DT With Mrs B

For today's 'tech tool', let's delve into the world of captivating slide decks for your classroom using two fantastic tools: SlidesMania and SlidesCarnival, alongside Google Slides. As an educator, you already grasp the significance of engaging presentations. Let's explore how these platforms can help you achieve precisely that and more. SlidesMania: Unleash Your Creativity SlidesMania offers a wealth of free, customisable templates that breathe life into your presentations. Whether it's a lesson about history or a project related to science, SlidesMania provides themes that resonate with your subject matter. Navigating the platform is straightforward – select your preferred template, click, and start adding your content. These templates are beautifully crafted, saving you valuable time while ensuring a polished final outcome.  Here's an example: SlidesCarnival: Elegance and Simplicity On the other hand, SlidesCarnival is renowned for its elegant and minim...

  In our ever-evolving digital landscape, harnessing the power of tools like Gmail's Template Function can be a game-changer. Let's dive into how this feature can elevate your communication game, specifically in scenarios that teachers commonly encounter. Templates in Action: Streamlining Teacher Communications Do you frequently find yourself composing emails time and again, with the same or similar context? Utilising 'templates' is all about working smarter, not harder. Making use of this function will mean that every time you wish to recreate an email, you can access it with the press of a few buttons, without having to start from scratch. Here's how it works: Effortless Implementation of Templates: Creating these templates is easier than you might think. Follow these steps to set them up: 1. Compose the email as you normally would, adding the relevant details. 2. Click the three dots in the email toolbar, navigate to "Templates," and select "Save d...

This week's Prompt: Questions: 1. What are the benefits of gamification in the classroom? 2. Do you currently incorporate gamification without digital technologies? If yes, how do you do it? 3. Could you leverage digital technology tools for the gamification of a classroom activity? If possible, how would you implement this? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below:

  Hello, dedicated educators! 👋 If you're all about embracing digital tools to enhance your teaching game, then you're in for a treat. Today, let's dive into a handy feature that Google Docs has to offer: the drop-down feature! 🚀 Empowering Self and Peer Assessment Imagine this: you're on a mission to make student assessment more engaging and interactive. Whether it's self-assessment or peer assessment, the Google Docs drop-down feature is about to become your new best friend. It's like giving your students the power to explore their learning journey in a whole new way. 🌟 But wait, there's more! This feature isn't just for assessments. You can also use it to streamline your teaching tasks. Create drop-down menus for frequently used comments, lesson plan templates, or any other resources you often refer to. It's like having your own digital assistant! 🌟 Feeling a tad unsure? No worries! Check out my friendly tutorial video below for a step-by-step...

  Hello, fellow educators! Today, let's dive into a simple yet effective trick that can be a real game-changer in managing your classroom tasks efficiently. We're talking about the wonderful world of 'schedule send' and how you can use its features to streamline communication and stay organised like a pro. Schedule Emails: Your Secret to Stress-Free Planning Ever found yourself juggling a hundred things, like during report writing weeks or when you're not feeling your best? Here's where the scheduling send feature swoops in to save the day. Imagine having your emails and google classroom posts all set to go out, even when you're knee-deep in responsibilities or down with a cold. The process? A breeze. After crafting your masterpiece, just find the 'Schedule send button' (see below). You can choose the precise date and time you want your email to land in your readers' inboxes. No more rushing or worrying about sending on time – your content will b...

  In the Mindful Minute Segment, I will share a video (probably from Youtube) that  is themed around digital technologies.  Once viewed, teachers are prompted to ponder the implications of the content for students.   Finally, teachers are urged to consider ONE CHANGE that they can make to their practice that aligns with the thinking in the video, to impact student learning. This week's Prompt: Questions: What kinds of attitudes and competencies does the Principal of Newlands Intermediate state are important in students?  What kinds of attitudes and competencies does the Principal of Newlands Intermediate state are important in teachers?  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below:

Hello to all you amazing educators out there! 👋 If you're all about making the most of technology in your teaching journey, Google Docs is like your superhero sidekick. It's not just for tech whizzes – it's a tool that every teacher can use to bring some digital magic into their classrooms. Let's dive into three Google Docs features for busy teachers: 1. Teamwork Made Easy: Real-time Collaboration Picture this: Your students are working together on a group project, each with their own ideas and typing speeds. Instead of chaos, you can have harmony with Google Docs. Start a new document, click the "Share" button at the top right, and invite your students to join in. Everyone can type, edit, and brainstorm in real-time, all in one doc. It's like having a digital whiteboard that never gets cluttered. And don't worry about losing work – Google Docs saves everything automatically. So when your students are busy creating, you can step in to guide and suppor...

  Elevate Your Teaching Game: Embracing the Magic of Pinned Tabs Hello to all my fellow educators. 👋 Let's talk about a simple yet incredibly effective trick that can level up your administration game: pinning tabs! 📌 Imagine this scenario: You're deep in the zone, crafting a lesson plan that's bound to captivate your students' attention. You've got a bunch of tabs open – resource sites, platforms, maybe even a cute cat video (no shame!). But hold on, where did that important website go? *Cue the frustrating tab hunt.* Say hello to the game-changer – pinned tabs! Let me break down five reasons why this little hack can make a big difference: 1. Instant Access to Essential Resources Ever wished for a magical button that could teleport you straight to your most-used websites? Well, pinning tabs is like having that button! Whether it's your trusty curriculum hub, student info system, or that fantastic educational app, pin them, and they'll always be waiting fo...

