Home Tags Posts tagged with "mguhlin"
Tag:

mguhlin

splash of colors
ChromebooksESL/ELLiOS Tips and TricksMicrosoft Tips and TricksWeb 2.0 Tool

Visualizing Our Understanding: Graphic Organizers

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“The use of graphic organizers,” says the El Campo ISD’s Intervention Warehouse website, “is a powerful tool that is easy to integrate into daily instruction.” The ECISD site then goes on to share access to several sources for graphic organizers for visualizing learning.

Graphic organizers are teaching and learning tools; when they’re integrated into classroom experiences, students are better able to understand new material. Creating a strong visual picture, graphic organizers support students by enabling them to literally see connections and relationships between facts, information, and terms.
Source: Teaching Graphic Organizers

As a writer, I often skip outlining and note-taking as ways to organize my writing and notes. Instead, I create graphic organizers to capture ideas and map out my writing. When taking notes, I capture powerful research concepts using a graphic organizer instead of laboriously writing out page after page of notes This approach helps me build a gestalt of the ideas presented.

The Problem with Graphic Organizers

Imagine that when someone says to you, “Could you read this technical text and summarize it?” you could ask yourself, “Well, which graphic organizer should I select?” Then, after some deliberation, you would pick the appropriate graphic organizer and use that one. You wouldn’t be limited to the default spider web graphic organizer with a main concept in the middle. Instead, you would just use the right one for each task.

Unfortunately, that has always been my problem with graphic organizers. Although I know there are different types (e.g. Problem-Solution, Fishbone, Time Order, etc.) for various functions, I never know which one to rely on. To this day, I still rely on the easiest graphic organizer: the spider web with main topic in the middle and ideas radiating out from the center. Also, drawing graphic organizers by hand can be cumbersome since mistakes are tough to correct.

Solutions for Visualizing Our Learning

“To know” goes the old constructivist saying, “is to know how to make.” When teachers pre-print graphic organizers for their students, they inadvertently do several negative things. Those things include:

  • Modeling the use of a graphic organizer appropriate to a text, and thus:
  • Removing the responsibility and ownership of selecting the correct graphic organizer appropriate to a text from the learner

Obviously, if students have less of a say in exactly what graphic organizer to use and when, their long-term use of this tool may suffer. This is because graphic organizers are visual representations of what we store in our brains. This can lead to challenges in comprehension. That’s pretty profound, isn’t it? That’s why it is so important to get students to create their own graphic organizers.

Let’s explore three tools you and your students can use to create graphic organizers via digital devices.

Hand-Drawn Graphic Organizers with OneNote

If you’re not familiar with OneNote, it is a phenomenal mobile app that makes digital ink a reality for those with touch-screen computers or Surface Pro/Android/iPad tablets. With digital ink (that is the ability to draw on the tablet screen with a stylus or fingertip), students are able to finally create graphic organizers that are representative of their own visualizations.

Computer/Browser-Based Tools

If you have access to a Windows, Mac, or Chromebook, then tools abound for creating graphic organizers. Here are my top two favorite free tools, but there are many more available, also known as “mind-mapping tools.”

  • Draw.io: Looking for an easy to use, browser-based diagramming or graphic organizer creator? Look no further than Draw.io! It works in your browser, but allows you to save to whatever cloud storage system you prefer, such as Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive.
  • yED Graph Editor: yEd can be installed on your computer (Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux) and works fantastically well. You can create graphic organizers using its simple layout. It also scales up to meet the needs of grades 9-12 and adult learners.

Conclusion

I still remember my first copy of Inspiration graphic organizer software. I was amazed at what I could create to represent my understanding of a process, a concept, or a text. Learning how to use graphic organizers, short of learning to read/write and use technology, remains one of the best lessons my high school teacher taught me. How are you teaching your students to use graphic organizers?

Get 80 Graphic Organizer Templates

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
forms
Google Tips and TricksiOS Tips and TricksMicrosoft Tips and TricksTechnical Support

Five Forms Solutions for iOS

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“My admins are looking for a way to do teacher evals,” wrote a colleague, “using self-created forms that have drop-down boxes, not just text. Any suggestions?” This question got me thinking about all of the different ways to do forms. Let’s do a quick review of available solutions for filling out forms on any mobile device.

Solution #1 – Forms Connect

This solution, available in iPhone and iPad app versions, as well as a pro version, defines itself in this way:

The FormConnect and FormConnect Pro apps allow you to create various types of forms including patient intake, customer contact, onsite inspection reports, invoices, expense reports, proposals, purchase orders, surveys, and more. The data collection app will set you back $14.99, offering an impressive list of features.

Solution #2 – iFormBuilder

Zerion Software’s iFormBuilder boasts an impressive list of features, including data encryption and secure data storage on the device with an internet connection. Some key features include “27 element types, powerful smart logic,  and smart table search.” Although a robust solution, cost may become a factor given that pricing starts at $5K+.

Image 334Solution #3 – GoFormZ

GoFormZ offers the ability to scan existing printed paper forms via the web, then convert them into a mobile-friendly form. The form will work on all mobile devices and via the web.

You can use the form editor to create drop-down lists, automate calculations, embed maps and photos, and add data sources for list items. Setting up an account is fairly quick.

