Activity 7 Google Plus

Well I can see student using this hangout feature and I've certainly been having plenty of meeting where hangouts might work.  I am hoping my robotics team can be a state wide resource for other teams and use google hangouts to help.  But I doubt that I will hangout much.  A cool feature and it certainly can give gotomeeting a run for the money. Of course, my district computer does not have video chat capabilities.

Activity 8 Prezi

http://prezi.com/hepaxedgcb_q/present/?auth_key=at2elxz&follow=fwlzeqdwig0i
Well there is a learning curve and it is a nice flowing presentation but I'm not sure it is any better than a powerpoint except that it  was a "gee wiz" value.  A good skill to learn but I'm not sure I'm ready to make these.  I guess I should try importing a old powerpoint and see what happens

Activity 6 Twitter

I guess I don''t really get it or get it yet. I seem to have plenty to do- how do people survive without 10 weeks of vacation? I not sure I can manage to add twitter to my life. 

Activity 5 Using Google Chrome-Good Bad and maybe Ugly

For years the district has locked our computers from using anything by Explorer and it was great this year to find out that we can use Chrome. However, I'm a little leary of giving so much data to Google- it is weird and amazing and then creepy how a search for a vacation activity last year continues to produce popup ads for a activity that I queries 16 months ago.
I installed Angry birds

 Switcher, goo,gle shortern and btly shortern (which is used to always need a google search to find)

So what is the difference between and App and a Extension? I'll google it and tell you :

" Basically, an application is something that has its own UI and is displayed in the browser window. Separately, extensions notify and otherwise enhance the web experience. - here’s no "better" approach here; apps and extensions are simply different creatures. Let’s understand apps first. They are just how they sound: applications you can run inside your browser with a dedicated user interface and, typically, rich user interaction. We’ve already had the concept of “web apps” in the browser for a few years, as something more rich and interactive than a website, but less cumbersome and monolithic than a desktop application. Examples include games, photo editors, and video players; all of these categories are viable as tightly focused apps running inside the browser. Google Chrome is just formalizing the web app concept in a way that will be familiar to anyone who’s used apps on a smartphone."

How about extensions? Extensions also provide functionality, but unlike apps, there is little or no UI component. Instead, they extend the functionality of Google Chrome and the websites being viewed in it. For example, they can extend Google Chrome by adding a new button to the address bar, such as an ever-present currency converter. Buttons like this can also apply to the current website being viewed—for example, click the currency converter button to convert all prices on the website you’re viewing. want more details  (from https://developers.google.com/chrome/web-store/articles/apps_vs_extensions )

Activity 4 Weiland's Google Docs in the Classroom

Write a blog post reflecting on your Google Apps for Education experience. Include at least three ideas for using Google Apps in your classroom and/or your own professional learning and productivity. At least one idea should reflect a collaborative use

My favorite App is Flubaroo.  I see this having multiple uses.  First, HPHS teachers who teach Juniors are encouraged to do ACT Science Prep work.  With this new tool, we can write practice ACT sample work and have the students complete the work online and at their own pace.  The autograde feature allows for rapid analysis of results and the ability to give feedback to the students.

Combining Flubaroo with a shared Google Form would allow course teams to create practice exam or reading guides for their course.  For example, my textbook has 30-50 end of the chapter questions.  If this information is transferred to a Google Form- the work can be provided to students for homework and in the morning the   teacher can review the results and see which topics need to be reviewed.  The teacher could ignore the “easy” questions.  By sharing the document, different team members can choose the chapter review questions that make the most sense for their class. 

Google Docs- Are used by my Robotics teams to maintain a group journal of their journey through the season.  This electronic diary allows all 5-10 members of the team to work together and create a standard consistent product even when multiple members are creating the form.

In case I get lost-Find the course wiki

http://d113learning20.wikispaces.com/Activities
This is the weekly assignment page.

Flubaroo

This is awesome tool and very easy to use.  A team could create a form that is shared by different teachers. Could be a great way to check to see if work is being done.