Tech Tip Tuesday #7

 

Today's Topic: Google Slides

Google Slides is a popular tool in education and can be used for so much more than creating presentations. Choose one of the resources below to level up your Google Slides game. 

Beginner

Tech Tip: Use Google Slides templates to make your slidedecks more user-friendly and engaging. 

My go-to resource for templates is SlidesMania. There are templates for weekly agendas, digital notebooks, games, choice boards, and more. Other resources include Slides Carnival, slidesgo, and Canva (although many are premium access only on Canva). I use a weekly agenda template for each of my classes and post it on Schoology for students, and me, to keep track. 

What other Slides templates do you use? 

Intermediate

Tech Tip: Use the Explore tool in Google Slides to add images or text and apply a layout. 

This is an amazing tool! Watch this short (4:27) tutorial video to learn more: How to Use the Explore Tool in Google Slides. The Explore tool in Google Slides is awesome for students too. 

How will you use the Explore tool?

 

Advanced

Tech Tip: Use Google Slides to create images to use in other Google Workshop tools.

You can use slides to create images to use as Google Keep headers, as shown in this tutorial video: How to Create Images & Banners Inside Google Slides. You can also apply the same concept to create images for Schoology course pictures, posters, feedback stickers, and more. 

What will you create with Google Slides?

Tech Tip Tuesday #6

 

Today's question from a reader: 

I'm seeing QR codes more frequently, what are they and how can I use them? 

QR Codes 101

According to Wikipedia, "A QR code (an acronym for Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) invented in 1994 by the Japanese automotive company Denso Wave. A barcode is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached. In practice, QR codes often contain data for a locator, identifier, or tracker that points to a website or application." 

While QR codes have been around for some time, the pandemic has made them even more popular. I see QR codes in restaurants to access online menus. If you are interested, click here for a New York Times article on this topic.

How to Scan a QR Code

Most smartphones have a QR reader built into the native camera app. To scan a QR code, open your camera app and point it at the QR code. Then follow the directions on your screen. On my iPhone, I need to click the link in the pop-up notification. 

On Chromebooks, you can scan QR codes the same way - with the built-in camera app. There is a tutorial with pictures at Create and Scan QR codes with a Chromebook. This is only true for Chromebooks running OS89 or higher so it doesn't work Chromebooks that can no longer update, like my staff Chromebook.

How to Create a QR Code

Chrome has recently made it super easy to create a QR code - just a click on the QR button in your URL bar! For more information, check out Share pages with a QR Code. 

QR Codes in the Classroom

If you are interested, here are some ways to use QR codes in the classroom:

* 8 Ways I Make Learning Fun by Using QR Codes in The Classroom at We are Teachers

* How to Use QR Codes in the Classroom — 17 Great Ideas for Teachers

Have you used QR codes? What has been your experience? 

Tech Tip Tuesday #5

Today's Tip: Get to know your Chromebook, and help students get to know theirs too!

Trackpad Tips:

Keyboard Shortcuts:

Click here to view the full-size printable image created by @DLFedder using Canva.

More Resources:

- Getting To Know Your Chromebook

- Chromebook Care Tips (from the Tech Tip Tuesdays Archive)

What keyboard shortcut do you use the most often?

Tech Tip Tuesday #4

Today's Topic: Chrome Bookmarks

Wait, what?! Aren't bookmarks for books?

Tech Tip: Bookmark the website you use every day.

Make Synergy, Schoology, and whatever else you use on a regular basis a little more accessible by creating bookmarks within Chrome. Check out this Create, view & edit bookmarks tutorial in the Google Chrome Help Center to get started.

Okay, so I have a bunch of bookmarks and can't find what I need! 

Tech Tip: Organize your bookmarks. 

Create bookmark folders and organize your bookmarks by category, subject, class, etc. Check out this How to Organize Chrome Bookmarks and Use Folders video for a tutorial and more information. 

Students have an "EC Bookmarks" folder that has all the essential bookmarks (EC Homepage, Schoology) on their bookmarks bar. Consider encouraging students to create a folder for your class with bookmarks to your online textbook and other frequently visited sites.

What websites will you bookmark?