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13 Firefox Extensions & Sites You May Not Know
Web 2.0 Tool

13 Firefox Extensions and Sites You May Not Know

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Did you know that Firefox offers a host of security features and is a viable alternative to the Chrome browser? If you’ve not used Firefox, it might be worth giving it a try. Let’s explore a wealth of extensions for Firefox that I use every day. And maybe you can, too.

These extensions also work with Google Chrome! If you are on a Chromebook, use the Chrome Web Store to find them. Some extensions also work on the Mac Safari browser. The websites presented work on all devices!

Firefox Extensions to Try

LightShot. Need to annotate a screenshot and add boxes, arrows, and text in different colors? Then this is the extension for you. Available as an app on Windows and Mac, it also works for Firefox and Chrome browsers. A cool feature? Reverse or similar image search for any image you capture.

Lightshot Firefox extension makes screenshots easy.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: LightShot Home Page

Fireshot. If you need to save a scrolling, page-long screen capture as a PDF or image, this is the extension to use. It’s available for free with great features, but lifetime licensing expands what’s available.

ClearURLs. Do you despise those tracking elements that get added to website addresses? ClearURLs removes pesky tracking codes from Google Sites and Amazon links, making them easier to share.

Custom Scrollbars. If you wish the scrollbars on your browser were easier to see and access, this is a great option. The Custom Scrollbars extension allows you to pick colors for customization. Try it out!

FeedBro. If you want a fast, free RSS reader for skimming blogs and news, including TCEA’s TechNotes blog, FeedBro is the tool for you. This fantastic RSS feed reader allows you to subscribe to blogs and content with RSS feeds.

Feedbro
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Nodetics, FeedBro Page

Video Download Helper. Want to get a video from a webpage or site? This extension makes doing that as easy as a click. Go to the site, click the extension, see what videos are available, and choose the one you want.

Tree Style Tab. Do you wish you could run your browser tabs down the side of your screen instead of across the top? Or group them so you can collapse similar tabs into easy-to-manage sets? This extension can do this for you!

SimpleLogin. Avoid spam when you sign up for a newsletter or service. Instead of providing your actual email address, give them an email alias. SimpleLogin makes this process easy for you.

Create alias emails with Simple Login
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Simple Login Home Page

Must-Visit Websites

Reverse Image Search. This site provides a quick way to do a reverse image search. That way, you can help your students, staff, our yourself avoid copyright violations and properly credit images.

Reverse image search lets you get to the source of images.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Reverse Image Search Home Page

Free Videos via Pexels. Did you know Pexels offers more than free images? They offer videos you can use and edit, all without attribution. You can also give author credit (not required) using the provided citation information.

Calligraphr. Transform your handwriting into an actual font. My handwriting is terrible, and this is an excellent alternative. I suggest giving it a go.

Change your handwriting into font with caligrapher
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Calligraphr Home Page

Jotti Virus Scan. Not sure if that file on a student or staff’s flash drive is safe from malware or viruses? Use Jotti to scan it before you share it. It works great for browser-based devices, too. Whew, I’m feeling safer already!

FilePizza. Need a quick way to share files with someone else? FilePizza can make it happen. Upload a file, share the link, and the file is auto-magically transferred. You also get a QR code! Of course, encrypt the file if the data is sensitive.

Example of file sharing with File Pizza
Screenshot by the author: File Pizza Example File

I hope you’ve enjoyed this roundup of versatile extensions and sites! Were there any you’ll be trying out? Have any suggestions to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.

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Schoology
ChromebooksLMS

Three Fantastic Solutions to Schoology Problems

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Have a Schoology question that needs answering? Struggling through the use of a learning management system (LMS) on your own can be tough. Thank goodness for other educators out there who are figuring it out. In this blog entry, I’ll share three questions that generated discussion in the Schoology Educator Community.

1 – Mirror My Second Screen, an iPad

“I am having to teach from home for the next 2 weeks.  I thought I could connect my iPad to my laptop and use it as a second screen.  Would this work?  What should I do?  I have to be able to show how to work out math,” asks Jess. This is a tough one that isn’t particular to Schoology. Some of the responses educators shared include the following:

  • “Join the zoom call on both devices. Present your screen on your iPad. See app list below.”
  • “You can use a locker shelf or something similar and run Zoom on both the iPad and your laptop. (Have the sound off on one of them to avoid feedback).”
  • “Get the $20 phone holder gooseneck mount. It works with a variety of smartphones.”

