The Power of a Google Drawing

11/29/201511/29/2015Leave a comment

Last summer I discovered Google Drawings along with the vast uses for supporting education. Recently I’ve noticed how the Google Drawing APP is integrated into some of the other core components within a Google APPS for Education Account.

This past week I had the opportunity to explore using the Google Drawings integrated within a Google Document. This tool unleashes the power to create original clipart, charts, graphic organizers, meme’s and etc… within a Google Document. This is done by layering both image files, shapes and a few other detailed steps to have the drawing image positioned properly in a Google Document.

Why do this?

Provides visual support to help the student complete assignments.
Students can express ideas in a picture along with words.
Provides an interactive manipulative for problem solving built into the Google Document.
Mind map support for writing.
- Student may move Mind map throughout document.
Provides an area to do computation within the document.
Here are a few ideas to support creativity and critical thinking skills
- Student creates a Meme positioned at top of document.
  - Student then types or voice types explaining their inspiration for creating the Meme.
    - Same idea can be used with
      - Poetry layered on a graphic background.
      - An opening paragraph layered upon representative illustration.
There is too Many Google Drawing Support ideas to share in one blog post list.

MOST IMPORTANT to this POST:

It is an interactive way to support writing!

USING GOOGLE DRAWING

Layer Writing on Top of Graphics

Open a Google Doc

Open New Google Doc.gif

Insert an image
- Step 1: Click Insert
- Step 2: Click Drawing
- Click Insert
- Choose Image

Drawing 2

Add a Text Box
- Click Insert
- Choose Text Box

Drawing 3

Watch Here to LEARN More!!!

Google Supports Autonomous Student Research

11/28/201511/28/2015Leave a comment

When it comes to students doing research Google Docs is one of the best tools around. Google Docs has many hidden features for supporting all different learning styles. It offers voice typing for the student who has difficulty expressing themselves with pen & paper. Another feature I really like is the Research Tool! This allows the student to do research right within the document without having to open a million browser tabs or windows.

The research tool provides the student with the ability to simply drag diagrams, clipart, and links right into a document. The student can easily cite resources in several different formats: MLA, Chicago and APA.

No need to worry about image usage rights when the researcher selects, “Free to use, share or modify even commercially” in the filter image results section of the Research Tool. The Google Docs Research Tool supports research by minimizing frustration to create a report which respects the owners rights.

Google Docs Research Tool Introduction

Using Research Tool

Let the Creative Juices Flow with Peanuts!

10/13/201510/17/2015Leave a comment

Unleash your student’s authoring talent by letting them create a customized Peanut’s Avatar scene. The students first start by creating a character’s physical features, expressional emotion, and finish with selecting a fashion style. Once the character is complete the student picks a scene to place their character in. I see this as a springboard for creative writing.

The Peanutize Me website allows the user to download the picture or an avatar profile which can be inserted into a Google Doc, Slide, Sheet, Blogger Blog, or Google Website. These are all tools the student can use to explore creative story writing.

Differentiate Learning Addition with a Google Sheet!

08/03/2015Leave a comment

Prior to Google Educator Training I had a fear about using Google Sheets in that matter even a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. This fear is fading away since learning there is so much more one can do with a Sheet than I ever imagined. What I’m going to share is a support to help the elementary student with becoming independent as they learn how to add up to 1,000. Below is a screenshot of the Addition Practice Google Sheet Interactive.

Please feel free to use this link for copying the template: Addition Calculator Practice

I’ve created the following video to share how this interactive support works

WHY USE A SUPPORT LIKE THIS?

It differentiates the learning so all students can successfully find the sum
Students can work independently at their own speed
Provides the student with multiple ways to check their answer
Growth data is provided through the revision history
Can be used in multiple ways
1. Whole Group
2. Small Group
3. Individually
Assessable from home provided the student has internet access

Watch for a followup post on how this Interactive Math Manipulative was created. You could build interactives like this using Google Sheets for subtraction, multiplication, division and ? Please share what ideas you come up with in the comment section. I’m looking forward to hearing how you have incorporated the Google APPS for Education suite in the classroom.

Avoid Copyright Issues by Empowering Students to be Creative

08/01/201508/02/2015Leave a comment

Lately I’ve noticed two topics mentioned over and over in my Twitter feed as well as in some educational articles. It seems both copyright issues and how to engage students with being creative are hot topics. Sorry for this old cliche but, “Why not kill two birds with one stone?”

Understanding copyrights along with the Teacher’s Act and Fair Use is complicated due to the internet and public sharing. The question keeps arising what is meant by “Within the Four Walls of a Classroom”? In this post I’m not going to talk about the issue itself. Instead I’m going to suggest supporting the students creative thinking skills by showing them how to use Google Drawing to create clipart. This way one can avoid the whole copyright issue by supporting the students creativity.