Thinglink: Intuitive and Engaging

Currently in World History, we are attempting to introduce a new technology tool to the students each unit.      Recently, while looking at the Renaissance, we introduced "thinglink" to our students (www.thinglink.com).  

The site allows you to annotate an image in the same way you would a reading.     You put "tags" on the parts of the image that you want to annotate and then type your annotation.     You can also include links to websites, embed videos from You Tube and inset any picture that is posted on the web.

Here is a link to a sample thinglink I made to show them as an exemplar.



The site is very intuitive and I figured it out in less than five minutes.     The students picked it up even faster.     Here is a quick little video tutorial I made to help them navigate the site:

After having the students annotate a piece of Renaissance art, I was thrilled with the results.    Overall, this was the highest scoring summative I have given in my class this year.    The students were REALLY into it, and it was clear that there was truly 100% engagement in the classroom.

If you are interested, here are the instructions and rubric that were used in class.

The biggest upside however was that my special ed students did especially well on this assessment.   They were really excelled at sharing their knowledge and seemed to enjoy the creative process.

Overall, thinglink is a very cool and quick learn that I would suggest to anyone looking to try something new in their classroom!

Google Chrome Web Store: Apps and Extensions

Before spring break, myself and six other faculty members from West headed off the Chicago to attend a Google Apps for Education Summit.    It was held at Glenbrook North High School, the high school John Hughes attended, which is important because some of the scenes from Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club were filmed there!

We saw many new and cool things in...........and deciding what I would like to share first with you is tough....... I finally decided that sharing Google Apps and Extensions could have the most benefit for the most members of the staff........

The idea behind these features, is the same as the Apple App Store........To make computers act and feel more like a smart phone.......for both productivity and fun............

Here is how you can unlock the tools of the Google App Store.......

To begin with......you MUST use the GOOGLE CHROME web browser!

1.  While in Google Chrome, click on the box to open a new tab.      (note the arrow in image below)

2.  A new tab will open and with it will be your all of the Apps you have downloaded.........

3.  To access the Chrome Web Store, you click on the app (it should be the first one) or you can click on the icon in the lower right hand corner..........

4.  On the left hand side of the page you will see the categories of apps they have to offer.....

5.   From here you can "shop away" for APPS.    You can search for content specific apps depending on what you teach including graphic calculators, converting units of measure, periodic tables, grammar rules keyboarding, anatomy, building circuit boxes,  etc....... Another feature you could check out are study skills apps like flash card makers (my students love quizlet) and Lucid Chart........Or you can find productivity apps like Google Calendar, Drive, Mail and Search.

6.  Once you enter a query in the search bar, your responses will come up with available apps and EXTENSIONS.   

An extension is a small program/tool that can add new elements to increase the productivity of your web browser.    Once installed, they can be found to the right of your address bar.   (See the icons in the photo below).

There are so many apps and extensions that is it hard to say what each person may find most useful.     If you use the internet for articles for class and such, I would suggest you check out CLEARLY.    It will take an article from the web and remove all of the advertisements and side bar stories that can distract you and your students.........Simply open the article you want to read, click on the CLEARLY ICON and "poof"......You have a clean article to share with your students!

If you would like to explore more about apps and extensions, please check out the websites of  David Jakes and Molly Schroeder, two excellent presenters that we saw.    Each of the links contains their presentation and lists of apps and extensions that they shared with the attendees!

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

How to Batch Enroll a class into BB

Thanks to all of you who attended our sectional this morning.

I hope you found something useful in it.

For those of you who need a reminder on how to batch enroll students in BB, click HERE!

Friendly How-To Reminders for Google Calendar and BB

With the end of the semester coming we are all crazy busy trying to close out one semester and start a new one.........and with that will come the possibility of questions with how to create a new Google calendar for a semester course, how to embed it in Blackboard and possibly how to have your calendar be the "entry point" (first thing that pops up when you log into the course)..........

In an attempt to help out with all three of these things, I thought I would share a "how to" sheet with directions for each of these things.    I had one staff member check out all the steps, and they said it worked, so hopefully it will for you as well.........

To access this handout just click HERE!

Searching Google for Sources by Reading Level

This month's Google tip deals with finding appropriate readings for students at different reading levels........

When I first saw this trick, I immediately thought of all of our work in AO as well as the current leveling in Science and the similar changes coming to English and Social Studies............

To search Google for sources sorted by reading level all you have to do is the following.......

1.   Go to Google and search for "Google Advanced Search".............(or you could just click HERE!)

2.   In the top box/boxes type in your search topic........

3.   Scroll down just a bit and you will see a series of options for your search.    Using the pull down menu, change the "Reading Level" setting to "annotate results with reading levels".       

4.  Hit Advanced Search.

The results that come up will display the results as "Advanced", "Intermediate" and "Basic".......Depending on the reading level you are looking for, click on the appropriate reading level and google will share with you only the results you requested.

Enjoy!

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!

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!