Kia ora fellow educators and tech enthusiasts! Gather 'round because I've got an epic tale to spin about last week's production madness at our school. Yup, we're diving into the whirlwind of creativity and chaos that was our rendition of High School Musical. So, buckle up, 'cause it's about to get dramatic – in the best way possible! Picture this: a vibrant theatre in town, pulsating with excitement, as we unleashed the magic of High School Musical upon the world. With over 100 talented students in the mix, we were practically bursting with energy. Now, you might be wondering, "What does this have to do with digital tech?" Hang tight, my friend – we're getting there. My mission? Crafting the ultimate set that not only screamed "wild high school vibes" but also served as a playground for our sensational live band. Here's where the tech twist comes in – we got our hands on this two-story structure that screamed "stairwell in a scho...

Today, I'm going to share with you the magic of using practice sets in Google Classroom. Trust me; it's a game-changer! These nifty tools are like virtual worksheets or quizzes that you can create and assign to your students quickly. Here's how it works:  1. Create Custom Practice Sets: You can craft personalised practice sets tailored to your lesson. Add questions of various types – multiple-choice, short answer, or even file attachments. The best part? You're in control, so you can make it as fun or challenging as you like. 2. Assign with a Click: Once your practice set is ready, it's time to share the knowledge! Just hit that "Assign" button, and Google Classroom takes care of the rest. 3. Instant Feedback: Here comes the real magic. As your students work on the practice sets, Google Classroom provides instant feedback on their answers. Students know right away if they're on the right track or need some extra help. 4. Adaptive Learning: This is wher...

  As a teacher embracing digital technologies, it's crucial to optimise your workflow to enhance both teacher efficiency and student digital literacies. One simple yet effective technique to achieve this is by utilising the 'bookmark hack.' This hack involves deleting the names of bookmarks in your browser, leaving only the logo/icon. In this blog post, we'll explore the advantages of this approach and provide a short tutorial on how to implement it. Advantages of the Bookmark Hack: 1. Save Screen Space: Removing bookmark names creates a visually cleaner and less cluttered browser interface, allowing you to view more bookmarks in a smaller space. This is especially beneficial if you have a large collection of bookmarks related to your teaching materials, resources, or professional development. 2. Faster Access: Without text cluttering the bookmarks bar, you can identify and access your desired bookmarks more quickly based on their recognisable logos or icons. This strea...

  In the Mindful Minute Segment, I will share a video (probably from Youtube) that  is themed around digital technologies.  Once viewed, teachers are prompted to ponder the implications of the content for students.   Finally, teachers are urged to consider ONE CHANGE that they can make to their practice that aligns with the thinking in the video, to impact student learning. This week's Prompt: Questions: How do students showcase their learning with a digital technologies focus, in this video?  What does "naturally integrating digital into your teaching" look like? What tools are at your disposal, to give your students an opportunity to showcase their learning in their 'Units of Inquiry', with a digital thread? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below:

Kia ora fellow teachers and digital technology enthusiasts! Today, I want to share with you my recent experience watching the Barbie movie and how it resonates deeply with my passion for digital technologies and the need to encourage more females into coding and technology fields. As a teacher specialising in digital technologies and media, I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the movie and our efforts to empower girls to embrace coding and technology. First and foremost, let me gush about the movie itself. I've watched it three times already (since it's release two weeks ago) - once with my daughter, once with a friend, and just recently, I enjoyed it with my husband. Anyone who knows me well enough, will not be shocked to hear that I adore the Barbie movie.  But my love of all things pink and sparkly is not the only reason that I appreciate the movie.  The cinematography and storytelling are remarkable, showcasing how technology can be harnessed to create ca...

Greetings, fellow educators!  As a digital technologies teacher, I am passionate about empowering students with the necessary digital skills to thrive in our technology-driven world. Today, I want to share five interesting facts about Google Classroom – a powerful tool that can significantly enhance digital literacy in our students. 1. Seamless Integration with G Suite: Google Classroom seamlessly integrates with other G Suite applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. This feature allows students and teachers to collaborate, create, and share digital content effortlessly, fostering a collaborative learning environment. 2. Simplified Workflow: One of the most significant benefits of Google Classroom is its user-friendly interface, streamlining the teaching process. Teachers can easily create and distribute assignments, manage student submissions, and provide real-time feedback, making the digital learning experience more efficient and effective. 3. Time-saving mar...

In today's digital age, incorporating multimedia content in our teaching practices has become essential for engaging students effectively. YouTube, undoubtedly, offers a vast array of educational clips that can enhance the learning experience. However, we must also be mindful of the potential drawbacks, such as the collection of cookies and personalised data. In this brief post, we'll explore the benefits of opting for 'No Cookies' when using YouTube clips in the classroom, along with simple steps to do so. The advantages of 'No Cookies' for YouTube clips are plentiful. By disabling cookies, we protect our students' privacy, ensuring that their online activities remain anonymous. With increasing concerns about data breaches and digital privacy, this is an essential step in creating a safe and secure learning environment. Moreover, 'No Cookies' can promote a distraction-free educational experience. Without personalised suggestions, students are less l...