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Getting Started with Screen Recording on an iPad Tutorial

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How I Make My Google Slides for Teaching | Top Requested Video!

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A blog that highlights tech savvy ways to conquer curriculum needs

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The Shake Up Learning Blog by Kasey Bell offers educational technology and digital learning resources, tips and tricks, tutorials, Google cheat sheets and more to educators across the globe.

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The Incredibly True Adventures of an EdTech Trailbla

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The Incredibly True Adventures of an EdTech Trailbla

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makerspaces, library centers and more

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The Incredibly True Adventures of an EdTech Trailblazer

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Nikki is a veteran educator, retired Librarian/Instructional Technology Facilitator and ISTE Librarians Network Past President. Nikki is passionate about 1:1 Digital Initiatives, collaboration with other education professionals, and assisting students in becoming well informed, critically thinking digital citizens.

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Introduction to a variety of tech tools.

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This blog is intended to give helpful tips and tricks for incorporating technology into your classroom.

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16 Curation Tools for Teachers and Students

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This post brings together a suggested list, a curated list if you will, of 16 curation tools for teachers and students from the Shake Up Learning community.

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blog, ideas, and how to guides

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Latest Posts Educator Innovation Station Newsletter Product Updates Get Flipgrid Certified Integration Docs Downloads + Media Help

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A digiboard to use in your classroom or library.

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Classroomscreen.com is a FREE web tool created by Laurens Koppers, a teacher from the Netherlands. Laurens created this tool to utilize the digiboard in their classroom to help students focus on their work.

Lots of updates have happened since I wrote this post! I have revised this post as of 1/31/18.

How classroomscreen.com works:

Launch your web browser and visit classroomscreen.com. Project it on a screen in your classroom. Your browser turns into an interactive board and has the capability to display various tools that you and your students will LOVE.

Tools and Capabilities:

What makes this web tool stand out?

Many teachers I have shared this tool with have already said that the QR code generator is their favorite tool. Simply click the QR code icon, enter the url of a website you would like your students to visit and the tool instantly generates a QR code for students to scan with a handheld device.

I really like the work symbols that can be used as a visual reminder for students:

Here are the different options you can choose from:

I also think the stoplight is a nice component! Use it as a visual reminder for voice levels as well as other activities. I could even seen students using classscreen.com on their own devices in which they could change the stoplight to indicate their progress on a project or their understanding of a concept.

One of the newest additions is the ability to conduct a digital exit poll. Simply type a question at the top and have students walk by your board or computer and tap/click on the smiley face that represents their feelings about the question.

Really, you need to check out ALL of the fabulous functions of this web tool.

Updated video demo:

Original video: Check out my Facebook Live to see classroomscreen.com in action (Note: this is a demo from when the tool first came out):

Follow me on Pinterest to get more techie ideas:

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Classroomscreen.com: A Web Tool Teachers and Students will LOVE

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Classroomscreen.com: A Web Tool Teachers and Students will LOVE. Easy way to turn your browser into an interactive board. Digital stoplight, timer, calendar, random name picker, drawing tools, work symbols, text area, QR generator and more are all tools included in this free web tool.

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This blog has great tech tools to use in your classroom. Erin offers the BEST kid friendly, step by step directions for using the tech tools featured.

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Read the latest technology integration blog posts featuring ideas, projects, activities and more for using Google Apps, iPads, and Chromebooks in the classroom by Erintegration.

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The first quarter was a whirlwind, and the second quarter is off to a similar start. This is my sixth year at my current school, and I can finally say that things are shaping up the way I've always wanted! I typically tell new librarians that it takes at least three years to hit the sweet spot where you know the school, the people, and enough about your library to really get things moving. Apparently it took me twice as long this time around, but between the 2016 flood and the start of the pandemic (among other things), I'm giving myself grace.

Last year our Writing Center relocated into the library, and that has honestly been the most positive and beneficial move for the library that we ever could have made. We have an incredible partnership with them - the coordinator is fabulous and she and I are able to tag team so many projects. The student Writing Fellows are in a space that has much more traffic than their previous spaces, so they are able to support their peers more often. It's a beautiful thing, and it just makes sense in terms of being a one stop shop for research and writing.

We put together this infographic to showcase how busy we were for the first quarter. We are still constantly having class visits and the library space is being used as a productive, collaborative work environment for students and teachers - MY DREAM COME TRUE!

I have come to realize that I have to be consistent with my expectations and the use of the space. In years past, our space has been so busy (but not necessarily in a productive way), overrun, and chaotic that is was not the place where students would come to work or where teachers could bring classes to collaborate and research. Drawing some hard lines was hard for me, but it had to happen in order to really get this space to its full potential. As exhausting as this school year has already been, I'm looking forward to seeing what's ahead for us in the library!

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The first quarter was a whirlwind, and the second quarter is off to a similar start. This is my sixth year at my current school, and I can finally say that things are shaping up the way I've always wanted!

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Hi, friends! Jennifer Lundgren graciously agreed to write a guest post about library musical chairs for us. You are going to love this game to promote reading! Here's what she says... As March Madness(R) was approaching, I was excited to hold our first ever book tournament.

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In 2016 I wrote a blog post about 10 Techie Themed Read Aloud Books and my list keeps growing! I wanted to compile all of the elementary picture books arranged by topic in one area. Let me know if you have any recommendations we can add to this list! **All links are Amazon affiliate links**

Also be sure to check out my post:5 Reasons to Use Technology Themed Picture Books to Help Reinforce Digital Citizenship.

*If you are unable to view the Amazon widgets below, try installing an Ad Blocker extension.*

Online Safety

Reliable Sources

Digital Footprint

Email Etiquette

Other Books with "Techie" Themes

Calandra Jackson
Renuka Senaratne

Follow me on Pinterest to get more techie ideas:

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This blog is intended to give helpful tips and tricks for incorporating technology into your classroom.

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Digital Citizenship Videos

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Common Sense Education provides educators and students with the resources they need to harness the power of technology for learning and life. Find a free K-12 Digital Citizenship curriculum, reviews of popular EdTech apps, and resources for protecting student privacy.

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Digital Citizenship Games for Kids

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Click on the images below to give them a spin. Have fun!

Cyber Civics is packed with fun games and activities that can be played in the classroom and at home so that young people can learn how to be good digital citizens before they head online!

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We've rounded up online games that teach kids critical digital citizenship and online life skills. Give them a spin and have fun!

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Digital Citizenship videos, quizzes, and activities

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A collection of Digital Citizenship resources for grades 3-8, including animated movies, quizzes, activities, and learning games plus lesson ideas for educators.

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Pinterest Board with links and ideas

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Resources And Strategies For Creativity In Education

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"There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015."

What is a makerspace? You've no doubt been hearing that word more than a few times over the past several years. Makerspaces, also called hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs, are collaborative spaces where people gather to get creative with DIY projects, invent new ones, and share ideas. Since the first official makerspace convened six years ago in a library in upstate New York, libraries have remained an ideal setting for makerspace events across the country. Many offer community resources like 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies, and more. The idea of a communal creative space has only gained momentum and become increasingly popular over the years, and the makers' movement shows no signs of slowing down.

There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015. The White House even held its own inaugural Maker Faire in 2014, inspiring President Obama to declare an official National Week of Making the following year. Read on to learn more about library makerspaces and how one might benefit your community.

Articles & Blog Posts on Makerspaces

1.) Library as Makerspace
The Library as Makerspace blog, run by the Duxbury Free Library in Massachusetts, shares the experiences of its librarians in the process of transitioning from a content collection-only facility to a content creation-inspired makerspace. Bloggers share ideas for makerspace programs for children, teens, and adults, with a goal of "reimagining our role in a rapidly changing world."

2.) Renovated Learning
Curated by Diana Rendina, media specialist, teacher, and librarian at Stewart Middle Magnet School in Tampa, Florida, this blog documents Diana's journey of starting a STEM-based makerspace at her own school's library from the ground up. Posts include lessons and reflections on her own experience as well as resources for other makerspace hosts, including a "start here" section for beginners.

3.) The Makerspace in the Library: What it Means for Your Classroom
This recent post on a blog titled "The Unquiet Mind" explores the author's first experience attending the National Writing Project Annual Meeting in 2017; this year, the NWP panel discussed growing interest in makerspaces at libraries and their implications for teachers, library staff, and the learning process as a whole.