Solution #4 – WuFoo for Education

fiveBranding itself as a “choose your own adventure story” for form development, Wufoo automatically builds the database, backend, and scripts needed to make collecting and understanding your data easy, fast, and fun. Because they host everything, all you need is a browser, an internet connection, and a few minutes to build a form and start using it right away. It comes with 400 + templates.

Solution #5 – Microsoft Forms and/or Google Forms

Forms creation solutions from Microsoft and Google make it easy to get started.  While neither offers an exclusive iOS app (yet?), accessing these forms are a cinch via the iOS Safari browser. Whatever tool you decide upon, both offer a wealth of features that make form creation and data aggregation easier (read Forms Smackdown blog entry for more details).

Also, Google Forms has a series of templates (if you need inspiration from the old Google Forms templates, be sure to investigate those before “early 2017” when they will go away) to get you started. I have no doubt Microsoft Forms will eventually feature a template gallery, too!

five

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Makerspace
PodcastsSTEM/STEAM

TCEA Podcast #4: Problem-Solving Makerspace

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Thank you for listening to the TCEA TechNotes Podcast #4: Problem-Solving Makerspace, Part 1. In the first portion of the podcast, we’ll be listening to two makers from McKinney ISD. One of my favorite take-aways is their Awesome Wall:Makers

 

Listen to TCEA Podcast #4: Makerspace, Part 1

with Tonya Hinkebein and Susan Hefley

Makerspace TaskCard

The focus for this podcast is on becoming a maker and setting up a makerspace. I am thrilled to share with you, in this first interview, the perspectives of Tonya Hinkebein (@TonyaHinkebein) and Susan Hefley (@malvernmrs), both TCEA members in McKinney ISD, who recently shared their insights into creating makerspaces in their schools at the Tots and Technology 2016 Conference in Galveston. We will also be hearing from other TCEA members later in the Makerspaces podcast series, sharing their knowledge and experiences about makers.

Makerspace Example
Some of the questions, with minor edits, that I asked Tonya and Susan included the following:

  • How do you define “makerspace”?
  • Why did you decide to have a makerspace?
  • What does your makerspace look like?
  • How are makerspaces relevant to students?
  • How do you handle grading in a makerspace?
  • How do you fund your makerspaces?
  • What are your future plans?
  • What else would you like to share with listeners?

Some of the points that Tonya and Susan shared included how they manage their fixed and mobile makerspaces and keep track of data for their school principals.

Susan and Tonya consider problem solving a life skill that many students lack. Susan shares about how makerspaces can build language skills for English Language Learners (ELL) students.

Links

Makerspace time earned

Makerspace Example

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
ESL
ESL/ELLPodcasts

TCEA Podcast #3: ESLs and Technology

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“What level of cognitive complexity are students operating at,” asks Dr. Chris Moersch, “when using technology in the classroom?” Technology, asserts Dr. Moersch, needs to be used to think and reason. “It doesn’t matter how much money you throw at it (spending on technology) if you’re using it at a low level,” says Dr. Desiree Marks-Arias. “What is the potential for using technology at its highest level?” What an exciting conversation about the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and technology in the classroom!

To what extent are we positioning ESL (English as a Second Language) students to become college and career ready? According to the Alliance for Effective Schools, “About 63 percent of the 46.8 million job openings created by 2018 will require workers with at least some college education….” Traditional approaches to pedagogy often leave the ESL population underserved in preparation of post-secondary pursuits. Beyond analyzing traditional achievement gaps between student groups, including those who receive program services such as ESL, Special Education (SPED), and Gifted and Talented (GT), it is pivotal that equal attention be given to curricular and instructional gaps as they relate to (1) the integration of 21st century skills into core subjects and (2) pedagogical approaches that emphasize collaborative learning, technology proficiency, and problem-solving.

Identifying appropriate methods and strategies to narrow and eliminate such gaps requires a fundamental shift in our existing paradigm—observing achievement and instructional gaps not as indicators of student deficiency, but rather as opportunities for supporting and developing student learning and success—addressing “support gaps.” In essence, by evaluating support gaps, we can determine the effort and resources necessary for teaching, learning, and academic mastery. Source: The Support Gap: Supporting and Developing Teaching and Learning for ESL

Travel back in time with me to Thursday, June 9, 2016, when I had the opportunity to explore a topic that goes to the heart of equity in bilingual/ESL classrooms. That topic is the gap between how we approach teaching and learning in English Language Learner (ELL) Classrooms. Certainly, if you are an ESL/ELL/Dual Language teacher, or you are an administrator responsible for supporting ELL students, you will want to listen to this conversation. Be aware that this podcast is quite long at almost an hour in length.

Listen to TCEA Podcast #3: ELL/ESL Support Gaps
with Dr. Chris Moersch (@lotiguy) and
Dr. Desiree Marks-Arias (email: desiree@loticonnection.com)

ELPS and Technology: Dr. Marks-Arias and Dr. Moersch

Three ESL Support Pillars

  1. Student Achievement
  2. HEAT Levels
  3. LOTI Levels

To find out more about the Support Pillars, review the Powerpoint and concept paper (links 1 and 2, respectively) in the Links section below.

