Connecting Google Docs and Evernote

At my school we are currently in the planning stages of implementing an ePortfolio initiative with our 7th graders for next year. This will be done in conjunction with a 1:1 iPad program, which will allow students to create work and move it onto the web so they can share their work with their teachers and even use it for student-led conferences. (As a side note, student-led conferences are one of the greatest ideas I've encountered in schools! Essentially students are responsible for exhibiting samples of their work for their parents and describing their plans for moving forward.) We are currently using Google Apps for Education as our primary means of sharing documents, and students have become very competent in accessing and sharing their work with their peers and teachers. However, we have decided to utilize Evernote for building their ePortfolios because Google Docs is very clunky when working with it on the iPad (what's the deal, Google?) and Evernote has a powerful mobile app that will help streamline the process. Evernote possesses many other great aspects, but that's another post.

Because we're using Google Docs one of the stumbling points was How does or how can Evernote work with Google Docs? We want to continue using Google Docs, especially in the computer labs, but we are aware the two don't play well with each other on the iPad. So, I came up with some (hopefully) simple steps for sharing your Google Docs with Evernote.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8EcUpiFwfj1RXBjcF9rLUdCUVU

Good luck!

Create a Podcast Project (Full Lesson Plan)

http://wordcastnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/podcast.png

With the onset of spring, many teachers are having their students complete research assignments, which usually include some sort of presentation, whether a Keynote, PowerPoint, or a Prezi. Allow me to propose an alternative: podcasting. Officially, podcasts are audio recordings posted on the Internet that people can subscribe to, meaning they'll automatically receive each new recording that is posted. Less technically, a podcast is simply an audio recording that is shared with other people. It is a fantastic way for people to share their learning or provide information with others in a way that is engaging for both the creator and the listener!

Benefits of Podcasting

Depending on the expectations of the project, students will learn

1. How to conduct proper academic research
2. How to cite their sources
3. The importance of organizing their thoughts in order to provide a clearly understood argument
4. Presentation skills
5. How to work effectively within a group to achieve a common purpose
6. Group management skills
7. Several technology programs and processes that they may see later in their education and careers

Project Guides / Cheat Sheets

An in-depth research project, such as creating a podcast, has many moving parts, which can tend to disorient students as they are inundated with dates, figures, and facts. It helps to have a clear guide that directs students through the process in order to keep them focused and on track. To help with this I've created a step-by-step guide for teachers and students as they go along.

Microsoft Word format: http://db.tt/XMTU2WFC
Apple Pages format: http://db.tt/umqBqBMT

Edit these documents (especially the areas with the yellow highlights) to apply to your class and your expectations.

Note: You'll notice that the directions utilize Apple's GarageBand application, but for Windows users try Windows Movie Maker, Audacity, or SoundCloud.com.


Have fun podcasting!

Creating a Template in Pages '09

Which tablet is right for me?

At my school we are beginning to demo a class set of iPads, 20 iPads intended for student use. After a recent introduction one teacher asked me about the difference between the iPad and some other tablets, like Amazon's new Kindle Fire or any of the NOOK eReaders. Each tablet seems similar enough, yet which one is better? Some are more expensive than others, so what do I need to just get the job done?

I kindly told her that she was asking the wrong question. In a classroom setting, you want to ask the question, How do I plan to use my tablet? The answer to that question will determine which brand you choose and which model. Whether you're planning to use a tablet for personal use, in the classroom, or for any other purpose, you have to know what the intention is. Just as you use a hammer and a screwdriver for different tasks, each individual tablet will benefit each audience differently.

So, let's sift through the options without getting bogged down by the technical aspects of each.

What's a tablet and an eReader? I thought we were talking about iPads!

I suppose the first question to answer is this one. First, "tablet" is the generic term for iPads, Kindles, NOOKs, the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the rest. Because of the prevalence of the iPad, all of these products have become known as iPads. It's just like a Xerox machine. Xerox is a specific company, whereas the common and generic product name is a copy machine. So, Xerox is to a copy machine as iPad is to a tablet.

A tablet is a computer that has been slimmed down so it fits into a smaller container, yet allows you to do simple tasks. It fits in the void between smartphones and computers. The idea is that there are tasks you don't need a computer to do, like surfing the Internet or sending an email, and those are the things you'd do on a tablet. They are more mobile than a computer, but more robust than a smartphone.

Within the large collection of tablets exists a smaller group of text-only devices. These devices, which are designed for reading text without the ability to surf the Internet, are known as eReaders. The earliest versions of the NOOK and Kindle are eReaders. They may provide access to the Internet to purchase additional titles from a bookseller, but their primary purpose is to display text.

$ v. $$$

Money always raises the questions of "Why should I pay a lot of money when I can get the same product for less?" and "Why is one company charging so much more than the others?"  These questions usually stem from the price difference between the iPad, which is roughly $500, and its competitors, the Kindle Fire at $200 and a NOOK, which can duck under $100. The simple answer is that when you pay more for a device, you are paying for a higher quality machine and one that will--or should--provide you with greater capabilities. According to iSuppli, it costs $259.60 to build an iPad (source) and $326 to build an iPad 2 (source). On the other hand, iSuppli declares Amazon's Kindle Fire can be built for $201.70 (source).

