On Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 I listened to a Simple K12 Webinar for Chromebooks 101.
Session 1: An Intro to Using Chromebooks in the classroom. This session talked about how Chromebooks are taking over computer sales in classrooms all over the world. Cost is the number one selling point over I-pads. But the biggest advantage would be that Chromebooks can work offline for students who don't have internet at home.

Session 2: Go Paperless with Tech Tools for Chromebooks and Tablets. This session dealt with eliminating pen, pencil and paper which reduces resources, organizes materials, and creates a better workflow. Some of the chromebooks apps used for this paperless tool included Seesaw, which snaps a picture, records a voice, types a message and sends a link to the teacher. Nearpod, Schoology, Otus, Edmondo, Socrative, Drawp for School, I Tunes U, Google Classroom, Google Forms were other Chromebooks apps that help to eliminate paper and pencil.

Session 3: Tools for Chromebooks: Apps, Extensions, and Add-Ons, Oh My! This session talked about the differences between apps, extensions,... The app is a program in that is on Google Drive that is saved in the cloud. Apps include Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drawings and other apps that can be found in the Chrome Webstore. Add-ons are extras in Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Go to Docs to get add-ons like Easy Bib, Kalzena, and Orange Slice. In Sheets get add-ons like Flubaroo, form Mule, Lab Scheduler. In Forms choose add-ons like Choice Eliminator 2, Form Ranger, g(Math), Gliffy, Form Limiter. Chrome Extensions include Adblock Plus, Bookmarking Tool, Nimbus Screenshot, Grammarly, Text Mode, Time Warp. And a final nod for Google Apps for Education.

Session 4: Get in the Game! with Chromebook Game Infused Student Learning Centers. How to utilize games for enhancing learning encourages colloboration and "Snackable Content". Games include Storyboard That, Toontastic, Sway, Amazing 50 State Race, Battle Sheets, Google Drawing Checkers, and Google Drawing Chess. Games include challenges and digging deeper and is non-competive and explores areas of personal interest. Chrome Apps for Personal Choice include My Adventure Story. Tools for Critical Thinking include Magic Pen, Tinker Ball, and Line Rider. Free Play builds and explores and creates their own narrative. Google Smarty Pins, Minecraft, Terraria, and Guild Wars 2 for high school are more games. Game replay supports diversity of learners and may take multiple attempts.

Session 5: 20 Hidden Google Tricks for Schools and Classrooms. In Google Slides the presenter view can be used for questions and in Google Docs  the presenter view can be used for comments and sends an email. Use suggesting edits made  in Google Docs. In Gmail settings import other email addresses. Also in Gmail settings lab can create canned responses. In Google Search add related:spotify.com for more like websites. "How to* for a word you don't know. Use web anytime for events that happened in a specific time frame. Chrome extensions include Task Timer, Stay Focusd, In Google Forms use Check It Out for checking out books or equipment. Google Keep is like a notebook. Other apps include Google Trends, Public Data, Cultural Institute for Art and History, Smarty Pins, and Google A Day.

Session 6: Engage Students with Interactive Chrome Apps for Learning and Creating. First talked about the SAMR model and the ISTE for student standards that are safe and engage creativity and are web-based. Applications that are web 2.0 based include  InstaGrok, a mind map that includes resources, My Powtoons, Fold that Story, Infographic, Dogo News, Quizizz, Hour of Code, and Tynker. Interactive games are safe and collaborative for students.

There was so many apps and extensions and add-ons that I would like to get to know better. It was a jam packed class from many different presenters.

Google Certified Educator Level 1

Recently I took the online training through Google to become a Google Certified Educator. As an educator, and thus a life-long learner, I thought it best to continue my experience with Google Apps, particularly with students who are becoming more and more digitally literate. I appreciated the training, which teaches you how to use Google Apps in various ways in a faux classroom. It is a good way to even gain ideas on how to use some of the programs with Google, or even how to modify how I assign or communicate with students. The training is self-guided, which I found helpful; some of the sections I feel quite competent in, while others I needed to learn a few things. At the end of the extensive training, there is an exam. The exam has a time limit, and also costs $10, but it allowed me to show off my knowledge of Google. I plan on continuing this training, to become a Google Certified Educator Level 2. I look forward to learning more about this, and continually working towards integrating technology into the classroom successfully, in order to increase student engagement and achievement.

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship is a great reminder that classroom lessons and etiquette are not enough for high expectations.  We (Educational Staff) should hold ourselves and our students to face to face guidelines of conduct even when interacting digitally.  There are laws that guide us in the physical classroom and in the digital classroom. Digital Citizenship is a great way to get an overview and a quick reminder throughout the year!

Getting Going with Google

This is a great introduction to Google Drive and the basic features of it.  I had no experience with Google Drive before this course, and I am ready to jump start this school year using Google as my classroom cloud storage! I am so excited because I have been able to access my drive from all of my devices. I can access it from home & school (for convenience). Google Drive has a wide variety of products you can use. I can't wait to dig deeper and use these more & more!

Digital Citizenship

Teaching digital citizenship is not just for the tech teacher or Librarian but should be taught in the classroom as well. But when does the classroom teacher have time to teach this? So it falls back on the teach teacher. The information is very clear on how much is 'fair use' for educators. I love all the lessons you have on the Internet.

Google Basics

I just finished the online course of Google Basics.  I love the interaction with this course in creating a shared folder with Google documents, Google sheets, Google forms, and Google slides. The presentation and resources were all excellent. Although Cheat Sheets seemed to be an ad, I enjoyed all the cool resources. I can't wait to get started.

Google Basics

This course was a nice introduction to some of the Google basics such as Docs, Drive, and Sheets. I had previously been comfortable using Google Docs, but this course introduced me to something new and wonderful, Google Forms. I thought this was great! I've already come up with some ideas on how to use Forms in the classroom. I used the course to become even more familiar with the other Google basics which has been helpful in the day to day use of Google at school.