Account Security, Google Keep, Resources for Teaching Digital Citizenship

Account Security: Logged into Google on a Chromebit, Chromebook, or Desktop?

Most of us have gotten really good at remembering to log out of our Google accounts when we're on a student computer, but maintaining security on your other devices is important, too. Taking the extra 3 seconds to log out or lock your device is worth the effort.

To lock a Chromebook/Chromebit/Chromebox: Click on your avatar in the bottom right corner and click the lock. You will need to enter your password when you return to the computer.

To sign out of a Chromebook/Chromebit/Chromebox: Click on your avatar in the bottom right corner and click SIGN OUT.

To lock a teacher PC: press CTRL/ALT/DELETE simultaneously and select LOCK COMPUTER

Consider using a passcode on your phone or tablet if you have linked your Google account to the device.

If you need to remotely log out of your account, go to your email on a computer, scroll to the bottom of the page, click details, and sign out of all other sessions.

Google Keep

Last spring we talked about Google Keep in our Digital Learning sessions, but for those new to our BISD family, Google Keep is a powerful tool in your G-Suite toolbox. It can act as a digital sticky note, a place to curate resources, and a tool to collaborate with colleagues. HERE is an introduction to Keep. If you are already using Keep, check out some other innovative ways to harness the power of this oft-overlooked tool.

Tools for Teaching Digital Citizenship

Even though our students are born in the Digital Age, they come to us with a variety of digital expertise. Resource Media Specialist Susan Hefley's images of the types of technology experience our students bring to us is enlightening.

Click HERE for the full post.

While teaching digital citizenship is on-going, the beginning of the year is an excellent time to outline expectations for technology use in your classroom. Below are a list of resources to help you find the just-right tool for your students.

Be Internet Awesome is a comprehensive site offered by Google to promote digital citizenship. The site provides lesson plans, lessons that can be shared directly to Google Classroom, downloadable posters, interactive games, pledges and more.

YouTube offers many short videos on Creative Commons and copyright to support the ethical use of information.

 
 Common Sense Media offers curriculum, interactive games, lessons, and more.

Robin Limpert, an Ohio teacher who blogs at Teaching Little Techies, provides a series of posts outlining seven tips to help even our youngest students navigate the digital world more safely.

 

Google Keep, Padlet changing pricing model, New Google Sites

More Ways to Use Google Keep

Over the last two weeks there's been a lot of conversation at the secondary level about different ways to use Google Keep. 

Google Keep is a digital sticky note tool integrated into your G-Suite apps. Find it by clicking on your nine boxes and scrolling down. On the teacher side, it's a great way to collect and share resources with co-teachers and to provide students feedback.Students can use Keep for notetaking and learning.

• Students can use the color palette in Google Keep to organize bibliography and corresponding note cards. Bonus, the cards can't be lost!
• Students can use a Keep note as an exit ticket by recording their learning, taking a screenshot, and turning the screenshot into Google Classroom.
• Students can click on Tools in Google Docs or Slides to access their Keep notes from within the document they're using to access resources and  previously taken notes or to record new thoughts and questions. Since notes can be dragged/dropped directly into Slides or Docs, one of the middle school teachers had her students put their screenshots on a shared Google Slide to create her own Padlet-like board.
• Teachers can use Keep to create a library of feedback for common errors or stickers for informal feedback.Kasey Bell of ShakeUpLearning has great ideas on her Google Keep Resources page.
• Teachers can drag Keep notes into docs to create checklists for their students. Like the idea of a checklist for students but aren't ready to explore Google Keep? Check out Control Alt Achieve's post on creating interactive checklists in Google Docs. 

• (My fav trick? Personalizing notes by inserting a picture on the top of the note.)

Padlet Is Changing Its Pricing Model

Last week Padlet announced that it will be making some changes to its pricing model. Users will still be able to access a free basic account but will be limited to 3 Padlets, 10 MB of file uploads, and will see banner ads. Padlet Pro is $8.25/mo. Read more here.

New Google Sites is Amazingly Easy to Use

Really! The new Google Sites, which has been around a couple of years, has a click and drag interface that makes website creation a breeze. So, if you're looking at that sweet spot of time between STAAR testing and the end of the year to get a jump on next school year, you may want to consider updating your website or creating one with the new Google Sites. 

Hyperdocs as a Learning Platform, Google Keep as a Research Tool, Google Drawings for Graphic Organizers

HyperDocs? What's a HyperDoc?

Looking for ways to take your students' learning and engagement to the next level? A HyperDoc may be just the tool.

Last year I attended a presentation by Birdville ISD that was transformative. Instead of the typical conference slide presentation  the presenter used a HyperDoc to engage her audience in the learning. Even the biggest introvert in the room (me!) could interact without fear. I was sold.

A HyperDoc is an interactive Google Doc, but it's not just a document with links. When students engage in a HyperDoc, they have the opportunity to engage, explore, explain, share, reflect, extend the learning, collaborate, create, and connect.

Check out the HyperDocs website for resources, templates, and how-to's.

 Hyperdocs.co. (2017). About HyperDocs | HyperDocs.co. [online] Available at: http://www.hyperdocs.co/about_hyperdocs [Accessed 25 Sep. 2017].

Teaching Students to Use Google Keep

Google Keep is an awesome tool in the G-Suite family to keep to-do lists, bookmark websites, and collaborate on the grocery list with your spouse. But did you know that Google Keep is an awesome tool for our students to use, as well?

It's a convenient place to gather resources for a research project making them accessible on any device. Google Keep and Google Docs work together to make research and writing even more convenient for your students. Google Keep makes collaboration easy, too.

Need help getting started? Click HERE.

Want to see Keep in action as a research tool? View the video below.

Consider Using Google Drawings for Graphic Organizers

Last Friday I attended the Region 20 Library Resource Roundup and had the pleasure of attending one of Kasey Bell's workshops. Kasey works at Region 10 and blogs at ShakeUpLearning. In one of her sessions, Kasey shared using Google Drawings with students for collaborative graphic organizers. Best of all, she shared a link to Matt Miller's Google Drawing templates, so you don't have to start from scratch! Click HERE.