Did you know there are little tools and fun games hidden inside Google Search!

We call these “Easter Eggs!”

It has NOTHING to do with Easter, just something hidden that you discover, much like an Easter Egg hunt.

Try typing these in Google Search:
“google spinner”
“roll a die”
“flip a coin”

Google Search Easter Eggs for Your Classroom

Related: How to Use Canva Templates in Google Slides

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 Google Search Easter Eggs for Your Classroom appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Let’s face it. As teachers, your time is precious. You only have so much time with your students, and you want to maximize that time for learning.

We don’t want to end up wasting valuable time searching for documents, websites, or setting up our lessons.

We need to use technology to help us save instructional time, not add to it.

I asked the Shake Up Learning Community to share their favorite teacher time-saving tips.

This group of over twenty-thousand educators never fails to disappoint!

I highly recommend you join us so you can connect and learn from this impressive group.

And it’s no surprise that these tips also happen to be very Googley!

Below you will find 10 excellent tips and tools to help you and your students save valuable classroom time.

This Episode Sponsored by Wacom

Wacom’s intuitive and easy-to-use digital pen tablets and pen displays help teachers, and students, enhance classroom interaction and collaboration in all of today’s learning environments – remote, hybrid, blended or in-person. Able to seamlessly connect with PC, Mac, or Chromebook computers and work with virtually any software, Wacom’s family of digital pen products move easily between the physical and digital classroom and offer a natural writing and drawing experience to art, math, science, and language teachers seeking to build classroom interactivity and dialogue.

Learn more at www.wacom.com

Listen to this article.

Time-Saving Tips and Tools for Teachers

Tip #1: Use Keyboard Shortcuts

If you have never taken the time to learn a few keyboard shortcuts, you really should. They can save you valuable time clicking around.

Google Chrome is the browser of choice, and there are many keyboard shortcuts to help you and your students navigate the web.

Note: Mac users, substitute Cmd for Ctrl in the keyboard shortcuts below.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Ctrl + T = opens a new tab
• Ctrl + Shift + T = reopens the last closed tab
• Ctrl + (any number 1-9) = jumps to that tab in your window.
• Ctrl + F = opens a search to find words on a page

You can find a complete list of Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts here for Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks.

I have also included a list of all of the keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs in the Google Docs Cheat Sheet that you can download here.

Tip #2: Use Classroom Screen

Classroom Screen is frequently shared by many teachers as a go-to favorite.

Classroom Screen is a web-based tool that gives teachers the ability to customize the webpage with their most-needed tools.

Quickly get a timer, text area, drawing tool, name picker, work symbols and more. Completely free.

Tip #3: Use the Chrome Bookmarks Bar

Chrome makes it easy to add bookmarks to the bookmarks bar, the bar directly below your search box which is called the Omnibox.

The bookmarks bar is a great place for your most frequently used websites and applications.

If you do not see your bookmarks bar, you can show it by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + B.

Not only can you easily add bookmarks to this bar by clicking and dragging from the icon at the front of the URL, but you can also create folders right there in the bar.

To add a folder, right-click on some blank space in your bookmarks bar and select “add folder.”  You will then be prompted to name your folder. Tip: Keep it short and sweet!

Real estate in the bookmarks bar is very valuable, and sometimes you may want to edit the default names of your bookmarks to shorten or take it down to just an icon.

To edit a bookmark in your bar, right-click on the bookmark and select “edit.” Here you can abbreviate your title, or just delete it if the icon is enough for you to identify your bookmark.

BONUS Tip: Click and drag your Google Classroom Classwork pages to the bookmarks bar for easy access!

The bar is not the only location for your bookmarks; you can also click on the star in the Omnibox to bookmark any page and save it elsewhere.

SHOW ONLY THE ICON IN THE BOOKMARKS BAR

Tip #4: Use Google Keep

Google Keep is quickly becoming a favorite teacher tool!

Google Keep is an online to-do list and note manager, and it saves to your Google Drive!

I frequently refer to Google Keep as the Instantpot of G Suite because it is so versatile.

Google Keep is also a part of G Suite for Education and is a great tool for students, especially secondary students.