Those first two solutions are great because they mean you don’t nee to go out and buy something else. You will need an iPad app that allows you to have a whiteboard. Here are some apps that you can use, but may need you to spend money on an in-app buy:

The problem with most of those apps is the recurring cost.  You will have to decide if it is worthwhile. Tools like Whiteboard.chat, Google Jamboard, and AWWApp work great on your computer.

Source: Matthew Patty, Northside ISD

A second grade teacher I know well decided to invest in a document camera. She’d rather draw on paper or traditional whiteboard she has. The camera, the HUE USB Camera, connects via a USB port. This makes it easy to get Zoom to use it as an alternate source for video/images. Get the HUE document camera from Amazon for about $90. Prices are going up, I notice so you may want to shop around.

Schoology

Another possibility? Try Sidecar. It allows you to mirror your Mac screen to your iPad. For Chromebook users, the Dualless extension simulate a dual monitor. Looking for more solutions like this? Explore the Teach Without Wires: Mirror Your Device blog entry. It features one of the solutions I’ve invested in, Mirroring360.

2 – Requiring Video Viewing Before Assignment Access

“Is there a way to make sure a student views a video lesson before they have access to the assignment?” If you have students that skip the video on their way to complete an assignment, you can try to stop that in Schoology.

Two approaches that work some of the time include completion rules and magic words. Be aware that you can use completion rules to stop them. After a few seconds, they are able to continue to the assignment. Another way is to put a password or “magic word” in the video. This word becomes the first question in the assignment.

Two solutions that you can try that work well include:

It’s a shame Schoology lacks a more foolproof solution, but do try EdPuzzle or PlayPosit. Either solution will cost you money.

3 – Disabling Assignments at Grading Period’s End

“It is the end of our first nine weeks! Is there a way to do a MASS disable of assignments? Our cut-off day is today, and I don’t want them working over the weekend and messing up my grades! HELP!!!!” That can be a bit of a bummer. You have all your grades set, and then students turn in more of their work.

Schoology

Source: Use the Lock Option in Assignment view, Schoology

Here are a few responses to this question:

  • Put all your assignments into a “First Grading Period” folder and then unpublish it. If an assignment is not published, students are unable to see it. You, as the teacher, will still be able to see the assignments in the unpublished folder. Your Schoology administrator does need to have enabled this option that ensures that unpublishing assignments doesn’t result in a removal of grades.
  • Another option is to lock assignments, but that may be time-consuming if done after. When you set up the assignment, add the lock with a future date to ensure the assignment can only be completed during the acceptable time.

It appears that the best solution is, “Lock assignments after a specified time (e.g. one week after due date). No late submissions allowed.”

Sharing Schoology Solutions

Need any more ideas for getting things done with Schoology? Be sure to check out the TCEA’s Schoology Educator online, self-paced course. You may also want to explore the TCEA Community.

Schoology

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g suite edu
Good TeachingGoogle Tips and Tricks

Planning Google Workspace EDU Use for Special Needs Children

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

How does your school or district address supporting students with disabilities, especially during remote learning? Remote learning was a sudden shock for most educators. Silence was often the reply when asked, “What are you doing with your special education children?” Remote teaching appeared a logistical mountain. There are, however, ways we can navigate these challenges using G Suite EDU and Chromebooks.

Wondering how to approach Special Education in remote learning and remote teaching ? Sign up for TCEA’s Special Needs Educator online course.

Per National Public Radio, families with special needs children rarely received support during distance learning this spring. In the report, the following is asserted:

Four in 10 say they are not receiving any support at all.

Just 1 in 5 report that they are receiving all the services their children are entitled to.

35% report that their children are doing little to no remote learning, compared with 17% of their general education peers.

And, 40% of parents of special needs children are concerned about their children’s mental health, compared with 23% of parents of other children.

A more recent study reinforces these findings, and noted that “35% [of families surveyed with children in special education] report that their children are doing little to no remote learning, compared with 17% of their general education peers.”

Special education efforts were tough to put in place. Many questions focused on, “How do we make special education teachers our co-teachers?” The answer to this simple question involved complex responses. Understanding a number of different aspects of G Suite EDU while managing effective remote learning can be hard.

A Useful Resource

Google provides some tips, neatly organized and rich with information. Since April 2020, they offer Guardian’s Guide to Tools for Children with Disabilities during Distance Learning. In their introduction, the authors point out the following (edited for readability):

Students with a specific need or disability get more support in the classroom. How do you do that via remote learning? We recognize that you may be looking to fill in some of the gaps now presented. Schools have chosen many types of technology for distance learning. Some of those include Google. G Suite and Chromebooks which have accessibility features built in to them. Google designed them to help each child learn in a way that works for them.

