Many of our teachers still use Safari as their browser of choice at our school. There's nothing wrong with this BUT, as a teacher who regularly uses Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep & Forms as well as Gmail, there's a lot of advantages for switching to Chrome. Over the next week or so I am going to try to show a number of ways in which Google Chrome consistently proves to be a better choice - for me anyway! - in the classroom. Extensions are little add-ons which make your browser experience better for you. I have several extensions in Google Chrome that I would not - and could not - live without.... For more great extension suggestions check out the awesome Kasey Bell's "Shake Up Learning" post here http://www.shakeuplearning.com/chrome-database/. Tab Scissors and Tab Glue: two awesome extensions that allow you to split your browser so you have 2 windows side by side - a great way to compare sites, work in two windows at once, copy and paste information etc. And, when you're done, you 'glue' them back together with the click of a button.
Session Buddy: This awesome extension allows you to save and share a set of tabs very easily with the click of a button. Think about the times where you're doing research or conferencing with a student or opened up a plethora of flight comparison websites and you need to shut down your computer or go into another meeting. With Session Buddy it is very easy to save or share a 'session'. Black Menu: For Google Apps users, this is a life-changer. From one button, you have instant access to all your Docs AND all your favourite Google Apps. Definitely worth a look! Google Calendar: Easily view and add events to your Google Calendar There are MANY more Extensions that are designed just to make your life easier - just go to the Chrome Web Store and try out a few - you won't regret it...! It is important to note that both Safari & Firefox also have extensions - I just like Chrome better :)
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Doug Peterson from 'Off the Record' suggested that his readers share their PLN experiences and, as he plays a big part in my PLN, here I go! Firstly, what is a Personal/Professional Learning Network to me? I see my PLN as my way to develop professionally; to find out - and share - new, cool, interesting resources and ideas; to find out how other educators deal with similar issues and challenges; to - especially as an international teacher - network and link up with like-minded educators from around the world. As suggested, I'll use Sylvia Duckworth's amazing Sketchnote skills as a visual since my artistic skills are limited to say the least :) My PLNThe following sites are my go-to links to keep me up to date and on the pulse of education, technology updates and life in general... On top of my teaching colleagues, my family & friends - and sometimes my Facebook feed, these guys are my lifeline! I connect with these experts using my 'TOR' account and 'Twitter' through my 'feeddler' app and save and store any of my finds to my Diigo ready to share with my colleagues...
In no particular order...: A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: http://mediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com Ask a Tech Teacher: http://askatechteacher.com Free Technology for Teachers: http://www.freetech4teachers.com Hack Education: http://hackeducation.com ICT For Educators: http://ictforeducators.com Kathy Schrock's Kaffeeklatsch: http://blog.kathyschrock.net Langwitches Blog: http://langwitches.org/blog Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org Ozge Karaoglu's Blog: http://ozgekaraoglu.edublogs.org Tech Transformation: http://www.maggiehosmcgrane.com The Electric Educator: http://electriceducator.blogspot.com The Nerdy Teacher: http://www.thenerdyteacher.com The Whiteboard Blog: http://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk Google Gooru: https://www.thegooru.com Wright'sRoom: https://shelleywright.wordpress.com Educational Technology Guy: http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com Mr. Bass Online: http://blog.mrbassonline.com doug --- off the record: https://dougpete.wordpress.com Blogging About The Web 2.0 Connected Classroom: http://blog.web20classroom.org Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org: http://www.mguhlin.org Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com TeachThought: http://teachthought.com iPaddiction: http://ipaddiction.blogspot.com iPad Academy: http://ipadacademy.com Global Digital Citizen Foundation: https://globaldigitalcitizen.org The Digital Human Library: http://digitalhumanlibrary.com EdTechTeam: http://blog.edtechteam.com TechChef4u: https://edtechchef.com More Than A Tech: http://morethanatech.com Edudemic: http://www.edudemic.com The Ed Tech Roundup: http://www.edtechroundup.org Cycles of Learning: http://www.cyclesoflearning.com/learning--instruction GOOD: http://m.good.is Shake Up Learning: http://www.shakeuplearning.com Managebac Blog: http://blog.managebac.com Ditch That Textbook: http://ditchthattextbook.com Maintaining a positive Digital Footprint is an essential skill these days and although many of our students role models (celebrities, musicians & even politicians!) fail miserably, it is our duty as educators to support them and ensure that our students are able to make good choices... This site, created in collaboration with Kimberley Leiske, a counselor from GWA Dubai, shares topical discussions, thought-provoking videos and useful links to other resources in order to support us all. Have a look! The current (but flexible!) agenda: 3:45: Refreshments 4:00: Full Dome Interactive Demo in the Planetarium (always good to start with something fun – and a great way to ‘encourage’ you to get there on time ) 4:20: Review of the year (here are some of the things you have already said) (Be ready to share the highlights!) - Looking back: successes at your school (things you are proud of) - Looking forward: aims for next year/things to improve at your school 4:40: As a network…? Please add your thoughts to this Padlet 5:00: Complete the ‘Evidence of Impact’ Survey. This is REALLY important - even if you can't make the meeting, please complete this survey!
