My Review of Easy Bib

Easy Bib

What did you explore and why?

As a substitute teacher, I am looking for resources that I can use quickly and easily to make my host classroom run smoothly.  Several times this year, I have talked with fifth and sixth graders about the problem with plagiarism and the importance of citing sources.  Easy Bib is a good tool to teach and it is an approved extension so I can introduce it to all classrooms.

What went well for you?

At this point I am trying out the tool for myself.  I like that it is a search engine as well as a way to create citations and manage projects.  If I show up in an upper elementary classroom and need a short research lesson to teach, I can demonstrate the extension and allow students to try it out for themselves.

What was challenging?

When I taught the different fifth and sixth graders, some were engaged in their classroom assignments and some wanted to use the tools for entertainment that was not appropriate for the school setting.  I can see why apps and extensions are limited through district accounts.

What did you learn?

I have been trying out several tools that create bibliographies.  I like the format of this one, and I notice that the paid version has even more features.

What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

At this point, it is a good research lesson to use at short notice.  I can find out from the classroom teacher what projects they are doing and adapt it to the class I am in.

My Review of Easy Bib

Easy Bib

What did you explore and why?

As a substitute teacher, I am looking for resources that I can use quickly and easily to make my host classroom run smoothly.  Several times this year, I have talked with fifth and sixth graders about the problem with plagiarism and the importance of citing sources.  Easy Bib is a good tool to teach and it is an approved extension so I can introduce it to all classrooms.

What went well for you?

At this point I am trying out the tool for myself.  I like that it is a search engine as well as a way to create citations and manage projects.  If I show up in an upper elementary classroom and need a short research lesson to teach, I can demonstrate the extension and allow students to try it out for themselves.

What was challenging?

When I taught the different fifth and sixth graders, some were engaged in their classroom assignments and some wanted to use the tools for entertainment that was not appropriate for the school setting.  I can see why apps and extensions are limited through district accounts.

What did you learn?

I have been trying out several tools that create bibliographies.  I like the format of this one, and I notice that the paid version has even more features.

What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

At this point, it is a good research lesson to use at short notice.  I can find out from the classroom teacher what projects they are doing and adapt it to the class I am in.

Chromebook Basics Challenge

Challenge:  Chromebook Basics

By Tiffany Morgenweck

·         What did you create, and why?

o    I created a poster for students with the keyboard commands that I will use as we receive Chromebooks in my classroom. This document will be shared on my classroom website as well.

·         What went well for you?

o    It was very beneficial to be able to learn the keyboard for the Chromebooks and each key command. My classroom only uses older Lenovo laptops, so I’ve only had the chance to use the Chromebooks a few times. It was nice to become acquainted with them for future use.

·         What was challenging?

o    Not having an actual Chromebook to practice on, while I learned this information was a little tricky, but still doable.

·         What did you enjoy?

o    I enjoyed the quick, to the point lessons and short videos provided with these lessons.

·         What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

o    I will use this information with my students as we receive Chromebooks. I will also share my new learning with my grade level team, when the need arises. I know many of the upper grades in my building already are using Chromebooks, so if they need more training on the keyboard commands I will direct them to these lessons. The information will be shared with my families when/if Chromebooks start being used in my 2^nd grade classroom.

Chromebook Basics Challenge

Challenge:  Chromebook Basics

By Tiffany Morgenweck

·         What did you create, and why?

o    I created a poster for students with the keyboard commands that I will use as we receive Chromebooks in my classroom. This document will be shared on my classroom website as well.

·         What went well for you?

o    It was very beneficial to be able to learn the keyboard for the Chromebooks and each key command. My classroom only uses older Lenovo laptops, so I’ve only had the chance to use the Chromebooks a few times. It was nice to become acquainted with them for future use.

·         What was challenging?

o    Not having an actual Chromebook to practice on, while I learned this information was a little tricky, but still doable.

·         What did you enjoy?

o    I enjoyed the quick, to the point lessons and short videos provided with these lessons.

·         What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

o    I will use this information with my students as we receive Chromebooks. I will also share my new learning with my grade level team, when the need arises. I know many of the upper grades in my building already are using Chromebooks, so if they need more training on the keyboard commands I will direct them to these lessons. The information will be shared with my families when/if Chromebooks start being used in my 2^nd grade classroom.

Chromebook Basics

What did you create, and why?

I didn't really create anything per se.  The purpose of this challenge was to learn the basics of Chromebooks and then be able to pass a quiz.



What went well for you?

I was able to find all of the necessary information provided online in the links.


What was challenging?