Links

  1. ESL Support Pillars PowerPoint
  2. The Support Gap: Supporting and Developing Teaching and Learning for ESL
  3. H.E.A.T. Framework Overview
  4. LOTI Framework “Sniff Test”

HEAT Framework and ELPS:

ELPS and Technology ELPS and Technology

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
backup
Google Tips and Tricks

Three Easy Ways to Backup/Migrate Your Google Drive Data

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

At a recent TCEA Google Educator Level 1 Boot Camp session, someone asked, “We have a teacher who is leaving and wants to make a backup copy of everything she has in Google Apps for Education Drive to her personal Gmail/Google Drive account. How can we help her do this?” Having successfully done this with my own data in multiple situations, I thought I would share my top three go-to tools for getting the job done.

Multcloud.com, a free solution that supports multiple cloud storage solutions including Google Apps and Google Drive.

When to Backup or Migrate Data

Some situations where this may arise include:

  • A classroom teacher or staff member is leaving the school district and needs to make a backup of data from her work account to her personal account.
  • A staff member has spent considerable time developing and archiving resources on her personal Google Drive and she now wants to copy it en masse to her district Google Drive account.
  • A graduating high school student with a district-issued Google Apps account needs to quickly move his/her Google Drive data to a personal Google Drive account, Dropbox, or OneDrive account.
  • You have archived video on your Google Drive and you want to migrate it to another Google Apps account.
  • You want to transition someone from Evernote, a note-taking service, to Google Drive.
  • A staff member is leaving and someone else is taking on the responsibility of maintaining documents.

How to Backup or Migrate

There are several ways to accomplish this:

  1. Use CloudHQ.net. It does a great job of copying/moving content from Google Apps for Education or Gmail to a private/public Gmail account and vice versa. It can also move Dropbox to Google Drive or any supported cloud storage or vice versa. You can sync content back and forth between a variety of services, which makes it a pretty neat deal at $9.90 per month (if you need that level of redundancy). CloudHQ.net also offers the opportunity to have a 15-day free trial, which works well for staff who are leaving and may just need a one-time task. However, you can obtain additional days of usage by referring CloudHQ.net to friends and colleagues. Another benefit is that you can set ownership for documents that are transitioned to a new location.
  2. Try MultCloud.com. Using MultCloud.net, you are able to “transfer, migrate, backup, sync, move, integrate, manage many cloud drives such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, MEGA, SugarSync, Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon S3 as well as FTP, WebDav, etc. And, transfer files across different cloud drives, such as transfer data from Dropbox to Google Drive.” MultCloud.net has also created a Chrome add-on that you can use to easily move/copy content. Earlier this week, after introducing Multcloud to teachers in a school district, they immediately began using it to backup their GoogleApps for Education information from GoogleDrive to their personal Gmail/Drive account!
  3. Explore Google TakeOut. Rather than directly copy files from one Google Drive to another (e.g. school/organization Google Apps to a personal Google Drive), you can save a complete copy of your Google Drive to your computer. I would only use this option if you are NOT sharing documents with collaborators, collecting information via Google Forms, and have Google Docs/Sheets/Slides that are embedded in web pages online.
  4. Use Google Takeout Transfer on any device with a web browser to back up your email and Google Drive from G Suite EDU to your personal Google email and Drive.

Update 12/09/202020:  Blog entry updated to include Google Takeout Transfer. Also, take a look at CloudGopher, which also offers backup capabilities at a cost. Another option is Drive Migrator, a free Chrome add-on.  Drive Migrator allows for “…transfer your Google Drive files or documents from one account to another or to make a copy of a Drive folder.”

Parting Thoughts

Making backups of critical data is important. These tools make accomplishing that easy! They are also a great way to enable students or staff to backup their data from one cloud storage solution (e.g. Google Suites for Education) to another (e.g. Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, personal Google Drive account).

2 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Classroom
Google Tips and TricksMicrosoft Tips and Tricks

Classroom Smackdown: Google vs. Microsoft (Updated)

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

While learning management systems (LMS) of yesteryear (e.g. Moodle, Blackboard, Sakai) remain powerhouses of centralized control for educators, most of the teachers I speak to are no longer interested. It’s as if they are saying, “Ok, why does virtual class management have to be so difficult? I want simple solutions that help me get my work done rather than force me to learn arcane workflows.” As a result, we’ve seen educators eschew solutions like Edmodo, ever on the hunt for the easiest, most powerful tool.

Consider new classroom tools as the latest iteration of learning management systems. For example,  Moodle and Blackboard provided one iteration, Edmodo and Schoology another, and now Google Classroom and Microsoft Classroom are the latest iteration. Let’s explore this most recent iteration.

Update: Since this blog entry was first submitted for publication, both MS Classroom, OneNote Class Notebook and Google Classroom have released powerful new updates that may not be reflected in the feature list below. For example, OneNote Class Notebook now has a “take it on the go” feature. Click links above for more info about each. This blog entry has also been updated to clarify information relevant to MS Classroom and School Data Sync. Most recent updates appear in maroon.

Watch these MS Classroom Video Overviews exploring various features.

What Is Classroom?

