Tech Tips for Teaching & Learning

Google Docs - the improvements keep coming!

What's new?

• Offline access - you can now edit and view documents, spreadsheets and presentations even when you're offline. When Google Docs detects an internet connection, it saves your work.
• Save presentations as ppt - as mentioned in training, the Google Docs presentation app does not yet have all the bells and whistles of PowerPoint, but it's very functional and great for students working on a presentation as a group. Now the presentations can be saved as .ppt (PowerPoint), allowing greater flexibility.
• More search options - to help you stay organized and find your documents
• Saved searches and a customized dashboard - click on Saved searches in the left pane, and you can create a customized dashboard showing your docs just the way you want them.
• Colored folder names - for us visual people

Have fun!

Best of the Web

Some great websites I've come across recently...

• National Geographic Interactives - This site is an amazing example of the power of the web to enhance learning. It is absolutely beautiful, and includes interactives, quizzes and maps on many subjects. Don't miss the More Interactives link toward the bottom of the page!
• Tolerance.org - This site from the Southern Poverty Law Center has won numerous awards. Topics include The ABC's of Domestic Poverty, Bullying, Respond to Hate at School, and my personal favorite, Explore Your Hidden Bias.
• Smithsonian Institution - The name speaks for itself. Don't miss the Smithsonian Channel programs!
• I recently had the opportunity to visit the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. Their website includes thought-provoking online exhibitions.

Have some favorites of your own to share? Please comment!

Public Speaking Resources for Teachers

Here are some interesting and inspiring Public Speaking sites for teachers.

• Allyn & Bacon's Public Speaking Website                                                                           Contains six modules about the process of public speaking -- Assess, Analyze, Research, Organize, Deliver and Discern.
                        http://www.abacon.com/pubspeak/
• Strategies to Succeed in Public Speaking
    Includes goals, success requirements, preparations, resources, and related information.
    http://www.school-for-champions.com/speaking.htm
• American Rhetoric
    An impressive index of thousands of famous speeches.
    http://www.americanrhetoric.com         
• Advanced Public Speaking Institute
    Choose from 20 categories and over 100 articles to help with public speaking.
    http://www.public-speaking.org/default.htm
• Public Speaking Skills from Mind Tools
  Learn to speak and present clearly and effectively. Improve your speaking skills with this Mind Tools guide to speaking effectively in public.
    http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/PublicSpeaking.htm
• Study Guides and Strategies: Public speaking
    Features techniques and strategies for speaking in public and presenting presentations.
    http://www.studygs.net/speaking.htm

This information is from the EduHound website:
http://www.eduhound.com/cttarchives/030608ctt.cfm

 

You can make a quick survey with Google Docs!

Google Docs now includes an easy survey maker through the Spreadsheet tool. This is well suited to collecting simple information from your classes (like an evaluation or a getting-to-know-you activity), or gathering information from your department or a committee. It doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles, but that's part of what makes it so simple! Several teachers at CDH have already tried this tool, and they're raving about it!

For a quick demonstration see Drape's Takes.

Google Docs Intro

Last week's Tech Day was an introduction to Google Docs. We had a great time creating and sharing documents, and many of you have already come up with terrific ideas for using these tools in and out of the classroom. If you missed the session or want to review, here is an online presentation which outlines the basics. Other sources for help are the Google Docs Help page and Atomic Learning.

Note that we are now recommending Google Docs as the word processor of choice for students and teachers. Using this online tool means no problems with forgetting where it's saved, not having the disk, or having different (incompatible) versions at home vs. school. The spreadsheet program is also recommended, but at this point we do not recommend use of the presentation tool; it does not handle animations nor import well from PowerPoint.

Look for ongoing updates and tips on Google Docs in this space. I welcome your questions!

GMail Keyboard Shortcuts

I'm a big fan of keyboard shortcuts. They save time since you don't need to move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse to make something happen.

To use shortcuts in GMail, first click Settings (upper right), and then pick Keyboard shortcuts on. Go back to your email; you will now be able to use these shortcuts. Start by picking a couple of commands you use often (like c for Compose, or shift-c to compose in a new window), and add others over time.

Text Message Dictionary

BTW if UR a NUB NP. TTYL.

Puzzled by text message abreviations? Take a look at this list of the Top 50 Most Commonly Used Text Terms from NetLingo.

Becoming a Literate Educator

David Warlick offers practical, doable ideas in his 2 Cents Worth blog posting A Path to Becoming a Literate Educator. Even if you only try one of his suggestions, you'll make progress in developing the skills needed to be an effect 21st century teacher.

One suggestion is to read blogs. This is a practice I find invaluable and very interesting. These are a few  of the other educational blogs I read regularly (in no particular order):

• Nancy Willard's Weblog (Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use)
• Dangerously Irrelevant (Scott McLeod's blog)
• learning.now (Andy Carvin, PBS Teachers)
• Educational Technology (Roy Schroeder, University of Illinois at Springfield)
• The Top 101 Websites for Teachers
• Ed Tech Journeys (Pete Reilly)

Give one a try! Have favorites of your own? Please comment!

Are older teachers more resistant to technology?

A 2005 survey by CDW-G indicates no inherent resistance to technology based on age. Having worked with a number of experienced teachers who embrace technology to enhance their teaching, I have always questioned this stereotype. So I was pleased to see this blog posting by Pete Reilly: Fact or Fiction: Are older teachers slower to adopt technology?

My own belief is that personality is a better indicator of openness to technology and other teaching innovations. Comments?

EMail tips to start the new year

A few tips and reminders to enhance your 2008 email experience...

• Avoid sending an email to everyone when it's only intended for a few. Though it takes you a few more minutes to type in those email addresses, look up the group name, or create a mailing group, it reduces the amount of mail in everyone's inbox and increases the likelihood it won't be overlooked.
• Avoid responding to a email with a totally unrelated message. Example: you send me an email about a problem with your computer, and I respond with a message about tech day. This makes it hard to find messages when searching later. The subject line should, well, describe the subject!
• Speaking of the subject line, use one! Don't leave it blank.
• Use labels to put your email into categories before archiving it. This will help you to find it later.
• Take the time to learn how to use contacts and mailing groups. The time you spend up front will save you time later.
• Don't use ALL CAPS in your email. THIS IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING, WHICH IS RUDE.
• The rule of thumb about counting to ten when you're angry applies doubly to email. Remember that email does not capture your inflection, gestures or facial expressions; it can easily be misinterpreted. It is also captured in writing and could be forwarded to many people; once you send it out, you have no control over it. Consider using another method of communication if the subject is sensitive or emotional.
• Remember that your CDH email is for school-related use only, consistent with our mission and values. Use a separate account for personal email.