Uploading Artifacts to My Learning Plan

The uploading of artifacts to a form in My Learning Plan can be potentially confusing. You can upload files from your computer, and you can share files from your Google Drive. This video outlines how to do both.

If you would rather a printed set of directions complete with diagrams, check this out.

Make appointment slots in Google Calendar

You can use Google Calendar to create appointment slots that can be used to schedule meetings and conferences, etc. A link can be generated and sent to various recipients so that they can choose a time that works best for them. The video explains how.

Access Google Classroom from home

As teachers are increasing their usage of Google Classroom, the need for students to log in from home is also increasing. Parents may occasionally run into trouble helping their children access this, so here are directions and a video to help!

Directions - https://goo.gl/BQPC0B 

Upload Your H: Drive (for MPS users)

The directions for how to upload the contents of your H: drive can seem a little daunting in person, so here's a handy video to help!

Turn file conversion on in Google Drive

Besides creating Google format documents from within your Google Drive, you can (and should) upload locally stored files so that you can access and edit from any device. Most teachers will have a plethora of Microsoft Office file types like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. You can choose to upload these files and retain the original file types, but this will present a problem when you try to share and collaborate, or push files out to students via Google Classroom. You can upload an individual Word document, but when you go to open the file, you are faced with a preview of the file, and a button at the top of the screen that says "Open with", prompting you to open the Word file using Docs. Upon opening the file with Docs, you are now creating another version of the file, adding to the potential confusion of "which file do I use for...". Then you will likely go into your Drive and delete the Microsoft counterpart. To save you the trouble of doing this incessantly, you can check one tiny box that will save you the trouble going forward.

From within Drive, click the gear cog icon in the upper right>settings>check the box "Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format". This will automatically change Word files to Docs, Excel files to Sheets, and Powerpoint files to Slides. Note that in the cases of complicated formatting, some minor changes may have occurred, so check your documents before using them, rather than blindly trusting that they will look like you expect them to.

The video shows how to navigate to the file conversion setting.

Using QR Codes in the classroom

When it comes to directing students to class content quickly and efficiently, teachers have turned to the use of QR codes. Chances are you have seen one at some point in your daily travels, either on certain product packaging or on signs and billboards. To make use of these, you would need to download and install a QR code scanner on your device, whether it be a phone, tablet, or Chromebook. I have The QR Code Extension added to my Chrome browser, which was used to generate the QR code above. This extension will generate a code for the active web page. This code can then be scanned on screen, or printed out and posted for students to scan on their devices. Think of this as a real-world hyperlink.

When selecting the app or extension you would like to use, be sure to note if the app is simply a QR code scanner or generator, or both. As a teacher, you will be creating content and posting it somewhere online, like on your class website, YouTube, or via a shareable link from your Google Drive. Then you will need to generate the QR code so that your students can scan to access your content.

As mentioned previously, The QR Code Extension can be used to create a code to link to the active web page. Or, you can go to one of many QR generators online and you will see a place to paste hyperlinks or select data types, ranging from websites to Twitter feeds to telephone numbers. A site I like to use is http://www.qrstuff.com/.

Some possible real world applications could be as follows;

• Set up learning centers in your classroom where students scan the QR code at each center to access relevant content
• At conference time, post codes on students' desks so that parents can scan and see student portfolios or other student work
• Add a QR code to a homework assignment that links to help 
• Display a code on your interactive whiteboard so students can connect on their own devices
• Class scavenger hunts where students scan codes at various locations giving them clues
• Adding to books by including author or story information
• Attach you your devices and link to online product manuals

Take some time and experiment, try out something new, and post any exciting ideas or experiences in the comment section below!

New Google Site!

If you have the chance to play around with Google Sites to create a web space for yourself, I recommend doing so! Here is the link to my new site, hosted by Google Sites!

Checking out Quizlet

I have been spending time in my new position as Tech Coach demoing apps and websites that teachers can potentially use in their classes to supplement their instruction. One of these apps is called Quizlet. This app is a study tool for teachers and students where you can make flash cards, practice spelling, take practice tests, and even play games with your study terms. In today's video, I am trying out Quizlet for the first time, so you will see a little experimentation and playing around. I hope that in seeing this, you can gain a basic understanding of what you can do with Quizlet and how you can use it with students, or even for yourself!

Enabling Preview Pane and Conversation View in Gmail

If you are new to Gmail, like many of the teachers in my school district, you may not be aware of some of the features that Gmail offers. Users of Microsoft Exchange will recognize the preview pane found in Outlook. If you like this, rejoice, because you can enable this option in Gmail. The same is true of conversation view. I have found this to be a matter of personal preference, either you like it or you don't. The video below shows how you can enable both of these options.

Level 2 achieved!

Good morning! As I continue on my journey through this new tech coach position, I am constantly looking for ways to better myself and increase my knowledge base. I want to be as equipped as I can so I can help my colleagues effectively and efficiently. I have previously attained the Google Certified Educator: Level 1 certification at the end of the summer, and as of yesterday, I am know a Google Certified Educator: Level 2. I highly recommend the process for anyone looking to gain knowledge and experience in the Google Apps for Education. Online training for both levels 1 and 2 can be found here. You will have to pay $10 for the level 1 test, and $25 for level 2, and you will be required to retake the tests every 24 months to maintain the certification. This is good, as Google products will change and update over time. If you have any questions about the process, comment below!

Creating contact groups in Gmail

When using Gmail as a part of a school district, chances are there will be a number of groups that have already been created, grouping teachers into grade level, school, etc. But what if you want to create your own custom group consisting of your colleagues, students, or parents. This video explains how to do this.

Uploading and Converting Microsoft Files to Google Drive

Good morning! One of the basic procedures everyone will engage in when using Google Drive is that of uploading files. We have all created gigabytes of content using the beloved Microsoft Word, but as we move towards using Google Drive and the corresponding Google Apps for Education (GAFE), we tend more towards the use of Google Docs for our word processing needs. As with any cloud storage, you can simply upload and save your files in their original formats. However, one of the perks of using the GAFEs is that you can share, collaborate and edit files in real time, at the same time as your collaborators, keeping ONE version of the file. Gone are the days of emailing edits to coworkers, creating a new version of the file upon each share. In order to maintain one version of the file and not create multiples is to check the "Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format" box in the settings menu. This will be especially useful for those of you planning to upload the contents of your network drives to Google Drive. Below is a video I created to detail the uploading and converting process. Leave me a comment if you have any questions!

First day of school!

Today is the first day of school for students in Middletown. I have been assisting science teacher Heather Delaurentis with the rolling out of Google accounts and having student join her Google Classrooms. Of course there are growing pains at the beginning of the year, students have forgotten their account passwords, some students are new to the district and don't have Google accounts. But largely, today has been going well. The possibilities are exciting as far as what students can potentially do with this technology. As more teachers embrace this, students' proficiency with the basics will drastically increase allowing more time for higher level instruction.

Back to school!

Welcome to the blog space for the Middletown Public Schools Instructional Technology Coach! My name is Steve Matthews, and I have been a music teacher here in Middletown at Woodrow Wilson Middle School for the last 15 years, as well as the Educational Technology Specialist for the middle school for the last 6 years. This school year brings about a new change as I assume the duties of Tech Coach. My purpose is to assist and train teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. If you are a tech newbie and need help with the basics, or you are an advanced user, I will help you to further your understanding and abilities regarding how you can use various technology to expand your teaching. We are living in an increasingly digital world, and as teachers, we need to keep up with the times. Please feel free contact me with any questions, and I look forward to meeting with you! Check back here for updates, tips, and training!