Powtoons First Day Assignment

Since Powtoons was offering a free trial, I made my first video today. I had to watch a short tutorial to figure out how to add additional text boxes and order the appearance of the objects/text on my page, but once you understand the concept, it is easy to create your own cartoon videos. I would use this to gather some insight into my remote students and to ensure that all can access the email feature on Google Classroom to contact me for help. Here is my "Mission Impossible" introductory Powtoons:

Create an Animated Google Classroom Header

Making an animated Google Classroom header is a a fairly simple task. You will need a Bitmoji, Google Slides set to 1000 x 250 pixels as the page size, and the Google Slides add-on called Creator Studio. Here is a header that I created for a technology workshop and a tutorial from one I made for my son who is a track coach and science teacher. Enjoy!

Here is a short tutorial to help you get started adding personality to your Google Classroom. A single slide from the presentation can also be used as a header on Google Forms if you save the slide as a png image. Enjoy!

The Cream in My Google Coffee: 6 Chrome Extensions for Classroom Teachers

The Cream in My Google Coffee: 6 Chrome Extensions

Ever wished that you could add a touch of whipped cream and flavoring to your Google programs? These are the extensions you need. Extensions are programs that you can add to Google Chrome to change or extend the functionality of your browser and they will make your teacher-life easier! Unlike apps, they do not work independently, but instead, add features to existing programs. To add an extension, you can go to the Chrome Web Store and search for programs by name. To check on the status of your extensions, go to the 3-dot menu in the upper right corner of Chrome, choose More tools>Extensions. From this screen, you can add, delete, or turn-off extensions. (This is a great place to look if your student's Chromebook suddenly locks up, too.)

 1. Grammarly

This is your online grammar/spelling checker. Look for the little green circle in the corner of your emails, blog posts, text messages, and online communications to ensure correct grammar once this extension has been installed. This is for anyone who wishes that they could unsend some poorly written communication...

2. Book Widgets

Full Google Integration makes it easy to create engaging assignments in Google Classroom. Adding the Book Widgets extension allows you to create a crossword puzzle, quiz, word search, drag and drop, graphic organizer, or more than 30 other question types to Google Classroom. Try out Book Widgets for free, and continue to use any widgets you create. To continue integration with Google Classroom beyond the trial, you will need a subscription, though. Totally worth the expense for the time and functionality it provides you. Check out these samples:

3. Awesome Screenshot

Always waiting in the toolbar to capture and annotate your screen, Awesome Screenshot is easy to use and share. Add text, arrows, drawings, and shapes to any image. Link your Google account to save your screenshots to your Google Drive account, share through social media, or download. This free account also saves all of your screenshots within the app if you choose. 

4. Edit with EdPuzzle

The EdPuzzle extension adds a link to your EdPuzzle account to YouTube. This extension adds the Edit with EdPuzzle button so you no longer need to copy and past URLs to EdPuzzle to create a quiz. 

5. Share to Classroom

Use Share to Classroom to take every student to any website or link instantly. With this extension, students don't need to type URLs and you don't have to post to Google Classroom to share a link. The extension icon sits in your toolbar. Just open the webpage you want to share, click the icon and choose your classroom from the pre-populated list. This is a real time-saver.

6. Bitmoji

Create your avatar and use the images in Gmail, Twitter, Snapchat, and blogs. This is a fun way to send feedback to students and colleagues that they will actually read and remember. The extension sits in the toolbar of Gmail or images can be copied and pasted. Be sure to personalize your Bitmoji so that it looks like you and even change your clothes with the seasons. Your students will want one, too, if they haven't already created one for Snapchat!

Do you have other favorite extensions? Start the conversation below!