Get ready for some fantastic news from Texthelp—your go-to for making learning accessible and joyful for every student.

Over the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Texthelp on numerous occasions.

Time and again, they’ve proven themselves as a steadfast ally in our shared mission to make education accessible for all students. I deeply respect their dedication to developing practical, free resources for educators.

They’ve whipped up three incredible guides packed with expert tips to spice up your teaching.

From easy-peasy captioning tricks to making lessons visually vibrant and beyond, these resources are game-changers.

Whether you’re looking to enhance reading skills or make content more engaging for every learner, these guides have got you covered.

Dive in and watch your classroom transform into a place where learning knows no bounds.

This blog post is sponsored by Texthelp.

3 Essential Guides for Teachers: Adapting Instruction to Every Student Ability

by Mary Pembleton from Texthelp

As an accessible technology company, Texthelp is always looking for ways to support educators with the diverse learning needs in their classrooms.

To help, our content team recently asked five experts to share their best tips: a researcher, two teachers turned education journalists, an accessibility consultant, and one AT specialist.

Get the Guides!

They gave us excellent advice, and from it, we created three downloadable guides:

• A guide about inclusive reading instruction
• A guide to supporting English Language learners in general education classrooms
• A guide to essential accessibility practices in schools and classrooms.

…with more on the way.

These guides include advice for administrators and MTSS teams, loads of research studies, and lots of quick tips for educators who need simple ways to adapt grade-level instruction to the different levels of abilities, backgrounds, and needs in their classrooms.

Below are six of their best tips. To gain more, head over to the Texthelp website to get the complete guides delivered to your inbox.

1. Turn on captions when teaching as another way for students to take in information.

It’s easy, free, and super-supported by research. 

Turn on live captioning in Google Slides as a visual aid in the classroom, even if you aren’t using a slide deck to teach.

Who it benefits, and how:

• Learners who are deaf/hard of hearing by allowing them access to the content in an alternative way
• English Language Learners by helping with pronunciation, language acquisition, and comprehension
• Learners who are learning to read by increasing exposure to print and building literacy skills
• All learners by improving comprehension, attention, and memory of the video content

How to do it:

• To display the captions in a captioned video, simply click the “CC” button.
• To add live captions to any lesson you teach verbally, you can enable live captions with one quick adjustment in Google Slides.

Here’s how to set up live captions in a Google slide presentation: 

1. Ensure your computer’s microphone is on
2. Click or enable “Present” in Google Slides
3. At the bottom left of your screen, select “More options.”
4. Click “Captions Preferences”
5. Toggle captions on.

Now, when you speak, live captions will appear on your screen or smartboard.

For more information about live captioning options in Google Slides, visit the “Present slides with captions” section of the Google Help Center here.

2. Teach with a microphone. 

Remote Microphone Systems were created for people who have difficulties hearing, and are often used as an assistive technology in the classroom.

Casual microphone use by a classroom educator should never replace necessary assistive technology support. However, the voice amplification offered by any microphone could be a helpful tool for engaging students who have trouble with listening, students with autism, and lend a hand with classroom management.

Pair sound amplification with free live captioning in Google Slides, listed above, for added benefit. 

3. Have students record themselves reading, and listen back to it.

To help learners of all abilities with their reading skills, ask them to record themselves reading a text out loud and then listen back to it. This helps struggling readers, beginning readers, and ELLs improve their reading fluency. 

4. Use visuals to supplement instruction automatically. 

Including visuals in your instruction is a great way to build understanding in all learners, particularly EL Learners and learners with autism, who benefit from the easily understandable additional context of visuals.

To empower learners with one-click visuals while reading, try Read&Write’s visual dictionary tool. Learners can click on an unfamiliar word in a text, and the visual dictionary feature will give them a picture to help them understand it.

Related: How to Create a Dynamic Reading Experience

5. Give everyone the same required readings, and show students how to adjust the reading level.

Rewordify is a free tool that allows learners to automatically adjust the reading level in any text to adapt any digital content to their ability.

Read&Write also offers a Rewordify feature, which allows students to adjust their reading levels wherever they are reading. 

