Digital Guides
Here are some how-to guides for resources that you may be able to use for your distance learning lessons. My suggestion is that you have students read the how-to guides for any resource you would like them to use, and then have them create something with this new skill. Once they know how to use the resource, it can be another tool for them to share their knowledge with you.
CANVA for Education
Canva for Education With your Simi Valley email login, you can get Canva Pro features for free. Canva is a creativity tool that was referenced at the recent district technology meeting to be like Photoshop.This template-based program is much easier to use than Photoshop. You and your students can make posters, resumes, presentations, certificates, and SO much more. To sign up: http://canva.com
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Screencast Demo for Canva |
Google Scholar - Little-Known Features
scholar.google.com/Hidden Features Google Scholar is a great place to send students for their research needs. Most people have used Scholar, but again, there are some little known features that are invaluable tools for students (and teachers). This guide will demo how to: create your GS library, create GS alerts to know when any new research arrives, cite your sources easily, and get ready for college research.
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Screencast Demo for Google Scholar
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Symbaloo
www.symbaloo.com
Symbaloo is a great tool for organizing and for resource sharing. Teachers can use Symbaloo to collect and bookmark important resources and then share them with their students or colleagues. Students can use Symbaloo to gather all of their resources on a topic and have them at their fingertips at all times. They, too, can share these resources with teachers or other students. These collections of resources may also be embedded into teacher websites. |
Screencast demo for Symbaloo
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Padlet
To sign up: https://padlet.com/
PadletPadlet is a way to visually post thoughts and resources. There is a Padlet "wall" on the home page of this website. It is a wonderful and visual way to share resources. Students can share with you or with each other. It is extremely easy to create a Padlet wall, and it is even easier to post on this wall. It is a bit Pinterest like. Students, and the teacher, may even post images, websites, timelines, etc. As the teacher you can moderate each Padlet too. Great way to share resources and to check for understanding.
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Below is a Padlet Wall with instructions for making a Padlet Wall. Make full size to view the entire wall.
Screencast Demo for Padlet
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Below is a Padlet About How To Make a Padlet.
Chrome Extensions
Extensions are programs that you can install into Chrome, that enable you to tailor Chrome’s functionality. I have installed several educational and productivity extensions that have made my job, and life, easier.
The document to the right gives a brief description of some of my favorite Chrome extensions, apps, and add-ons. |
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Click on any square to go to the Chrome Store & download these extensions.
Screencast Demo of My Favorite Chrome Extensions
More Great Tools
Google Slides - Little Known Features
We all know Google Slides. This lesson goes over much more than the basics. I've included how to do thins such as: create an e-book, create shadow boxes, inserting live Q&A sessions, stop motion animation, recommended extensions, embedding your presentation, and much more. Many of the features would be great for distance learning
To start a Google Slide lesson, go to your Google Drive. Click on New and scroll down to Google Slides
Smore Smore is a great tool for sharing information and resources. It is the program that Matt uses for his newsletter and that I use for my library newsletters. I also use it when I want to send all of you invitations to major events, and to share pics fro these events. It is SO easy to use looks great, and is free. (trifecta in my book)
https://www.smore.com/ |
Prezi NextPrezi Next is a free presentation tool that allows teachers and students to make unique, interactie presentations. Powerpoint and Google Slides are great tools, but Prezi Next takes presenting to a new level. Prezi Next offers a myriad of templates for easy to create presentations. If you'd rather, you can also start from scratch and build your own design. Students love working with Prezi Next.
To sign up: https://prezi.com/
KamiDuring this crisis, Kami is offering schools a free license to their full resources. Kami is a great platform for offering many distance learning resources. It also integrates easily with Google Classroom. It is an extension, so it is easy to use as you develop lessons. Here is a link to the Chrome webstore, so that you can download it easily. You can also see a calendar of Kami PD events by clicking here.
For this guide I am going to refer you to a how-to video, created by Kami.
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Google:
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Weebly
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Please Share Your Recommendations
Just double click anywhere on the Padlet below.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien – The Fellowship of The Ring