EdTech You Should Know

EdTech You Should Know

By Jeff HerbTechnologyEducationTech News
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EdTech You Should Know episodes

  • 08 – Amazon Echo: The Next Classroom Assistant?

    EdTech You Should Know – Episode 8 – Amazon Echo: The Next Classroom Assistant?

    [etysk]

    Below is a transcript of the show:

    Alexa, remind me to play the show intro in 30 seconds. Amazon has recently announced a gadget that may end up being a worthy classroom assistant. Speak naturally to set reminders, add to lists, play music, and pull information. Today on the show we will be looking at how this new device may further classroom automation. **Jeff, it’s time to play the show intro.** Here we go.

    Welcome to the show, I’m Jeff Herb. If this is your first time listening, please check the show’s archives at etysk.com or on iTunes at etysk.com/itunes. If you’re a regular listener, thanks for coming back!

    Recently Amazon announced the impending release of their newest product, the Amazon Echo. As a completely new product line (that isn’t yet released), it is still an unknown to many, but it has already gotten me thinking about its uses in education.

    The Echo seems to be a pretty robust device, featuring the ability to ask for information and get a response (stemming mostly from Wikipedia and Amazon Web Services), create alarms, to-do lists, and queue up music. Amazon has left it relatively vague as to what else will be added to its repertoire, but this is a pretty strong starting point and there is only more to come.
    Here is how it works:
    The Echo is always listening, waiting for your command to prepare, deliver, or retain information.
    As soon as you say the ‘go’ word, “Alexa,” Echo will listen and process any command it is given (assuming it falls within its abilities).
    Ask it questions or give it commands such as (as listed on Amazon’s site):
    • “Set an alarm for…” (timer/alarm)
    • “How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon” (calculations)
    • “Wikipedia: Abraham Lincoln” (search and get info from Wikipedia)
    • “Play [song,playlist]” (start/stop music)
    • “Add _____ to my to-do list” (generate to-do list)
    • “When is…” (recall dates)
    • and more…
      • The Echo has a robust speaker in it that will allow it to fill the room with the response or the music that you’ve asked it to play.
      The 7 microphones that are built in all have noise canceling, making it possible for you to make requests in a lot of noise or while music is playing.
      How It Helps Classrooms/Teachers
      As we know, things happen quickly in the course of a typical class period and lesson. A tool like this could help in the following ways:
      • Ask Echo to remember things to revisit later in the class period when they are more relevant. “Remind me to discuss sentence syntax”
      • Ask Echo to remind the class when a specific assignment is due (pulling from a connected calendar): “When is Paper 1 Due?”
      • Set timers/alarms for specific tasks (group work, quiz, individual work, etc.): “Set an alarm for 15 minutes from now.”
      • Get real-time access to supplemental information that can enhance understanding or background information: “Wikipedia: The Battle of Hastings”
      • Play/Pause music in the classroom just by asking for it: “Play Period 1 playlist”
        • This product is not yet available for purchase, but you can request an invite on the Amazon Echo product site here.
        That’ll do it for this weeks episode. If you have an EdTech tool you’d like to share on the show, please head over to etysk.com/record and leave me a voice message. Your message may be played on a future episode of the show!
        Until next time, I’m Jeff Herb – thanks for tuning in.
        6 min
      • 07 – GradeCam: Use Your Camera to Grade Quizzes

        EdTech You Should Know – Episode 7 GradeCam

        [etysk]

        This episode of ETYSK focuses on GradeCam, a free tool that allows you to grade multiple choice tests/quizzes (up to 10 questions in the free version) using your iOS/Android phone camera, webcam on your laptop, or many versions of document cameras.

        GradeCam features include:

        • Instantly grade multiple choice tests using devices you carry with you.
        • Create class rosters and scan directly to a student's name in your grade book.
        • Create custom answer forms and print them yourself for free.
        • Provide instant feedback to teachers and students.

          •  

          Getting started with GradeCam is really easy. Just head over to gradecam.com and create a free account. Then, create your classes and class roster. After that you're ready to scan!

          Consider using these for exit slips, short vocabulary checkups, checks for understanding on current lessons, and so much more.

          How do you think you could use GradeCam? Let me know in the comments.

           

          12 min
        • 06 – Using Kodable to Teach Programming
          Using Kodable to Teach Programming

          EdTech You Should Know – Episode 6

          [etysk]

          This episode of ETYSK features the app Kodable, which aims to teach primary grade students how to code by means of an incredibly appealing game. Gretchen, one of the apps founders, explains what Kodable is, how teachers are using it in the classroom, why they target the age of kids that they do, and more.

          Here is a basic description of Kodable as it is listed on their website:

          “Kodable starts your child’s programming education off right. They learn lessons on sequence, conditions, and loops by dragging and dropping commands to program their fuzzy character. You can also learn with your child by using the Smeeborg Learning Guide, which explains each of the concepts taught in the first 45 levels of Kodable.”

