Here are the BEST Blog Posts of 2017!

I have put together a list of the BEST and most popular Shake Up Learning blog posts from 2017.

I can’t believe we are nearing the end of 2017! As Shake Up Learning approaches its fourth anniversary, I want to take a moment to THANK YOU! You have made this site possible and kept me going when I thought I had nothing left to give!

I believe reflection and feedback are of the utmost importance to keep Shake Up Learning relevant and useful. I reflect throughout the year, but especially this time of year. I like to take a closer look at what blog posts brought the most traffic, comments, and shares so that I can give you more of what you like.

The goal of this blog has always been to provide teachers with educational technology resources, tips, and tricks, and help teachers find ways to integrate technology meaningfully in the classroom. This list of the Top 20 Blogs Posts of 2017 will help me decide what content to create in 2018. I want to make Shake Up Learning shine in 2018!

[Tweet “20 Things You May Have Missed in 2017! #edtech #edchat #SUL #gsuiteedu”]

What Do YOU Want in 2018?

I also want to make sure to serve my audience! To give you more of what you want, I have also included a short 60-second survey at the bottom of this post. This survey is your chance to chime in and let me know how I can better serve you and your students.

Below is the list of the Top 20 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2017 from Shake Up Learning.

Did your favorite make the list? If not, be sure to let me know in the comments.

The Top 20 Blog Posts of 2017

1. 35 Apps That Integrate with Google Classroom

2. How to Insert Super GIFs in Google Docs and Slides

3. 150+ Chrome Apps and Extensions for Teachers and Students

4. 17 Things for Teachers to Try in 2017

5. 15 Ways for Students to Use Google Keep

6. How to Differentiate Questions with Google Forms

7. How to Easily Assess Student Writing in Google Docs

8. Interactive Learning Menus (Choice Boards) with G Suite

9. How to Differentiate Assignments with Google Classroom

10. How to Pass the Google Certified Educator Exams

11. 3 Chrome Extensions that Make Google Classroom Even More Awesome

12. 4 New Video Options in Google Slides That Will Make Your Day

13. Personalize Google Keep for You and Your Students

14. 20 New Ways to Use Google Classroom

15. How to Use Virtual Reality and Google Expeditions in Your Classroom

16. Teach Like the Tonight Show: Internet Pop Quiz – Teacher Edition

17. The New Google Sites: The Good, The Bad, and Nothing Ugly

18. The Ultimate Google Cardboard and Expeditions Resource Guide

19. The Google Certified Educator Capacity Matrix – Level 1

20. How to Push the Boundaries of School with Dynamic Learning

What would you like to see in 2018? Let me know by filling out this 60-Second Survey.

© 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 20 Things You May Have Missed in 2017! appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Using Android Apps on a Chromebook

Google has been working to bridge the gap between the tablet and laptop by allowing us to use Android apps on a Chromebook. It is still in a beta testing phase, but I have given it a whirl and want to share with you what I have discovered, what works, and what still needs some work.

I recently purchased the Samsung Pro Chromebook, which is pretty fantastic I must say. It is one of the new flip Chromebooks with a stylus that allows you to use it as a laptop with keyboard or flip it around and use the touch screen with a stylus. It also has a pretty decent camera. Google sent me one of these to demo during one of my ISTE presentations, but I had to return it to Google (sad face). I needed a new Chromebook and I loved the Samsung Pro so much that I bought it. I will share more about the hardware in a later post. (Please note: this is NOT a sponsored post. Jusy want you to know what I’m working with.)

[Tweet “6 Android Apps to Try on a #Chromebook #SUL #gttribe #gsuiteedu #edtech”]

Why Android Apps on Chromebooks

You may be wondering why you would want to run Android apps on Chromebooks. Chromebooks are already web-based and loaded with possibilities. However, mobile apps often offer us a few more ways to interact with information, as well as tap into some creation tools that don’t work the same on an old school Chromebook. Many have debated the iPad v. Chromebook for years now. Most of the conversations will lead you to believe the iPad is a creative tool and the Chromebook is a productive tool. Now we can have the best of both worlds, all the creativity of an iPad and all of the productivity of a laptop–well almost! This could definitely be the death of iPads in some schools.

[Tweet “Android Apps on a Flip #Chromebook! Best of Both Worlds! #gsuiteedu”]

So when it comes to the apps that made this list, there are some of our favorite applications that just work better or give us extra features in the Android app, there are applications that make the most the tablet/stylus combo, and there are apps that allow us to do NEW things on a Chromebook!

How to Install Android Apps on a Chromebook

If you are interested in running Android apps on a Chromebook, there are a few things you should know before you jump in. (Full details can be found in the Google Support Center.)

– This feature only works on certain devices. To see which Chromebooks support Android apps click here.

– The Google Play Store must be enabled by your domain administrator in your G Suite for Education account. (In personal Google accounts, you can enable in your Chrome settings.)

– Note: I discovered that using the multiple sign-on feature on the Chromebook that allows me to easily switch accounts without re-entering passwords, would cause my access to Google Play to disappear. It must be a regular single login to access.

