Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip #16: Using Google Drive's Document to Take Notes

Dear Colleagues,

For years now we've been teaching a variety of research skills to our students.  We wan them to know how to cite their sources, develop bibliographies and summarize.  These skills remain critically important.  But what happens when you need to take some notes or do some research and you have very little time?  Well, what usually happens for me is that I do a poor job of documenting my resources and end up having to go back and do the work all over again. 

Through sites like easybib and noodle tools, it is now much simpler to keep track of sites and sources while developing a robust bibliography.  However, that often means having to open another tab, etc. 

Now, there is a super easy and FREE way to take quick notes and note all sources.  If you are familiar with Google Drive, then you know that it allows you to create and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, surveys, etc.  I've created step by step instructions for how to use the 'Documents' tab to take notes. 

Here is the one paragraph version of the tutorial.  In Documents, you now can, with one click, note the sources of facts, images and other resources. 

Sound appealing?  Take five minutes and work through the tutorial.  I think you will find it is worth it!

Here is the Google Doc:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kCqCIP_95I2FpJDG8W94JByeqJG1X3jvW7fCNhLmXVk/edit?usp=sharing

Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip #15: This Day in History

Dear Colleagues,

Today's T4 is a fun one.  It is called dMarie Time Capsule.  It is a really interesting tool to use to put things in perspective.  For example, I put in my birth date and was delighted to find a slew of things about the world on the day I was born. 

For example:  Gas was $0.35 gallon and a loaf of bread cost $0.23/ loaf.  The top song for that day was Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone. 

Now, this might be fun for us to explore, but it could also be great for students to find out information.  If they are creating a story and they need to know costs, or other details about the setting, they could research a time and find actual data from that specific snapshot of time.  Students could make comparisons over time as well.  The time capsule has data going all the way back to 1800.  They do warn that the data for the older dates is somewhat spotty, but nonetheless it would be a great place to begin.

Start by going here:  http://dmarie.com/timecap/

Put in a date.

You then have a choice.  You can choose quick page or an advanced page.  The quick page generates a time capsule for you.  The advanced page lets you tailor the results specifically to what you would like to have.    Lastly, you can then print out a customized time capsule with only the data you want.

I could see this being fun in classrooms for birthday celebrations or maybe a way to integrate real data into a math exploration.

How do you think you might use it?

Thanks,
Todd

Todd's Tuesday Technology Tip #14: Story Planning Cubes

Dear Colleagues,

Today's tip piggy backs on an earlier tip.  This one is called Cube Creator and it is from Read Write Think again.  A fabulous website full of resources for teachers and students.

There are four different types of 'cubes' you can make:

They are Biography, Mystery, Story and a Build Your Own. 

When you click on a 'type,' they give you a planning sheet that you can print out and then complete.

Once you've done your planning, you are ready to complete the cube:

Once you've filled out all six sides of the cube, you can save it as a final or as a draft that you can come back to and work on later.

When you are all set, you can print out your cube, cut it and tape it together.  This then has created a custom story cube for your student's project. 

What do you think?  How would you use this with your students? 

Sincerely,
Todd