Google Classroom

Move over Edmodo and Schoology in SD#2; Google Classroom might kick you out of the arena!

Favorites of Classroom:

• Easy-it should require no PD for even the most novice teachers
• Turn In Button-YES, you read me right!  If a teacher sets up classroom their students will have a "turn in" button inside their drive!
• Folders!-Classroom will automatically create folders for students and teachers and assignments will be filtered.  No more drive disorganization!
• Seamless-it seamlessly works with Drive
• Any device-it is agnostic
• The lead on the project was an actual classroom teacher at one time...Power to the Teachers

Concerns to Deal With:

• Teachers and students must be on the same domain.  Therefore in my district this will take some logistical magic by our wonderful Domain Administrator, Malachi
• It's following the Google philosophy of iteration, therefore it's a work in progress

Don't worry if you haven't been invited yet they are batching out invites, but by September it should be available!  

GTA Blues

The worst part about finishing a Google Teacher Academy event is the constant desire to work on innovation...I have a vacation to go to and this desire to "Google" is cutting in. In reflection the event was well worth it and I feel re-invigorated to share technology integration!

The network of past GCT's that have already networked, offered support and opportunities in a mere 24 hours is astounding.  Doors opening and ideas are flowing.

Agenda overview of GTA

Day one of GTA reflections

Google Teacher Academy in one word....FINALLY!  My biggest take away is that happiness and engagement in the classroom is the goal of Google.


More interestings from day 1:
As an educator who is often the most excited, eager and outspoken it was a weird dynamic to be one of the quietest educators in a room. This was not because my voice was overlooked but because every teacher in the room is passionate!  We learned we were chosen for these three attributes:

1. Outstanding Educators
2. Creative Leaders
3. Ambassadors for Change

Things I want to continue to explore from our Lead Learners (aka Awesome GTC's):

• http://www.steegle.com/
• www.solveforx.com
• Photo grid….take pictures and random groups using photo grid
• Learning on the Loo as a quick form of PD for teachers on GAFE
• Google Cultural Institute http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/home
• http://timeline.knightlab.com/
• www.madewithcode.com
• And so much more!

Getting into MTV GTA

Last night I felt like it was the night before my first day of high school (as a student and teacher). Today! Today! is the day I meet my Google Teacher Academy cohort for the Mountain View (MTV) 2014 Certified Educator experience.

TODAY, is also the day I thought I would start blogging about GTA. First off GTA stands for Google Teacher Academy. Second off, how did I get here? Let me explain.

 Step 1)
Pass the Google Educator Exams After passing the 4 required and 1 elective test you are a Google Educator. I did this after my wonderful friend Ann Brucker completed her Google Educator status

 Step 2)
Apply for the academy
 This step has several sub steps and here are my suggestions of why I think I was "selected" for GTA
-Share! How do you share your technology integration? Lots of the questions on the application included what conferences you give and how you train it forward! I learned early from my mentor, Desiree Caskey, that sharing is what it's all about. Do you live in a tiny town with no people to train? Well, that's no excuse; build up your Twitter and Google+ presence....SHARE, SHARE, SHARE.

 -Video! Again my friend Ann Brucker helped me here as I had to use the new iMovie to create my video entry. The entry is less than one minute and it's looked at only one or two times. How do I know this? I checked out the views as soon as I received my acceptance email. Here is my video 

-Resume! Make a resume to share with Google. I think this is where I got "lucky"! I had just finished hanging out with the MT Beyond the Chalk boys and I incorporated my newly learned Googliness to my resume: here is my resume As you can see I used tons of Google Extensions in my resume, such as Google Shortner and One Tab.

 Okay...more will be added about my GTA experience but now it's time to use my Google Map to scope out where I need to be in a few hours! Go Google!

Is it worth it?

When imposing change and trying to lead teachers toward mastering their craft is it worth it? This last week, this question came up repeatedly. There are so many amazing teachers but there are also some who won't do an ounce of extra nor are they nice. I reflected on this and for the lazy...I have no words of wisdom but for the grouchy and territorial I have decided (perhaps for my own sanity) that they are threatened that they aren't as good as they believe. Here are some "WHY" questions if you are cranky with Technology coaches: -Why would you not want to share with colleagues? -If recognized as a leader why do you keep what you do with technology a secret? -What is your mission with technology and why keep what you are doing isolated to your classroom, department or school instead of sharing it with the district? -Why would you send an email with capital letters to a colleague, ever, especially when it is negative? -Why are older teacher mean to younger teachers? -Why do teachers feel they are entitled to the classes, rooms, stipends, etc. just because they have put in their time? -Why do you belittle colleagues who get awards? -Why don't you reply to technology coaches when working together helps everyone? -Why are you so sensitive? -Why do you think your job is so much harder? -Why do you think your life is so much busier? When a pedagogical coach tries to work with you please be thoughtful of your district and at least respond kindly...they are also busy.

GTA Team 2014

http://www.tagxedo.com/artful/24ca0f07dda54e41

Google Take Out

Seniors are almost on there way....they can use this tool to save their awesome Google creations.