Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Doing a Google Reverse Image Search

In early November, I had the honor to represent West at the Midwest Google Conference at the Dells.



It was two days of "intense" geekiness (is that a word?)...........

But it did me teach me two things........

(1) Technology is JUST A TOOL in the classroom......

(2) Technology can improve my instruction by creating some really engaging lessons.

I also think I can be a lot more efficient at my job and teach a few good "21st Century" technology skills to my students along the way......

To try and share some of the fun "tricks" I learned in the Dells, I will use this blog as a source for you to hopefully find something new, fun and useful for your classroom.......

My first trick, I also shared at our November Faculty Meeting......

It involved doing a "Reverse Image Search" in Google.    Doing this will allow you to take an image and search it, instead of entering text to find an image.......

The best thing about this is it is a REALLY EASY, "LOW TECH", skill!

Here are your steps....
     - Start by going to the Google search page (www.google.com)
     - Click on "images" (on the black bar that runs across the top of the page)
     - Take the image you want to search and simply drag it into the search bar.  As you are doing this, you should see something like this......


     - Voila!   You have a Google search based on the image you put in the search bar!

If you have any questions, feel free to track me down in F102!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Here I Go.......

For years I have enjoyed reading blogs.

Last year I started teaching and grading blogs.

This year I have started introducing my peers to blogs.

Now people have started to ask if I blog..........

The answer up to now has been an emphatic "NO!"..........

I have always been one to keep my personal life just that, personal.     I figured my stories, ideas, comings and goings were boring (for the most part they are) and those that aren't I didn't want someone to think I was bragging........My goal of "keeping to myself" includes a "welcome" mat in my basement that says "Go Away"!

HOWEVER.......... (imagine me saying this in a Stephen A. Smith voice)..........

Times have changed.     Now, as I try to help my peers out with their technology inquiries I think it will be beneficial for me to have a new platform to share whatever knowledge I may have about Google and Gadgets.......(expect the Grunske part of the title to remain personal)..........



So, HERE GOES............

WELCOME TO MY BLOG..........

My hope is that you find something here that you can use to help you do your job better, more efficiently and that this will ripple effect into your classroom through better, smarter and more engaging lessons!