          Kodable is also great to teach programming because they have many resources already available for teachers – and the app allows for progress saving across any iPad – so it is perfect for those classrooms that have computer carts. Here is what is offered to teachers:

          • Learning Guides that explain programming
          • Class organization tools
          • Individual student profiles
          • Save progress on ANY iPad
          • Kodable Class – The app designed for 21st century classrooms

            •  

            Check out Kodable:

            http://kodable.com

            @Kodable on Twitter

             

            11 min
          • 05 – Communicate with Students and Parents using Remind

            EdTech You Should Know – Episode 5 – Communicate with Students and Parents using Remind

            [etysk]

            This week's episode of ETYSK talks about Remind and their great tool for communicating with students in your class or who may be members of your team or activity.

            Remind is a great tool for the following:

            • Safe/Secure communication between teachers and students
            • Teachers don't know student phone numbers, students don't know teacher phone numbers
            • Schedule reminders to be sent to students – plan your week in advance
            • Use the new ‘stamps' feature to allow student/parent response to your questions/comments
            • Use the great Remind app to keep track of your classes and share information with students easily
            • It's FREE
            • So much more!

              • How are you using Remind with your students and/or parents? Let us know in the comments!

              7 min
            • 04 – Google Classroom in Your Classroom

              Episode 4 – Google Classroom in Your Classroom

              [etysk]

              This episode of ETYSK focuses on Google's new Google Classroom LMS (learning management system) that ultimately helps teachers and students stay organized and connected throughout the duration of a course.

              While Google Classroom is currently only available to those using Google Apps for Education (GAFE), so many educational institutions use GAFE that I would imagine if you are reading this or listening to this podcast you likely know that you are a GAFE school and are eligible to access the new platform.

              This podcast mentions several features that were highlighted in my previous post “Getting Started with Google Classroom,” so instead of reposting everything here I will just encourage you to check out that article for screenshots and information that is discussed in this episode.

              Episode Links:

              Getting Started with Google Classroom

              Google Classroom

               

              10 min
            • 03 – Mirroring and Screen Sharing with Reflector, AirParrot, and Slingshot

              EdTech You Should Know – Episode 3

              Mirroring and Screen Sharing with Reflector, AirParrot, and Slingshot

               

              On this week's episode we talked with Drew, the co-founder of AirSquirrels (the firm that produces the great apps we are discussing today).

              Drew and I talked about the following three apps in relation to mirroring and screen sharing:

              Reflector:

              “Reflector is an AirPlay receiver that allows you to wirelessly display your iPad or iPhone on a number of devices. It’s available for Mac, PC and most Android devices. Mirror your device on a big screen without wires or complicated setups.”

              AirParrot:

              “AirParrot adds AirPlay screen mirroring to any Windows or Mac computer. Wirelessly connect a computer to a TV and stream movies, music, photos and more to an Apple TV or computer running Reflector. AirParrot is the only Windows screen mirroring solution, and it's a great Mac AirPlay alternative.”

              Slingshot:

              “Slingshot allows you to share iOS device screens, Mac and Windows desktops or specific applications. Share with anyone, whether they're across the world or in the same room. Simply start a session, share your device and then invite others to join in! A number of collaboration tools are included, too! Video, audio and text chat are paired with collaborative note taking, file sharing and more.”

              The headers above are direct links to the apps. A special thanks to Drew for talking with ETYSK about these awesome apps for educators!

               

              8 min
            • 02 – Student Portfolios with Bulb

              Episode 2 – EdTech You Should Know – Student Portfolios with Bulb

              Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

               

              This episode of ETYSK features the website Bulb, a beautiful platform that allows students to create online portfolios of their work.

              “Students are using bulb to create and publish portfolios and projects. Teachers are using bulb to publish lessons and collaborate as a class.”

              I particularly like Bulb because students get to keep their bulb account forever – it isn't something that is district owned or managed and therefore isn't hosted or required to be maintained by the district. It is a great history of student learning that travels with students throughout their educational career.

              I'm excited to see where bulb goes and interested to see how students and teachers use bulb going forward.

              Here are some relevant links to information about Bulb:

              https://www.bulbapp.com/u/bulb-for-teachers-and-students

               

              7 min
            • 01 – Thinglink

              Episode 1 – EdTech You Should Know

              This is the first episode of EdTech You Should Know, a new show in the Instructional Tech Talk network. The show features an educational technology tool per episode that is worth knowing about for use with students or staff.

              This week's episode features Thinglink – an excellent tool for creatively annotating pictures and videos with various forms of media.

              Here is a link to the website: http://thinglink.com/edu

              To join Susan Oxnevad's challenges, see this link: http://thinglinkblog.com

              Here is a sample of what you can do with ThingLink:

               

               

              11 min

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