The Guardian’s Guide covers a variety of topics, including:

  • Accessing Accessibility Settings on Chromebooks and G Suite
  • Children Who Are Low Vision
  • How to Create Your Google Account
  • Children Who Are Blind
  • Children with Limited Motor Skills
  • Executive Functioning Challenges or Difficulty Focusing
  • Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
  • Children with Dyslexia

As you can see, there’s quite a bit of great content included in the twenty-eight page guide.

Video Tutorials and Tips

The guide includes links to video tutorials and many tips that parents can use to set up accessibility options for their children.

Guardian’s Guide is a must read for G Suite EDU schools and organizations. This is important if you are sending Chromebooks home with students. Take a moment to read and reflect on the guide.

What’s your experience with remote education for special education students? What best practices, tools, or techniques have you found? Let us know in the comments!

Photo: Google Chrome on YouTube

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chrome tablets
ChromebooksCTO/CIOGoogle Tips and TricksTechnical Support

Chrome Tablets in Your Future, Part 1

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

If you are getting ready to deploy new technology to your district, you may want to ask yourself a few questions first. Many of us as technology directors have gone through hardware deployments. Whether it’s laptops, iPads, docking stations, digital projectors, or some other hardware, problems can arise. No matter what you imagine as the perfect deployment, a mosquito will crash land in the ointment. And, often, these initiatives are top-down. The superintendent wants it, and your job as technology director is to make it happen.

What happens when the technology is the Chrome tablet? In this two-part series, we’ll explore some ideas for deploying and using them in schools.

Why Invest in Chrome Tablets?

Chrome tablets are easy to manage and app rich. Chrome tablets, like their keyboard-empowered equivalents, Chromebooks, come with a management license that makes it easy to set them up in bulk. This affords them a level of pre-deployment setup not available for other tablets. That means that you can have apps loaded for new Chrome tablets in a rapid manner.

Conway Wharton shares the following perspective:

“We have been using the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 tablets.  They are much easier to manage than the iPads, as well as being less expensive.  Once the teachers see what is available on them, they are very willing to switch.  From an IT perspective, it’s very easy to add applications. You seldom have to touch the tablets.”

In this blog entry, we’ll explore some of the apps you will want to consider. The app ecology is quite rich and Chrome tablets include web browser extensions as well as managed apps.

Questions to Ask in a Major Hardware Deployment

Here are a few questions that you must ask as an organization. Some of these will seem obvious. But what makes technology deployments fail is sometimes the obvious stuff. That includes communication, training, and managed expectations more than the esoteric technical issue.

1) What’s the point of the deployment?

“Our goal is to provide every child and staff member with the tools they need to be effective in the future.” That’s not an uncommon goal for hardware deployments. The question is, “Is that enough?” Experience has shown people the answer.

Consider John Hattie’s definition about the deployment of one-to-one (1:1) devices:

Many laptop or computer devices (iPad, netbook, tablet computer et al.) programs attempt to provide laptops to each student in a class or school.

What is the likelihood that 1:1 programs will accelerate student achievement? John Hattie’s meta-analysis of the research says, it’s “likely to have small positive impact.” With an effect size of 0.16, which is significantly less than the 0.40 in an average classroom, it’s not enough. Other changes besides deploying hardware must happen in order for the effect size to be more substantial.

With this in mind, we have to approach the goal of any hardware deployment another way. We must put technology together with high-effect size instructional strategies. Your superintendent needs to say something different. That might be something like the following:

“We’re going to focus on teaching and learning strategies that work. If it’s not evidence-based, we’re dropping it. We will use technologies that enhance the impact of these high-effect strategies. And we’re going to model that in classrooms. We are going to support it with a student-centered coaching model.”

2) What’s the magic mix of technologies that we can use to enhance teaching and learning in schools?

The magic mix is a combination of several technology selection criteria:

  • Cost effective
  • Easy hardware to support and manage
  • Works well in the target space
  • Enhances high-effect instructional strategies

Let’s explore each of these items in turn. We can use the Chrome tablet as one example.

Cost Effective?

It depends. Chrome tablet pricing remains mid-to-high compared to other devices. Initial reviews of tablets show they are under-powered when compared to competitors. That aside, is a single-use device “good enough” for a grade K-3 classroom?

Easy to support and manage?

Yes, the Chromebook management license available with tablets makes support easy. This makes it ideal for schools who have small technical support teams. The addition of styluses, front/back cameras, and USB-C make it easy to work with. Chrome tablets are often ruggedized, drop-resistant, and have reinforced ports. Some places where the tablets shine in hardware include:

  • Battery life
  • Cost
  • Setup (you can even get white glove service)

Works well in target space?

