8 Ways to Quickly Share Links with Students

It can sometimes be challenging to share links {especially long ones} with students, but here are 8 ways to share that will make your life easier.

1. Canvas

A group of CISD employees is piloting Canvas this year. If you're part of the pilot group, Canvas is a great way to share links with your students!

2. Link on your website

CISD staff members already have a pre-built website to customize and store links. If you house a blog on Blogger or Weebly, you can also drop your link there.

Teach your students to navigate to your website for everything {they'll get quicker with more practice!}, or save your website on the home screen as an "app" on iOS devices.

3. AirDrop

I've found this to be the fastest way to share anything across newer iOS devices. {Learn more about AirDropping here.} Keep in mind that AirDrop only works for the following devices: iPhone 5 or higher, iPad 4 or higher, iPad mini or higher, iPod Touch 5th generation or higher.


4. Symbaloo

This free tool lets you store a collection of links all in one place. {Click here to read more about Symbaloo.} 

While there is a free iOS app available, downloading it on student devices isn't necessary. My favorite way to share a Symbaloo with students is to link a QR code to the Symbaloo and let students scan when needed. I did this for a webmix of quick EdTech instructional videos for students, and it worked really well. You can also save a webmix of student links on an iOS device screen as an "app."

5. QR code

There are a ton of QR code generating websites and apps, but my favorites are this website and this app. It's easy to print a few sheets with QR codes to all the class links and hang them around the room for quick student access.


6. Seesaw

Seesaw is a free ePortfolio tool that is perfect for the K-12 world {particularly K-4}. One of Seesaw's features includes the ability to drop a link into each student's journal/portfolio so students can access it with one click. Click here to read more about the linking feature, and click here to read a blog post series about Seesaw.


7. Google docs

Create one Google doc or sheet that houses all your classroom links {if using docs, consider creating a Table of Contents}, and share with students.


8. Google Tone

Personally, I have yet to get to try this method, but it sounds promising! Google Tone is a Chrome extension that allows users to send a link wirelessly to other computers with Tone installed. Click here to read more about Google Tone.



Resources

• OSX Daily

9 BOY Tips for Teachers Using QR Codes

QR codes are a quick way to distribute links and other information, which is perfect during the busy back-to-school season. (Need a refresher on what QR codes are and how they work? This article reviews the basics.) 

How to use QR codes to minimize stress at the beginning of the school year

1. Help parents or students quickly enroll in Remind. Link the phone number and enrollment code to a QR code. Participants only have to scan and send the text, and they'll automatically be connected to your Remind class. Learn more about connecting more than just a link to a QR code in this article. Read more about Remind's features by clicking here.
2. Link to a Google Form to collect information digitally. Create a Google Form that asks for contact information, allergies, tutoring times, or anything else you need at the beginning of school (more information on using Google forms can be found here), and link it to a QR code. (More suggestions for collecting parent information digitally are in this blog post.) 
3. Share contact information with parents. Connect a QR code to a mobile number or e-mail address so that parents can quickly contact you. 
4. Share back to school information with parents. Do you typically distribute a paper packet of information in August? Save a tree and impress your class by scanning the papers to PDFs, uploading them to a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive, and attaching the document link to a QR code. 
5. Lead your audience to a specific iOS or Android app. Need students to download very specific apps that they may have difficulty finding in the iTunes or Google Play store? Attach one app link per QR code, then collect the QR codes into a collage or photo slideshow so that your audience can quickly scan and download all the apps they need in one sitting. 
6. Create a welcome message. You can attach freely-formatted text or an audio recording to a QR code, so it's like a secret, "welcome back" message for students. Read more about freely-formatted text codes by clicking here. Create an audio QR code by using Vocaroo or Croak.it. 
7. Share your Twitter profile to make connections. You can connect to your overall profile, a specific tweet, or the last tweet from a user. Learn more in this blog post. 
8. Sign in for tutoring or club meetings. Create a Google form that just asks the student for their name. Link that form to a QR code. When students come to tutorial or club meetings, they can scan the code, type their name, and submit the Google form. This creates a time-stamped document so you can tell who attended and when they were there. 
9. Need students to visit a link quickly and can't use AirDrop? Turn the link into a QR code!