– This is still in Beta testing and can be a bit glitchy.

– Not all Android apps have been optimized for the Chromebook. This is a little akin to when you run an iPhone only app on an iPad, it’s the small version on your screen. Although most of the ones I experimented with worked fine and adjusted to the full screen of my Chromebook. Some apps do prefer portrait over landscape to resize.

Step 1: Get the Google Play Store App

1. Update your Chromebook software
To get Android apps on your Chromebook, first update your Chromebook software. Your Chromebook must run Chrome OS version 53 and up.

2. Sign in to the Google Play Store

• Click your account photo.
• Click Settings Settings.
• In the “Google Play Store” section, turn on Enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook. Note: If you don’t see this option, your Chromebook doesn’t work with Android apps.
• In the window that appears, click Get Started.
• You’ll be prompted to agree to the Terms of Service. When you’ve read and agreed, click Agree.
• To confirm your current Google account, click Sign In.
• You’ll see the Google Play Store app open. In the box that appears, click Accept.

Step 2: Get Android Apps

Now, you can find and download Android apps on your Chromebook.

6 Android Apps to Try on a Chromebook

I spent some time playing around with Android apps on my Chromebook and discovered some really great ideas for the classroom. All of the apps are FREE, only Squid has some in-app purchases.

1. Google Classroom

Google Classroom has long been available on iOS and Android, and for the most part, the desktop version still has the advantage. However, Google has been giving us many more features in mobile, including a couple of features that are ONLY available on mobile.

Annotation: In the mobile version of Google Classroom, you can annotate on assignments, meaning you can draw, markup, create, etc. That annotation is then saved and can be turned in, or sent to the student as feedback. Of course, now add the power of the stylus to this application and you’ve got yourself a winning combination. (Click here to learn how this works in the mobile app.)

Snap a Photo and Turn In: The camera definitely has its advantages in the mobile app. It’s easy to snap a photo of a science lab and turn in. The Chromebook has a forward-facing camera that may require extra maneuvering to get the right shot, but still an advantage in the mobile version.

Be sure to check out all of the Google Classroom resources from Shake Up Learning.

2. Google Keep

I have shared a lot this year about the robust features of Google Keep. (Check out all of my Google Keep Resources here, including the FREE Google Keep Cheat Sheet, and The Google Teacher Tribe episode all about Keep.) However, there are a couple of features that only work on mobile, so this is a great addition to the Chromebook.

Drawing and Annotation: This feature works on the desktop, but gets a whole lot better when you flip the Chromebook and use the stylus! Drawing with a mouse can be a struggle. The addition of a stylus allows students to take written notes, draw, annotate, label, and much more. Plus, Google Keep’s OCR feature will allow you to “grab the text,” from any images, even recognizing most handwriting.

Voice Notes: One feature that is currently only available on mobile is the ability to take voice notes. Just by tapping on the microphone, you can dictate your notes into Google Keep. Oh, and did you know that it will also add the text to your note automatically? Yep, speech-to-text built right in. Think of how awesome this is for any student, but especially those that struggle with typing, writing, dyslexia, etc.

3. Google Expeditions

Yep, you heard me, you can use Google Expeditions on a Chromebook. Now it’s not designed for Chromebooks, but until Google gives us that full capability, this is a great way to access. However, Google Expeditions is loaded with more than 600 virtual tours–something for every grade level and every subject area! Now, a Chromebook isn’t quite as engaging as virtual viewers, but we don’t all have the luxury of these in our rooms. On my Chromebook, which is a faster processor than most, there was a tiny bit of lag. It worked both in the regular Chromebook “mode,” as well as when I flipped it over to tablet.

To learn more about Google Expeditions check out: The Ultimate Cardboard and Expeditions Resource Guide, and all of the VR Resources on Shake Up Learning.

[Tweet “Whaaaat!!!! You can use #GoogleExpeditions on a Chromebook? #gsuiteedu”]

4. Google Calendar

Cleaner and Easier: The mobile version of Google Calendar is beautiful! Unless you have a need for a lot of advanced features, and most students do not, the mobile version is preferable. Now you can get the Android app on your Chromebook and view Google Calendar just like you do on your phone. Easy to use and simple to add events.

Goal Setting: One of the newer features of the mobile app allows you to set personal goals and Google Calendar will magically find time in your calendar and add it. I think this feature is a great way to encourage students to set their own learning goals and make time to accomplish them. (This feature isn’t currently available in the desktop version.)

5. Sketchbook – Draw and Paint (by Autodesk)

I think one of the biggest advantages of this type of Chromebook combined with the stylus is the drawing capabilities. I am no sketch artist, but I know enough to know the mobile apps far outweigh the desktop–at least with very basic hardware. I discovered several sketching and whiteboard types of applications. However, after testing, they were not all equally responsive on my device.

Sketchbook was one of the best! It was easy to use, and even a novice like myself could sketch, draw, or take notes with ease. By the way, I had intended to share a screenshot of my sketch, but the app got glitchy and wouldn’t open full screen unless I flipped into tablet mode. So the image above is from the Google Play Store.

