iPads, iPhones, iPods, BYOD in Google Hangouts For AP Biology Review

Today, was a classic "go slow to go fast"!

Mrs. Vertz has decided that a Google Hangout would be the best tool for an "at home" review session. Prior to today's lesson, Mrs. Vertz walked through information for setting up personal accounts.  We spent an entire class period dedicated to setting up personal Gmail accounts.  We needed personal Gmail accounts so that Google Plus and Google Hangouts could handle more than one person.  Our district has decided that Google Plus will be enabled for teachers only.

The best way to connect students was for the teacher to search Google Plus for the exact email address that students created for their Google Personal Gmail.

The mobile devices connected for a number of students as well as personal computers on our network.  We did run into a few error messages for students when connecting to Google Hangouts.  This could be for a number of reasons which we are investigating.

Tonight, we have planned a practice Google Hangout.

Video Link



Impact On Students:
Collaboration: A review session is a perfect time for staff and students to pool their resources together to master a topic.  With Google Hangouts, many people can review together in the comforts of their own home or on the go!
Critical Thinking: Students will have questions and both students and staff will determine the best answer. With Google Hangouts, screens can be shared and therefore, resources can be shared!
Citizenship:  Students needed to create personal Google accounts.  Connecting with the proper students from the class was a lesson that forced students to choose the correct contact.

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Google Discussion and Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts, with its screenshare option, proved to be the perfect tool for a conversation with Mrs. Schmidt and Mrs. Olson.  The English teacher, Mrs. Schmidt, and the science teacher, Mrs. Olson, are collaborating on writing reflections pertaining to the annual science egg drop.

Mrs. Olson wanted to share hundreds of photos from the egg drop with students and decided that a Google Group would be a great place to put the link to her Picasa Web Album.  In addition, the Google Group is a great place for students to conduct prewriting comments and suggestions by student for students that Mrs. Schmidt provides.

Since the Google Group has a private setting, below is a screen shot of the number of views and comments.

The collaboration between staff/student and student/student also meets an ITLS Standard 2A, Skill 2B 

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Tips For A Healthy Google Hangout Session

Thanks to our IT department member, Mr. Westphal, some tips were give so that staff Google Hangout Sessions were run with efficiency and clarity.
Those tips are below.

• If you are using external speakers and the mic is too close, you will get an echo.
• Make sure that the Echo Cancellation box is checked in your Gmail Settings under Chat Tab
• There may be some delay if a Hangouts message conversation window is open for a long time
• To fix, close and re-open the conversation window
• Google Hangouts will soon get much better - no plugins and better video quality

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Google Plus For Searching

Video Link

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Google Plus+ In Education Lunch N' Learn Breakfast Bytes One

Google Plus is an application that our school district has enabled for staff only.  One teacher stated, I made time for it (Google Plus) because teachers were posting so many great resources and conversation."

Why would you want to use it?

• Professional Learning Network
• Meetings
• Hangouts-Video Conference Calls (Up To Ten People)
• Sharing Your Screen For Tech Help
• Learning From Educators From Around The World
• Study Group With Students (If students have personal Google Accounts)

Give Me This In A Picture

How Do I Get There?



What Are Circles?



I would like to know more!



Really, I haven't had enough Google Plus!  Please Give Me The Complete Guide!
HERE IT IS!

Chad Kafka & Jennifer Magiera Explanation
Help!  Johnny Circled Me On Google Plus

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Google Hangout Provides Teacher Presence When Absent

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Google Hangout To Allow Student To Attend Classes

We were thankful for Google Hangout over this week as we were able to accommodate a student who needed to be away from school to still attend classes.

Google Hangout has been well documented on iPaddiction because it is so easy to start. Thank you to the entire students' teachers for accommodating this student. 

Consider Google Hangout the next time a student is absent from school.

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Google Hangout For Chemical Engineer To Enter Calculus II Classroom

Mr. Bentz, Calculus II instructor, suggested that he would like to SKYPE with a Chemical Engineer so that his students could envision what they could be doing in 5-10 years.  While SKYPEing might be a great way for people to communicate it does require yet another username and password.

I suggested that he use Google Hangout as it is part of Google and doesn't require another username and password.

Everything worked perfectly.

We even had a student who was visiting Arizona during the class period.  She joined the hangout which allowed her to not miss the learning experience.

Reactions at the end of the video by the student is certainly positive.

View the process and some of the conversation.

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Google Hangout and Todaysmeet For Video Feedback

Technology in the form a Google Hangout and Todaysmeet made today's activity more efficient and productive in Mrs. Stainton's AP Environmental Science class.

See how this technology served as a great vehicle for learning.

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Google Plus and Google Hangouts

Our district is starting the process of using Google Hangouts with staff.  Since the Google Hangout requires a Google + account, our district is not ready to open this to staff just quite yet.  It will happen, and it will be great for communicating in a geographically large district, holding staff meetings with smaller groups, and helping staff with technology and lesson planning.  It will also be a positive as it works on laptops and iPads!

To start the process and test some settings, our learning support team of library media specialists and technology support teachers conducted our first hangout.

Six educators, five buildings, one Google Hangout.


While we aren't ready for complete unveiling to staff yet, we will get there, and it will be beneficial!

See some Google Hangout Resources:

What is it?

Getting Started

Google + Guide For Educators

Tutorial How To Start One & Features

Tutorial - GREAT

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Google Hangout Staff Meetings

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Racine School District Hangout Top Ten iPad Lessons

As global learning continues, I will be having a Google Hangout with some great teachers from the Racine School District.  These teachers are moving full speed ahead implementing iPads.  I would like to share ten learning experiences from the past year that were successful using iPads.

My Classroom Blog

1. QR Code Check Out
2. The Big Climb
3. Pic Collage For Reviewing
4. Creative App Carousel Hour
5. Enhanced Note Taking - Explain Everything App
6. Student iPad Created Video
7. Individual Instruction Based on Data Assessment
8. Twitter MVP
9. Shirtee App, Google Form Set Up Math Problem
10. Students Blog Reflection Before Quiz

Please remember, not everything that will be completed using any tech device will go as smoothly as planned.  Try to do what you can, with what you have, with where your at. In addition, if you are designing a lesson try to remember the following items.

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