Classroom Bridges

Making classroom connections with other classes around the world.  

Have you been looking for a way to connect with other classrooms around the world but never really knew how to get started?  Classroom Bridges (CB) helps put classrooms in touch with each other.  CB is Katie Siemer’s Google Innovator project and is designed to help develop global and cultural awareness along with collaboration skills.

How to use the Classroom Bridge

1. Fill out the form on the Sign Up page to let other teachers know you are willing to connect.
2. Go to the Find a Classroom page once you have signed up to find another classroom to start connecting. On this page, you can filter your search by location, grade level, subject area and more.
3. Contact the other teacher with information they provided (email, social media, etc.). Together, the two (or more) of you will work together outside of this website to develop your classroom connection activity/project.

That is all you need to do to begin to make connections.  If you are looking for ideas of what to do once you make the connection, CB has a Resource page that has a few suggestions.  I know we have a lot of creative teachers in this district so coming up with ideas should not be difficult.

Listen to a short one minute video explanation of the project by Katie Siemer [watch video]

For more helpful information and the archive of previous Check This Out! Digests, go to http://www.greenlocalschools.org/technology.aspx

Green Local Schools
Tech Integration Team

Great Add-ons for Docs

Are you ready to make Google Docs work smarter for you and your students?.  

Last year I presented you with an article about the differences between Google Apps, and Extensions   [view it here].  A third option to use in Google are Add-ons.  Add-ons are something you can add to Google products that work from within the application.  In this edition of “Check This Out! Tech Digest”, I would like to focus on Add-ons that you can use in Google Docs.

How do I get an add-on to use in Google Docs?

1. Open any Google Doc (a blank one will work just fine)
2. From the “Add-on” menu choose “Get Add-Ons”
3. The Add-ons store opens that has a search box at the top
4. Type the name of the Add-on you would like to add
5. Click the “+Free” to install the add-on

That is all you have to do.  Now that add-on will be available in EVERY doc you use when you are logged in on your account.

Here is a list of Add-ons for Google Docs that you may want to try.

• Grackle Marks - Convenient tools for reading and sharing documents, including highlighting, bookmarking, text and image redaction, etc.
• GradeProof AI - Artificially intelligent proofreading for Google Docs. Instantly correct spelling, grammar and phrasing with GradeProof.  It's intelligent algorithms instantly correct and improve your writing.
• MLA Formatting - A simple addon that can insert a MLA Heading into your document and make your text in MLA Format
• Mindmeister - The MindMeister add-on for Google Docs turns any bullet-point list into a mind map, and automatically inserts it into your document. The first point of your list becomes the root topic of the mind map, while the rest of the first-level points are turned into first-level topics. Second-level points are turned into the equivalent second-level topics and so on.
• Word Cloud Generator - Use this add-on to quickly assess what your emerging theme is, how to best categorize your document, or if it is someone's else's document - find out the theme of the document without reading it.
• URL Shortener - Tired of long URLs in your paper or report? Want to send your friends a link to your document that isn't 80 characters long? Use URL Shortener to easily make URLs smaller and more manageable.
• DocuTube - Stop leaving your document to watch a video. This add-on grabs any YouTube link and embeds it in a popup in your Google Doc.  
• DocAssist - Create a rubric and give quick audio or text feedback on students' writing. Supports student revisions and Google Classroom.
• Template Gallery - Browse a large gallery of professionally designed templates, including calendars, schedules, invoices, time sheets, budgeting tools, letters, resumes, financial calculators, and more.

For more helpful information and the archive of previous Check This Out! Digests, go to http://www.greenlocalschools.org/technology.aspx

Green Local Schools
Tech Integration Team