Also note, there are some really nice drawing apps in the Google Play Store, like Adobe Illustrator Draw. I didn’t have as much luck with this application. There was too much lag in the response of the stylus.

6. Squid – Take Notes and Markup PDF’s

This little whiteboard app is a great one for students, especially secondary students. There are tons of backgrounds to choose from that include notebook paper, graph paper, dot paper, Cornell Notes templates, diagrams, musical notation and more. (Note: not all of the backgrounds are free.) AND you can upload PDF files and annotate, which means you can do things like label maps, diagrams, etc.

Microsoft Products

All of the research I read suggested the Microsoft Office Android apps work very well on the Chromebook. Even though I don’t use Office, I searched in the Google Play Store. My device wasn’t compatible with Word, Excel, or PowerPoint–wah wah…But if it is something you use, it may be worth a look. I was able to install OneNote, and I know there are a lot of OneNote fans out there.

Tips for Using Android Apps on a Chromebook:

– The Chrome Web Store is for regular Chrome customization: Chrome apps, extensions, and themes.

– The Google Play Store is for Android apps–running mobile apps on your Chromebook.

– If you have the Chrome app AND the Android app version, things can get confusing because the icons look the same. You may consider organizing your Android apps together, or pinning so you can remember which is which.

– Some apps prefer portrait over landscape and you have to move around to get the application to behave. (It’s in beta, remember.)

– Some apps also prefer you flip the Chromebook in order to go full screen.

What Android Apps Have You Tried (or Want to Try) on a Chromebook? Leave me a comment!

Want to Shake Things Up in Your School or District? Bring Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning to You!

Ready to shake things up in your school or at your event? Email me at Kasey@ShakeUpLearning.com, or submit this PD request form to bring Shake Up Learning to your event.

• Be Disruptive and Shake Up Learning (keynote)
• Geeking Out Over Google Classroom
• Digital Differentiation with G Suite
• Shake Up Learning with G Suite
• The Golden Treasures of Google! The Fabulous Tools You Don’t Know About! (presentation)

Testimonials

Here is what others have said about Kasey Bell’s presentations:

“Thank YOU for an outstanding presentation this morning. I received so many wonderful comments about your keynote at our conference. These attendees didn’t just say they “liked” it; they each offered a specific point from your presentation to share with me that impacted their thinking about “change” or the integration of technology & instruction. Now that’s an effective presentation!” – Jane McKinney

“Great session. Loved the ‘treasures’ theme throughout. Great, quick overview of tools and classroom applications for Google Apps.” – Chad Kafka

© 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.

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Exploration = Education, my new motto

This is a guest post by Google Certified Trainer and Innovator, Stacy Behmer.

I had the privilege of attending the Google Geo Institute (#CAGTI17) with approximately 90 other educators from around the world last week to learn more about Google’s Geo Tools! I loved using maps with my students and used Google Earth, but my head was spinning with all of the ideas about how we can use the geo tools to help students learn about new places, solve problems, and tell stories!

We may not be able to physically go everywhere, but virtually the possibilities are limitless.

[Tweet “10 Amazing Google Geo Tools for Your Classroom by @sbehmer #geotools #Googleedu #gttribe #shakeuplearning”]

10 Amazing Google Geo Tools for Your Classroom

After thumbing through all my links and docs, here are 10 of my many takeaways!

1. New Google Earth

“Everything is something and everything has a place somewhere.” John Bailey, Google Geo Education Team. Google Earth is now web based and you can use Pegman and Street View within Google Earth, but you can go places that are off the beaten path and may not be on a street, like these monkeys in the see Street View of Himalayas. These 360 images can easily be embedded into a website or project students are creating.

2. Voyager

A new addition to Google Earth is the Voyager Experience! Go to Voyager and select the education tab. Google partnered with National Geographic and other organizations to build content and tell stories from around the world.

3. My Maps

There is a power in students creating their own maps to help them visualize information or to tell a story an example of this is two students who collected the Oral Histories of Route 66 and displayed it on a Map. My Maps is can be used for students as they explore events in literature, historical events or even as they study current events. The beauty of My Maps is they are collaborative and can be exported to be brought in as a layer of Google Earth. Kim Randall, @scubagirl812 did a super session on Mapping Made Easy with Google My Maps!

4. Tour Builder

This is another way for students to tell a story using a map! Drop pins, add images, video or text to share your virtual tour. Once a tour is created it can be shared to the gallery or exported as a KML file and added as a layer to Google Earth. Unfortunately, this doesn’t have the same collaborative features My Maps does, but the visual display and easy organization is really nice!

5. Google Earth Engine

There are a lot of data sets out there and Google Earth Engine enables you to track, measure and visualize changes over time. You can look at water patterns and how the Earth’s surface has changed over time. Use the Time Lapse link to see how development is changing the landscape of your community. Being able to visualize the data and changes helps to have meaningful conversations with students.

