New School Year Resolutions

New Year Resolutions are made each year in hopes of starting something new. So in the spirit of the new school year, here are a few resolutions to consider.

1.  Use Videos in the Classroom - http://www.edudemic.com/using-video-in-the-classroom/
Using videos in the classroom is a great way to engage students. Here are a few ideas for using videos:

• Learn anything...together
• Example: Insert a YouTube video in a Google Presentation, share the link of the presentation with your class, and have students comment on what they watch. 
• Video Feedback
• Example: Use VoiceThread by uploading a video and then have participants comment using their voice, video or text. 
• Interactive Video = Active Learning
• Example: Use EDpuzzle by uploading a video and then adding voice comments and questions (multiple choice, T/F, or open ended) so students 

2.  Use Google Forms in the Classroom
Google Forms is a tool that is part of Google Drive and used for creating surveys, tests, or web input forms where responses compile in a spreadsheet. The responses also come with a timestamp so you can track results.

• Collect Parent/Student Data
• This is great for all the Back to School forms collected from parents.
• Ongoing Parent Phone Contact Log
• Formative Assessments
• Getting to Know Your Students
• http://oupeltglobalblog.com/2013/12/11/10-ways-i-use-google-forms-in-my-tablet-classroom/
• http://edte.ch/blog/2008/08/23/10-google-forms-for-the-classroom/
• http://www.edudemic.com/5-great-ways-use-google-forms/

3.  Incorporate Social Media in the Classroom

• Twitter
• 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom - click here. 
• My favorite ways to use in the classroom:
• Track a hash tag.
• Live tweet field trips.
• Ask questions using a class or unit hash tag.
• Facilitate class discussions.
• Live tweet a book.
• Take a poll.
• Instagram
• 10 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom - click here
• My favorite ways to use in the classroom:
• Showcase students' work.
• Feature a student of the week.
• Share reading recommendations.
• Record steps in an experiment.
• Capture field trip memories.