4.) A Librarian's Guide to OER in the Maker Space
This article, written by library media specialist and author Laura Fleming, introduces librarians and educators to the open educational resources (OER) movement, and focuses on how to integrate STEM-oriented makerspaces and other disciplines into the traditional learning space.

5.) Growing Learning Communities Through School Libraries and Makerspaces-Creating, Constructing, Collaborating, Contributing
Another informative post on "The Unquiet Mind," this article served as one of the site's first comprehensive guides to makerspaces, exploring a variety of possibilities for creating a collaborative learning environment at locations across the U.S. The post accompanies a presentation about makerspaces given by the author to the Independent School Library Exchange of Southern California.

6.) Library Friday: Visiting Fayetteville Free Library
Here on INFOSPACE, the official blog of the Syracuse University iSchool, blogger and master's candidate in library and information science Kayla Del Biondo, explores one of the country's leading university makerspaces at the Fayetteville Free Library as part of her Library Friday Series.

7.) Make it Work! Starting a Makerspace in an Academic Library, Phase 1
Among many authoritative posts on ACRLog.com, a blog site exclusively by and for academic and research librarians, this post outlines a multi-phase process for creating a makerspace at the grassroots level, addressing crucial concerns for working librarians. Hannah Pope, guest author of this article, is the Emerging Technologies Librarian at Appalachian State University.

8.) Biohackerspace, DIYbio, and Libraries
Posted on the ACRL TechConnect Blog, this article explores projects at makerspaces across the country focused on developing science, technology, and engineering programs that can essentially turn any library into a makeshift biology lab.

9.) Making It in the Academic World
This post on American Libraries focuses specifically on makerspaces at university libraries in the U.S. Author Bailey Brewer makes the case that, while makerspaces are known for bringing 3D technology to the masses, the potential for a greater sense of community among college-age participants will likely carry makerspaces into the future.

10. ) It all started with a training offered by the Washington State Libraryâ€¦
Part of the "Between the Lines" series of the Washington State Library Blog, this post describes one library manager's first encounter with STEM-based makerspace programming. Her subsequent initiatives to develop ongoing maker events, especially for children, take place at Winlock Library in Timberland, WA.

11.) 4 San Francisco Projects Highlighted During the National Week of Making
This post outlines four of San Francisco's most innovative makerspace programs, celebrated during the National Week of Making in 2016 in an event co-sponsored by the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

12.) Makerspace Starter Kit
Noted blogger, international Ed Tech keynote speaker, and Google Certified Innovator Gwyneth Jones offers a starter kit to aspiring makerspace hosts through her site, The Daring Librarian. For inspiration, among many resources available on the site is the story of the makerspace at Murray Hill Middle School in Maryland, where Jones helped to launch a collaborative project space more than 18 years ago.

Maker Faire

Touted as the "greatest show and tell on earth," Maker Faire has emerged as the official international celebration of not only creativity, resourcefulness, and innovation but also a mass gathering of the maker movement at large. Each year, Maker Faire hosts multi-day flagship faires in Chicago, New York, and the Bay Area, as well as ongoing regional events, mini faires and school faires around the world. The organization is perhaps the most well-known makerspace networking resource, having established its own "Maker Shed" tools and products, a "Maker Camp" online community and a "Make" magazine for subscribers. The official Maker Faire site also offers aspiring Makers resources and support for bringing a Maker Faire to their local community, starting their own makerspace or becoming a sponsor of the maker movement.

Makerspaces Directories

1.) MakerDirectory.com
This online directory lists national and international maker events, from the Adelaide Mini Maker Faire to the World Maker Faire in New York City.

2.) Hackerspaces
This directory lists national and international events and offers resources specific to hackerspaces, enabling the tech-maker community to make connections both in-person and online.

3.) Maker Faire
Perhaps the most comprehensive of maker directories, Maker Faire offers an interactive map listing upcoming national and international maker faires, mini maker faires, and school faires; aspiring makers can also search past events by region on the site.

4.) Makerspace
This membership site requires registration to connect with other makers; once signed in, members are encouraged to exchange makerspace projects and ideas. The link above to the site's BETA login page is expected to be redirected to a new platform in 2017.

Revitalizing Community Spaces

"Makerspaces have also led to growth in other industries: crowdfunding sites funded more than $5 billion worth of projects in 2014, and the 3D printing industry is expected to be worth $8 billion as early as the year 2020."

One could argue that the phenomenon of makerspaces has led to a revitalization and reimagining of libraries in a digital world. As the means of circulating and accessing digital information outside of libraries continue to grow, this renaissance for the library as a place to gather, create, and collaborate has led to benefits for the host facilities just as much, if not more, than participants. Like book clubs, workshops, and other group meetings, hosting a makerspace alongside traditional offerings in a library is fast becoming the hands-on approach to learning and developing new skills. Many libraries at colleges and universities have incorporated program-specific makerspaces into their campus curriculum, bringing students together around a topic such as robotics or a particular fine art technique.

If increased support and funding for makerspaces are any indication, this trend-turned-movement is here to stay. The University of Texas in Austin is an example of a school that turned a makeshift project into a lucrative institutional endeavor by expanding its makerspace into a program called the Foundry. Hosted by the university's Fine Arts Library, the Foundry was created in 2015 through a $200,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation, which recognized the potential for cross-disciplinary research, art, and invention in a permanent makerspace on campus. Makerspaces have also led to growth in other industries: crowdfunding sites funded more than $5 billion worth of projects in 2014, and the 3D printing industry is expected to be worth $8 billion as early as the year 2020.

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A Librarian's Guide to Makerspaces: 16 Resources | OEDB.org

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"There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015." What is a makerspace? You've no doubt been hearing that word more than a few times over the past several years.

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Step 1Create The Game

Build your game from the Game Manager on our website and add the missions your participants will complete to earn points.

When creating a mission, choose whether participants will submit a photo, a video, a text response or check in at a particular location.

Get started by creating a new game or with a template from our Game Library.

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Build your game from the Game Manager on our website and add the missions your participants will complete to earn points. When creating a mission, choose whether participants will submit a photo, a video, a text response or check in at a particular location.

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Academic Ways to Use a MaKey-MaKey in the Elementary Classroom

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Maker Spaces in the library

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MAKERSPACES ... I tried to ignore them! I tried to deny their growing momentum. I skipped over articles and blogposts where makerspaces were the headline. I averted my eyes when newsletters about them crossed my mailbox.

Not that I didn't find value in them! I ABSOLUTELY did. Honestly, I was just so overwhelmed with the thought of them. I had tons of excuses why they wouldn't fit into my program. Do you know how much room that they will take up? Do you know how messy all of this is going to be? Can you imagine how much time that it will take to implement them? My teachers are never going to go for these shenanigans!!

AND THEN IT HAPPENED ... The computer guys stole my six computer desktops last summer and replaced them with ten chromebooks. That left two whole tables completely empty. Empty, I say!! Then the new Art teacher put one of her tables up for grabs. Now I had three empty tables. Those empty tables all but screamed MAKERSPACE at me. I couldn't cover my ears any longer. It was time to dip my big toe into the Makerspace movement.

And that is exactly what I did ... just a dip, just a baby step! I didn't have any fancy materials ... no Little Bits, no Makey Makeys, no 3D printer. But I did have some paper, crayons, glue, Legos, Knex and a few hundred dollars in supply money.

So, I did it. Simply .... Really simply!

First, I grabbed a couple of those Sterilite plastic drawers and threw some Legos in one, and K'Nex in another and named it our Construction Zone. Add a few Lego Ideas books and voila ... instant Makerspace! My rule is that you can build and create, but once you leave, your inventions can be adapted, added on to, and even deconstructed.

Next, I pieced together a Creation Station. I simply set up a table with paper, crayons, markers, scissors, craft scissors, scrapbook paper, glue, Scotch tape, and washi tape. I pulled a few "How to draw", origami, and paper airplane books off the shelf and set them up nearby. The Creation Station goes through cycles. It's most popular activity to date was card making!

If you recall, I actually had THREE tables! The Construction Zone is set up on one, and the Creation Station on the second, and {if you are counting} that left me with a free table. What to do? What to do? Well, I kept it simple and threw a jigsaw puzzle on it! My fabulous assistant LOVES puzzles and always puts together the edges so that the kids aren't intimidated by a full box of puzzle pieces. Now, our library has a Puzzle Place!

See ... You don't have to have lots of cool technology or gadgets to create your own Library Makerspaces! It just takes a little bit of courage and the belief that if you build it, they WILL come. Did I LOVE having the Makerspaces in my library?? Most of the time! They did add an extra element of disorganization {which puts terror into this librarian's heart} to a perfectly chaotic space. But, I did LOVE watching the kiddos come in and make away. It was truly satisfying to watch them come in, let their guard down, put down their paper and pencil, and MAKE!

