Smarter Chrome: Three Simple Chrome Tricks

Three simple tips/tricks to help you work smarter in Google Chrome. Enjoy!

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Innovation Day Video

Have you seen Huntsville ISD's latest Innovation Day video? It's pretty awesome! We think you'll get a lot of good advice about what Innovation Day is, how to do it, and why you should give it a try as well. Please check it out!

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WOW! Check out Katie Grassel's Great Doctopus Tutorial

Doctopus lets teachers automatically create copies of shared documents and distribute them to students in Google Docs. If you are struggling with managing Google Docs in your classes, here you go!

I always thought Doctopus was sorta technical and nerdy, but guys, it's NOT, it's awesome! It's as easy as Flubaroo. Check out Katie Grassel's great tutorial below and see for yourself. Thanks so much Katie!

Also, check out these Doctopus Updates and learn about other helpful scripts (like Goobric--distributes copies of your rubric) from youpd.

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 8: How to Insert a Fancy Schmancy Signature in Gmail

Want to learn how to insert a fancy schmancy signature in Gmail? Well here's a little tutorial to show you just how to do that! Hope you enjoy it.

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 7: Boomerang!

In Lesson 7, learn how (and why) to use the add in available from Boomeranggmail.com. Trust me, you're going to love this!

• Send mail later
• Remember to follow up
• Schedule messages to happen when you need them to

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Brief Guide to Vocabulary for Project Based Learning

While I've been using Project Based Learning since my second year as a public school teacher some 14 years ago, I have only recently learned the vocabulary to describe the practices I find so effective.

Thanks to BIE.org for standardizing and publicizing this terminology. So here's what we do (and don't) say to describe our practices. A big shout out to a certain nearby Project Based Learning elementary school for giving me a few new words and helping refine my understanding of Project Based Learning in the elementary school as well. I would tell you the name of said school, but they are already overrun with visitors. (You can ask me again next school year.)

To begin with, Project Based Learning is not a regular noun, it's a gerund, like "caring" or "running." You can't "have" it or "hold" it because it's verb-like. Thus . . .

Don't say: This is my PBL.  Instead say, "This is my project."
Don't say: This is my students' PBL. Instead say, "This is my student's project."

But say: The more I learn about PBL, the more I like it.
And: PBL is the theory that makes the most sense to me.
Also: I have been hearing a lot about PBL lately.
Or say: My school is embracing PBL.
There are many more terms associated with Project Based Learning. Please put your favorites (or the most important ones I left out) in the comments for this article, and you will soon see them appear on this document.

P.S. There are many great resources for learning more about the theory and practice of Project Based Learning, including Edutopia's Project Based Learning Beat and their excellent YouTube Channel. As far as books, go, I'd love a good recommendation. While I just started reading this one, it's the best I've seen so far and the closest to my own self-developed theory, which means I like it a lot.

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Smarter Gmail Lesson 6: Filters (and Filters + Canned Responses)

Learn how to use Gmail 3-5 minutes at a time in this series. The sixth installment includes using Gmail filters and how to use filters + canned responses (billed as "email for the TRULY lazy"). Hope you enjoy it!

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