Ways to Share QR Codes

1. Display the code(s) on the Promethean board. (You may need to turn the classroom lights out for this to work.)
2. Print the code and post on a wall or on your door. 
3. Need to print but don't want to use a lot of paper? Insert one code into a photo collage or PowerPoint, print several small copies, and distribute the slips of paper in student backpacks.
4. Sharing several codes? Insert the photos of the QR codes into a photo slideshow (PhotoPeach and PhotoSnack are free options); the audience can scan as the photos rotate. (You can even include a caption on each photo so the audience can keep track of which codes they've seen and scanned.)
5. E-mail it. 
6. Working with newer iPads? AirDrop the QR code(s) into your class's camera roll. 

How to Make a QR Code

There are a ton of options, but here are some common web-based QR code generators:

• Kerem Erkan (my personal favorite because it allows you to attach so much to a code)
• QR Code Generator
• QR Stuff
• QR Maker
• GoQR.me

10 BOY Tips for Teachers using Google Forms

Google Forms are incredible tools! Free and powerful, Google forms are ideal for teachers to gather information at the beginning of the school year.

• Data and results are easily shared and accessed online.
• Responses are summarized and organized in a spreadsheet.
• Google Forms is in Google Drive right beneath the word processor, spreadsheet and presentation Apps.  

Practical ways to use Google Forms in the Classroom at the BOY

1. Getting to know your students:

• Student self reflection - after summer holidays get to know your students. 
• Education World First Day Surveys

2. Getting to know your parents: Since you don't need a log in to complete a Google form, it is a great way to gather insight and opinions from parents, encouraging better communication between home and school. Link your Google form to a QR code to handout to parents for easy access.

• Parent and Volunteer Survey - Collect information, email addresses, twitter handles, goals for the year and information on what volunteer opportunities parents are interested in this year. 
• Parent Contact Forms on Pinterest

3. Getting to know your peers

• Whole school or department survey- Collect fresh ideas and feedback on professional development, committee planning, lessons and campus events. 

4. Placing orders: Lunch, t-shirts, books etc.

5. Reading survey: find out about the reading habits of your class.

6. Student Project Management

7. Tutorial Signups and booking/ making reservations.

8. Differentiate with Google Forms: Group students in as many ways as you like; by reading level, interest, by learning style, by skill, or by readiness and SHARE to that group in Google Apps.

• Offer assignment choices
• Flexible learning paths
• Group students

9. Informal Assessment

• Exit tickets and instant feedback quizzes
• End of Topic Tests - Allow students to create their own questionnaires about a unit of work. 
• Self grading tests with Flubaroo
• Create rubrics and graph results of a survey

10. Setting Class Culture: Gather students 5 top words about what they value most as learners and create a Wordle.

Check out these additional resources for using Google Forms in the classroom.

Resources:

• Teach Interactive

• Google Forms Cheat Sheet for Teachers

• Innovative Ideas for Using Google Forms

• Tons of Google Forms for Teachers, Administrators, and Students

• How to Create Rubrics Using Google Forms

• 81 Interesting Ways to Use Google Forms in the Classroom

• Fried Technology, Amy Mayer - YouTube Channel

• Ideas for using Google in the Classroom Thinglink

Brain Breaks...Not Just for Elementary

As the semester draws to a close, you may have noticed that it’s a little harder to keep your students’ full attention. While you’re trying to teach a lesson or review for assessments, students are drifting off with visions of sleeping late and vacations. What’s a teacher to do? Incorporate brain breaks of course!

Research has repeatedly shown that students of all ages benefit from those brief bursts of physical activity known as brain breaks. Typically lasting anywhere from two to ten minutes, brain breaks can involve technology, but it isn't always a necessary piece. The idea is just to get the kids moving, and give them a chance to reset and refocus. Brain breaks require little to no prep by the teacher and can be done before, during, or after a lesson. There are many different brain break ideas online. Here are a few to get you started:

Brain Breaks – No Technology Required
Incorporating Brain Breaks
Thumb War or Peace
Figure 8

(Link to Video)

Brain Breaks - Movement Videos 

GoNoodle

Just Dance Symbaloo Webmix
Brain Break Symbaloo Webmix

(Link to Video)

Move It
Need a reminder that it’s time for a brain break? Try the Chrome Extension: Move It. Set your time intervals in Move It, and you will be notified when it’s time to move. Move It even gives you an activity to complete.

So next time you start to notice that far away look in your students' eyes, get them up and moving with a brain break! If you're already using brain breaks in your classroom, share some of your favorites in the comments below.

