Internet Search Tools: Google Search, Creative Commons & Wolfram Alpha

This week I explored and reviewed some great search tools in Google (and beyond) that could save educators a lot of time and effort when looking for a specific topic, author, type of document, etc.  Additionally, they might also serves as great additions to help "spice up" or add variety to lessons in the classroom.  These tools can also be useful for students when working on assignments, projects or research assignments in the classroom.

Google Search Tools & Creative Commons
I created a Google Slideshow for a potential professional development workshop to display some of the Google Search options available to help educators be more efficient and effective when searching for particular topics.  The Creative Commons is another great (and safe) search tool for teachers and students to gather and utilize material for lesson plans, assignments and/or projects without stressing over copyright issues (great way to teach digital citizenship).  The Slideshow has MANY video tutorials and resource links to help educate and guide you in using these great search tools.

Still didn't find what you were looking for?  Here are some additional resources:

Google for Educators:  The Best Features for Busy Teachers

20 Google Tools Teachers Should Try

The Best Ways to Use Google in the Classroom

Resource Guide: 8 Google Tools for the Classroom

Teaching Students About the Creative Commons

Creative Commons Resources for Classroom Teachers

Creative Commons Search Page

Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha is a "computational knowledge engine" that computes answers to your searches, analyzing potential feedback to provide you with and many facts and bits of information on the topic as possible.  Personally, I believe that this search engine is geared more toward math and science. However, it displays a wide array of main topics to choose from; you just might not get the answers that you were hoping for OR you could get more than you bargained for.  Again, I believe it's all in the topic you are looking for and what you hope to get out of it.  Wolfram Alpha has also created a lesson plans page for educators.  The subjects currently posted are math, science and social studies (if you teach these subjects this is a bonus for you).  Despite a few of these drawbacks, I still believe that this is a very beneficial search site, especially for classroom teachers.  Check out the video tutorials below to learn more about Wolfram Alpha:

Here are some additional videos and resources on Wolfram Alpha:

10 Best Ways to Use Wolfram Alpha Knowledge Engine

4+ Powerful Ways to use Wolfram Alpha for Educating Your Kids

Wolfram Alpha for Educators

Education App Review:  Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha Examples by Topic

Want to know who rates better, Google or Wolfram Alpha?  Watch the Google vs. Wolfram Alpha video below:

Of course, the final call is up to you, the user.  Happy Searching!

Pinterest, Symbaloo & Google Drive Research Tool (Topic: Social Media in Education)

Pinterest
What is Pinterest?  Pinterest is a great social media and resource tool for educators; if you need ideas, I can almost guarantee you will find them there.  Like Twitter, you can follow particular people if you wish, which allows you to see all of their pins, or you can simply pin the specific posts that you want to save to your boards.  Not only that, it is extremely simple to keep all of your pins organized by assigning them to a specific board (i.e. lesson plans, classroom management, educational technology tools, etc.).  You may also search pins by clicking on one of the "listed topics" in the search bar, or you can type in the specific topic, person or group that you might be looking for.  If you would like to learn more about Pinterest, check out the tutorial video below:

If you don't like this tutorial, click HERE to view a different one.

Here are some additional articles, guides, and resource links regarding the wonderful uses of Pinterest in education:

The Teacher's Guide to Pinterest

Using Pinterest in Education

Pinterest and Education

30 Inspiring Pinterest Pins for Teachers

Educators Guide to the Use of Pinterest in Education

Visit my Pinterest page @ https://www.pinterest.com/coach_allen/

Symbaloo

SymbalooEDU is another amazing tool for organizing all of your websites by creating a page called a "webmix."  A webmix can be created for multiple purposes or one specific purpose, topic and/or group (i.e. 1st hour algebra, 2nd grade, Physical Education, Teacher Resources, etc.).  In addition, you may categorize websites within a webmix by color-coding the square that each site represents (i.e. addition, subtraction, reading, writing, technology, etc.).  Each webmix is not only easy to customize, it is also very viewer and user friendly.  There is also a gallery that you may visit to view public webmixes that others have created, or you can search for specific tiles, webmixes or profiles.  If you would like to learn more about Symbaloo, check out the tutorial video below:

If you don't like this tutorial, click HERE to view a different one.  Click HERE for the Symbaloo Users Guide.

Here are some additional articles and resource links to further explore the benefits of Symbaloo in education:

11 Ways to use Symbaloo in the Classroom

Using Symbaloo in Your Classroom

My Top 52 Webtools for Students:  Symbaloo EDU Webmix

Symbaloo Educational Webmixes of Teaching Resources

Visit my Symbaloo Webmix that I created for my SJSD (St. Joseph School District) Teachers & Colleagues.

