Going Google

I am very into Google and all of the ways I can use it in my classroom.  Google has these cute "goodies" that gives you some shortcuts for when you are searching.  With the push to create technology literate students, that includes doing research, knowing how to use search engines to their fullest is key.  These might be good to post on your website or print out and have accessible for students when searching the web.

QuestBase - create online and print test, quizzes and surveys

I just heard about a site that allows you to create tests, quizzes, survey and anything else you would need to create that has questions in it. It's called QuestBase. Right now it's still in Beta so not all of the feature are 100% yet, but from what I have seen I really like it. It is very simply to use and it allows you to give the quiz in two different way: you can create a pdf and print or you can have students take the quiz online. One of the feature that really sold me on this (because I've been a big Google Forms person for quizzes) is the ability to add in pictures. This was one of the thing that held me back when creating quizzes for my Chemistry classes. Don't get me wrong, I love Google for so many things, but creating online quizzes is one area where it's not the best. QuestBase seems like a good solution to problem of not being able to add pictures. In addition, I like that you can randomly rearrange both order of the questions and the order of the answers.

Do you have a great program you use to create tests? Do you give your tests online?

Create an online supply list and get a free set of glue sticks

I've posted about Teacher Lists before, but I wanted to make another post as they are having two great promotions going on right now.  The first one is that any new person who signs up and creates a list will get a dozen glue sticks sent to them. 
The second is that if you post your 2013-2014 school list before the begining of July you will be entered into a competition to win 25,000 BoxTops for your school (if your school particpates in the BoxTop program).

Try it out now, by going to Teacher Lists.

Just had to share a way to get free supplies for your classroom (I mean, who doesn't need those?!)

EdCanvas - share multiple resources in one place

I just recently started using EdCanvas with my Biology students. We are in the midst of our lovely standardized testing and thus I am not seeing my classes for full periods (if at all). I didn’t want the classes I was missing to fall behind the classes that I was seeing so I created a little online classroom using EdCanvas. EdCanvas gives you the opportunity to post videos, documents, links and basically anything electronic on your canvas.
It was great, because I recorded some lectures, added some resources (links and extra worksheets) and they students were able to “be in class” without actually being in class. I guess you can think of it as a modified version of a flipped classroom.
Some of the kids loved it more than others, but I think that if I used it more consistently they would get more comfortable with it.
What does it look like? Here is my EdCanvas.
Here is a short video about using EdCanvas in your classroom.
What method do you use to share electronic resources with your classes?

Instant Screencasts

I just recently recorded some lectures for my students. I needed a way to make them feel like they were in class watching the PowerPoints and hearing me talk about them, but be able to do it from home. I came across the website that allowed me to record what is on my screen. It is called Screenr. I really liked it because it was very simply to use, it was free and didn’t require you to download anything to your computer. The only downside was that you can only record 5 minutes at a time. I know there are plenty of other screen capture programs out there, but you have to pay for them and I’m all about free ;-)
 
If you go to their site, there is a short video that explains it all. (I had originally posted the video here, but it would automatically play every time you visited my blog and I thought that would be annoying so I removed it).
 
Do you think you can use this website in other educational ways?

Plagiarism Tracker

If your school is anything like mine you have been feeling the push for the Common Core standards.  We are being encourage to do more reading and writing with the students.  I find this challenging because, as a science teacher, I don't really know how to grade writing assignments.  One thing that I often worry about is the students plagiarizing the writing assignments I give them. 
I recently found out about PlagTracker and tested it out.

I copied and pasted student work into the website.  The first time you use the website you give them an e-mail address and they will create an account for you.  When your entered text has been fully checked you get an e-mail saying that it's ready to be viewed.  You can log back in and see the results for up to a week.  There is a premium version if you require more detailed results and want instant feedback.

How have you integrated the CCLS into your curriculum?

Free Online Graph Paper

I wanted to share with you a website that my colleague shared with me that allows you to create your own graph paper.
I know that I am always using graph papers with my middle school classes because I really trying to get them to become proficient graphers.  Sometimes I am not able to get pre-printed graph paper or it just doesn't work with the graph that I am doing.  This is great because you print the graph paper exactly how you want it.