Teachers need to know how to get the most out of their tech tools. They need to be able to use them in ways that make their lives easier.
That’s why I’m excited to share some rapid-fire tech tips that you can apply right away. These tips will help you get more out of your everyday tech tools this semester.
1. Take a Day to Unplug
One way teachers can unplug is to take a day off from tech. Taking time to unplug from digital devices can be a good exercise in self-care and may also encourage students to do the same.
Founded in 2009, National Day of Unplugging (NDU) is an awareness campaign that encourages people to spend one full day completely unplugged from technology. Its goal is to promote a healthy balance between technology and human connection.
While this may seem difficult for some, it’s a crucial step in avoiding screen burnout and fostering positive mental health. Educators can take this opportunity to set aside a day each month for a digital detox.
There are plenty of resources available to educators who want to create their own digital detox. For example, the online group Digital Sabbath has a toolkit teachers can use to teach students how to unplug. And schools in Shelburne, Vermont, used paper-driven exercises during a digital detox that led to more productive classroom discussions and increased empathy.
2. Take a Scan Through the July/August Issue of Tech & Learning
Take a scan through the July/August issue of Tech & Learning to learn more about some of the latest education technology trends and tools. From telepresence robots to remote learning, this issue offers plenty of ideas for teachers to help them use technology in new and innovative ways.
A growing number of educators are embracing emerging technology in their classrooms. From virtual reality to artificial intelligence, educators are using these technologies to create more engaging and immersive learning experiences for students.
Educators are also incorporating these technologies to support their own well-being and reduce teacher fatigue. A survey by the National Education Union revealed that one in three teachers plan to leave their classroom within five years due to increased stress and burnout.
3. Take a Look at What’s Going on in This Graph?
Gmail is getting a major facelift, and one of the most noticeable changes is a new compose button. The multi-colored plus button is gone in favor of a more traditional, larger-than-life button that shrinks down to a pen-toting icon when you scroll down.
ASA’s edutech team is proud to be a part of the new Compose experience, which makes it easier than ever to send and respond to emails without having to jump to another app. The new button is also more intuitive, and it’s a great addition to Gmail’s user interface. Hopefully, this will make it more attractive to new users and more likely to keep them on the platform. Check it out for yourself and tell us what you think! You can also take a look at Google’s new “compose” video, which shows off all the cool features of the new button.
4. Take a Look at Gmail’s New Compose Button
Google’s been tweaking the look of Gmail’s compose button on Android. Previously, it was a small floating action button with a multicolored plus icon, but now it’s changed to a pill-shaped oblong button containing a red pencil and the word “Compose.”
The new button is more visible on the mobile version of Gmail and shrinks down to a circle when you scroll down your inbox. It’s a much better design than the old, clunky four-color plus icon, and it matches the rest of the app well.
As a bonus, it’s also possible to open the composer window full screen, similar to Outlook. If you want to do this, just hold Shift while clicking the Compose button. That will make Gmail open the composer window as a full screen editor.
5. Take a Look at Google Music Lab
Google has several great music creation tools that are perfect for students to use in the classroom. This includes Chrome Music Lab, which is a collection of 13 web-based “experiments” that let users create, play, and learn with a range of musical concepts.
The tools are also cross-platform, working on laptops, tablets, and phones. One of these tools, Song Maker, is an easy to use music sequencer that allows students to make their own songs and share them with others.
Another great tool is Soundtrap, which is a music composition and collaboration tool that works with Google Docs and Slides. It’s free to use and can be downloaded for a variety of devices.
6. Create a Google Slide with Exit Tickets
Exit tickets are a teaching best practice that research shows can help students remember what they learn. They’re also a great way to engage students in reflection on their learning and their own progress.
You can create exit tickets using Google Slides, a powerful presentation app that allows teachers to create and share online slideshows. It’s especially useful for remote learning, because students can access the materials at their own pace and in their own time.
You can also embed a Slides presentation in a blog post or page (see the instructions below). That’s an easy way to share your work with an authentic audience, which can help amplify student learning.
7. Take a Look at Google Keep
Whether you’re a teacher, homeschooler, or just want to keep track of your daily activities, Google Keep can help. The app is free, super lightweight, and easy to use.
It can create regular text notes, list notes, handwritten notes (as well as drawing or photo notes), and voice notes. The best part is that it syncs across devices in real time as long as you’re logged into the same Google account.
Another feature I love is the ability to pin important notes and lists to the top. This helps me separate out different types of notes, such as student checklists or to-do lists.
8. Take a Look at Dyslexia Trainings
Dyslexia is a real issue, and one that can impact students in many ways. It’s also an important issue to raise awareness about.
That’s why the city’s Department of Education recently announced plans to increase dyslexia screening and specialized literacy support in NYC schools. The city will require all teachers K-12 to complete 2-hour introductory dyslexia training by April 2023.
This training will help educators recognize characteristics of dyslexia and teach effective strategies for struggling readers. It will also introduce teachers to evidence-based reading programs grounded in explicit phonics techniques.
9. Take a Look at Microsoft’s Made by Dyslexia
This week, Microsoft is the first company to sign Made by Dyslexia’s pledge to empower the 700 million people around the world with dyslexia. The partnership aims to build awareness of the condition, as well as teach dyslexic students how to use their strengths.
As part of this campaign, Microsoft and Made by Dyslexia have partnered with the New York City Department of Education to help teachers learn how to spot and support students with dyslexia.
The program includes free training on Microsoft Learn, which includes a series of modules that cover dyslexia awareness, teaching, and technology tools to support learners with dyslexia.
The newest module, Dyslexia and Technology, explores the ways technology can help support learners with dyslexia in building on their strengths. This includes assistive technologies like text-to-speech and more.
10. Take a Look at Google Drive’s Folders
We’re always looking for ways to save time and get more done. One of those things is figuring out how to use Google Drive shortcuts.
Teachers often have lots of files and folders they need to work with in their classrooms. Luckily, Google Drive makes it easy to organize these resources in ways that make sense for your students.
Tip: You can color code your folders for easier navigation!
This helps to distinguish them from other folders in your account. You can also use tags to differentiate between subjects, classes or resources.