6. Play an audiobook while having students read along from a physical text.

Complex texts and grade-level content benefit all learners, but are also not accessible to everyone. One way to normalize accommodations and make content accessible to everyone in class is to play an audiobook while students read along with a physical text.

Another benefit is that bimodal presentation, or providing both audio and written forms simultaneously boosts processing speed and information recall.

For additional ways to make learning more accessible to everyone in class, visit the Texthelp website’s Tier 1 is for Everyone page.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post 3 Essential Guides for Teachers: Adapting Instruction to Every Student Ability appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Pam Hubler, a valued Shake Up Learning team member, about Chromebook accessibility tools for all learners.

Together, we dive into the remarkable accessibility features of Chromebooks that you absolutely must explore.

Discover the art of tailoring Chromebook accessibility tools to your needs, harness the power of text-to-speech functionality, master display settings, make the most of keyboard shortcuts, fine-tune cursor settings, explore the world of captions, dictation, and so much more!

Pam also shares her Chromebook Accessibility presentation (embedded below).

Listen to this podcast episode below.

Chromebook Accessibility Tools for ALL Learners

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, Chromebooks have become a popular choice for both students and educators.

Their affordability, ease of use, and portability make them a versatile tool for learning.

What’s more, Chromebooks offer a wide array of accessibility tools that cater to the diverse needs of students, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to excel in the digital age.


In this podcast episode and blog post, Pam Hubler will guide us through the Chromebook accessibility tools that can benefit all learners, regardless of their abilities or challenges.

Pam recently delivered a presentation on this topic! Her slides are available here (and embedded below).

Turn on Accessibility Features on Chromebooks

Step 1: Find accessibility features

1. At the bottom right, select the time. Or press Alt + Shift + s.
2. Select Settings    Accessibility.
   • Optional: To have quick access to accessibility features, turn on Always show accessibility options in the system menu.

Step 2: Turn on a feature

ChromeVox Screen Reader

ChromeVox is a built-in screen reader that transforms text into speech, allowing visually impaired students to navigate the web and access digital content. This tool is fully integrated into the Chrome operating system, providing text-to-speech capabilities that can be customized to suit individual preferences. By using ChromeVox, visually impaired learners can engage with online resources, read articles, and access textbooks with ease.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Z to toggle ChromeVox on or off.

Select-to-Speak

Select-to-Speak is an extension available for Chrome that can read selected text aloud. This feature is beneficial for learners who need assistance in comprehending written content. By highlighting the text they want to hear, students can improve their reading comprehension and auditory learning skills.

Magnification and Zoom

Chromebooks offer a built-in magnification tool that allows users to zoom in on the screen, making text and graphics more accessible for those with visual impairments. This feature helps students with low vision read content, view images, and interact with web applications comfortably.

Press Ctrl+ to zoom in and Ctrl- to zoom out.

High-Contrast Mode

A high-contrast mode is a valuable tool for students with visual impairments or color blindness. By adjusting the display to increase contrast, this feature enhances readability and helps users distinguish between text and background colors more effectively.

Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts

Chromebooks come with a range of keyboard shortcuts that make navigating the interface easier for students with physical disabilities. These shortcuts can replace complex mouse operations and help learners with mobility challenges efficiently control their devices.

To find keyboard shortcuts in your Chromebook:

1. At the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Scroll, then select Keyboard.
4. Select View keyboard shortcuts.

Popular shortcuts

Dictate

Anywhere you can type on screen you can now press the search key + d and the option to voice type will appear!

Voice Typing

Voice Typing is an integrated tool in the Google Docs application that allows students to dictate text instead of typing it manually. This feature benefits individuals with motor impairments or learning disabilities like dyslexia. Voice Typing can significantly reduce the barriers students face when trying to express their thoughts in writing.

Go to  Tools>Voice Typing to enable in your Docs and Slides.

*Related: How to Voice Type in Google Docs (Speech-to-Text Dictation)

*Related: 7 Reasons You Need to Try Voice Typing in Google Docs

Read&Write for Google Chrome

Read&Write is an extension available in the Chrome Web Store that provides comprehensive support for learners with diverse needs. It offers features like text-to-speech, word prediction, and language translation, which are helpful for students with reading difficulties, language barriers, or learning disabilities.

