PBS Learning Media - An Awesome Tool for Our Classroom

Today, I wanted to share a favorite tool of mine. PBS Learning Media is a program that leverages the very best of PBS programming, partnered with lesson plans, and makes it available for use in our classrooms. Find video from NOVA, Frontline, and the Ken Burns Collection to use in your classroom. Much of the content comes attached to lesson plans that you can take and adapt to meet the needs of your class.

PBS Learning Media is a form of Open Educational Resources. Open Educational Resources allow for content to freely and built upon by fantastic educators like yourself. OERs are a growing trend in education because "Free is Good." As we progress, OERs will get better and better, although, PBS Learning Media is already loaded with great features and opportunities for growth, learning, and engagement.

If you have any questions about PBS Learning Media or how to use it in your classroom, please let me know.

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Chromebook Shortcut of the Week - 10/14/2016

This weeks shortcut of the week is to help you project your Chromebook. Due to resolutions, your Chromebook will likely default to the “Extended Screen” mode. If they happens, you will see your desktop background on the screen upon plugging in your Chromebook (your Chromebook needs an HDMI connection, if you need a cable, I can get you one!). In order to change this, you will use the “Ctrl + Full Screen” button. This will quickly switch between the two modes, allowing you to switch back and forth. A quick word to the wise, the extended screen is usually to the right!

App Highlight - Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a relatively new app from Google's Area 120. It is available on both the Android and iOS operating systems. In this app, you complete challenges through writing bits of JavaScript. I like to compare it to Duolingo, the popular language learning app. It is free and allows you to work on the puzzles at your own pace. This is a step up from the Blockly coding that has been popularized by Hour of Code and Code.org. The best part is, you get nearly instant feedback and multiple tries to master the material. While this will not get you a Silicon Valley coding job by itself, it will definitely start you down a path that allows you to start growing your coding skills. It is really worth checking out. Learn more at here .

Google Apps Update - Columns in Google Docs

Awesome news! Google Docs now supports columns of text! Seriously! Just this week, Google announced and updated Google Docs to include support for columns when working within Google Docs. To get there, it is incredibly easy! Step 1: Highlight the text that you wish to place into columns. Haven't started working yet? Skip the first step! Step 2: Click on the Insert option on the menu bar in Google Docs. Locate and select columns. Step 3: Select the columns that you wish to have. You have the option for a single column (as the Google Doc is likely already set up), two columns, three columns, or more options. Currently, the maximum number of columns supported is three. Step 4: Check out the new columns in your document! Questions? Please do not hesitate to ask!

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