Go Digital with Notes using Google Keep

Sticky Note Overload???? Digitize your notes with Google Keep.

This is an excellent tool to use for creating digital sticky notes. It is a clean, user-friendly interface. It only takes one click to write a note, upload a picture or create a to-do list through the web interface or through the mobile app. It’s as simple as tapping the note text field, and then start typing.

Google Keep allows you to color-code your notes and lists so you can easily categorize and find them. 

You can even include images in your notes.

You can create to-do lists, notes for lesson plans, take minutes from meetings, and basically anything you want to remember. Why use Google Keep? The main reason for putting your notes in the cloud is so that you have access to them anytime, anywhere you have an internet connection. That means you can assess and edit your notes from your phone, your tablet, Chromebook or your laptop...across all devices! Since it is a Google product, anyone with a Gmail or a Google Apps account has access, so there is not a separate login like with other tools.

• You can easily set reminders to receive notifications to complete a task. Simply click on the reminder button and select a reminder by date and time or reminder by location.
• It now supports real-time collaborative editing, so you can share your notes with others for viewing and editing. Simply click on the Share icon, type the email address of the person with whom you wish to share, and it appears is their Google Keep. Think of the power this feature has with students and the many ways they can benefit from this easy-to-use tool.
• You can also copy directly to a Google doc. 

Not surprising is that like other Google tools, Google Keep notes are also searchable.

Watch this video to see how easy Google Keep can keep you organized!

Get started by installing the Google Keep app from the Chrome store.

You can also install the Google Tabs for Google Keep extension from the Chrome store to further categorize your notes. This handy extension allows you quickly add a note to a predetermined color-coded category. You can click on a category title and see all notes associated with that category with just one click. No more wasting times looking through all your notes!

For more information on using Google Keep, check out this video:

Utilizing Technology for Formative Assessment and Differentiation in the Classroom

Alyssa Davidson teaches 9th grade Earth Science at Ralston Valley High School. Instead of relying on a predetermined lesson plan, Davidson uses formative assessment to guide student learning and direct instruction. I recently observed Davidson to see how she integrated technology and formative assessment into her instruction. Upon entering the classroom on Monday morning students were immediately engaged in the learning content. Davidson invited students to take a short four question Socrative quiz to help determine where they were in their learning. Davidson clearly explained to the students that no points were attached to the formative assessment. This made students feel at ease and comfortable to answer the questions to their best ability. The class then discussed the answers to the quiz questions. To stay mobile in the classroom, Davidson controlled what appeared on the class SMARTboard through her iPad. Airserver is an easy, inexpensive tool to enable mobility in the classroom. By using the AirPlay feature on your iPad and Airserver software onto the device that is attached to your projector (laptop or desktop computer with a wireless card installed) you have the ability to mirror content from your iPad onto your projector.

Students then used the data feedback from the quiz to determine the next steps in their learning. Davidson asked students who missed one or more questions or just wanted more instruction on the prior content to join her in one side of the room. Students who answered all of the questions correctly were allowed to move on and begin exploring a new topic. Davidson provided these students with reading materials and Ed Puzzle videos to hold their engagement. Ed Puzzle is a web tool that allows you take any video from YouTube, vimeo, Khan Academy, etc. and adjust it to meet your specific needs. Questions and comments can be added throughout the video.

As students moved on to their individualized content, Davidson started a Pear Deck Activity. Pear Deck is an interactive presentation tool used to actively engage students in social learning. Davidson has been using Pear Deck for a little over a year. She finds it very easy to use because the interface is intuitive and the customization options are limited. This forces students to focus on the content and questions rather than the appearance of the deck. While there is a free version available, Davidson prefers the paid version for her Earth Science classes. The drag-able and drawing questions are critical for diagram interpretation and she has the ability to collect more rigorous data about student understanding than the traditional multiple choice platform. Davidson recently surveyed her students and found that “Pear Deck was the activity in class that best supports student learning and is the most enjoyable. It has also made students more comfortable making mistakes. Since there is an ask again option, they know that if their response is incorrect or needs some editing, they will be able to revise it”.

Davidson’s classroom reflects a learning environment where students are curious, engaged and in control of their own learning. By utilizing tech tools, Davidson is able to provide a unique learning experience.
If you would like to try Pear Deck here are some of Davidson's tips for success:

• Use the free trial wisely, make the most of your 30 days!
• Read the Pear Deck blog, they share some fantastic content
• Show your students how to access the Takeaways at the end of your first presentation. 
• Email Pear Deck if you have questions, it’s a small team and they respond quickly. 

For more information on how to get started using Pear Deck in your classroom, check out the following video.

Need more help? Contact the Ed Tech Team

Teacher Spotlight: Bob Santone, Math Teacher

Bob Santone, Math teacher at Jefferson Jr/Sr High School, uses his interest in educational technology to help his students apply math in real life. He integrates technology into lessons and projects so that students see, hear and do the math.

In class he uses the whiteboard to display his instruction, and a TV with AirPlay to have students display their work without interrupting the flow of the lesson on the board. Other students use both these visual aids to stay on track.

On their iPads, students click on the web links in the Schoology assignment, upload the PDF of the lesson into Notability, open the Desmos graphing calculator - switching from one app to another with a quick double-click of the Home button to apply their learning.

The brief video gives a glimpse of his class in action, showing students app-smashing and Bob's use of Nearpod's drawing function for real-time formative assessment and correcting misconceptions on the spot.

Link to video

Bob can direct the lesson on his iPad from the back of the class using AirServer as he walks around giving students just-in-time help, or he can use the SMARTboard to toggle between his SMART notebook lesson, Schoology, Google Drive, information websites, and his iPad with its myriad of powerful apps.

The students have access to iPads, a few class Chromebooks and graphing calculators, and many use more than one device simultaneously in order to have multiple displays and work more efficiently or collaboratively.

For deeper learning on any of these applications, use the Ed Tech website, or contact us for help. Thank you, Bob, for the inspiration!