*Related: How to Create a Dynamic Reading Experience

Chrome Accessibility Tutorial Videos

Below is a YouTube playlist of 20 videos. (Most of these are old, but the features remain the same–only better.)

Chromebooks are not just a cost-effective option for educational institutions but also a powerful platform for accommodating the needs of all learners.

The accessibility tools built into the Chrome web browser and operating system, as well as extensions and applications available in the Chrome Web Store, empower students with various abilities and challenges to succeed in their educational journeys.

By leveraging these tools, educators can create inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive, regardless of their unique requirements.

The future of education is digital, and Chromebook accessibility tools are helping ensure that this future is inclusive and accessible to all.

About Pam Hubler

Pam is an Innovative Learning Coordinator in Charleston, South Carolina, with 26 years in education.  She is passionate about professional development, technology integration, and building a strong culture in schools.

Follow Pam on Twitter: @specialtechie

Work with Pam or other Shake Up Learning team members: Work with Us

See Pam’s other guest blog posts and appearances on Shake Up Learning

• 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Google Meet
• Google Challenges for Teachers! (FREE Template by Pam Hubler)
• #PottyPD: How to Make the Most of a Captive Audience
• Student “Play of the Week” with Google Slides (FREE Template)
• Google Tips for Instructional Coaches and Tech Coaches
• Google Success Story: Pam Hubler, Google Certified Trainer

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Chromebook Accessibility Tools for ALL Learners – SULS0204 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Did you know you can dictate into Google Docs using voice typing?

Voice typing is speech-to-text dictation that can help ALL learners in your classroom.

Everyone talks faster than they type, but this can help ELL’s, littles who can’t write or spell yet, struggling writers, and more!

This is so easy and so helpful! Give it a try!

Watch the video below to learn how.

How to Voice Type in Google Docs (Speech-to-Text Dictation)

*Related: Emoji Reactions in Google Docs

*Related: How to Layer Images in Google Docs

*Related: Table Templates in Google Docs  

*Related: Drop-down Menus in Google Docs 

Access ALL the Google Quick Tips Here!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post How to Voice Type in Google Docs (Speech-to-Text Dictation) appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Voice Typing in Google Docs is a Game-Changer!

As a former ELA teacher, I am naturally drawn to technology that supports reading and writing.

Google Docs is fully-loaded with some features that can save us time in and out of the classroom, and oftentimes can even save us a little heartache when it comes to supporting students.

One tiny little feature that packs an amazing punch is Voice Typing in Google Docs.

Listen to this article.

7 Reasons You Need to Try Voice Typing in Google Docs

Voice typing is a speech-to-text feature that is built into the most popular word processor in the world, and it is available to you and your students if you have a microphone on your devices.

You can dictate all kinds of words, lists, and writing into Google Docs. You can also dictate formatting, punctuation, and editing. But wait…there’s more! YOU CAN DICTATE IN OTHER LANGUAGES!!!!! WHOA!!!!

I have shared this little feature during my presentations, and I was reminded just last week how powerful this tool can be for any student, but especially for struggling students, ELL, and primary. So in this post, I will share seven reasons you need to try Voice Typing in Google Docs–for yourself, for your students, and to help support learning across the board. This is the tip you need to pass on! Every teacher needs to know this!

Text-to-speech has a bad reputation, but it has come a long way! Google has a fantastic text-to-speech engine that is built into the Chrome browser and used in the Google Assistant. If you have ever done a voice search, you have seen how well Google understands what you say. Now take this power and apply it to dictation into a Google Doc. This little feature works amazingly well! Think of Voice Typing like your personal stenographer! (Note: Voice Typing also works in Google Slides speaker notes.)

How to Enable Voice Typing in Google Docs (desktop version)

Step 1: Turn on Your Microphone

To use voice typing or voice commands, your computer microphone needs to be on and working.

Step 2: Start voice typing in a document

1. Check that your microphone works.
2. Open a document in Google Docs with a Chrome browser.
3. Click Tools  Voice typing. A microphone box appears.
4. When you’re ready to speak, click the microphone.
5. Speak clearly, at a normal volume and pace (see below for more information on using punctuation).
6. When you’re done, click the microphone again.