Chrome tablets work great in various settings. If tablets lend themselves to creativity and assessment, they are a winner. Can you snap photos with the tablet, arrange them in Google Slides, add audio? Yes. Can you assess students on STAAR, NWEA MAP, or Istation? Yes.

Enhances high-effect instructional strategies?

It depends on the strategy, but you can use Chrome tablets to enhance strategies. For example, concept mapping (0.64) works great with a stylus and a tablet.

Coming Soon: Enhancing Curriculum with Chrome Tablets

Stayed tuned for the next part in this series where we’ll explore the instructional niche Chrome tablets can fill in schools.

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Special Needs

Global Accessibility Awareness

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Global Accessibility Awareness Day falls on May 21, 2020. The purpose of the day is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access. As educators, we want to support students with disabilities, students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and teachers using accessibility features.

Background

The idea of a Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) started with a single blog post written by Joe Devon. Being a web developer, Joe wanted to raise awareness and know-how on making websites accessible to everyone. Consequently, he joined forces with Jennison Asuncion, an accessibility professional, to start GAAD.

The day is celebrated on the third Thursday of May. Both in-person and virtual events will be held on May 21, 2020. In addition, there are ways you can experience accessibility first hand in order to celebrate the day.

TCEA Accessibility Resources

To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’ve curated some TCEA resources below.

App Resources Every Special Needs Teacher Should Bookmark

This is a list of great apps specifically for teachers and staff who use iOS or Android devices and work with students with special needs.

Built-In Chromebook Accessibility Features

Did you know that Chromebooks come with built-in accessibility features? For that reason, Chromebooks can help expand student learning experiences.

Closed Captions in Google Slides

Explore the new, automated closed caption feature in Google Slides that will make presentations more accessible for your audience. In short, your audience will be able to read what you are saying.

Communication Beyond Barriers with Ava

If you are hard of hearing or deaf, communication with others can sometimes be a problem. As a result, a new app now provides a fast solution that removes any barriers.

Enhance Accessibility with Chromebooks

Explore Chromebook add-ons and extensions that will ensure learning accessibility for all students.

Give Struggling Readers a Better Way to Read

Looking for a way to help struggling readers? Try this Chrome extension in order to make it easier for them to read and understand.

Grackle Your Google Docs

Are you sure the Google Docs you create are accessible by all your students? If not, find out how easy it is to check with Grackle Docs. Your Google Docs will be accessible, as well as more readable.

How to Inspire a Passion for Learning with Audio Books

Human-read audio books are at the heart of this teacher’s strategy to support struggling readers. Learn how to inspire a passion for learning with audio books. Most importantly, students will have another way of enjoying books.

Improve Your Students’ Reading Experience with Chrome

Discover how extraordinary the Chrome browser is with this list of reading tools. Undoubtedly, they will help your students have a more successful reading experience.

Make Your Google Docs More Accessible

Take a look at these best practices that will help you create Google Docs that will be more accessible and usable by your students.

More Ways to Make Your Google Docs Accessible

Are you looking for more ways to make your Google Docs accessible? Check out additional best practices below in order to create easy-to-use Google documents.

New PowerPoint Translator Makes Captioning Possible

Accessible learning becomes a reality with Microsoft’s newest offering. As a result of this feature, you will be able to make same language subtitles.

Protect Your Eyes with Chrome Extensions

Learn about four different Chrome extensions that can protect your eyes. As a result, they will make reading easier, even for dyslexic students.

Reading Made Easy in the Chrome Browser

Getting through the extraneous content and ads on websites can be a trial these days. Finally, there are several solutions that will make reading easier.

Remote Learning for Special Education Teachers

If you are facing challenges as a special education educator during this tech-heavy remote learning time, discover three responses to the challenges.

Supporting Bilingual Students with Reading and Writing

Did you know that Chromebooks come with built-in accessibility features? Learn some ways in which Chromebooks help expand student learning experiences as well as help with reading and writing.

The Role of Technology in Special Education

Millions of US students take part in special education. Traditionally, meeting special needs was a challenge. New tech, however, offers new opportunities.

When Text to Speech Matters

Turning text to speech and vice versa gets easier every day. Explore solutions that will undoubtedly delight your ears with text to speech.

Website Accessibility for All

Making sure that the information posted to your district website can be used by all is critical. Here are resources to ensure website accessibility.