The reason you're paying so much more for the iPad is that it is a much higher quality machine, one that is more powerful and is made with more reliable parts of a better grade than its competitors. The iPad's inner parts make it a superior product in terms of power, speed, reliability, and capability. As the numbers show, Apple is using superior parts to build their iPads, which helps consumers feel more confident using an iPad while providing the Kindle Fire with only lackluster reviews.

Text Only v. Text and Pictures

Again, the question we must keep in our minds is "How do I plan to use my tablet?" In regards to this particular aspect, are you looking for device that will allow you to read text-only documents, as you would do with a traditional book, or would you like to view magazines and websites that include photos? If you are only wanting to read traditional text, an inexpensive eReader, such as a NOOK Simple Touch, which sells for less than $100, may be the way to go. However, if you're looking to jump online and catch up on how your fantasy football league is performing, you're going to need something a little more substantial.

WiFi v. 3G

This is a question of how your tablet connects to the Internet and it is one of the first determinants of price.  All tablets are equipped to connect wirelessly to the Internet via WiFi, but not all tablets are designed to connect using a 3G service.  While WiFi is standard, 3G is an add-on that requires you to purchase an additional service from a cellular company, like AT&T or Verizon.

Question to ask yourself: How important is it for me to take my tablet anywhere and access the Internet?

Many shops and restaurants are beginning to offer free WiFi service, which means you could take your tablet into the shop and access the Internet. If you plan to use your tablet primarily at home or in a coffee shop you should be okay with the baseline tablets. However, if you plan to use your tablet in the car on long trips or in locations that will not have WiFi service, you may want to consider going with the 3G option. If the tablet is going to be used within your school, and your school is equipped with wireless Internet, you don't need the 3G service.

16GB v. 32GB

These numbers refer to the amount of memory in your tablet, so the bigger the number the more information your tablet can hold.

Question to ask yourself: What will I put on my tablet? 

Tablets allow you to keep all kinds of things in one place. You can put music, pictures, movies and TV shows, games, and programs on a tablet and access them at any time. However, each program consumes a certain amount of space, which will require you to figure out what you want to put on your tablet. If you don't plan on keeping your photos or movies on your tablet you can get away with using a tablet with a smaller amount of memory.

• Movies: Movies require huge amounts of memory, so if that is a "must have", you'll need a tablet with a lot of memory. Movies consume roughly 1GB. "So, roughly, I can put 16 movies on my tablet?" Yes. But, don't forget that you're going to have many other things on your tablet, not just movies. Those other programs and apps will also require memory, so you need to consider everything else you'll be using. If you're hoping to put movies on it for your kids while on long trips, you'll want more memory.
• Songs: Each song uses a different amount of memory, but a safe assumption is that 1GB will hold about 160 songs. Got 1000 songs you're planning on putting on your tablet? You'll need 6GB of memory. 
• Pictures: Just as songs consume different amounts of memory, the same can be said for photos. High quality photos will obviously require more space and you can plan on 1GB of memory holding about 370 high quality photos.

Final Summation

If you're looking to purchase a tablet for yourself or your classroom, the baseline question to consider is this: How do I plan to use my tablet? This question will guide much of your decision. However, spend some time working and familiarizing yourself with a variety of tablets. Since these are expensive purchases, you want to feel confident that you are getting exactly what you're wanting. Just as you wouldn't buy a car without taking it for a test drive, make sure you know what you're getting before you fork over such a large sum of money! Happy searching!

Fixing Problems with Glogster on My Mac (Updated)

http://techmeetsed.com/files/2011/05/Glogster_EDU_Logo-1fgcmgt.png

I had some problems recently with Glogster and wanted to offer some possible solutions that we found. 

1. Spanish accents would work on some computers and not work on other computers.
2. Often times the program would not let students save their work. When they click Save & Publish, Glogster would indicate it was saving, but it would never come out of that state.
3. The program would lock up from time to time, preventing students from doing any further work.
4. Images would move around the screen without reason. Sometimes the image would chase the cursor; other times the image would move slowly across the screen when dragged to a new position; and other times a static image would move indiscriminately around the screen.

Solutions we've found:

1. Only certain fonts within Glogster accept accents. The most reliable font is Arial (Latin all), which will allow the use of accents. Several students created beautiful pieces with colorful fonts, but were later forced to change their glogs to accommodate this requirement. 

For a concise list of keyboarding accents on a Mac, here is a great resource: http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codemac.html.


2. According to the folks at Glogster, the problem of "perpetual saving" is that the Flash program installed on the computer crashed. Essentially, something in the computer went wrong and you're paying the price. This problem usually results from having an old version of Flash on your computer. To avoid this problem, use Google Chrome, which doesn't use the Flash on your computer, but uses the most up-to-date version of Flash within the browser itself. 