My favorite thing about the Maker movement is that it feels like kids truly get to be kids in an increasingly technology-driven, fast-forward educational environment. One of my kids came in, sat down at the Creation Station and looked at me incredulously as she said, "You mean, I can JUST color??" Well, if you want to put it that way ... "Yes. Yes, you can!"

So, my friends, BE BRAVE!! If you haven't already joined me in adding Makerspaces to your library, then jump in. Or, at least, dip a big toe in. Need to know a bit more? Here are the answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions about managing Makerspaces in my library!

WHEN DO THE STUDENTS USE THE MAKERSPACES?

As I run a flexibly scheduled library that revolves around curriculum work and information literacy skills, I don't actually have time during MY scheduled times for students to use the Makerspaces. In a way the Makerspaces are an ADDITION to my library curriculum. So, teachers allow their students to use specific Makerspace Passes to come to the library during their school day. Honestly, I am happy that the teachers allow their kids to use the space, and ultimately it is THEIR decision how it works best in their schedules. Some teachers allow their students to come down during recess, others during study hall, and still others use the Makerspaces as a reward for completing their work. I am lucky enough to have a full-time assistant in the library who can monitor the students when I am teaching a class. So, it is VERY common for me to be teaching a class WHILE other students are completing their Maker Challenges.

DO YOU HAVE RULES FOR YOUR MAKERSPACES?

Absolutely!! In order for any teachers' class to be allowed to use the Makerspaces in the library, the class {and the teacher} are scheduled for an orientation. During that time, I talk with everyone about my expectations. We discuss the history and purpose of Makerspaces, the location of Makerspaces and their necessary materials, and what it means to me that they respect the materials. It is at that time that we talk about picking up and returning your materials, not using too much of a consumable material, as well as leaving the Makerspace BETTER then you found it. We talk about the level of their voices, and the difference between a whisper and a regular voice. I explain to them that I am kind of like their grandmother ... It's a privilege to come to my place. I don't have to put up with your shenanigans, and if you don't behave, I will send you right back home!

DO ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS USE THE MAKERSPACES?

In my library, all students in Grades 3-5 are invited to participate in the Makerspace Program. I have found the students in these grades to be the best fit for the manner in which I have the program setup. They can generally work independently and with little outside assistance. I am currently looking for more ways to incorporate students in the primary grades. At times, I have scheduled classes in Grades K-2 to use the library Makerspaces as a whole group. When I do that, we simply break the kids out into groups and move them through pre-established stations.

If you are interested in the signs that you see in the pictures above, you can click below to grab a PDF file of the letters that I used as templates for both the Construct and Creation Station signs. I printed the Construct letters on black cardstock {No worries ... you can still see the printed lines on black paper}. The Creation Station letters each have a note on the page as to what color cardstock that I printed on. Once printed and cut, I glued them onto a piece of presentation board that I cut out. Easy, right!

Let the Library Patch make your life a whole lot easier with our downloadable products at TpT.

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MAKERSPACES ... I tried to ignore them! I tried to deny their growing momentum. I skipped over articles and blogposts where makerspaces were the headline. I averted my eyes when newsletters about them crossed my mailbox. Not that I didn't find value in them! I ABSOLUTELY did.

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Mrs. J in the Library- Elementary makerspaces

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Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase an item after clicking on the link, I will receive a small commission. See Disclosures & Disclaimers for more information.

Elementary Librarians to Follow

BEST Resources for Elementary School Makerspaces

Makerspace Centers in 40 Minutes - Blog post by Mrs. J in the Library about offering makerspace and/or STEM activities on a fixed library schedule. Circulating Maker Kits - Blog post by Mrs. J in the Library on different kits students can check out, including free MARC records

Maker Bridge - "community for anyone interested in makerspaces, especially in libraries and schools."
Makerspaces.com - This guy has a pretty great Twitter feed, can't wait to see what the webpage is like!

Tinkerlab- Lots of great Science experiments and art activities.
K-12 Fab Labs & Makerspaces Google Group (heavily skewed towards secondary, but still lots of great ideas & colleagues)
K-12 Fab Lab & Makerspaces Resource Website

STEM Challenges - Bundle on TPT

50 STEM Activities for Kids - mostly Pre-K through K/1

Engineering is Elementary - Engineering Curriculum developed by the Museum of Science in Boston. Lesson ideas by grade level!

Make It! @ Your Library - Website for public libraries, but has MANY low-tech, low-cost projects
DIY.org - A whole website of projects for young students to do and share with the community, has badges for levels and achievements.

Great Pinterest Boards
Also, check out Mrs. J in the Library's project and material-specific Pinterest boards:
FREE Resources

STEM Facilitators in Elementary Schools

Amazing Professors teaching Teachers and Librarians

Homeschool Resources

Great Articles

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Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase an item after clicking on the link, I will receive a small commission. See Disclosures & Disclaimers for more information. Makerspace Centers in 40 Minutes - Blog post by Mrs. J in the Library about offering makerspace and/or STEM activities on a fixed library schedule.

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Trina Deboree Teaching and Learning pinterest board

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One of the major goals of education is to help students communicate effectively. Educators often report wanting to help students develop voice in order to communicate verbally what they have learned. Unfortunately, many educators have trouble finding ways to incorporate this type of instruction into their lessons. Flipgrid is designed to do just that - give students a fun and creative avenue to develop voice and provide educators with a simple way to integrate it in their classroom. With each video creation, students consider how they are perceived, the content of what they have shared, and are given opportunities to make changes in response to feedback. Through this process, Flipgrid helps students become stronger communicators and involved digital citizens.

Flipgrid is the leading video discussion platform used by millions of Pre-K to PhD educators, students, families, and organizations in more than 150 countries! Create a Grid (that's your classroom or group), add Topics to spark the discussion, and your community builds a dialogue as they share short video responses. Super simple. Super powerful.

How to Set Up A Flipgrid Account

1. Go to http://www.flipgrid.com . Click on the "Sign Up For Free" box in the upper right hand portion of the screen.

2. Fill out the information (First Name, Last Name, E-Mail, Password, Account Type, Instruction Type, School, Institution, Organization). When finished, click "Create My Grid."

3. Next, you'll want to create a "New Grid" by clicking on the blue "New Grid" button on the My Grids page. Unless you purchase a classroom version of Flipgrid, you will only be allowed to have one grid.

Here's an example of our #TRIADvances Professional Development grid that we created for Triad.

As you can see, Flipgrid provides you with a wealth of information on your grid dashboard like engagement time, how many topics you've created, and how many videos uploaded. You can also make your grid "Inactive" so users can't access it should you decide to shut it down for a while. You also have the option to edit the grid, view topics, integrations, duplicate the grid, and delete the grid under the "Actions" button.

4. Click on the Grid Name to view your topics. To create Topics, click on the blue button titled "New Topic". We have two topics on the graphic below. One in which we asked for follow up on a district wide pilot program and one in which we asked our administrators to reflect on their first quarter. Notice, each topic has link. If you were to type http://www.flipgrid.com/c46e07 , you would be able to access and add to the topic. There are also editing options available for topics as well under the "Actions" button.

5. When creating a topic, you can customize it to fit your needs. Give it a title and date. Choose a Video Response Time (the free version is limited to either 15 seconds or 1 minute 30 seconds). Type out the directions of what you'd like the users to contribute.

A nice feature that students love is the selfie decorations. When a user submits a video, it asks the user to take a selfie before submitting and users can add stickers and drawings to liven up his/her selfie. You can also turn on the Response Moderation so you have to approve every response submitted. The downfall to this setting is that Flipgrid does not alert you when a user submits a response so you have to manually go in and see if someone responded, watch it, and then decide whether to approve the video.

Flipgrid Dashboard

The Flipgrid Dashboard is a great visual snapshot of your activity in Flipgrid. An example of a Flipgrid Dashboard can be found below.

So, I've created a Topic. How do I share it with the students?

On the Topic page, click the blue "Share Topic" button.

You can copy the URL and paste it in an e-mail. There's social media interaction with Facebook and Twitter as well as an integration with Google Classroom.

If you have your own web site, you can embed the code directly onto your web site with the code provided by Flipgrid.

