The Practical Ed Tech Podcast

In this episode share some new and neat things from the world of ed tech, share a new way to support my work (if you want to), and answered some questions from readers, viewers, and listeners like you. The complete show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tPPu4NrOncA1oe4E7qWazsqLJMyk8rfFe21PORhGcHs/edit?usp=sharing  

Shout-out to Tony Vincent and Mr. Charlwood for a couple of the cool tools.

In this week's short episode I answer questions from readers, share my thoughts about Google Hangouts with students, and shared a couple of neat do-at-home educational resources you might want to share with parents.   Show notes at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KrlJ56jN_ApOBq5SRJvoE2PQucPkGn954jzvzYAROBQ/edit?usp=sharing

The show notes are available here. 

Show notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kko8tl_0KZutFOXlA1gMGV6ZNtzqHxzXH-pM_GizhmE/edit?usp=sharing

After the first ten minutes the podcast follows my usual outline of sharing some news and notes from the world of ed tech, followed by my reflections on my week of teaching, and the episode wraps up with a Q&A. Get the full show notes here. 

Next week I'm hosting a webinar titled Classroom Podcasting 101. Get the details and register here. 

Find the complete show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TEKhAApuRR4weesgN8tBX8jyzd5mA2a9TftDDXcNmi4/edit?usp=sharing

You can follow Dr. La'Tonya Rease Miles on Twitter at twitter.com/DrLTMiles

Get the complete show notes at https://docs.google.com/document/d/166qZNHFahGfKBjJ9xiM7802K8jntsHksIPzPrTI_GT4/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I’m back from having the flu and losing my voice. As always I shared some neat new tools including a new tool for making stop motion videos. I talked a bit about YouTube TV. And the episode wraps up with some answers to questions from readers, listeners, and viewers like you. Find the complete show notes at https://docs.google.com/document/d/12IzgQcQ0jakXjEhebeyZ9PjVV1nceyKONAfh3VGY-to/edit?usp=sharing

Get the complete show notes at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gONNR9jcS1CJpJCAsWj8CoN7wM8aUR6dFf5QJ-fOo_8/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I share an exciting update about Screencastify, give a preview of some products to be released at BETT, shared my professional learning highlight of the week, and answered some questions from readers. Complete show notes are available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iSHo_1MR7GRJsB-HV-QyDQEQ5BEPL6kOSqDAAf3mamU/edit?usp=sharing

Find the complete show notes at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x8THge3qrNO_gbvrB1t1Day7hxHbNSjd9vYifI7Yd9E/edit?usp=sharing

Tom Richey YouTube

TomRichey.net

Twitter.com/TomRichey

Show notes are available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTqcV8yJMU34fp7BIvPkw9ksfnsweezDtxYJxlAlLwYrfLhEKmycHE_FSHzDwmS1TcpIQ5SvMiE30ze/pub

Get the complete show notes here. 

In this episode of The Practical Ed Tech Podcast I share some thoughts about New Year's Resolutions and fitness, share a bunch of Hour of Code resources, and answer questions from readers.   News & Notes Next week is CS Ed Week. Lots of companies and organizations are hosting online and in-person events related to CS Ed Week and Hour of Code.  Complete show notes at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OJAacWMQAJ3U8NknOkTcojPrtfofTN1I45jFMchYcWY/edit?usp=sharing 

In this episode I share some reflections on 12 years of blogging about educational technology, share some news from the world of ed tech, and answer a few questions from readers and viewers like you. Get the full show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dL0cB0PWmFtvnESq1eTsBcEJLjXlt-bi_OjdO66TMZM/edit?usp=sharing

The Thanksgiving/ Black Friday deal on PD webinars can be found at https://practicaledtech.com/thanksgiving/

Bookmark this page for my Thanksgiving sale on professional development webinars https://practicaledtech.com/on-demand-pd/

Complete show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19MaY4HPD2f5n2PCt-ZQtjljedSNi3sMPnwnCPBzIsbo/edit?usp=sharing

Get the complete show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13T_i9Up0oCUtgPJL8uIhfn1XAgzhCprvp6VmzLsR40M/edit?usp=sharing

News & Notes Google Slides audio feature to be available to all users by the end of November. https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2019/11/its-official-google-slides-will-have.html

I Tweeted that I’m considering an iPhone after a decade of being a loyal Android user. A big part of the motivation for that is my growing concern about the data Google collects through Android OS and how that data is being used. 60 responses to the Tweet seem to be split down the middle. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/11/business/google-ascension-health-data.html

Other Apple news, they launched a 16” MacBook Pro. You now have a choice of 13” or 16” models. 15” models have gone the way of the CD Rom.

