Exploring Google Drawings in French Class

Last week, I visited French II classes to talk about Google Drawings.  To be honest, I had never really worked with this before but both Madame Noble and I thought that it would be great platform for the assignment that the students had to complete.

Google Drawing is just another component in Google Docs.  As you probably already know, when you open a Google Document, you are limited when it comes to layout as it is a word processor.  Google Drawing allows you to make a drawing that has text boxes, shapes, drawings, etc.

Students were tasked to put together their own wedding invitation, as well as a birth announcement.  In past years, student were allowed to either use a word processor or hand create their product.  This year, we determined to have students try Google Drawing.  Madame Noble wanted an easy way for the students to create their product but to also have a means to share their information with other students.

To complete the task at hand, each student created their own Google Presentation.  Then students inserted a Google Drawing on a slide.  Once they were done, they opened up a Google Presentation that Madame Noble created; this was so that all students were able to 'drop' their product into the presentation. On the day the presentation was due, students viewed each others' work.  To view some student work, click HERE

If you are curious in how Google Drawing works or how it could be implemented in your curriculum, you know what to do...

Bulldog Cafe - Sharing Information

How lucky are the staff at BHS that each week, we are able to walk downstairs to the life skills room, when the Bulldog Cafe is open, to enjoy a delicious treat or hot beverage?  This year, students are making a wide arrangement of food and are doing a great job at that.  I am also impressed with how the students are communicating with the staff on their events that they have participated in as they are using technology.  One particular student is in charged of making a flyer showcasing items such as:

• What they have done over the month
• A recipe of their choice to showcase
• An interesting fact
• A puzzle for the staff to figure out
• Announcement of prize winners
• And much more 

The 'Cafe News' is a great flyer and it is created using a word document.  GREAT JOB and keep up the GOOD WORK!  To view the latest flyer, click HERE.

Shorten a URL and Create a QR Code in One Click

As some of you know, it can be very annoying to view an important URL in a document or email due to how long it is.  While there are some websites that will actually shorten a URL for you, such as bitly, I have recently been using Google URL Shortener.


Once you have logged into your Google Apps Account, go to Google URL Shortener.  All you have to do is paste in the URL that you are interested in shortening in the given box.  Then, it will automatically add your URL to the list of any URL that you have shortened through Google's service.  (See the picture to your left).  What is cool about this list is that you are able to see how many times, people have used that shortened URL.

In addition, once you hit the details button next to the shorten URL of interest, you will find a QR code that Google already created for you.  This cuts out the 'middle man' of having to go to another website, such as Kaywa, to create your QR code for scanning purposes.

Just another great service to help you do your job efficiently.  If you have any further questions on how to use this service, you know where to find me!

Assessing Blogs? An Example of a Rubric

This year, Mr. McDonald has decided to have all of his Advanced Writing students manage and write their own blog.  Through this assignment, Mr. McDonald is serving three purposes:

1.  Students are able to freely write about what is intriguing to them.
2.  Students are learning what it is like to to write in the 21 century.
3.  Students are learning what it is like to share and collaborate amongst others through their blog.

Mr. McDonald gave me permission to share the rubric that he is using each month when it comes to assessing the blog.  This rubric is assessing students in how well they communicate their thoughts as well as their grammar.  While you might not use the same competencies in your course, the rubric can be adopted to any course and any competency.  To see the actual rubric, click HERE.

If you are interested in knowing more about blogging in your course, how students can maintain their own blog, or how to assess blogs, please stop by room 222 and we can chat!