3. Most problems seemed to be resolved by using the Google Chrome web browser. I believe this problem is linked to Flash breaking down. The best solution I found was to save the project, exit the glog I'm working on, then going back to the glog and continuing my work. 


4. I'm not sure about what causes this problem, but as with most problems, the best solution I found was to save the project, exit the glog I'm working on, then going back to the glog and continuing my work.

We were able to alleviate most problems by accessing Glogster via the Safari web browser. When working on a Mac, only Safari and Chrome allowed Glogster to work as designed. Firefox prevented students from working efficiently with Glogster. (On a PC Glogster works well with Internet Explorer.) Most websites are tested to work in a variety of web browsers, especially the most popular ones--namely Internet Explorer and Firefox, as of July 2011--but as browsers update themselves, certain programs are left to either adjust or fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, it seems Glogster has become a victim of trying to appeal to the various demands of the numerous browsers.

Hopefully you’ll find Glogster to be a great tool in your class, and hopefully these tips will help it be the best it can be!

Google Earth Across the Curriculum

GE Image property of http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/earth_logo_large.jpg

Most of us have seen the wonders of traveling the earth courtesy of Google Earth, but have you had the chance to consider its vast resources and how they might help you in the classroom? Google Earth has become one of those resources I can't live without as it contains so many incredible pieces that complement each part of my curriculum. Whether I'm using it for a geography lesson or conducting a lesson on area, you can be sure that I'm going to use Google Earth first! 


In fact, the more I learn about Google Earth the more I grow to love it and appreciate all the different facets of it! Lately I've been doing many presentations for educators on the benefits of Google Earth and just how they might use it in their classes, whether they're teaching kindergartners or college students, whether they're discussing science or art. 


Here is a link to the outline I use for my course: tinyurl.com/GEATC2. Inside you'll find tons of links to fantastic resources and ideas for projects. One of the most beneficial links you'll find is to a document I worked up regarding Google Earth Layers: tinyurl.com/GEATC2Layers. This document lists all the layers within Google Earth 6 and highlights how some of them might be used by different subjects.

Have a great time using Google Earth and if you have any questions or comments about my presentation, please leave a comment. Also, feel free to use any of the material I've provided, but please, give credit where credit is due. Happy travels!

The Technology Desert

As the Internet and digital technology continues to integrate itself into society, there are fewer and fewer areas of our lives left untouched to one degree or another. Whether sending and receiving emails on your phone, watching a video on a handheld device, visiting a website on a tablet device or recording a video on a wristwatch, technology is absolutely here to stay.

However, in spite of the advancements technology has made into society, it seems to have trouble gaining the same ground in the classroom, which has remained a relatively conservative arena when it comes to change. The newest improvements to classes seem to be dry erase boards as schools forego the traditional chalkboard, but this is hardly improvement enough. If schools are "training students for the future" and for "jobs that don't exist yet," we need to be adamant about incorporating current technologies into the classroom.

However, I don't blame teachers. Well, not completely. Teachers are hesitant to start using  technologies for the same reasons your parents are.

1. Fear of the unknown

It's easy to feel like technology is racing ahead and leaving most of us behind, especially when we hear of all the ways our students are using technology. We can begin to feel like there is too much to learn at this point. We ask ourselves, “If I decided to learn, how would I know where to begin? I still don't know how to change the clock on my VCR. How am I going to be able to figure out Twitter?” This sentiment is completely understandable, but also completely incapacitating. We decide that it's much safer to stick with what we know rather than moving in any direction.

2. We don't know what we don't know

Most teachers do not have the benefit of training that will teach us about the vast resources available, which tends to leave us unaware of what the Internet offers both us and our students. For this reason teachers need exposure to different technologies.

3. We aren’t taught how to bring technology into the classroom

Similar to the previous point, there is often a dearth of training for how to incorporate these technologies into the classroom. This can be solved by peer-to-peer training (i.e. learning what colleagues are doing, both within the school or in other areas around the district, city, state, nation or world) or through more professional training. Either way, teachers need a time to learn what sites exist and how they can be used in the classroom.

4. The continual change

The Internet is constantly changing. On a weekly, daily, and minute-to-minute basis there are new sites created, new tools being put out there, and new information being posted online. All of this adds to the daunting task of trying to stay on top of what is current, much less trying to stay one step ahead of the curve.

Integrating technology is a daunting task, to be sure.

 Brief Plea for Technology Integration Specialists

One of the most revolutionary positions in modern education is that of a technology integration specialist. This person is tasked to teach the teachers how to use different technologies, but the most important objective is to help the teacher understand how these technologies can be used within their classroom to teach the curriculum. (Curriculum must come first and technology merely serves as a means to an end.)

Ask yourself, How much more effective could I be if I had someone guiding me in this way? A position like this is vital to a school's relevance in the current world. These people provide the training teachers need so they will bring technology into the classroom.