Google Maps Tour Builder

Because of @rmbyrne 's FreeTech4Teachers post on Google Maps Tour Builder, I was able to create a tour of our school district's schools.  Our district encompasses a large geographical area consisting of five elemendary schools, one middle school, and one high school, a Google Map Tour was a perfect medium to show case our schools.

In 2009, my students created Google Earth Flying Tours.  While it was easy in the end, there was a learning curve that caused some students to struggle.

Google Maps Tour Builder required little to no learning curve.  Since we are a Google Apps For Education school, logging in and creating a tour will be a very simple process.

An additional bonus is the ease at which one can keep the tour private or share with a peer or staff member. Sharing documents through Google is second nature to our students so this process will be efficient.

View My Tour   View How To Make A Tour

Google Earth is available in BETA for Chromebooks
Google Earth integrated with Google Maps

The impact on the students...

• Collaboration--Students could work in partners or groups to create their tour
• Creativity--adding additional pictures that students take or find to each destination can provide additional insight.  The opportunity to include additional comments for each destination is important for deeper understanding.  Students need to determine the best path for their tour.
• Critical Thinking--similar to creativity
• Citizenship--students will understand that the map while by default is private, it may be shared with peers and teachers.  The map is on the web!

Google Groups For Informational Text Discussion

Mr. Anderson, Anatomy Teacher at PHS, wanted a means for online discussions of informational text.  The Google Groups has a number of great features that allows it to not distract learning, but only to enhance it.

• Usable on the iPad in Google Chrome
• Chromebook & Laptop User Friendly
• No need for additional username & password as we are a Google Apps For Education school
• Threaded conversation allows for quick replies to students or teacher
• Able to upload documents (informational text) for analyzing

View Mr. Anderson speaking of the process and see students using Google Groups...

Setting Up Google Groups - Video Tutorial


Video Link

ITLS Standard: 2 and Skill 2B

Cleaning Your Google Drive

As the end of the 2012-2013 school year draws near, it may be advantageous for teachers to clean up their Google Drive.  Not only will it be a new start for the 2013-2014 school year to delete files that are not needed that the teachers created, BUT removing student creations that were shared with the teachers will certainly provide for a clean start in the coming school year.

As a added help, five videos have been created to help in this task.  I urge teachers to take an hour of their time and remove items that are not needed in their Google Drive.

The Playlist Of Five Videos Is Below - Link


Quick Videos - See Individual Links Below
Clean Up Videos In Google Drive
Clean Up Search Student Names
Clean Up Preview Option
Clean Up Multiple Search Options
Clean UP Grid View

Another resource!
Manage Online Space

Gmail Drag and Drop Address Options...In 20 Seconds

Gmail INBOX ZERO

1. Archive all emails now! Written Directions
2.  Delete Trash
3.  Create Filters Written Directions
Video Directions

Explain Everything in High School Science Planets

Mrs. Last had an idea!  Have the students discuss and teach what they knew about planets in our universe.

After showing the Explain Everything app to her during a half hour training session she felt it was going to meet the needs of the students.

Students created tutorials that contained names of the planets, information of those planets, their path of travel, and other features that students wanted to include.

After creating the tutorials, students pushed the video creation to Mrs. Last via the Google Drive feature within the Explain Everything app.

Two examples of student created work are below.

Explain Everything Video Tutorial

I have been wanting to complete this for some time. Mission accomplished!

All digital buttons in the Explain Everything app have great features.  Watch the five minute video tutorial on the features of Explain Everything.



Don't forget to have students log out of third party accounts.

Google Forms Inserting An Image

Google Forms can be used for so many purposes in a teacher's classroom.

• Analyzing Algebra Data
• Acquiring Digital Creations From Students
• Directing Reteaching of Assessed Material
• Formal Assessment
• Enhance Learning During Video

Google Forms now allows for images to be included in the form.  This may be great for

• Pictures of lab equipment to identify parts
• Analyzing math problems that may or may not be correct
• Labeling/Analyzing parts of animals
• Writing prompts from fantastic pictures

View how to insert an image below or read about it

Google Presentation Choose Your Adventure Student Creation

As stated previously on this blog, Google Presentations are a great tool for students to create a "Choose Your Own Adventure".  Below is an example...

Many Students Taking Video To Google Drive To iMovie

Problem:

• Create a video from the perspective of students to showcase "A Day In The Life of a PHS Student"
• Many students shooting different video
• How to put it all together

Solution:

• Students take video on whatever device they have, i.e. iPad, iPod, Cell Phones
• Upload to Shared Google Drive Folder
• Download video clips to iMovie on MacBook
• Chose MacBook because majority of students had iDevices & didn't want to convert video clips
• Create iMovie from all clips on MacBook

My example following the exact procedure above.
*Yeah, the video is corny - it was meant to be that way.

Insert Horizontal Line Google Docs...In 20 Seconds

iMovie Trailers For Renewable Energy Resources In Applications of Physical Science

Students in Mrs. Wojcik's, Applications of Physical Science class, have developed companies that provide "Renewable Energy Resources".  To promote these companies to a fictional character, students created iMovie Trailers.

Students Using iMovie For The Process


Process: iPad video to Google Drive to share with teacher


Student/Teacher Reaction To iMovie Trailer Product

Voice Comments In Google Docs and Presentations

Through @rmbyrne I learned about a great video tutorial of Voice Comments in Google Documents.

This got me thinking, "Can Voice Comments be used with any other Google tools?"

Answer: "Yes, in Google Presentations."

View The Google Documents Tutorial:


View Free Tech 4 Teachers Blog Post: 

See the Google Presentations Tutorial that I created:

United States History Movements

The Process:


How Do I Create a Thinglink? via Vimeo


How Do I Create a Thinglink? via YouTube



How Do I Create a MentorMob?


How do I create a SMORE.com?



Assessment
Before students view other students' work, they will create a list of 4-5 items in which they will be assessed on. We are focusing on class discussions for four items.  The fifth item will be purely based on what the authors of the product would like to be assessed upon.

Submitting the Final Product
Students will supply their final product through a Google Form.

Final Personal Product
After viewing numerous creations on the three movements, students will create a CREDO

about one of the movements that they learned about or a movement they are passionate about.  This will provide a personal connection through which students will acknowledge their understanding of movements and there results.  The CREDO will be submitted using a Google Form!

3 Calendar 2 Docs And 1 Mail Tool U Need

Today's Lunch N' Learn was all about Google Items that will make your life more efficient!

3- Calendar Items found in the lab that will add some efficiency to your life
Next Meeting


Jump To Date


Background Image


2 - Google Document Items
Paint Roller Tool


Web Clipboard (Thanks To @ChadKafka For the Video)


1 Google Mail (Gmail) Feature You Must Have
Undo Send

YouTube Sharing To Blogger

Google Drive Managing Apps

Google Adding Fonts In Docs and Presentations

Google Paint Roller In Docs For Efficient Assessment