Other Google news, they’re getting into the banking business with the introduction of a checking account product called “Cache” that will launch next year. https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/13/google-to-offer-checking-accounts-in-partnership-with-banks-starting-next-year/

Basecamp launched a free version of their popular project management suite. Basecamp Personal is intended for students, freelancers, and small non-profits to manage small projects. https://basecamp.com/personal

Alan Levine wrote an interesting article about reverse image search through Pixsy (a service I had not heard of). Pixsy looks for copies of your original photographs and where they’ve been used online. They’ll send takedown notices on your behalf, if you choose that option. Read Alan’s take on it at cogdogblog.com https://cogdogblog.com/2019/11/reversing-reverse/

Thoughts and Reflections

We had our first snow day of the year. As expected, it threw my freshmen off. Everyone else took it in stride. Because of our alternating block schedule and the Veteran’s Day holiday, I didn’t see some students for over a week. Let students pick interesting to them projects and they’ll take the initiative to do some really interesting things that you might not think to do.

Questions from Readers & Viewers

In this episode I shared a neat resource for teaching elementary school students about primary sources, shared two new presentation tools, and brought back a classic geography website. I also answered some questions about making videos with students, Google Drive layout, and random name pickers. Get the full episode show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KmzYND4ZdingmVD3MVGSVubWONZrWvfHB2zDFytx7Rw/edit?usp=sharing

Find the show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrAOpbUTh6J4cJGtYuVkVA7LaPT_pB3DrRID0gBpw9w/edit?usp=sharing

Show notes are available in this Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J9YhzybAvCyNbmKRPplqUV6J3HIQMQhBucg58vny_7M/edit?usp=sharing

Follow Mike on Twitter: twitter.com/mtholfsen

Learn more about Immersive Reader through this interactive guide: http://aka.ms/inclusivereader

Find all of the 3rd party services that utilize Immersive Reader: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/immersive-reader-partners-8ce56191-83cd-490f-9dfc-4e69d4bf5308 

Get the complete show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N5DtEv5Q35HtdN7KERg6jYxrZtwZhJBaP1iJcfwZnJI/edit?usp=sharing 

Find the complete show notes in this Google Doc. 

Get the complete show notes with links in this Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DjDJrbRRBNuUeLROUIe5n-nEF0Z2JQ4EuCgM1LS4UEI/edit?usp=sharing

Get the full show notes here.

News & Notes

• Dark theme for Gmail Android and iOS apps.
  
• Google for Education Transformation Reports now available
  
  • Google’s attempt to show that using G Suite “transforms” education.
    
• Dan Russell’s new book, The Joy of Search hit bookshelves this week.
  
  • https://amzn.to/2lDQ6cl
    
• Speaking of books, I published the 2019-20 edition of the Practical Ed Tech Handbook.
  
  • Get a free copy at Practicaledtech.com/free-handbook/
    
• Microsoft has a new “all about Immersive Reader” center.
  
  • https://education.microsoft.com/courses-and-resources/resources/all-about-immersive-reader
    
• Notion.co has a new tool called Nimble Notes that they call the “anti-Evernote.” Might be worth a try for those who are looking for an Evernote alternative.
  
• With the news of a possible impeachment proceeding in the news, all the YouTubers were out in force with commentary and explanations. My buddy Tom Richey was one of them.
  
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdbDR28U6Zs&pbjreload=10
    
• Open Culture had a great article this week about how bicycles can change lives. Interesting bit about people (including those with children) who have the means to buy cars but choose to use bicycles only.
  
  • http://www.openculture.com/2019/09/how-bicycles-can-revolutionize-our-lives.html
    
    
    
• Justin Cahill at Keeping Kids in Motion offers a Halloween-themed fitness program for kids (and adults). You can get the calendar and certificates for free from his site.
  
  • https://keepingkidsinmotion.com/
    
• Clif Mims offered a good overview of coding programs “that work.” Designed for introductory lessons on coding.
  
  • https://clifmims.com/5-coding-programs-that-work/
    

In this episode I answered a handful of questions from readers and listeners. I also shared a couple of neat new tools to use in your classroom. And I gave a shout-out to Dr. Scott McLeod for his thought-provoking blog post about how school policies on mobile device use. Find all of the show notes in this Google Doc. 

In this episode I talked with Dr. Beth Holland about her work at COSN around issues related to digital equity. The last part of the conversation we talked about stand-up paddleboarding and lessons learned from racing stand-up paddleboards. Yes, it's an unusual mix of topics. But it is a fun mix and we had a great time recording the conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. 

• Practical Ed Tech Podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts AKA iTunes.
  
• Google Docs now displays word count while you type. Turn the feature on from the Tools drop-down menu.
  
• Google Docs now has a “compare documents” feature also found in the Tools drop-down menu.
  
• Apple had a big event on Tuesday. There wasn’t anything noteworthy for educators. Highlights of the event were a new streaming subscription model, and updated iPad that works with Apple pencil, and new colors for iPhones, yipee! (#sarcasm) None-the-less stock price jumped 3% on Wednesday.  Oh, and you can get the current generation, soon to be old generation iPad on sale for $249 on Amazon.
  
