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Google forms

4/15/2016

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Google Doc uh... Drive is such an eye opening idea it has made purchasing software seem silly.  Many or our teachers are already using G-Docs and having students use it too.  But what about Google Forms?
First of all What the Heck is Google Drive? It used to be called Google Docs.  Create an account at Google and you can also create Docs (Documents) which are similar in all look and feel and can even be downloaded as Microsoft Word. PowerPoint and Excel files.  The two BIGGEST reason to use this tool...
  1. It is stored in the cloud.  No saving to jump/thumb drives.  No e-mailing it home... Etc.  Just log on to your Google from any device and edit your document!  Yes, even a smart phone.
  2. Share it and have others work on your paper.  It is called collaboration.  Share the link with the teacher when you are finished to to turn it it.  No printing and wasting paper and ink...
  3. Oh, and It's free
Docs is pretty simple and I'd be happy to teach you and your students the details.  What are the details?  The "fun" part of my job is that so many of these sites change where there links are and what you can do that by the time I type up instructions it may have changed!  It is much easier to show you and have you play than to type it out.

So what about forms?

Forms is a "doc" on Google Drive.  I am sure you have filled a form out before - now it is your chance to create   one.  Start by Clicking on "Create" and chose "Form".  You will get some options and it is pretty straight forward.  But I would keep it simple.  The best thing about this form is that the supplied answers will fill in a spread sheet for you.  So keep that in mind - Each Question you ask becomes a column across the top and each response is a row.

The hard part is deciding what to use it for.  So on the right are some ideas.  Please add your own in the comments.
There is no need to ask for time or date as that will automatically be recorded.  You can also stop collecting data at any time. And you can have your patrons see the results.. or not.

Suggestions

Be sure to always as for the period, Last name AND first name in separate questions so that you can sort your spreadsheet that way.
Do not ask long questions.  You question will fill in your top row.  Use the help box for details.  It is ignored in the spreadsheet.

Ideas for forms.

  • Disclosure Statements - Have kids ..er Parents fill out the form saying they read your disclosure. Add name and contact info too.  (I have detailed instructions on this)
  • Field trip chaperons. 
  • Inventory of who has something.
  • Book requests
  • Mileage form
  • Collect student created websites or on-line documents (links) that they created.
  • Lock Down survey.
  • Lab data collection.  Students have their own data but add to the groups bigger data collection.
    Book numbers.
    Locker numbers
    ANY data you want in a spreadsheet

Other links/ideas

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Padlet

2/1/2016

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Padlet is... just cool
What is it?  Social post it notes on steroids.  A teacher can pose a question.  Students answer by using the provided link and notes appear on the page.  Everyone can see all notes.  Pictures and text can be added.  

How it works. 
Teacher makes "a board" or wall with instructions or a question and gives students the link or a QR code.  Students then go to link and click and type. Easy.  Boards (or walls) can be copied or duplicated for use with a different periods - without prior content.

Ideas.  
  • Introductions of students.  Add a picture and a few things about yourself.
  • What do you think about the main Character.
  • Who will win the next...
Bottom line is that it is a discussion board so be creative and enjoy.

Website - https://padlet.com/
Yes there is an app but the webpage works just fine.
Apple
Chrome App

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Apps I live with... aka couldn't live without!

1/21/2014

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Picture
That title is kinda harsh since maybe we would all live a little better if we weren't tied to technology so much!

Here is my list of must haves (ones that are usually open on miThings). Some of these apps have their own pages in other spots since they are so good!  I would say the "Both" column is the most accurate for required apps.

Of course there are others depending on location and mood but these (below) are the basics.  Here are some other ones tho - iSamJackson, MLS, Cinnemark, Shatner Poetry....

The only order they are in is .... alphabetical!

Work

  1. Decimator - Keeps me up on my Deweys!
  1. Destiny Quest - Searches my Library for books
  2. Follett - I can checkout books to patrons from my phone.
  3. Lync - Microsoft Communicator software is also an App.
  4. Weebly - So I can edit this stuff.

Both

  1. Amazon - Easy to shop on location.  Sometimes that location is in stacks of books in my Library, B&N, Kohls or REI!
  2. Audible - another audio book listening app
  3. Dropbox - How does anyone survive without access to their files?
  4. Evernote - a great document tool for notes of any type.
  5. Facebook - I am there for work and personally too.
  6. Twitter - Easily changes accounts from home, school and library.

Home

  1. CalenGoo - Another Calendar app but it syncs with multiple Google Calendars AND Outlook.
  2. Find My Friends - AKA Find my kids!
  3. iTunes Radio, Radio.com or Pandora.
  4. Map My Ride - Tracks my runs and rides.
  5. MeetUp - For finding fun local events.
  6. PodCasts - Listen to whatever you want.
  7. Redbox - to find that movie for the evening.
  8. SkiTracks - it's fun to measure my runs and speed. - but kills my battery and data plan!
  9. UDOT - Gives me traffic info and tells me if I should avoid the freeway.

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Doc. Cams.

1/15/2014

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What is a document camera?
It's a camera on a stick or tripod and attached to your computer or projector.
  Many come with software for writing and recording the lesson on the computer but I am not sure how many teachers actually use those features.  the recording part is great. The lesson can be saved for students who were absent. Or play the video when some one wakes up and asks what they missed :)  Doc Cams are NOT just for doc(ument)s.  ANYTHING you want to show you can show on the 8 foot screen.  As long as you can point the camera at it!  It is a camera after all!  This includes a student doing an oral report or presentation, insects, simple machines, pottery... Document Cameras (many of the ones we have at our school anyway) cost $400 - $600. Yes they have come a lot in price. We also have a few $75 ones.   We "Have" this Document camera, and this one.

