UDL with VoiceThread webinar

VoiceThread has great applications for UDL (Universal Design for Learning).   I just saw this announcement for a training that might be of interest.  Here's the blurb from VoiceThread:

"Participants will learn how VoiceThread can help educators provide multiple means of engagement, representation, action and expression for their courses. Participants will learn how to use VoiceThread’s multi-modal communication platform, the new closed captioning features, and VoiceThread Universal to design accessible lessons."

I'd also be happy to help anyone get started with VoiceThread.  As a reminder (and for new people), we have premium accounts for all teachers and students.

Help site for Google Classroom

I'm developing a help site for Google Classroom at CVU. Check it out here. I'll be adding to it as more questions and ideas come in.

Simplifying web pages for easier reading

Often, the clutter surrounding news articles online makes for a distracting experience.  One nice solution to this is Read & Write for Google.  I've written before about other helpful functionality of this tool; this time, let's look at "Simplify Page."  By clicking on the icon, you go from this...

...to this:

Here's a 30-second screencast showing how it works:

 All CVSD students already have Read & Write installed.  Adults can add the extension, then see me for how to get a premium account for free.

Welcome back!

Welcome to the 2019-20 school year!
I'd love to chat with any teachers who are thinking about how they might be integrating technology in their classes this year. 
Over the next few days, I'm focusing on setting up Moodle and Google Classroom.  Please come to 118 if you need support with either (or both) of these.
I also wanted to share my resources from the Screencasting bucket session.  Screencasting is a great way to provide video instruction to students and for students to show their learning. Here's a simple document to get you started, with a link to a video on the process, as well. 

Two Google Classroom tips

Thinking ahead to next year, here are two tips I've shared with individual teachers but may be helpful to others, as well.

1. Unlike Moodle, you create your own Classroom.  Here's how:

Of course, I'm happy to help with this and/or get you started with adding materials and assignments.

2. For those already using Classroom, here's a nice tip on how to re-use comments on students work (so you don't have to keep re-typing the same thing over and over).