GIF makers

GIF or Jif?

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

Steve Wilhite, an American Computer Scientist at CompuServe, was probably not aware that on June 15th, 1987, his invention would ignite the “Great Schism of the 21st Century” as it were, by creating an image format called the Graphics Interchange Format, otherwise known as a GIF. Of the many random things that I am passionate about, I am a fervent supporter of pronouncing GIF with a soft 'G,' and no amount of references to the hard 'G' in graphics will change my mind. Regardless of how you pronounce GIFs, we can all agree that the simple, 8-bit image format has greatly improved the way we communicate and instruct online. While I have enjoyed many GIFs of cats doing funny things over the years, I have found GIFs to be an invaluable teaching tool to show a process instead of just describing one. GIFs have carved out a niche in between text and video and can be found on most how-to guides.

There are dozens of free GIF makers out there, but I found that the simplest one for educational use is called GifCam. It’s lightweight at a shocking 700 kb, making it smaller than most JPEG image files. So let’s get down to the brass tacks, how do you use it to create GIFs? Let’s start by creating a simple GIF of adding a link to Schoology.

You can download GifCam free here

Step 1: Demarcation

To create the boundaries of what you want to capture, simply manipulate the GifCam window itself around the area.(I am fully aware of the Inception-esque feel of creating a GIF, of myself creating a GIF)

Step 2: Setup Recording

Click on the little arrow to the right of the “Rec” button. 10 FPS is typically enough for our intents and purposes. Here you can also enable “Capture Cursor” to show your mouse arrow.

Step 3: Record

Click the “Rec” button to begin. Do what you need to do to complete your GIF and hit the “Stop” button to end the GIF.

Step 4: Save and Export

Now that your GIF is recorded, press the “Save” button on the side. Rename your precious GIF into your folder and you’re all set! (depending on the length of the GIF it may take a few minutes)

One more for the road - Steve Wilhite famously said in 2013:
"The Oxford English Dictionary accepts both pronunciations. They are wrong. It is a soft 'G,' pronounced 'jif.' End of Story." Boo-yah

You can use GifCam on your browser, desktop, Microsoft product, and other programs. Have another GIF program or another recording tool? Share below!

Dualless: For Those Of Us Who Don't Have Dual Monitors

screenshot from Dualless website

@LisaBerghoff               

Can you believe it's the middle of September? We are up and running and really in a groove.   As you continue  to adjust to your students using their devices, you will no doubt have an occasion where you will want them to have many tabs open.  For example, you may ask them to have a website open while they also have a notes page open.  When having multiple tabs open becomes commonplace your students will probably wish that they had dual monitors because clicking back and forth can be cumbersome and opening multiple windows becomes tricky on a chromebook  because you can never get the window in just the right spot or find ratio that you're looking for.

Screenshot of ratio options

Dualless is a "poor man's dual monitor" solution.  It splits your browser windows into two by just 2 clicks.  The ratio can be adjusted according to your needs.  This extension simulates the environment of a dual monitor. Also, there is a new bookmark feature that lets you relaunch your favorite site in a new tab and windows will be split in the recorded ratio. For example, you can have Dualless set to always open a class notes page in one window and another window is open for research.

Dualless is an extension that is found in the chrome web store.  Since it is an extension, the little icon can be found in the far right corner of the box where web addresses go (that's called the omnibox for those of you who like to learn new terminology).

Dualless is not flashy or complicated. It does exactly what it says it does and it helps add to the functionality of the chromebooks.  By allowing students to work with two windows at once, it should make it easier for them to focus, rather than clicking back and forth between tabs.

What other functionality tools do you use in your classes? Please share with us below in the comments section.

Everyone is Flipping For Flipgrid!

@LisaBerghoff

This is a repost from August 2017.

I can hold it in no longer! My plan was to slowly roll out tools this fall so we could ease ourselves in to trying some new things. Here it is, week #4 and there is nothing slow about this. The truth is, teachers around the world are going nuts for Flipgrid and I just could not stand the idea that our staff is missing out.

There are always teachers who are looking for simple ways for students to express themselves via video. Teachers want to have students share and give each other feedback in a safe way that doesn't take up a ton of time. There are a few tools out there but many are clunky or require accounts to be created.

