Waffle Bytes

A new Chrome extension is coming to help students (and teachers) search the Opposing Viewpoints in Context resources along with general Google searches! From Deb Renee Biggs and Sonya Schryer Norris, Library Consultants at the Library of Michigan: There are updates to the very popular Opposing Viewpoints in Context! Use this MeL resource for excellent commentary and viewpoints on numerous social issues.  It’s perfect for social studies research and for inquiring minds at your libraries! Coming in November, an Opposing Viewpoints In Context extension will be available in the Chrome Web Store. When added to Chrome browsers, it will display results from Gale’s popular database alongside Google search results . The Gale Chrome extension puts OVIC resources in the everyday workflow. Library users can view and retrieve high quality content from Opposing Viewpoints In Context that includes academic journals, reference content, and viewpoints on today’s ...

A colleague of mine - Justin Cowen - from the UP created this resource for educators in his area giving the M-Step on Chromebooks.  If your district is using Chromebooks for the M-Step, you might share this with teachers and those that are helping provide technical support during the test. M-Step Troubleshooting Guide - by Justin Cowen

I am often asked by people what they should buy for their classrooms - an iPad, a Chromebook or a laptop (I know there are also Android tablets out there, but I haven't been asked about those in the classroom yet!).   This is a very difficult question to answer for several reasons, but mainly due to the fact that we are focusing on the device not the needs.   You see, these are all distinct devices and each serves a different need.   This is not to say that a person has to actually use all three devices, as there is some overlap.   So the questions we should be asking are “What capabilities do our teachers/students/administrators need from their device?” and then “What capabilities might we want our teachers/students/administrators to be able to do in the future?”   If we instead evaluate our needs based on these questions, we get a clearer picture of which device is a best fit.  For instance, if we determine that the need is for web-based service...