Waffle Bytes

Carmen Sandiego is back - have your students use Google Earth to learn a bit of geography while chasing her down for the Crown Jewels!  Then have them research cities, landmarks and airports and create their own version of the game. You can find the game 2 ways - if you go to Google Maps, a message will appear asking if you want to Catch Carmen Sandiego - If you go straight to Google Earth, there is a new red button to begin the game - First you will get a splash screen - When you start the game, you get your assignment - Then move into a split screen with Google Earth on the left, and the game elements on the right - Gathering information, you then "fly" to the next city based on the clues - Nostalgic for some, but it can still be a great way to introduce kids to some cities and landmarks they may have never heard of.

The MACUL Conference is this week!   (This is the third in a series of 4 to help you get ready and excited about going to the conference. Tipsheet #1 contains information about hydration, food considerations and special happenings at the conference. Tipsheet #2 contains information about planning for your conference - the conference app, choosing sessions. Tipsheet #3 contains information about registration, getting help, networking, and wearing comfortable shoes!) Here are some other tidbits that might help you out as you arrive at the conference next week: COBO Layout : COBO is now basically a big “L” with sessions dispersed over 3 or 4 levels on both sides of the L; the left side of the L faces the river.   The end hallway overlooks the river since it has been renovated. They have added escalators and a huge staircase which help with traffic flow.  Long time conference goers should know they dropped the old naming...

There has never been more information, more readily available, to more students than this moment and it will only continue to increase. Before beginning research with your students consider using some of the resources below to help our students find more useful results when searching for information. Google Advanced Search  (direct link) Google Search Help - Refine Web Searches Better Searches...Better Results  (poster) Google's  Search Literacy Lesson Plans  (lesson plans/activities) A Google A Day Challenges  (activities) Google Search Tips  (infographic/poster) These resources were gathered and are shared by me (Melinda Waffle) and CJ Walker, educational technology colleague at Jackson County ISD.  

The MACUL Conference is less than a couple weeks away! (This is the third in a series of 4 to help you get ready and excited about going to the conference. Tipsheet #1 contains information about hydration, food considerations and special happenings at the conference. Tipsheet #2 contains information about planning for your conference - the conference app, and picking sessions.) Today I'm sharing some general tips for getting the most out of the conference. Checking In : Checking in on Thursday morning can be overwhelming when there are several thousand people around!  Here are some bits of advice to avoid missing the opening keynote session: If you come into Detroit Wednesday prior to 5pm, go to registration then instead of waiting until Thursday If you come into Detroit Thursday morning, registration opens at 7 am Again this year there will be "self-check" registration where you check in at a computer, then proceed to where your badge is printe...

The 2019 MACUL Conference is now less than a month away! (This is the second in a series of 4 to help you get ready and excited about going to the conference. Tipsheet #1 contains information about hydration, food considerations and special happenings at the conference. ) The conference sessions are all locked and loaded...meaning you can peruse the list at your leisure.  Here are some suggestions that may help you feel more prepared when coming to the the conference- Know What You Want : have some idea(s) of what you want to walk away from the conference with.  Use these ideas to help you plan your time so you meet those goals. It's easy to become overwhelmed with all the options, and identifying YOUR walk-aways will make sure you take back meaningful learning.   For example, you are looking for new uses of Google Apps in your classroom, look for sessions about that.  Or, if you are involved in looking for new school purchases make sure to bl...

From the MeL blog -  World Book Webquests, available through the World Book Kids digital database, teach responsible digital citizenship, strong research skills, and critical and analytical thought—all while making learning an adventure! Webquests are print-and-do activities that take learners on expeditions through World Book Kids. By following the step-by-step routes through the database, students learn by reading text, studying images, and hearing sound (including text read aloud to them). Along the way, students of all learning types practice basic database research skills. In the classroom or as part of library programming, a teacher or librarian simply needs to print out and distribute a WebQuest, and students can begin their self-directed exploration. New Webquests on topics ranging from sports to space are added often to ensure that the activity appeals to every student. Webquests approach every topic in ways that make the information approachable, digestible, an...

Google Forms underwent some radical changes in the last major overhaul.  In addition to being able to add images (all over the form), you can now include videos within your form for those taking it to be able to watch.  If you are a teacher, this means you can embed some video content right there in the form to then follow up with some understanding/comprehension questions.  Wow! If you prefer, here is a short video tutorial on How to Add a Video to Your Form . Here is how to add a video - First click on the question you want the video to appear BELOW.  Then click on the play button icon in the Add content bar - The Select Video window, you have 2 options - 1. Video search and 2. URL For the video search, where you can type in key words and then search for the video (PLEASE - if you are a teacher, preview the entire video you select from your search before having students watch it...) - Your search results will pop up below the search bar in a li...