Monday, August 22, 2022

Chromebook Tips and Tricks for Teachers

 

Chromebook Tips and Tricks

So you have a new Chromebook, NOW WHAT?!


Created by Scott Aten, August 22, 2022
So by now you have had a chance to try out your new Chromebook.  For some of you this may be your first experience using a Chromebook, so I thought it would be helpful to give you a few tips and tricks when using a Chromebook.  Some of these are good for you to know since your students all have chromebooks too.  

The “Everything” Key (a.k.a. The Search key or Launcher key)

This key will launch the Chrome OS launcher and provides quick access to apps and recently accessed Google docs.  There is also a search box you can type in to perform google searches and type website URLs.

Note - you can also launch this by clicking on the circle icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.


Create Multiple Working “Desks”

Click this button and you will be shown the active desks in which you are working.  At first you will likely only have one. But if you click the “+” sign at the top, you will be able to add another “desk”. This can be helpful if you want to create a desk for different activities you are working on and want to keep the open tabs separated.


Trackpad Tips

Two Finger Tap on the trackpad = a mouse right click
Three Fingers and swipe up = same as clicking the button. Three fingers swipe down returns to most recently used.


Keyboard Shortcuts
Ctrl + = Print Screen

Ctrl + Shift + = Copy a section of the screen
Ctrl + N = Open a new window

Ctrl + Shift + N = Open a new Incognito window
Ctrl + W = Close current tab

Ctrl + Shift + t = Reopen most recently closed tab (good one to remember if you suspect a student just closed a tab when you walked by them)

Ctrl + P = Open the print dialog box

Ctrl + H = Open the history box

Ctrl + + = Zoom in

Ctrl + - = Zoom out

Ctrl + 0 = Reset the zoom to normal

Ctrl + C = Copy

Ctrl + V = Paste

Ctrl + X = Cut


Shutdown your Chromebook

You can shut down your chromebook by clicking the clock in the lower right corner then click the power icon



If you would like me to come and help you please feel free to schedule me to come and assist you.  I am always ready to come help.  

For more helpful information and the archive of previous posts, look for items in the menu to the left.


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Green Local Schools

Tech Integration Team
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Thursday, April 28, 2022

Virtual Field Trips with Expeditions Pro

 

Expeditions Pro

Taking virtual field trips with Expeditions Pro



Created by Scott Aten, April 28, 2022
Many of you may remember Google Expeditions.  This was a great tool that allowed students to travel virtually to locations all over the globe.  Teachers could expose students to sights they may never have an opportunity to see or experience.  Unfortunately Google elected to stop supporting this tool, much to the disappointment of teachers everywhere.  Expeditions Pro is filling the void left by the retired Google Expeditions.  

Expeditions Pro is a free download from the app store and is available for both IOS and Android devices.  Teachers can then choose from hundreds of existing tours from around the world.  Here are a few examples that are available now:
  • American Revolution - Massachusetts
  • Ancient Rome
  • Flight 93 Memorial
  • Lincoln Assassination
  • US Federal Government
  • The War of 1812
  • African Safari
  • Artic Regions
  • Rainforest Rambler
  • Under the Sea
  • Machu Picchu
  • Exothermic Reactions
  • Photosynthesis 
  • Solar System
  • 7 Wonders of the World
  • New tours are constantly being added
The teacher downloads the tour with the app on their phone.  Once downloaded the teacher selects "Class" in the menu at the bottom and choose "Lead".  Students install the app on their phone, choose "Class" and then "Follow".  The teacher's tour is then available for the students to follow.  

Both the teacher and students need to be on the same network, so if you would like to run a virtual tour with your students you should start by putting in a help desk ticket and choose "tech integration" as the category.  Be sure to allow a few days for the tech department to set things up.  

We have a set of View Master Views that you can schedule to use.  Students will need their own cell phone to participate (we have 3 loaners but not enough for a full class).


If you would like me to come and help you please feel free to schedule me to come and assist you.  I am always ready to come help.  

For more helpful information and the archive of previous posts, look for items in the menu to the left.