Here you can keep track of not only your to-do lists and notes but also use the Save to Keep Chrome extension to save bookmarks to your keep notebook.

Teachers love to organize their bookmarks in Keep and use the labels to organize sites by class or subject area.

Learn more about Google Keep by getting this FREE Google Keep Cheat Sheet.

Keep is also a great place to save your notes from staff meetings and professional development.

AND, I love saving comments and images in Google Keep to use for student feedback. You can learn more about this method in my previous post, 4 Ways to Use Google Keep for Feedback and Assessment.

Tip #5: Use Chrome Profiles to Switch Between Google Accounts

Most teachers have more than one Google account, usually a personal and a school account.

You may have even more than two accounts as I do.

Logging in and out can be a huge time drain and really annoying.

The best way to toggle between accounts is by using a feature in Google Chrome called Chrome profiles.

Watch the video below to learn how to clean up the old, messy way and set up profiles for quick success!

Be sure you subscribe to Shake Up Learning on YouTube so you can access all of the latest tutorials and playlists!

Tip #6: Learn How to Search Your Google Drive

My Google Drive is not always the most organized, but that’s okay.

I can find ANYTHING using the search inside of Google Drive.

Even if I’m not sure what the file was named, who owns it, or the folder where I tucked it away, I can find it with the power of Google Drive.

Folders are great, but when you need to save valuable teacher time, just use the search!

Be sure you also click on that drop-down arrow in the search box to learn all the advanced searching fields.

I have an entire post on this to teach you all my tricks: 8 Fantastic Ways to Find Anything in Google Drive.

Tip #7: Use the Omnibox to Search Your Drive and Gmail!

Did you know that you can use the Chrome search box (aka the Omnibox) to search your Google Drive and Gmail?

Yes, you can!

This means you do not have to separately open Google Drive in order to search and open your files.

To do this, you will need to set up custom search engines in Chrome, and I promise it is super easy!

You can do this for all your favorite sites. You can even set up a custom search for ShakeUpLearning.com.

To create a custom search engine, follow the step-by-step directions in this blog post.

Tip #8: Use Chrome Extensions to Manage Your Tabs

I am a confessed tab hoarder, meaning I always have a ton of tabs open in Google Chrome.

Running too many windows and tabs can slow down your computer.

Luckily, I have strategies to help me save tabs for later so I don’t use up all the memory in my computer.

My favorite, can’t live without Chrome extension is OneTab.

OneTab allows me to quickly close all of my open tabs and saves them in a new window for me.

It also gives me an easy way to re-open all the tabs at once, open individually, or even share all the links as a webpage or QR code.

Perfect for saving a group of links for students!

So when I am in a hurry and need to close my computer, I just click on the OneTab extension to save all my tabs.

Install OneTab.

Another extension that I like for saving and organizing my tabs is Toby for Chrome.

Toby allows you to create collections of tabs and organize with tags and more.

I like to use Toby to organize links for lesson plans and workshops that I deliver.

It’s easy to use and drag-and-drop to organize your collections.

To see all of my favorite Chrome Apps and Extensions, explore the Chrome App and Extension Database and use the filter to find my faves.

Tip #9: Create a Google Classroom Class Template

Google Classroom has become a very robust application for teachers and students.

Google updates the platform often based on feedback from teachers.

One update that you may not have noticed is the ability to copy an entire class.

This can save you tons of time when you are setting up new classes at the beginning of the year or semester.

By creating a class template inside Google Classroom, you can easily create the ideal set up for your class, including topics and assignments, and copy these into a new class each year, each semester, and release assignments as you need.

Follow the step-by-step directions here to set-up your Class Template: How to Create a Class Template in Google Classroom.

For more Google Classroom tips and resources, visit this post: 350+ Google Classroom Tips, Tutorials, and Resources.

Tip #10: Use Voice Typing in Google Docs

Did you know that you and your students can voice type inside Google Docs?

This is a really great speech-to-text feature that can save you and your students valuable time!

To enable voice typing, go to Tools>Voice Typing and give the program permission to access your microphone.

You can dictate right into the document!

You can also dictate formatting and punctuation.

To learn more about all of the uses for voice typing, check out 7 Reasons You Need to Try Voice Typing in Google Docs.

