Congratulations, your Google Drive is ready!

Got a lovely email today from Google telling me that I can now use Google Drive.  If you don’t currently have access to Google Drive, click here to go to the main page of Google Drive, then click on “Notify Me.”  When I did this, I got my email the next day about my Google Drive being ready.  Tutorial on how to use to soon follow, in the mean time, get ready for the latest and greatest cloud drive.  And by the way, did I mention it contains all of your Google Docs?  Brilliant!

How to use Dropbox

There are TONS of free file hosting services out there for you to use.  I recommend using Dropbox.  Even though they don’t offer the most free space, they are BY FAR the easiest to use and have the most useful tools for sharing files.  The BEST thing about Dropbox is its ability to sync ALL (or just a few) of your files to all the different computers you may use.  All it takes is installing the Dropbox software on each computer then when you add a file from one computer it will automatically sync to any other computer you have the software installed on.  The days of flash drives on your key chain, always losing them in your desk, and accidentally sending them through the washing machine are gone!  Keep all of your files safe and secure in your own personal cloud space on the internet.  DropBox is also one of the most secure file hosts available currently.  So, now that you know about it … how do we use it?  

First of all, you will need to sign up for DropBox.  Click this link and go through the steps required to sign up for DropBox.  Enter your first name, last name, email, and a password.  After this it will take you to a page that says Download Dropbox.  Click on “Free Download” then go through the steps to install the software on your computer.

Once you’ve installed the software, Dropbox will begin running in the background of your computer.  Don’t worry, it takes VERY minimal processing power.  Now you will have a Dropbox folder inside your computer folders.  Anything you place in the folder will be synced to your Dropbox cloud, and will sync to any other computers you have Dropbox installed on and signed in to your account.  Say you make a presentation on your home computer and want it to be available on your school computer.  Simply copy the file into the Dropbox and it will be there for you.  If you’ve already signed up for Dropbox and want to install it on a different computer, use this link.  

Making Folders
To make a new folder in Dropbox is easy.  You can create a folder the same way you would within your computer’s file browser.  (Windows:Right Click Mac:Command Click), then “New Folder”.  OR, you can browse your Dropbox contents from ANY internet browser and create a new folder within the online application.  Simply click the Folder Icon with a plus on it, then name your new folder.

Selective Sync
Now that you’ve got it syncing all of your files to all of your computers, there may be certain things you want in the cloud but don’t necessarily want on a certain computer.  For example if you have pictures backed up inside Dropbox, and don’t want them to sync to your school computer, we can fix that!  Right click (Mac users: Command Click) on the Dropbox icon in your task tray.  (Windows: bottom right corner, Mac: Upper right corner).  Go in to “Preferences”, then “Advanced”.  From here, click “Selective Sync.”  This will show you ALL of the folders you have in Dropbox.  If the box is checked, that folder will sync to the current computer you are on.  To make it not, uncheck the box next to the folder you DO NOT want to sync to your current computer.

Dropbox keeps your files all in one safe location, accessible from ANY computer with an internet connection.  You get 2 gigabytes of storage absolutely free.  If you want extra space but don’t want to pay for a plan, check out some of the ways Dropbox has for you to get free space and click here.  You can also refer other friends to Dropbox and get an extra 500 megabytes for each friend you get to join, check it out.  I would also like to say that this is my referral link, if you use it to sign up you will get 250 megabytes for free automatically AND I will get 500 megabytes.  It’s a win win.  If you have any questions JUST ASK!  I am extremely willing to help you!

Great Websites for ALL Classrooms

Here we have a pretty decent sized list of websites that are useful in almost all classroom regardless of content area.  Some (I will admit) may be more geared toward secondary or elementary, but read through the list and be sure to bookmark things you like!

Classroom Management

• Edmodo - Safe social networking for classrooms.  Create a class, assign work, keep track of progress, all in a safe environment for everyone.
• Twiducate - Another safe social networking website similar to Edmodo.  
• Class Dojo - AMAZING Classroom Management App.  Reinforce positive & negative behavior with the touch of a button, customize for your class, and send reports directly to other staff or parents.  You have GOT to check this out.

Study Aids for Students

• Free Rice - Answer a question, donate 10 grains of rice to feed the hungry. Has LOTS of different content areas.  Especially useful for language development.
• Funnel Brain - Create custom flash cards for any information.  Or use flashcards already made by another user.  Saves time and paper!
• Arcademic Skill Builders - Lots of free educational games.  Students can sign up to track progress, submit their progress, and compete with other students for high scores.
• TutPup - Another educational game site similar to Arcademic.

Project & Assignment Ideas

• Animoto - Make a video slideshow presentation, add music, all free!
• Kiss Tunes - Write a song, record it, save it, and use it wherever.
• Tagxedo - Create beautiful word art with different words and shapes.
• Wordle - Similar to Tagxedo but fewer customization options, may be simpler to use, however.
• GoAnimate - Students can create fun animations to tell a story, give a presentation, etc.
• Kodu Game Lab - (Requires install) A game creating software that is entirely icon based.  No coding knowledge required.
• ZooBurst - Create your own 3D pop-up book online!

