Introduction to Screencasting
I put this module together for one of my graduate school classes and am sharing it here in case it can be helpful for anyone else. I intend to share with the teachers at my school as a flipped element for a PD session on creating screencasts. Not only does it have helpful info about screencasting but it also includes some Visible Thinking routines AND shows how you can push Google Sites a bit.
GO TO:
Formatting Google Doc Guided Notes
I decided to check out one of the sample courses on teach for Google and thought I would share something that I’ve used before but some of you may not have thought about. A simple formatting adjustment can make a world of difference.
Google Location History is Cool but a Little Creepy
If you have Location History turned on for your Google account and Location Services (Android – iOS) turned on for the device running your Google account, try this and be prepared to be a little creeped out.
Go to https://maps.google.com/locationhistory.
It’s not 100% accurate but spooky close.
Makes you really think about what apps you’ve given access to your GPS data!
Google Scholar Button for Chrome
I’ve been spending lots of time in Google Scholar since I began work on my EdD last August. Today, I spotted a new extension for Google Chrome, the Google Scholar Button.
From the extension overview, when you click the Scholar button, you can:
- Find full text on the web or in your university library. Select the title of the paper on the page you’re reading, and click the Scholar button to find it.
- Transfer your query from web search to Scholar. Press the Scholar button to see top three results; click “full screen” in the lower left of the popup to see them all.
- Format references in widely used citation styles. Press the quote button in the popup to see a formatted reference and copy it into the paper you’re writing.
Library links work best when you’re on your campus but you can configure them for off-campus use by visiting Google Scholar Settings. You can even search the US case law by clicking the gear icon at the bottom of the popup, and configure your preferred collection in Google Scholar Settings.
I’m looking forward to the time this handy extension will save me as I complete my degree!
How Symbaloo Made My Year Better
I don’t even want to think about what this, my first year at my school, would have been like without Symbaloo. Last summer, I set all the student computers to start up to a specific page on our district server and that page holds an embedded Symbaloo mix.
The main mix we use is here – http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/lessymbaloo1 – but we embed it into our own HTML page to make it look like this – http://lakelandk12.org/les/start.html.
When we need to add a link to a computer, I add it to the Symbaloo and sync it. Job done.
I added grade-level tiles that link to grade-level mixes (also embedded in our own HTML pages) and those are managed by teachers in that grade-level. While that part hasn’t really taken off this year, I expect it will next year because we are going to be moving much of the “practice games” off the main Symbaloo as we add some structure to the computer lab rotation.
FYI – We have a link to it on the school website so students and parents can easily access from home as well.
If you have to manage links on lots of computers, consider moving to this kind of setup. It sure has made my year better!
Free EdTech Goodies for You and You and You!
Once a month I assemble and distribute a Technology Newsletter to the teachers at my school. I shared the recent edition on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook and it was so well-received that I’ve decided to post them on this blog as well. Some have been edited to remove school-specific login information but most are exactly the same.
All the newsletters are posted on a page under the Resources menu on the navigation bar of this site. I hope you find these, and the information they contain, helpful.
Make Your Own Animated GIF Tutorials
I’m a big fan of SnagIt for Chrome (extension with app) for many reasons. One of which is the ability to record up to 20 seconds of video and save it as an animated GIF directly into my Google Drive while immediately getting a short URL to share. However, sometimes what I need to record is not inside of Chrome or it takes me longer than 20 seconds to perform the steps.
If you are in the same boat, give LICEcap a look. It is a free download and is available for Mac and Windows. I will still use SnagIt when on my Chromebook but, when I’m on my Mac, I expect to make use of this handy application.
Crank up LICEcap and you will see a screen capture frame that can be resized to desired dimensions. Click the record button on the bottom of the frame and start working. You can move the frame around even while recording but I suggest you first use the handy-dandy pause button to avoid including the screen capture frame in the GIF.
Bonus:
It’s settled: How to pronounce ‘GIF’
Is Your Bookmark Bar Crowded?
Free up valuable real estate on your browser’s bookmark bar with this handy tip!
Video made with SnagIt and Camtasia. Animated GIF made with LICEcap for Mac.