Lastly, You can create a QR code in Flipgrid. Once created, a QR code can be downloaded to be embedded on a web site, electronic newsletter, social media, etc. It can also be emailed to students, embedded in Google Classroom, or printed out and hung on the wall for students to scan with their mobile device.

How do you submit a Flipgrid?

You can either click on the entire link shared with you or go to http://www.flipgrid.com . Once on the web site, you just type in the code for the topic that you need to respond to. You do not have to have a special Flipgrid account to RESPOND to a topic...only to create and moderate topics.

When you put your code in (or type in the entire URL) you will be directed to the topic page with the directions and videos of other people's responses that you can watch. As you can see from the image below, even our administrator's had fun with the stickers and drawings!!! To submit your response, click on the big green circle with the white plus.

This is what the recording screen will look like on a computer. Click the red button to begin recording. You can pause the recording and restart if necessary. When you're finished recording, click the green button with the white arrow. When you click the green button, it will replay the video. If you're not happy with it, you can re-record. If you're happy with it, click the green button with the white arrow.

The next step is to snap a selfie which is what will be displayed in the topic for others to view. This is where you can have some fun and add stickers and drawings to your selfie.

Lastly, you need to type in your name (and optional e-mail address) and submit your video.

If your topic is not moderated, it will immediately appear in your topic for others to view.

Flipgrid is mobile friendly.

Flipgrid has an app available in the App Store and Google Play store. Users can submit videos through their phone, chromebook, laptop, desktop, etc. For a laptop and desktop computer, users need a microphone and camera to submit videos.

Here are some screenshots from the iOS app.

Classroom Uses of Flipgrid

1. Student Introduction - At the beginning of a quarter/semester/year, have the students record a Flipgrid introducing themselves to you and their fellow classmates.

2. Exit Ticket - Ask students to reflect on the lesson and provide feedback before they leave class for the day/hour.

3. Reading Response - Post a response to reading a book or article. Have students respond to each other.

4. Student Support - Student's can offer support/guidance for incoming students at semester change or the end of the school year.

5. Student of the Week - Ask students to share what it means to be "Student of the Week".

6. Weekend Reflection - Ask students to share what fun things they did over the weekend, holiday break or summer break.

7. Thank You Videos - Record videos thanking someone for guest speaking, special treats, etc.

8. Genius Hour - Have students reflect on each step of the Genius Hour Project.

9. Teacher/Principal Appreciation Videos - Have students record a video showing their appreciation for teachers, principals, support staff throughout the year.

10. Biographies - Dress up like the person you are studying and record a Flipgrid as that person. Biography book report FLIPPED!!!

Uses of Flipgrid Outside the Classroom

1. Quarterly Principal Reflections - Ask your building administrators to submit a Flipgrid outlining some successes and challenges at the end of each quarter.

2. Quarterly Teacher Reflections - Ask your teachers to submit a Flipgrid outlining some successes and challenges at the end of each quarter.

3. School Announcements - Instead of posting school announcements somewhere, have students use Flipgrid to liven them up!

4. Teacher Book Clubs - Use Flipgrid to reflect and discuss books read in a book club.

5. PD Opportunity - Use Flipgrid to post quick PD tutorials/opportunities to staff.

6. Virtual Cards - Well wishes, Get Well Soon, Happy Retirement, Happy Birthday can all be delivered using Flipgrid.

7. PD/Speaker Feedback - Allow staff to use Flipgrid to offer reflection/evaluation of PD or guest speakers.

8. Introductions - Have each staff member introduce him/herself using Flipgrid before the school year begins and share the link on the school web site and social media.

9. Journalism - Have the journalism club use Flipgrid to interview students/athletes during the school year.

10. Weekend Reflection - Ask staff members to share what fun things they did over the weekend, holiday break or summer break.

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Getting Started With Flipgrid: Instructions for Set Up, Classroom, & Administrative Use

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One of the major goals of education is to help students communicate effectively. Educators often report wanting to help students develop voice in order to communicate verbally what they have learned. Unfortunately, many educators have trouble finding ways to incorporate this type of instruction into their lessons.

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K5-1st grade library centers

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After much debate at the end of last school year, I was able to get 10 extra minutes added on to each of my classes for this year boosting class library time from 35 minutes a week to 45 minutes a week for my fixed schedule. For me, 35 minutes a week, just wasn't enough to pack in all the awesomeness I wanted to achieve. It seemed like we would just be getting started into something great when it was time to go. I was thrilled to know that this year I was going to have the extra time to work with my classes on research skills and technology projects while working in more time to allow them to browse the shelves and look at books. That being said, truth be told, I was completely freaked out about what to do with my kindergartners for 45 minutes.

Did I mention in my former life, I was a high school English teacher? Four years ago, my first two weeks in an elementary library were a complete culture shock to me. I was used to walking into a room and just saying "get your notes out from yesterday". Now all of the sudden, there were small little bodies all over the place; the expression "herding cats" suddenly had all new meaning to me. I had to do weird stuff like clap my hands to get their attention and say things like "put your bubbles in". (The only reason why I knew to do these things was because I called my cousin Megan, a preschool teacher, and she gave me the magic). I figured out how to establish routines eventually, but have always struggled a bit with fully engaging the attention of the really young ones. The prospect of adding ten additional minutes with them was, in short, daunting.

At my previous school, where I had 45 minutes with older grades only, I had done a lot with centers, and they had worked like magic in keeping the kids moving and engaged. I was hoping that I would be able to introduce centers for my younger kids with as much success. I had been collecting ideas for Check out the board below or find it on Pinterest [ Library Centers and Short Activities for quite a while on Pinterest, in the hopes that I would some day be able to implement centers again - or at the very least design some "I'm finished what can I do now" strategies, so I figured this was the perfect time to try to put it all to work. here]

As I was setting out to establish which centers to use, from previous experience, I knew it was going to have to be something easy to manage daily and the activities were going to have to be simple to explain and simple enough for students to be self-directed.

Last year, I had read For my own purposes, I wanted consistent themes to my centers to help establish routines with the little dudes, and I was stuck on what would be appropriate. I sent out a plea on Twitter to The Centered School Library by , and found that I really missed centers. I loved the ideas in the book so much I suggested it to the other elementary TL's in my district for a book study this past summer. I wish, when I was first getting started with centers a few years back I would have known about her blog. There is no end to the creativity that Cari has and I would love to be a student in her library! You can find Cari's blog [ here] (the blog moved - her old blog was [ Matt Gomez, a pretty inspiring Kindergarten teacher (follow him [ here] and don't miss his blog [ here]). Thanks to his retweet and some great Twitter brainstorming, I was able to settle on these centers for kindergarten and first grade: Read, Retell, Write, Computers, Words, and Explore. here]). You will also find a link to purchase her book on her new site - please don't miss that book if you're just getting started with centers! Cari is also an incredible resource on twitter, follow her [ here].

My centers are pretty basic right now, but at their heart they align fairly easily to CCSS, and reinforce skills they're working on with their classroom teachers.

- students check out their books and then have time to look at what they checked out or to look at magazines we subscribe to in the library. I would eventually love to have a listening center associated with this center, but the kids have had such a great time just exploring their own books, that I haven't looked into ordering anything yet.

Center Organization and Rotation

Center time really only lasts 15-20 minutes and coincides with student checkout time during their library session. I have all six centers stored in bins and expandable file folders in a "Materials" center in the library.

Each student is assigned to a table, and I have center signs displayed in the library that I clip tables to weekly. When the kids come in they immediately look to see which center they get to do.

I glued top-loading page protectors to the outside of legal sized, colored expandable file folders to slide directions into for the Write and Words centers. First grade center work is located in red folders, and kindergarten is in blue. This makes it easy for me to see who gets what. The folders are just big enough to fit portable word walls and paper students need to write.

To make it easier, I deliver all materials to students at their tables. We have been doing this long enough now, that the kids are pretty good about cleaning things up themselves and returning it to the materials center.
At the beginning of library time, I spend usually two minutes telling kids which center their table will be working with and I give some quick directions for each. Hearing these same directions each week, helps to establish the expectations and routines, which can be difficult because I only see them once a week. For the centers that are a little more involved - like writing and words, I usually try to sit down with them for a few minutes to get them started.

Introducing Centers to Students

I didn't end up beginning centers with students until about a month into school this year. By this time, the kids were already accustomed to using centers in their classrooms, so it really helped in making the introduction easier. When I first introduced the centers, I showed students where to find the center signs ( I still point to those each week), where to find the actual center materials, and then I went over each of the center types. For the first week, we spent the entire library time working with the center materials. The next week, I showed them how the center for their table had changed, and we practiced again. It took us about 30 minutes to work with the center, clean up and then hear a story. By the fourth week, things were really rolling and kids were getting right to work, completing their work and cleaning up on their own in 15 to 20 minutes. The time investment in the beginning has really been worth it.

