Tech Tip Tuesday #11

 

Today's Theme: Tabs in Chrome

Use Tab Search 

Click the little arrow in the upper right corner of Chrome. Use the search bar to type some keywords to find the tab you're seeking or scroll through the list of open tabs.

Use Tab Groups

Right-click (or two-finger click on a trackpad) a tab and select Add Tab to New Group. Enter a name, and if you choose, a color. Drag tabs to join the group, or right-click a tab and select the tab group. Click here for more info.

Pin Tabs

Right-click a tab and select Pin. Pinned tabs are on the left and only show the site's icon. I like this option because I can't accidentally click the x to close the tab.

Bring back a tab
Speaking of... If you accidentally close a tab or window, you can open it again using a keyboard shortcut:
Windows & Chromebooks: Ctrl + Shift + t
Mac: ⌘ + Shift + t

For more information, check out Use tabs in Chrome in the Google Chrome Help Center.

So, how many tabs do you have open?  

Tech Tip Tuesday #10

Today's Tip: Participate in the Hour of Code

December 6-10, is the official Hour of Code challenge. The Hour of Code takes place every year during Computer Science Education Week, but you can host an Hour of Code event any time.

It takes all of us to implement computer science and coding into our courses to ensure students have access to these tools. According to recent research, in Minnesota, only 24% of high schools offer computer science. This is the lowest percent IN THE COUNTRY.

What is the Hour of Code?
According to the official website, "The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science." It's a great way to get started with coding and computer science in your classroom! 

Why coding?
Every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science. It helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity - things we want in all content areas. Computer science ensures students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path.

I don't know anything about coding. Can I still do an Hour of Code in my classroom?

Absolutely! Hour of Code activities are self-guided. All you have to do is try the current tutorials, pick the tutorial you want, and pick an hour. I hosted my first Hour of Code in 2014 and knew almost nothing about coding. I did the tutorials alongside the students and ended up asking a couple of students to help me figure it out. 

Interested?
I recommend checking out the Hour of Code website for more information and commonly asked questions. If you would like, I can meet with you ahead of time to help you choose an Hour of Code activity. If you are doing an Hour of Code during 3rd, 6th, or 7th Hours, I can come to your classroom to support your activity or even lead one for your class. 

More Resources:

Hour of Code How-To Guide

20 ways to celebrate the Hour of Code in ANY class

Additional Activities and Tutorials to Explore:

Code.org's Hour of Code

Disney's Hour of Code

Khan Academy's Hour of Code

Kodable's Hour of Code

Tynker's Hour of Code

How will you be celebrating the Hour of Code in your classes?

Tech Tip Tuesday #9

 

Today's Tip: Use keyboard shortcuts to use YouTube like a pro!

These tips are great for the YouTube videos embedded in the Be Good People curriculum for advisory. If you tell your students you're trying some shortcuts, they probably have a few more to teach us!

Turn captions on/off with the "c" key.
All students can benefit from seeing captions while watching a YouTube video. To turn on captions with the cursor, click the CC button on the bottom right menu of the video. 

Change caption size with the "+" or "-" keys.

Make the text larger by pressing the "+" button on your keyboard. Make the text smaller by pressing the "-" button on your keyboard. Perhaps captions would be better positioned at the top of a YouTube video? Reposition captions by dragging them with your mouse.

Use the spacebar to pause/play a video.
Years ago, a student saved me with this one! After fumbling with the trackpad on my Chromebook to pause a YouTube video during class to discuss, one of my students told me it's so much easier to hit the spacebar. She was right!

Skip ahead on a video with the number keys.
Use the number keys to skip through a percentage of the video. The "1" key skips to 10% through a video, the "5" key skips to 50% through a video, and so on.

Go back or forward 5 seconds with the arrow keys.
Go back 5 seconds by hitting the left arrow.
Go forward 5 seconds by hitting the right arrow.

Restart a video with the "0" key.
Hit the "0" key.

What is your favorite YouTube channel?

At school, I like Cat Trumpet for relaxing music and video while the students have work time. At home, my most-watched channel is definitely Yoga with Adrienne as she helps me bring out my best self.

Tech Tip Tuesday #8

 

Today's Tip: Use extensions and/or screenshots to help transfer grades from Schoology to Synergy.

Tab Resize

Karin mentioned this tip during our grade book settings PLC. The Tab Resize Chrome extension makes it super easy to split your screen into different layouts. The 1 x 2 layout allows you to have Schoology on one half of your screen and Synergy on the other half. Use the Tab Glue Chrome extension to put all your tabs back into one window when you are done. 

Screenshot

Barb mentioned printing the Schoology grade book during our grade book settings PLC. While you can export and print, taking a screenshot of the grades and printing that an image is a great option too. Each OS (operating system) has a different way to take a screenshot. Click here for directions on Chromebooks, Windows, and Macs. 

What tips and tricks do you have for transferring grades at the end of the quarter?