Generating LOTS of QR codes is easy in Google Spreadsheets!

Do you even NEED to create lots of QR codes for self-checking workstations, scavenger hunts, bulletin boards, etc? Jeanette did! Google spreadsheets made it so easy! We used a formula to generate columns of QR codes that then can be easily printed and used! Jeanette laminated the codes on this cute owl stationary and had a self-checking multiplication workstation in no time!
The formula is:

=image("https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150x150&cht=qr&chl=" & B2)

(when the information you what the QR code to disclose is in cell B2). Don't have the information in cell B2? You can change the formula to look to any cell you want!

Need more information than just access to the formula? Watch this brief video that walks you through the entire process that Jeanette used! I think you'll find using Google spreadsheets to generate your QR codes a real time saver!

Driving Questions and PBL

Today, my friend Amanda Breland sent me a link to Andrew Miller's blog post on How to Write Effective Driving Questions for Project-Based Learning. Amanda is an amazing educator who has taken this year to dig deep into her practice and is striving to provide authentic ways to engage students in their learning. (More to come on her soon!) She saw an opportunity for her students, as she puts it, "a cool way for kids to practice academic language and effective questioning" through the use of the Tubric. While my friend, Carrie feels the Tubric is a little gimmicky (I can see where she is coming from.), I like the "Framing Words" a LOT because I find them very inviting and inclusive!

I've been "thinkering" (thanks, Sara) about questioning for the past year or so having spent a great deal of time with Sara Wilkie who is a master "questioneer" and thinker. She has really helped me to examine my practice and is probably responsible for me even attempting this post.

I took a few moments and read his post and really liked it too. So much so, that I decided to look for some other posts (He refers to the next one he was going to write at the end, but I haven't found it yet.) and found another one, Getting Started with Project-Based Learning (Hint: Don't Go Crazy). Here, Andrew does a terrific job of listing some of the "pitfalls" teachers can fall into when attempting PBL. I have worked with a number of teachers who create projects thinking they were engaging students in problem-based learning. So, if you're thinking you also fall into that hole, take a look at his post.

I have been very hesitant of posting resources about project-based learning because I try to avoid big labels. Maybe it is because I have seen the labels misused, maybe I am fearful of them, maybe it is because there is lots of good teaching that happens without labels, I don't know. However, I have enjoyed the time I have taken on this short journey this morning, and hope that you have found some resources here that might be helpful for you!

For more on questioning, visit http://balancedtech.wikispaces.com/Questioning and http://www.fno.org/nov97/toolkit.html

Also, just purchased Making Thinking Visible and can barely wait to start!

What are your thoughts/experiences with developing thoughtful questions? Got additional resources? Share them!

Managing your data transition: Google Drive and Chrome Sync

Last night, I was still thinking about how we could help teachers with their data migration from their old teacher laptop to their new one. Thanks, Cathy Roth at Woodview! Here are some tips!

Chrome Sync:
We spent some this after their training setting up Chrome Sync for her. I realized that teachers first thought is to sign in to Chrome on their new laptops which is what Cathy did. However, in order to have anything to "sync" she needed to sign into Chrome on her old laptop first, click Yes, to sync the data, and THEN sign into the new laptop.

Google Drive and MS Office (and more):
While teachers can use the Data Migration Tool to transfer their files and folders from their old laptop, I have heard a few say they wish they hadn't done it because it brings everything over - even some junk they didn't want. Another option for teachers is to create a folder, drag their desired files and folders into that one and then up to their SAN folder and then drag it down to their new computer.

Cathy actually uses her personal folders in Outlook to store emails with important attachments. She was terribly concerned about losing them. We imported her data file (personal folders) while I was there and she was a very happy camper! As I was leaving though, I suggested she consider just transferring those files to her Google Drive. Then, she would have access to them no matter where she was, no worries at VPN or setting up Outlook on another computer. She WOULD have to open all the emails and download the attachments, but if she Installed Drive to her desktop, then she could just drag everything into here Google Drive.


When you do download drive to your desktop, you'll log into your Google Apps account and a Google Drive shortcut will appear on your Desktop as well as in your folder structure in File Explorer.

Every time you connect to a network, your Google Drive will sync and your files will be updated. You aren't limited to only Google files either! You can also save your MS Office files, your pictures, your flipcharts, etc. to Google Drive.

This video from Google Gooru  provides a quick explanation of how to save your MS Office files to Drive.

QR Codes - They REALLY are easy to make!

I know there have been a lot of blog posts (I'll link to them here.) over the past several years about using QR

codes in the classroom; yet, we see very little of their use taking off in our classrooms. As we begin the new year with new teacher laptops (They really are coming!), please consider giving QR codes a go! There are so many ways they can help students, staff and parents access information quickly, and they work across all mobile devices.

Here is a Google presentation that I have used over the past several years to train teachers. There are lots of ideas for HOW to use them in the classroom pictured. Many teachers seemed to like the idea of using a QR code to "attach" a student's digital project (Ex: Prezi, Google Presentation, Stupeflix, or YouTube video) to their paper notebook such as a Intereactive Journal. That way, when students and teachers want to view all of the work around a particular topic, everything is right there. Very handy!