The goal of any virtual classroom system, or LMS 3.0, involves providing a suite of online tools that empower students and staff to connect, create, collaborate, and facilitate organization. Microsoft Classroom, like Google Classroom, offers integrated word processing, spreadsheet, slideshow presentation, and cloud storage.

It goes one step further with OneNote Class Notebook, facilitating digital ink/notation of student assignments, the grading of assignments and full integration with MS Classroom Assignments. MS Classroom, by itself, is a powerful classroom collaboration tool. But add OneNote Class Notebook, and you’ve made it simple for educators to distribute assignments, draw/use digital ink to create and annotate content. Then, you can add audio comments and feedback to student work along with digital ink feedback.

Features and Benefits

Both Google and Microsoft have a wealth of features. Let’s take a peek, adapting this support document to facilitate a feature comparison. I’ve also added components (e.g. MS Snip/video links to the MS Classroom side or links to Google’s support page) to the “Yes” response if they include items readers new to MS Classroom may be unaware of.

 

Feature List

Microsoft Classroom

Classroom

Google Classroom

Classroom
Save Teachers Time
Add students easily. Yes, and you can add students through a quick search as well as through School Data Sync*. Students can join a class with a code, giving you more time to teach..
Manage multiple classes—Reuse existing announcements, assignments, or questions from another class. Share posts across multiple classes, and archive classes for future reference. Yes, you can post assignments to multiple classroomssimultaneously.

 

You can Activate or Deactivate classes.

 Reuse existing announcements, assignments, or questions from another class. Share posts across multiple classes, andarchive classesfor future reference.
Teach together—Co-teach a course with other instructors. Yes, you can easily add co-teachers. Co-teach a course with up to 20 other instructors.
One-click worksheets—From a worksheet template, create an individual document for each student with one click. Yes, with OneNote Class Notebook integration, you can create individual documents, as well as provide templates for students to use in a content library. From a worksheet template, create an individual documentfor each student with one click.
Rich assignment materials—Add materials to your assignments, like YouTube videos, Forms, PDFs, and other items from your cloud storage. Yes, a wide variety of media (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, MS Sway, Slideshare) can be embeddedby pasting in the link. Documents can be included in Conversations component of MS Classroom as well as embedded in OneNote Class Notebook. Add materials to your assignments, such as YouTube videos, a Google Forms survey, PDFs, and other items from Google Drive. Teachers and students can draw on, write notes, and highlight documents and PDFs in the Classroom mobile app.
Customize assignments—Add optional due dates, create customized grade values, and track which assignments are graded. Yes, each assignment can have due dates and times, as well as custom grade values. You can also quicklyassign grades via a connected OneNote Class Notebook, grades auto-synching to MS Classroom. Add optional due dates, createcustomized grade values, and track which assignments are graded.
Prepare in advance—Draft posts and assignments, or schedule them to automatically post to the class stream at the scheduled date and time. Yes, you can schedule assignmentsin the future. Draft postsand assignments, orschedulethem to automatically post to the class stream at the scheduled date and time.
Quick exit tickets and polling—Post a question to students, then view results within Classroom. Yes, as well as take advantage of Microsoft Forms or Excel Online Surveys. Post a question to students, then view results within Classroom.
Customize your class theme—Change the default color or theme image for your class. Yes, custom banners, icons and titlesare available. Yes. Change the default color or theme image for your class.
Keep resources in one place—Create a class resource location for documents, such as your syllabus or classroom rules. Yes, use OneDrive for centralized location for online documentscreated, and/or OneNote Class Notebook with built-in search, passworded access to sections, and more. Yes. Create a class resource pagefor documents, such as your syllabus or classroom rules.
Keep students organized—Classroom creates a Calendar for each class, adding assignment due dates to the calendar. Students can view upcoming work in multiple places. Yes, create assignment due dates and see those appear in calendar immediately. Students can view upcoming assignments, as well as review completed ones. Students also have a “Mark Done” option they can select and that turns the work in.
MS Classroom also features a private “chat” between teacher and student for feedback regarding a particular assignment.		 Yes. Google Classroom creates a Google Calendar for each classand updates the calendar with work and due dates. Students can view upcoming work in the class stream, on their work page, or in the class calendar.
Keep teachers organized—Review student work, including assignments, questions, grades, and previous comments. View work by one or all classes, and sort by what needs reviewing. Yes, one place to review assignments, student comments/questions, as well as the option to view items in OneNote Class Notebook. Yes. Review student work, including assignments, questions, grades, and previous comments. View work by one or all classes and sort by what needs reviewing.
Grade quickly and easily—Sort students by first or last name, see who has turned in work, draft grades to share with students later, add private comments when returning work. Yes. Yes. Sort students by first or last name, see who’s turned in work, draft grades to share with students later, and add private comments. Plus, add annotations and visual feedback to student work in the Classroom mobile app.
Transfer grades—Export final grades to spreadsheet format or to a CSV file for upload elsewhere. Yes, you can export grades through a CSV file. Yes. Export final grades to Google Sheets or to a CSV filefor upload elsewhere.
Integrate with other favorite teaching tools—Sync your existing Classroom classes with partner applications. Yes, OneNote Class Notebook allows for integration with multiple LMSs, including Edmodo, Google Classroom, Moodle, MS Classroom, Schoology and many more. Also, Office 365 Suite of online and installed programs (e.g. Word,Powerpoint, OneNote, Excel). Yes. Sync your existing Google Classroom classes with partnerapplications.
Communicate and Collaborate
Access anytime, anywhere—Access Classroom on the web or via the  Android and iOS Classroom mobile apps. Yes, iOS  and  Android apps are available. Also features OneDrive cloud storage and OneNote apps for all platforms (e.g. iOS, Android, Windows, Mac). Yes.
Real-time feedback—View, comment, and edit student work in real time. Yes. Yes.
Create class discussions—In the class stream, post announcements, engage students in question-driven discussions, or move important topics to the top. Yes, you can use MS Classroom Conversations feature. Yes.
Manage class discussions—Control who can post to the class stream and mute individual students from posting or commenting. Yes. Yes.
Share content—Share links, videos, and images from websites to Classroom. Yes. Yes.
Push content to students’ screens—Push web pages instantly to a class. Students can also share their screen with their teacher. Yes*.