Transitions are pretty important for students. To help with transitioning from center time to library lesson time, I use a lot of cues. The most effective I have found is using Class Dojo (find it [ here]) to not only monitor behavior during center time, but also to award points for students who clean up promptly. Class Dojo has a built in timer, and at the end of center time, I set it and give students 1-2 minutes to clean up. I always tell them, that they have 1 or 2 minutes "to get cleaned up and show me they are ready to learn." They know that means to have everything put away and be sitting with their hands still and eyes on me by the time the buzzer goes off. It's amazing!

In the future I would love to include more developed ideas like Cari Young has in her library. I also would love to incorporate a Maker space where students can gain inspiration from library materials to create! I also really want to incorporate more technology and make use of our computers better. Currently I only have access to iPads when other teachers aren't using them, so it isn't really practical for me to include them in my center plans. I will for sure be advocating for more consistent access to iPads so that I can use eBooks in the centers, have QR codes that link students to verbal directions for their center, and design web-based or app-based lessons that help students practice important library and developmental skills. Currently my 3-5 graders are working through some project based learning (see that post [ here]), so there's no time for centers. Later this year - we may see that center based learning will work for them. My second graders are working through 9 different activities on an activity sheet, and when they are finished with those, I may begin more of a structured center experience with them - but right now they are really enjoying having the freedom to choose, and they are working so hard, I don't want to disrupt their motivation.

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Library Centers for Kindergarten & First Grade

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After much debate at the end of last school year, I was able to get 10 extra minutes added on to each of my classes for this year boosting class library time from 35 minutes a week to 45 minutes a week for my fixed schedule.

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Centers for the Library

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The AASL Standards Framework for Learners pamphlet presents the standards framework for application with students and other learners. Three sets of standards (Learner, School Librarian, and School Library) make up the AASL Standards Integrated Framework featured within the National School Library Standards. This pamphlet provides educators access specifically to AASL's learner standards.

The learner standards pamphlet is the ideal collaborative and advocacy piece to introduce your stakeholders to this student-focused segment at the heart of AASL's standards. In addition to the framework for learners, this convenient pamphlet includes Common Beliefs reflecting current learning environments and professional best practices that form the foundation of the standards.

Share the frame work for Learners at:

District school board meetings

PTA/PTO meetings

Teacher in-service days

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Standards Framework - National School Library Standards

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The AASL Standards framework reflects a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning by demonstrating the connection between learner, school librarian, and school library standards.

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In depth Library standards part 1

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In Depth With the New AASL Standards, Part I

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videos

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American Association of School Librarians

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Every Standard Tells A Story: School Library Inquire

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Open access journal publishing scholarship and new ideas in the field of library and information science.

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In the February 2018 issue of Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals, longtime school library leader and educator Dr. David V. Loertscher provides an in-depth analysis and detailed review of the recently published standards of the American Association...

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Elementary Library Mama | Library Lesson Plans | Elementary Librarian | Library Orientation, Librar (elementaryl)

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Elementary Library Mama | Library Lesson Plans | Elementary Librarian | Library Orientation, Librar | I create quality lessons, signage, and activities for K-8 School Librarians! Grab my FREE Library Media Center Orientation Game. https://bit.ly/2IMfnLR

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I love collaborating (or in this case stealing) ideas from the librarians in my district. One of my good friends and librarian at Canyon Ridge Elementary, Wendy Howk @whowk, sent an email in the summer to a few of her "tech-ie" friends" asking an innocent question about an idea she was working on. She wanted to know if we knew of any kid appropriate meme generators because she wanted her 5th graders to make library rules memes for their orientation. Our fabulous Terri Eichholz @terrieichholz, suggested that she download pictures that she wanted the students to use into google drive and work from there. Well, before I could even reply, Wendy had already started created a folder in google drive with blank meme pictures, I told her I loved the idea and would love to help in any way. Well, then summer happened and neither of us really did much with it over the summer.

When we got back to school, I mentioned it to my 5th grade reading teachers and of course they loved it and signed up right away - yes, like the first week of school. So over text messages one night, Wendy and I hammered and tested and retested and played and figured out how it might work through google classroom - which I had never really tried, nor have my teachers - that's right, I live on the edge. Now, Wendy will say in her sweet way, that we "synergized" on this and that is how it came to fruition, but really it was all her idea and I just pushed her along because I needed to know how to do it to look good for my teachers.

So anyway, here is how we created Library Rule Memes...

First, We(ndy) created a shared folder in google drive of a bunch of blank memes from a meme generator.

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I love collaborating (or in this case stealing) ideas from the librarians in my district. One of my good friends and librarian at Canyon Ridge Elementary, Wendy Howk @whowk, sent an email in the summer to a few of her "tech-ie" friends" asking an innocent question about an idea she was working on.

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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Digital Citizenship Information for educators

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George Lucas Educational Foundation

Learn about online safety, cyberbullying, netiquette, privacy, copyright, and the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior to help young people consider their digital footprint.

A collection of articles, videos, and other resources on internet safety, cyberbullying, digital responsibility, and media and digital literacy.

This collection of blogs, articles, and videos aims to help educators deploy social-media tools to develop professionally, connect with parents and communities, and engage students in 21st-century learning.

Intrigued by game-based learning, but not sure where to begin?

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George Lucas Educational Foundation Learn about online safety, cyberbullying, netiquette, privacy, copyright, and the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior to help young people consider their digital footprint. A collection of articles, videos, and other resources on internet safety, cyberbullying, digital responsibility, and media and digital literacy.

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makerspace

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Top 10 Things You Didn't Know Your Makerspace Needs | Getting Smart

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The top 11 apps to use with Book Creator - Book Creator app

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It was no surprise to us that Explain Everything came top in this list. We've seen anecdotally that teachers love this app, and we know there are many, many ways it can be combined with Book Creator - and the workflow works both ways.

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Common Sense Education provides educators and students with the resources they need to harness the power of technology for learning and life. Find a free K-12 Digital Citizenship curriculum, reviews of popular EdTech apps, and resources for protecting student privacy.

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Library Trends is an essential tool for professional librarians and educators alike. Every issue explores critical trends in professional librarianship, and includes practical applications, thorough analyses, and literature reviews. Each issue brings readers in-depth, thoughtful articles, all exploring a specific topic of professional interest.

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Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

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Children and Libraries received a 2017 Apex Grand Award for publication excellence.

ALSC members and subscribers may access Children and Libraries online at https://journals.ala.org/cal/index. All past issues from volume 1 through the fifth-most-recent issue are accessible to all.

To access the four most recent issues, ALSC members (and subscribers) must login using their regular ALA login and password.

About Children and Libraries

Children and Libraries (CAL) is the official, refereed journal of the Association for Library Service to Children. It primarily serves as a vehicle for continuing education for librarians working with children, and showcases current scholarly research and practice in library service to children and significant activities and initiatives of the Association.
Back Issues Manuscripts and Letters
Call for Referees
Display Advertising
Guidelines for Authors
Manuscript Referee Process
Policies and Procedures
Subscription Information
Manuscripts and letters pertaining to editorial content should be sent to the CAL editor Sharon Korbeck Verbeten at: 820 Spooner Ct., De Pere, WI 54115, Phone: 920-339-2740, or e-mail.

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Children and Libraries: The Journal of ALSC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Children and Libraries received a 2017 Apex Grand Award for publication excellence. ALSC members and subscribers may access Children and Libraries online at https://journals.ala.org/cal/index. All past issues from volume 1 through the fifth-most-recent issue are accessible to all. To access the four most recent issues, ALSC members (and subscribers) must login using their regular ALA login and password.

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Last week I asked my friends Tracy Ferguson and Melanie Smith if they wanted to try out a new digital tool with me called FlipGrid.

I learned about FlipGrid when my dear friend Joyce wrote about it on her SLJ blog. Then we all talked about it a lot at AASL in Hartford last month, so I couldn't wait to try it out with our kids too.

Next, we decided to have the students use this series with FlipGrid by giving a book talk over one that they have read and enjoyed. The books have been in the second grade classrooms and they have been reading them for the last couple of weeks.

And they are LOVING them! It was going to be so much fun using FlipGrid to capture what they truly felt about the fairy tale books.

