The Hour of Code is coming!

Each year, Code.org sponsors the Hour of Code.  The idea is that all students spend an hour learning to code.  This year, the event takes place the week of Dec 3-7.*

In the past, this small exposure has made a big impact on many kids.  For everyone who does it, the Hour of Code is a chance to get an idea of what programming is all about. For some, it opens a door to a new passion.  For others, it's a realization that maybe coding isn't their thing-- which is fine, too (but at least they've had the opportunity to find out).

I would love to help anyone interested in integrating a little coding in your classes.  There are lots of ways this could work:

• Students can do one of the self-guided activities from code.org (designing an app looks like a good one)
• I can tailor a self-guided activity that connects to your curriculum 
• I can come in and do a group activity

Let's get together and plan it!

*And if the week of Dec 3rd doesn't work for you, we can find another time, too.

New Google Contacts

Here's a heads-up on a change coming to Google.  Contacts, which used to be a part of GMail, is now a separate app.  That means to find your contacts, you'll need to click the 3x3 "waffle" (tip: you can click, hold, and drag to rearrange the order of icons in this drop-down.

In the new Contacts, "labels" have replaced "groups."  You can try it out for now.  There is an option to switch back to the old version in the lower left of the screen.  Everyone will be moved over in February.

Auto Draw

How good an illustrator are you?  If, like me, you're not exactly an expert at drawing, you may want to check out https://www.autodraw.com/.  AutoDraw is an AI experiment that tries to guess what you're drawing as you're making shapes.  It will offer suggesestions.  Once it comes up with what you were trying to render, you can choose it from the list.

For example, here's a picture I drew of an apple and a coffee mug. 

But...that's not really what I drew.  Rather, I drew a rough sketch of each, then let AutoDraw guess what I was looking for.

It's not perfect.  But it's fun to try and could come in handy if you need to make a drawing and can't find the shape in your graphics software.

Note-- if you're a student, you should also take one of our art classes!

Some Chromebook tips that will make your life easier

As I've been working with 9th graders in the Core, I've been developing a list of Chromebook tips that not everyone knows and that can be extremely useful.  Here are my top three, in no particular order:

1. Alt-click to right-click. On a Chromebook, holding the Alt key while clicking on the trackpad is the equivalent of a right-click.  If you don't love the "two-finger click" try using the Alt key instead.
2. To quickly find your downloads, pin the Files app to the shelf.  Search for Files (its icon is a white folder in a blue circle). Right-click the icon (see tip #1!) and choose Pin to Shelf.  Now it will always appear at the bottom. Within Files, you will see both Drive and Downloads.
3. Need to take a quick screenshot? Hold Ctrl and press the "Screen Switcher" key, which is just above the 6 key. Holding Shift as well allows you to take a screenshot of a selected area. [Want a better screenshot tool that lets you annotate?  Try the Awesome Screenshot extension].

Digital Citizenship Flipgrid

Teachers,
Did you see Bonnie Birdsall's message about doing a Digitial Citizenship Flipgrid?  Gary and I are happy to help with this.  If you've never used FlipGrid before, I recommend you try it!  It's a great way to have group conversations. 

Come on down to 118 and we'll set you up.  Of let me know a good time for me to come to you.