*Note: You can push or “distribute” content instantly using OneNote Class Notebook (which is “baked into” MS Classroom). These pages are instantly available via OneNote Online for students.

 Yes.
Easy Admin Support
Affordable and secure—Like other services, Classroom contains no ads and never uses your content or student data for advertising purposes. Yes. Yes.
One sign-in—Teachers and students can sign in to Classroom with a single sign-on. Yes. Yes.
Professional development —Get your teachers using Classroom quickly with free online training. Yes. Professional learning online is available and a click away in OneNote Class Notebook. Yes.
Personal data protection—Classroom is covered. Yes. Yes.

*More on MS School Data Sync: “School Data Sync imports school roster data from the school SIS (like PowerSchool) and synchronizes it with Azure Active Directory and Office 365 so that Classroom (or any other application) can use the roster data to create online classrooms, have context about the student, and even enable single sign-on.

Schools can also use Microsoft School Data Sync to automatically create classes and add students based on the school’s student information system (SIS) roster.” Watch this short video about School Data Sync!

And, this chart doesn’t even mention online surveys and/or forms, both of which are available through Google Forms and Microsoft Forms (read this post by TCEA Board Member, John Bimmerle, on Microsoft Forms). That will be the subject of a future blog entry.

Conclusion

These two third-generation LMS players are quite evenly matched, offering school districts who are looking for an alternative to Google Classroom that relies on robust, familiar MS Office tools a rich alternative. However, OneNote Class Notebook, OneNote Learning Tools, Collaboration Space, and the ability to quickly disseminate handouts and resources to students via the Content Library give Microsoft Classroom the edge. What’s more, OneNote serves as a great ePortfolio solution that can integrate with a variety of learning management systems, including Google Classroom. Depending on your needs, there is no reason why your district or school couldn’t mix and match the various tools (e.g. Google Classroom + OneNote Class Notebook, MS Classroom with YouTube) to get the desired results.

Are you a Texas educator using Office 365 in your District? Join the free, open to members and nom-members TCEA Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Facebook group!

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Microsoft Classroom
Microsoft Tips and TricksPodcasts

Exploring Microsoft Classroom

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“How can I connect OneNote Class Notebook assignments to Microsoft Classroom Assignment grades?” What a fantastic question to have pop up in the no-cost TCEA Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) session I facilitated in Wichita Falls, Texas earlier this summer. In this blog entry, I am going to recap some of the conversations and provide responses to the questions that popped up during the session

Microsoft Classroom has many features and benefits, bringing the full force of Office 365 suite (including online versions of Word, Powerpoint, Excel, as well as Outlook, Group Conversations, and, the jewel in the crown of Microsoft’s education offerings, OneNote Online), as well as the installable, full-blown versions of these products.

Selecting Your Tool

In the Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) one-day Teacher Academy, one of the points that is shared is the importance of students being able to select their own tools as appropriate for the job. This, for me, goes to the heart of what it means to be a learner, an artisan, a craftsman at work. You have to learn enough to know what technologies can be used to create the effect you are seeking when communicating, collaborating, and problem-solving with others. Microsoft, like its competitors Apple and Google, brings a wealth of tools to the table. Those tools include the following:

Microsoft Classroom – This provides a virtual space, a classroom where interactions with students can begin and be managed. It is accessible online to students and staff in a school district domain (although I’ve made the suggestion to Microsoft that they make it so that anyone external to a domain can be a part of it, so that those engaging in professional development can access content as part of a class). You can get to it online here. Some possible uses include:

  • Assignments can be set and students can submit work created in Word on their computer or the Word Online version and then share a link back with the teacher.
  • Assignments can be “turned in” by students, then graded by the teacher, who simply has to access each student’s assignment in one place and then add notes and a grade.
  • All assignments end up in the Classroom Outlook calendar, which is a component of the MS Classroom.

MS Classroom has several components “baked into it,” including:

Microsoft OneNote Class Notebook – This provides access to the premier Classroom resources for staff and students. It can serve a variety of purposes, such as a jointly-managed ePortfolio for student work, a way to disseminate assignments created in Classroom, as well as any handouts (a.k.a. Content Library) materials created by the teacher that the students can copy to their own section. This student section is specific to each student and only the student and teacher have access. Furthermore, Class Notebook features a Collaboration space where students can work together on documents and whiteboards.

