Sir-Links-A-Lot

This is DEFINITELY my mood after receiving a comment from Curt Schleibaum on my last blog about his extension called Force Copy.

As if the Force Copy extension (read more about it here:  http://natasharachell.blogspot.com/2018/04/force-copy.html) wasn't the business by itself....along comes Sir-Links-A-Lot!

This extension allows you to not only force copy, but to create a preview link, a template link and even a PDF all from ONE CLICK!!!  How cools is that?  Having the option to do all 4 of these things in one space is a total time saver!!!  Keep in mind that you must be logged into your GSuite tools (ie. Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc) to be able to use this extension.  I love that if you attempt to click it and you're not in your GSuite tools, it gives you a nice little reminder that you need to use this extension in one of the tools!  Be sure to check this one out!  

I absolutely LOVE that there are innovative educators out there that find solutions to issues that they experience.  Sometimes there are simply just smarter ways to do things that make our lives a little bit easier and dare I say, happier!  This extension is one of them!  Thanks to Curt for reaching out and sharing Sir-Links-A-Lot with me!  It truly is the bees knees!!!  

Have you checked this one out yet?  How will you use it?

Force a Copy!

Here's a quick Friday tip that will save you some time!!

About a month ago I stumbled across a Google Chrome Extension that has CHANGED MY LIFE!!!!  Yes, it's THAT dramatic!!!

Follow me for a sec....you've all been here.  You've created a Google Doc, Sheets or Slides and you need to share it with someone but force them to make a copy of it.  In the past you've had to take the shared link, add it to a new browser, delete the ending and add the word "copy" to the end the link.  You then share that link with whoever you want to be able to make a copy of the awesomeness that you want to share.  Are you with me?

No longer do you have to do allllll of that!  Go to your Chrome Webstore and download: "Ed Tech Heroes Force Copy."

Now, all you have to do is this....When you've created your Doc, Sheets, or Slides and you're ready to share it with people to make a copy, simply click on the extension in your tool bar and BAM!  It does it for you!!!  You just click on "copy" to get the link that you need and share that with your peeps!

TOTAL TIME SAVER!!!  Trust me on this one, peeps!  You NEED this extension in your life!  Have you found any cool extensions lately?  Share them out!

Have an awesome weekend!

Earth Day 2018 Ideas (tech and non tech)!

Earth Day is on Sunday, April 22, 2018!  Have you thought about what you and your students can do to make this an exciting event?  As a former high school science teacher, I always used to come up with activities that my students could participate in that would bring awareness to the importance of taking care of our earth, not just for us, but for generations to come!  Consider making your classroom paperless (if it's not already) for the week of Earth Day 2018!  Using FREE tools like Google Classroom, Twitter, YouTube, Microsoft, and Flipgrid (to name a few) to deliver your content and have students create AMAZING products that allow them to do things like raise awareness, start conversations, change minds and drive change (for example) will make a HUGE difference in the way that you teach and the way that they learn!  

I LOVE this graphic that I found on social media a few years ago and I STILL see floating around the Twitter-sphere.  I have no idea where it came from originally, although I wish I did so I could give credit to the creator!  I did not create it and can't take credit for it, however all these years later, it's STILL extremely relevant!  

Keep in mind that technology is NEVER the b all and end all about what we do as educators in our classrooms!  Technology is simply the tool to deliver the content to the students AND for students to to create products that do those things you see on the right hand side of the graphic above!

So, Earth Day is all about raising awareness about the way that we treat our precious earth!  I wanted to share some tech and non-tech options for Earth Day activities.  Some of the things that you can do with your students are here:

• Have students take Earth Day quizzes:  https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-quiz/
• Have students calculate their Ecological Footprint:  https://www.earthday.org/take-action/footprint-calculator/   

• Have students create their own memes about what the earth might have said in the year 1900 versus in the year 2018!  Here's a template you can use here:  https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1H4EtDSyScuOG7cT-kPkAzhUgSehAN-pANjxC5EA63QU/copy
• Have students create a poster via Google Drawings about saving the earth and have them post them around the school.
• Have students sign a "Digital Pledge" to pledge to make a difference for the week of Earth Day.  Here's an example:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gr6x8S1_95kQB3GScvGQkWwctc5rxo1faEYdm9YpgsA/copy

• Here are a TON of Earth Day activities found on TeacherVision:  https://www.teachervision.com/holidays/earth-day
• Have students create their own YouTube videos (maybe using green screen) about why taking care of the earth is important.
• Students can create their own interactive Sways  (www.sway.com) about the importance of saving our earth. 
• What would Earth Day be without The Lorax by Dr. Seuss? I would show The Lorax to my class every year on Earth Day! We would even create Truffela Trees...YES, in HIGH SCHOOL! Here's a link to some resources and activities surrounding one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books/movies:  http://www.seussville.com/loraxproject/

• There are some great resources on the My Garbology site that allow kids to understand which items should be recycled, composted, reused and put into a landfill:  http://www.naturebridge.org/garbology.php
• Flipgrid is a NO BRAINER to use for Earth Day and will allow for your kids to verbalize their pledges to make the earth a better place! There are OVER 2,000 educator created topics about Earth Day waiting for you to check out!

 Flipgrid is FREE, but if you are interested in exploring the FULL classroom version FREE for 45 days, you can use the code: RACHELL to check it out!

So there you go!  A few Earth Day activities to get you going!  This is JUST the top of the iceberg!  What will you be doing with your students surrounding Earth Day?  Let us know!