Backchannel Chat (Last post of 2018)

Backchannel Chat

Yo! Teach - https://palms.polyu.edu.hk:8448/ - is a back channel chat digital tool that is similar to TodaysMeet, which closed down in summer2018.

To get a chatroom set up...

• visit the Yo! Teach website (No sign-in is required for the teacher or student 
• create an entry password
• enable admin features 
• add a room name and description and
• click Make Room.

Learners can access the chatroom two different ways using any device with a web-browser.

1. Teachers can share the url to the room that is generated once the room has been created. 
2. Students can visit the Yo! Teach website and search for the name of the room in the search box (just don't select Avoid Search when you set up the room).

Once the link is clicked learners enter a nickname and then they are taken right to the chat.

Responding in Yo! Chat

There are different options for learner responses.

They can submit...

• text,
• a drawing and/or an image, by clicking on the pencil icon, they'll be taken to a digital whiteboard.

A really nice feature is the ability to draw on images that users can upload when they select the camera icon:

When learners submit their responses, it sends their text, drawing or image to the left panel and includes the nickname they provided when entering the backchannel as well as the timestamp of when their response was submitted.

NOTE : the website takes some time to load on Chromebooks but once in the room everything seems OK

If you give Yo! Teach a try or have already used Yo! Teach, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

P.S. 

Turn any photograph into an artwork – for free!

Turn any photograph into an artwork
– for free!

Deepart - https://deepart.io/# - is ideal for art teachers trying to demonstrate different art styles to learners.

Using an algorithm Deepart uses the stylistic elements of one image to draw the content of another.

Educators, and/or learners can get their own artwork in just three steps...

1. Upload photo
2. Choose style and
3. Submit

Obviously learners can take their own images and turn them into the style of famous artists with this website.

It's 100% free. They simply upload the image and in a few seconds they'll have their own Van Gogh. Or Picasso. Or who knows! 

If you give Deepart a try or have already used Deepart, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Removing backgrounds from pictures

Removing backgrounds from pictures

Do your learners need to removing backgrounds from pictures but don’t have Photoshop?

remove.bg - https://www.remove.bg/ - is a website that does only one thing: Removes backgrounds and it's worth a closer look.

To be fair, remove.bg is not perfect, but it certainly is good enough for learners working with images for presentations and/or reports.

 

Students simply upload images and the site’s AI does the rest.

 

If you give remove.bg a try or have already used remove.bg, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.
P.S. Enjoy your Christmas Holiday and have a Happy New Year

Creating On-line Games

Creating On-line Games

Oodlu - https://oodlu.org/home - is a tool for creating and playing self-paced games digitally. 
It is also available for...

• iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oodlü-for-students/id1416394399 - and 
• Android  - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oodlu.student .
  

A bank of over 2 million questions that have already been created and is available for Educators to duplicate and add to their game creations.

Educators can also create their own questions!

There is a premium version that costs 99 CENTS per month but the standard version is completely free. 

Oodlu states that their standard plan will always stay free.
Oodlu does have the option for learners to create an account simply by...

• visiting https://oodlu.org/,
• clicking on Student, and

 typing in a username, password and teacher code (found under the teacher's dashboard once he/she creates a Group)
Educators can...

1. create one group for their entire class or if you want to differentiate by sending specific games to specific learners, they can
2. create multiple groups (just make sure students join the correct group).

Under the Content and Games section of the teacher's account they can assign games under the Action dropdown menu and select Set to a Group.

The different types of questions that can be included are...

• Matching Pairs
• Click the missing Word
• Flash card statements
• Textual Multiple Choice
• True/False
• Image Multiple Choice
• Listen to the word, then type the translation
• Sequencing and 
• Type the missing word.

If you give Oodlu a try or have already used Oodlu, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Digitising Old Film Photos

Digitising Old Film Photos

Google’s Photoscan app, available for ...

• iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/photoscan-by-google-photos/id1165525994 - and 
• Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.photos.scanner 

...is one of their lesser-known projects.

It uses an Educator's, and/or Learners smartphone’s camera to scan and digitise photos by taking a series of images to eliminate glare and then combining them.

Photoscan is a clever app that removes glare well and is pretty quick to use.

