Friday Digital Notes: Viral Texts, Google Photos, Charity Miles & More

Here we are on the last Friday of May with the latest tech news!

Apple News: Effective Power Text.

This viral text message is definitely making its rounds at Blake. Still waiting on Apple to come up with a fix which would require students to update their iPad's OS software. Until then, tell students to turn off iMessages to avoid this problem.

Settings >Messages> slide or disable iMessage. 

And/OR turn off notifications either by using Do Not Disturb or disable iMessage Notifications.

*In actuality, these are probably good practices to have during the school day anyways.

If their iMessage app is crashing, here are a list of solutions from MacRumors.com:

"Apple is aware of an iMessage issue caused by a specific series of unicode characters and we will make a fix available in a software update. Until the update is available, you can use these steps to re-open the Messages app. 

1. Ask Siri to "read unread messages." 

2. Use Siri to reply to the malicious message. After you reply, you'll be able to open Messages again 

3. In Messages, swipe left to delete the entire thread. Or tap and hold the malicious message, tap More, and delete the message from the thread."

Google News

In Google Drive, have you noticed Google Photos appearing in the lefthand menu? It’s on your iPad and on the web. This is Google’s efforts to make storing and backing up photos easier for you, which is perfect timing now that you can add images from the iPad camera roll into Google Docs and Slides. Read more: How does Google Photos work with Drive

There is also a new, separate Google Photos app that holds those same photos with editing, cropping and filters.

Wounded Warrior Project (video)

With next week’s student efforts to raise money for the Wounded Warriors Project, think about using the Charity Miles app too. It combines fitness (walk,run or bike) with raising money for a number of charities with the Wounded Warrior Project included!  For every mile walked or ran, you can easily raise 25 cents (x the # of miles) for the Wound Warriors Project. Free. Fitness. and Good Cause! It’s a win-win!

Blake's Digital Citizenship Team

Thanks to the parents who attended Blake's Overview of 2014-15 Digital Citizenship Pilot as we discussed the topics covered this year (cyberbullying & digital footprints), the structure of directed lessons, extensions and the student discussion panel as well as goals/expansion for next year. You can view the resources and presentation slides here.

Fun Adobe PhotoMix App

…brought to you by our creative Art Teacher, Christina Delaney.  Adobe has probably 20 free apps that all do some pretty neat things. Christina’s artists made use of the Photomix App’s ability to cutout an image and layer an image on top of a background image-along with applying the typical edit and filter tools. It’s a simple, clear cut app that is worth a look. Check out what they did with their sculptures!

#advise4yourdevice: I forgot my passcode..SOS!

With our Bring Your Own iPad program at Blake MS, understanding how to manage your personal iPad has been another layer of learning for students and teachers. Of course, it is based on perspective as to whether that is a positive or not. Either way.. everyone benefits from understanding how to set up their devices to take advantage of some its built-in features.

One situation that occurs far too common is the ummm... I forgot my passcode. Typically, you will end up with the DISABLED screen if attempted too many times.  Basically, you are forced to restore your iPad, which could possibly mean losing some of your school work from the Explain Everything and Notability apps if you have not backed up your work to Google Drive.

This is where the Find My Phone app and an iCloud account can be a life-saver! It does the obvious by locating a missing device on a map. But, by putting your device in Lost Mode using a computer or another the Find My Phone app on another iOS device, it will lock your screen w/ new four-digit passcode that you set and lets you display a custom message, etc. 

1. Set up a free iCloud account using your Apple ID.
    Tap on Settings
2. Install the Find My Phone app.
3. Sign into the Find My iPhone app with your iCloud App.

Now you are set up! How does this work if I forget my iPad or misplace it?You should put it into Lost Mode immediately using Find My iPhone.

• Access the Find MY iPhone app on another iOS device and sign into your iCloud/Apple ID Account.
• OR you can go to the website: icloud.com/find to sign into iCloud/Account.
• Turn on Lost Mode and set your passcode.
• Go to your locked iPad and try the new passcode you set.
• Viola.. you should be back in business!
• The only glitch is that your iPad must be online (connected to the Internet) for this to work.

More information..tap here

Digital Notes on a Friday! DC Trip, Google Hangouts, App Updates & more.

Happy Friday--Here are a few tech updates to keep you in the loop!

Borrowing Devices

In the past couple of weeks, many poor iPad screens have been shattered. Luckily, extra iPads are available for students to borrow until they get a replacement, if available. I ask that students do use a passcode or install apps under their own Apple ID. All apps are installed that are needed or please see me.  Also, try to return the device as soon as possible and don't forget the charger too! Thanks!

Washington DC trip.

Generally, parents and well, anyone can follow along Blake's 8th Grade Washington DC field trip on Twitter using the #blakeindc hashtag. This year.. we're also going to try to have them 

Google Hangout into Blake each day to talk about their trip-in-progress and for the students at Blake to be able to ask questions. I will try to record this so it's available to watch at a later time too. Stay tuned!✌

Also, we can’t let the 8th Grade have all the fun! The LMC will be offering a few Makerspace challenges throughout the week to introduce and let students explore the Makey Makey kit, Osmo Masterpiece and Dash and Dot Robot and--Teachers, feel free to take on the challenges too!

Google Updates:

Make sure you update your Google Docs and Slides apps.. you are now able to add images to both! In Slides, users can add shapes and create/edit tables!.