Oh, and it works on the mobile version of Docs as well!

Part 2 Coming November 23, 2021!

Teachers are always short on time, and I hope you have found some new tips in this article!

What other time-saving tips would you add? Please leave a comment below!

© 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 Time-Saving Tips and Tools for Teachers (Part 1) appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this episode, I share The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit, a free download to help teachers create dynamic, blended learning experiences for students with Google tools.

I will walk you through each step, share proven strategies, and recommend the right Google tool for the job.

Get access to this FREE PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

(Scroll down and fill out the form on this page.)

Listen to this article.

Shoutout

Thank you to Becky Young for this tweet:

Almost done catching up #TCEA before the recordings disappear tomorrow! Watching @ShakeUpLearning #BlendedLearnimgWithGoogle session.

My son sees my screen and says

“Kasey Bell! Yay!”

So, @ShakeUpLearning you’re a big hit with the 3rd graders

— TechyBeckyYoung (@TechyBeckyYoung) March 4, 2021

Quick Tip of the Week (Autofit Text in Slides)

Google Slides has a new feature that will now autofit your text in a text box, resizing the font size to fit.

Watch this quick video to learn how!

Quick Tip Video Library

Subscribe to Shake Up Learning on YouTube

   OR, watch it on TikTok!

Blended Learning with Google Toolkit for Teachers

Ready to take digital learning to the next level?

The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit © will help you choose the best Google tools to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

Today, I am walking you through each step, sharing proven strategies to increase learning and engagement.

I am also going to tell you which Google tools are the best tool for the job!

Consider this your cheat sheet to the strategies and ideas shared in my new book, Blended Learning with Google: Your Guide to Dynamic Teaching and Learning.

I believe in the principles and ideas in this book so much, I’m sharing this toolkit for FREE!

Get access to this FREE 15-page PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

Get Your FREE Toolkit by filling out the form below.

What is Dynamic Blended Learning?

“Dynamic blended learning is characterized by constant change and activity, growing and evolving over time. This learning can take place anywhere, anytime, and it is personalized and differentiated. It is learner-centered, giving students choice and embedding communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills where they align with the learning goals. Dynamic blended learning also extends beyond the traditional bounds of the school day, schedule, and physical walls, and beyond the physical notion of hard and fast due dates. Digital tools are used for more than substitution, to do and create previously unconceived things. Dynamic learn- ing is boundless, with limitless opportunities.” (page. 4 of Blended Learning with Google.)

Think of Dynamic Learning as Blended Learning on steroids! Dynamic Learning is something I introduced in my first book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic. Blended Learning with Google is a follow-up to the first book with a Google twist.

Below is a whiteboard explainer video to help you better understand the definition:

What is Static Learning?

“Static learning is learning that lacks movement, action, or change. With this unengaging model of education, learning happens in short bursts and is often demonstrated through one-and-done activities, short-term assignments, or worksheets (even digital worksheets), which are confined within the traditional bounds of the school system, school day, and school walls.” (page. 5 of Blended Learning with Google.)

What does this have to do with Google?

Dynamic Learning is NOT about Google! It is about learning! We don’t want to get distracted by shiny, techy tools. The purpose of using technology in any classroom is to support Dynamic Blended Learning. Digital tools like Google for Education present us with a unique opportunity to do things differently, to engage students in new ways, and to inspire them to explore and create.

Related: Blended Learning with Google (3-Part Podcast Series)

Does this definition only apply to Google? NO!

You will notice the word Google is not mentioned in the definitions or framework. In fact, the word technology doesn’t even appear. That’s because our focus is always on the end goal–LEARNING!

You can apply this framework using any digital tools that help you meet your learning goals, including Microsoft tools.

What is the Dynamic Learning Framework?

Below is the Dynamic Learning Framework. The Dynamic Learning Model is at the center of the framework, which focuses on five Dynamic Learning Characteristics (5 B’s). These characteristics make it possible to go beyond static, one-and-done activities.

