Google+

I am a social networking addict.  I love connecting, communicating, and collaborating I cannot get enough.  I take part in weekly twitter chats where I can get a plethora of information.  Facebook is where I socialize.  And Google+ has now become my go to place to communicate and find resources.  I am loving the compatibility it has with all the other google apps and it is growing.  The user friendly and clean features make it fun and appealing as well.  Below is my list of ways people can use Google+ in education to enrich their overall experience in the classroom and potentially outside the classroom.

1. A great LMS: Edmodo, Lore, Schoology, etc. are great but it's kind of like tricking kids into social networking and they catch on fast.  Using an LMS is a great way to keep things organized and communicate with students and I think Google+ can be accessed in this way by creating a Community for your class.  If you are a GAFE school this can be done if your administrator gives students access to Google+.  I have started implementing this in my classroom.  The students are using a school account so rules apply.  I think it is a great way to teach digital citizenship, keep contact, and keep things organized (assignments, due dates, discussions, etc.).

2. Staff Meetings and Collaboration: About a week ago I had a meeting to attend but I was not available, but because we are a GAFE school I was able to join in on the meeting via google hangout.  It was a great experience and it was just like being there.  I think it's a great idea to get staff involved on Google+.  Staff can post updates on what is going on in their classes, events can be lined up, and it's a great way to communicate and share information.

3. Resource Center:  Since Google+ has opened up their community feature (similar to groups/pages on Facebook) people are able to connect in a new way.  People (especially teachers) love sharing information and joining these communities is a great way to access this shared information.  Some good ones to join are Google Apps for Education, Google Apps in Education, EdTech, Tech in Edu., and Educational Technology.

Chromebooks

Imagine a laptop that is simply a web browser with multiple options for web apps.  It sounds crazy but this is the concept behind the chromebook, Google's take on a laptop.  No more Microsoft Office, Firefox, Safari, or the horrid Internet Explorer.  No more movie maker, garage band, iphoto, etc.  The Chromebook takes away the world of software and programs and replaces them with a world totally immersed in the web.  You can download apps for the chromebook, but everything is saved to the cloud as there is limited memory on the device.  You simply type everything on Google docs, it saves automatically to the cloud and there are no worries of a crashed hard drive, viruses, or any other bad thing that could happen to your normal computer.  It does need internet access to run, unless you download the offline apps that will allow some function outside of a wifi area.  They are simplicity at the max, but amazing at that.  Everything is synced properly.  All google apps are obviously compatible and once a user logs in tot he chromebook using their google username and password they never have to log in to any other google app again.  The most amazing part is the speed.  Ten (10) seconds to boot up.  WHAT...10 seconds.  No long annoying updates before use, you can choose when to update and the updates are quick.  You can use any typical web app (similar, Macbooks, Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, etc.) as you are online anyway.  The trackpad and keyboard are similar to Macbooks.  No more clutter as you can't save anything to your computer and the desktop will become obsolete.  Great management from a teacher and tech director's standpoint.  Anyone can log on to any device as long as they have a google account.  Simply put they are amazing.  They are cheap to with the Acer model at 199 and the Samsung model at 249.

I understand this post is a little sporadic and rambly (not a word but you get what I am saying), but these things blew my mind today when I was being shown them and playing around with them.

Just another nerdy google apps post

Did you know you can record your google+ hangouts and upload them via YouTube?  Well you can and it's pretty awesome for multiple reasons.  Whether it's flipping your classroom, recording a lecture, keeping meeting notes, or whatever floats your boat you can share them with the world to see (which has its downsides).  Here's a step by step approach to recording and uploading:

1. You have start a hangout by clicking the "Start a Hangout" button on your Google+ profile...it looks like this:

2. You then need to title your hangout, invite people, and click the option "Enable Hangout on air".

3. It will ask you if you want to verify your YouTube account (do it).  Then start the hangout.

4.  To start recording you need to click "Start Broadcast" at the top of the screen.  This will create a live broadcast (obviously) for people to watch on YouTube.  Once the Google+ Hangout is over the live feed will be automatically replaced with a recording and people will be able to view anytime after that.

Tweet Me

I just had a conversation with a bunch of different people, learned a lot of valuable information, interacted, multitasked, and never left my living room.  In fact I never actually saw any of these people. we were discussing the 1 to 1 initiative and it was a valuable experience, nothing new to me, but valuable nonetheless.  With the combined forces of organization, social networking, and enthusiasm the conversation became beauty in a matter of seconds.
I logged onto my twitter account at 8:00pm, saw one of the people I am following hash-tagged 1to1techat, I clicked the hashtag, and was transported into a full out conversation among people all across the state and potentially nation.  This is a wonderful thing and everyone should be using this.  Social Networking has turned into something so great.  It's not just to meet people anymore.  No, social networking takes it a step further.  It's simply amazing.  Not really a lot more to say about this besides try it out, and if you don't a have a twitter account yet, get out from under that rock and join the 21st century.  If you would like to follow me on twitter my username is @schmiaah

Folder Addict

OCD is a condition I don't have, so when you read this post don't be accusatory of my habits.  Take what I am saying and apply to your life and maybe, just maybe you can start to understand why I have a lot of extra time on my hands (yes, even as a 2nd year teacher, 1st year coach, husband, and soon to be father).
People, as a whole, like paper.  We like to hold something, read it, and have control.  We like to file things and know where something is located at all times.  People often ask me why my desk is so clean, and honestly the simple answer is "I'm organized."  It's not a criticism to the askers of the question, as they often reply with, "so am I."  I agree, organization is a skill but it's different for everyone.  I have a file cabinet in my room, but it's empty, I have folders and binders, but, once again, they are empty.  Where's all the paper?  Simple, I don't use it.  I use technology to stay organized.
It takes time to get used to new technologies, and some find it an inconvenience  when in fact it's the complete opposite.  How to go from this:

To this: 

Organize using technology.  This is tough and just takes some getting used to but often times I see cluttered desktops, unorganized inboxes, and horrible navigation techniques.  Simple solution, be efficient, create folders, and constantly check things.  Creating folders is nice because it gives you a trail to follow, you can do this with your files, email, bookmarks, google docs, etc.  When I create something new I put it into an appropriate folder, when I receive an email I evaluate it, if I need it I drop it into a specific folder, if I don't need it I delete it.  I go through my email at least twice a week, using this evaluation method and it saves me a lot of time in the future.

