My Google is Broken...

s   Hutchdocs (Google Apps for Education) was a new addition to our district this year.  Initially it was meant to roll out for grades 7 - 12.  Teachers and students were quick to recognize the possibilities of Hutchdocs when they saw that they could use any computer or iPad to connect, they could get on their accounts from home effortlessly, they could share lessons and projects with each other which made collaboration simple, and that everything saved automatically so students’ work was never lost!   As things usually happen when technology is concerned, word spread about the ease of use with Hutchdocs and the increase in efficiency, collaboration and engagement in the classroom.  At that time grades 4 - 6 were added.  Finally, some very interested, tech-savvy  third grade teachers asked if they could pilot Hutchdocs with their students, so 3rd grade was added to the list as well.   Wow!  Needless to say, I was and still am thrilled with the reception Hutchdocs has received.  Being invited into so many of your classrooms to introduce it to your students has been rewarding as well.  Teacher and students in our district have impressed me with their willingness to try something new!  Take a look at the usage and collaboration reports below and you will see the steady gain since October ‘13.  Brilliant! As with all new things there are bound to be a few glitches.  I get emails, occasionally, asking if Drive is down  or saying that  “Drive is going crazy today”, etc.  The bad news is that if things are running slowly or you send me an email telling me things are “wonky”, there is nothing I can do to help you.  I can troubleshoot if you have shared with someone and they can’t see it, have lost your password, need a new account, want new ideas for collaboration or classroom use, but I cannot tell you why an error message is coming up.  Like you, I can guess and then I have to investigate.    The good news is there is a website where you can look for some answers.  No, you are not diagnosticians, nor do we want you to attempt to fix any hardware on your computer!  These websites  will simply tell you if GOOGLE is having any sort of problems with any of their apps, offer suggestions if you are getting error messages etc.  If you have investigated and are still having problems with your COMPUTER, a call needs to be made to TSC @ 5640. Google Apps Status Google Apps Status is a no frills webpage that shows a chart of all Google Apps  and if there has been service interruption, if service is down or if there are no current issues at that time. Is It Down Right Now? The link here takes you directly to a Google drive page to show you if the site it up and running.  When the page loads, if you are curious about another website, you can enter the URL address in the upper right corner and search for it.  Very handy! Common Errors in Google Drive This website gives a list of the most common errors (ie: syncing won’t quit), and tells you how to fix them.  This has been a lifesaver for me, too many times to count. It can be extremely frustrating when you’re working with a group of students and Google  decides to “go crazy”, “not play nice”, “have issues”, or my personal favorite from a recent email: “I think my Google Drive wants to see other people.”.  I’ve been faced with the same sort of thing myself.  There is nothing worse than walking around a classroom filled with rowdy 14 year-old's whose technology doesn't work.  Oh wait, yes there is.  I think it’s standing in front of a rather large group of teachers or conference attendees ready to present,   and MY technology doesn't work.  I’ll admit it, it stinks.  However, we as teachers know that being flexible and ready for anything comes with the territory.  Hopefully the sites above will act as additional tools when minor errors occur with Hutchdocs. Also, please remember that summer professional learning is available for Hutchdocs on June 6 at the PLC.  From 8:30 - 11:30 we will start with Basic Hutchdocs.  Basic would mean creating folders, sharing, collaborating, creating contact groups, converting MS Word docs,  Presentations (like PowerPoint), Draw (like Publisher), and Forms introduction.  From 12:30 - 3:30 we will move to Hutchdocs Advanced.  This class will dig deeper into collaboration, classroom application, forms, add-ons, research and more.  Space is limited...sign up in MyLearningPlan to attend.

App Smashing: Tellegami and iMovie

App Smashing:  The process of using multiple apps in conjunction with one another to complete a final task or project.

I have been excited to see enthusiasm for ipads explode across the district this year!  Teachers K - 12 are using them for instruction and projects and have been asking for new and different ways to incorporated them into their classrooms.  You asked for it?  You got it!

Anyone who has used an ipad with students for a given amount of time has quickly figured out that using one app to create something or complete a task doesn’t quite get the job done.  That’s where “App Smashing” comes in.   By using multiple apps, users can create an experience that is much more engaging and a project that filled with higher order thinking skills. 

Today's apps:  Tellagami and  iMovie ( Safari and Camera Roll )
Most of us are familiar with iMovie, so I won’t spend time here going through the particulars.  Tellagami, however, may be new to some of you.  It’s an app where students can create their own avatars, complete with hair, eyes and clothing choices.  In addition, they choose backgrounds that their avatars stand in front of(pictures from the internet or that they create themselves), which is key for this project.  Once those items are chosen, students can record themselves reading 30 second voice-overs or choose from a list of voices available and type in information they have gathered for whatever project or task they are completing.  After previewing and saving (Gamis are saved to the iPad camera roll) , students have a product called a Gami.  If you plan on using Tellagami as a stand alone, some quick ideas you might try: 

• Have your character tell a story.
• Pick a person in history and have them introduce themselves
• Use a plant cell as the background and have the avatar name and discuss the function of each part of the cell.
• Recite a famous poem or speech
• Read a poem they wrote
• Take a trip or go back in time and describe where the location/time period
• Speak in Spanish, French, Mandarin or any language (http://www.freetech4teachers.com)

Tellagami + iMovie = Wow
 Import multiple Gamis into iMovie and you have a larger project.   As you can see from the Youtube link at the beginning of this post, I created multiple Gamis on different subjects, inserted them all into iMovie and uploaded the whole thing.   Students can add video introductions (think common core speaking and listening skills) add music, text and a conclusion as well.  Groups could put together vocabulary reviews, make one big presentation over a particular topic - collaboration is an easy fit here.  

How does this apply to you?   These apps can be used for students K - 12.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:
ELA:

• Record vocabulary definitions. Create a separate Gami for each definition.  Put them together in an iMovie to use as a study tool.  
• Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.
• Book Reports:  Your Gami acts as the narrator for your report on theme, plot, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
• Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
• Explain simple, compound and complex sentences.  

Social Studies:

• Students could create Tellagami videos explaining important events, inventions, and accomplishments in historical figures’ lives.
• Explain how a bill becomes law.
• Explain how interest rates are raised or lowered.  

Geography:

• One clip could describe the landforms of point A.  The next could do the same for point B.  Students could write directions from point A to point B with a map in the background.  

Science:

• Students could act as news reporters at a volcano (picture of volcano as their background) in their first clip.  In the second clip, they could interview a classmate about what they saw…(think formative assessment……) etc.
• Students could  explain a multi-step procedure or experiment.
• Explain the outcome of a lab and the steps they took to get that outcome.

Math:

• Student could explain what PEMDAS is in the first clip.  In the second clip, student could walk us through a specific problem using PEMDAS.  It could also be used to show the thought process behind how students solved any math problem. 
• Explain why addition and subtraction strategies work, using place value and the properties of operations.
• Describe the effect of dilations, translations, rotations, and reflections on two-dimensional figures using coordinates.
• Identify arithmetic patterns (including patterns in the addition table or multiplication table), and explain them using properties of operations. 

There are so many possibilities when using Tellagami and iMovie together!  What are some ideas you have for your classroom?