5:15: Any Other Business? Another excellent meeting - in fact, as Syed rightly said, it was more like a conference with so much sharing of excellent practice across the network - thank you to all that were present, apologies to those who attempted to join my failed Google Hangout and, above all, many thanks to the generous hosts at The Westminster School - Dubai... Facebook: groups and security settingsScroll down to see another post regarding this along with a comparison between the advantages of Facebook Groups, Pages or a regular Blog... Please click here or scan the QR Code to the right to request to join our ICT Network Facebook Group Please
Sites created by us!(a work in progress - send me the ones I missed!) Other amazing sites and resources(a work in progress - send me the ones I missed!)
Another successful meeting kindly hosted by Mario and the rest of the team at Winchester School Dubai (Oud Metha) – thanks again for your hospitality! We had 13 attendees in total - an increase in the last meeting…! Minutes:
Syed from The Westminster School, Dubai enthusiastically shared his iBooks Author created interactive 'textbook'. This prompted a lot of discussion about the use of iPads in the classroom especially in a BYOT environment AND the limitations of having device specific resources as opposed to cross-device options like Adobe DPS. Some interesting discussions... :) Google Drive, once again, was a highlight of discussions - from the youngest to the oldest students! We discussed the sharing and collaboration features, auto-save, the ability to access - and edit - from any device and many other positives from our experiences. Tony shared a Process Journal from his school (created as a Google Presentation) where students could add images, videos as well as written work in a format created by the teacher. So basically an online workbook - amazing potential! Any Other Business?
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday 29th January - anyone like to host? Let me know! Welcome! AGENDA/MINUTES: 1. Introductions: great to see you all. I hope you found it to be a productive and useful first meeting of the year! We had representatives from Winchester-Dubai, Westminster, GWA-Dubai, New Millennium School, Winchester-Jebel Ali... An involved and enthusiastic mix of educators with lots to share! Please leave a comment to share more thoughts, ideas and resources that I may have missed... :) 2. Wishes for the year: - what do YOU want to achieve? - what would you like to get out of the ICT Network Meetings this year? - how should we share our work with the wider community? 3. Sharing: Great job guys! Lots of sharing! 4. Next meeting (Tuesday 26th November) will be held at GEMS Winchester School, Dubai (Oud Metha) AND... one last thing: the easy way to make the GLG work for you!
Thanks again for joining us! Please leave a comment to share more thoughts, ideas and resources that I may have missed from this session... :)
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About MeHello, I am Tony Potts, Primary Assistant Principal at the American International School of Lusaka, Zambia. Please feel free to ask me ANY questions...
I was previously a tech integration specialist, ManageBac Coordinator, iPad Coach & ICT/MYP Design Teacher in the same school and before this I was the PK-12 Director of Digital Learning, ICT Coordinator, teacher and technology integration specialist at GEMS World Academy, Dubai. Blog RollHere are some of the sites that I have been involved in creating:
Digital Citizenship Little Bytes GWA Dubai Tony Potts If you would like to receive a notification if this page is updated, please click here
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My 'favourites!'This is a Top 5 list of blogs that I follow on my Google Reader - so where I get to know what I know - HIGHLY recommended:
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