If you click on Second Grade Fairy Tale FlipGrid now, it will take you into their FlipGrid for the book talks.

You just click on the picture of each child to see their recording. It opens up in a small window on top of the FlipGrid. The second graders in Tracy's class had a blast trying out FlipGrid for the first time and recording book talks.

Think of all the possibilities for this digital tool!

Book talks; a quick assessment of what they learned or read; reflecting on a science experiment or video they watched in class; reciting poetry or reading a poem they wrote; recording a speech; reflecting on a field trip on the spot; capturing feelings from something they read or heard.....maybe after watching a play or experiencing something new; a news show; talking and showing off art work they created; singing a song in music by themselves or with a group of friends; interviewing someone in their family at home or an older student in school, and more.

With FlipGrid it would be with students and friends that aren't even in the same school. Anyone can respond as long as they have the url and permissions that are set up by the teacher.

And what about teachers......They could reflect on student work; give feedback to their PLC; share digital tools that are new to students and other teachers; weekly news or even daily news; a way to share professional development with staff members; connecting to another school half way around the world, and the list goes on and on.

Here are a few tips to get you started creating and using FlipGrid.

It is available online at FlipGrid.com or download the FlipGrid app to use.

You sign in or login at the bottom right hand corner as the "Administrator".

This will take you into the main page where everything is created and managed.

First, you create a "Grid" for the class, project, etc....whatever it might be. This holds the "Questions" that you will then create.

Next, you create "Questions" that your students will respond to. You can create several if you would like under one Grid.

Within both of these sections, you have choices as well to edit, make it active or not, share through email and social media, and delete. You find all of these features on the right hand side.

Once you are ready, click on the little globe which is "Share This Question" and it gives you a URL to share. This is what anyone that you want to get to the FlipGrid you created will use.

I put the URL right onto the 2nd grade Symbaloo. It was very easy for them to find what they needed.

They will get to this page first which is where the password will be put in.

You then click on the big + sign and the camera information pops up. You put your head into the oval and takes it with any filter attached.

Once your picture comes up on the right hand side, FlipGrid will take you to the screen with the question. You just click on this box and it take you into....

this screen where you click on the big green box with the + to make a new response.

Once they start responding to the questions, the users pictures pop up with the response with the administrators account. You can have it set to approve every video or not as well here. I just went through the videos in the "Responses" section....It was quick and easy to do.

I explained FlipSnack briefly to the 2nd graders. I showed them an example of me leaving a message in the same Grid. They understood how to use it and what their learning targets were right away.

They just loved creating the little FlipGrids about their new favorite books. By working together, they were able to help one another, give peer advice and editing help; and they all learned about more than the books they read.

Using FlipGrid with the 2nd graders to review the fairy tale books was a giant success! After Tracy and I saw how much the students loved it and how success it was to use with the kids, we started brainstorming how she would use it even more.

We talked through how FlipGrid could be used for giving book reports.

Instead of everyone standing in front of the class each time, Tracy could use FlipGrid to have the students record their own presentation and share it with all of their other classmates, teachers, and parents through FlipGrid.

I loved it! And her kids were so excited too.

Tracy is going to keep this FlipGrid going all year long. I will be curious to see if she breaks them up into weeks, months, or even one for the rest of the year.

And I can't wait to see all of your ideas too. Please send them our way.

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FlipGrid Allows For Students To Find Their Voice Giving Book Talks

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Last week I asked my friends Tracy Ferguson and Melanie Smith if they wanted to try out a new digital tool with me called FlipGrid. I learned about FlipGrid when my dear friend Joyce wrote about it on her SLJ blog.

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This website was created by Laurie Conley, the media specialist at Whittier Elementary School in Oak Park, Illinois. The website is intended to fulfill the requirements for the Certificate of Advanced Study from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science University of Illinois and was created in 2010.

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Resources for parents, grandparents, teachers & students

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Kids Love Book Clubs

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How do students in your classroom share their responses to reading? How can you participate in a book club with educators nearby or far away? I'm so excited about the way educators are leveraging the power of digital tools to connect readers of all ages. Whether you are organizing a book club for a classroom of first, sixth or eleventh graders, or setting up a book club for fellow educators, you can use Flipgrid for book clubs - it's a favorite tool for reading responses and discussion!

Last week I received an email from a fellow Apple Distinguished Educator, , and her students recently read my new book Dr. Terri Cullen. Dr. Cullen is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Tasks Before Apps: Designing Rigorous Learning in a Tech-Rich Classroom. She was kind enough to share with me a Flipgrid full of reflections from her students, each of whom spent time reading my book and responding to questions Dr. Cullen posed to them.

There are lots of ways to use digital tools with readers, and I've shared some of my favorite strategies in the past like creating book trailers with Adobe Spark and using backchannels with Today's Meet. In Taming the Wild Text: Literacy Strategies for Today's Reader co-authored with LitWorld Founder Pam Allyn, we discuss five habits for readers in the digital world including the importance of reading socially. Video reflections shared in a collaborative space are a wonderful way to promote social reading and build a community of readers.
Looking for more reading favorites? Download this free poster of reading tools.
How To Use FlipGrid

What I love about Flipgrid is how it captures the voice (and video) of students so they can take part in a discussion, convey emotion, and respond to the contributions of their peers. If you haven't used Flipgrid before, you can get started by setting up a free account on their website. Next, you'll create a page for students to visit that includes a set of instructions.

You can decide how long students have to respond. I suggest starting off with a short prompt and a short amount of time. This can help students stay focused and provide concise answers. Students can record their responses using either a computer or mobile app. Flipgrid is Chromebook friendly, works on any web browser and has an iOS app too - all you have to do is share the code for the page with your students or send them the link.

One special feature of Flipgrid is the ability to respond to the contributions of others. Students can simply "like" the video posted by a classmate, or they can leave a video reply. If you're teaching digital citizenship skills to students or want to provide opportunities to practice how to navigate in online communities, you'll definitely want to take advantage of this feature.

FlipGrid for Book Clubs

Similar to the title of my book, when creating a space for reading responses and discussion, you'll want to place tasks before apps and have a clear objective and expectations in mind. This might include posting one discussion question for students to respond to, or a handful of big ideas you would like members of your book club to reference in their contributions.

For example, you might select a passage from The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and ask students to discuss a connection to another book you've read together this year. Alternatively, you might ask students to choose a moment from a book they've read independently like , that was surprising, shocking, or clearly foreshadowed. If you are using Flipgrid for a professional learning book club, you might pose a question about how you can put an idea into action or have team members reflect on their current practice.

Flipgrid is perfect for readers of all ages and absolutely worth exploring this school year. Of course, this is an open-ended tool with multiple use cases. So if you're not hosting a book club this year, you might use if to have students reflect on the steps to solve a math problem. Or students can share their hypothesis before conducting an experiment. It's a great way to address speaking and listening standards across content areas.

Get started with Flipgrid by heading over to their website! Have you used Flipgrid for book clubs? Share your experience in the comments below!

Also, if you are using Flipgrid to facilitate a book club for one of my books, I'd love to leave a message just like I did for Dr. Cullen's class. Just send an email my way: monica@classtechtips.com
Ready to dive into more reading favorites? Here's my free poster of reading tools.
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How To Use Flipgrid for Book Clubs - Class Tech Tips

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How do students in your classroom share their responses to reading? How can you participate in a book club with educators nearby or far away? I'm so excited about the way educators are leveraging the power of digital tools to connect readers of all ages.

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How to Create Digital Assignments for Google Classroom | EDTech Made Easy

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Good ideas for all ages/grades

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Google Classroom Tips and Tricks for Teachers | EDTech Made Easy - GOOGLE CLASSROOM TUTORIAL

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How to Use Google Meet - Detailed Tutorial

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7 BEST Websites and Apps for Distance Learning

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Student Executive Functioning How to use HyperDocs

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Student Executive Functioning How to use HyperDocs

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Supporting Student Executive Functioning Skills

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Record your screen, include your video as you teach or present

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Screencastify Tutorial 2020 |  Teaching Digital Lessons

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SeeSaw for Teachers - Create an Activity for your Students - Snapshots to learn - Student Portfolios

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techie teacher

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How to Install the Nearpod Add-On for Google Slides™

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Keep you on track as you teach a lesson

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How I Make My Google Slides for Teaching | Top Requested Video!