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Green Local Schools

Tech Integration Team
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Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Monitor Student Chromebooks with Classroom by Lightspeed

 

Classroom by Lightspeed

Monitor student Chromebooks while students are in your classroom

Created by Scott Aten, April 12, 2022
One of the biggest issues staff have faced since going 1-1, is keeping students on task when in the classroom.  The lure of games, internet searches, and videos is too much for some of our students.  As a classroom teacher it is challenging to keep these tech savvy students focused on the learning at hand while still making use of the great tool the Chromebooks have become.  We now have a tool available to you that should help tip the advantage back into your favor.  Lightspeed Classroom is a tool to monitor your students while using their Chromebooks in your classroom during your class period.

Getting started using Lightspeed Classroom
You will want to bookmark this site: https://classroom.relay.school/
Login with Google to access your account and classes.  Your classes have been added for you already.  If you have any students that are missing or misplaced, please put in a help desk ticket to have this resolved for you.

Helpful Instructions
I have broken down all the parts of this application to make it easy for you to get this up and running in your classroom.
NOTE - There are two different "Getting Started" videos.  One is for GMS and GHS, the other is for the rest of the district.

Recommendations for staff who have been using it
Make sure you unlock the class before they leave your room. You don’t want them to be blocked from cites they may need to access in their next period’s class. (GIS, GPS, GWD)
If something is not working the way you want, don't panic. Just set web rules to none and have students refresh.

Allow Lists
As you will see, you restrict students to an "allowed" list of sites.  The teachers that helped pilot this application have started a list of URLs to include in allow lists based on content area as well as by building.  You can access this list here and add URLs that are helpful for everyone.  Please only add URLs to your building and sites that are beneficial to everyone.  Also remember this is a document for the whole district and any changes you make are visible to everyone - not just you.

If you would like me to come and assist you during a TBT or department meeting or even one on one please feel free to schedule me to come and assist you.  I am always ready to come help.  

For more helpful information and the archive of previous posts, look for items in the menu to the left.


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Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Manage Classroom Noise with Bouncy Balls

 

Bouncy Balls

Manage Classroom Noise



Created by Scott Aten, March 8, 2022
A quiet classroom does not necessarily mean optimal learning is happening.  Students can learn a lot by collaborating, discussing solutions together, and exchanging viewpoints on what they are learning.  There can be a fine line, however,  between productive classroom noise and disruptive classroom noise.   As teachers we can train our students on how to keep classroom discussions and collaboration at a volume that can be productive.  Joe Grigas shared this site with the staff at GMS recently and after looking at it myself,  I thought it was worth sharing with all of you.  The site is called "Bouncy Balls" and it can be used to measure the noise in a room.  

Here is how it works.  The teacher launches the free Bouncy Balls website. In the upper right corner of the site you will see a microphone with a line through it.  Clicking on this icon will turn on your microphone (you need to have a microphone connected to the computer). 

Next the teacher has the ability to set the sensitivity of the microphone.  This may takes some practice to determine what is the best setting for your classroom and microphone placement.  This also helps determines what noise level is too much.


The "Total" area allows you to determine the number of "balls" or other items appear on the screen.  Sliding the control to the right adds more and to the left reduces the number of elements on the screen. 


Bouncy Balls comes with more options than just balls.  You can choose different "themes" to bounce Emojis, Bubble, or Eyeballs.  Plastic is the default and represents the "bouncy balls".


The training part occurs when the "Noise Alert" is turned on.  The site will make a noise and display a message when the max noise level is reached.  This can be an audible clue to the class that things have gotten too noisy for productive learning.  There are two options for the noise alert - Beep and "Shush".  This alert can be turned off as well by clicking the "checkmark".


Overall this is a simple site to use and creates a visual interpretation of the noise in the classroom.  Give it a try next time students are working in groups.

Please feel free to schedule me to come and assist you with your next project that has at technology piece included.  I am always ready to come help.  

For more helpful information and the archive of previous posts, look for items in the menu to the left.


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Green Local Schools

Tech Integration Team
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