Google Drive Research Tool (Research Topic: Pros & Cons of Social Media in Education)
This week I got to discover another great resource in Google Drive, the research tool.  It allows you to perform a search for articles, images, etc. while you are working on a document.  Additionally, it also allows you to perform a search in Google Scholar if you are looking for sites or abstracts that are peer reviewed and more reputable sources of information when it comes to doing research papers.  When searching a topic, you can preview the site, insert the link, as well as cite the information right inside your document.  When citing information, you may choose the format (i.e. MLA, APA, etc.) that it is displayed depending on your institutions or instructors particular writing format, which is extremely useful.  It will then number and cite your source at the bottom of the page to match the material above.  To learn more about the Google Drive Research tool, please watch the videos below:

Click HERE if you want to see one more tutorial video.

Here are some additional articles and resource links to further explore the benefits of Google Drive's Research Tool:

Google Research Tool

Using Google Docs Research Tool in the Classroom

Research Tool Added to Google Presentation

How Google Docs' Research Tool Removes Drudgery from Reports and Presentations 

4 Important Google Docs' Features for Student Researchers

How to Organize your Research with the Power of Google Drive

Feel free to check out my Social Media Research assignment that I created investigating the pros and cons of using social media in education using the Google Drive research tool.     

Google Keep, Lesson Plan Websites, Organizational & Time-Saving Tools

Google Keep
Google Keep is an excellent way to stay organized.  Not only can you take notes on various materials, you can also share check-lists, reminders, or send short notes to others.  The color-coding and labeling options help you to filter your messages by type (i.e. blue = school, red = to-do, yellow = personal, etc.).  Color-coding or labeling by category makes the search feature much easier at a later time if you have a lot of notes saved over time.  The mobile app allows you to keep working on the go by sending audio notes (Android phones only), using images from your photo gallery, as well the ability to work offline (can work offline on your computer too).  The reminder feature is another great asset to Google Keep.  You can set reminders for events so that you never miss a deadline or personal responsibility (i.e. get milk on the way home).  Using Google Keep would be a great way for both students and teachers to jot down quick notes in class, collaborate with others, as well as stay organized and complete assignments on time by setting and receiving reminders.

Want to see how easy it is to use Google Keep?  Watch the Google Keep Tutorial video below.

Want more information on Google Keep?  Check out the links below.

A Step by Step Guide on Everything Teachers Need to Know About Google Keep

Google Keep for Educators and Students

7 Features of Google Keep for You to Teach With

Tips to Using Google Keep in Education

Lesson Plan Websites

There are an abundance of lesson plan sites to help teachers create and/or enhance meaningful lessons for their students.  (In all honestly, usually the best ideas come from other teachers).  This week I had to share some lesson plan sites that would be useful for me to use in my classroom (which happens to be the gymnasium).  Here are a few that I like using to find new or innovative ideas:

Mr. Gym

PE Central

PhysEd Games (my new favorite)

Of course, there are many more to choose from.  Here are a few more that allow you to choose your subject:

Lesson Plans Page

Teacher.org Lesson Plans

Teachnology

Organizational & Time-Saving Tools

I got to explore several organizational and time-saving tools this week.  Let me tell you, there are A LOT of cool sites to help teachers save time and effort, along with staying organized.  Besides Google Keep, which I showcased above, I found these three (Doodle, SignUp Genius, and Remind) to be exceptionally helpful for managing time, meetings and events amongst colleagues, students and parents.  Not only that, many of them also allow you to correspond safely with parents and students and send documents, photos and videos.  Additionally, several of them can be used on multiple devices (i.e. computer, cell phone, iPad, etc.) or multiple outlets (i.e. e-mail, texting, social media venues, etc.).  Feel free to check out my flyer, which lists the benefits of these great time-saving tools:

                                                         

  Time-Saving Tools for Teachers Flyer 

Here are some additional sites that you can check out for staying organized:

10 Free Organizational Tools

TeachersFirst Time-Saving & Organizational Tools (make sure you have some time if you are going to visit this site)

25 Teaching Tools for the Digital Classroom (this one is nicely organized into categories)

Google Drive (Part 2)

This week I explored some additional features and add-ons that can be used in Google Drive.  These add-ons are created to increase the functionality of Google Drive Applications, which will help improve personal productivity by enhancing the tools available when using Google Docs, Forms and Sheets.  Of course, these add-ons are chosen based solely on individual needs and/or preference (i.e. education, business, etc.) and can be installed and uninstalled at any time by the user.  Below, I will share a few of the add-ons and tools that I experimented with this week.  

Google Forms with Flubaroo 
Google Forms has updated its look and a few of its features.  To check out some of the new features, watch the video below:

Click HERE to watch an additional video about the new Google Forms.