7 Reasons You Need to Try Voice Typing in Google Docs

1. Time Saver

Chances are that you talk faster than you type, even if you have pretty good typing skills. Voice Typing can save you valuable time, especially valuable instructional time. Very few students have efficient typing skills these days. Having students type their essays and research, well anything for that matter, can be one of the most excruciating processes in the classroom. Use Voice Typing to maximize your time with your students.

I know what you are thinking…noise! Yes, if every student is dictating into Google Docs at the same time it could be a giant mess. But keep in mind that every student doesn’t have to do the exact same thing at the exact same time. This also makes it easier to make use of limited devices. You could dedicate a time and space for recording/dictating, similar to how we manage recording videos and audio in the classroom. Don’t immediately dismiss it because of the chaos. You can manage the chaos and make it work. Now, this may not be the way to compose everything, but it’s worth a try to see what works best for you and your students.

2. Dictate and Format All Types of Writing with Your Voice

We use Google Docs for all types of writing and projects. Don’t limit your use of Voice Typing to just the text-heavy essays. You can dictate anything into Docs, including

• class notes,
• meeting notes,
• to do lists,
• starter sentences,
• thesis statements,
• vocabulary,
• spelling lists,
• math word problems,
• and just about any other type of writing!

You can also dictate formatting, punctuation, and correct mistakes with commands! Yeah!!!

You can use these phrases to add punctuation to your text:

• Period
• Comma
• Exclamation point
• Question mark
• New line
• New paragraph

After you start voice typing, you can use commands to edit and format your document.

For example,

• Select paragraph
• Italics
• Delete
• Insert Link
• Go to the end of the line.
• Too many to list here. To see a full list of commands, visit the support center page for Voice Typing.

Correct Mistakes with Voice Typing

If you make a mistake while you’re typing with your voice, you can move your cursor to the mistake and fix it without turning off the microphone.

After you correct the mistake, move the cursor back to where you want to continue. To see a list of suggestions, right-click words underlined in gray.

3. Support the Littles Who Can’t Spell Yet!

Our youngest learners can tell amazing stories. They can compose, they just don’t have the spelling and composition skills yet, but they can dictate their sentences and stories in Google Docs without worrying about spelling or typing. What a great way to support young writers and help them feel successful! Bonus: Dictation can help students learn punctuation skills.

4. Support Struggling Writers at Any Age.

Writing is hard and it can be a struggle for writers of all ages. Voice Typing can be particularly useful for those that struggle, especially those with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or just struggle with the mouse and keyboard. Voice Typing can make a great companion or modification to help support struggling students. Accessibility is important for all learners.

5. Support ELL and Foreign Language — dictate in other languages.

As I mentioned earlier, you can dictate in other languages. At last count, this feature is available in 90 different languages! (See the full list of languages on the Google Voice Typing support page.)

To change the language, just use the drop-down above the microphone to choose your language.

This is a fantastic way to support students who are learning new languages, whether that is an English Language Learner or a student in a Foreign Language class. Students can compose in their language of choice. They can even translate their document into another language. (Go to Tools>Translate Document)

For some students, this is a complete game-changer! Being able to compose in their native language can really help bridge the divide as students learn English. Be sure to share this tip with all the language teachers on your campus!

6. Dictate on the Go. (Google Docs Mobile App)

Did you know that Voice Typing works on mobile?!! Yep! You can dictate on the go. Students who have mobile devices can dictate directly into their device. This could expand the use of the feature beyond the classroom, as well as give you access across multiple devices in and out of the classroom. Just look for the microphone icon on your mobile keyboard to start dictating.

• Get Google Docs for iOS
• Get Google Docs for Android

7. We Need to Get Used to Talking to Our “Stuff.”

This is something I talk a lot about in my keynote! We have to get used to talking to our stuff. Whether you are ready or not, text-to-speech is becoming a part of everything. I often feel like the world isn’t ready to see me talking to my Apple Watch as I shop in the grocery store, but get ready. We will all be talking to our stuff and making great use of machine learning. That means that keyboarding skills will eventually go by the way side. The world is changing! Are you ready?

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post 7 Reasons You Need to Try Voice Typing in Google Docs appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this episode, Kasey interviews Mike Marotta, co-author of Inclusive Learning 365.

Together they discuss how inclusive learning is meeting the needs of all learners.