Related: Blended Learning with Google for School Leaders (FREE Webinar)

Beyond the Bell

Learning doesn’t have to end when the bell rings. With digital tools and devices that are available 24/7, students can continue to learn, collaborate, grow, and dig deeper into their learning on their own terms. This doesn’t mean homework. This is a mindset for students that means learning can take place anytime, anywhere, and students can own it.

Related: How to Create Dynamic Learning Experiences for Students (FREE Webinar)

Beyond the Grade Level & Subject Area

Let’s take kids off the conveyor belt of education and give them opportunities to explore the world and move beyond the subject areas we teach. Learning doesn’t have to fit inside a box. Help students discover their interests and passions by going beyond the curriculum.

Related: The Teacher’s Guide to Digital Choice Boards

Beyond the Walls

Bring the world to your students, and bring your students to the world. Every student in every grade level should have opportunities to connect and learn globally, as well as publish their work for a global and intentional audience.

Related: Go Global: Online Publishing for All Students

Beyond the Tool(s)

Think beyond using digital tools to do traditional things like typing a paper. Use digital tools to do NEW things! Just going paperless or digital isn’t enough; use tools to go further, go deeper and extend the learning, and consider using tools in alternative ways—beyond their original purpose.

Related: Collaborative Notes with Google Docs

Beyond the Due Date

Consider allowing students to continue the work that interests them beyond the assessment of the final assignment or task. Thinking, learning, and exploring shouldn’t be stifled simply because it was time to turn it in. Let the learning live, grow, and evolve over time.

Related: How to Plan a Dynamic Learning Experience (FREE Template)

Dynamic Blended Learning Strategies

Ready to dig into the strategies that will help you accomplish everything above? Well, we can’t fit it all in the post! Listen to the podcast episode, player embedded above, and download the toolkit!

The toolkit includes this AMAZING table that aligns each of the characteristics above with classroom strategies and the best Google tools to use!

In the toolkit, you will find ideas for storytelling, graphic organizers, discussion, image creation, student portfolios, blogging, research, choice boards, project based learning, collaborative notes, and much more!

What do you think? Will you try Dynamic Blended Learning?

Join the FREE Blended Learning with Google Book Study! (3 Hours of Credit)

YOU are invited to join the Blended Learning with Google Book Study!

Blended Learning with Google was designed for book studies! I couldn’t just write a paper book. I had to make it an interactive experience and give you extra resources to go deeper and make reading the book a dynamic learning experience.

And yes, you can get 3 hours of professional learning credit for completing the book study.

Access the dates, reading schedule, calendar, and everything you need to know 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 Blended Learning with Google Toolkit for Teachers – SULS0101 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

I love Google tools, but it’s NOT about Google! It’s about how we can use these tools to create dynamic learning experiences for our students.

In this 4-part podcast series on Dynamic Learning with Google, Kasey shares all her favorite lesson ideas!

In part three, Kasey explains how we can go BEYOND our curriculum and help students discover their passions, and how we can use Google tools to support this strategy!

BONUS: Get the Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit to help you find the best tool to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

It’s NOT really about Google; it’s about the opportunity we have to use these tools to support Dynamic Learning experiences with our students.

Did you miss part 1 and 2 of this series?

Listen to part 1 (e44) and part 2 (e45) so you don’t miss a thing! The entire series is also available here.

Listen to this article:

...

Shoutout

Shoutout to all of the amazing educators that I met last week at FETC!

Click here to learn how you can bring Kasey to your next event.

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

Quick Tip of the Week

One-Tab Chrome Extension: Whenever you find yourself with too many tabs (like I do), click the OneTab icon to close all of your open tabs and save in a list. When you need to access the tabs again, you can either restore them individually or all at once.

Dynamic Learning with Google (Part 3)

In part three, we are moving on to our next characteristic in the Dynamic Learning Framework, Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area. Dynamic Learning is at the heart of my book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic.

We are going to talk about three classroom strategies to help you go Beyond the Tool, student choice, choice boards, and Project Based Learning. Then we will look at which Google tools can help support these strategies in the classroom.

Get the FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit

(Formerly called the Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit)

This FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit © will help you choose the best Google tools to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit will help teachers learn more about blended learning strategies with recommended Google tools for each strategy!

