Lunch N' Learn: Two Google + Exam Study Tools

Google has two items that may interest you.

• Google + Email Setting

Video Link

Google Drive Activity Gif Below Source

Video Tutorial of Google Activity Button Link

Semester Exam Study Tools

Last year, I provided a long list of study exam tools that teachers could present to students to prepare for for semester exam.  This year during Lunch N' Learn, I am focusing on three tools that, in my opinion, are the best of the list.

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Impact On Students: 
Semester exams are a debatable topic.  Whether your school or individual teachers administers them is not something I want to debate.  However, if the exams exist, lets help students study by offering them quality tools.
Collaboration:  All of the tools can provide collaboration opportunities.  Thinking, processing, questioning together can help remember concepts.
Critical Thinking: Once concepts are presented to students through one of these tools, students can critically determine the right area to obtain the answer and decipher the best answer to remember for the exam.

English 10 Show What You Know Instead of Semester Exam

Because of Tony Vincent's tremendous work with the Show What You Know infographic, our English 10 (E10) students are going to demonstrate learning through THEIR CHOICE of creation tools.  Students were given the opportunity to read an SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) book of their choice throughout the semester.  While describing the actions and events of the book, students are to think and contemplate how their personal book related to books that were read in class, i.e. "To Kill A Mockingbird".  They will demonstrate their knowledge through a "presentation" to the class.  However, the "presentation" is NOT a stand up and read event.  We want students to provide SOME visual, but not too much as they are to provide audio insight into their knowledge as well.

This morning, I presented nine different tools under four different headings:

• Collages
• Comics
• Posters
• Slide Presentations

With only a visual and a few tips, students can choose what they want to create.  They were also challenged to "Smash Them".  Can they create something in one tool and combine it with another tool?

We printed the document, so they were able to take the web address with them.

The presentation for the students is below.

Impact On Students:
Creativity:  Choosing the correct tool for the presentation is not the only task.  Designing a quality product that describes the reading and how it ties into books from the class takes creativity.  Limiting the words so as to not overwhelm the viewer also takes creativity.
Critical Thinking: By limiting the amount of specific directions about each creation tool, students will need to learn, master, and use the tools correctly that are provided within each creation tool.

*Thank you Tony Vincent for creating such an incredibly useful tool.  Without it, I would have not been able to create what I did within a short amount of time.

Semester Exam Study Tools

Even if only one student takes advantage of any of the following options for studying semester exam material, it will be worth it!  Choose one or more to implement with your students' preparations for semester exams.
*Links provide video of students in action or tutorials with the apps or the web resources.

iPad Apps
Study Blue
Great opportunity for students to create digital flash cards with audio and pictures combined with text.

Flashcardlet 2
Combine this with Quizlet, and studying terms becomes painless.  The lack of audio and video puts it slightly under Study Blue.

Phoster
Create posters with words and pictures that represent concepts from classes.  Send them to an email or create a slide show on the iPad camera roll.

Draw-n-Show
Explain Everything 2 3
Educreations
All of these apps can be a great way for students to review and summarize concepts prior to semester exams.  Being able to explain the concepts solidifies the concepts.

Draw Venn
If semester exams require compare and contrast clarification on two or more concepts, this app can provide great visual thoughts that can be emailed to students.

Google Drive
Create a document that is shared with students to collaborate and discuss concepts that may be on the test.  With everyone contributing thoughts prior to the exam, everyone wins.

Skitch 2 3 4 5
PixnTell
PicCollage 2
Over HD
Photo Mess
All apps above can be used to add text to pictures.  Create a list of terms and associate them with a picture.

SimpleMind +
Have students create a graphic organizer of semester concepts.

Web
Quizlet 2
Create flashcards of semester content.  Having two learning games and quizzes available of the content can provide learning opportunities.

Study Blue
Fantastic compliment to iPad app.  Extra features include printable paper cards created from cards made on the iPad and quizzes created from the cards.

Google Drive
Create a document that is shared with students to collaborate and discuss concepts that may be on the test.  With everyone contributing thoughts prior to the exam, everyone wins.

Google Hangout
Teachers may need to use their personal Gmail account for this.  Can see if students would create their own Gmail account for a true hangout, but Hangout could be combined with Todaysmeet or an email chat.  Questions submitted by students via text can be explained by teacher through video.  If students don't or can't create own Gmail account, choose YouTube live hangout as an option.

Google Site
Create a Google site and share the site with students.  Have them add content in preparation for the semester exam.

Evernote Why?    How To    With Students
Create a notebook that can be shared with students that represents notes from class.  Have students collaborate on a discussion

Todaysmeet
Create an online controlled chat room on concepts.  Choose a certain evening for the conversation prior to the exam.

Exam Time
Create online flashcards, mind maps, & quizzes for free. For teachers, there is a "class group" section, presentation tools, sharing, collaboration, and goal setting.

ThinkBinder
I love their slogan.  "It's not safe to study alone!"  Ability to upload files, have an online interactive whiteboard, video chat, and insert math equations with a great math equation editor.

Cram
More online flashcards.  Create your own grouping or choose from other people's submissions.