Mark the Day

Be sure to take some time out of your day to increase your awareness, as well as share your knowledge about digital accessibility. Let us know in the comments below how you will be marking the day.

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accessibility
ChromebooksSpecial Needs

Built-In Chromebook Accessibility Features

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Chromebooks are so powerful that they come with built-in accessibility features right out of the box. In order to unlock learning experiences for students with diverse needs, abilities, and learning preferences, try some of the accessibility features listed below.

Increase the Size of the Browser Content

Press Ctrl + Plus (+) to increase the size of the browser content. Ctrl + Minus (-) will decrease the size and Ctrl + 0 will reset it. The rest of the desktop will be unaffected. (This is great when you want to highlight a particular section of a website or even for those of us with “older eyes.”)

Increase the Size of All Items

Press Ctrl+Shift+Plus (+) to increase the size of the browser content. Note that the status tray and tab strip enlarge, too. Ctrl+Shift+Minus (-) will decrease the size.

Turn on the Built-In Full-Screen Magnifier

Magnifying Glass

To turn on the magnifier, click the snowman (three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the Chrome browser) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features (under Accessibility category) > Enable Screen Magnifier. Pressing Ctrl + Search + M will also get the magnifier to appear. To adjust the magnifier, hold Ctrl+Alt and scroll two fingers on the touch pad.

Use High Contrast Mode

To make the screen a little bit easier to see, use High Contrast Mode which inverts all colors. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Use High Contrast Mode. Pressing Ctrl + Search + H will also toggle the contrast on and off.

Adjust Mouse Cursor

Some students may prefer a larger mouse cursor. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Show Large Mouse Cursor.

Adjust Mouse Cursor

Highlight the Mouse Cursor When Moving

Colored circles can highlight the mouse cursor when it’s moving on the screen. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Highlight the Mouse Cursor When It’s Moving.

Highlight Mouse Cursor

Hear Text Read Aloud

When your students want to hear certain words or passages, all they have to do is highlight what they want to hear and then press Search+S once Hear Text Read Aloud is enabled. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Enable Select-to-Speak. Once enabled, you will also notice a small speaker icon appear in the status tray. Students can click the speaker icon to select text that they want to hear.

Use the ChromeVox Screen Reader

The built-in ChromeVox screen reader makes everything accessible using synthesized speech. Press Ctrl+Alt+Z to enable or disable it at any time.

Microphone

Enable Dictation

It might be easier for students to speak into any text field instead of typing. To enable dictation, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Enable Dictation. Once enabled, you will notice a microphone icon appear in the status tray. Students can then place their cursor in a text field, click the microphone icon, and begin speaking. Pressing Search + D will also enable the microphone.

Chromebooks help extend and expand student learning experiences, including those with disabilities and diverse approaches to learning. To learn more about accessibility in Google for Education products, click here. In addition, check out some of these TCEA TechNotes blog posts on accessibility.

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seesaw
AndroidChromebooksGood TeachingiOS Tips and TricksWeb 2.0 Tool

Learning to Juggle with Seesaw

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Are you a juggler when it comes to education?

Have you ever wanted one spot to keep track of everything as a teacher? Sometimes, we educators feel learning something new is “just one more thing to add to our plate.” But being a digital leader means sharing and collaborating effective, efficient ideas and tools. Seesaw Learning Journal is such a tool. It even can help educators communicate effectively and efficiently with both students and parents.

Seesaw is a platform to encourage student engagement online, where they can showcase their voice and ownership in their work. It is a student-driven online journal that can be used in many ways and is available through the web, iOS, and Android.

Ups and Downs of Seesaw

seesawThere are several benefits to using Seesaw. Students are able to showcase their best work for parents, peers, and teachers. Students are able to explain their masterpieces, and take pride in ownership through their use of camera, video, drawings, and notes, especially when they know it is being published. This helps shy students who want to speak but are not very vocal. Teachers benefit from Seesaw by being able to use the student journal as a paperless storage for work samples, to show and discuss at parent conferences, and even use as an assessment tool. Additionally, teachers can make private notes and give feedback.

Seesaw is also user-friendly for families. Parents can see and comment on all their child’s masterpieces, and they can communicate one-to-one with the teacher. Best of all, multiple parents or any family member can join and comment. I have one student right now that has her grandma, aunt, and mom connected, and they all comment on her work!

The core Seesaw service is free for teachers, families, and students. It is a key part of their mission to impact as many students as possible. They also offer Seesaw Plus and Seesaw for Schools, which are optional paid upgrades for teachers and schools who want to do even more with Seesaw. You can view a comparison of Seesaw, Seesaw Plus, and Seesaw for Schools features here.