[Tweet “”We may not be able to physically go everywhere, but virtually the possibilities are limitless.” – @sbehmer #edtech”]

6. Youvisit

Telling your story doesn’t always have to be linear! Thank you to Brooke Whitlow, @BWhitlowEdTech, for sharing Youvisit.com! This site lets you easily create an interactive virtual tour. You can capture your image via any 360 camera app or simply with a Theta 360 Camera (I have the Theta S) and then build your tour with hotspots to add information or highlight key features. Check out the tour that was shared with us by James Allen of the Eminence EDhub. My head is spinning with ideas about how students could not only create a virtual tour of their school but what about helping tell the story of their community and embedding historical events or what their community is known for?

7. Wikitude

Using Geo Tools to create Location Based AR- This is what excited me the most! Think, make your very own Pokemon Go! Big thanks to Micah Shippee, @micahshippee, for sharing how to use Wikitude to upload your MyMap pins to create your placemarks to get started, but if you want to have more than just text you need to create your placemarks using getech.com and then export them into Wikitude and use the Wikitude app on your mobile device. If you want to learn how to create your own here is Micah’s presentation. Below is a screenshot of my first location based AR using My Maps and Wikitude on the Google Campus!

8. Metaverse AR

I love the idea of location based AR and having students move around and create it. Jeff Crews, @crewsertech, for showing a few of us Metaverse. This lets you build an series of interactive experiences and turn them into quests, so you can have a scene pop up on your phone when you are in the right location and answer a question or get a clue to move you onto the next location on the map! Building it on the web is slick with a series of drop downs and then you run the app and the icon will show up on your phone or tablet when you start the app! I’m already starting to work on building a quest for around our agency for new staff as part of our orientation Breakout EDU!

The view from my phone with a question that appears.

9. Theta 360 & Street View

Props to Dean Phillips, @DeanPhillipsMT, for giving me a crash course of his Doing More with 360 session and walking me through how to use the Theta S to add to Google Street View. You can use the camera app within Street View or just connect the Theta to capture a 360 image in one click. The nice thing is you can publish your images for others to see and even stitch them together. Donnie Piercey, @mrpiercey, put together a really nice resource to help folks create their own Street View.

10. Google Expeditions

There were a couple of updates to Expeditions while we were in Mountain View, one is the first-person play experience, so students can go through an Expedition independently and see facts pop up for them or listen to information too. The other update is the ability for the guide device to add annotations on the 360 image!

There is also a Moonshot Incubator Project that takes Google Expeditions in Hawaii to another level with lesson plans and images to learn all about our 50th state.

Check out the Google Carboard and Expeditions Ultimate Resource Guide.

It was exciting to hear that the mission of Google Earth is what we do in our classrooms: “Explore everywhere. Learn about anywhere. Create experiences. Share stories.” These tools not only provide our students with opportunities to explore the world, but they are also able to capture their own images and share their stories with others! A huge shout out to John Bailey, Emily Henderson, @earthoutreach, and the amazing team of guides who facilitated the three days of learning!

Stacy Behmer

Stacy is a former elementary and middle school teacher and also spent some time as a district technology director. She is currently the Coordinator of Digital Learning from Grant Wood AEA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she works with a team of technology consultants providing technology integration support and training to teachers and administrators. Stacy serves on the Iowa Technology Education Connection board which holds a couple of conferences and a series of workshops across the state promoting technology rich learning environments. She is a Google for Education Certified Innovator and Certified Trainer and enjoys learning from and with teachers and students new ways to incorporate technology in teaching and learning!  Feel free to connect with Stacy on Twitter or Google+.

© 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.

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The Top 10 Reasons to Go Google!

It’s no secret that I am a fan of Google and the G Suite for Education program. In fact, when teachers approach me and say that their administration decided to, “go another way,” I always say, “give me five minutes with them.” Going Google is a no-brainer! It’s free, accessible from anywhere on any device, and the features and tools just keep getting better and better. So I was inspired to create this top ten list.

Whether you have already gone Google and are a fan who understands this list, or you are a school thinking about making the switch, or even a teacher trying to convince your administrators, this list truly is about the advantages and transformation that G Suite for Education can offer teachers and students. I’ve also given some details and additional resources for each number on the top ten list below so keep reading!

You can download the “Top 10 Reasons to Go Google,” poster for free using the links below (no email required). Or, Get the Tshirt! I had to put this on the back of my Shake Up Learning t-shirt! Check out the Shake Up Learning Tshirt Store. Details are also below.

[Tweet “Top 10 Reasons to Go Google! | FREE Download #gttribe #SUL #edtech #googleedu”]

Free Poster Download

The poster looks like the image to the left (minus the border). You can download this free, printable, poster as a PDF. There are two sizes available, 18×24″ and 8.5×11″.

Download 18×24″ PDF

Download the 8.5×11” PDF

[Tweet “FREE #GoogleEdu Poster from @ShakeUpLearning! #gttribe #SUL #edtech”]

The Top 10 Reasons to Go Google

10. The Dog Can’t Eat Their Homework!

If you are using G Suite for Education, especially Google Classroom, Google Drive and Google Calendar, there are no more excuses! There is no reason for a student to say they didn’t know when it was due. That was something my middle schoolers loved to say. Or, they would claim it got lost in their locker, backpack, or it was a home. Guess what, when it’s digital and stored in the cloud, it doesn’t get lost! Here are over 250 tips and ideas for using Google Classroom.