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Jedi Educators Nicole Catrett & Ryan Jenkins

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Makey Makey Invention Literacy Workshop for Educators

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Teaching Invention Literacy With Makey Makey

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The Makey Makey Invention Literacy Workshop for Educators is a fun hands-on learning experience where you'll learn how to teach Invention Literacy, Making, and Design Thinking using the award winning Makey Makey invention kit. We explore how to teach circuits and conductivity using Makey Makeys and then put our skills to use designing inventions!

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Digital File Organization on Google Drive

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Digital File Organization on Google Drive

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Digital File Organization for Teachers | EDTech Made Easy - ORGANIZING YOUR GOOGLE DRIVE

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EdTech made Easy

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How To Create Student Groups In SECONDS | EDTech Made Easy - FLIPPITY TUTORIAL

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Top Grading Hacks For Teachers | Tips and Tricks to Save You Time!

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What is a HyperDoc?
It's an innovative way to put an entire interactive digital lesson into your students' hands. If you're looking for something to replace boring worksheets with something more exciting that allows students to collaborate, think critically, combine information from multiple sources, and create through technology, then HyperDocs is right up your alley. HyperDocs allow you to create and package a lesson plan tailored to fit the needs of your students. Plus, it is inherently engaging! Each lesson includes all the elements you would typically include in a successful lesson: engage, explore, explain, apply, share, and extend. While students are busy collaborating and reflecting on their learning, you are free to connect with students!

​ The term HyperDocs was coined by Lisa Highfill, Kelly Hilton, and Sarah Landis. When I first heard about HyperDocs, I thought it was simply a Google Doc with hyperlinks on it. Don't be fooled! It is SO much more complex and meaningful than that. Read about what Lisa, Kelly, and Sarah have to say about HyperDocs on their website here.

Many HyperDocs follow this basic template that takes students through six steps of a lesson:

1. Engage: Hook your students, get them engaged, and activate prior knowledge. You might use a fun video, interactive website, or audio recording.

2. Explore: Link resources, such as videos or articles, for students to explore more information.

3. Explain: Clarify the learning objective for your students. This is where you could teach a whole group lesson with direct instruction, or add additional resources for students to explore.

4. Apply: What do you want students to create to demonstrate their learning? Give instructions for the assignment.

5. Share: Provide a way for students to share their work and receive feedback.

6. Reflect: Pause for reflection (whole class, think-pair-share, etc.) or link them to a digital way to share their thoughts.

7. Extend: This portion is great for early finishers. Provide extra activities, additional online resources, or challenge them with an extension assignment to extend their thinking.

Of course, not every lesson follows the same format. For a variety of templates to meet your needs, head over to this Padlet where educators are sharing templates for all types of lessons. In addition to the Basic six step HyperDoc lesson plan outlined above, there are also templates for close reading, historical biographies, and for workshop lessons. There is also a more basic template that only involves three steps: Explore, Explain, and Apply. That shortened HyperDoc templates is great for beginners that are feeling overwhelmed with creating their first HyperDoc.
If you're unsure of what types of resources to include for each section of the lesson, take a look at this helpful Google Doc template created by Sarah Landis. It's packed full of ideas for each step of the lesson. Popular apps and websites used with HyperDocs include YouTube, Google Forms, Kahoot, Storybird, Padlet, Wordle, and of course Google Docs.

​ The best way to understand HyperDocs is to see an example. Luckily, educators have been creating and sharing HyperDocs for all grade levels and subjects. A typical lesson that follows a template will look similar to the images below. Of course, not all Hyperdocs follow a template, and you are free to customize your lesson to suit your needs. To use a template for your classroom, simply open it in Google Docs, click "File" and "Make a Copy" to save it into your Google Drive. Then you can open your own copy, make any changes, and then share it with your students via Google Classroom!

Try out some HyperDocs for yourself to see what all the hype is about!

Click here to explore a Padlet where educators are sharing their awesome HyperDocs.

​Click here to find even more HyperDoc lessons through an amazing website called TeachersGiveTeachers.

​Once you start creating your own HyperDocs, don't forget to revisit the Padlet or TeachersGiveTeachers to share your lesson with others!

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What is a HyperDoc? It's an innovative way to put an entire interactive digital lesson into your students' hands. If you're looking for something to replace boring worksheets with something more exciting that allows students to collaborate, think critically, combine information from multiple sources, and create through technology, then HyperDocs is right up your alley.

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???What do you wonder???

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Explore Wonders | Tag: kids | Wonderopolis

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This blog is intended to give helpful tips and tricks for incorporating technology into your classroom.

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4th grade teacher with great tech ideas

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Techie teacher

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What is stop motion?

Stop motion is a cinematographic technique that creates animations by making objects appear as if they are moving on their own. You can achieve this by taking a picture of an object, move it ever so slightly and then snap another picture. Repeat this until you have taken several dozens of pictures (more depending on how long you want the animation to last). The more pictures you take, the better the video!

Stop Motion in the Classroom

Students can use stop motion to retell a story, explain a historical event, show math concepts and so much more. It is a great way to make their thinking visible and share with the world! Below is one of my favorite stop motion projects I did a few years ago using Erintegration's States of Matter Stop Motion Project for the iPad. Students demonstrated how molecules behave as a solid, liquid and gas.

The Best Digital Tools for Making Stop Motion Videos in the Classroom

There are many different stop motion creation apps/tools. However, the ones below are my favorite because they are FREE and very easy to use in the elementary classroom. I prefer to use iPads when creating stop motion videos; however, there are ways to accomplish a similar animation by using computers.

iPads

Stop Motion Studio is a free app that is great to use for stop motion animations! This is the one I used in the matter video above.

I really like Stop Motion Studio because you can save your creation as a video or as an animated GIF like this I made below:

Koma Koma is another fabulous and FREE stop motion app. This app is great for even our youngest learners since it is so easy to use!

Chromebooks/Laptops/Computers

Control Alt Achieve blogged about a slightly different stop motion technique using Google Slides to create animated videos. Even though students aren't snapping pictures, this is a great option as they learn to move and manipulate images as well as duplicate slides.

Hue Animation Studio is a stop motion animation kit you can purchase to hook up to a Windows PC or Mac computer. It runs about $49 but is an awesome tool for any classroom, MakerSpace or STEM lab! Click my Amazon affiliate link below to read more about Animation Studio:

Jonathan Wylie blogged about using ABCya Animate to create stop motion movies. I used this free web tool a few years ago in a second grade classroom and the students created animations about magnetism. They saved their creations, sent them to me and I added them to this Google Slides presentation below:

Tips for Stop Motion Creation

1. Have a plan. Use a storyboard or sketch out the sequence of events before filming. Lemon Lime Adventure has a FREE Storyboard you can download in THIS post.

2. The more pictures/frames, the better the video! Snap even more pictures (or create multiple slides) than you think you would need.

3. Move the objects/images about a centimeter each time. Yes, this requires a lot of patience and focus but it is worth it in the end!

4. If you are filming/taking pictures of images for your stop motion video, be sure to find a flat area that is all the same color/pattern. You don't want to accidentally snap a picture of something that doesn't match your background (ex. a corner of a cabinet). This will disrupt your video if one or several of the pictures captures random pieces that were not intended to be seen in the video. A trifold presentation board makes a great backdrop.

5. If you are filming/taking pictures be sure to hold your device in the same exact spot and at the same angle for EVERY SINGLE PICTURE. This can be challenging for students, especially if they are working in groups. It is easier to do with a computer/laptop since it can sit on its own. There are all types of ipad stands you could use (Amazon affiliate links below) but you could also challenge students to create their own with items you have in your classroom!

Have you tried creating stop motion videos in your classroom? If so, tell me about it in the comments below!

Follow me on Pinterest to get more techie ideas:

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Tools and Tips for Creating Amazing Stop Motion Videos in the Classroom

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Stop motion is a cinematographic technique that creates animations by making objects appear as if they are moving on their own. You can achieve this by taking a picture of an object, move it ever so slightly and then snap another picture.

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Techie Teacher

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This blog is intended to give helpful tips and tricks for incorporating technology into your classroom.

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The library: once a spot for only library checkouts and sharing storybooks, and now a space full of technology and kids who are often more savvy on the tools than the teachers attempting to lead lessons about them. For those of us in the library who still crave that time with the students; finding them their next best reads, using the perfect voices in a read aloud that keeps them chuckling for days, or (most importantly) teaching our students that a passion for reading is just as cool as the tablet, phone, or laptop that they can't wait to get home to; finding that balance can be tough.