As for the disadvantages of Seesaw, if students are signing in through a class QR code, they are not able to edit previous work. This requires the teacher to navigate this extra step. The appearance of the dashboard needs to be updated to be more appealing to the student. The disadvantage for the teacher is printing out invitations to the parents. You must download the entire class PDF file, not just one student’s, in order to send the QR code home. The con for the parents is the lack of push notifications on iOS and Android. On tablets, students are not able to draw on a still picture while recording their voice. For example, when my kindergarteners are reading a list of sight words, I like them to check them off as they read. They can on Chromebooks, and it may come Android soon.

Using Seesaw Learning Journals

Teaching students to use Seesaw Learning Journal is an easy task, even for kindergarteners. First, students can sign in either by email (recommended for grades 3-12) or by QR codes (recommended for grades PreK-2 ). I teach kindergarten, and in my classroom of 19, the students log in and add their “Wow Work” (best work) themselves on Chromebooks and tablets by signing in with a class QR code.

Next, students can add content by camera, video, notes, Google links, drawings, or even by uploading a PDF. My students this past week chose their “Leaf Projects” to showcase. They appsmashed with Chatterpix and uploaded it to Seesaw. Some then chose to type a sentence about their projects; others choose to type describing words. It was their choice, their voice, and they have ownership in their work.

Third, students have a choice when it comes to assignments within the “Activities Tab.” The assignment can be specifically for a certain student or be the same for the whole class. Finally, the student logs in and clicks his name, then his activity tab. After they complete their assignment, they save it to their Seesaw account.

Grown-Up Growth

Teaching the adults to use Seesaw is my favorite. After using Seesaw for six years now, my interest sparks each year as Seesaw is updated.

As a teacher, the class is set up by entering your students’ names and their email addresses, if you chose for them to sign in with emails. The teacher is then able to let students upload their work and can give feedback and comments about their work. Teachers also have the option of giving the students more power by letting them comment on their peer’s work. This is recommended as long as a digital citizenship lesson has been provided.

Next, teachers get to differentiate student work in the activities tab by only assigning certain work to certain students or the whole class. The activities tab provides teachers with a single place to see who has completed and turned in their assignments and who is still working on them. Teachers can also tag certain TEKS/objectives to certain activities. This makes it easy to pull up reports on a certain TEK and see if you need to reteach that concept, or if your students are grasping the lessons.

Seesaw has a plethora of activities already made for you. They are sorted per subject, per grade level, and are available to add to your students’ accounts. No reason to reinvent the wheel! The teacher can simply copy and adjust it to the student’s needs. The Skills tab on Seesaw is a great way to assess a child on a four-star scale.

Staying Connected

Another great part for teachers is the parent communication. For years, I used Seesaw, Class Dojo, and Remind for parent communication. I was all over the place, with some parents connected to this one but not that one. The last two years, I have only used Seesaw, and all my parents are connected in one place.

This makes it easy to send out announcements for the class, to send flyers home, or even a quick message. You can communicate to the parents/families, or just to the students, or just to one parent. It is a great way to send weekly personalized messages out on how their child is learning and participating in class. I also send out a weekly announcement on what their child is learning in my class for that week. I was able to embed my link to my Google document to sign up for parent/teacher conferences and was able to get real-time feedback.

As you can see, there are many pros and just a few cons to using Seesaw Learning Journal. Overall, Seesaw is user-friendly for the students, parents, and teachers. Give it try!

Laressia Martin is an educational technology leadership expert and elementary educator. You can learn more about her on her website or on Twitter.

“Vitz-9572”by Jon.Proehl is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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Announcements/Important DatesChromebooksGoogle Tips and Tricks

Get Idea Sparks with the New Chromebook App Hub

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

At SXSWedu 2019, Google announced the new Chromebook App Hub, an online resource to help educators learn about Chrome apps and find activities for the classroom.  There are many Chrome apps that are available, but knowing how to use them in the classroom is vital. The new App Hub will help with this.

The App Hub will contain idea sparks, which are ideas from fellow educators on how to use specific apps in the classroom. Also included in the App Hub will be tips for successfully using the app in the classroom, differentiated instructional strategies, as well as links to additional resources, like videos and links to websites.

Our board President, Dr. Roland Rios (@drrios) helped give early feedback on the App Hub. According to Dr. Rios, the new App Hub is just what educators need. He feels it will be a place to find new tools to engage students and connect teachers who are using the tools and provide lesson ideas. In addition, it will help districts align information in the App Hub to their local resources and bring more transparency in their usage for districts.