ClassFlow ... The Newest from Promethean

We have previously discussed student response systems like Kahoot, Socrative, InfuseLearning, and PollEverywhere. The newest kid on the block with a twist is ClassFlow. As of January 2014 teachers are able to sign up for a complimentary ClassFlow account. The website states that with ClassFlow, teachers can build and access interactive lessons from any web browser, share lessons with other peers, and collaborate using the latest mobile and student response technology. Not only will ClassFlow help teachers save time at the planning and setup stages of lesson development, but it can also facilitate a more connected classroom. They got my attention with the ability to use my 5 iPads, 6 netbooks, 12 students with Smartphones, 12 ActivExpressions, and 3 laptops all within the same lesson in ClassFlow.  The ability to send graphs and images to the students (similar to InfuseLearning), have them complete a task, and send it back also gained my attention. 

 Ron Clark says ClassFlow really makes lessons more engaging. The kids get feedback on their work and everyone collaborates together. ClassFlow really connects us all.

Points of Interest for the classroom teacher:
•    Deliver, create, and easily organize lessons from any web browser
•    Develop lessons by seamlessly incorporating a variety of teaching resources and formats–video,  PowerPoint, documents, webpages, new content and more
•    Collaborate with a community of teachers by sharing lessons online
•    Unify your classroom technology, from your interactive whiteboard to tablets or any student devices.
•    Make edits, save changes, assess students, deliver and even share your lessons. 
•    Information goes two ways with ClassFlow. Send and receive feedback from your students - even photographs

The following Youtube video shows ClassFlow in action.  https://classflow.com/how-it-works
Check it out at https://classflow.com/ and let me know what you think.

GoNoodle

Brain Breaks are a way to refocus, calm, or energize your students throughout the school day. Research has shown that giving students these short breaks allows them to get their wiggles out and refocus on the task at hand. There are many resources available for brain breaks, and GoNoodle is a new one to add in to your rotation.

What is GoNoodle?

GoNoodle is a safe, free brain break site designed for K-5 classrooms.  All of the activities are research-based, so students’ brains and bodies benefit. Students choose a class mascot that offers funny comments and tallies points as more and more activities are completed.

GoNoodle Activities

Clicking info on each activity (you have to hover over the activity) provides objectives, suggestions for when to play that particular activity, and benefits of the activity. Some of the activities are even customizable, such as Body Spell. In Body Spell, teachers can input a list of up to 20 words. The activity has the students spell each word as they go through various body motions.

How long are the activities?

All of the activities are five minutes or less. Approximate times are listed under each activity.

Are your students older than 5th grade? Here are links to a few Brain Break activities:
- Brain Breaks: Refocus the Brain
- Energizing Brain Breaks
- Brain Breaks

Class Dojo Will Put the Mojo Back Into Your Class



Behavior Management and Student Engagement Software



Whether it's the third grader that just can't seem to focus or the senior with a bad case of senioritis, Class Dojo is an interactive site that  engages those students in the classroom by recognizing positive behaviors as they happen in a fun and colorful way!  What is really great is the simplicity of the site. Using a computer or a smart phone, the teacher sets up the classes and students and then determines what types of behaviors to reward or the types of behaviors to discourage. Students accumulate points (or have points deducted) based on the parameters set. The class can be setup with reward sounds and the teacher can manipulate the class settings to create a running total or end the points for the day. Additionally. ClassDojo provides behavior-tracking analytics, dashboards and reports for parents and administrators, all at one-click. No extra data entry required! A demo class is set up so you can just copy it and move on if you don't want to personalize your class.  Teachers can get really creative with this and use it as a tool to encourage interaction and participation and make behaving in class FUN! Students could work on accumulating participation points for a grade, extra credit or class reward. It's up to you! 

 Right now it's still free so be sure to sign up today, even if you aren't going to use it until next year! Click here to join: http://bit.ly/HZT8GA

 

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Website of the Week: Niceletter

As the end of the year approaches, many of us are asked to write letters of recommendation or perhaps we need to thank a special parent or co-worker. Niceletter is a super easy site for creating different types of letters. These letters can be cover letters, thank you, or any other type of letter you need to write. Your students could even use this site to create letters of their own.  Simply fill out a template and then download it as a PDF or RTF file. Niceletter is nice and easy and FREE! Hint: Be sure to scroll down to get to the letter generator. You don't need to download anything.