Why are they so expensive?
They are great cameras and can zoom in close with a macro.  They show crystals in rocks very well - BUT do you need that?  The software is also very powerful for recording and editing your presentation.  Have you ever used it?

What's my point?

No one really needs a $500 document camera anymore when you have a $500 iPad and some free or cheap apps!  You do however need a stand and cable.  Here is the set-up.  As with many things... there are options.  None of it free but your Media Center or tech person can (might be able to) help fund it and set it up.
Required (Let me know what you want - I have a few of them)
  • Dongle for your device (Example but make sure you get the correct one)
  • VGA Cord (How long do you need?) Audio is another option.
  • Stand (DIY PVC) (DIY Wood) (Belkin) (Stand)
  • Help to set it up for the first time.
Option 1 - Plug into another VGA port.
In our new building we have two wall plates (hookups) that go to the projector. (Front and back of the classroom)  If you do this you change your projector input from computer 1 to 2 or vice-versa.
Option 2 - Un-plug an plug-in
Unplug your computer form the wall port that your computer is plugged in to and plug in your iPad (VGA/Dongle) cord into it.  Assuming you can get to your wall plate!
Option 3 - A/B switch box
Both your computer and iPad are plugged into this box and you simply switch from A to B to show one or the other on the screen.
Option 4 - Go Wireless
Use an Apple TV or the Reflector application (via AirPlay) to display your iPad on the screen.  While this seems like the best option since you can also move about the room it is totally relying on the wireless and has some lag time.  See my other page about this.

Apps to use (click the icons)

After it is set up all you need is an app.  While you could use ANY app to show on the screen remember this is about Document Cameras!  So here are a few to use.  As always - YES, there are others.  What makes it a document camera app is the camera and then then the ability to draw on the iPad and record the lesson.  Sure you could just use the camera on Video and record what you do under the camera but these apps have added features.  There are free versions of both apps but these are worth the price!  I have codes for them if you would like one.  Just ask...
Picture
Board Cam -
Made by some dude who needed it.  (Not a name brand)  I have suggested this one for a few years now because it was the only one I could find!  It works well.

Picture
Stage -
Made by Belkin and has the backing of the backing of name branding.  Also I think this app is a little more intuitive and easier to use.

Sure there is some getting used to this but in the long run... after a few times using it... I do believe you will like the feeling of using your iPad more productively.
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App sites

1/13/2014

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Picture

Websites for apps

http://appgratis.com/
http://appcrawlr.com/
http://freeappaday.com/
http://www.appoday.com/
http://www.uen.org/apps4edu/
http://appadvice.com/appnn

Apps for Apps

Apps gone free
Apgratis - oops
As with most things you usually get what your pay for...It is true with a free app also, sometimes...
  • too many ads
  • in app purchases
  • no support
  • the business fails
As a culture we are so cheap with apps.  Who wants to spend .99 when another (similar) app is free but has ads?  We say this as we drink our 4.00 coffee!
Many apps ARE worth the small price though but even with that said there are ways to get those pricey apps for free!

As of this writing I have 379 apps.... that need updating!  I have know idea how many apps I actually have.  Keep in mind that I review and test a lot of apps before I send them to our 140+ iPads at my school or recommend an app to someone.  I don't even want many of the apps anymore but apple seems to say tough, you downloaded it once... it is on "your permanent record."

So, point is - try some of these links for free apps and finding apps.  Yes, some are web pages and some are apps... to find other apps!  I use some apps regularly and others I pull up randomly but that may be another posting.

I would like to say that they're all pretty similar.  I have been quite happy using only appgratis.  Even tho as of this date there is no app in iTunes anymore!  But you can get the e-mail a day from the website.

Lastly... Keep in mind there is much more than what I have posted here.  Use what you like!
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Scanners

12/30/2013

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A few people asked me if we have a scanner here at school  If you think about it all is scanner really does is take a picture of something. Most people just scan a picture or a document and save it as a .PDF or .jpg file.  Granted it is pretty good resolution or quality - depending on your settings and cleanliness of the glass.  This photo or document gets saved to the computer for uploading or otherwise sharing or saving digitally.

Hmm... Most of our teachers already have something that will work just fine.  Their iPad.
While there are a lot of apps out there that will take a picture for you here are 2 "scanner apps" that I have used.

Picture
DocScan.
Takes a picture (or grab one from photos) and has simple editing tools to fix a Keystone.  Save it as a different format/size such as a A3 or a business card.  Then save it to Dropbox, google, Facebook... and many other sites.  There are many other scanner apps out there.  Just Google  "ipad scanner app"  Here is one page I found  No, I have not used these other apps - because Docscan has served my purposes.  If you like a different one please comment and share it.

Picture
Pixter
Is an OCR app. Take a picture of your document then convert the image or words into editable text.  Then you can save it as a Word doc to your Dropbox account!  S-W-E-E-T.  It is not free though.  This app costs... a whopping 2.99.  But it is less than a good cup of coffee!  However Yes, I did get it for free via AppGratis!  And YES, there are other OCR apps out there that may be better... or worse.  This is the one I use and know about. Add yours to the comments.

There. I just saved saved you more than $100.00.
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