Tuesday Tips September 29, 2015

TECH TIP:  Vibby:  Breaks YouTube videos into highlighted segments

Vibby is a site that lets you break down YouTube clips into segments.  You highlight the parts you want students to see and you can add in comments or note things for them to pay focus on when watching.  When they watch the video from the unique URL you give them, Vibby plays only the highlighted sections.  You are also given the option to watch the complete video.

BOOK TIP:  For The Good of Mankind?: The Shameful History of Human Medical Experimentation by Vicky Oransky Wittenstein

In this book, Wittenstein examines the secret past of human medical experimentation.  The book looks into experiments beginning in the 1700's, and looks at both sides of the issue: patient rights and doctors and researchers looking to improve medicine.  The book also explores more modern medical dilemmas like stem cell research.  

Tuesday Tips September 22, 2015

TECH TIP:  The Google Science Fair

The winners of the 2015 Google Science Fair were just announced.  The Grand Prize winner is 16 year old Olivia Hallisey, who developed a cheap, rapid and portable test to detect the Ebola virus.  Check out all the winners here:  https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/

And check out the Google Science Fair Idea Board, where you can put in your interests, hobbies, etc. and it will give you possible science fair topics to explore.  

BOOK TIP:  The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos

As a child, Harry was tied to a tree by bullies.  When that tree was struck by lightning, Harry is burned over much of his body, leaving him disfigured and scarred.  Music - particularly punk rock - becomes a release for him.  But how do you tell a college admissions person all of this in a 250 word essay?  This becomes his essay of recovery, friendship, and mostly hope.  

Tuesday Tips September 15, 2015

TECH TIP:  Remind

 Remind (formerly known as Remind101) is a service that allows teachers to set up classes or parent groups and send them text messages.  The service sets up a phone number for you, and it is primarily a one-way service, (you can now set it up so they can text back to you) so you will not be overwhelmed with text messages.  

This could be a great way to send out homework and test reminders or updates on changes to due dates, requirements, etc.  You can set it up ahead of time when the messages go out.

I had done this as a 10 Minute Tip last year, and here is a more complete overview of the program:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1AszuYYkz5trtzZHnajiPy0kW3plsrKFGp22NpbLy5tY/edit?usp=sharing

A teacher tried it after last year's 10 Minute Tip and a student complained that, "My teacher kept texting me this weekend."  While the student was not happy about the interruptions, it does show that they got the messages and paid attention!

BOOK TIP:  How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

This is a "ripped from the headlines" novel.  Tariq Johnson is shot and the whole neighborhood is through upside down.  Tariq is black and suspected of being in a gang, the shooter was white.  The chapters of the novel alternate between different viewpoints of the event and its aftermath.  A gripping, fast-paced read.  

Tuesday Tips September 8, 2015

TECH TIP:  Voice Typing in Google Docs

 This is a great new feature of Google Docs - you can now just talk and your words get typed automatically!  From the Tools menu, select Voice Typing, hit the microphone and go.  Here is a quick video tutorial of me using it.  So cool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvW6fPR8YRg

BOOK TIP:  The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

This was my favorite book of the summer.  A story of winged girl.   Magical realism at its best, because it really isn't about the wings at all, it is about an unusual, quirky family and how they try to fit in to "norma"l society over several generations.  Glorious writing, pulls you right in.  To me, it was reminiscent of Jeffrey Eugenides Middlesex.