Image Search Tools, Classroom Screen, Blended Learning

Searching for Images?

One of the first grade teachers at AES emailed last week to ask about alternatives to a Google image search for her students to use for their research projects. Great question!

Richard Byrne of Free Technology for teachers has two excellent blog posts regarding image searches. His 12/16/17 post offers five alternatives to a Google image search and includes videos showing how to use add-ons or to add a site's search engine to your website.

His 8/25/17 post provides an easy-to-read chart that compares the features of nine sites that are alternatives to Google image searches.

Check out his posts to find a site that is most appropriate for the age of your students and the topic they are researching.

Classroom Screen

Classroom Screen markets itself as "the best screen for every classroom," and it may be on to something. This site offers 1-click navigation to the following:

• random name picker
• sound level monitor
• qr code generator
• on screen drawing
• on screen text tool with changeable backgrounds including lined paper, graph paper, and blank paper
• work symbols to re-direct classroom behavior
• a traffic light for students to gauge work time limits
• a timer
• a clock
• simple exit poll tool

In the upper left corner of the site, click on the three lines for how-to's and tips and tricks for using the site. I particularly love the idea of using the drawing feature in combination with other tools to direct groups of students in the classroom. 

Check out Brenham ISD's blog for more ideas for using this site with your students. 

Video Spotlight: Blended Learning

We may not be ready for the experiences highlighted in this video in every classroom yet, but this video offers a glimpse into what is possible when access, connectivity, and creativity meet. The video features a secondary setting, but there are take-aways for elementary in it, as well. It's a five-minute video, but it's definitely worth a look when you have five minutes.

My favorite line: "If a teacher is doing something that works really well in a face-to-face situation, [they] should continue to do that because it works well. If they can find something else that works better, is more efficient, or more effective that's digital, then that would be implemented." 

The right tool for the right job with the right student at the right time.

Free Images, Free Sounds, G-Suite Updates, QR Code Generator

Time-saving updates to 
G-Suite for Education

Last week Google announced several updates to G-Suite for Education. One of the updates caused me to want to do the happy dance. Respondents can now upload documents (pictures, videos, docs, sheets, slides) as answers to Google Forms. Right now, the new feature is only available to use with accounts within our BISD domain. I'm already imagining using a Form as a quiz and a math student uploading a screenshot of his/her work solving a problem or a science student uploading a video of a lab experiment or an ELA student uploading a speech. On the back end, the teacher can access all the students' responses in the accompanying sheet. Awesome upgrade!

Free Images and Sounds for Projects

Last week was Digital Citizenship Week. In addition to teaching our students to cite the sources of the information and media they use in their projects, we can encourage them to be good digital citizens is by showing them how to find and use copyright free images and sounds in the projects they create. Richard Byrne posted two videos last week that guide students to find those resources.

QR Code Generator: Another Great Google Sheets Add-On

Last week I needed to generate a large batch of QR codes for a project I was working on. I created a Google Sheet with two columns. The first column was the information I wanted embedded in the QR code, in this case, a student's first and last name. The second column was the text I wanted displayed, again, the student's first and last name.  I used the QR Code Generator add-on to quickly acquire QR codes for the sheet. The add-on will create up to 100 QR codes at a time.  

Teachers can combine QR codes with free/inexpensive smart phone apps like QR Counter (IOS app) or Scan to Spreadsheet (IOS & Android app) to speed up processes in the classroom. Need to document that homework has been completed? Generate a QR code for each student to keep in his/her planner/notebook. Scan the QR codes as you check that homework was completed. Then email yourself the spreadsheet that the smart phone app generates. Fast and easy documentation.

QR codes can be posted outside classrooms to direct students/parents to teacher websites. Students can create QR codes to post on physical projects to direct viewers to additional digital content. QR codes can be used in classroom stations to direct students to resources needed to complete a task.