Every teacher should fight exclusion!

Mike shares tips and strategies to help teachers shake up inclusive learning in their classrooms.

Mike doesn’t have a typical education career. He started with a career as an electrical engineer, however, he struggled to find a job in this field until he was hired at a school.

The school needed his expertise to help keep its assistive technology up and running as it was a school for children and adults with disabilities.

In the beginning, Mike fixed wheelchairs and such, but as technology expanded so did his work assisting students with disabilities.

Now Mike works as a consultant to help explore options to help support every learner. 

Listen to this article.

This episode is sponsored by Lumio.

Lumio is a digital learning tool that will transform your lessons into active, collaborative learning experiences. Every day more schools and districts are switching to Lumio – it’s truly a flexible, time-saving tool that makes it easy to turn your PDFs, Google Slides, PowerPoint, and Notebook files into engaging lessons with interactive activities, games, group workspaces, and formative assessment ALL built right in. Boost your student engagement on any device wherever learning needs to happen. To get Lumio for FREE, head to Lum.io today.

Fighting Exclusion: Shake Up Inclusive Learning

Recently, Kasey and Mike teamed up to share a webinar that merged their two topics of inclusion and implementing the 4 C’s to shake up learning. Both Mike and Kasey have the mission to help every learner and share how technology can better assist their learning. This doesn’t have to mean students with disabilities, but it absolutely includes them.

Everyone’s Different

In reflecting back on the past few years with the changes education has seen due to the pandemic, Mike asks the question, “what tools have stuck?” At the onset of the pandemic, a lot of technology was thrown at teachers and students alike. Many teachers discovered tools they didn’t know about and learned how to incorporate more technology into their teaching practice. Now that most classrooms have moved back to in-person learning, Mike shares his curiosity about how teachers continue to utilize technology to help their students. 

Every student brings their own unique learning needs to the classroom. Looking for those flexible, creative ways to ensure that everyone has a chance to succeed in the classroom is the ultimate goal. Mike explains that in brainstorming content for their book, Inclusive Learning 365, the authors began thinking about individual tools. They pivoted from focusing on the tool to focusing on the teaching strategy.  

Mike explains that often teachers begin with the tool and consider how it can be used rather than starting with the student and thinking about their needs. Starting with the learner and considering what works for them, what excites them, and what engages them in the learning. Mike makes the point that asking lots of questions helps to expose what needs to be accomplished and the best strategy or tool to make that happen. 

What is Inclusion

Inclusion is fighting against exclusion. This idea, brought to the table by Chris Bugaj, struck the group as being the best picture of what inclusion means. Mike, and his co-authors, offer a website of resources. One of those resources is a self-assessment tool to examine how well a teacher is providing inclusive strategies. The self-assessment can also be useful in providing new mindsets or shifts for how to provide more inclusive strategies. 

Mike shares an example of this from the webinar. He begins with the importance of providing authentic options for students to share their learning. It’s not about providing the option to use a red pen versus a blue pen. If the end goal is for a student to share what they learned and they are struggling to type their ideas then there needs to be a better option. For example, sharing their ideas by recording audio would accomplish the same end goal. Unless the end goal includes the skill of typing sharing through audio provides the same end product. 

Teaching Resources

Technology is now a readily available resource. A resource that every student can use. Rather than thinking that students who have documented accommodations should be the only ones to utilize technology resources, allow all students to have the option. People utilize different means for gathering information all the time, sometimes people prefer to read information, and sometimes people prefer to listen. It’s why podcast episodes and these show notes simultaneously exist. 

Mike shares his own editing tip of listening to the audio of his own typing rather than reading it. Either can produce the same end results, but knowing that hearing the audio will be more effective allows Mike to make the best choice for his end product. Teaching students to make these decisions with their own learning can provide them with practical life-long learning skills. 

Looking Ahead

With the next school year several weeks away, Mike shares some ideas to consider when planning the upcoming school year. The book, Inclusive Learning 365, is organized as small “nuggets” of information. The eight areas of focus for the strategies included are cross-content, reading, writing, STEAM, research and studying, executive functioning, social-emotional learning, and professional learning. 