After attending NerdCampMI this summer, I was more riled up than ever to get the best books in the hands of our kids. And, yet, I knew that THEY were excited to get back to the tech tools, the websites, and the apps. So how could I mix my hopes of sharing the best-books-ever with my students while getting them totally pumped to hear about them? This became my goal for the upcoming school year.

This week our YGS and BGS 3rd graders are using @nearpod to respond to our library book talks! We are sharing a stack of "gems" from our shelves... can you tell which books match each response on Nearpod? #bookendgems pic.twitter.com/ZdVy6ZO2I6

- ???. ??ℍ??? (Steph) (@Mrs_McHugh) August 23, 2018

Our district purchased Nearpod at the end of last school year, and in my head, it was one more daunting tool to try to learn and understand before the kids came back to school. But with my new mission in mind, I turned to Nearpod and decided to at least give it a shot, and I am so grateful for where it has taken us so far.

In our elementary libraries, we are promoting titles by referring to them as "book gems;" the students are going crazy over the gem stickers attached to each book to indicate so. The Nearpod platform is incredibly user-friendly and the interactive piece was just what I was looking for to increase student engagement in our book discussions. Students were able to hop onto Nearpod - no username/password required for them which saves an exorbitant amount of time, and join my session by entering a 5-letter code. (Even my first graders could do this easily! Hallelujah!)

Use Nearpod to respond to book talks! Learn how @Mrs_McHugh launched this initiative. Click To Tweet

Students shared the book gems which they were most excited about by creating drawings characters, settings, or ideas in the stories that stood out to them! (In one class, after book talking The Lemonade War series almost every student included a glass of lemonade in their drawing!) The kids were beyond excited to watch as each of their classmates' drawings were revealed on the screen, and the students left asking when we could use Nearpod again... AND talking about the books they were excited to read.

I'm still learning, but Nearpod has taught me that I can take baby steps to get me to the place that I need to be. The library can STILL be a place where kids love stories, but we can use technology to keep them engaged with the books that we share with them. What will I plan next using Nearpod? The possibilities are endless, but for now, I'm taking time to celebrate this small success as I watch our students walk out the door excited for the new books in their hands.

Mission: accomplished.

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The library: once a spot for only library checkouts and sharing storybooks, and now a space full of technology and kids who are often more savvy on the tools than the teachers attempting to lead lessons about them.

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Getting Started with the New (2020) Version of Screencastify

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how to create an assignment

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Flipgrid Tutorial - Creating Video Assignments

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Instructions

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Making a PDF Editable to Share in Google Classroom

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Miss Tech Queen

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Launch Into Tech! Slides and Drawings with Miss Tech Queen

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Miss Tech Queen

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D design process | ABC Makerspace Distance Learning Lessons

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Miss Tech Queen

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Miss tech queen

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Getting Started with "EdPuzzle" Tutorial

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In this article, I explain how you can record your face and screen at the same time so that you can create engaging and fun videos. Note that there are several apps that can do this. This tutorial shows you can create a screencast using the built-in Mac apps and hardware. So that you will not need to use any other third-party apps. We will use QuickTime Player.

If you want to audio-only recording, see this article.

There are many advantages to creating screen videos. For instance, nowadays, teachers are recording your lessons so that their students can watch them anytime.

These types of videos will create recordings of the actions on your computer screen with accompanying audio and your face. This will let you provide quick video explanations or tutorials. For example, you can create Youtube tutorials using the method described in this article.

How to Screencast (Mac)

1-Launch QuickTime player. It can be found in the applications folder.

2-Select File > New Movie Recording.

3-Select View > Float on top so that your camera window will be on top of any other application anywhere on your screen. If you do not select this, your video may not record you.

4-Now you can resize the camera window. You can move this camera view anywhere you want (left, right, top, bottom, etc).

5-Now again, in QuickTime Player, select File > New Screen Recording

You will see this:

You can change some settings by clicking the arrow next to the Record button. You can record your full screen or part of your Mac screen. You may want to arrange your screen (where will your camera be etc?) before you start your recording.

6-When you are ready to start recording, click the red record button. You have two options: (a) if you want to record your entire screen, click anywhere on your screen to start the actual recording (b) or you may drag to select an area.

7-Now you are recording your screen and your camera view (e.g. your face). When you are done recording you may press the Command-Control-Esc keys. After you done, you may also edit your video using Quicktime. For instance, you may go to QuickTime > Edit > Trim to remove the unwanted parts of your video.
Other notes:

1. You can also press Shift-Command (⌘)-5 to create video and capture still images of your screen.

2. Please note that if your Mac does not have a built-in camera, you can use an external camera.

3. You can use an iOS device connected to your Mac to record a video on your device.

See also:

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How To Record Your Face and Screen On Your Mac - macReports

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In this article, I explain how you can record your face and screen at the same time so that you can create engaging and fun videos. Note that there are several apps that can do this. This tutorial shows you can create a screencast using the built-in Mac apps and hardware.

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Technology Lori has explored the universe of websites and apps to find those that truly support meaningful learning in the classroom every day and in multiple ways. See All Technology Posts > Powerful Teaching & Learning Find resources, ideas, and tips for enriching

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PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION - UPDATES COMING SOON!

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Happy Educator Appreciation Month to all our incredible teachers across the globe!
This month, we honor more than ever the great passion, infinite energy and constant dedication YOU give to students, families and fellow educators every day.

Join us throughout the month of May on Twitter and Instagram and read on to see the exciting celebrations, events, opportunities and updates we have in store for YOU! 😎

You Asked, We Listened! 📣

Thank you so much for your continued feedback on how to make Flipgrid even better. Here are the latest updates to help you keep your learners engaged anytime, anywhere.

5. Topic Description up to 1,000 Characters ✏
So much to say ... and now all the space to get there! Flipgrid discussion prompts can now be up to 1,000 characters!
See the announcement 6. Feedback Visibility 👀
In video responses, students can now see either a score or ✔ once teachers provide feedback!
See the announcement

Inspiration from your Fellow Educators 🤩

The incredible educator duo, Kristin and Joe Merrill (@TheMerrillsEdu) from Florida, have taken over our YouTube Channel to share interACTIVE ideas with you and your learners!

Learn camera tips, ideas to start, and more.

There are so many ways to celebrate your graduate this spring! Take a look at tips for both schools and families on how to host a virtual graduation ceremony.

Our fantastic educator duo from Texas, Omar and Fely Lopez, created beautiful sketches as a visual to help students get started with Flipgrid.

For ten years, the Edcamp Foundation has hosted events across the world that are hosted by teachers and led by teachers. Learn about how you can host your own virtual Edcamp on Flipgrid!

Join fellow educators from around the world at the next #FlipgridForAll Twitter Chat!
We love how you and your fellow educators constantly share inspiring ideas for engaging, empowering and connecting your community. Join the next #FlipgridForAll chat on Tuesday, May 12 (and share your ideas, questions, and stories anytime)!

1st time using @Flipgrid as part of summative assessment with AP Physics students. The ability to upload images, add text, & draw live goes a long way to help students' audio explanations of these complex scenarios dealing with fluid forces & dynamics. #FlipgridForAll pic.twitter.com/Ul1ONppJpd
- Mike Mohammad (@Mo_physics) April 27, 2020

Let's talk about all the CELEBRATIONS during our next Flipgrid Feature broadcast event...

FlipgridLIVE 🔥
"This is not your typical presentation!" On Monday, June 29, join us for our big and bright, special annual event as we celebrate YOU with stories, product updates and MORE during this exciting virtual celebration.
Register for the livestream event!

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Happy Educator Appreciation Month to all our incredible teachers across the globe! This month, we honor more than ever the great passion, infinite energy and constant dedication YOU give to students, families and fellow educators every day. Join us throughout the month of May on Twitter and I

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Quick overview of lots of tech tools/ideas

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Why? - Why Not Another Email PD? As educators our inboxes are FULL, our to do lists are long, and sometimes all we need is a "spark" to get our minds to open to a new possibility. According to a Googler at Google NYC research shows that these flyers will be looked at for approximately 10 seconds. If, in those 10 seconds, something catches your eye and sticks with you ... I'm thrilled! A spark is all you need to start a fire ...

Want to "get notified" when a new issue is ready? Click the "Get Notified" link above to learn when a new issue is ready!

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Why? - Why Not Another Email PD? As educators our inboxes are FULL, our to do lists are long, and sometimes all we need is a "spark" to get our minds to open to a new possibility. According to a Googler at Google NYC research shows that these flyers will be looked at for approximately 10 seconds.