Doctopus - a tool for managing student assignments in Google Docs

Last week I ran across a great tool created by Kevin Brookhouser.  The tool is called Doctopus, and it helps to organize and manage student assignments in Google Docs.  There is some work that needs to be done on the front end, such as creating a class roster, but once that is done it makes assigning and receiving assignments from students a snap!  Kevin does such a great job explaining how to use this tool that I am going to post his videos rather than try to explain it myself.  There are two different videos, one is the set up and one is actually running the Doctopus script.

OER - Free Teacher Materials - Lesson Plans, Interactive Lessons, Games, etc.

OER (Open Educational Resources) is a network of teachers sharing curriculum with the world.  Choose from interactive lessons, lessons plans, game based learning, textbooks, labs, etc.  The materials are aligned with the common core and can easily be searched.

 





The best part, everything found on this website is free to use and share!

Find a Time to Meet using Google Calendar

Sometimes it is difficult to know when you can meet with other people because you just don't know their schedule. Using the Find a Time option in Google Calendar you can easily see when people are available to meet with you. (This only works if the other people keep their calendar up to date with their appointments and meetings)

Watch the video below to see how easy it is to find a time and invite people to meet with you.

 

By Invitation Only....... Canva.com, graphic design made easy

So if you follow our blog, you may have noticed that it went through a bit of a facelift recently.  Well that facelift was thanks to canva.com a new graphic design website that is currently in beta testing.  It makes creating professional looking graphics very easy, even for the designed challenged.  There is free art and some graphics offered at $1 a piece.  If you have your own pictures, you can easily create a design for no cost.  Other than this blog I have also used Canva to redesign my high school library website and my Cheesehead Gardening Blog.  Here are the results:

• High School Library Site (this one cost me $2 since I used two of their pictures)
• Cheesehead Gardening (this one was free since I used my own photos)

Upon signing into an account you will be prompted to start a new design.

 

I picked a Social Media design, and then choose this design from multiple templates available.

I then used my own pictures and some provided by canva, along with different backgrounds to create this design.  I then downloaded it, all for free.

 

Canva is not appropriate for everyone, since it does include some photos of girls in bikinis and such.  However it makes graphic design a snap.  If you go to their website you can sign up for a beta account.  It usually takes a few weeks for your account to be activated.  Once activated you are allowed to invite 5 friends to instantly receive accounts also.

 

I have some invitations left, so if you are interested, let me know.