9. The Copier Was Broken, But You Didn’t Notice!

I remember the days of getting to school extra early to be the first in line for the copier. Back then, going paperless wasn’t even a remote option, and I sometimes had as many as 175 students. Oh! And how disappointing it would be to arrive early to make copies, and the darn thing would break down. (Anyone else feeling me on this?) Well, those days are long gone when you go paperless with Google tools. I realize completely paperless may still be difficult, but it’s so sweet to no longer rely on a copier. Learn more about G Suite for Education here.

8. Your Class Traveled the Globe without Fundraising or Permission Slips

Staring at pictures in a textbook just doesn’t compare with seeing something in real life. But rarely do we get to travel the globe with our students. Now we can bring the world to them in 360-degree virtual reality. With Google Expeditions, we can take our students just about anywhere and engage them in ways we never thought possible. Learn more about Google Expeditions and Google Cardboard here.

7. You No Longer Have Red Ink Stains on Your Hands

It seems that just a few years ago, red pens were a staple in any teacher’s supply closet. We’d spend our time grading and end up with red ink all over our hands. It was the mark of a teacher. Or maybe you were a fan of the visa-v markers and marking up transparencies on the overhead projector. Either way, going Google can magically deliver teachers from the red ink. Not only can students turn in their work digitally using Google Classroom, but we can also use features like comments and suggested edits to mark up their work. Say goodbye to your red pens! Check out this post: How to Easily Assess Writing in Google Docs.

6. You Forgot Why You Needed a Thumb Drive

I am still surprised at how many teachers (and administrators) carry around a portable drive, thumb drive, jump drive, whatever you prefer to call it. Why? I haven’t used one in years! With the ability to store EVERYTHING in my Google Drive, and use the UNLIMITED storage space Google gives schools, we no longer need to worry about saving files to hard drives. Add in the ability to work offline using Google Drive Offline, and the need to store files on a hard drive becomes more of an exception than a rule. Check out this post: 5 Google Drive Tips that Everyone Should Know.

5. You No Longer Take Stacks of Papers Home to Grade

I remember the endless stacks of papers I used to take home to grade every week. I had a special “teacher bag,” just for grading. Those days are gone! With a digital and paperless classroom, I can assess student work throughout the entire process, not just the end. I can assess work from my phone, tablet, Chromebook, or laptop. And with Google Classroom, feedback and grading is a breeze. Check out this post: Digital Differentiation with Google Classroom.

4. Your Students Forgot What a Worksheet Looks Like

No more dreaded worksheets! With G Suite, your learning experiences can become more interactive and help you create a dynamic classroom. Going digital means that we can do more than have students answer the same old questions on a worksheet, even one with cute fonts and a chevron background–we can create more student learning activities so that our students forget what a worksheet actually looks like. Check out this post: Move from a Static Classroom to a Dynamic Classroom.

3. Anytime, Anywhere LEARNING!

In case you haven’t noticed, a big shift has happened in learning with G Suite for Education. Learning can happen anywhere, on just about any device, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Add in the ability to work in Google Drive offline, and we can even work in areas and homes without an Internet connection. This means that the learning doesn’t have to stop when the bell rings! Check out all of my Google Drive resources and posts.

2. Collaboration

Whenever I am asked about why I am so passionate about G Suite for Education, the number one reason I always give is collaboration. No other tool has even come close to offering the ability to share and collaborate seamlessly in real-time like G Suite. Educators know that collaboration is one of the most important twenty-first Century skills, and Google tools have given us an easy way to make collaboration inside and outside of the classroom a reality. Check out these ideas: Collaborative Magnetic Poetry.

1. It’s Time to Shake Up Learning!

By now you might suspect that I work for Google, but I promise you that I do not. Nor do they pay me anything to blog about their tools. My bottom line is never about Google, it’s about the LEARNING! Google tools have helped me transform my teaching, learning, and productivity, and I am a firm believer in sharing ways that shake up the traditional classroom. Google happens to offer us countless ways to Shake Up Learning and transform our classrooms. How will you Shake Up Learning?

Get the Top 10 Reasons to Go Google T-Shirt

I’ve also put this on the back of my Shake Up Learning t-shirts. Check out the Shake Up Learning Tshirt Store for all of the shirt and sweatshirt options to show your support for G Suite for Education and Shake Up Learning. The new t-shirt store is also now linked in the Shake Up Learning navigation at the top of this page. Oh! And I will be giving these t-shirts away all summer at conferences and presentations!

[Tweet “Get the Top 10 Reasons to Go Google t-shirt! #googleedu #edtech #gsuiteedu #gttribe”]

Visit the Shake Up Learning TShirt Store

© 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 Top 10 Reasons Every School Should Go Google! appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

credit: Google Expeditions Program

Google Expeditions Goes AR!

Whaattt??!! Google Expeditions is super cool and allows us to take our students on virtual treks across the globe. But Google Expeditions is about to get a whole lot better! Google Expeditions with Augmented Reality is coming in the Fall of 2017.

