Do you want an easily updated webpage/newsletter?

Many teachers want an easy way to get instant information to their parents, but don't want to have the hassle of a webpage. The answer is here!! You can create a Google Doc that is set up as a Newsletter or simple webpage and share that out as a URL. The process is simple. If you have a Google account or GMail address the first step is complete. If you don't you can go to docs.google.com, click on the blue box under the sign in area. It says "Get Started." From there you can use an existing e-mail address to creat a Google Account.

When you log into your Google docs account you can create a new document using the dropdown menu. You can also upload an existing document from your computer. Maybe you already have a newsletter layout you would like to use.

Now for the important part. On the left hand side of the page, in the toolbar, you will see the share button. Cick on that and choose "Publish as web page."


That will bring you to a window that says, "This document is not yet published. When you click on "Publish document," the screen will refresh and you will see the URL associated with your document. You can use this URL to create a tinyurl or snipurl that is catchy for your classroom or school. I created tinyurl.com/SandersDolphins as an example using the name of a school and their mascot.

The last important step is deciding if you want your document to automatically re-publish when changes are made. You may want to remove that check mark so you can preview your newsletter before officially publishing it. That way parents won't be able to see you document only partially completed. It won't be updated until you are completely finished with it. Have fun and keep your parents informed!!

Google vs Microsoft vs Google - Who will win??

A quote from the Business Insider:

Why did Google accounce Chrome OS -- an operating system product that's not even close to being ready to look at -- last week? Perhaps because last week was a convenient time to jab arch rival Microsoft before Redmond made its own big splash.

That was today, when the company announced that its Office Web apps -- Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint -- are on the way, and they're free!!

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-google-announced-chrome-os-last-week-microsoft-rolling-out-free-google-docs-killer-2009-7

Text to 3-D Movies - Literally

A new site I learned about at NECC is xtranormal. This site allows you to create 3-D movies without any fancy equipment, software, or knowledge. Your students could create a 3-D movie without even having a user account. Here's how it works. When you visit the site there is a large red button that says, "Get Started." From there you choose your setting, number of characters, and start adding text, gestures, and facial expressions. Imagine how powerful this would be to teach dialogue to your students. Below is a movie I created in 4 minutes. That included rendering time. :) Have fun!!

Google Spreadsheets

I recently learned that Google Spreadsheets can be accessed and edited from a URL without a google account. So that means anytime I need to collect data with students or teachers in a real time setting, I can set up a Google Spreadsheet, send out the URL, and everyone is literally on the same page at the same time!!! How great is that??

Here's how it works:

Go to Google Docs at: docs.google.com/

To create the initial spreadsheet you must have a Google Account. Sign in to your account (you can use your GMail username and password) and create a new spreadsheet. On the right hand side of the new spreadsheet click on Share, then Get the link to share.

This will bring up a new window where you need to put a check in both boxes to allow multiple users to edit your spreadsheet without Google accounts. If you don't want to allow others to edit the information you can leave the second check box blank. Copy and paste the URL in the box, that is the address your students or participants will need to edit the spreadsheet. I highly recommend taking that long URL and shortening it using sniprul, tinyurl, or any of those websites.

Web 2.0 Tools

To start this off let me explain how this blog came to be. Today I stumbled into co-teaching a Web 2.0 course at Technoversity. I literally volunteered to help teach it at 11:30 when the class started at 12:30. Nothing like last minute. The best and only thing I could think of to present during my half was from this incredible presenter, Steve Dembo. I attended his presentation at NECC this year. He did a 1 hour session on Web 2.0 tools. Perfect, right?? So I did what any good and resourceful teacher did, I spent the next hour setting up accounts on the sites I didn't already have accounts for and getting ready to present. As I am going through the different Web 2.0 tools and explaining what Web 2.0 tools are, a few teachers weren't sure what blogs were. I took them to Barkley's site, which is a wonderful Kindergarten blog. Then one of the attendees asked me if I had a blog??? That is the million dollar question?? I have a blog for my kids, well I did, until Facebook came around. Why don't I have one for work?? In the spirit of challenging the participants to start their own blog, I said I would start one too. While summer isn't necessarily the best time to start something school related, here we go anyway.

My favorite of the 10 Web 2.0 tools in the presentation is Poll Everywhere. This site allows you to instantly set up a variety of questions and essentially poll your audience. You can poll them in multiple ways, the best is text messaging. Attendees can text in their answer while you have a live display of the answers coming in!! And for those who don't have text messaging plans they can participate via url link (We all know someone who still doesn't text).


Here is a screen capture of the quiz I conducted during my training session today. As participants text in their answers you receive a live display of data. It is wonderful!! The only downside is if you want to use more than 30 participants, you have to pay a small monthly fee for an upgraded account.

In my district, cell phones are not allowed in the classroom, but I mainly teach adults and adults can have cell phones with them at all times.


Feel free to e-mail me at amy.colucci@jefferson.kyschools.us or comment on this post.