NOTE: it can wash out some  images—especially skin tones—a bit too much.
It's probably designed for use with older, faded images, rather than with brand new prints.
Ideal to scan a handful of photos for coursework, projects etc.

If you give Google’s Photoscan app a try or have already used Google’s Photoscan app, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.
Thank you.

Listen to Google Docs

Listen to Google Docs

Speakd - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/speakd-give-voice-to-your/oobledneihkkcmfakmkdigmgkjoaidmg

 - could be a good tool for learners to use to hear their documents read aloud as part of the editing process before turning in a final submission. 

The only drawback is the voice that Speakd uses is very robotic.

Speakd is a free Google Docs add-on that will read documents aloud.

When users have Speakd installed in Google Docs they can open the add-on and press play at any time to hear their document read aloud.

Unlike some other text-to-speech tools, Speakd doesn't require users to copy and paste text to hear it read aloud.

If you give Speakd a try or have already used Speakd, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Free Music for Video Projects

Free Music for Video Projects

Bensound - https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music - offers about 175 music tracks that educators and/or Learners can download for free.


Those tracks are arranged in eight categories. Those categories are...

1. acoustic/folk,
2. cinematic,
3. corporate/pop,
4. electronica,
5. urban/groove,
6. jazz,
7. rock, and
8. world.

Bensound's collections features instrumental music which is great because educators won't have to worry about learners picking music that have lyrics that are not appropriate for learning environment use.

Visitors to the website can listen to the tracks before they download them.

When users click the download button they will see the clear rules about using the music.

Educators and/or learners can download and use the music in their video projects for free provided that you credit Bensound for the music.

Alternatively, they can purchase a license to use the music wherever they want without crediting Bensound.

If you give Bensound a try or have already used Bensound, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Digital Citizenship Resource

Digital Citizenship Resource

Be Internet Awesome - https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us - provides learners with useful tips on different areas related to on-line safety. 

They  include tips on...

• how to responsibly share digital content and communicate with others,
• how to discern between what’s real and what’s fake,
• how to safeguard valuable information and protect personal privacy and much more. 

Besides these resources, Be Internet Awesome also provides a number of tools to engage learners in hands-on learning activities about on-line safety and digital citizenship.
Interlaid, for instance, offers four challenging games geared towards introducing learners to the key lessons of digital safety.

There is also a specific curriculum with a wide variety of lessons educators can download for free and use in their learning environments. 

Parents can download a special kit to learn more and also help with raising awareness  about on-line safety.

Check out Be Internet Awesome to explore the rest of the resources.

If you give Internet Awesome a try or have already used Internet Awesome, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

P.S. Heads-up - Sorry I have not posted for a while but I've been in hospital, which isn't an ideal blogging environment.

Video Quiz Maker for Educators

Video Quiz Maker for Educators

iSLCollective video quiz maker - https://en.islcollective.com/video-lessons/ - is an excellent tool for creating interactive video quizzes.

iSLCollective has recently introduced a number of interesting new features to enhance the video lessons experience.

One especially useful feature is the ability to assign video quizzes as assignments/homework/coursework etc.

To learn more about how to easily assign quizzes as homework etc., watch the video clip at https://www.youtube.com/embed/C1Jd_QwYQBM

For those of you who are not familiar with this tool,  iSLCollective video quiz maker is a 'free web-based tool that allows educators to create interactive video quizzes around YouTube and Vimeo videos.

How does it work?

• Educators choose videos from YouTube or Vimeo. 
• Next they write questions that will pop up throughout the video.

They can also add...

• a lesson plan,
• vocabulary list, and
• discussion questions.

There is also an option for educators to search for already-made video quizzes in the iSLCollective library. These quiz questions can be tailored to meet the needs of their learners'.

Once the video quiz is ready, click on ‘publish’ and provide data about the video such as...

• title,
• a summary,
• lesson type,
• level, etc.

Video quizzes created through iSLCollective provide different ‘play mode’ options. Learners can...

• watch the video without quiz,
• play video quiz in interactive mode,
• use the Casino game mode, or
• play it in non-interactive mode.

There are several reasons why educators would want to try out iSLCollective in their Learning Environment:

• These quizzes allow educators to put their focus on their learners during class, rather than handling the video. 
• This tool gives them a break from keeping track of video pauses, printing the questions beforehand, etc. 
• In addition, the interactivity and gamification adds playfulness to video work - with various play modes (e.g. the classic Casino game where you bet on the right answer) and features like the tapping game where students tap on objects seen in the paused video screen. It’s a great homework tool as well!.