Each page provides a teaching strategy in one of those eight areas. The strategy is explained or defined, then there is a list of inclusive paths with tools for the strategy along with how it might be incorporated into the classroom. Finally, the resources and tools are aligned with the ISTE standards. 

The book itself is meant to be a resource and tool for educators. Mike shares that it doesn’t need to be read cover to cover. It’s possible to flip through and learn a small piece to add to the bigger experience of providing more inclusion in your classroom. 

Mike says he’s often asked, what’s the best tool? and his standard response to that is that it depends. However, he does have some favorites. Deciding that a tool is a favorite for Mike means that they are flexible, easy to use, has several features, and is readily available. 

Two of Mike’s favorites include Read and Write for Google and Book Creator. He appreciates how these tools have so many accessibility pieces “baked” into them. Kasey wholeheartedly agrees with these choices! Both of these tools are free for users and Kasey reminds us that it’s important to know which tools are being provided to teachers through their districts. 

When coaching teachers, Mike likes to start by asking what tools are already available. Often tools are already provided and a better understanding of the depth to which they can be used is a place to begin. Another great place to begin is the Inclusive 365 website. Mike explains that because technology is constantly changing the book also provides an electronic companion. 

In case you miss the ISTE conference this year, take a look at all the resources gathered through an inclusive scavenger hunt! Another great place to help build your toolbox of inclusion. 

About Mike Moratta

Twitter: @mmatp

Website: inclusive365.com

Mike is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional and the 2017 ISTE Inclusive Learning Network Outstanding Educator. Mike is a nationally and internationally recognized presenter providing practical training to professionals interested in assistive and inclusive technology. In addition, Mike is an adjunct professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ) teaching Masters level educators in Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning.

Mike is the Director of the Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center and serves on both the CAST Accessible Educational Materials and Center on Inclusive Technology and Education Systems (CITES) Advisory Boards. Mike is also the founder of EdcampAccess NJ and co-moderator of the weekly #ATchat Twitter chat. Mike is one of the co-authors of the ISTE book Inclusive Learning 365: Edtech Strategies for Every Day of the Year.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Fighting Exclusion: Shake Up Inclusive Learning – SULS0164 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Closed captions are a great way to support all learners watching videos online, especially those that are hard of hearing.

Google Chrome allows you to turn on closed captioning for videos found across the web.

This is a tip for anyone who watches videos on the web.

Using the Google Chrome web browser, you can enable closed captions on just about any video online.

Related: Name and Color Code Chrome Tab Groups

Related: Pinned Tabs

Related: Continue Where You Left Off

How to Enable Closed Captions for Almost Any Video on the Web!

Access ALL the Google Quick Tips Here!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post How to Enable Closed Captions for Almost Any Video on the Web! appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Flipgrid has become the go-to remote learning tool for teachers!

When it comes to digital learning tools to support blended and remote learning, one tool has stood out above the rest in 2020, Flipgrid.

In this interview episode with three AMAZING “Flipgridders” and educators, Ann, Jess, and Jornea, share how you can use Flipgrid to support remote learning, building community, academic support, and more.

You’ll also hear about some awesome Flipgrid updates and projects.

Before we jump in, I’d like to send a huge shoutout to Paige Sturges for her glowing review of the Google Certified Educator Academy!

Listen to this article.

Quick Tip of the Week (Add a Co-Teacher in Google Classroom)

Let’s get back to basics! It’s super easy to add a co-teacher to your class in Google Classroom.

Watch this quick video to learn how! 

Two New Google Books COMING SOON!

I am super excited to announce that I have two books that will be released in 2020!

• Blended Learning with Google: Your Guide to Dynamic Teaching and Learning
• Google A to Z: The Google Glossary for Teachers (supplement)

More information will be posted soon. Fill out the form below if you want to be the first to get the details on these two books!

Flipgrid: The Go-To Remote Learning Tool

Flipgrid has quickly become one of my favorite tools, especially for remote learning. With remote learning, we have seen Flipgrid move from that NICE TO HAVE platform to the NEED TO HAVE platform.

RELATED: The InterACTIVE Class in a Post-COVID World

What is Flipgrid?

Flipgrid is a FREE, asynchronous video discussion platform that gives every student a voice. The educator posts a prompt in Flipgrid, and then students respond via video. Then students have the opportunity to watch each other’s responses and reply. It adds a layer of fun and collaboration to the classroom experience!