We don’t know a lot yet, but I got so excited I had to blog about it. Here’s what I have learned so far from the Google Expeditions AR web page and the Google I/O announcement.

“Expeditions AR uses Google’s Tango technology to map the physical classroom and placed 3D objects. Students can walk all around the objects, get in close to spot details, and step back to see the full picture.”

[Tweet “Augmented Reality with #GoogleExpeditions is Coming!! #ARVRinEDU #googleedu #gttribe #edtech”]

What Can Expeditions AR Do?

It looks very promising! Watch this video to see what is on the horizon.

Below is an animation of the Expeditions AR experience:

Google Expeditions AR

How to Get Access to Expeditions AR

The AR program will be piloted in schools in the Fall of 2017. Similar to the roll out of Expeditions, the AR version will roll out through Expeditions Pioneer Program. Teachers and schools that are interested can sign up here.

[Tweet “Sign up to Pioneer the #GoogleExpeditions AR program in your school! #VRARinEDU #googleedu #edtech”]

That’s all I know so far. I will be adding this information to The Ultimate Google Cardboard and Expeditions Resource Guide and blogging about this as we learn more.

Learn more about Google Expeditions and Google Cardboard

© 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.

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Lessons Learned from a Google Expeditions Pilot

Below are 8 Tips for a Google Expeditions Pilot from Heather Kilgore, an Instructional Technology Coordinator for Commerce ISD in Commerce, Texas, where she shares the lessons learned from their Google Expeditions pilot program. As we all begin to find ways to bring Google Expeditions, Google Cardboard, and other virtual reality experiences to our classrooms, I thought it was important to share this first-hand experience with you. The first time we try anything, we always learn a lot of lessons!

Download The Infographic

We also put these tips into an infographic that you can download here (PDF).

This is a guest post written by Heather Kilgore.

The Spark: The Google Expeditions Explorer Program

My name is Heather Kilgore, and I am the Instructional Technology Coordinator for Commerce ISD in Commerce, Texas. One of my passions is bringing the latest and greatest in educational technology to the teachers and students in my district. This is what led to our venture into the world of Google Expeditions. I was scrolling through my Twitter feed one day when I noticed a local school district Tweeting pictures of their students using the cardboard devices in the Explorer Program. Virtual reality had intrigued me, but I couldn’t grasp the classroom connection until I saw what Google was piloting. I knew that the students of Commerce ISD needed to experience this!

Our Commerce ISD Google Expeditions adventure began in the spring of 2016 when the Google Expeditions Explorer Program came to Commerce Elementary School. When I saw this student reaching out to touch the fish and the coral in her scene, I knew that this was something that all of our students needed to experience!

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Tip #1: Get Administrator Buy-In

It is always important to get buy-in and support from your administrators and teacher leaders. Our early adopters in the district were quick to reserve the devices, but we needed the support of the campus administrators. At the end of a principal’s meeting in December, our campus and central office administrators went on an Expedition of their own! Many emails to teachers went out that afternoon from principals encouraging the use of the devices and expressing their excitement.

Tip #2: Explore Alternative Funding Options

Since the kits weren’t available for purchase at that time, I took pictures of the Google Expeditions kit that Google brought for the Explorer program. The pieces were available for purchase on Amazon so I priced the kit out. With the pieces that I chose, I estimated that two 30-device kits would cost $6,600. This was beyond my budget capabilities, so grants were my only option. Every spring, the Commerce Schools Educational Enrichment Foundation accepts grant proposals for innovative classroom projects. I wrote the grant and was awarded $6,600 for 2 sets devices, travel case, iPads, and router to run the application.

Funding pilot programs can always be a struggle. Be sure to explore all of your funding options, grants from foundations, DonorsChoose.org, etc. There is money out there if you are willing to dig a little and do the work.

Tip #3: Research Devices Carefully

Do your research and select a device that meets the minimum specifications for the Google Expeditions application. If you want the full effect of 360 Expeditions, be sure you buy devices with the accelerometer and gyroscope capability. If you buy them individually and not from a company, be sure and test a single device before purchasing them in bulk.

The components of the kit were ordered in the new budget year and they started arriving in July 2016. Everything was unpacked, custom stickers were designed, and we were ready to set up the devices. This is when I found the problem. Did you know that there is more than one model of the ASUS ZenPhone 2? When I took the pictures of the Explorer kit, I didn’t realize that there was more than one model of this device. The phones that I had priced on Amazon were around $79 each, but they lacked the accelerometer and gyroscope are that are required to make the Expedition app function correctly. This was a huge hiccup in the rollout of these devices since my grant money was spent on 60 wrong devices. The correct devices are around $229 each and I was able to find a company that would sell me 30 of the devices for a discounted $6000.

My Technology Director was just as passionate about this project as I was so he graciously funded the new devices for this project. With the new devices in, we were finally up and running in November 2016.

Check out this crowd-sourced list of compatible devices shared by other educators.