Watch the video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/embed/XmjDqTT7wzA to learn more about how this tool works.

If you give iSLCollective video quiz maker a try or have already used iSLCollective video quiz maker, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

JotForm - Another Way to Create On-line Forms

JotForm - Another Way to Create
On-line Forms

JotForm - https://www.jotform.com/ - could be a great tool for making forms for...

• on-line permission slips,
• surveys,
• course registrations, or
• short quizzes.

From a design editing perspective, I would suggest that JotForm is way ahead of Google Forms

With JotForm's new integrated PDF editor submissions through your forms can be automatically turned into PDFs that you can print and/or email.

To Use JotForm to Create an On-line Form...

• sign-up for a free account then
• click the "create form" button. Then...
• either choose to create a form in which all questions and response fields are on one page or choose to make your form in a "card" format in which viewers respond to one question per page. 

Once you have selected a layout...
Users can choose to...

• use a template,
• build a form from scratch, or
• import questions from an existing form even if that form was made with another service. I've successfully imported questions from a Google Form

NOTE: When building a form from scratch in JotForm users drag question types from a menu into their blank form.
They can add...

• open response questions,
• multiple choice questions (single selection and multiple selection), and
• questions that require a response in the form of a file upload.

There is also a star rating question format.

In addition, users can add...

• pictures,
• charts and
• block text

...to forms that they design in JotForm.

After all of questions have been added, it's time to customise the colour and font scheme of the form.

It's here that JotForm stands out from the crowd.

If you really want to customise the form's look, you can open the advanced editor where you'll find options for...

• text alignment,
• background images, and
• object spacing.

There's even an option for adding custom CSS for those who have those skills.

Users can share their JotForm forms by...

• emailing or posting their form's URL on-line,
• embedding them into existing web pages, or
• download the form as a fillable PDF

Responses to JotForm forms are found through the users JotForm dashboard.

To see responses simply...

• select the form then
• click "submissions.

All submissions can be viewed...

• in a spreadsheet format or 
• as individual PDFs that you can download, print, or email.

If you give JotForm a try or have already used JotForm, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Teach Coding in Your Learning Environment

Teach Coding in Your Learning Environment

Codesters - https://www.codesters.com/ - provides learners with an easy and simple editor where they can engage in creative coding projects using Python.

Using Codesters drag-to-text toolkit, learners will be able to drag snippets of Python codes right into their programs and see them translated into text allowing them to learn the syntax of coding in a natural way.

Alternatively, learners can type their own codes  and when they are done they simply click on ‘Run’ to see their program in action.

Some of the interactive projects learners can create using Codesters include...

• games,
• simulations,
• animations,
• graphical images,

...and much more.

Codesters also provides Educators with a learning management system where they can host their classes and monitor learner progress.

Learners' work is automatically graded and their progress is displayed on the dashboard, where Educators can drill down to run learners' code or see projects on the class page.

As an Educator, you can...

• see a learners individual coding project,
• check on their progress and
• see where they are having difficulties with their programs.

Codesters also offers a unique project-based curriculum that includes a wide variety of tasks and lessons.

Each lesson is divided into three phases...

1. Build - Learners first build a project following step-by-step instructions.
2. Modify - Learners are asked to modify their projects to demonstrate that they understand how the code works.
3. Create - Learners are given a blank canvas and a prompt to create their own project.

I would expect every learner to complete the Build Phase, most learners to complete the Modify Phase, and many learners to complete the Create Phase.

To learn more about Codesters watch the video at https://vimeo.com/131774856

If you give Codesters a try or have already used Codesters, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Record Short, Interactive Podcasts

Record Short, Interactive Podcasts

Synth - https://gosynth.com/ - is a relatively new service from Swivl.

Synth is a free service that educators and/or learners can use to record short podcast episodes that are up to 256 seconds long.

When users record their episode they post it publicly for others to listen to and record spoken responses.

In that way it is somewhat like VoiceThread without pictures. 

Synth will automatically transcribe the spoken words and display the transcript when a recording is played.

Synth has a public gallery of recordings that people have made.