Resources & Inspiration

• TeacherTube - Lots of great, safe videos to use within a classroom.
• SchoolTube - Similar to TeacherTube, keyword: SAFE!
• Khan Academy - Amazing collection of online lessons, too much to explain.
• Thinkfinity - More online lesson ideas.
• Brain Pop - Even more …
• PBS Video - Great resource for lots of great video from PBS.
• Pinterest - Requires invite (Ask me & I can invite you) The “Education” portion has TONS of ideas for your classroom..ESPECIALLY elementary educators.  Countless fun projects for younger students, great ideas for older students, etc.
• Forvo - Interesting find.  It is essentially the Wikipedia of pronunciations. Has almost any word and has the option to listen to the word with different accents.

Assessment & Evaluation

• Google Docs - If you haven’t heard of this … I’m sorry.
• Poll Everywhere - Super easy to use, and lets students use their cell phones/laptops to submit responses.  Great for quick review, polling, etc.
• Survey Monkey - A more in depth version of Poll Everywhere, if you have a lot of questions to ask in a row, this might be a better option.

Presentation Tools (Would also work for Projects/Assignments)

• SlideShare - Online slide show creator.
• Prezi - Gorgeous zooming presentation maker, super easy to use.
• Glogster EDU - Make an online poster with links, sound, and video.
• Simple Booklet - Create an online brochure that can be shared anywhere on the web.

Communication
   —Social Networking

• Facebook Page - These days … who ISN’T on Facebook?  Creating a Facebook Page for your classroom is a clean simple way to connect with students and parents.  Post homework reminders, schedule of events, etc. Main problem with a Facebook page is lots of schools block access (for good reason) still effective to use for outside of school reminders.
• Google+ Page - Again similar to a Facebook Page, but Google+ is opening its doors to teenagers, so this is another option for us all similar to a Facebook page.
• Google Site - Super easy and fast way to create a website.  I will be publishing a tutorial on how to create a Google Site in the future so be sure to follow and stay tuned!
• Tumblr - Tumblr!  What you’re viewing is (unless someone stole my list …) one of my Tumblr pages.  You can manage multiple Tumblr pages at the same time and they function like a blog.  Great for managing multiple classes if necessary.
• Twitter - I’m sure you all know what Twitter is, but it belongs on this list. Sure, it’s a great way to be in contact with students, parents, and other teachers.  But - we can also “follow” famous authors, musicians, politicians, etc.  Some will even communicate back with us.  Can’t pass a resource like that up.
• WikiSpaces - Another great way to make a classroom page, will post a tutorial on this as well …. someday.
• BlogSpot - Similar to Tumblr, both work well!

   —Other

• Live Minutes - So far the BEST web conferencing app I have ever seen. Simple, sleek, and fast.  
• Remind 101 - Parents & students sign up with their phone number or email, and you can send updates/reminders to them.  This keeps your personal number private…FREE (can’t beat that can you?)
• Qurify - If you haven’t already, check out my post about using QR codes in the classroom.  Click Here!
• Stixy - Kind of an interesting site…it is essentially an online bulletin board you can use for reminders, images you like, or anything really.
• Podomatic - Great site to host PodCasts you create for a classroom.

Other Great Tools

• Popplet - A neat way to create visual organizers, idea webs, etc.
• A Web Whiteboard - An online whiteboard, collaborate, share, save, and send your creation.
• BO.LT - An interesting website with the purpose of organizing the websites you find interesting.  I wonder if I can put the BO.LT website on my BO.LT….

I will soon be publishing a list of website to be used for different content areas.  If you have any you’d like to see on this list click on the “submit” button on the left side of your screen, and I’ll be sure to put it on the list.

Happy Integrating!

QR Codes

Here is a simple tip:  Say you already have a fantastic website/Facebook Page/whatever filled with tons of information for your classroom, but you simply cannot get students to GO to it.  With this handy tool I will show you how to make it simple for them to access whatever by using those handy smartphones in their pocket.

A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and large storage capacity compared to traditional UPC barcodes. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be made up of four standardized kinds (“modes”) of data (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, Kanji), or by supported extensions virtually any kind of data. - Read More

**If you know how to find a website’s URL skip this paragraph.**
So, now we know what a QR code is, but how do we make one?  The first thing we will need is the URL to what we want them to go to.  For example if you have a Tumblr Blog such as this one, you will find the URL at the top of your internet browser window.  Often it will start with http:// or www. As you are viewing the page you want your students to view, copy ALL of the URL with your computer’s copy/paste command.  

Now that you have the URL of your page, we need to create a QR Code.  There are many applications out there that will do this for you, and my personal favorites are:

• Qurify
• QR-Code Generator by Kaywa
• GoQR

All of these have different features allowing you to customize the QR code however you want, but all will work for this purpose.  Select URL (if necessary), then paste the copied URL into the box.  This will generate an image that looks something like this:

Right click (Command Click if on a Mac) and copy the image.  Now bring up a new document with whatever word processing program you use (Microsoft Office, Google Docs, OpenOffice, Pages, etc.)  Right click and paste the image into the document.  Add whatever text you’d like, such as “Hey kids!  Scan this with your smartphone’s QR scanner and check out this awesome webpage I’ve been telling you to check out for a long time but you haven’t.  (Okay, might want to leave that last part out … )  Spruce it up however you want.  For example I added a few things for students who didn’t have a barcode scanner on their device, or didn’t have a device to scan it at all (always something to think about) When you’re done, you should hopefully have something that looks like this:

Print this out and post it all around your school, classroom, wherever is appropriate.  If you have a smartphone, iPod touch etc. - You can give it a “test run”  If you haven’t already, download a QR scanner on your device (search for QR scanner in your app store).  Open it, scan the QR code, and it should link you to your page in the same way the students would.  Tah dah!  If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask me!