Clutter creates stress, and organization is the key to eliminating that stress.  When my students create documents and share them with me, I have folders already made for each project, and then each class period.  As soon as they send me documents via google drive, I immediately drop it into the specified folder.  I wont lose the document, and I will know exactly where it is.  It does not take that much time to do it, and think about how much stress it can alleviate later on.  I have a clean and clear desktop on the computer in fact here's a picture: 

I only print when I need it and to be honest with you I rely on the students to do most of the printing.  I send them a document and they can either edit it online or print it off themselves.  It saves me time, keeps me organized, and it's efficient.  If I don't need something I delete it.  Why keep something I will never use?  Apply this and make your life easier.  Stay organized, technology is a great tool and can help you stay organized.

Can't Deny It

I am about to be a father for the first time.  This news is exciting and wonderful and I often times think back to my childhood and how different the world will be for my son.  I'm 23 years old, and the way technology has grown is amazing even since I was a young kid.  I grew with a box television, VHS tapes, the walkman, cd's, AIM, dial-up internet, Super Nintendo (and Nintendo 64), and the list goes on.  When I hear people talk about how technology is a major distraction and a major deterrent, though this can be true considering the context, I often shake my head.

I was walking down the toy isle at Target I had this strong realization that technology will have such a huge impact on my kid's life.  Toys that look like smartphones with dial tones designed for babies, toys that require smartphone or iPad apps, tablets designed for toddlers, even Monopoly games that you control with an iPad.  It's impossible to deny that technology has taken over, which implies impending doom, but I don't mean for it to.  My son will grow up quickly learning how to use these devices and it will become second nature.  He will expect speed, convenience, and new technologies constantly.  I have grown up at the ideal time to adapt to this lifestyle, but I still appreciate the technology and the capabilities of the technology before me (mainly because I still remember getting kicked off the internet because someone picked up the phone).  He will take technology for granted and always expect more, not because he is spoiled, but because of the day and age he will grow up in.

On top of all that my son will have the ability to communicate in a different light with people all over the world.  He will be able to find information instantly at the push of the button, and this wont be spectacular it will be expected.  He will learn in a whole new way, he will communicate in a whole new way.  It will be amazing to watch him grow up with a world of possibilites at his fingertips.  To deny the technology is ridiculous, it's here and the impact it will have on future generations will be great and immense.

It's not (so much) about the Technology as it is about Teaching

Overwhelmed, exhausted, overloaded.  These all adjectives that can be associated with new implementations in a school building.  Whether it's text books, curriculum, behavior plans, policies, or technology, educators often become unenthusiastic because of how we view these implementations.  Some are strict where teachers don't have a lot of leeway as to how they take on the new plan, but others are a little more lenient.  Technology happens to be an intimidating tool.  We try so hard to use it, but some of us just don't know how.  Some of us feel we don't have the time, and some of us just feel we have to use it all the time to be successful implementers.  I am here to alleviate that stress with this simple post about how we need to start viewing technology in education.

Technology is a tool not a replacement.  Have you ever tried to fix something, pick up a tool only to find that it's working but the task could be completed faster with a different tool?  Same thing with technology, only use it if it works.  Odd statement, because honestly technology doesn't always work but think about this way: If you seriously can't use technology for an activity then don't.  We don't use textbooks for everything we do, we use them as a tool and supplement to help us, same thing with computers, smart boards, iPads, etc.

Build your lessons without technology and then think of ways to use it in your lesson.  I like my students to journal, and sure I could have them take out a notebook and pen and do this the traditional way, but how boring does that get.  So I say to myself, "I want my students to journal, how can I include technology?"  So I brainstorm and think about what I want the kids to understand and I think of ways to build and foster enjoyment, why not use twitter, pinterest, linoit, blogger, or any other online outlet.  I created my lesson and added in technology later.  Practice this with anything, and don't be disappointed if you can't think of anything sometimes "old-fashioned" works just fine.  I still have my students create poster boards, and handwrite it doesn't make me a bad teacher or make it a bad lesson, it makes me flexible.

Don't become reliant on technology.  As stated above, sometimes it just doesn't work and the faster you come to terms with this the better off you will be.  Sometimes websites crash, go through strange updates, or anything that prevents your students from working.  Sometimes our lessons don't go as planned either.  Don't give up on technology because of this.  Remember when your first lesson crashed, did you give up on yourself?  No you didn't (hopefully).

Embrace the change.  Technology is advancing way faster than you can imagine.  Futuristic technologies are already here.  Suck it up and deal with it.  Better yet be excited to be living in an era where this change is transforming how we teach our students.  It's an awesome (excuse my overused adjective) time to be a teacher or in education in general.  The students use it and we need to stop pretending it's a fad.  Teach how to use it, set expectations, and the students will rise to those expectations.  Don't fear change, don't hide from change, take it full force and become and agent of change.