The Chromebook App Hub will be available later this year. Until then, educators can express interest in submitting idea sparks. In addition, you can sign up to get notified when it becomes available.

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Classkick
ChromebooksWeb 2.0 Tool

How to Use Classkick in the Classroom

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Classkick is a tool that allows for real-time monitoring, feedback, and assessment on student work and can be a bridge to more personalized learning in 1:1 classrooms. In this blog, two educators share their experiences with Classkick, including both its limitations and why they love the app. The initial perspective is from fourth-grade teacher Amanda Hawthorne. 

Have you ever stood in line at one of the only two copy machines in the teachers’ lounge only to watch the machine jam over and over again for the person in front of you? Or have you run out of paper while making copies and had to borrow from another teacher? How about that back pain from having to lug all those papers around to be graded? In a world with so much technology at our fingertips, why haven’t we found the solution to any of those problems? That solution may have arrived. I recently went to a professional development workshop and was introduced to a free application that came out of my dreams and into my classroom. It’s called Classkick.

Classkicking into High Gear

Classkick is a free app that allows students to work on assignments and get help instantly from their teacher and peers. At first, I was hesitant. Now I would have to add another element to my classroom that would take time to learn, and I’d have to teach my students how to use it, too. I put it on hold until the fateful day when I was standing in line to make copies for my students when BOTH of the copiers broke. I didn’t know how I was going make my lesson effective without something for my students to write on.

It was at that moment that I remembered Classkick. Fortunately, I have 1:1 Chromebooks in my classroom, so I knew I was going to have to give this a try. Once I walked my students through the Classkick tutorials, they were instantly hooked. The idea of getting to use their Chromebooks instead of a pencil and paper was so exciting to them! The next day, I uploaded the assignment I had been trying to copy and let them complete it on Classkick. I was able to watch them in real time as they worked through each question. If a student had a question, they would simply “raise their hand” with a click of a button and not feel any embarrassment or self-consciousness.

Once they completed their assignment, they submitted their work and I was able to grade all their papers from the comfort of my own home without having to carry them home in a heavy bag. The next morning, my students begged me to send them more assignments on Classkick so they could show me what they could do on the app.

Why I Love Classkick

Classkick can be easily linked to your Google Classroom for sending assignments and saving work. It’s only available on iPads, computers, and Chromebooks. I had finally found a solution to using the dreaded copy machine. By the end of the year, I was sending assignments, tests, and even books to my students!

Not only does Classkick save me time, it also saves TONS of paper in my classroom.  Since I have Classkick connected with my Google Classroom, parents can easily log in and see their children’s work. I use this app several times a day to introduce new topics or concepts, to demonstrate text-based evidence from a story using colored highlighters, and even as our morning bell ringer. It also allows me to add my own content, my voice, my images, and my directions.  Students can add their own pictures, labels, voices, and text to make the assignment their own.

Classkick is also very user-friendly. Their website has so many teacher resources, and if that doesn’t help, you can email their wonderful tech support. I was having trouble and they asked me to call them on my conference hour and personally walked me through what I was having trouble with. Classkick made my experience personal, and they made sure I was able to complete the task without any hesitation.

Classkick completely changed my classroom, and I am so grateful. I recommend it to anyone who has an opportunity to use technology in their classrooms. You don’t have to be 1:1 to make it work. If you have computers or iPads in your classroom, Classkick can be used for centers.  Classkick wants to “help teachers teach and learners learn.” Give it a try; you will love it!

Another Educator’s Perspective on Classkick

Ronald Cintrón has also tried Classkick with his students and shares his experiences:

I’m always looking for that magic app the will instill STAAR skills like a silver bullet and maybe even serve me coffee while I wait. I’m subscribed to any source that has recommended new apps and I go to categories/education and look at the top fifty in both the Play Store and App store. I was excited when I saw the Classkick app because of its easy-to-use features to benefit both teachers and students. Those features include:

  • Student sign-in is a snap using a code you provide them.
  • Tests are easy to import and can be automatically separated into different pages.
  • I am able to see in real time how the students are solving the problems.
  • Once each student finished, they can submit and wait for my reply (from my iPad) or “raise their hand.” I am able to write on their screen wirelessly.
  • I can remotely reward them and/or help them individually.
  • Other students can help remotely as well!

Initially, the school infrastructure wasn’t ready to support Classkick, and we had a significant lag of up to five minutes. We were able to improve that in subsequent years, but the honeymoon ended when my average student count increased. We don’t have enough laptops for 1:1 and found we were investing too much time. That said, I still have a lot of positive things to say about Classkick. The kiddos love it, and I love it. They love the badges awarded to them and get excited when I virtually write on their paper (laptop). I love it because it lets me give them more personal attention and assessment.