Get access to this FREE PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area

Let’s take kids off the conveyor belt of education and give them opportunities to learn about the things that interest them beyond the subject areas we teach and even beyond what it says they should learn in each grade level. Learning doesn’t have to fit inside a box.

I know this can sound impossible but stay with me here. Students need opportunities to explore their own passions and interests that go beyond what exists inside a prescribed curriculum. This doesn’t mean you have to teach more concepts; this means that we find ways to give students opportunities to make decisions and choose topics and projects that interest them.

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area with Student Choice

I’ll let you in on a secret! Student choice is the key to unlocking purpose and passion.

Student choice is the number one way we can help students find and explore their own interests. Whether that means giving them a choice of reading, choice of project or research topic, or a choice in how they demonstrate their learning–all paths will help build decision-makers and problem solvers!

To be clear, this doesn’t mean free reign. Most students cannot handle a fully open choice, but if we begin by giving them two or three options, we can baby step it to bigger decisions and choices.

It truly saddens me to see students who graduate high school without one clue about their own genuine interests. And I see this happen year after year.

Ways to Give Student’s Choice:

• Choice of reading
• Choice of project topic
• Choice of research topic
• Choice of device
• Choice of tool(s)

If you are not already giving students choice in your classroom, begin to look for those opportunities in your lessons.

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area with Choice Boards

Choice boards have been a long-time favorite of mine. They completely transformed my classroom and helped me to stop being such a control freak.

You can call these learning menus or choice boards, these words are interchangeable, offer a simple set of activities from which students can choose. These can be a simple list, or they can take more creative forms like a tic-tac-toe or the style of a restaurant menu.

One of the most popular posts on this blog is all about using G Suite to create interactive choice boards. In this post, you will find free templates and ideas for your classroom.

I have also created a special choice board for integrating the 4 C’s. Grab a copy here.

For a more in-depth look at choice boards, check out The Teacher’s Guide to Choice Boards.

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area with PBL

Project Based Learning, or PBL, opens up a world of possibilities for our students. Whether you are doing authentic PBL or jumping into something like Genius Hour, Google tools can help your students reach their goals.

What exactly is PBL?

“Students work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to a semester – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by creating a public product or presentation for a real audience.

As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. Project Based Learning unleashes a contagious, creative energy among students and teachers.” – PBL Works

PBL is all about moving beyond the inauthentic, one-and-done daily lessons and activities that never connect.

Google tools can help support PBL throughout the entire process:

• Planning and research with Google Search
• Recording information and writing with Google Docs
• Collecting data with Google Forms
• Analyzing data with Google Sheets
• Managing time with Google Keep and Google Calendar
• Documenting experiments and processes with Google Photos and Video
• Presenting final projects with Google Slides or Google Sites

Ready for Part 4?

CLICK here to listen/read Part 4 in this series.

Podcast Question of the Week

How do you give students opportunities to explore their own interests in your classroom?

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

The Shake Up Learning Book Study

Don’t miss our next book study! It’s completely FREE, and it’s all available online!

Get the details here.

You can also enter to win an autographed copy of Shake Up Learning!

© 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 It’s NOT About Google (Part 3: BEYOND the Grade and Subject) – SULS046 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

It’s NOT about Google, y’all! It’s about the LEARNING!

Ready to move the learning in your classroom from static, one-and-done activities, to more dynamic learning—Dynamic Learning with G Suite? This 4-part podcast series will show you how you can use G Suite tools to support dynamic learning experiences for your students!

Let’s take a deep-dive into meaningful technology integration supported by our favorite Google tools.

In part two, Kasey talks about the power of going BEYOND the tool and how we can use Google tools to do NEW things!

BONUS: Get the Blended Learning with Google Toolkit to help you find the best tool to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

It’s really NOT about Google, it’s about the opportunity we have to use these tools to support Dynamic Learning experiences with our students.

Did you miss part 1? Listen to episode 44 here to make sure you don’t miss anything!

Listen to this article:

...

Shoutout

Thank you to Chelsea Hurst for leaving us a question. Do you have a question or idea to share on the podcast? Leave me a message here.

