Deb Norton Tech

Google as a search engine has some great features. Give these a try: Google Image Search Engine #1 You can upload and search an image: Click on the little camera icon when using Google Images Choose an image to upload Google Image Search Engine #2 Find an image with a transparent background. Click on Search tools, Color and then Transparent If the image has a checkered background it is transparent.   If the image does not have a checkered background it is not transparent. Google Image Search Engine #3 Search for animated images (gifs) Click on Search tools, Type and then Animated Google Web Search Engine #4 Search for current information. Click on Search tools, Any time and then choose the time period. Here are a few more tips to help with the Google Search engine: #1 Use it as a timer to keep you on track. Google: set timer 30 minutes Go full screen and project it in front of the class. A scroll bar will show ...

Recently I was asked by a co-worker to suggest a site that students could use to create questions and answers for their friends. Immediately I remembered a site called " Quiz Your Friends ".  What I like about this site is: no account is needed you can choose the number of questions create a personalized message for your friends when they finish your quiz share easily the quiz scrolls nicely from question to question Click here to take my quiz on bowling. I highly recommend giving Quiz Your Friends a try.

This week we celebrate the national Hour of Code event. Watch this Chat with Deb to see two sites that will help students to become creators, inventors and coders. 3D Tin Made with Code Resources shared in this episode: 3DTin.com Make with Code from Google Click here to view all of the Chat with Deb episodes. Thank you to Intel's Teachers Engage Community for sponsoring this episode.

Thanks to my Facebook friends, I've started playing a new app called Trivia Crack . It is free and addicting.   And, unlike many apps that people are playing, Trivia Crack is educational!!!! Although I must admit that most of the time my friends are better at Trivia than I am. . .  Trivia Crack is very similar to Trivial Pursuit.  The object of the game is to get enough correct answers to earn each of the 6 categories: Science, History, Sports, Art, Entertainment and Geography What I love about Trivia Crack is that it is challenging, I'm always learning new and interesting facts, and I can play against my friends. I'm hoping this app becomes very popular amongst our students. Whenever an app can make learning facts exciting and also has a social platform, I think it's a winner!!!   Wouldn't it be great if teachers would have a friendly competition between classes using Trivia Crack ?  Students could use the knowledge they have ...

Here are some of the great sites and tools being used by the amazing educators that I work with: Thinglink and Kahoot are two sites being integrated by a large number of our teachers. What makes these sites popular? Thinglink is all about making an image interactive with hotspots; something that is easy to use in any academic area. And Kahoot is just plain fun. Reviewing content in a game-based platform is so appealing to teachers and students. Google Classroom has taken our high school by storm. This past week when I was helping a teacher to get his students onto Google Classroom, I asked the students in 5 different classes if any of them were not already using Classroom and not one hand went in the air. Teachers and students love the simplicity and interface of this LMS. Keegan is having his students create videos using WeVideo and Screencastify . Did you know that you can use the Webcam option on the extension Screencastify to record a video and then edit tha...

"Games empower students to get the critical feedback that they need to learn and be engaged." Sasha Barab Are you looking for some simple ways to incorporate games into your students' learning? Watch this Chat with Deb to learn about three great sites to do just that! Links from this Chat with Deb: Classtools.net Testlegends Gamestar Mechanic Thank you to Intel's Teacher's Engage for sponsoring this episode of Chat with Deb.   Click here to view other Chat with Deb videos.

There are two really nice add-ons for Google Forms.  g(math)  Use this to create math equations or graphs in Google Docs or Google Forms. Form Limiter Use this to limit the time period that your form is accepting responses or limit the number of responses that are allowed. I highly recommend giving either of these two add-ons a try!!

Try Interact - create a visual quiz that will engage, assist and bring meaning to your studying. This is not your typical quiz maker. This site has several great features such as: Quiz content that allows for visuals and explanations Quiz design that allows for choosing colors, fonts and photos Get feedback and results, embed on your site and provide a link to other resources. Watch this Chat with Deb to see how Try Interact works: Thank you to Intel's Teachers Engage for sponsoring this  Chat with Deb.

Last night my co-worker and I presented to our local Parent Association. We focused on how our teachers are using Chromebooks with our students.  Check out our presentation by clicking here . As you can see, our teachers have jumped right in with using new technologies with their students and I have so much appreciation for their willingness to make a difference in the education of their students.  I created the presentation using a site called emaze . I want to thank my friend, Naomi Harm, for sharing emaze with me. This really is an amazing presentation tool.  I highly recommend giving emaze a try with your students.

Booktrack is amazing and free! It allows you to take a piece of writing and add sound. When a person reads your writing, they will be also listening to music or sound effects that you have added. Watch this video explanation: There are also hundreds of stories just waiting to be read with music. Choose to import your own writing or use one of the free books available. Book track is very easy to use. There are free video tutorials to watch and learn how. I highly recommend giving Booktrack a try!

Movenote is a fantastic tool for recording a video while showing a presentation or images.  It is also a Chrome App .  Recently this Movenote video was shared on Google+ showing a teacher using Movenote to provide feedback to one of her students on a writing assignment. Check it out - Click here What a fantastic way to give a student critical feedback and praise!! This could also be a great way for peer to peer feedback. Or how about students creating a video of themselves reading their writing for an oral reading example for fluency, pace and expression?  I highly recommend giving Movenote a try!

It was an interesting weekend of sorting through posts in my Feedly .  I can tell it's almost Halloween just by reading these Tricks and Treats. Here are some of the highlights. * Google Tricks that are fun to try and share - Click here * A Chart comparing the use of technology versus the integration of technology - Click here * 21st Century Video * Plethora of Graphic Organizers from Teacher Vision - Click here * One "Coin" for all of your cards: * Your Rubric is a Hot Mess; Here's How to Fix It - Click here * All About the Books, No Trouble * Androidify - Click here

1.  Letha is using Screenleap . This site allows the teacher to share their computer screen with others by sharing a link. It works very simply and easily.  I've written about Screenleap before here .  This would also be a great way for students to share their screen on a large screen in front of the class. 2.  Samantha is using newsela to find current event articles for her students. This site allows the teacher to adjust the reading level according to the needs of the students. Some articles have quizzes for students.   3.  Brynn is using Thinglink with her students. I introduced this tool to our staff last week.  Thinglink is used to create an interactive image with hotspots.  You can read more about Thinglink here . 4.  Kerry and Valerie are having their students use Google Docs to publish their poems.  My latest Chat with Deb video was inspired by these two caring teachers. What great share outs from my col...

Monday, October 20th is the National Day on Writing. This year's theme is writing on your community. You can find more information by clicking here . In this Chat with Deb, I will demonstrate tips and tricks to teach students for using Google Docs to its potential.  Borders, colors, text boxes, bookmarks and more will be shown. I hope you have a chance to allow your students time to write for the National Day of Writing. Remember, publishing and sharing is an important part of the writing process.  Thank you to Intel's Teachers Engage for sponsoring this Chat with Deb.