Is Classkick the right choice for your district? Have you used it and had a different perspective from these educators? We would love to hear your experiences in the comments.

This is a guest blog by Amanda Hawthorne and Ronald Cintrón. Amanda currently teaches fourth grade at Fort Sam Houston ISD in San Antonio, Texas. You can follow her on Twitter @MrsAHawthorne or email her at ahawthorne@fshisd.net. Ronald is a bilingual teacher at Oak Meadows Elementary in Austin, Texas.

 

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iPhoneography
ChromebooksiOS Tips and TricksMicrosoft Tips and Tricks

iPhoneography: Image Editing on the Go (With Any Device)

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin
If you’re like me, your phone may be the best camera you own. In this blog entry, we’ll quickly explore some tools and the special effects that are possible on your device.

Join the ongoing TCEA Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) SkypeChat via your mobile device or online. Explore and share concepts at the intersection of teaching, learning, leading. and technology!

Creating and sharing fabulous photos may best be achieved by following a simple three-step process. These strategies can also be used, though, to edit existing images, such as those found in the Library of Congress. For example, the Library of Congress recently released a World War I collection including:
  • The Stars and Stripes – This collection presents the complete 71-week run of the World War I edition of the newspaper The Stars and Stripes.
  • World War I Sheet Music – From 1914 through 1920, the Library of Congress acquired more than 14,000 pieces of sheet music relating to what ultimately became known as the First World War.
  • World War I Posters – This collection makes available online approximately 1,900 posters created between 1914 and 1920.
  • Newspaper Pictorials: World War I – This online collection is drawn from three primary sources.
There are several more collections available that serve as rich sources of images usable in the classroom. Still, some of the best images are those photos we take in teaching and learning situations.

Step 1 – Take Fabulous Photos (adapted from this site)

Who doesn’t love a bit of mystery?  Here are five take-aways from this awesome video on taking fabulous photos:

  1. Include an interesting subject (person, animal). While you can focus on nature shots, an interesting subject can add an air of mystery to all types of photos.
  2. Don’t be afraid of silhouette photos. These are photos taken against the light, such as sunrise or sunset. Often, these are photos with the light behind them, making the photographer unable to clearly see the subject’s face. When taking these photos, hide the sun behind the subject.
  3. Include shadows in your photos, perhaps even focusing on the shadows more than the subject(s) who cast them.
  4. Take photos from a unique angle. A selfie stick can be helpful.
  5. Strive for simplicity. Try to take photos that are distraction-free and have a central focus.
Some examples of great photos appear in the video 7 Little-Known Tricks for Taking Incredible iPhone Photos.

Step 2 – Explore Great iPhoneography Examples

Many photographers are choosing to take and edit pictures on their mobile phones, necessitating the new term “iPhoneography.” You can find great iPhoneography resources and online communities that provide examples of this approach.

In the podcast Encouraging Learning with Mobile Photography, a part of Vicki “CoolCat Teacher” Davis’ Every Classroom Matters podcast series, veteran photographer and teacher, Meri Walker (@iphoneartgirl) shared some tips. You can see some examples online in this video slideshow of her iPhoneography gallery.

Step 3 – Edit and Share Your Photos

Since this blog entry is about editing and sharing your photos, you can find a variety of apps below that provide “on the go” image editing, but you also have access to image editing solutions that you can use on your computer. My suggestion is that you find the image editing tool that is easiest for you and that you are most likely to use on a regular basis.
For image editing, considering the following, depending on where you want to edit images:

Mobile Apps Available:

Camera Replacement Apps

iOS Image Editing Apps

Android Image Editing Apps

Computer/Browser-based Image Editing Apps

For sharing with others, try these cloud storage outlets:
  • Google Photos (and Google Drive) – This provides free cloud storage and incorporates the PicNik editor, which is easy. This is my favorite choice since I am not a professional photographer.
  • iCloud Photo – This provides unaltered storage of your photos in the cloud but can be expensive.
  • Microsoft OneDrive – Although not designed for photos, it is fairly easy to save photos to it.
  • ShutterFly – Another location that offers a wide variety of services, such as photo books, cards, and gifts.
Finally, you probably do not need any more apps, but you may find mobile device apps are easier to work with than their desktop or browser-based cousins.  As you consider different apps, remember that there are some other great ones out there that make editing easy. Don’t be afraid to share your favorites in the comments.
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