• Google Expeditions now lets you share links to specific scenes.
  
• Looking for ways to use Google Cardboard viewers besides Google Expeditions? Check out National Geographic’s list of 360 videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLivjPDlt6ApRq22sn082ZCC9893XtV8xc
  
• Glide (Glideapps.com) now lets you create templates for apps that you can share with students and colleagues.
  

All of the questions that I answered in the podcast are available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EkV2UuEh8d9SCsLar_Taq2Z_A9oNiKbrCfrUibHRYMU/edit?usp=sharing

Dr. Scott McLeod is an associate professor of school leadership at the University of Colorado, Denver. In this episode we talk about what's changed and what's the in the last 12 years since he and Karl Fisch published their viral video Shift Happens was published. His new book, co-authored with Julie Graber, is Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning. 

Get the complete show notes in this Google Document. 

In this episode I share some cool updates about Google Slides, Gmail, OneNote, and Immersive Reader. I also answer a bunch of questions from readers. And I give an update on Facebook fast. Get the show notes as a Google Doc right here. 

Questions answered in the show:

Can you limit the number of responses on Microsoft forms? For instance, we are doing a sign-up at school and only want 15 students/choice. Can this be done?

~Maggie

I teach technology classes and I am looking for a few good videos to show my class for sub days. Any recommendations?

Thank you!!

~Paulette

What apps for a Chromebook or in general do you recommend for ELL Students? By this, I am referring to helping students take content that is spoken or written in  English and translate it into Spanish. Something besides Google Translate.

~Eric

With my students I have created bilingual dictionary in Google sheets (two columns, one for English and one for translation). Do you happen to know of any way to turn it into an online dictionary with a search box?

~Karen

I'm looking for a way to record comments/feedback and send to my students when reading their essays. Is there something you can think of I could utilize? The only thing that I can think of is voice memo recording and emailing.

~George

• Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning - Scott McLeod and Julie Graber
  
• New fonts in Google Docs, Slides, Sheets
  
  • Lexend fonts: designed to improve reading speed.
    
• Import existing OneNote content into Class Notebooks in Microsoft Teams
  
  • https://support.office.com/en-us/article/set-up-a-class-notebook-in-teams-using-existing-content-0a8c3b96-7784-4323-9931-09747c124e7d
    
• YoPuppet - AR app that lets kids control digital puppets with their hands.
  
• Quizizz adds new options for making math questions, open response questions, and audio questions.
  
• EduTwitter is a site developed by Tristan Kirkpatrick. The site provides a searchable index of educators on Twitter.
  

Questions from Readers Like You

Do you have plans to make your podcast available through Pocket Casts?

~Jim

Hi Richard,

Enjoy your site. Thanks for everything you do. Quick question for you, what do you use make the circle appear in your screencast videos?

~Scott

Hey Richard,

I’ve made a playlist of YouTube videos that I plan to use as part of my unit on metaphors. Is there a way that I can show the videos in class without having to fast forward to the parts that are important?

~Angela

I watched your videos about making Google Earth files but I must be missing something. When I make the tour in Google Earth on my laptop it looks fine. I followed the directions for viewing it on Chromebooks but it doesn’t render correctly. Not all the placemarks are displaying full screen. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for any help you can offer.

~Bob

Hi Richard,

You know a lot about Google so I want to get your opinion on an issue that’s come up in our district. We’ve been a Google school for four years. I’ve heard from our IT director that our new superintendent wants to switch to Microsoft environment because “that’s what the business world uses.” Do you have any information that we could share with that could help persuade him not to make a switch next year?

Thanks.

~Kelcey

Hi Richard,

Thanks for all of the great resources you share. I have seniors this year and I’ve been tasked with helping them create portfolios that they can take with them after they graduate. I was wondering if you knew of any apps or online tools that would work for this purpose?

Keep up the great work!

~Steve

The outline of everything covered in the episode is available in this Google Doc. 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to participate in the next YouTube Live session. 

Some highlights from the episode:

Google made a bunch of G Suite product announcements this week:

• Originality Reports/ Checker for Google Classroom & Assignments
• Google Assignments - a companion for your LMS
• Create shortcuts in Google Drive
• New fonts in Docs and Slides
• Jamboard gets updated menus
• Socratic by Google helps students get help with difficult questions.

Unsplash for Education

• Thanks to Rushton Hurley for the tip. 
  • Check out Rushton’s monthly newsletter via Next Vista for Learning
  • This month’s newsletter includes a set of activities for showing students the qualities that educational videos should have. 

SeeSaw has an updated Chrome extension for annotating webpages.

• Students can write, draw, and highlight on webpages. They can also add audio notes to the pages they save.