How To Delete Your Google Browsing History

On March 1, 2012 Google will be getting rid of over 60 separate privacy policies and amagalmating them into one GIANT unified privacy policy. This new privacy policy allows Google to gather, store and use personal information for a variety of reasons. It covers multiple products and features and allows Google to track your every click and search query to create "one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google".

Don't want Google tracking your every click, every search query  and watched YouTube video?

Here's how to delete your Google browsing history if you surf the 'net using your Google Account:
(courtesy of The Digital Journal)

1. Go to the google homepage and sign into your account.

2. Click the dropdown menu next to your name in the upper-right hand corner of your screen.

3. Click accounts settings

4. Find the "Services section"

5. Under "Services" there is a sub-section that reads "View, enable, disable web history." Click the link next to it that reads: "Go to Web History."

6. Click on "Remove all Web History"

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/320137#ixzz1ncHPioFT

Hopefully, if you have time to do this before the March 1 deadline, it should limit the amount of 'Google Spying".

Zoho Writer

One of the main complaints I get about Google Docs is that it doesn't have the same functionality as Word 2003/2007/2010. 

I agree.

I've also been told that Google Docs is as slow as molasses if you are trying to collaborate on a document in the middle of the school day.

I agree.

So on this fine, sunny Sunday morning, I have found Zoho Writer--another online collaborative tool that is very similar to Google Docs--except is has a greater level of functionality--and students can still 'share' the document with you and their partners.

The next time you assign a collaborative writing piece, ask half of your class to use Google Docs and the other half to use Zoho Writer.

Then.....discuss!

CK-12 E-books Open Source

Last week, the Drummond Report was released with over 50 recommendations on how to reduce spending in education. One of the suggestions was a 25% reduction in funds for student learning materials--classroom textbooks, learning materials and classroom computers. While none of the recommendations have been put into place yet, what better time than now to start investigating alternatives/supplements to traditional textbooks.


 CK-12 Flexbooks


CK-12 Flexbooks is a virtual treasure trove of educational materials licensed under Creative Commons--whose mission is to develop, support and maximize digital creativity, sharing and innovation.


The textbooks are FREE!


They can be DOWNLOADED by anyone!


The best part about this service is that you can create custom online e-books. You can 'add' individual chapters from different textbooks to your bookshelf. The texts that are posted here follow the U.S. curriculum so alignment is off in some cases. But all you need to do is 'add' a chapter from this book and 'add' a chapter from another book to create a e-book that is specific to your needs.


Once you have created your class e-book it can be downloaded to iPhone, Android and Kindle devices.


Did I mention that the text has embedded animations, videos and supplemental websites?


Oh yes. It does. So great!


Take a minute. Check it out.

Digital Differentiation

 This Thinglink brought to you by Susan Oxnevad and her blog Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners

Air Projector

I was just introduced to the coolest iPhone app ever!! It's called Air Projector. It is a free download (there is a paid upgraded version too) for your iPhone or iTouch that allows to take a picture of something and send it to the classroom projector over the Wi-Fi!!!

I know. I know. I know what your thinking.

When will I ever use this in my classroom?!?!?

This semester, we have just put two document cameras into circulation. These cameras are a great way to show student work during class.

You! Over there! Show us how you solved this problem--simply slide the paper under the document camera and Voila! the whole class can see the solution.

But what if you don't have a document camera in your room?

With this new app, simply take a photo of the students work, go to a pre-determined website (this site is displayed in the app) at the computer that runs the LCD and it automatically will project the photo on the screen.

How cool is that?

Okay. I'm a tech nerd.

Here's how to use Air Projector:

1. Go to the app store and download the free version of Air Projector.
2. Take a picture of something i.e. student work; lab set up etc.
3. On the computer, go to the pre-determined site..this is listed on the bottom of the screen in the app. (http://10.115.141.189:8081
4. Voila! The picture should appear on the screen

Infographics

Last week, we were all introduced to the 'new' concept of being multi-literate. One of the 10 multi-literacies highlighted by the Board as being part of creating a 21st century literate student is VISUAL LITERACY.

Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, negotiate and make meaning from information presented in a visual form. Visual literacy is based on the idea that pictures can be 'read' and is also a major component of the OSSLT in March.

While I recognize that sometimes it is difficult to incorporate explicit teaching of all these literacies in every subject, sometimes it can sneak up on you.

Like it did to me this week.

While trying to come up with a creative way for my students to review macromolecules, I stumbled across a website dedicated to info-graphics--a digital museum of all types of info-graphics on a wide variety of topics.