Flubaroo is a grading tool add-on that assists teachers by grading assignments and/or quizzes in Google Forms, showing percentages, total points and low scoring questions.  Teachers can also choose to grade questions by hand and it will automatically insert their score once graded.  Additionally, certain questions can also be left ungraded if chosen by the instructor.  Flubaroo definitely decreases grading time for teachers, decreases the amount of wait time of the part of the student in gaining grades and feedback, which allows more time for remediation and/or reteaching.
To learn more about Flubaroo, watch the videos below:

Demonstration of Flubaroo

Installing Flubaroo Add-On & User Tutorial in Google Forms

I have included an example of a Google Form Soccer Quiz that I created for this week's assignment.  Click HERE to view it.  In addition, I also included a screen shot of the graded responses using Flubaroo.

URL Shortening Tool
Googles URL Shortening Tool (Goo.gl) takes long web addresses and automatically shortens them into a more compact form.  This makes copying the address a lot easier for users.  In addition, it also saves both your long and short URL addresses in your history, along with displaying the amount of times the site has been visited.

Google Templates
Google Templates is a great time-saving tool once you find a template that would be beneficial for your personal and/or professional needs.  Templates are divided by types, categories, languages, etc. for more specified searches.  The "preview" option allows you to see a sample of the template before you choose to use it.  In addition, it saves the templates that you have used so that you can use them multiple times if needed.  You can also submit your own templates from Google Drive for public use.

Click HERE to view a Google Templates Tutorial video.

Here are 3 templates that I shared with my classmates:
Yearly Plan Template (caters to PE teachers)
PE Lesson Plan Template
Sports Team/School Group Roster & Schedule Template (caters to coaches and/or group sponsors)

Need some more template ideas?  Check out the links below.
10 Excellent Google Drive Templates for Teachers
24 Google Docs Templates That Will Make Your Life Easier

Report an Add-On (Orange Slice Teacher Rubric)
One of our assignments this week was to find an advanced feature or add-on that might be useful to educators.  I found an add-on that would work well with Google Docs and Google Classroom called Orange Slice Teacher Rubric.  Below is a brief description of this add-on:

If you would like to learn more about Orange Slice Teacher Rubric, watch the video below.

Want more ideas on Add-Ons for Educators?  Click the links below.

28 Ways Google's New Add-ons Can Help Teachers Now

15 Best Google Drive Add-ons for Education

10 of the Best Google Docs Add-ons for Teachers

MORE...you choose

Learning Management Systems (LMS)- Schoology vs. Edmodo

A learning management system (LMS) is ...

As explained in the video tutorial above, a LMS can be used in the classroom for posting assignments, tests, quizzes, important information and/or discussion boards, as well as providing resources to students and parents at home simply by logging in to their instructor's group or course.  It also allows teachers to create professional learning networks with colleagues in order to collaborate and share ideas.
Still don't understand the role of a LMS?  Click HERE to view another video.

This week, I explored two different LMS applications, Schoology and Edmodo.  I will be sharing information about both applications, as well as provide you with a few of my personal "take-aways" during my examination of each LMS.

Schoology
What is Schoology?  Watch the video below.

To view a tutorial on how to create an educator account, as well as learn the basic functions of and tools for using Schoology, watch the video below.

Take a look at the Schoology Help Guide for further assistance.
Here are Ideas for Using Schoology.

Edmodo
What is Edmodo?  Watch the video below.

To view a tutorial on how to create an educator account, as well as learn the basic functions of and tools for using Edmodo, watch the video below.

Take a look at the Edmodo Guide for further assistance.  

Here are 20 Ideas for Using Edmodo.

Schoology vs Edmodo "Take-Aways"
I will allow you to create your own opinion on the LMS you prefer the most.  However, as I explored these two applications, here are a few of the "take-aways" that I discovered (these are merely a glimpse of the surface-I am certain I would find a lot more had I dug deeper):
Schoology
* very organized
* allows users to create a course or a group (i.e. one for students and one for parents)
* media album option and resource option are good tools not offered in Edmodo
* no "polling" option in Schoology
* seemed to contain less available apps than Edmodo
Edmodo
* very user-friendly with easy access to tools
* allows users to create main groups and small groups
* app choice is larger and layout is more friendly
* no media album option or resource option offered
* snapshot only for Math or ELA (need more subjects offered for this tool)

Want to try some additional learning management systems?  Check out the links below:
"The 20 Best Learning Management Systems"
"The Best Learning Management Systems (LMS) for 2016"

Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), Diigo (Social Bookmarking), & Twitter (Social Media PLN)

Personal Learning Networks (PLNs)

A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is a tool that educators use to collaborate, communicate, create, and connect with other colleagues from all around the world by using social media and technology to share resources and information.  Educators can join and/or create multiple PLNs based on their interests, needs and subject area(s).

Still don't understand what a PLN is?  Take a look at the video below.  