Tip #4: Preview the Expedition and Plan Your Lesson

There is a lot of content in each Expedition, including a teacher guide and script. View all of the scenes in the Expedition prior to the lesson in which you will use them. Not all of the information is applicable to your standards or grade level. Take the content and make it your own. Decide which scenes to cover, where to pause, and how to connect it to your learning goals.

Tip #5: Test with a Small Group of Students

Before you do your first Expedition with a full class, test will a small group of students first. They can help you find what doesn’t work but on a smaller scale. You never know what little things you may want to tweak with the devices, and you want to get in a little practice leading your first expeditions.

Tip #6: Adjust the Device Settings

Our first Expedition was with a small group of seven fourth-grade students who weren’t able to attend the annual trip to the State Capitol in Austin. Instead, these students were my guinea pigs with the Expeditions kit. This was a great learning experience for me. By the time all of the devices were set up, the first phone went to sleep. They are all set to stay awake for 30 minutes now. Of course, the students were in awe of the new technology and learned a lot about the University of Texas at Austin.

There may be other things you learn during your test group that can help you tweak the device settings to better fit your needs and the needs of your students.

Tip #7: Model Best Practices and Processes

Model Use of the Kits for Teachers and Students

Because these devices are fairly delicate, I travel with the kit on the first trip to a new classroom. I show the teachers and students alike how to handle the devices and how to work the program. My hope is to create a culture of respect for these devices to ensure their longevity in our district!

[Tweet “”Create a Culture of Respect for these #GoogleExpeditions Devices” – @TechyKilgore #googleedu”]

Have Students Sit, Not Stand

Have the students sit, but twist in their chair to view the Expeditions. Standing is dangerous as the students can get dizzy and fall over.

Let the Kids, “Ooh,” and “Ahh!”–Noise is Okay!

Let the kids “ooh,” and “ahh,” over the experience! I explained that they needed to keep the viewer up to their eyes and listen to their teacher read the content from the scene, but that I wanted them to enjoy the Expedition. Complete silence wasn’t expected!

Tip #8: Share the Journey

You want the enthusiasm to spread like wildfire in your school, so take videos, pictures and share with your campus and beyond. Share your tips, successes, failures, and more to help other teachers learn from your mistakes.

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Check out our playlist of YouTube videos showing our journey with Google Expeditions:

• Our first teacher-led Expedition was a first-grade classroom. They visited the Solar System and covered their TEKS over the sun and the moon. While they were there, the students learned a little about the planets and the Milky Way galaxy.
• Our next Expedition was to the North Pole with a Kindergarten classroom in December. Mrs. Stephanie Pullen took her students to see the actual North Pole with all of the snow and ice. This gave them a real frame of reference to pull from when thinking about where Santa lives! After they visited the real location, they visited the Santa’s Workshop Expedition to visit Santa and his elves plus see the toy workshop in action.
• Another first-grade classroom also went to visit the Solar System. Dee Dee Harris does a wonderful job leading the students through the Expedition pulling prior knowledge that they learned in class and adding the content embedded in the application.

Connect with Heather Kilgore

The Ultimate Cardboard & Expeditions Resource Guide

© 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.

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Google Cardboard Resources

What is Google Cardboard?

• Google Cardboard for Android
• Google Cardboard for iOS

Get Cardboard

• Get Google Cardboard
• Build Your Own Google Cardboard
• How to Choose a Virtual Reality Device for Your Classroom

Create Google Cardboard Experiences

• Google Cardboard Camera app for Android
• Google Cardboard Camera app for iOS

Image	Description	Price
	I am Cardboard V2	$14.99
	Samsung Gear VR (latest edition)	$89.99
	Viewmaster Deluxe VR Viewer	$39.63

Google Cardboard Links and Resources

• Comprehensive Guide to Google Cardboard in Education (from Edtechnocation)
• Google Cardboard Resource page (from Edtechnocation)
• 12 Ways to Use Google Cardboard in Your Class (from Ditch That Textbook)
• 10 Simple Ways to Use Google Cardboard in the Classroom (from Edtech 4 Beginners)
• Google VR (from EdTech Sages)

Google Cardboard and Google Expeditions Presentations

• Heather Kilgore’s Google Expeditions in Commerce ISD from TCEA 2017
• Jaime Donally’s AR/VR presentation from TCEA 2017
• Ann Witherspoon’s WerVR presentation from TCEA 2017
• Julie Brem’s Google Expeditions presentation from TCEA 2017
• Bruce Ellis’ Great Lessons are in Sight with Google Cardboard presentation from TCEA 2017

Shake Up Learning Virtual Reality Playlist

Click here to go to my Virtual Reality YouTube Playlist

Social Media and Hashtags

• Google VR Cardboard Apps G+ Collection
• Google VR 360 Video G+ Collection
• Google VR on G+
• Google Cardboard for Education G+ Community
• #GoogleCardboard
• #GoogleExpeditions
• #Expeditions
• #VRinEdu
• #VRARinEdu
• @GoogleVR (official Twitter) 
• @GoogleforEdu

Web-based Apps

• YouTube 360 Videos
  • Jim Sill’s 360 YouTube Playlist
• 360 Tours from Google Cultural Institute
• Google Treks 3D
• Chrome VR Experiments

Find Other VR Apps, Resources, and Updates

• WEARVR
• Inside VR & AR
• The Best Educations VR Apps for Google Cardboard

[Tweet “Wow! Check out this #GoogleCardboard Guide for Teachers! #googleedu #gttribe #edtech”]

My Virtual Reality Pinterest Board

What’s missing? What are your favorite resources? Please share in the comments below.