Check it out here.

Info-graphics and data visualizations are changing the way we present and interpret information. You can find info-graphics everywhere--in national newspapers; textbooks and online.

It looked cool. Did I have time to try this out with my class?

Absolutely. It took me 10 min.

I introduced info-graphics to the class using the Visual.ly website. I simply showed them some examples. 

And then I asked them to create an info-graphic about a macromolecule. I suggested they use whatever program they were most comfortable with to create the info-graphic--Powerpoint, Word, Publisher or Photoshop.

I was not going to be assessing the 'tech' aspect, but the 'biology' content.

And I let them go. 

Here is what I received from some of my students:

I am so proud of my students! They took the assignment, ran with it and produced great info-graphics.

Good job, 12U!!

No Man is an Island

In this day and age, it is virtually impossible to avoid collaboration and group/team work. It's everywhere. And there is a reason for this. Collaboration has been identified as one of the key learning skills required for being successful in the 21st century. Back in the day**, collaboration meant getting together with your team or your group members in the same physical space to discuss ideas and develop a plan of action. While some things have stayed the same, the need to be in the same physical space has disappeared. We can collaborate on a project through and using a variety of digital tools like Facebook; Pintrest and Google Docs. We can share ideas and work with people in our school, across the country and on the other side of the planet. Cool.

As we start the semester, many of us will be working with new subject teams and developing or changing courses of study to improve student learning. But finding time to get together can often be a huge challenge.

This is also a common challenge facing our students when group work is assigned. Time. Our students also have a tough time balancing school, work and family commitments.

The following two sites are group project management sites that are free and can be used in the classroom (or in the department) to help you manage group dynamics. It's like Facebook for group work. You can manage deadlines; create task lists and assign members to them; manage file sharing and even chat about the needs of the group.


Both sites are extremely user friendly and simply require students to create a free account. So when you hand out the next group work project, take a few minutes to introduce one or both of these sites to your students and let them choose....


Enter the Group--Making Group Work Easier
Enter the Group allows you to create a project, invite group members and then manage all aspects of your group. Create tasks; upload files; start discussions and keep an eye of upcoming deadlines. As the teacher, you can also be added to the group to help facilitate group dynamics.

 Pegby--Peg it up. Move it Around. Get it Done.

Pegby is set up as a corkboard, where you can pin tasks in one of three sections: pending, in process and done. For each task you peg on the board, you can add files, assign a group member and set a deadline. As the task continues, group members can move its location on the board to one of the other two sections.

Pegby in 2 Minutes

Change is Inevitable

"Change is constant and inevitable, but personal growth is a choice." 

Bob Proctor

Second semester starts Monday and we have spent the day becoming more 'literate' and preparing lessons for a whole new set of students.


Did you spend any time investigating how to incorporate a new digital tool into your class? What about creating a new differentiated lesson?


Below you will find some great sites to explore when searching for some new ideas for your lessons. Many of the sites offer interactive activities; lesson plans and assessment tools.


So take a minute and click on one and spend 10 minutes exploring the possibilities....




Gooru   (math and science)

5 Things You Can Do with Gooru

1. Search for resources, collections or quizzes.
2. Study individual resources or collections.
3. Practice with an adaptive assessment system
4. Interact with peers and teachers
5. Save and customize your favourite learning materials


Gooru Fact Sheet 2012




Cartoons for the Classroom
Develop your students visual literacy by incorporating editorial cartoons into your lessons. Includes a great section entitled "History Through Cartoons".

Homework Help (math)

This year the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Independent Learning Centre (ILC) teamed up to create a free online math homework help site for students in Grade 7-10. From Sunday to Thursday (5:30pm-9:30pm), students have access to qualified teachers to ask for help with their math homework in an online chat room format. Online tutors are there to answer questions and help students solve problems for themselves---not complete math assignments!

Students will need their OEN number (found on their report card) to create a free account.

In addition to the chat room online help, students and teachers can access a host of free math resources including interactive tutorials and listen and learn lesson (presentations). 

Film English

Film English seeks to promote the use of film in English classrooms.  The main objectives of the site are:

• promote the critical and creative use of film in the classroom
• promote cineliteracy, the ability to read critically and evaluate moving images, in the language classroom.
• promote creativity amongst both teachers and students.

Each blog post contains step-by-step lesson plan instructions, a link to the film, and a suggested grade level.

Now, if you look to the left of the screen, you will see I have started to develop subject specific resource pages. As I come across a new website or digital tool, I will add it to some or all of the resource pages.

I wish everyone a happy Second Semester!

--Casey