Recently, I came across this Prezi by Nicole Zumpano which is worth a view! She shares lots of different QR code generators and apps as well as some terrific ideas for classroom use.

Creating and Using
Since we are a Google Apps district, probably the easiest way to create them (in addition to Google Spreadsheets) is by using the goo.gl Chrome extension (which you should be using for a number of reasons anyway)! To read them, I have had great success with the QR Code Reader and Scanner app  for the iOS devices although there are zillions out there and you should spend some time playing with several to suit your needs/personality!

If you need to create a number of QR codes, say you're making a self-checking workstation, then using this
formula is really handy (directions for setting this up is in my presentation above).
  =image("https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150x150&cht=qr&chl=" & A2)

Additional resources for QR Codes in the Classroom
http://www.schrockguide.net/qr-codes-in-the-classroom.html
http://www.pinterest.com/tabithacarro/qr-codes-in-the-classroom/
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/04/qr-codes-explained-and-ideas-for.html#.UrSCe_RDvh4

So, start out the year with a new tool in your toolkit! You'll be glad you did! Leave a comment and let us know how you're using QR codes in the classroom!

Thinklink Revisited

Over a year ago, I wrote this blog post about Thinglink. I thought I'd give you an update with several other blog posts about how to use this tool in your classroom! I also just read about their Educator account which

is FREE so you can manage your student accounts (even under 13 with permission - see their terms of service)! You must act today! All new teacher accounts created BEFORE the end of December will have access to Thinglink Premium features!

Just a refresher - Thinglink allows you to upload an image and tag parts and pieces of the image with links, videos, embeds and more. Think about how YOU could even use it in a presentation or lesson!

Here, Susan Oxnevad shares 10 Innovative Ways to Use ThinkLink in the Classroom.

I just saw this tweet from her using Thinglink... Flexible Learning Paths.

Are u using @ThingLink_EDU? Learn how 2 sign up for a free upgrade & create images like this http://t.co/hc9dF59o2m | http://t.co/qiKj6LNnE5
— Susan Oxnevad (@soxnevad) December 17, 2013

Interesting Ways to Use Thinklink in the Classroom post by Jamie Forshey embeds a collage of famous composers Thinglink which links to music and biographical info. Cool! She also gives ideas for similar Thinglinks in other content areas. Bet you have some ideas! How can you add to the list? Comment below!

Lastly, visit the Thinglink Pinterest boards!

What's stopping you from trying Thinglink?

Thank You Mrs. Wideen! - Some terrific ideas for using technology in the classroom!

I happened upon Mrs. Wideen's Blog today and found several terrific posts! Her post from Saturday, Different Ways to Generate Ideas Using Technology , shows how she has used Popplet and Padlet (with Chirp) and Write About. Take a look at her examples!


The other one I explored was her post from September - 6 Ready to Go iPad Centers! Here she has links so you can download them and use them the next day!

• The first one uses the app Write About which has a free version. The "write about" can be sent to the Camera Roll as a picture and/or students could record themselves reading their "write about." From there, the possibilities for sharing are endless!
• The second one is a fluency station using Audioboo - also free. I would suggest that you check your settings and not allow location services and teach students not to upload their own photograph. We have developed a similar workstation. Here are links to our documents. Workstation and Rubric   There is also an Audioboo app in the Edmodo store - $4.99 for unlimited use with your groups. I think it might be a little more secure, but I don't yet have experience with it.
• The third one uses the Pocket Zoo app. The app costs $2.99 and looks really cool. If you don't have the money to spend, I'm wondering if you could find some free animal cams - such as this one, and still use her recording sheet (or create your own)!
• The fourth one is a math center using the Draw and Tell app. It costs $1.99. Again, if looking for free, I think you could create a similar experience using EDUcreations, ScreenChomp or ShowMe.
• The fifth one uses a recording of The Napping House by Audrey Wood from YouTube. I don't know how she had the YouTube app going directly to the recording, but you could use a QR code reader app to scan a QR code you had made or create a "web clip" to the recording. Then, the students use Explain Everything, a $1.99 purchase by you could also use EDUcreations, ScreenChomp or ShowMe.
• The sixth station is a measurement station (non-standard measurement) and uses Explain Everything as well.

Thanks again to Mrs.Wideen for sharing. How can you modify or tweak her workstations to work for you and your students? Please share your ideas below!

Google in Education Online Courses

Google has released several self-paced online courses designed to help you meet your teaching and learning

goals. For teachers in Spring Branch, the following courses would be most beneficial:
Google Drive for Educators
Chrome and Chromebooks for Education
Internet 101

By registering for the course, you can track course progress and take the assessment(s).
To received district PD credit for taking the course, simply request out of district credit in Workshop and attach documentation.

Formpl.us - Add File Uploads to your Google Forms!

Wow! Have you ever wanted to have people actually attach a file to a Google Form? Form+ (Formpl.us) does just that. Watch Randy Rodgers short video and learn how! It's as easy as adding the Form+ app and creating a form!  I can see teachers really enjoying this capability. Students could attach Word documents, pdfs, pictures, and more...

AND, a big plus - you can access the Camera Roll and Camera on an iOS device! So, teachers could use these forms to collect work done non-digitally at a workstation!
Thanks Miguel Guhlin for sharing!