But wait, there’s even more greatness! In addition to all of this interactivity, students can access OneNote Class Notebook on any device, although the MS Surface and iPad versions allow for interactivity and digital ink possibilities. If you’re not familiar with digital ink, this means you can actually write on any document you have rights to in the Class Notebook. Consider these scenarios:

  • Students can use a Cornell Notes Planner and fill it out.
  • The teacher can share a copy of a PDF or document (e.g. quiz, graphic organizer) and students can fill it out by hand using a stylus and tablet.
  • The teacher can snap a picture of a form or insert a PDF version as a print-out of a document, then share it out to students for completion. Also, students can do the creating for peers and their lead learner, the classroom teacher.
  • As a teacher, you can create and grade assignments (wow!) from within OneNote Class Notebook that get sent (or synchronized) to your connected Learning Management System (LMS), such as Microsoft Classroom. Make a change in MS Classroom assignment for a grade, and it gets adjusted in the Class Notebook.

    MS Classroom

    Participants at TCEA MIE Teacher Academy in Wichita Falls, Texas. Sign up at an upcoming session near you!

Online versions of the Office Suite – This includes a variety of tools, such as Word Online, PowerPoint Online, and Excel Online.

  • Microsoft Office Mix – This turns on many great features for both students and educators alike, enabling them to add audio, video, screencasting (great for flipped classrooms!), and more into interactive elements.
  • Microsoft Snip – Quickly capture images of your device (a.k.a. screenshots) and then annotate them with audio, highlighting, and text.

To see MS Classroom and OneNote Class Notebook in action, check out these videos for a walkthrough.

 

Microsoft Classroom Videos

Be sure to stay tuned for even more video walkthroughs!

Image Credit: Tweet by Katharine Gordon (@kpaigegordon)

 

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Pirate flag on a red background screen on laptop
Cybersecurity

Five Anti-Malware Tips for Schools to Share with Staff

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Every other week, I read or hear about  a school district that has suffered a phishing attack, an approach distributed by email designed to trick you into giving your email username and password to criminals. Dealing with ransomware (a form of software that infects your machine when you double-click on it and encrypts your files, then demands you pay them for decrypting them) can be embarrassing, since it may result in the district having to pay to get its data. Or you could lose the data and tell only the federal auditors coming to evaluate your records for the last five years.

In addition, ransomware may also be distributed to district users via email. Several districts and Texas education service centers have allegedly faced some of these challenges (allegedly because ransomware infestations travel through word of mouth):

It’s…thrown a kink in the school district’s scheduled…exams…The crypto-ransomware “has affected the district’s entire operations from internal and external communications to its point-of-sale for school lunches. It also has prevented any students from taking the scheduled…exams, which are entirely computerized.” Source: Network World

Follow these tips to safeguard your hard work in computer documents and files on your computer:
  1. Look before you click. Avoid clicking on email attachments that come from people you do not know. Email attachments with “exe” and “zip” are suspicious. Also, do NOT go into your SPAM folder and click on the email attachments.
  2. Connect before opening. Ask yourself, “Was I expecting a file from this person?” If yes, connect with them via phone, social media, or email and ask, “Did you send me this file?” If the answer is “no,” then delete it.
  3. Avoid clicking on email attachments via your personal email on a work computer, especially if it’s a Yahoo email account. Multiple types of malware spread ads via that one service alone.
  4. Scan files before opening them. You can right-click a file, save it to your computer, and then choose to virus scan it before opening it.
  5. Backup your data to a cloud drive storage provider (e.g. OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox). Ransomware can spread via cloud storage where your files are automatically backed up when you place them in a certain folder (e.g. Dropbox), so be aware that ransomware WILL encrypt those files and the encrypted files will be backed up. Back up manually to the cloud and/or to external USB drives. Avoid leaving the latter connected to your computer.

Staff that succumb to phishing attacks open the organization’s virtual doors to a ransomware infestation. For example, in my inbox, I received an email purporting to be from a colleague sharing some files with me via Dropbox, but this looked like a phishing attack. Let’s go through the process I went through together. malware

Knowing that my colleague did not send this email, I opened up a fresh browser where I’m not logged into anything and tried the link: It didn’t work. That’s good! But if it had been a phishing scam, something like this would have popped up: When you examine the “Click here to view” link, you will find as I did that the link is to a non-Dropbox web site in the UK. That suggested to me that this link did NOT originate with Dropbox. As a result, I contacted my colleague via Twitter and asked, “Did you send me something via email that originated on Dropbox?” He responded after a short delay, “No, I didn’t.”

malware

Notice how the screen to the left offers you the opportunity to compromise your login and password for multiple email providers. This suggests that the goal is to steal ANY email account credentials you have. This can be potentially catastrophic since school district personnel often save student/staff confidential content in the cloud.

Actual Example: One principal was shocked when her Google Apps for Education account started sending out phishing attacks to all the email lists she was a member of, including the district-wide principals’ list, her campus staff list, and district-wide news list. And her shock turned into horror as colleagues clicked and were infected themselves. Horror shifted to shame as her colleagues grew angry, inquiring why she had inflicted them with this plague of phishing. And all the principal had done was fall prey to a phishing attack from a dear friend.