Read More

Paper Fifty Three App Update:

This drawing app has an update called Think Kit. Visual Learners will love the ability to draw using all the tools for free, to create diagrams, and the new fill and cut & rearrange feature.

Watch the Video

That’s all for now- Happy Weekend!

Diane

Digital Notes: Teacher Appreciation Week Edition

This Friday’s Digital Notes topic is all about you— Teachers! As Teacher Appreciation Week flew by.., you could follow or go check out two twitter hashtags, #thankateacher and #teacherappreciationweek  for lots of positive messages!

Google is also thanking teachers with new features in Google Classroom app.

Teachers can now:

• Create, edit and delete assignments on the go using the Google Classroom app for iOS
• View, grade and return students’ completed assignments
• Exchange comments privately with students about their work to provide constructive criticism and other helpful feedback.
• Read More 

For some free Professional Development, Google Education on Air is hosting an online event that is actually happening as we speak -live all today and tomorrow. Check it out if you get a chance.
Teachers can also earn PDPs for watching- Here's how!

Apple has a list of apps that are discounted by 50%. So, Blake is going to #thankateacher by taking advantage of the sale and purchase the Book Creator App for all teachers and students! You’ll be able to create your own digital books on the iPad. Stay tuned for more info. *If you already have the app, please reply to this email.

Nearpod is also celebrating teachers by offering 10 lessons free for downloading. 

Making Connections: It’s a First!

This coming Monday, a few of our 6th grade students are participating in a Google Hangout discussion with 6th graders from Wellesley Middle School. They’ll talk and share their thoughts about learning with the iPad in the first year! We’re going to try to broadcast it as a live event which also enables us to record it to watch later. Blake teachers, you'll probably receive an email on Monday with a link to watch it.  Scheduled for Monday, May 11 @11:45-12:06 (during 6th grade advisory)- tune in if you have a chance!

Technovation Team Update

Last Friday, our two Technovation Teams, Appily Ever After and Totally Apptastic competed in the final Pitch Night at the Microsoft NERD Center. Each team had to presubmit a Pitch video, Demo video, Business Plan, Logo, and screenshots and code of their app Prototype. Six teams were selected by judges to pitch and two more teams were voted in by the audience.  As they announced the teams… both of ours were thrilled to be the two voted in— meaning they had to give their business pitch in front of 200+ people. While they did not win the event itself, our teams placed in the top 9 of 40 MS/HS Teams! We left feeling truly proud of the teamwork, determination and enthusiasm that went into the app development over a course of 3 months! Thanks to those who followed and cheered us on! And…every girl on the team asked if we can do it again next year.

** Breaking News:  Yesterday Technovation announced its Semi- Finalist! OpportuniTEENS was selected in the Middle School US/Canada Division! I believe they move to the Finalist round to select the team who will compete in San Francisco on the Global Stage! This means there is another round of judging to select 6 HS teams and 4 MS teams to head to San Francisco for the World Pitch Event where 1 HS and 1 MS team will win $10k!

Last Friday's Digital Notes- May 1

Right before vacation, I intended to email the Digital Notes out, (but figured it was vacation week), so instead you can find it as the previous post or click here to read about some iPad updates, free online Google PD event happening soon, and the beginning of our Shout Out Showcase!

#OfthePeople

On Thursday, Discovery Education held a live online event to discuss the ConnectEd initiative launched by President Obama in June 2013 to ensure all students have access to the best technology in schools & libraries and learning experiences that prepare them for college and career. A 6th grader from Bennett Middle School in Maryland did a fabulous job hosting the event with President Obama!  Watch the recording here (it begins about 22 minutes in)- there were technical difficulties initially. Or check out the tweets.

* Looks like they hold other events.. for STEM/NASA and such so check their website/ hashtag #ofthepeople often (discoveryeducation.com/ofthepeople).

QR codes bring Poetry to the Hallways!

To be or not to Be! Elise Malone’s 6th graders are bringing poetry to the hallways of Blake! Each student chose one of their very own penned poems to record and publish to their classroom’s YouTube Channel. They used that link to the video of their poem to create a QR poster  to share! The poster was made first by creating the QR code and then, importing the image into Notability. Please encourage your students to check them out! (You’ll need a QR Reader app).

Professional Development = Coding + Modern Learner

In our final Advanced iPad workshop, EdTechTeacher Greg Kulowiec’s main thread throughout was to think about the ‘modern learner’ and to have us as teachers revisit or experience what new learning feels like- you know, to get us out of our comfort zone and to focus on problem-solving and collaboration (insert coding)! Our task was to first create or find a representative image of the modern learner, bring that into Scratch Jr. (a very basic, free coding app for k-3 students) and code the characters to present our ideas. 

Check out your colleagues' interpretation of the Modern Learner coded on Scratch Jr.
via this YouTube Playlist.

* Greg introduced the ‘thinking’ around coding with an unplugged-Stack the Cups activity. 
Our Teachers needed many redos until their "robot" completed the code correctly.

Helpful Tips for Some Commonly Asked Questions:

How to Download Music and Video Files to the iPad with Riddle

Can Excellent Lesson on How Students Can Use Scratch Jr. for Digital StoryTelling

Setting the Default Apps with Google on the iPad

Hope you enjoyed this past week's notes!
Diane