Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Newsletter May 27, 2014

Google Classroom

If you use Google with your students or are considering it, you will be very happy with this. Google is bringing out Google Classroom in the fall. This adds amazing new features to make Google easier to organize and share content with your students.




It is currently in Beta but they are planning the official release in September. 

Boomerang for Gmail

Boomerang is a terrific add on for Google Mail. You add it to the Chrome Browser. It allows you to schedule emails for a later day or time. The program also allows for emails to "boomerang" back to the top of your email box as a reminder to follow up. I made a short video.

Boomerang Video

Google Education


Our Google Accounts have a variety of great features. I am gradually going through the training to be a certified Google Education Trainer. Even if this isn't an area of interest for you, Google has an education site that has great resources on how to use each of the components of our accounts. It's worth checking out for training and as a resource.


Providing Feedback on Student Writing and Video

Kristin Gregory shared this article and it was a really clever way to use a combination of Google Drive and Explain Everything with writing. 


Nervous about Technology?

With all of the changes to education, it is easy to get overwhelmed. If you aren't comfortable with technology, the increase in it's use might cause stress. This article from Edudemic had some helpful tips on feeling more in control and comfortable with technology. I hope it will help.


Quizlet

Quizlet is a fun site that offers an opportunity to create study sets of information as a way to help students review concepts for a test or a quiz. There is a free and paid version depending on the resources you want to access. 


Site

If there is anything in this newsletter or on my web site that you need help with using, please let me know. I'd love to help. We can always schedule an appointment around your planning periods.




How to schedule a time to meet?

The easiest way to contact me is through email at sean.whelan@westg.org. Please let me know what you'd like to meet about, your room number, free periods, and any other info that might be helpful to me in order to prepare for our meeting. I'd love to meet with you to see if I can help facilitate any issue you might be having.