Extensions to Try in 2018

EquatIO

EquatIO makes adding formulas and graphs to a Google Doc super simple.  Students can add the extension and access limited features.  Teachers can apply for a free account with premium features.  (Send me an email and I'll be glad to suggest who to enter in the district administrator field.)

Google Cast for Education

Google Cast for Education makes it easy to project individual student screens for the whole class to see. Teachers need the Google Cast for Education extension.  Students have what they need already built in.  Check out this support article for more information.

Read&Write

The Read&Write extension reads text, simplifies webpages, allows students to practice reading aloud, and more.  Students can add it and access limited features.  Teachers can apply for a free account with premium features.  (Send me an email and I'll be glad to suggest who to enter in the district administrator field.)

Digital Scavenger Hunts

Pumpkins and Reports: 

Aubrey Williams & Students 

Photo credit: Karen Teague

Seeing awesome student work on display in the media center this week sparked an idea.  What if we created digital scavenger hunts?  And what if we made these scavenger hunts available to other teacher's classes?  Thinking of all that potential for learning and connecting beyond classroom walls made me giddy.

Then the question became one of logistics.  What format do we use?  How do we make it easy to assign and collect?  How do we give teachers the option to customize?

Google Slides seems to be an easy fit.  Our students' familiarity with Google Slides gets the tech out of the way.  Google Slides can be shared in a way that prompts teachers to make a copy allowing for customization.  Teachers can post Google Slides as "make a copy" on Google Classroom and use it as an assignment, early finisher work, or extra credit.

Check out the example below that was created with help from Karen Teague and built around pumpkins decorated to match topics in US History. Let me know if you would like to work together to create a digital scavenger hunt!