This week, we had to find and share a few PLNs that would be beneficial for educators.  Here are a few that I found--feel free to check them out!

The Educator's PLN (recommended for all educators- lots of resources- videos, blogs, forums, etc.)

edWeb (recommended for all educators-find and join learning communities to engage in forums, webinars, etc.)

Edutopia (recommended for all educators- browse topics, watch educational videos, join discussion forums, etc.) 

Here are some more sites for PLNs for Educators:

4 Free PLNs for Teachers

Classroom 2.0

ProTeacher

Need More Help?  Read "3 Steps for Building a Personal Learning Network" or "Teacher's Guide on Creating Personal Learning Networks"

Diigo (Social Bookmarking Tool)

Diigo is a social bookmarking tool that allows you to organize and store all of your favorite bookmarks in one place.  Not only that, you can also join or create groups to share your favorite websites in regards to your interests and/or subject matter (check out the group "The Connected Educator").  Diigo also allows you to create tags that automatically organize your websites into categories (i.e. education, technology, assessment tools, etc.).  This is a great tool to organize your favorite websites, share ideas and collaborate with others.

  

Below is a video on how to use Diigo:

Want to use Diigo in your classroom?  Watch the video below on how to use Diigo in Education:

Twitter (Social Media PLN)

Twitter is a great tool for adding to your Personal Learning Network.  Not only can you follow others and read their tweets, you can also communicate by posting your own tweet, reply to another individuals tweet, or retweet a post that you really like.  Additionally, you can join live chats pertaining to your interests.  Twitter affords educators the opportunity to share ideas, obtain new ideas or resources, as well as communicate and collaborate with other educators.  

Below is a video tutorial on how to use Twitter: (It's lengthy, but worth it if you have the time!)

Need a tutorial that's a little shorter? Here you go!

Want to use Twitter for Professional Development?  Click HERE to see how.

Here are some additional sites that might help you to navigate and gain knowledge on Twitter:

The Beginners Guide to Twitter

The Twitter-a-holics Guide to Tweets, Hashtags, and All Things Twitter

Top 98 Tools for the Twittering Teacher

Educational Hashtags 

Once you have created your account, don't forget to follow me on Twitter @CoachAllen40.  Here are some other Educational Twitter Accounts that you can also look into.  Happy Tweeting!

Blogs, RSS, & Feedly

My opinion on blogs...

I feel that blogs are very beneficial resources for educators.  They are a great tool for exploring and sharing new strategies, ideas and information on a variety of topics.  This limits the need for attending costly and time-consuming seminars, PD sessions, or weekend conventions, which saves school districts and teachers money.  In addition, many blogs are customizable, allowing an educator to find blogs that relate to their topic of interest or specified subject matter/grade level.  They also allow educators to form lines of communication with other individuals in their field that they might not have ever met or spoken to otherwise.  This increases the amount of marketing and public relations with colleagues, parents, students and/or potential employers.

The only limitation to blogging that I see is that searching for and weeding out the good and bad posts is sometimes very time consuming.  However, if you keep up with the blog that you follow, this will not be much of a problem.  Although it may take some time to find just the right blog for your needs, it will be well worth it when you find one that provides the information that you desire. Additionally, if you combine your blogs into one place by using a reader app (i.e. Feedly-see below), you will save yourself a lot of time in the long run.  Happy blogging!

Here are some blogs that I follow for Physical Education, General Education and/or Technology:
1.)  The PE Geek
2.)  SPARK PE
3.)  PE-4-KIDS
4.)  Pickett's Mill PE
5.)  Media Guide  (all subjects/grade levels)
6.)  Edutopia   (all subjects/grade levels)

Want to set up your own blog?  Click HERE.
Need a tutorial video?  Click on the video below:

RSS & Feedly

RSS allows people to keep track of their favorite websites in one place so that they don't have to log into or bookmark each URL separately, saving people time and energy.  It also keeps the blog posts up to date so that you are reading the most current material available from each site.  

To learn more about RSS feeds, watch the videos below:

Feedly is one of many RSS readers that help individuals organize, read and compile their various blogs and/or websites into one place.  Individuals can also take specified posts and share them via Facebook, Twitter, E-Mail, etc.  By placing your blogs into categories, individuals can easily organize their blog posts for easier viewing on their own time.  The best thing about Feedly is that you can "login" using your Google, Facebook or Twitter account, or you "get started" by creating a separate Feedly account.  

Need help navigating Feedly?  Click HERE or HERE for tutorial pages. 

To learn more about how to use Feedly, watch the videos below:

Click HERE to view "The 10 Best Feed Reader Apps for RSS, News, and More" or HERE to view "The Top 10 Free Online RSS Readers" (both include Feedly)

Want Feedly on your Cell Phone?   Click HERE to see how.