Friday, May 15, 2020

ASA Tech Tips and News for May 15, 2020

Courtesy of Pexels.com
We are finishing up week 8 of distance learning. Teachers, you should seriously pat yourselves on the back for all you've learned and accomplished. You are well over the hump, with only a couple more weeks to go. There are some resources in this week's post that may help ease your frustration levels, such as video alternatives to YouTube, and Google's distance learning course. I know, it would've been helpful to have these 8 weeks ago, but much like the medical community with the Corona Virus, we're learning and figuring things out together. Like the students, we are definitely growing our brains! The distance learning course might be something you want to look into over the summer, in case there's some distance learning involved in the fall. Hang in there, my friends, we've almost got this!




Here's Why You Might Feel Tired After a Video Call

Here's Why You Might Feel Tired After a Video Call, from Life Savvy by Elyse Hauser
Well, now we know that quarantine fatigue is a thing, and apparently so is video-call fatigue. That would explain why you're so tired at the end of the day.

G Suite Updates:  Tab Groups Coming to Chrome


Do you have trouble keeping track of your Chrome tabs? They do seem to multiply like rabbits at times. With the next update to Chrome (expected next week), you will be able to organize your tabs in groups. Do you have several open for an assignment? Group them together and give them a name. Read about how to use them here.

Alternatives to YouTube

Alternatives to YouTube, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
YouTube is a great resource for videos, and the main go-to for almost everyone who needs an instructional video. Unfortunately YouTube is not child friendly. It does not market itself as safe for children anymore, due to some legal trouble for not protecting children's online safety or privacy. For this reason, Google does not make YouTube a priority for education solutions, and it doesn't work smoothly with G Suite for Education. What's a teacher to do now that lessons are online? Take a look at this list and see if you can find videos from these sources that will work for your classes instead of YouTube.

Must-Have Google Chrome Extensions for Teachers

This video demonstrates how to use these helpful extensions, including Screencastify to create your own tutorial videos. (Thank you Melanie for this one!)

Make Google Meet Better with These 5 Chrome Extensions

Some of these we've discussed before, and some are new. Either way, John gives a demonstration of each. Thanks to Melanie for this one too! I've pushed out Nod and Google Meet Push to Talk to elementary students. If you would like this for middle school students, please let me know. 


Google Launches New Distance Learning Resource for Educators

Google Launches New Distance Learning Resource for Educators, from Educational Technology Guy by David Andrade
This post includes Googles distance learning course, as well as lots of other distance learning-related resources.

An Important Setting for Using Audio and Video in Google Slides

An Important Setting for Using Audio and Video in Google Slides, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
If you are having trouble getting videos or sound to play for everyone in a Google Slide show, here are some tips. 

An Easy Way to Manage Tasks in Gmail

An Easy Way to Manage Tasks in Gmail, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Don't you hate it when you get an email, and forget to do something that was in the message? Learn how to add it to Tasks (a to do list that's built in to Gmail and Calendar) so you don't forget.

How to Add Background Music to Screencastify Videos

How to Add Background Music to Screencastify Videos, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
You've created the perfect tutorial, but it needs a little something...YouTube to the rescue. You can always download it again to make it kid-friendly.

30+ Digital Escape Rooms

30+ Digital Escape Rooms, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Once you're comfortable with distance learning, up your game by creating escape rooms for your students to review content, vocabulary review, and so much more. Think of this as a virtual Breakout. This post includes step by step instructions for creating your own.
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