Weekly Tech Tips and News for August 18, 2017

K. Szczytko 2017

Just like this butterfly is trying to get all the nectar it can before summer ends, I am also trying to enjoy the last bit of summer before school starts. Aren't you? Although there is still much to do, we all benefit from taking some time to enjoy the last of the season before it's gone. As we close in on the beginning of the school year preparations, here are some suggestions for ways to start out organized, or new ideas to try out. Give your class a fresh approach to a fresh new year.

• Start and Stay Organized:  5 Tech Tips to Start the School Year
• It's Not About Google, It's About the Learning (ISTE Empowered Learner)
• Book Creator is Now Live for All Chromebook Users
• How to Create Virtual Reality Panoramas
• Seven Sites With Free Photos You Can Use However You Want
• What Happens When You Get a Concussion
• DIY Augmented Reality - 3 Ways to Use it in School

Start and Stay Organized:  5 Tech Tips to Start the School Year

Start and Stay Organized:  5 Tech Tips to Start the School Year, from Tech and Learning by Adam Shoenbart
Not only are there suggestions for what to do, there are also explanations and suggestions for what tools to use.

It's Not About Google, It's About the Learning (ISTE Empowered Learner)

It's Not About Google, It's About the Learning (ISTE Empowered Learner), from Shake Up Learning by Kasey Bell
Here are many practical ideas for presenting assignments and following the ISTE Student Standards.

Book Creator is Now Live for All Chromebook Users

Book Creator is Now Live for All Chromebook Users, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Book Creator has long been available for iPads, now it is also available for Chromebooks. If you create books with your students, this is a great new tool for you to use.

How to Create Virtual Reality Panoramas

How to Create Virtual Reality Panoramas, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Remember reading about Google Cardboard in this blog? Now your students can take their own photos to view through Google Cardboard. The Google Cardboard Camera app is now available both for Android and iOS. It will now work on any Android phone or tablet, as well as on iPhones and iPads.

Seven Sites With Free Photos You Can Use However You Want

Seven Sites With Free Photos You Can Use However You Want, from How-To Geek by Justin Pot
These seven sites have a good variety of photos, that can be used without restriction. On most of these sites, attribution is not required.

What Happens When You Get a Concussion

What Happens When You Get a Concussion, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
With fall sports beginning, this might be a great TED-Ed lesson to review with sports-age students.

DIY Augmented Reality - 3 Ways to Use it in School

DIY Augmented Reality - 3 Ways to Use it in School, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
What is augmented reality? Think Pokemon Go. With Metaverse, you can create your own augmented reality game or exercise. This post contains links to tutorials, as well as ideas for how to engage your students or parents this way.