3 Useful Google Docs Add-Ons

Google Docs Add-Ons are new tools created by 3rd party developers that add functionality to Google Docs. Users can access and search for Add-Ons through the menu bar in any Google Doc or Spreadsheet. There are many handy tools to Add-On to Google Docs to improve  efficiency and help get work done, and there is even a section for education. Here are a three of my favorite Add-Ons, which I believe are well-suited for teachers and students.

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Transforming Teaching & Learning with ThingLink

The experience of bringing together a group of teachers through a common learning goal this summer has been amazing. Now nearing the end of the ThingLink Teacher Challenge Week 7, participants are creating interactive images and self-publishing them all over the world wide web. 

Interactive images created for the TL Challenge are embedded in thoughtful blog posts written by participants. Shared images can be found in Google+ discussions. Short and concise descriptions are circulating through the Twitosphere. Teachers are definitely collaborating about ThingLink.

Tuesday Webinar: Using Google Slides to Construct Knowledge

Would you like to design student-driven learning experiences that require students to construct knowledge as they create - an idea supported by the Common Core State Standards? 

This could be easier than you think. The Google Docs Presentation tool can be a great starting point to begin breaking the barriers of traditional tech integration and help you design student-driven learning experiences. 

Tap Into Sound with ThingLink & Audioboo

This weeks ThingLink Teacher Challenged asked participants to focus on audio as they design lessons. We introduced Audioboo as an integrated web based platform and app that easily captures and collects audio for use. The goal of this challenge is to use ThingLink to design a multimedia rich learning experiences to support the diverse needs of all learners.

ThingLink is a multimedia rich and flexible tool that can be used to design learning experiences built for success, putting power in the hands of the facilitator of a well designed lesson. Built-in supports are helpful to many learners for many reasons.

Why I Still Love Wikispaces

I have been creating wikis with Wikispaces for quite some time. I use wikis for student collaborative projects and I use them during professional development. I use wikis as a place to collect, organize and share content that often originates on a blog post I've written. 

Many of the wiki's I created years ago have grown with me and continue to support my needs. The blank pages combined with the ability to embed just about anything into a wiki  provide me with the flexibility I need to explore new ways to use technology as a tool for learning and to keep track of it. 

7 Questions to Inspire Thinking and Ideas: ThingLink App

I had the opportunity to "lead" #1to1ipadchat,with Dena Gynn last week. Follow @Glynn_ed 

In preparation for the event, Dena advised me to write 6 questions to guide a discussion and provide examples. I did that and I also scheduled the timed released tweets through Tweet Deck. These tips from Dena helped tremendously.

ThingLink UnPlugged & Self-Published

Explore this interactive image by @pmmerlin on our wall

This week's ThingLink Teacher Challenged asked participants to grab their mobile devices, get away from wifi, and explore use of the ThingLink App beyond the walls. 

The ThingLink app makes the most out of the ease of use of the camera and video capabilities available on iOS and Android, allowing users to capture life on the go and become engaged in the learning at the moment. 

1to1 iPad Chat - ThingLink

Join us for a Twitter Chat @ 8:00 EST

Join us on Dena Glynn's #1to1iPadChat as we talk about ThingLink in 140 characters or less. 

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The Young Innovator's Toolkit from TechSpaghetti

TechSpaghetti is launching The Young Innovator's Toolkit and a startup campaign to raise awareness and funding for the tools on a variety of levels.

The startup plans include the launch of classroom video lessons in August followed by the release of a home-based app in December. TechSpaghetti supports the Apple platform.

Wordling About the ThingLink Teacher Challenge

I often collect information through Google Forms. With all that text in front of me, I like to Wordle it to get a different and interesting view.

Today I wordled a few columns from the ThingLink Teacher Challenge spreadsheet.

ThingLink Unplugged to Extend Classroom Walls

Week 6 of the ThingLink Teacher Challenge is live on the ThingLink Blog! In this activity participants will explore the use of the ThingLink App and a mobile device to capture and share life on the go as it happens without an Internet connection. Then when you reconnect you will publish the image yourself on a Padlet wall. This week’s goal is to enjoy and experience ThingLink’s  flexible options and use whatever device is handy at the moment to embrace learning opportunities outside of  the classroom walls.

Learn more on the ThingLink Blog

3 Ways to Use ThingLink for Video in the Classroom

Recently ThingLink introduced ThingLink for Video, an exciting new editor for annotating video content with rich media. The new editor allows users to add notes and links to existing video content, and turn video into an interactive digital discovery platform. 

Read more on GettingSmart.com

Connecting with Some Amazing Educators

I am truly enjoying facilitating the ThingLink Teacher Challenge this summer because it has allowed me to connect with some amazing educators. We are all learning, creating and sharing together. 

One of the early challenges was to Design Your Digital Self as an introduction to other participants. We started by creating an avatar, then we added it to ThingLink and tagged our images with Rich Media tags to define ourselves through multimedia.

Google Drive Automates Peer Editing Through Commenting

Recently, Google introduced a Suggested Edits feature in Google Docs which essentially allows peer editors to change modes when editing content so suggestions become a Comment for the author to review. 

When authors Share a document with Comments Only rights, this switches the editing mode to the new Suggested Edits. If an author accepts a collaborator's suggestion, the comment automatically disappears. The feature is available in the Desktop Version of Google Docs, as well as the iPad app. 

Free Online Event: Google Docs Writing Workshop

How would you like you like to improve your students' writing skills along with their technology skills? In this webinar, you will learn how to utilize the many features available in Google Docs to facilitate a digital writing workshop and maximize writing instruction in the 24/7 classroom. Join me and Simple K12 as we demonstrate how to

Webinar: Unpacking the CCSS Academic Vocabulary Shift

Are you wondering where to begin to adopt the Common Core Vocabulary Standards? While there are many specific vocabulary standards clearly listed in the K-12 Language Strand, it's helpful and important to look at Academic Vocabulary from the big picture view. This webinar will unpack the Common Core Academic Vocabulary Shift by taking a closer look at the three targeted tiers of vocabulary. 

Join me and Simple K12  as we explore some free and user friendly digital tools and effective instructional practices to support the necessary direct instruction of tier 2 and tier 3 words. Sign up

A Collection of Interactive Maps

Using interactive maps in the classroom encourages exploration, invites curiosity and promotes spatial thinking. Interactive maps can be used to provide students with background knowledge to launch a unit, or they can be used as a starting point for digging deeper into any concept through research. Interactive maps can be used to explore a wide variety of topics in traditional ways, or they can be used creatively to help students visualize just about anything.

Crowdsourcing to Build the Ultimate Wall of ThingLinks at ISTE 2014

To say there was a lot going on at ISTE 2014 is an understatement! There were thousands of educators drawn together by our passion for EdTech. Each of us attended the conference for different reasons, all related to leveraging the power of technology to improve education and making connections.

I attended ISTE along with the amazing and brilliant Ulla Engestrom, founder and CEO of ThingLink. We spent our days talking with educators about ways to use ThingLink interactive images and interactive video to leverage the power of technology for teaching and learning. We were excited to connect with educators who shared the innovative ways they are using the tool, eager to hear suggestions, and amazed to learn that many presenters were using ThingLink to share content in their presentations at ISTE 2014.