Sign up for Flipgrid here!

How Can Flipgrid Help Support Remote Learning?

During the emergency school closures, teachers were tasked with creating community in a completely different way. Building a community despite physical separation is a challenge, but educators across the globe have risen. There are so many ways that educators can use Flipgrid to connect with students.

Joe Merrill, a guest in e79, shared how he uses Flipgrid as a virtual “playground” for his littles. Many teachers are also using Flipgrid for social-emotional learning, digital celebrations, or even a virtual pet parade. Ann says she has been inspired by the silly connections, the emotional connections, and the heart connections she has seen from teachers using Flipgrid.

“If this time has taught us anything, it’s that relationships with students are that much more important!” – Jess Boyce

Just because it’s an asynchronous tool doesn’t mean that you can’t feel connected to your students. It can be personal, real, relevant, and unique.

Let’s celebrate every unique voice!

Flipgrid provides that pathway for students to share their unique voices.

Educators are thinking about new ways and opportunities to meet the needs of students.

We are all in this together!

This is the opportunity for us to Shake Up Learning!

RELATED: 10 Awesome Ways to Use Flipgrid in Your Classroom [LIVE from ISTE] 

Flipgrid Ideas to Try

Ideas to try (fun and academic):

• pet parade
• birthday grid
• morning announcements
• good morning videos
• exercise videos
• school-wide showcase
• daily check-ins
• dance challenge
• 2 truths and a lie
• would you rather
• tongue twister challenge
• discuss mindfulness, race equity, or other in-depth topics
• have students explain their thinking
• have students explain how they found the answer or solved the problem (math)
• REFLECTION!

Check out this page for more Flipgrid Remote Learning ideas.

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© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Flipgrid: The Go-To Remote Learning Tool – SULS080 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Accessibility is and should be a huge topic of discussion across multiple industries but especially in learning.

I’m going to give you tips, tricks, and resources to help use Google accessibility tools to reach all learners.

Google tools are loaded with features that help us differentiate and support ALL learners in our classrooms.

In this article and podcast episode, we are going to take a deep dive into tools and strategies that you may not know about.

Let’s get shakin’ y’all.

Shoutout

Sarah Kiefer recently wrote a wonderful review of the Dynamic Learning with Google podcast series. (Episodes 44-47 – You can find them here!)

I appreciate the review so much. Go check out her blog, My Brain Can’t Hold It All.

Listen to this article:

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Do you have a question or idea to share on the podcast? Leave me a message here.

Quick Tip of the Week

In any Google Doc, use the keyboard shortcut, Control + Shift + 8 (Command + Shift + 8 on a Mac), to add a bullet to your document. This keyboard shortcut is amazing if you need to add bullet points quickly to a doc.

Accessibility Tools with Google

I did a ton of research before deciding to chat about this topic today because I wanted to put together the best resources for you. 

Check out Google’s Accessibility page here for a very comprehensive list of features broken down by application. Also, keep in mind that Android devices have built-in accessibility features as well.

Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are not just time savers; they are also accessibility features for students and teachers. If any of your students are unable to use a mouse, then these are imperative. 

• CTRL + T will open a new tab in your browser
• CTRL + (1-8) will toggle to that corresponding tab within your browser. For instance, if you have 8 tabs open, CTRL + 6 will go to the 6th tab. 
• CTRL + 9 will take you to the last tab that you have open.
• CTRL + Shift + T will reopen a closed tab.
• CTRL + W will close a tab.
• ALT + F + X will completely close Google Chrome. (Cmd + Q on a Mac)
• CTRL + +/- will zoom in and out on your browser. 

(Use CMD instead of CTRL on a Mac)

Check out a full list of Chrome keyboard shortcuts here! For all the shortcuts you can use to zoom in and out and change text, image, and video sizes, use this resource. 

Why You May Need High Contrast Colors

Some students may benefit from high-contrast colors rather than the regular settings we get with every browser.

Some students can focus more easily when the background is black with white text rather than vice versa. Darker backgrounds are also easier on the eyes for everyone. 