If you are one of those teachers, Flipgrid is the answer to your prayers. 

Here's what you need to know about Flipgrid. 

• The grid is extremely simple to set up. You put in a topic, students record their thoughts. You as the teacher can moderate the content, you can give feedback to individual students, you can even share videos with parents privately so they will only see their students' work.

• Flipgrid is FREE

• This tool is designed for maximum student engagement. Everyone adds a video, not just the two or three students who always raise their hand in your class. Students can also add files or links to their videos. There are also drawing and custom sticker features. 

• Flipgrid has a free app for ios and android phones. It also works great with chromebooks! #noexcuses

• BONUS! Flipgrid integrates nicely with Schoology. You can embed your grid so the students have no need to log out, in, etc. 

Find out what all the fuss is about from other teachers. On Twitter, check out #flipgridfever

(If you're not on Twitter, I would LOVE to help you get started!)

Ready to give Flipgrid a try? You don't have to go it alone. I'm happy to help you and your students get started. Have you used other video tools for student engagement and feedback? Post in the comments section below and let me know your favorites. 

Image from: Wikimedia Commons

Let's Think About What We're Doing: The SAMR Model

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

When I first embarked on the new position of Director of Instructional Technology, 3 years ago, several friends and family members who are not educators asked me to explain my job to them. Was I going to fix computers? No. Was I going to hook up projectors? No. Was I going to show teachers where to click to access their files? Sometimes. Eventually my younger son, who was 8 at the time, explained it best. He said "She's going to teach teachers how to use chromebooks in ways that aren't stupid". That explanation still comes to mind when I think about my goals in how I work with teachers. We all agree that we don't want our kids staring at screens all day. We know that interpersonal, face to face communication skills are extremely important to be successful in today's world. However, technology also plays an important role in learning as we can now re-imagine tasks and kids can do things that were inconceivable before.

As we take a deep dive into the school year with our 1:1 chromebooks, our new LMS- Schoology, and our use of the TI Inspire CS CAX calculators, I believe this is the perfect time to take a deep breath, take a step back, and look at the WHY. When we plan lessons, activities, and assessments, what is our purpose? When it comes to ed.tech, one of the most widely used models to examine purpose is the SAMR model. This framework was created by Dr. Ruben Puentedura and it categorizes 4 different degrees of classroom technology integration.  One thing to keep in mind is that although there are 4 levels of technology integration and it appears to be a hierarchy, not all lessons should be striving for the redefinition level. At times, substitution is the most appropriate use of technology for a particular lesson. Therefore, there is no need for judgement here, let's just be aware of what we're doing, understand why we're doing it, and be mindful that every lesson is not at the same level. The SAMR model is a simple way to take a look at our use of technology in the classroom and can help give us some direction as we move forward. 

Here is the SAMR model explained in 120 seconds by Candice Marcotte:

Still not sure how the SAMR model works?
Here are some examples that I came up with that are NOT classroom related.
Maybe some of these will resonate with you.

Substitution:

I used to have a paper calendar/planner book that I took with me everywhere. I loved that book! I loved looking at my whole week at a glance. Now, I use the calendar app on my phone to mark down appointments and events. This is pretty much just a substitute for the paper calendar that I used to use. 

Augmentation:

I can share my digital calendar with my husband. This way, if he is making plans, he can look and see what we already have planned without needing to call and ask or look at a paper calendar that would be located at home. Sharing calendars digitally makes it easier for us to coordinate plans in a timely manner. 

Modification:

My digital calendar can now alert me when I need to leave to go to an appointment. Using traffic information and gps technology, the calendar app on my phone sends me an alert in enough time for me to get there on time. This has changed the way I manage my time because I no longer need to look up travel times or distances and try to plan my day around that information. 

Redefinition:

If I can't make it to an appointment in person, my Google calendar app will generate a link to a Google Meet/Hangout so I can join the meeting over my computer or phone. I can use the webcam and microphone so the meeting participants can still see and hear me and I can participate remotely. 

This feature has enabled me to participate in meetings with people who are in different states, timezones, even different countries! I have participated in online professional conferences in real time but without needing to travel. This could not happen without technology and we couldn't even imagine it several years ago. 

Have you been using SAMR to think about your own classroom lessons and activities? Post in the comments section below.