Mini TeachMeet 10

1. Differentiated Starting Points (JR)

• JR shared an example of where the students choose the appropriate level of challenge for them. This is because she has students in Y7 who have had greatly differing exposure to coding already - some are brand new to it, whilst others are already quite proficient
• she notes that students are generally very good at choosing the appropriate level, but the novel approach here was in having a statement suggesting what they need to be able to do to start at each level e.g., “I can skip challenge 1 if I can …..”
• she also asks students to record why they have chosen a particular challenge and to put this in writing and this ensures they have thoughts carefully about their starting point

2. QR Codes and URL Shorteners (DO)

• A QR code (quick response code) is similar to a bar code
  
• can be scanned by any smartphone/device using built in camera apps or by specific apps
• A URL Shortening website (e.g., www.goo.gl) will reduce the length of a web link down to a manageable length i.e., https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GhPVubCBg4sWJ-2En0qKv71e56QrsvdVD_lH5ojP3UA/edit?usp=sharing becomes goo.gl/daxzGN 
• Applications for education:
• Homework feedback sheet with 4 QR codes or short URLS with links to e.g., Youtube video explaining a misconception, consolidation worksheet, extension task / material
• Link to any Google document you create by using shareable links
• Feedback – links to further online tasks, support materials or resources
• Add videos to worksheets
• Links to support material on worksheet to provide differentiation
• Links to Strive material to provide challenge on worksheets
• Students to insert into their work/projects
• Links to model solutions

Mini TeachMeet 4

Google Apps for Education (AP)

·         AP gave an overview of the various aspects of Google Aspects for Education:

o   Google Classroom – send resources to students, set assignments, link to calendar

o   Google Drive – (Docs, Sheets and Slides)

o   Google Sites

·        AP showed how Drive can be used for assignments and how teachers have access to the files as students are creating them. This helps to eradicate issues with the handing in/transferring of files.

·         AP also showed some student work created using Docs and Drawings

·         Maps has clear applications for Geography as students can create a map from Google Maps and annotate it as they wish

·         Integration with 3^rd party apps such as PowToon for creating cartoon explanations. These can all be attached to an assignment when the student uploads it.

·         AP showed the range of 3^rd party apps available

·         AP demonstrated using forms to create quizzes using Flubaroo for grading which puts results straight into a spreadsheet

·         Sites can be created very easily by integrating Google Drive files into the page e.g., a slides presentation or a video.