Users can also have their own small channel of their recordings.

All recordings can be embedded into blog posts and web pages.

You can learn more about Synth at https://gosynth.com/p/s/tdddcx

The Synth developers have also provided a blog post including a list of seven ways to use Synth education at https://medium.com/gosynth/seven-ways-to-use-synth-with-k12-students-128ade850f8

The list includes...

• making audio exit tickets
• Language Practice and feedback and
• providing evidence.

Synth can be used on...

• an iPad or iPhone - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/synth-byte-sized-podcasting/id1383241322?mt=8 or 
• in the web browser on a computer

If you give Synth a try or have already used Synth, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Easy word clouds - Feedback

Easy word clouds - Feedback

AnswerGarden - https://answergarden.ch/ - is a very simple tool that quickly and easily allows educators to create a Learner response wall on-line.

Their audience can respond to questions and it generates a word cloud based on responses with the size of words increasing with the frequency the audience responds with that word.

A really simple and easy to use tool particularly good for checking understanding and sentiment analysis of a large group.

For a brief overview take a look at the video clip at https://www.youtube.com/embed/RXOcbIr9jNE

It's also available for iPads at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/answergarden-ad-free/id1069401641?mt=8

If you give AnswerGarden a try or have already used AnswerGarden, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

P.S. I'm sorry for the lack of usual posts but, as some of you will know, I've been in hospital for a Stoma Operation pre-Chemo treatment for Cancer. I'm sure this will happen quite often as treatment takes place.

Add Custom Covers to Podcasts made using Anchor

Add Custom Covers to Podcasts
made using Anchor

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/ - has become a favourite tool, within education, for creating podcasts.

In a matter of minutes Educators and/or their learners can have their first podcast episode recorded, edited, and published (watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/8NfKlcP_Yxg  to see how easy it is).

This can all be done...

• on a laptop - https://anchor.fm/ 
• on your phone 
• Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fm.anchor.android - or 
• iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1056182234?mt=8 or 
• on an iPad - https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1056182234#?platform=ipad

Yes, I've posted about this in the past but, Anchor have added a new feature, in the form of "Cover Art".

Here’s how it works...

• Find an image. Choose a photo from the Unsplash library by searching for the keyword(s) relevant to the podcast. Once you've picked the one you like best, you can zoom and crop the image however you like. (You can also, of course, upload your own image.)
• Style the text. Now you can add the podcast’s title to the image with a custom design. You can get creative with text options, by customising the font, shape, placement, and colour of the podcast title.

If you haven’t started your own podcasts yet, it's worth checking out the "How to Start a Podcast" guide for tips and tricks on how to make something awesome with Anchor https://www.youtube.com/embed/L5P1eQV7LKs

This update to Anchor is one that those of us already making podcasts on Anchor will appreciate, as we can now add a bit more of our personal styles to the podcasts.

If you give Custom Covers to your Podcasts using Anchor a try or have already used Custom Covers for your Podcasts using Anchor, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Digital Scratch Paper for STEM

Digital Scratch Paper for STEM

ClassPad - https://classpad.net/us - is a fantastic tool for STEM Learning Environments.

It makes it easy for educators and their learners to create original materials.

Whether learners need extra practice, educators want to make their maths materials more hands-on and relevant for their learners, or learners are creating proofs, ClassPad is an excellent addition to the learning environment.

ClassPad could also be helpful for learners who struggle to get ideas out through paper/pencil work. 

The ability to use a tablet or computer may help those students with dysgraphia excel in the STEM Learning Environment.

Because learners can share work with a unique URL, each learner could submit their work for others to review.

This provides a great way to talk perspective, different approaches to problems, and how we solve problems in life.

It also provides educators with additional insight into how their learners are approaching and thinking through problems. Rather than simply looking for a right/wrong answer, this could provide the space to talk mathematics with learners.

Support is provided as...

• a User Guide - https://classpad.net/user-guide and
• a YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN8CCnuuaYoexN2Laof6vOA/playlists

You can also give it a try, as a guest at https://classpad.net/classpad/use-as-guest

NOTE: There are three different ClassPad plans to choose from. 