Fortunately, this can be avoided with the five tips above. Raise expectations for staff to take responsibility for their email communications and their technologies.
Bonus Tips for Home Users 
While many of us have district-purchased software to protect us at work (although even that will not help you if you deliberately ignore the warnings), our home computers may not be so protected. Below are a few software tools that I use on my Windows and/or Mac computer(s) to protect against infestation. Note that this does not constitute a purchase recommendation since these tools are available for free, personal home use:
I have all of the following on my personal Windows computer and wouldn’t dream of using it without having them installed. In spite of the fact that Windows Defender comes standard on Windows 10 computers, it’s important to have anti-malware and antivirus software loaded and working.
Anti-Malware/AntiVirus
  • List of Mac AntiVirus Solutions
  • Windows Solutions:
    • Anti-Malware
      • Malware Bytes* – Great to use when you think your computer has been infected with malware/spyware and you need your computer “cleaned out.”
      • AntiRansomware – Although still in beta, Malware Bytes’ solution to ransomware offers real-time protection against ransomware, catching it before it can encrypt your files.
      • Spyware Blaster*– An easy to use “inoculation” program against spyware/malware.
      • Spybot Search and Destroy* – The best part of Spybot is the TeaTimer which protects your computer’s registry against contamination and immunizes your browsers (IE, Firefox) against malware.
    • AntiVirus
      • BitDefender Free – This free for home use antivirus works great and does not drive you crazy with advertisements.
      • Sophos Home Antivirus – This is another protection free for home use.
0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
jigsaw puzzle
Good TeachingProfessional Learning

PBL Planning: Begin with the End in Mind

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“The Superintendent just called. The marquee in front of the football stadium hasn’t been connected yet.” I stared at the phone in my hand in disbelief.

When my team got together, I reviewed the facts of the situation with them. “There’s a big game tonight and the Superintendent really wants to see that marquee operational. When we spoke earlier, I had the impression the job had been finished last week.”

“Apparently,” quipped one technician, “it’s not.”

“Thanks a lot, Captain Obvious,” muttered the network engineer responsible for the job.

Dialogue-rich scenarios like this one, whether in text, image, or video format, are often sufficient to engage adults or K-12 learners in solving a problem. For adults, the focus may be on generating problem-solving strategies, while for students, the goal may be to achieve an instructional objective.

For example, in a recent lesson connected to the 5E + Technology Model, I referred to this past Christmas controversy surrounding hoverboards.

KSAT 12, a San Antonio news station, has contacted the school and asked us to investigate exploding hoverboards. What they are asking is, simply speaking, “How do hoverboards work and are they are safe?”

The length of the scenario determines the scope of the curriculum and goals to be addressed. In the scenario above for hoverboards, the relevant TEKS include:

4.6(A) Differentiate among forms of energy, including mechanical, sound, electrical, light, and heat/thermal.

4.6(B) Differentiate between conductors and insulators.

4.6(C) Demonstrate that electricity travels in a closed path, creating an electrical circuit, and explore an electromagnetic field.

4.6(D) Design an experiment to test the effect of force on an object such as a push or a pull, gravity, friction, or magnetism.

Problem-based learning (PBL), often labelled project-based learning, relies on real-life problems modeled after a contemporary or historical case to engage students as they pursue specified learning outcomes that are in line with academic standards or course objectives (Stepien & Pyke, 1997). Learners work through the problem as a stakeholder.

The teacher, or professional learning leader, acts as a guide/advisor as students explore the issues involved, formulate questions, conduct research, and consider possible solutions to the problems. An critical component for PBL planners is to reflect on questions like the following:

  • What did we really want them to learn?
  • Why was it important that they learn this?
  • What problems or issues would they be able to resolve with the information?
  • What process, if any, do we want them to follow? Was that process governed by policy? Which ones in particular?

 

These questions help us to first map out what we want students to learn and thus craft a problem that reflects that and aligns to learning objectives. Keep these questions in mind when crafting your next PBL unit.

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!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
3D printing
STEM/STEAM

Easy Answers to FAQs about 3D Printing

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Getting started with 3D printing or thinking about it? There are tons of resources online, as well as Diigo groups where resources are shared frequently. Check out the TCEA resources available here and here. And then read below to find answers to the most common 3D printing questions.

#1 – Where can I get a 3D printer?

There are various printers available, but the one recommended by Mark Simmons (Director of Technology, Sabine Pass ISD) is the Dremel 3D printer. Find a comparison table of 3D printers online. Specific recommendations are at the end of this article.

#2 – How does 3D printing work? How do I get started?

Once you have your 3D printer, you will need to use special software to create print files that tell the printer how to proceed and make things. There are many tools available, among them TinkerCAD, which is a web-based software package that is easy for young learners to start with.

Tinkercad is an amazingly powerful easy-to-use tool for creating digital designs that are ready to be 3D printed into super-cool physical objects. You will be guided through the 3D design process via easy hands-on “Lessons” that teach you the basics of Tinkercad before moving on to more complex modeling techniques. Read more.

Then, after learning to manipulate objects in 3D space, you can try other software. You can find a list of other software programs, including how to get SketchUp Pro for free for your school or district via TCEA. Many of these have to be installed on your computer, but there are also mobile apps you can use to digitize objects and put them into a 3D space.

