Terry's Tech Tips

Learning Menus and Choice Boards have been getting a lot of attention in the teaching community recently.  They provide built-in student choice, a key component for activating Student Engagement. Learning Menus and Choice Boards have been around for a long time in paper form, but have seen resurging interest with the incorporation of digital tools.  They are so flexible, they can be structured in many ways.  Teachers use them to provide choice for the following reasons: Accessing your content - students have a choice of activities to access course content Show What you know - students have a choice of multiple activities to demonstrate their understanding Capstone Project - students have a choice of project for the end-of-unit or 'capstone' project. Choice Boards: Choice Boards give students multiple options for a single assignment or a small number of related assignments.  If you are a seasoned teacher, you probably have lots of already cr...

HyperQuests (also known as Hyperdocs) have been receiving a lot of teacher attention lately.  HyperQuests support differentiated student independent inquiry learning.  They leverage the use of technology (though not all activities are digital), embed collaboration, and build in student critical thinking and problem-solving! The concept works because it begins with strong lesson design, curates quality instructional content, and packages learning experiences in ways which engage learners.  (1) Note:  While the rest of the world calls them HyperDocs, the CCHS Tech Leaders prefer the term HyperQuest .  HyperQuests are based on the old WebQuests, and the name HyperQuest eliminates confusion with an older application actually called Hyperdocs! What are they? HyperQuests can be any digital tool and are often built in Google Slides.  They provide a visually engaging digital framework leading students through a lesson or unit of carefull...

As midterms approach, your students are facing the challenge of preparing for their exams.  Cognitive learning research provides insight into the best practices for studying. The list below, developed with sidekick Psych teacher Joe Bodenrader,  outlines study practices with the highest success based on research. Please feel free to share this post with students if you feel it is helpful!  They should choose 1 or 2 options to prepare for their exams.  Just like any habit, it takes a little time to adjust their study practice and have it feel comfortable. Cramming & Studying Notes  Let's talk about two study strategies that are favorites of students, and why they are less effective: Cramming Research has shown that cramming is not an effective study strategy for educators' long-term goals - students mastering and remembering the material.  We know that students will need this knowledge for their future school endeavors...

Google has been working hard on a Gmail revamp.  They have cleaned up the interface to look more crisp and modern while letting you do more without leaving your inbox.  They have added some new features like ' Snooze ', ' Smart reply ',  and ' Nudge ', along with some upgraded security features.  The Gmail upgrade should be available to us in the next few weeks (or days!). Upgraded Inbox Google has created a 'cleaner' look with updated and easier to find buttons.  Along with the visually cleaner interface,  you can now access more Google apps you use like Calendar , Keep , and upgraded Tasks through a sidebar without leaving your email.  Click here for a 'Cheat Sheet'. You can also find attachments quickly, access commonly used button more easily, or Snooze an email.   What does  Snooze do?  Let's say you receive an email which requires more time than you currently have.  You might...

If you have used a scantron to grade exams in the past, you may have been frustrated with the Scantron availability, speed, accuracy, and data.  Consider using Zipgrade , a free app that leverages the camera in your cell phone! Why Should I use Zipgrade? Quick -  grade your exams as fast as your phone camera scans! Easy to use! Accurate! Cost effective  - 100 scans per month free! Convenient  - grade tests when you want, not when the machine is available! If you change the answer key, Zipgrade re-grade s all exams automatically! Easy to analyze data by student and question! How do I use Zipgrade? Create Account & Download App Navigate to  https://www.zipgrade.com/login/ and create an account. Download the Zipgrade app from the appropriate app store for your phone: App Store Google Play Create a Class While logged into Zipgrade's web application, under the  Class heading, select Add New Class ...

If you feel overwhelmed by your email, you are not alone! 95.2 GB    Space to store my email  28%   Time in the workweek spent handling email.  (1) $10,000.00 Cost of an average worker per year due to email distractions. (2)  38% The percentage of emails that are "important".  (3) Email overload is a real problem, both in the business world and in Education.  The costs above are a little astonishing.  This research highlights the real cost of interrupting your concentration to check your email, impairing your decision making and leading to stress.  Many studies suggest that once interrupted, it is difficult to immediately return to the task you were working on, and some conclude that you can lose up to 40% of your productivity. (4)  The good news is that efficiency experts are suggesting strategies to overcome email overload.   The strategies are based both on 'habit of mind' and effec...