Waffle Bytes

(Part of our Stay-At-Home series focused on practical ways you can use a resource to foster creativity, connections, and collaboration.) There are many organizations that are offering video resource (or TV programming) each day which may be useful to parents and teachers.  Here is a short list of a few that are freely available you may want to check out: Public television (and their companion websites) are changing programming to focus on materials for K-12 Students at home until further notice.  PBS stations have blocked out time for each level - 7-9am is PBS Kids materials appropriate for 2-8 year olds; 9am - 1pm is for students Grades 4-8; 1-6pm is for students Grades 9-12. Additionally many have companion resources that can be used with the programming.  PBS Learning has resources and learning activities in most subject areas.  Students do need to make a (free) account if they do not already have one.  Discovery Education is providing daily learni...

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...

Free Digital Skills Curriculum for Teachers Google has created FREE ready-to-use digital video lessons that teach students the practical skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Teachers are able to choose from free curriculum that suits their needs. The lessons are flexible for every schedule, learning environment and level of experience and encourage engaging and interactive learning. Each lesson has closed-caption downloadable video introductions, step by step videos, time recommended to complete, discussions, a list of skills covered, instructions, detailed lesson plans, engaging scaffolded activities, state standards, and rubrics to assess student progress. All they have to do is sign up! Check it out here .

There is a free webinar on Feb 20 where you can learn tips & tricks for integrating the @USCIWitness Challenge into your classroom.  It would be great to see some local teachers participate in this! From the website : Make the World Stronger Than Hate. Educators have a powerful opportunity to educate and inspire students to make change now. The 2018 IWitness Video Challenge, created by USC Shoah Foundation and in partnership with Discovery Education , provides an actionable way to promote equality, challenge bias, discuss tolerance, and engage students in a service-learning project that inspires action. Teachers and students can be part of a movement that counters hatred in all its forms, from racism to antisemitism to xenophobia. Prizes This important opportunity for youth to be Stronger Than Hate—and inspire their friends, school, and community to join them—also comes with the chance to win scholarships and grants totaling $10,000. FOR STUDENTS: First...

From our Discovery Education Rep - Engage students like never before. Discovery Education has provided a curated list of updates below, which includes links to relevant resources and virtual events available within our current DE Streaming service.   Timely Content:    The Science of Opioid Addiction - Curriculum Resources -  A ligned to national health and science standards, these resources introduce students to the science behind opioids and their impact on the brain and body. Phelps Vs. Shark: The Battle for Ocean Supremacy - Explore the science behind this epic showdown between the greatest swimmer of all time, and the great white shark. This Shark Week program is now available in Streaming Plus, along with expertly crafted lesson plans! New Discovery Educator Network Online Community - The DEN Online Community provides educators with more ways to learn from each other, all in one location, easily accessible through the navigati...

This is a really cool video on how to make your Google Form interactive - or, if you will, "Choose Your Own Adventure!"  I can think of so many applications for this...both as a teacher, and as a learning activity for students.

Guest post from +Jeremy Badinar at Badinar Bytes & Tech Tidbits - Thanks to Jeremy for agreeing that I could cross post this :-) It is finally here! The long awaited ability to insert Google Drive videos into Slides! We have always been able to insert YouTube videos, but now all those videos you have stored and shared in Drive are now able to be inserted into a Google Slide. This is big news, especially for all those who have students share their video work through Google Classroom or Drive. Follow the steps below to learn how to insert all those Google Drive videos directly into a Slide! Insert Google Drive Videos into Slides Open the Slide you want to insert the video into. Click on “ Insert ”. Click on “ Video ”. Select “ Google Drive ”. All your available Dive videos will be listed. Select the one you want to insert and click “ Insert ”. You can move, resize, and add border. Click on the video, then click: : adds a border an...

  Lessons from the Vietnam War The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), the nonprofit organization that founded and preserves the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall, has released new curriculum materials that are available to teachers to teach Vietnam in their classroom. The Echoes From The Wall curriculum set explores the Vietnam War and era through 14 lesson plans that include background readings, in-class and extension activities tied to national learning standards, and lecture presentations incorporating primary source audio and video . The lesson plans cover a range of topics, from Motivations for US Involvement to the Legacy of the War in Vietnam. Educators can review and download individual lesson plans or the full curriculum from the VVMF website. Click Here to Access Free Lesson Plans Plus : For students who would like to view artifacts of the war up close and behind the scenes, VVMF has debuted a new videoconferencing/distance lear...

In honor of World Space Week, I encourage you to check out NASA Education.  NASA has developed quite a useful site for educators!  From the site : "As the United States begins the second century of flight, the Nation must maintain its commitment to excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to ensure that the next generation of Americans can accept the full measure of their roles and responsibilities in shaping the future.... NASA will continue to pursue three major education goals: -- Strengthening NASA and the Nation's future workforce -- Attracting and retaining students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines -- Engaging Americans in NASA's mission" Some of the items you will find on this site: Subscription to a weekly email with education opportunities Lesson plans & teaching materials searchable by keyword, subject and grade level Links to other useful materials, including NAS...

Being public supported, PBS provides many videos that are available for teachers to use in their classrooms. But did you know some of their series provides teaching resources free for your use?  Check out the series Nature .  If you go to the Classroom section, they have provided video clips from episodes, along with teaching resources and relationship to educational standards.  Notice on the example below they list the grade levels that the resource is appropriate for along with the permitted use of the materials - A great free resource to bring in actual video related to your teaching!

MACUL is partnering with Rushton Hurley to support a student video contest. This is an opportunity to have students create learning videos that can be shared with other students. What a great way to assess if a student understands a concept or lesson that also provides a worldwide audience for their work. We are asking students to explain something one might encounter in school in 90 seconds or less, with another 60 seconds for credits showing that students used copyright-friendly content from media libraries identified in the rules. The goals are to help students: learn to use planning and revision to create compelling, fun learning videos understand, properly use, and site Creative Commons-licensed material as part of their work. create videos that could help other students learn topics that might prove challenging All the details are at  http://bit.ly/MACULvideo    Deadline is  February 26th .  

Ever wonder what I use to create my annotated graphics & short videos?  Here's my secret - TechSmith's SnagIt.  Very easy to use software for screencapturing - both images and videos. And today - they are having a CyberMonday Sale.  You can get it for 30% off using the code CYBERMON15.  If you are an educator, this means you get it for $20.96 instead of $29.95. If you already have an older version of SnagIt, you can upgrade for $10.46 instead of $14.95!  Well worth it for the newest features. Truthfully, I am not paid in any way, shape or form to promote SnagIt.  I just find it to be a very useful tool, and want others to know about it.

If you are into multimedia on your Google Site, you probably would like to have a video or two.  First, a couple words of caution about video - I wouldn't recommend putting video on your Home page - if your site is about accessibility and some of your visitors are connecting with slow internet the load time could turn them away before they even see your site! The average attention span for a video is 3-7 minutes (depending on what study you read) - keep that in mind, along with the fact that the longer the video the is the more bandwidth and/or data it will be using So, if you use video - which can be very effective - use it sparingly. To add video to your site, first load it into your Google Drive.  This is hands down the easiest way.  Then when in edit mode on the page you want the video: 1. Go to the Insert Menu, select Drive (on the right side) and then choose Video:   2. In the window that pops-up, you can use the search bar to find your ...

Read Around the Planet 2015: A Project Matching Event TWICE invites you to participate in a collaborative reading event using videoconference technology in celebration of with Read Across America! WHAT : a CAPspace Matching Event - you sign up and we provide you a partner class. REGISTRATION:  December 1st to  January 16, 2015 ! RAP DATES : February  23 - Wednesday, March 6, 2015 **Please check your calendars for vacation, conference days, testing, etc. BEFORE registering to know which days work for your class.** Classes share skits, raps, original poetry/writing, songs, game shows, and more.  Classes can participate in English, or a variety of other languages, or special education. CHECK OUT: RAP website: http://www.twice.cc/RAP -  Flyer -  Verification and Registration dates -  Teacher and Coordinator Packets -  Additional Information Collaborations vs. Projects There are two kinds of connections between classes in CAPs...

Discovery Education in partnership with American Heroes Channel and the National Military Families Association present the My Hero Is Contest.  Join Discovery Education, American Heroes Channel, and the National Military Families Association in honoring our military members and families by recognizing their service and bravery through the My Hero Is Contest .  Get your students involved by using our free resources and classroom activities around Veterans Day. Then, have them honor a current or veteran military hero or military family member in their lives by creating and submitting 30-second tribute videos. The school with the largest number of videos submitted will receive a special school assembly honoring local veteran heroes.  To support Veterans Day and your students in creating tribute videos, we are providing a number of classroom resources including a Veterans Day classroom activity, videos, and tip sheets on stor...

As you wrap up packing your classroom away and saying goodbye to this year's students, you perhaps are not thinking about next fall.  However, the team at Discovery Education is making enhancements to our Discovery products, and the Discovery Educator Network is hosting some free back-to-school webinars coming up in August that you may want to attend! They are offering the following - Back-to-School with Discovery Education : be the first to get a look at the new enhancements inside Discovery Eduction! This will also highlight meaningful instructional strategies for leveraging digital tools, content and resources. Pick from one of the following dates/times: August 6 @ 4 pm, August 13 @ 4 pm, August 21 @ 7 pm, August 27 @ 4pm, September 4 @ 7pm, September 17 @ 4pm Deep Dive Sessions : See the all-new Student Center, Board Builder and the new Streaming Plus with support for the Common Core - complete with model lessons, assessments, and digital content designed to ad...

This edition - Google Timer, iPad Storage management, free Moodle course, organizing with LiveBinders, using interactive whiteboards, MACUL speaker proposals... View this email in your browser ...