Once you have created an object, you can print it. For classroom purposes, limit your students to objects that will print in less than four hours (think small!).

#3 – What are some helpful vocabulary terms one encounters when using 3D printers?

There are various terms that you do not necessarily need to know. Refer to the glossary at the end of this blog for a general list of terms. Some of the key ones to know include “build plate,” “filament,” “extrusion or print nozzle,” and “extruder arm.” It is also important to know that there are several types of filament, which resembles weedeater cord.

#4 – What can I realistically print?

You can print anything you have a design for, realizing that for more complex designs, you will have to print each component of a design separately and then assemble it.

You have several choices:

  • Design something yourself using 3D printer software (e.g. TinkerCAD or SketchUp Pro). You can also use a free app like 123D Catch (iOS) to capture an object using your mobile device, and then digitize it for printing.
  • Download a file from the web that’s already designed so that you can modify and print it (e.g. Thingverse, CookieCaster).
  • Collaborate with others to co-design a 3D project, such as to help design a prosthetic device.

 

quote2#5 – What are some of the costs of 3D printing?

If you are hoping to get an idea for the cost of a 3D printer, you may want to look at some of the ones listed on Amazon. Here are a few popular printers:

 

There are less expensive 3D printers you can get for your home, of course. Also, consider these additional items:

  • Filament (approx. $25): The cost of a spool of filament, the source material for the 3D print.
  • Build Tape ($25): This is what goes on the non-heated glass surface of your 3D printer to facilitate removal of printed items. You can usually skip this if you have a heated glass surface (a.k.a. build plate or print bed).

 

For post-processing a printed item, you may also want to have on hand the following:

  • 3D Print Removal Tool ($6) – Helps you scrape off items from the print bed.
  • Plastic putty – Helps you hide the seam in larger items. You can sand it down to cover a stream. Use 120 grit sandpaper when sanding items.
  • Spray paint or enamel

 

Conclusion

Getting started with 3D printing can be expensive, obviously, but there are many ideas for curriculum integration. Be sure to review the resources here.

References

  • Source for Trudi Lawless quote
  • Source for prosthetic hand quote

Glossary of 3D Printing Terms

  • Build plate (a.k.a. print bed) – This is the glass your 3D-printed creation will be built on.
  • Dremel Build Tape – This is the tape used to cover the glass (the “bed” or “build plate”) upon which the 3D-printed object will rest. Non-heated print beds normally need to be covered in blue tape (painter’s tape) or even Kapton tape (i.e. polyimide tape – very heat resistant) in order to make the print stick to the print bed. The tape helps with initial adhesion of the thermoplastic and keeps everything in place during the print. The object needs to be firmly fixed to the print bed, as the slightest movement of the printed object itself will most probably result in a botched-up print. As the adhesion factor of the blue tape wears out quickly, it needs to be replaced regularly.
  • Dremel Multi-Tool ($20) – This facilitates removal of the 3D printed item from the print bed.
  • Extrusion or print nozzle – This refers to the nozzle from which the filament emerges. Also known as the “hot end.”
  • Extruder – The extruder is actually the part that is responsible for feeding the filament into the so-called “hot-end.” See diagram shown right. (Source)
  • Extruder arm – This is the arm to which the extrusion nozzle–where the filament is distributed from onto the build plate–is attached. The arm moves in the prearranged design, laid out in layers.
  • FDM – Fused Deposition Model refers to the type of 3D printer. FDM printers use a thermoplastic filament, which is heated to its melting point and then extruded, layer by layer, to create a three-dimensional object. “Objects created with an FDM printer start out as computer-aided design (CAD) files. Before an object can be printed, its CAD file must be converted to a format that a 3D printer can understand — usually .STL format”. (Source)
  • FFF – Fused Filament Fabrication is another way of referring to an FDM 3D printer, except the term isn’t copyrighted or trademarked. “FFF printers are by far the most common 3D printer type used for home 3D printing, i.e. desktop 3D printers. If you are thinking of buying your own 3D printer, a FFF is most likely the technology that you will end up using. Fused Filament Fabrication is nothing but a fancy word to describe a process by which a machine deposits a filament (picture something like a small string) of a certain material (normally thermoplastics, wax, or similar products) on top or next to the same material in order to create a joint by heat and/or adhesion. Thermoplastics are plastics which become semi-liquid above a specific temperature and return to a solid state when cooling down.” (Source for quotes above about FFF and diagram shown right)
  • Filament: There are several types of filament, including the following:
    • PLA – This is “pretty” filament, food safe and plastic.
    • ABS – This is strong and is what is usually used for logos. It has toxins, so it’s not safe for food storage items (e.g. mugs).
    • PLA/PHA – Strong and pretty looking.
    • Co-Polyster – ninjaflex, rubbery
    • Composite PLA – Shavings of organic material such as copper, limestone, poplar wood, cedar, plastic. You can use this to make small objects that appear to be made of metal.
    • Filament + Perfume – These are used to get rid of the “burnt” smell and have a nice odor. Good for schools where the 3D printer is in a common area.

Update: This blog entry updated 05/2018 with fresh infographic.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts