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Kami

4/30/2021

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Ever want to edit a .pdf? You can with Kami and yes Granite students and teachers have an account using their @granitesd e-mail.
YES, this video is specifically for the BlackOutPoetry - BUT Kami CAN be used to edit any pdf!
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Zoom Update

12/3/2020

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Now that we have our own Zoom account via Granite District and not the state there are a few, but slight, differences.
  1. We found that many users had the Breakout room options turned off.  It is still there but you may need to turn it on.
  2. You can now for a log-in with a school e-mail.  Which will display their "proper" names.  Also good for attendance purpose.
  3. Turn individual chats,  screen sharing, backgrounds and name changing on or off!

    There are too many options to go through them all but watch the video below for some import basic ones for teachers.
​
These options are best set using the https://zoom.us/ website and can be "somewhat" edited in individual meetings.
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Zoom Quckie

11/6/2020

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I keep saying how “Complicated” zoom is because of the options at set up.

It does not have to be!

​Here is a Quick way to set up zoom meeting without all the fuss… and NOT let students change their name.
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Zoom Safely

11/6/2020

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Zoom has many options and has always been a great tool.  With many options comes much confusion and … many options.
 
One option is for a user (such as teenager) to change their display name and picture.  I am sure you can imagine where that could go…(and has gone).  Of course teachers should kick anyone out with improper names.  BUT What if one Kid types another kids name… and says “rude” things?...
 
Have less fear as there are options!
  1. Don’t use zoom if you are concerned.
  2. Google Meet and Teams both force users to their respective usernames and images.
 
If you use Zoom (options) details are below.
  1. Force the user to “require authentication” see below on what the teacher does and what the student will see.
  2. Or, after your meeting starts In the participants list you have an option to Allow (by checking) or NOT allow by unchecking the box that says “Allow user to change display name”  Be sure it is UNCHECKED.  It seems to be checked by default.
Picture
Picture
Picture

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Cheating?

10/26/2020

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A Utah student is in the National/World news for creating a popular cool program!
https://oklahomawatch.org/2020/10/23/cheat-codes-students-search-for-shortcuts-as-virtual-schooling-expands/
Too bad it’s for “cheaters”!
 
And it is on PBS, Frontline
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/students-search-for-shortcuts-as-virtual-schooling-expands/
 
(Some items from the article)
…Quizlet, another homework help website, entire test keys are posted
…said she found 90% of the answers for her senior English and history classes online
…“they were classes I needed to graduate and none of that information I will need in my career.”
 
My input is that these kids are not “cheating on purpose”  They may sincerely look for a help and type in the question from the book or other sources… And google does it’s job to find the same question… and possibly an answer.  Posted by, maybe even a teacher doing a side gig for a different website such as Brainly! https://boards.greenhouse.io/brainly.  We teach students how to find answers and content on-line.  Now when they look up content.. they’re cheating?
 
Best part of it all
is the fact that In person teaching (us, and our jobs) are wanted/needed!
“He believes the best tool to combat cheating is cementing the student to teacher relationships.”

Yes, recoding or manipulated a website to take a picture of a higher score on the student screen... Is cheating.  Looking up an answer on the internet - not cheating.
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Adobe Acrobat forms

10/21/2020

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Caveat - Acrobat is a very powerful and there are other ways to create a form!  I believe this to be the simplest way as teachers already have numerous documents / worksheets already created.

First of all - Why


​Students cannot edit your form.  They fill in the text boxes you "create".  It can be best described as a digital worksheet.  Why not just give students the Word or Google Document then?  Watch the video to compare a student filling in a Word document vs. Filling in a pdf form.

Download Acrobat Pro DC


​You will need Acrobat Pro to create a form.  You have access to it with your @graniteschools.org account by logging in to Adobe Creative Cloud.  It is simple but may ask you to log in the first time and run some updates.

How to create an easy table


​You more than likely have some "worksheets" already made in Word or Google.  Don't re-create anything.  However it is best if  you have "answer spots" for your students to write their answers in.  Those become the fillable fields in the form.

As the user


​Open the .pdf as any file. 
Fill it out.
Save it
​Send it.

A little more complex...

How I created the first form (worksheet) above in the first video.