Quick Tip of the Week

To open a link in a new tab or window:

• hold the CONTROL key down when you click on a link to open that link in a new tab.
• hold CONTROL + SHIFT when you click on a link to open that link in a new window.
• (On a mac, use COMMAND instead of CONTROL)

All tips will be archived on this page.

Dynamic Learning with Google (Part 2)

In part two, we are moving on to our next characteristic in the Dynamic Learning Framework, Beyond the Tool(s).

We are going to talk about three classroom strategies to help you go Beyond the Tool, storytelling, research, and data. Then we will look at which Google tools can help support these strategies in the classroom.

Get the FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit

(Formerly called the Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit)

This FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit © will help you choose the best Google tools to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit will help teachers learn more about blended learning strategies with recommended Google tools for each strategy!

Get access to this FREE PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

Beyond the Tool(s)

Think beyond using digital tools to do traditional things, like typing a paper.

Use digital tools to do NEW things! Just going paperless or digital isn’t enough, use tools to go further, deeper and extend the learning, and consider using tools in alternative ways–beyond their original purpose.  Reach beyond what you think a digital tool can do. 

I prefer to think of technology integration like a continuum where we progress from one end to the other. Most teachers begin by using technology at the substitution level, and that’s OKAY!

But we also want to find opportunities to make the most out of the opportunities that technology gives us and find ways to use digital tools to do NEW THINGS!

For instance, Google Slides is one of the most versatile tools in G Suite. In fact, I like to call it the “Swiss Army Knife of G Suite” because it offers so many ways for students to create and do new things!

But when we are talking about using digital tools in the classroom, remember there are two sides to this coin. One, there is the consumption side of digital tools–using tools to find information. Two is the creation side of digital tools–giving students opportunities to create original products.

In order to be purposeful in this process, I don’t want to break this down by tool and risk allowing the tools to drive the learning. We will approach it by activity.

Keep in mind that even though we are discussing each dynamic learning characteristic separately (the “Beyonds”), they do not have to exist in a silo. You can include as many characteristics as you like as long as it helps your students reach their learning goals.

Beyond the Tool with Storytelling

We all have stories to tell in the classroom. Whether it’s an original story, perhaps a narrative or expository piece of writing, or telling stories with images and video. We can retell events in our words; we can change perspectives, we can invent and create. Most of all, we need to see our students as storytellers!

Stories can be told at just about any grade level or subject area. Kindergartners can create picture books or alphabet books. P.E. students can explain health concepts, exercises, or rules of a sport. History students can retell a historical event. Language arts students can retell a story or novel from a different perspective. Science students can explain the steps in their experiment. Seriously, every classroom has the opportunity to tell stories.

Using Google Docs, students can not only use docs to compose their writing, but they can make the experience more dynamic by using the explore tool to research and synthesize information online and from their Google Drive. (See all 5 Ways to Use the Explore Tool.)

Students may also be using features native to Google Docs that help them through the writing process–something you won’t find on your piece of paper–like spelling and grammar check, feedback from the teacher and peers with comments and suggested edits, or saving different versions in version history. Or you can take things a step further and incorporate add-ons like Kaizena to leave voice comments.

Anything that helps students better engage, create, and collaborate is going BEYOND, and therefore, part of a dynamic learning experience.

Stories can also be told more visually using tools like Google Slides. Students can create eBooks, individually or collaboratively. Add some interactive links to create a Choose Your Own Adventure story!

With the new addition of audio in Google Slides, students can add background music to set the tone for their stories, or narrate.

I have a ton of Google Slides resources and podcast episodes that cover this very topic!

• How to Create Drag and Drop Activities with Google Slides
• 25 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do
• The Google Slides Master Class
• Google Slides Can Do What?!?!- GTT018
• 12 Google Slides Resources That Will Make Your Day
• 25 Ways to Use Audio in Google Slides Projects

Comic strips are one of my favorite integration strategies, and these are super easy in Google Slides or Drawings. In fact, there’s a fantastic lesson from my book by Sylvia Duckworth, where she shares step-by-step how to do this.

Kick things up a notch with Google Photos where you can save photos and videos taken by students, even create quick videos to tell your story.

Beyond the Tool with Research

I think back to the days when we had to do all of our research in the library with index cards and the good old’ Dewey Decimal System. The reality of research in the twenty-first century looks much different with information at our fingertips; it may seem easier, but completely overwhelming!

