FETC Video Reviews

There are many resources that can be found at our fingertips to help us grow as individuals. Quite frankly there isn’t much you couldn’t learn about by simply doing an online search. The reality is that for most the vastness is almost overwhelming. I want to take a few minutes to review a couple of videos from the 2015 FETC - Future of Education Technology Conference that may help us narrow the search online and perhaps provide resources that can be used right now. Both videos reviewed below focus the use of tools powered by Google. If you didn’t already know Google is more than just a search engine.

The first is a video entitled Three Ways Google Tools Can Save Teachers Time. Rushton Hurley, the lead speaker for Next Vista for Learning, share ways teachers can save time using technologies. In reality, the video talk almost as much about the appropriate mindset and philosophy of a 21st century educator. Key points from this 41 minute presentation include: 1) don’t reinvent the wheel, 2) use tools to be more efficient with understanding student understanding, 3) use collaboration in your classroom for notes and shared learning. If you are familiar with Google, you will be well aware of the tools they have to do these very things. Let’s take a closer look at Mr. Hurley’s ideas through a list of ideas.

If you design lessons with videos or powerpoints, consider using the vast collection online instead. By using “filetype:” you can narrow your search to just the types of things you are looking for. For example, “technology leadership filetype: ppt” will get only powerpoints about the area of technology leadership. This is certainly a handy tool to narrow your search.

Google Drive contains a wonderful collection of tools to help us streamline our processes. Google Forms could help complete a quick check for understanding, while Google Docs allows us to share and collaborate on document at the same time. These are all at your fingertips just by creating a free Google account. Most school are even using this tool as a Google School. You can register your school with a gmail domain to give access to students and teacher to utilize all these tools for free.

Finally, we can’t forget about the power of Youtube. There are so many video showing how to do almost anything. Mr. Hurley suggests adding “tutorial” to the search when you want to know how to get visual steps on a process. For example, if you want to learn how to use Google Forms just type “Google Forms Tutorial.”


A second video is Hidden Secrets of GAFE (Google Apps for Education). Within this 47 minute video Mindra Wise, a Technology Facilitator, digs deeper into some of the finer points of the Google Apps and explains a little more about tools Google has to offer. Again, let’s list a few of the points Mindra talks through.

In Google Docs, Sheets, Forms and Slides there are number of features that to assist learners. One is the share feature which allows the owner to invite other to become editors with them in the document and make it public. Additional these editors can go back to previous versions to restore deleted text or check the history of edits. Using the “Explore” tool allows you to add research information and automatically adds the reference for you.

There are many other Add-on features within the Apps that allow you do more than the basics. Using these add-ons is as simple as clicking and searching what you are looking for.

Google Classroom continues to grow in and it is a wonderful way to connect classrooms together while staying connected to all the tools of Google. It is available only if you have a Google For Education Member.

Google Calendar also offers a variety tools beyond just a schedule. You can invite and schedule appointments.

In addition there are a number of Extension that you can add to Google Chrome. These extensions allow you to do more with Google. Some featured items include Tab Scissor and Tab Glue. This allows you to split your tabs into two screens. Screencastify allows you to video your screen as you go.

As I reflect on the presenters work here, I consider how I might implement them at my school. As a leader for my school in this area, I first want to gain some experience with these tools. I hope that connecting with this blog or through Twitter Chats I can learn more about their applications in schools. Then as I grow, I will look for opportunities to share the skills I have acquired through both formal professional learning and informal gatherings. As a Google School for Education we have access to these tools. Some of them mentioned here where a part of a day long technology training I did with staff in August. Many of the staff have begun to experiment with these tools. I am excited to see that they are impacting our daily routines.

References

[Fetc - future of education technology]. (2015, February 8). Three ways google tools can save teachers time. Retrieved October 28, 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMZQr8kT4zs&list=PLIgAnl6l23ewfWL_oHYRFSBqwZ9ITfQqf&index=36

[Fetc - future of education technology]. (2015, February 8). Hidden Secrets of GAFE (Google Apps for Education). Retrieved October 28, 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XESMFoH-IHU&index=24&list=PLIgAnl6l23ewfWL_oHYRFSBqwZ9ITfQqf

(n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/

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(n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=google+docs+add+ons+tutorial

@. (n.d.). Google Forms – Easy to create surveys and forms for everyone. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://gsuite.google.com/intl/en_us/products/forms/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=na-US-all-en-dr-bkws-all-all-trial-b-na&utm_content=text-ad-none-any-DEV_c-CRE_146186022706-ADGP_BD - Google Forms - Broad-KWID_43700008720983935&utm_term=KW_google forms-ST_google forms

About Classroom. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6020279?hl=en

Google for Education: A solution built for teachers and students. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://eduproducts.withgoogle.com/?lb=edu-registration&_ga=1.73577937.2115190911.1477683854&__utma=173272373.2115190911.1477683854.1477683854.1477683854.1&__utmb=173272373.4.8.1477683868267&__utmc=173272373&__utmx=-&__utmz=173272373.1477683854.1.1.utmcsr&__utmv=-&__utmk=14652151

Mindra WiseTechnology Facilitator. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.mindrawise.com/

Next Vista for Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.nextvista.org/

B. (2014, February 15). Introducing Screencastify. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfucb1gy8VA

G. (2009, November 18). What is Google Chrome OS? Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QRO3gKj3qw

License, B. 3. (n.d.). What are extensions? Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://developer.chrome.com/extensions

L. (2013, August 15). Google Calendar tutorial: Creating appointment slots | lynda.com. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ97hx8-mdA