1. The free Guest account gives you the ability to utilize the calculation, graph, statistics, and geometry options. 
2. The Basic account for a registered user offers everything the Guest account offers with the ability to save up to 999 papers, share papers, search papers, add favourites, and save your browsing history. 
3. The Plus account requires an annual subscription. The Plus account gives users all of the features of the first two plans plus the ability to save unlimited papers and comes with additional features for computer algebra, advanced statistics, and handwriting recognition.

If you give ClassPad a try or have already used ClassPad, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

OneNote Chrome extension

OneNote Chrome extension

If you use OneNote, today's post is about a Chrome extension that you should consider.
OneNote Web Clipper - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/onenote-web-clipper/gojbdfnpnhogfdgjbigejoaolejmgdhk - lets users clip digital content from the web right to their OneNote account.

Users can use it to clip...

• videos,
• PDFs,
• pictures, or
• a visual bookmark of a page.

Everything that's clipped is saved to the users OneNote account where they can access, edit and share it with others.

Users can also access their clipped content from different devices even if they're not on-line.

If you give OneNote Web Clipper a try or have already used OneNote Web Clipper, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.
Thank you.

Shared Sticky Notes and Whiteboards

Shared Sticky Notes and Whiteboards

StormBoard - https://stormboard.com/ - offers different ways to collaborate, including in real-time.

StormBoard offers different templates - https://stormboard.com/templates - for the boards, depending on the purpose of collaboration (e.g. problem solving ), including board templates for education - https://stormboard.com/templates/category/education -

StormBoard works on ANY Device and apps can be downloaded for...

• iOS iPhone/iPad at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/stormboard/id1029518273?ls=1&mt=8
• Android Phones/Tablets at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stormboard.mobile
• Windows 10 (Desktop App) at https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/stormboard/9nblggh64756?rtc=1#activetab=pivot:overviewtab and/or
• Surface Hub (Windows 10) at https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/stormboard/9nblggh64756?rtc=1#activetab=pivot:overviewtab

There is a range of prices (including one free board for a small team) as well as a blog with ideas on how to use sticky notes for improved productivity.

To find out more, take a look at the video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/hveT564yNIg

If you give StormBoard a try or have already used StormBoard, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Information Management Tool

Information Management Tool

Webjets - http://webjets.io/ - is an information management tool

Webjets has a huge potential for use within education, providing...

1. users with an intuitive platform where they can collect, save and organise digital content, making it ideal for research; learners can use it to bookmark and annotate content that they come across on-line. 
2. Educators with a way to create public digital libraries containing curated content and educational resources to help learners within their learning and...
3. In addition, users can also use Webjets to...

• record their notes,
• set goals,
• remember tasks,
• create mind maps, and
• share their digital libraries with others.

Users can also utilise Webjets to collaborate with others in creating digital boards. 

Educators, and/or Learners, can share ‘anything with their friends, peers, co-workers, teammates, etc., and enjoy all the changes made, instantly synchronised between users. 

The way Webjets works is simple and easy. 

• Using Webjet’s bookmarklet users can instantly drag and drop (or copy and paste web URLs) content from any window or tab into interactive visual cards.
• Users can also create empty cards to record notes, to-do lists, reminders, tasks…etc. Webjets provides users with multiple organisational features to help them structure their content into grids, tables, collections, canvases, diagrams and mind maps.

Take a look at...

• the Webjets Introduction Video - https://www.youtube.com/embed/Si82X8B0Ovc and/or 
• the Webjets Tutorial Video - https://www.youtube.com/embed/j-mgxtpCXwc to find out more.

For Pricing, visit http://webjets.io/pricing

If you give Webjets a try or have already used Webjets, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Turn Your Text Into Voice Recordings

Turn Your Text Into Voice Recordings

Many educators encourage their learners to read their papers aloud or have them read aloud by someone else so they can spot mistakes that they didn't discover when reading silently.


Voicepods - https://www.voicepods.com/

• is a neat service that will create voice recordings based on any text that is written.

Voicepods offers eight voices in which users can have their text read-aloud.

The voice recording that is generated from the text can be...

• listened to on-line and...
• downloaded as an MP3 to use wherever MP3 playback is supported.

Voicepods could be a great tool for learners,
and/or Educators, to use, to hear their
written words read aloud.

All users have to do is copy and paste the text of their papers into Voicepods to hear their work read aloud.
HeadsUp: 

1: Voicepods are, at the time of posting this, adjusting their pricing

2: Voicepods have added two new features...

• Image to Audio and
• Files to Audio...just pick a file/image from your computer to convert it to audio.

If you give Voicepods a try or have already used Voicepods, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.
Thank you.

Adding Bookmarks to a Video's Timeline

Adding Bookmarks to a Video's Timeline

Bookmark It - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bookmark-it/adhfhfpebeloakommdgicanmhfbeifnb - is a free Chrome extension that can solve a problem that many educators face when trying to show learners a specific part of a video.

Bookmark It lets Educators, and/or Learners, add time-stamped bookmarks and notes to the timeline of a video.

O

nce they've added their bookmarks and notes they can return directly to them from the Bookmark It extension.

Richard Byrne's video - https://www.youtube.com/embed/lyqERGNtETs - shows you how Bookmark It works.

If you give Bookmark It a try or have already used Bookmark It, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Digitising Learners' Physical Work

Digitising Learners' Physical Work

SeeSaw - https://web.seesaw.me/ - lets users...

• take pictures,
• draw on them,
• record themselves talking about them, and then
• add them into a portfolio.

All this can be done with SeeSaw's…

• iPad app - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/seesaw-multimedia-journal/id930565184?ls=1&mt=8
• Android app - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=seesaw.shadowpuppet.co.classroom&hl=en
• Chrome app - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/seesaw-the-learning-journ/adnohgfkodfphemhddnmikhflkolfjfh 
• Kindle Fire - https://www.amazon.com/Seesaw-The-Learning-Journal/dp/B01B5CISHI/ref=sr_1_1 - and in your...
• Computer's web browser - https://app.seesaw.me/#/login?force_login=signup

SeeSaw's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYUfnb7MIsGald-Xtig9Umw/feed - has many excellent tutorials to help individuals get started.

If you give SeeSaw a try or have already used SeeSaw, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.
Thank you.

Teach Cyber Safety Lessons

Teach Cyber Safety Lessons

Planet Nutshell - https://planetnutshell.com/ - is a USA based video production company that produces short, animated videos to explain products, services, and concepts. 

Within their education section (For Teachers) you will find...  

• Climate Science Videos - https://planetnutshell.com/climate-science/ 
• Early Science Series Videos - https://planetnutshell.com/early-learning-series/
• Fun with Physics Videos - https://planetnutshell.com/physics/
• Maths Shorts Videos - https://planetnutshell.com/math-shorts/  and 
• NetSafe Videos - https://planetnutshell.com/netsafe/

The "StepUp Utah Videos - https://planetnutshell.com/stepuputah/ - and Yana & Egbert Videos - https://planetnutshell.com/yanaegbert/ - are also worth a look.

Planet Nutshell's series of videos about Internet safety (called NetSafe) -https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4twzw4BAfFFVS9O4lhru3AWOh06MEAhj - has eighteen episodes covering topics like...

• protecting personal information,
• responsible posting of pictures, and
• mobile location privacy. 

The videos are labelled with what they consider, appropriate grade levels

If you give Planet Nutshell a try or have already used Planet Nutshell, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Google Slides Formative Assessment

Google Slides Formative Assessment

The Pear Deck add-on for Google Slides - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pear-deck/amfkiahebibbkifgdjdfplkjohlgfdgg - provides educators with a collection of pre-designed templates they can choose from to create formative assessments and engage their learners in interactive learning experiences.

Educators can choose from templates that...

• embed activities for the start of a lesson or...
• embed activities to check learners understanding during a lesson. And if they want to... 
• embed an exit ticket at the end of the lesson.

"Educators can also make their slides interactive
through the addition of questions."

To use Pear Deck on Google Slides is straight forward...

• install the add-on,
• select which templates to use in the presentation,
• fill in the sides with content

...and when the presentation is ready ensure it's presented via Pear Deck by clicking on the ‘Present with Pear Deck’ button at the top right corner.

Learners will be able to join the Pear Deck presentation from the web.

During the presentation, learners will be prompted to answer the questions. 

Educators will see their answers in real time or display them anonymously on the learning environment projector.

For more information about Pear Deck, visit https://www.peardeck.com/ and/or watch the video at -  https://www.youtube.com/embed/g0ybB6I3kdQ - to learn more about the Pear Deck for Google Slides Add-on.