Google Search is the largest search engine in the world! But are you teaching your students how to use it properly, how to filter out the junk, how to use advanced searches to find the most relevant information? Google Search Education is a great place to find free resources and to help your students become better searchers.

Let’s not forget the lesser-known search engines from Google, like Google Scholar. Google Scholar is a searchable database of scholarly literature, including a variety of formats like books, journals, etc. Secondary students can use Google Scholar to find credible resources for their research projects.

Google Books offers students a place to access and read books and magazines, cite sources, translate sources, and even set up alerts for specific topics. Google Books is a great companion tool for secondary student research.

Of course, Google Docs is an obvious choice for writing a research paper. Still, we can make things more dynamic by taking advantage of the collaboration features, using the EasyBib add-on to create a bibliography, or using voice typing to dictate into the document. 

Beyond the Tool with Data

We live in a world that is now inundated with data! Data is quickly becoming an important component of every job and business. Giving students the tools to gather and analyze data is a must!

Google Forms and Sheets are two apps that I like to think of as a couple! They work hand-in-hand together. 

Use Google Forms to collect data, then use Google Sheets to analyze your results. 

Yes, even primary teachers can give students experience with data! Data doesn’t have to be complicated. We can break it down into important, bite-size pieces. 

Consider giving the little ones a teacher-assisted survey with images where they select their favorite color or food. Then use Google Sheets to create a simple chart and talk to students about what it means. These conversations will set them up for success as they grow.

Secondary students should be creating their own forms and analyzing their own data. Google Forms isn’t just a teacher tool! We need students to learn this tool and how it can help them get information.

How is this dynamic? Remember, dynamic learning is all about going BEYOND what was previously possible. One of the reasons that data has become so important is because it is so much easier to gather with technology. Data that used to take us years to compile and process is now available in seconds.

Don’t forget the importance of analyzing data. Google Sheets it the number one feared Google tool. I promise it’s not scary. Just learning some basics like sorting, filtering, and using formulas to tally or average your numbers is a great start.

Ready for Part 3? CLICK HERE

Podcast Question of the Week

How can you go BEYOND the tool and give your students opportunities to do new things with technology?

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

© 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 It’s NOT About Google (Part 2: BEYOND the Tools) – SULS045 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Here we go again! I’m not sure how many parts will be in this series because there are just so MANY hidden treasures with Google! (Actually, I think I could blog for a couple years with this topic!) We are not even scratching the surface my friends! So here is Part 3…Are you ready to learn about some new ways to search with Google?

Reverse Image Search

Google Alerts

What Do You Love? (wdyl)

Let Me Google That For You (lmgtfy)

© 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 Golden Treasures of Google – Part 3 (SEARCH) appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

An Updated Infographic Guide to Google Apps for the iPad (31 Apps)!!!

© 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 Guide to Google Apps for the iPad [infographic] – Updated! appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

An Infographic Guide to Google Apps for the iPad

Thirsty for more?
Check out my online presentation, “Ooey, Gooey, Google! Google Apps for the iPad,” for the CUE Online Summit featuring Google for Education on Sept. 6, 2014 at 1:00 PM CST. (Must be registered to participate!)

• Register here for the GIE Online Summit (only $40)

© 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 An Infographic Guide to Google Apps for the iPad appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Gapps Smashing!

Have you seen the great dodecahedron dice that have been popping up with apps on each side? I love it! I’m not sure who to credit with such an original idea, but there are endless possibilities! So I decided to put together some Google Apps dice that can be used in professional learning. These can be used alone to help review concepts, inspire integration ideas, and even quiz a partner to help prepare for the Google Educator exams. You can also use two or more to create an app smashing activity. For instance, how can you combine Google Sites and Google Search in a classroom activity?

Click here to download: Beginner Google Apps Smashing Dice

Click Here to Download: Advanced Google Apps Smashing Dice

© 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 Apps Smashing With Gapps Dice appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

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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 A Thinglink and Glogster Mashup: Google, Creativity, and Digital Citizenship Resources appeared first on Shake Up Learning.