I found some of the key combinations more cumbersome than necessary.  Trying to remember all of the combinations may not be as helpful.


What did you enjoy?

Learning the new vocabulary of Chromebooks and how it compares to the windows equivalents was interesting.


What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

This is crucial as my school has gone 1:1 with Chromebooks for grades 3-6 and now every students will need to be familiar with this information, and i will need to know how to guide them through using the Chromebooks successfully.

Chromebook Basics

What did you create, and why?

I didn't really create anything per se.  The purpose of this challenge was to learn the basics of Chromebooks and then be able to pass a quiz.



What went well for you?

I was able to find all of the necessary information provided online in the links.


What was challenging?

I found some of the key combinations more cumbersome than necessary.  Trying to remember all of the combinations may not be as helpful.


What did you enjoy?

Learning the new vocabulary of Chromebooks and how it compares to the windows equivalents was interesting.


What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

This is crucial as my school has gone 1:1 with Chromebooks for grades 3-6 and now every students will need to be familiar with this information, and i will need to know how to guide them through using the Chromebooks successfully.

Challenge: Chrome Apps and Extensions

By Marsha Scott

What did you explore, and why?

For this challenge I explored the app Google Keep and the extension Share to Classroom. I used these two Google products since they are compatible with Google Apps for Education.

The app, Google Keep is a tool that could be used by students when taking notes during research projects. At this moment, students are using Google docs to write their notes and record their findings. For some students, using docs doesn’t seem to help them organize their findings or thoughts. I wonder if the Google Keep note “cards” would work better for students. By using Google Keep, students would also be able to manipulate their cards when organizing their writing.

I also wanted to explore the Share to Classroom extension because this is one way to quickly push out and share a webpage to students in Google Classroom.

What went well for you?

App: Google Keep

At the moment, I am personally trying out the app before downloading it on the students’ computers. One feature that I noticed is that the lists or notes can be copied to Google docs. Also I like the color coded notes to distinguish different thoughts or information.

Extension: Share to Classroom

I wanted more information to help better understand how to use “Share to Classroom” and found this helpful site:

https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6272843?hl=en

Also I liked that while in the Share to Classroom settings, I can choose in Google Classroom- create assignment, create announcement, or create question, and then push out the website to students.

What was challenging?

Since I downloaded the extension Share to Classroom on my laptop, I am wondering what it looks like on the student’s laptop. Also I’m not sure I understand how students will share their resources with me.

What did you enjoy?

I enjoyed browsing through the apps and extensions. This challenge provided time for me to research some of the apps before attempting to use it with students.

What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

Using the Google Keep tool can be shared, so it could be used to share information or collaborate with other students on projects. Teachers could use it during grade level planning time to collaborate on lessons. For the Share to Classroom extension, I am still working out other ways to use this feature.

Challenge: Chrome Apps and Extensions

By Marsha Scott

What did you explore, and why?

For this challenge I explored the app Google Keep and the extension Share to Classroom. I used these two Google products since they are compatible with Google Apps for Education.

The app, Google Keep is a tool that could be used by students when taking notes during research projects. At this moment, students are using Google docs to write their notes and record their findings. For some students, using docs doesn’t seem to help them organize their findings or thoughts. I wonder if the Google Keep note “cards” would work better for students. By using Google Keep, students would also be able to manipulate their cards when organizing their writing.

I also wanted to explore the Share to Classroom extension because this is one way to quickly push out and share a webpage to students in Google Classroom.

What went well for you?

App: Google Keep

At the moment, I am personally trying out the app before downloading it on the students’ computers. One feature that I noticed is that the lists or notes can be copied to Google docs. Also I like the color coded notes to distinguish different thoughts or information.

Extension: Share to Classroom

I wanted more information to help better understand how to use “Share to Classroom” and found this helpful site:

https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6272843?hl=en

Also I liked that while in the Share to Classroom settings, I can choose in Google Classroom- create assignment, create announcement, or create question, and then push out the website to students.

What was challenging?

Since I downloaded the extension Share to Classroom on my laptop, I am wondering what it looks like on the student’s laptop. Also I’m not sure I understand how students will share their resources with me.

What did you enjoy?

I enjoyed browsing through the apps and extensions. This challenge provided time for me to research some of the apps before attempting to use it with students.

What ideas do you have for using this tool with your students, grade level, staff or to communicate with families?

Using the Google Keep tool can be shared, so it could be used to share information or collaborate with other students on projects. Teachers could use it during grade level planning time to collaborate on lessons. For the Share to Classroom extension, I am still working out other ways to use this feature.