Google Slides!

Technology Tip of the Week: Google Slides

Google Slides are presentation files, much like Powerpoint.  They are easy to create & share.  You can even upload and convert your old PowerPoint slides into Google Slides presentations.  You can share a presentation with other collaborators and everyone can do their part without creating multiple versions of the file.  One of the main benefits of using Google Slides is that your presentations are saved automatically online in your Google Drive.  You can access and edit them on any device!

Check out these 10 ways teachers are using Google Slides in the Classroom!

Resources:

• Shake Up Learning Google Slides Cheat Sheet
• Slides Carnival - FREE Google Slides Templates
• Creating an Interactive Google Slides Presentation

App of the Week: Google Slides

App Store Link:

• Click here to download Google Slides  

Description:

•  Create, collaborate, and edit presentations on your iPad.

Support:

• How To Use The Google Slides App Video Tutorial

Reflector 2 & ShowMe

Technology Tip of the Week: Reflector 2

Reflector 2 is software you can have on your teacher computer that will allow you to display your iPad using your projector.  

Wirelessly displaying your iPad on the projector will allow you to move around your classroom while:

• Showing students how to work a problem by using a whiteboard app like ShowMe (see below)
• Demonstrate to students how to use an app
• Display student projects from an iPad on the projector for the class to see

Note: In order to use Reflector 2, your iPads must be updated to at least iOS 9.

Reflector 2 Support:

• BISD Helpdesk Directions for Installing Reflector 2
• BISD Helpdesk Directions for Using Reflector 2

App of the Week: ShowMe

App Store Link:

• Click here to download ShowMe  

Description:

• ShowMe is a simple to use whiteboard app.  You can insert pictures and annotate/draw on top of them.  ShowMe also has a recording feature, where you can record what you're doing on the screen while also explaining with your voice.  The videos are saved for free on the ShowMe website 

Examples:

• Decimals & Place Value ShowMe
• The Water Cycle ShowMe

Support:

• ShowMe Tutorial & Suggestions
• ShowMe Website

EduTyping & My Story Book Creator

Technology Tip of the Week: EduTyping

EduTyping is a web based application designed for teaching keyboarding in grades K-5 and can be accessed from any Internet-ready computer. Curriculum includes Course Lessons, Reinforcement, Timed Writings, and In the News.

App of the Week: My Story Book Creator

App Store Link:

• My Story Book Creator- This app is located in our BISD app catalog. 

Description:

Storytelling is a fantastic way to promote literacy, comprehension, creative thinking, and self-driven learning. My Story is an amazing way to engage your K-5 students.

* Create and share ebooks and movies of your stories by adding drawings, photos, and stickers.
* Record your voice on every page and share your story.
* Choose from dozens of fun stickers already included in the app, no extra downloads needed.
* Teacher friendly: allows for multiple authors in one interface!

Support:

• My Story Book Creator

Kidblog

Technology Tip of the Week: Kidblog

Description:  

Kidblog is a safe, secure way for students to publish their thoughts, questions, or writing online.  The great thing about online publishing is that students can show their teacher and other classmates what they are thinking or wondering.  Even better is that everyone who is part of  the blog can comment back to the person making the post.  So it is very quick and easy to get feedback from others to help answer questions or shape thinking.

For teachers, Kidblog can be a great way to get students thinking about something before it is taught, collect thoughts and questions during instruction, or get exit ticket thoughts as students wrap up their studies.  Kidblog also allows for anytime/anywhere access and learning.  Teachers can stay connected with students as they move through postings and make any necessary adjustments to the learning taking place.

Birdville ISD has recently purchased access to Kidblog.  If you currently have a Kidblog account or are new to Kidblog, these instructions will get you going!   Your campus DLS is eager to help at any step of the process  Email them with any questions!

Click the link for more on what Kidlblog can do for you and your students:  Why Kidblog?

What others say/think about blogging:

• Possibilities of Student Blogging
• Blogging is Elementary

Integration Ideas:

Kidblog is a great resource to use in all core content areas...and beyond.  Here are a few ideas:

• Gather student knowledge prior to focused instruction
• Gather formative assessment data throughout the lesson/adjust instruction
• Students comment at the end of instruction to show what they know.
• Blog postings as 'Exit Tickets' 
• Students post writing samples and receive feedback from classmates/teacher
• Blog between classes within the school/district
• Blog about Science experiments to record data/make predictions
• Blog about current events
• Students post blogs explaining steps to solve math problems

Support:

• BISD Kidblog Resource Page
• Getting Started with Kidblog

Research & Information Fluency

Technology Tip of the Week: Kid Friendly Research Sites

Information is expanding exponentially.  Thanks to the internet we have access to much of that information at our fingertips.  Research and Information Literacy skills are vital to today's learners.  These skills include the ability to locate, evaluate, and record information from a variety of media formats.

The BISD Digital Learning Online Resources page is a great starting place for kid friendly research sites.  Here you will find links to encyclopedias, online databases, and image search sites.  Your campus librarian and digital learning specialist would be happy to assist you with any of the sites listed here!

Another great tool for research is a new kid-friendly safe search site by Google called Kiddle.co.  Kiddle provides a safe place for young students to search the internet.  The search results are filtered for safe and easier to read content.  

App of the Week: SimpleMind+

App Store Link:

• Click here to download SimpleMind+  

Description:

• Mind mapping tool that turns your iPad into a brainstorming, idea collection, and thought structuring device. 

Integration Ideas:

• Collect notes for a research topic.
• Describe the character, plot, and setting of a story.
• Brainstorm ideas for writing.
• Document the results of a science experiment.
• Create a mindmap to illustrate the steps for UPS-Check problem solving model.

Support: