Google Gifts: Using Your Mobile Camera within Google Apps

Today, we "wrap up" our Google Gifts series.  We began our series with a post about images, so we will come full circle as we head out for Winter Break.  Today, we're sharing about using your mobile device camera within Google Apps.

If you have a mobile phone or a tablet, we'd highly recommend that you download the mobile versions of Google Apps.  If you have an Android device, they are installed already as part of the Android OS.  If you have an iOS device, you can install Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides (these are all separate installs).  In addition, we'd recommend installing the Google Photos app.  Once you have the apps installed, you can take advantage of using the camera in your mobile device.

Google Drive App Options (iOS)

Why would I use it?  What does it do?
One of the amazing things about using Google Drive as part of an EDU domain is that we have unlimited storage. File size is always a consideration when thinking about using images & video for teaching and learning, and Google Drive provides a good spot to store your media files and do the following:

1. Use the Upload option in the Google Drive app to put videos or images from your camera roll or photos into a folder in Google Drive.  If you already have an existing folder where you'd like them to land, choose that before uploading the files.  Or, upload them to Google Drive and move them after the fact.
2. Select Use Camera so that you can record video directly into Google Drive as an .mp4.  This is a great option if you'd like to capture video but don't necessarily want it to be hosted on YouTube or another video site.  The video files can be shared in the same way that other files are shared in Google Drive.  (You can do the same with photos: take them on the fly and save them into Google Drive).
3. Use the Insert option (represented by the + icon) when in Google Slides to add images directly from your mobile device. This would come in handy if you wanted to create a slideshow of student work or add photos from something like a field trip to share with a wider audience (like parents).  You can also add images into Google Docs using the same icon.
4. Use the Google Photos app to automatically (or manually) back-up any images on your mobile device to Google Drive.  This is a great option when traveling so that you can store your images online (be careful about your data plan if you're not on wifi).  And, because you can now share photo albums, you can collect images from multiple people in one place (kind of like ShutterFly).  This would work well for things like field trips or times when you'd like students to share images in a shared album for later use. 

Where can I learn more?
Like other aspects of Google, their mobile apps are constantly being updated and enhanced.  The best source of information for mobile apps updates is the Google Help Center for iOS or Android or the Google Apps Updates Blog.  If you are a freqent Google Apps user, you can subscribe to emailed alerts from their blog.

Tuesday Tech Tip: Schoology Updates

In the past few months Schoology has rolled out some updates that will pretty much knock your socks off.

First, rubrics are now able to be saved as a resource and shared with others. Woo-hoo! Gone are the days of creating a rubric for an assignment and having it live only with that assignment in the course it was built. This has been one of the most requested features at Schoology, and it’s finally a reality. We recommend adding your rubrics via the Grade Setup area so you always have a master copy of a rubric you use often. Or, create a collection of rubrics in your resources so you can easily find and share them when you need them. Combine this option with the updates from February that keeps rubrics with materials when they are shared or moved and you’ve got yourself a rubric arena to play in! For more information on all the fun to be had with rubrics, check out the Schoology Blog post here.

Speaking of rubrics, the latest Android app updates will also allow mobile educators to grade student submissions on a point-based scale on an Android mobile device as well as override rubric and final grades. Not to leave anyone feeling let down, this feature is also available for those iOS educators as well! Check out these and other app updates on the Schoology Blog here.

Another update to celebrate is that notifications have been updated to now alert students when a submission is overdue. Although sharing rubrics was up there in terms of feature requests, this was the most highly requested feature from the Schoology community. And we can certainly see why! Any time a student misses a submission deadline, not only are they notified, but any parents/guardians or advisors will also be notified. How’s that for keeping everyone in the loop? The notifications will show up in an “Overdue Submissions” section above the “Upcoming” notifications. For more information on how these notifications work as well as some of the specifics for settings, check out the Schoology blog post here.

And finally, we are excited to announce that CCSD now has access to the newly created portfolio feature in Schoology! While this feature has not been opened up everywhere, our district users have early access so you can start to plan for your students future success by incorporating portfolios that capture their best work/thinking in one place. The portfolio stays with the student rather than in a course they won’t have access to once it’s over-which means they can add to it and build it over time. To access the portfolio feature (students or teachers), click on your user name in the upper right corner. On the profile page, click on Portfolios. Use the New Portfolio button at the top to add a new Portfolio, and then start adding items to the portfolio such as submissions from classes, files, links, or pages with embedded content to highlight and showcase amazing work and exemplary thinking. Leave us a comment below giving some ideas on how you might use portfolios with your students!

Around here, the Schoology Blog posts regarding site updates and new features are read immediately as we are always excited to see how Schoology has managed to outdo their previous work when it comes to supporting educators and students. We will keep you posted as more updates start to roll out over the summer!

Tuesday Tech Tip: Exploring Apps & Websites with Graphite

In our office, we tend to get this question a lot:  "So, what apps should I use on <insert hardware here>?" That's a pretty complicated question.   What, ultimately, do you want students to learn by using the app(s)?  Are you trying to target specific standards or objectives?  How much time do you have (instuctionally) to dedicate to this activity, both before and during?  Does this need to be something web-based or will you be installing it onto a device?  How much money are you willing to spend?  

A great source of information when looking for classroom apps and websites is Graphite (http://www.graphite.org), from Common Sense Media.  Graphite is a website that provides reviews and ratings on apps, websites, and games.  It's searchable by grade level, content area, price, platform, and Common Core State Standard.  And the best thing about it? The reviews and ratings are done by educators for educators.   

When rated and reviewed on Graphite, teachers can get a quick snapshot about pros and cons, engagement, pedagogy, and support.  In addition, the detailed review explains what the app is or does, whether or not it's good for learning, and how teachers can use it (in addition to other helpful information like which skills it builds, what types of learners would benefit from using it, set-up times, and tech tips).  

Anyone can search or use Graphite without a user account, but when you create an account (free), there are additional benefits.  

1. You can create "Boards," which are saved collections of reviewed apps and websites.  Boards are public, so you can create a board of your favorite reading apps to share with your PLC or colleagues.
2. You can write your own field notes.  If you find an app or website that you've used with students, you can add your own comments to the existing review.  These can be very helpful, especially as your perspective may or may not align with the reviewer's take on the app.
3. You can also create "App Flows," which are basically lesson plans that you share on the site.  App Flows take you beyond the basics of a single app into a practical way to use the app in a lesson or unit.
4. You can follow other educators who review things that you find helpful or interesting.

In Cherry Creek, we've had quite a few teachers contribute content to Graphite.  In fact, some of them are now Graphite Certified Educators!  If you're interested in becoming a Certified Educator for Graphite, you can find more information on their website.  

Graphite is constantly adding more reviews to their site, and while you can get ratings in the iTunes store for iOS apps, the Chrome Web Store for Chrome apps, or Google Play for Education for Android apps, they are nowhere near as detailed or helpful as the information you can find on Graphite.  Graphite keeps reviews for all platforms in one place and keeps the focus on learning.

Tuesday Tech Tip: Flashcards with the Quizlet Chrome App

Flashcards are often used to help solidify concepts for deeper learning.  While not appropriate for all types of learning needs, many teachers & students use flashcards as part of distributed practice.  Today's tech tip is about a free digital flashcard tool: Quizlet (available via web browsers and via apps for Chrome, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Nook, and Windows phones).  This post explores the web or Chrome app version.

While you don't need an account to use existing flashcard sets on Quizlet, students and teachers can sign up using their CCSD GoogleApps logins if they will be creating sets.  

There are 6 study modes for sets.  Not only can you study using the flashcard mode, but you can also have it generate practice for you, test your spelling, create assessments and games.  Immediate feedback is built into the modes.

Quizlet also has image, audio, and multiple language support.  When creating flashcard sets, you can include images in the definition that match your term (it has a built-in image search tool or you can upgrade your account and upload your own images).  You can also choose different language options (useful for world language teachers).  Finally, when clicking on terms or definitions, Quizlet will read the terms or definitions out loud for you (try it out in the embedded example below).

Speaking of embedding, Quizlet provides embed code so that you can put sets into other sites (like Schoology or blogs).  That way, students can use sets without having to log in or search Quizlet's site.  A pull-down menu in the lower corner lets you choose between study modes if the set has been embedded (the example below is for the 5th Grade FOSS unit for Mixtures and Solutions).


When creating card sets, you can also combine with other sets, create folders, invite others to edit, or make them private. As a teacher, you can also create a class for internal collaboration.

If you or your students would like to use flashcards on any device for free, Quizlet is worth a look.

Tuesday Tech Tip: Accessing COLE 3.0/Schoology on a Mobile Device

We've spent most of our time as a district talking about using COLE 3.0/Schoology in its web-based version, but teachers, students, and parents can also access our digital learning environment with Schoology apps for iOS and Android (available in the iTunes App Store for iOS and the GooglePlay store for Android).

How to Log In Using the App: 

Because we are using Single Sign-On (SSO) as a district to manage usernames & passwords, logging into the app version requires that we choose "Username Login" instead of "Email Login."  This is true for all users (parents, staff, & students).

Regardless of which mobile operating system you're using, you'll be presented with a screen like the one on the right. Once you click on the "Username" option, it will ask for the school name. Hint: Typing in a zip code will bring up a more relevant list, but you can type in a school name as well (just be aware that this searches for all schools in the entire Schoology system, including international locations).  After choosing your school, you'll be re-directed to a login screen for my.cherrycreekschools.org.  Staff and students will log in using Active Directory while parents will need to use the email account that they used for CCSD Online Parent Forms.

Using the App:

iOS View

Once the app launches in either Android or iOS, you'll see the "Recent Activity" and "Upcoming Events" feeds.  To access other areas of COLE 3.0/Schoology, click on the icon in the upper left-hand corner (looks like 3 lines in iOS, the Schoology logo in Android).  Currently, the Android app doesn't have a separate calendar view, but iOS does.

One of the nice things about using the app is that you can upload photos or videos from the Camera Roll (iOS) or Gallery (Android) into assignments & posts and you can also record directly into assignments or posts using the built-in camera.  When in a materials area (like Assignments or Discussion Boards), a "+" sign in the upper right hand corner of the screen allows you to upload, take a picture/video, or add items from resources.

Functionality differs slightly between Android & iOS, but students can do most things using the app (including taking assessments).  If you're a teacher, it's a great way to post a quick update or add video or photos from a mobile device.

Logging out of the App:

Android View

When using shared devices (like a cart of iPads), it's important that you log out of the app on the device.  On the Android, you can do this by getting to "Settings" in the left menu and choosing "logout" (using the icon in the upper left hand corner to view the different areas in the app).  On an iOS device, you'll see "Logout" at the bottom of the left hand menu list.  If students are in a 1:1 environment, they can either log out or leave themselves logged in.

If there are things that don't work the way you need them to work in the app, remember that you can always access COLE 3.0/Schoology on the mobile device browser.  Certain things in a course are probably easier to accomplish using the web version, but there are definite benefits to having access on the go.