There’s a Chrome extension you can use to change the color schemes for all webpages. You can find the extension here, but be sure to follow your school policies regarding installing extensions.

Text to Speech (Reading with Your Ears)

Some of the most useful extensions will read the text on the screen out loud to your students. These extensions help younger students learn how to read, but is also helpful for students who have dyslexia or other learning difficulties. 

One of my favorite Chrome extensions is Read & Write for Google Chrome. I shared a post on this extension a while back that you can read here, but essentially you install a toolbar, and then any webpage you visit can be read out loud to you. 

This tool is a fabulous accessibility feature to help all types of readers.

You can change the voice, the speed, and it has a translation feature as well. 

Two more Chrome extensions that will read text from the screen are Speak It and Announcify. I shared these in a previous post about supporting struggling readers. 

With Speak It, you highlight what you want to hear, and it will read that section out loud with just a couple of clicks. 

Another favorite is Announcify because it does more than just read what is on the screen. It will open in a new page, and then it will blur out anything that is not being read. This is great for limiting distractions. 

Speech to Text (Dictation)

Essentially speech to text is considered dictation, but this feature is so helpful to many different types of learners. Many apps and devices now have voice recognition built into their interfaces, making dictation much more accurate than it has been in the past.

Even if you don’t need speech to text for an accommodation, many of us talk faster than we type, so this can be a huge time saver. 

The first resource I want to talk about is dictation.io. This is not an extension but instead a Chrome app. You click on the microphone and start speaking, and your words are shown on the notepad.

The Voice Note II Chrome extension is another fantastic tool that opens a new clean window with a microphone in the top right. You click the microphone and start talking, and when you stop, your words are there.

Both of these tools allow you to then copy, paste, tweet, email, message, etc. the words that you’ve spoken.

If you’d like additional Chrome extensions and tools along with explanations of them, check out my Chrome Database. 

You can also watch this video playlist that has additional information on Chrome and Chrome OS Accessibility.

Chrome OS & Chromebooks

The Chrome OS on Chromebook has several accessibility features built into the device so that you won’t need additional tools. I’ve listed a few resources below to help you familiarize yourself with the built-in tools.

• Chromebook accessibility help
• ChromeVox – Built-in screen reader
• On-screen keyboard (with microphone option) 
• Chromebook keyboard shortcuts

Accessibility Tools in Google Docs

First off, I cannot say enough for having a full understanding of keyboard shortcuts. You can find a list of shortcuts specific to Docs here, but understanding these shortcuts and being able to share them with your students is unbelievably helpful.

Google Docs also has built-in voice typing. You can find it under Tools > Voice Typing. It works very similarly to the apps and extensions mentioned above, but it allows you to talk your work directly into your document. You can also dictate your formatting options as well, like bold, italicize, etc. Here are 7 reasons you need to try voice typing in Google Docs. 

There is also an entire suite of accessibility settings directly within Docs. If you want to see the comprehensive list, go here. But this is where you turn on things for screen reader support, collaborator announcements, a screen magnifier, and others. You can find these options and settings in Tools as well.

Final Thoughts

When you’re creating a visual for a website or page, don’t forget to create pertinent alt-text. The alt-text allows you to put in a title and description. Most of the alt-text that you see on websites is the random name someone used to name the picture for their computer. Take the time to create meaningful titles for those students who aren’t able to process busy webpages. 

Insert your image, right-click, and select alt-text to update it. This will also give a screen reader a way to describe the image in text to speech tools. 

Another way to make your documents more accessible is to use the commenting and suggestions function. Screen readers can jump specifically to those comments rather than jumbling up the text on the page.

One last thought about formatting. Screen readers do not acknowledge bold, italicized, and underlined words. Instead, if something is important, type “important” before the upcoming sentence. Additionally, use numbered lists instead of bullet points to better distinguish the order of importance in your documents. Also, start using headings rather than simply increasing your font size.

Podcast Question of the Week

• How can accessibility tools help you reach the learners in your classroom?
• Post your answers in the Shake Up Learning community or on your favorite social platform.

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Post your answer to your favorite social media platform using the hashtag #ShakeUpLearning, or share it in the Shake Up Learning Community on Facebook!

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© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Google Accessibility Tools to Reach ALL Learners – SULS049 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.