If you give the Pear Deck for Google Slides Add-on a try or have already used the Pear Deck for Google Slides Add-on, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

A New alternative to Todaysmeet

A New alternative to Todaysmeet

Listen to the audio version of this post at https://app.voicepods.com/services/embed?pod=2848e577-8723-48a2-b0bf-12c21570257a

Since Todaysmeet shut down in June 2018, many education practitioners have been looking for alternatives.

Well, Yo Teach! Rooms - http://www.yoteach.hk - developed by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Pedagogic and Active Mobile Learning Solutions project, provides an alternative that's worth a closer look.

Yo Teach! Rooms lets practitioners create on-line backchannel spaces to facilitate discussions.

To get started simply...

• go to the site and name your room. 
• scroll down the Yo Teach! site to activate the...
• admin function, 
• password function, and 
• to select "avoid search." 

NOTE: 1: The "avoid search" option will hide the room from search results so that people cannot find it without being given its direct URL.
2: The password function lets you set a password that must be entered before learners can participate in the chat.

3: The admin features of Yo Teach! let practitioners...

• mute or remove learners from a discussion,
• delete the room, 
• view statistics about the usage of the room. The admin function that reveals statistics will show the names of participants and how active they have been in the Yo Teach! room.

Learners can participate in the Yo Teach! room by...

• going the URL that is assigned to the room,
• entering the nickname that he/she wants to have displayed, and then 
• entering the password that's set for the room.

Learners can...

• type notes and questions to appear in the chat and there's the option for them to...
• draw on a whiteboard and have their drawings appear in the chat.

Practitioners can also...

• insert a drawing to aid an explanation and
• give a "thumbs up" to their favourite image and text notes in the discussion.

Richard Byrne's Tutorial Video - https://www.youtube.com/embed/EpDksD0NTSE - is also well worth a closer look.

If you give Yo Teach! Rooms a try or have already used Yo Teach! Rooms, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

Educational Games for Younger Learners

Educational Games for Younger Learners

Toy Theater - http://toytheater.com/ - is a website that offers a huge library of on-line games that learners can play to hone their skills in... 

• Art - http://toytheater.com/category/art/  
• Games - http://toytheater.com/category/games/  
• Language arts - http://toytheater.com/category/language-arts/
• Mathematics - http://toytheater.com/category/math-games/ and
• Puzzles - http://toytheater.com/category/puzzles/  etc.

Toy Theater also offers a large library of virtual manipulatives - http://toytheater.com/category/teacher-tools/virtual-manipulatives/ - that can be displayed in a full screen mode and used in mathematics lessons.

If you give Toy Theater a try or have already used Toy Theater, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.

P.S. I enjoy playing them as well

Creating eBooks

Creating eBooks

• Book Creator - https://bookcreator.com/ - is a tool, that's worth a closer look, for making ebooks. 
  

NOTE: Currently there are two options... 

1. the iPad app - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/book-creator-for-ipad/id442378070?mt=8 (currently for £4.99) or 
2. Using the Chrome Browser - https://app.bookcreator.com/books

With Book Creator education practitioners, and/or their learners, can make ebooks that include...

• text, 
• images, 
• audio recordings, 
• videos, and even 
• maps.

Learners can insert media that they've created or embed content from sites like YouTube and Vimeo into the pages of their ebooks.

Richard Byrne's video - https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0bWoYdjEfQ - provides a complete overview of how to create an ebook on Book Creator. In his video you will see how to...

• select a page size, 
• customise the page colour, and how to 
• alter the text layout.

He also covers...

• embedding content from third-party sites, 
• adding maps to pages, 
• uploading pictures, and 
• recording audio and video directly into Book Creator pages.

NOTE: Book Creator can be used for free but with the limitation of 40 books per account. There is also an upgraded, school-wide version that offers...

• real-time collaboration,
• LMS integration, and
• an admin dashboard...

Richard Byrne's post, "Ideas for Making Multimedia eBooks With Students" - https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2018/08/5-ideas-for-making-multimedia-ebooks.html - is also worth a closer look.

If you give Book Creator a try or have already used Book Creator, do share your feedback, positive and/or negative, in the comments.

Thank you.