Google Docs Part 2

This week we talked about how to share a Google Document.  This, in my opinion, is one of the best things about GDocs besides being able to access your documents anywhere.  My husband was kind enough to make a screen cast to show how to share the document.  I forgot to show how to email the document at our gathering, but he also shows how to do this.  Enjoy!

Google Docs Part 1

This week and last meeting, I covered a basic introduction to Google Docs.  Google Docs is very similar to the Microsoft Office suite, but it's available anywhere you have internet access (like email).  It is also FREE!  You don't have to purchase it to have it on your computer.  Gone are the days when you have to email documents to yourself if you've worked on them at home or carry a flash drive around.

To get started, go to the Earlham Google Docs page and log in using your  username and password.  Click on DOCS instead of email.

When you get in Google Docs, you can create a document (like a basic Word doc), a presentation (PowerPoint) or spreadsheet (Excel).  Click on "Create New" and it will give you the options.

*A form is something you can use to create a survey like I made previously on the Tech Tuesday blog.  If you want to learn more about a form, that can be another Tech Tuesday topic.

Picture Book Maker

This week's topic is Picture Book Maker.

How to use this tool:

When you arrive at the page, you will see a hardcover looking book.  At the bottom of the book, click "enter."

At the bottom of the page, there are many tools to use.

1. Backgrounds: use the arrow to select a background.  Clicking on the background places it on the page.

2. Characters: use the arrows to select a character.  Clicking on it will place it on the page.  Also, clicking the arrows on "scale" and "action" (once it is placed on the page) will change the size and action of the character.

3. Objects: use the arrows to select an object.  Clicking on it will place it on the page.  Also, like the character, you can use the "scale" to change its size.

• Selecting the pencil/Write option brings up a text box that the author can type in.  The "scale" option makes the text larger or smaller.  Also, the tex box can be moved by dragging any black corner.
• The "pages" option allows the author to write multiple pages as well as a cover and back of the book.

• To delete an object, select it and then select the trash bin option.  
• When finished with the book, select "finish book."  You will then have the option to read the book by turning the pages, emailing the book to someone, or printing the book out.  
• Selecting "exit" clears the book and takes you back to the start screen.

Application for this tool:

I feel that this tool is applicable to all ages.  It is a bit limited by the amount of characters/backgrounds/objects, but it can teach students ho to write a short story.  A lower elementary student could write a few words on each page.  An upper elementary student could write a longer short story or even compose poetry.
I think it is great that you have the option of printing the book for free as well as sharing it with someone via email.  Can you think of other uses for this tool?

Visuwords

 Visuwords is an online graphical dictionary and thesaurus.  All that you do to use it is type in a word at the top.

A web pops up with the word and synonyms and antonyms.  It is really neat because it shows the relationship between the words and the other words that show up in the web by

This tool is probably more useful for upper grades, but can still be applicable with younger students and basic parts of speech.

Tech Tuesday Survey

Spezify

Spezify is a visual search engine.  You can type in a word or phrase that you want to search, similar to what you would do in Google, and it will come up with results in picture or "news clipping" looking format.  I know students would really like to do this, and it also would be a useful tool for those beginning readers to search for pictures of words.  This site, just like Google, doesn't necessarily have a "student friendly" filter, but I've found that if you search for something a little more specific, like "fractions math" and not just "fractions," you will come up with a more educationally focused result. 

Here's a screen shot from my search for "Trumpeter Swans."  You can see the "play" buttons on some of the images because they are actual videos from YouTube.

Wordle

Today's Tech Tuesday was about a fun online tool called Wordle.  This tool is easy for anyone, including students, to use and has SO MANY possibilities.

To use Wordle, head to their website and click on "Create."

You can enter in whatever text you'd like.  The more times you enter a word, the larger it will appear in your Wordle.

For example, here is a Wordle I created just putting in colors.  I put in pink 5 times, blue 3 times, red 2 times, and green, yellow, orange and purple each once.   I just typed in the word with a space in between.




If you'd like your Wordle to contain phrases, like this Wordle my class did on the word SAFE, put a ~ sign between each word in the phrase (not a space) and it will keep that phrase together.



After you've input your text into the create box, click"Go."  Then, it will pop up in a random font/color scheme.  If you don't like that scheme, click "Randomize" and it will give you a different scheme.  You can randomize until you find one you like.

We had a great discussion about the many uses for Wordle in the classroom at our Tech Tuesday gathering.  Here is a sildeshow that tells 38 Interesting Ways to Use Wordle in the Classroom.  I'm sure you can think of many more ways to use it!

Also, just a side note when using Wordle, the public gallery on the website is not "student friendly."  You may find some inappropriate material if you look for it, so I have the link on my blog that students use go directly to the create page by using www.wordle.net/create