Connect with Shake Up Learning

Email me directly: Kasey[at]ShakeUpLearning.com

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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 The Ultimate Google Cardboard and Expeditions Resource Guide appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

credit: Google for Edu

Google for Education Tuesday Tips!

Google for Education has introduced, “Tuesday Tips,” a weekly spotlight on Google for Education tools. I wish I could take credit for this one! No, this is not about new tips from Shake Up Learning. This post is to let you know about a fantastic new resource from Google for Education: #GoogleEdu Tuesday Tips! Google is sharing tips to help educations with all of your favorite Google Tools. These tips are released every Tuesday, and they come in the form of a published Google Slide Deck (see tips embedded below). So far, they have released tips for Google Expeditions, Google Forms, and Google Classroom.

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Tuesday Tips from Google for Education

Google Classroom Tips: https://goo.gl/WcJdpp

Google Expeditions Tips: https://goo.gl/sWtqWC

Google Forms Tips: https://goo.gl/f36Hjz

UPDATE! 2018 Tips

Google Edu has moved some of the tips shared in 2018 into this new slide deck: https://goo.gl/u32Ych

© 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 The Best Google Tips for Teachers FROM GOOGLE | #GoogleEdu Tuesday Tips appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Episode 2: Make Their Learning Go Viral with Karly Moura

In this episode, you will hear from an inspiring teacher, Karly Moura. Karly shares her Google “spark,” her favorite tricks, and not one but TWO LESSON PLANS!!! We also have some Google news and updates to share, and some great resources from our blogs.

You can play the first episode using the player below, or subscribe on iOS, Android, Stitcher or RSS.

Show Notes and additional resources and links are below.

Download Episode

[Tweet “Listen to Episode 2 of the Google Teacher Tribe Podcast with @KarlyMoura! #gttribe #googleedu #edtech”]

Subscribe to the Podcast

You can subscribe to the Podcast on iOS, Android, Stitcher or RSS.

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Episode 2 Show Notes:

Karly Moura is a Teacher On Special Assignment (Instructional Coach & Educational Technology Support Teacher) at Sun Terrace Elementary School, MDUSD.

Lesson Plans, Links, and Resources Mentioned:

• Exit Ticket
• Simple Machines Lesson Plan (Want a copy? Go to File>Make a Copy inside the G Doc.)
• @gafehelp
• Bonus Lesson: Lemonade War Novel Hyperdoc

Connect with Karly Moura

• Follow @KarlyMoura
• karlymoura.blogspot.com

Google News and Updates

• Google Transformation Center and 7 Elements of Transformation:
  https://edutransformationcenter.withgoogle.com/
• Google’s Keyword Blog: https://blog.google/

On the Blogs

• Matt – 2 BRAND NEW tools to help students display work, reflect
• Kasey – How to Pass the Google Certified Educator Exams (12 Tips)

Other Mentions and Shoutouts

• House of #EdTech Podcast from our Producer, Christopher Nesi

Submit Your Questions to the Podcast

We would love to answer your questions on air! Please feel free to submit your questions here and leave us a voicemail so we can play your question for our listeners.

https://googleteachertribe.com/feedback 

Leave Us a Review!

We would love to hear what you think about The Google Teacher Tribe Podcast. Please leave us a review in iTunes and help other teachers find this free resource! Here’s how to leave a review on an iPhone or iPad.

Don’t have an iDevice? Leave a comment below to let us know your thoughts!

Become a VIP Member of the Google Teacher Tribe

Are you a VIP??? Become a VIP and join our exclusive email list! This list will give you VIP access to early information about our podcast when the episodes will air, and special resources just for our Google Teacher Tribe!! Just fill out this form.

Follow Us on Social Media

• Follow @GTeacherTribe on Twitter
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• Use the #gttribe hashtag to share with The Tribe!

Sponsor The Google Teacher Tribe Podcast

The Google Teacher Tribe Podcast has some spots open for sponsors and advertisers. If you are interested, fill out this form, and we will contact you with more information.

Connect with Shake Up Learning

Email me directly: Kasey[at]ShakeUpLearning.com

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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 Teacher Tribe Podcast | Episode 2 Karly Moura appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

17 Things for Teachers to Try in 2017

17 Challenges for Teachers in 2017!

Get 17 Things for Teachers to Try in 2017 FREE Download!

9. Augmented Reality

10. Inbox by Gmail

11. Google Cast for Education (Chrome App)

15. Google Classroom Integrations

 16. Join the Shake Up Learning Facebook Group

17. Use the Shake Up Learning Official Hashtag: #SUL

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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.

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