just time shifting the tweet to a better time. I highly suggest you check this one out if you are a heavy social media user.
Buffer
Evernote Web Clipper
Evernote is amazing. It’s become my digital brain, where I store reference materials and notes. The easiest way to get a web page or pdf into Evernote is through this extension.
Evernote Web Clipper
LastPass
Too many passwords? Don’t fall into the trap of reusing the same one everywhere. Use LastPass to remember your passwords. The form fill feature alone is a huge time saver as it’ll fill your saved information (address, email, etc) with one click.
LastPass
My Chrome Theme
I’m a heavy Chrome users user, and a different theme for each user is the easiest way to tell them apart. Create your own theme with this extension.
My Chrome Theme
Pinboard Tools
When Delicious went south, I switched to Pinboard as my bookmarking service of choice. This extension is an easy way to add a bookmark quickly.
Pinboard Tools
Pocket is a read it later service. I’ll click this extension when I have something I’d like to read but don’t have time to now, and it’ll be added to my Pocket account.Then, when I have time I’ll use the Pocket iOS app and enjoy some longer reads.
Pocket
Read&Write for Google Docs
This is a fantastic extension that helps in the writing process, particularly by reading back text in a Google Doc. I’ll often catch writing mistakes by listening to Read&Write. Anything that helps improve my writing is a must have for me!
Read&Write for Google Docs
Turn Off the Lights
YouTube is full of great videos, but it’s also full of some not-so-great ones that always seem to be recommended on the side of the videos I watch. YouTube comments are notorious as a display of the depravity of the human race. Especially when teaching or presenting, I don’t want those distracting aspects on display, so I’ll use Turn Off the Lights to black out everything but the video itself.
Turn Off the Lights
WAV Player for Gmail
The voicemail service at my school is able to email messages as a .wav file. Before this extension, I had to download the attachment and use an application or OSX’s quick look to listen. Now this extension adds a player in the email, no download needed.
WAV Player for Gmail
Those are the extensions that work for me. I’d encourage you to try them out, but also to look through the Chrome Web Store and find extensions that work for you.
Did I miss any must have extensions? Please let me know in the comments!
STEM in Action – Functional 3D AppleTV Mount Designed by an 8th Grader
UncategorizedThis AppleTV Mount was designed by an 8th Grader to solve a real-world problem. AppleTVs are relatively cheap and offer some amazing features, so we wanted to add these quickly and simply to our AV systems in classrooms. We wanted to mount AppleTVs directly to the projector, and neither velcro or double-sided tape could handle the job. Fortunately, we have a MakerBot Replicator 3D printer and a brilliant motivated student to create this:
So now around 25 AppleTVs are mounted throughout campus using this mount and a long zip tie.
If you need a mount, and have a 3D printer, feel free to download and print the design!
AppleTV Mount by Unsolved Cypher or grab the .stl file here.
AppleTV Update Eliminates The Major Issue with Widespread School AppleTV Deployment
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Apple released an update for the AppleTV this week that resolves the largest issue in using AppleTVs in a school. As covered here before, the AppleTV is a relatively cheap and powerful device that has many Interactive Whiteboard manufacturers scared. Previously, the only way to limit access to wirelessly project using the AirPlay feature was to set a password. Once the password was entered into a device, that device could “hijack” the screen from anywhere, as long as it was connected to the same network.
Now, an update is available which enables a simple fix. When “Onscreen passcode” is turned on, a 4 digit code will appear on the screen when attempting to AirPlay. Upon entering this code, the user will successfully connect. This forces the device to be in the same location as the screen, and eliminates headaches of the possibility of a projector being controlled by someone on the other side of campus.
At only $100, it’s easy to connect one of these to every projector and have simple wireless projecting in place for every teacher.