Have You Met My Maps?

For those of you who are already loving the use of GAFE in your classrooms, I want to ensure that you know about one of the newest features of the Google Drive family: My  Maps. Since chromebooks do not support Google Earth, many of you may have thought you couldn't do cool things with maps. . . Well, now you can.
My Maps uses Google Maps ecosystem to allow users to create really cool maps, with added layers for complexity, and the ability to add images, text, or video to a map marker. You can also share your maps publicly for other to view. Also, just like all other Google Drive apps, it is collaborative. You can share a map just like you would share a Google Doc. Sound cool?

Chech out this quick screencast I created for instructions on how to use Google Forms, Sheets, and My Maps for a fun classroom project. This is a fun way to get started. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like help designing a lesson using these tools in your class!

Be Awesome,

jeff

I Wish I Knew How to. . .I Would Love to Share about . . .

As we move to almost a complete 1:1 chromebook environment, it's time to take inventory of where we are and think about where we want to go as an organization. It's one thing to have a 1:1 computer to student ratio, it's another to be an organization that leverages the technology to transform student learning. Most of you have taken LEC or Digital Literacies; however, just taking the course doesn't ensure you are ready to integrate the technology in ways that truly transform student learning. What's next? That is the topic of this week's blog.

The title of this post is essentially a starting point. Let me give you some background on how I have spent the beginning of the school year. I have spent the better part of the last two months configuring and managing our current technology: Chromebooks/chromebook distribution, Hapara, GoGuardian, Haiku, etc.  In the last month, we have delivered approximately ten chromebook carts to teachers. Working closely with IT, we are still sending out carts and have ordered more chromebooks and carts. We will continue to distribute carts and chromebooks as they come in. I would like to spend the rest of the year working on effectively using all of this technology. To that end, I am going to request some input and assistance.
If you are one of the teachers who has recently received your chromebooks, or have had them awhile and would like to improve your skill, I would love to know what you need in terms of effectively using the chromebooks? If it is a small request, please complete the JCCS Tech Request Form on this blog. I can send you instructions or create a screencast that gives you step-by-step instructions. There is also a folder of resources on this blog, JCCStech Folder, that I am starting to populate with job aids and other resources. For those recently receiving your chromebooks, there will be a two-day training soon. I wanted to get the devices in techer/student hands as quickly as possible. My hope is that by experiencing the chromebooks in the classroom environment, you will come to the training with questions and a strong desire to learn more.

For those who are already effectively using technology in your classrooms, I need your awesome. As I am basically, technology party of one, it would be great to tap into the amazing resources that JCCS currently has, you! What are your passionate about? What technology would you love to share if we had our own mini tech summit? What would you love to talk about in a Google Hangout on Air that we could share with all teachers? Please, please, complete the I Would Love to Share form. I will then communicate with you to discuss ways in which we can share your awesome with your peers.

Be Awesome,
jeff

Hapara Happenings . . .

If you have been using your chromebooks, I hope you have also benefitted from the use of Hapara to help you organize your students' Google Apps experience and the "Interact" feature to help you monitor student Internet use? If you have chromebooks and have not been using Hapara, please let me know if I can support you to effectively utilize this tool. If you have, you may be noticing some changes coming. With the introduction of Google Classroom, Hapara has definitely upped its game. Two features I want to discuss are Hapara Highlights, which we just began beta testing, and Hapara Workspace, an amazing new differentiation tool that allows you to create learning experiences for your students.

Hapara Interact allowed you to view the student browser tabs, close them if need by, and to get a look at the screen the student was currently using (with up to a 5-min lag, which could be overridden by refreshing the Interact screen). You were also able to send the students to a link, which opened a new tab on their chrome browser, and send the student, or the entire class a message. The new "Highlights" public beta test we are currently participating in allows us to test some awesome new features. The most exciting one for me (and you, I hope) is the ability to limit the browsing to sites or URLs that open in the student browser. You can limit them to only those pages for as little as 5 or as long as 50 minutes. You can do this for the entire class, groups, or individual students. I believe I can hear my Hapara power users screaming in excitement. Here is a quick glimpse of what it can look like. Please let me know how you like it!

Another very exciting feature is Hapara Workspace. Workspace allows you differentiate your instructional delivery using their new interface. This can be an individual assignment or an entire unit! The components are: Learning Objectives, Resources, Tasks, and Assessment Criteria. Teachers create the workspaces and the students will then have view access to their assigned workspace! Instead of trying to type a lengthy explanation, I have compiled a list of Hapara Workspace video tutorials and put in in the link section of this blog (upper-right sidebar). I have also scheduled a webinar/virtual PD from our Hapara rep, Allison Winston. It will occur on Monday, October 26, at 4pm. I scheduled it at 4pm so teachers could get home and watch the webinar from the comfort of their couch or favorite chair without any distraction.

Please let me know if you are interested in attending the webinar and I will check in with you the day of the event to remind you!

Be Awesome,

jeff