IHMS Tech Tips

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talks are a popular way for people to share their knowledge and ideas on any given topic.  The Talks are 18 minutes or less and consist of one person on a stage, sharing their thoughts.  Using TED Talks in the classroom is a great way to spark conversation among students.  " Talks work best when teachers use them to give perspective and to generate discussion around difficult topics.  TED Talks make us pause and listen to the percolation of ideas—art, engineering, technology, the humanities, spoken word and more. TED Talks aren’t like Wikipedia articles—yes, they contain information, but at their best, they actually spark a conversation. They can be used to bring diverse voices, questions, and even conflict into classroom  discussions ”   (Cucinotta). TED-Ed is a valuable resource if you want to start integrating Ted into your classroom.  You can filter your search query in a variety of ways and find something that works with your t

If you are like me, you have files upon files of handouts.  Whether they are for student use, or given to you at a meeting, there are just some you need to keep.  And we are trying to go paperless, so enter Google Keep . Google Keep is digital post-it notes that are associated with your Google account.  You can log into your account from any device and retrieve them, and there is a search function to speed up this process. Google Keep also allows for: making lists color coding labeling digitizing paper handouts audio notes image notes capture web/app content You can take a picture of a handout/paper that you want to incorporate into Google Keep.  Google then extracts the text and imports it as a new note, which you can then copy and paste into a Google Doc if you wish. If you are at a conference, staff meeting, or other event, instead of trying to keep track of a variety of digital handouts, copy and paste the link into Google Keep, then color code and label your no

Most of you are familiar with Kahoot, a site that uses questions in a game-like format to review material, but have you heard of Blind Kahooting'?  This method of using Kahoot in the classroom actually uses it as an instructional tool, rather than a review/test tool.  We know that students love using Kahoot, so try taking it to another level.  Some are saying this is the way Kahoot was designed to be used and is the most effective. The concept of a Blind Kahoot is "all about building knowledge brick by brick...[they]  are designed to give every learner a chance to feel success and motivation throughout the game, and with long lasting effects.   In a single game, you'll be sparking curiosity about the new topic, laying the foundations for understanding increasingly complex concepts, and giving learners the opportunity to immediately and successfully apply their knowledge." To get started with a Blind Kahoot, you would first ask a question that engages the students,