Quick short summary
  1. Download Adobe Acrobat DC
  2. Create or open document with answer spots.
  3. Save it as pdf.
  4. Open it in Acrobat DC
  5. Use the tools on the right and click on "Prepare form"
  6. Yes you want to use the current document.
  7. All your "Answer lines" should turn in to fillable boxes or lines.
  8. Save it!
  9. Send it to students via Canvas / Google.
Students:
  1. Open the file you give them via Google or Canvas.
  2. Fill out the form
  3. Save it as any file. Perhaps have them type their name in the title too.
  4. Turn in via file upload as we do in Canvas.
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Scan using Apple Notes

9/8/2020

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I get a lot of "calls" asking to install or how to use our scanners.  Scans are great to take a paper document to turn it in to a .pdf and post on your Canvas page.  But did you know you might have one of the best scanners already in your hand? 
Your iPhone!  Using Notes and be sure you are logged in to Notes with your Apple ID.  Watch the video to learn how.
  • Open Notes
  • Create a new note
  • Click the Camera button
  • Select Scan Document
  • Scan the document "paper" click the record or take picture button
  • Save it
  • Upload (Share to) to your Google Drive.
    YOU MUST already be logged in to your Google Drive app on your phone.
  • I created a folder called Scans.
  • Go to your Google Drive on a computer.  Find the scans folder and share it just as you would  a normal document to link or embed on your Canvas page.
Much easier than using your PC or copier.
Why NOT  a picture? Compare them yourself!
Below are non-edited Scan vs a Picture of the same document taken the same way.
  • A "Scan" looks for the image to "scan"
  • It saves as .pdf
  • Here is a Picture
  • Here is Scan
Picture
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Flipped

7/28/2020

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Students do what they can at home.  PreRead, Read instructions. Watch a lecture. Do the pre-reqs - then come to the classroom for help, and ask questions of the professional teacher and work with classmates.  In the classroom students do the "activity" depending on your topic or class.  It has a name - The Flipped Classroom.

When I was in the science classroom students would come in with the "pre-lab" questions completed as homework.  Then they could get started right away on the lab.  If they did not have the pre-lab done they did not have time to do the lab (the fun part) during that class period.
Obviously some classes or lessons work much better than others but they say any classroom can be flipped.  And yes there are variations of a flipped classroom.  The age 0ld problem as always is getting kids to do their homework.

A few years ago I was involved in a conference called #FlippinUtah.  Some of the links gathered at that time are still relevant and some are gone.  But the Flipped classroom is still here and will be making a comeback during COVID-19.
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Cameras

7/28/2020

1 Comment

 
I am getting asked a bunch about cameras and filming (recording teacher) lessons.  So here are my thoughts....
  • You do not need a camera. Use your chrome book or laptop.  If you need one please come see me.
  • Use ScreenCastify.  Instructions are here on the blog somewhere! When opening it, chose "Camera Only" and it does not capture your screen.
  • When recording be sure to stay in the recording screen.
  • Have a helper watching to move or point the laptop (as you would a camera).
  • Edit it if you feel the need.
More thoughts!
  • I believe in making things simpler for classroom teachers. You already have a camera and software to make videos.
  • Don't use video editing software such as iMovie or Adobe's Premier.  See above.  KISS etc.  Stick to YOUR content, you are not making professional videos - you're teaching math or other content!
  • Sure, go ahead make a few good ones to see that it can be complicated and time consuming.

If you did (do?) have a camera...

  • Where does the video save? Disk, "phone"
  • Do you need to get it to your computer?
  • ​Will you edit it?
  • How will you get the video to Canvas?

Yes, I have answers to all those questions but....

A laptop and screencastify is pretty much... 2 clicks!
  • Click the copy sharable link button in screencastify
  • paste it into Canvas.
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Great Extensions

5/15/2020

1 Comment

 

Attendance, Reactions, Grid view

Yes, we are getting close to the end of our quarter of Covid19 but I don't think this teaching style is going to go away.  Here are a few extensions that you will probably love after you use them.  
  • Grid view - is mentioned in another post but shows up again here.
  • Nod Reactions https://chrome.google.com/webstore/
    Great feedback from students.  They can raise hands and send emojies.  Students will need to download extension and install on their end too.  Give them the link to download it.
  • Attendance.  Two options:
    • Google Meet Attendance - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/
      Very simple to use right click on the Users and select Meet attendance to download a spreadsheet of who is in your meet.
    • Meet attendance https://chrome.google.com/webstore 
      Many more options but that makes it more cumbersome too.  I thought it was too much and did not review it in the video.
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