Edmonds Digital Learning

This is a ThingLink about chihuahuas that I created last night after watching the videos of top 15 websites of 2014. It was easy to learn and makes a great instructional presentation tool. It has the option of being touch so it can be used with a smart board or students can take turn tapping on the screen of the yoga. Just place your curser or finger over the picture to see the links I added about chihuahuas. One tip--check your sharing settings when you publish and make sure your picture is unpublished if it has information you don't want the whole world to see.

Glasbergen, Randy. "Randy Glasbergen – Today's Cartoon."  Randy Glasbergen Todays Cartoon . (Cartoon ID:  toon-1377) Web. 17 Oct. 2014. < http://www.glasbergen.com/office-cartoons-2/ >. A caffeine injection is not the answer, instead use your stylus! Who has actually used their laptop as a tablet or used their stylus for a writing tool since first receiving the device?  For some, receiving a new computer is exciting, but for others it induces anxiety because you just figured out the old device. One of the unique features of the Lenovo Yoga is the fact that it has multiple uses.  This is good news for those individuals who happen to write quickly, type slowly, or think better with handwritten notes, but still want to make sure that the information is legible.    In a few quick steps you can convert your handwritten notes into typed text without needing to type the information yourself.  YIPPEE!!! Taking Notes Using the Stylus ...

As a teacher there is never enough time to simply explore the full features of many different programs so we tend to miss out on the cool add-ons that would enhance instruction, learning, or assessment. When you open a Google Docs or Google Sheet there is a tab at the top titled Add-Ons.  This is likely one of those options that you have avoided because you have no idea what it actually means.  Who really has the time to explore and figure this out?  I am providing you with an overview of what can be found in the Add-Ons section by highlighting some of the features teachers may find useful.  In addition to these, check out a previous blog post about highlighting in Google Docs which is also a beneficial Add-On. Give assessments and collect data using Google Forms and Sheets Create a quiz or exit task in Google Forms, view the data in Google Sheets, and allow Flubaroo to score and calculate your results.  This is a great way to get quick feedback on ...

I've always had an aversion to highlighting books. The idea of taking a neon yellow felt pen and marking up a pristine page in a book, for any reason, seems sacrilege. I don't feel the same about highlighting digital text, probably because it's so easy to erase or wipe the page clean. And, as a teacher, I see the benefit of showing students how to highlight text (with discretion, of course) to identify text-based evidence, the main idea, or words and phrases that create associations. In Google Docs and Slides, the highlighting tool is not front and center but easily accessible (if one knows where to look!). In Docs or Slides, move the cursor over the section you want to highlight, go to Text Color: Click the Highlight side and choose the color you want to use: Presto chango, the text is highlighted! Unfortunately, this process needs to be repeated for each selection you want to highlight which brings me to Option 2: Getting a highlighting "Add-on...

 We are so lucky! Embedded in GAfE is a wonderful, often overlooked, training tool called Synergyse provided for you by the Edmonds School District. It can be found by going to your Google Drive and looking at the top of the page for the Synergyse icon next to Training. From the drop down arrow, you have easy access to an interactive training system for Google Apps and Drive. The training available is a combo of audio and visual lessons that are short, easy to follow, and take place right inside the app you're working in. While you're in an app, the lessons allow you to learn and take actions at the same time so you don't have to toggle back and forth between screens. Two of the many great things about this feature is that you can watch as few or as many lessons as you want and you can search for specific topics. The peeps at Synergyse provide regular updates allowing you to learn all about the cool new GAfE updates easily. So give it a try next time you're w...

Today's post is brought you by Kim Mathey, tech gal extraordinaire! Did you know that our grade 2-6 keyboarding program, All the Right Type , is available online, with both school and home access? The target keyboarding levels are: Use correct finger position to type: 3rd – 9 wpm                    3rd graders will be learning correct finger position. 4 th   – 10-12 wpm             4 th  graders and up will use home row and touch type. At this speed they can type faster than they can compose with paper/pencil. 5th - 13-15 wpm             5th grade and up should touch type 6th  - 16-20 wpm 7th - 25+ wpm As you start the year, please provide time for your students to practice keyboarding in class and encourage families to help students pract...