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11/26/2023

Be a Multi-Platform Educator

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Be a Multi-Platform Educator

By Scott Rocco, Ed.D.

Many of us on social media have been utilizing one platform for more than a decade to build a professional learning network (PLN), learn from fellow educators, share our experiences, and add to the shared educational knowledge by consistently contributing through our posts.

For many of us, our experiences early on and through most of our time on our current platform has been largely positive and enjoyable.

Like all technology, social media platforms have a finite shelf-life. Just as my beloved Blackberry phone had to be put in the technology junk drawer, so too goes social media platforms. This is painful for us as educators to process after diligently building our PLN’s and making significant contributions to the greater good.

However, I strongly encourage every educator who finds value in using social media for their own learning and for the connections it provides to embrace becoming Multi-Platform Educators (MPE’s). There are numerous social media platforms now available for us to explore, experiment with, cultivate PLN’s and contribute to the learning environment.

Which one should you try? That’s a decision you have to make. I’m currently experimenting with three new platforms right now.

When should you try? Now! Evaluate the features and user base of various platforms to find something you like.

Why should you try something new? Things change and we need to seek out new learning environments as educators that meet our evolving needs, facilitate our continued learning, and expand our connections with fellow educators.

As connected educators it’s our commitment to learning new things and learning from others that make us ideal MPE’s. If you haven’t joined one of the new social media platforms yet, give one a try. If you are on one of the newer platforms, try another one. Let’s create, build a professional learning network (PLN), learn from other educators, share our experiences, and add to the shared educational knowledge by being on and consistently posting across multiple social media platforms.

Good luck, fellow MPE’s!

I eagerly anticipate reconnecting with you on some of the newer platforms.

Post a comment and let us know what social media platform you are trying out and what your user name is so we can connect.

9/9/2023

12 Ways to Tell Your Story with Google Tools

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12 Ways to Tell Your Story with Google Tools by Evolving Educators

9/2/2023

8 Back to School Google Recommendations

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Consider piloting Google Bard as your personal assistant at the classroom, school or district level. It will save you time and spark new ideas.
Commit to using the new Practice Sets feature in Google Classroom as a way to efficiently assess students and inform future instruction.
Mark up Google Slides with the new annotation feature. This will be very useful for you and your students.
Leverage the recently released Timelapse feature within Google Earth to view how places around the world have changed over the years.

Register Today! Click on Image.

Promote the use of IOS Google Apps with colleagues and students. One particular, the Google App contains the Google Lens feature which can spark creativity.
Continue to put yourself, students and staff in public speaking opportunities while using Google tools. Leveraging Slides, Sites and Meet for in-person and online presentations can do wonders for all involved.
Collaborate with colleagues or put students in a situation where they can collaborate on Jamboard.
Take advantage of the appointment slots feature on Google Calendar to let people know when you are available.

8/27/2023

Evolve as an Educator with Google Bard

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Google Bard is an artificial intelligence language model that was made to hold conversations with an end user when prompted about a topic. This platform can be quite helpful for all educators, including teachers and administrators.

Whether you are looking to write a welcome back to school letter or providing feedback to teachers after an observation, Google Bard can help support your efforts through a simple prompt.

Please watch the Google Bard overview video, below, for more information.

Consider registering your staff for the following online and asynchronous institutes this upcoming school year:

7/28/2023

Part III: Finding Common Ground Among Generations*

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Part III: Finding Common Ground Among Generations*

The differences between generations are all around us, but in this post, we will look at finding common ground among them. This common ground will help us as educators work with and among multiple generations in our schools and communities.

As different as each generation may seem when we compare one to the other, here are a few items that they have similar feelings or interest in:

Family

All generations value family, even if they define it differently.
The Silent Generation sees the nuclear family as the basic unit of society, while Baby Boomers and Generation X are more open to non-traditional family structures. Gen X experienced increased numbers of divorced and blended families.
Millennials and Generation Z place a strong emphasis on relationships within the family, are accustomed to non-traditional family structures, and they are more likely to rely on extended family members for support. Gen Z embraces inclusivity and individuality within a family structure.

Integrity and Honesty

All generations value integrity and honesty, even if they have different experiences with these values.
The Silent Generation was raised during a time when these values were highly emphasized, and they believe that they are essential for a strong society.
Baby Boomers were also raised to value integrity and honesty, but they are more likely to forgive someone who makes a mistake if they show remorse.
Generation X is a more cynical generation, but they still believe in the importance of integrity and honesty. They are more likely to question someone's motives if they believe that they are being dishonest.
Millennials and Generation Z have grown up in a world where information is constantly being manipulated, so they are more skeptical of everything they hear. However, they still believe that integrity and honesty are essential for a just society. They just need you to provide proof that you have integrity or you are being honest.

Positive Feedback

Everyone enjoys positive feedback, but how each generation receives it is slightly different.
The Silent Generation is a more reserved generation, and they would prefer positive feedback to be delivered privately.
Baby Boomers are more likely to seek out external appreciation and validation for their efforts.
Generation X appreciates positive feedback, but they prefer it to be constructive and helpful.
Millennials and Generation Z are more likely to seek out positive feedback, and they appreciate it when it is given in a public forum.

As educators, it is important to understand the similarities and differences between generations. By understanding these different perspectives, we can create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students, all employees, and our entire school community.

*This is a series of blog posts on generational differences by Scott Rocco who presents and provides Keynotes on generational differences, hiring different generations, and the funny things about generations interacting with each other. Contact us at evolving@evolvingeducators to schedule Scott for a conference or training.

7/1/2023

Part 2: How Different Generations Prefer to Receive Information*

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The way a person or generation of people receive information is very different today than it was 25, 50, or 100 years ago. The increased use and availability of technology, from computers to cell phones has made the access to information easier for most people. However, not every person or people within every generation are as open to receiving their information through a device. How we provide and present information in a way that every generation will understand can be challenging. But if we take the time to learn the differences, we can be a better communicator in our classrooms, schools, districts, and school communities.

Let’s start with the fact that no matter which generation we are working with or which generations we are working with, we should always be respectful of the people in those generations. So in this post let’s discuss the way each of the five current generations like to receive information.

Here is a breakdown of how different generations prefer to receive information:
Silent Generation

This generation ranges in age from approximately 95 years old to 78 years old.
The information they received while growing up was scarce and limited. It was often in a formal format, such as newspapers or radio. As a result, the silent generation likes to receive information in a logical, easy to read/understand and well-organized way. They expect the information to have good grammar and they expect the use of formal titles.
Ideally, the silent generation would like to receive information in person or by paper. Face-to-face interaction is of great value to this generation but avoid using educational jargon with them.

Baby Boomers

This generation ranges in age from approximately 77 years old to 59 years old.
They grew up in a time of great social and technological change. Remember, this is the generation that saw the moon landing and then they gave us the Apple II personal computer.
Baby boomers still prefer their information in a more formal format but they are less informal than the Silent Generation. For example, they are less concerned about formal titles.
They want information presented in a manner that is relevant to their own experiences.
They are somewhat comfortable with digital information, but, like the generation before them, they still prefer to receive information in person.

Generation X

This generation ranges in age from approximately 58 years old to 43 years old.
They grew up in the age of technology where information transitioned from paper to digital. This generation saw the first home computers and were part of the growth of cell phones, the internet, and email. This was also the first “gamer” generation with the likes of Atari and Intellivision!
They are accustomed to and expect to receive information quickly, concisely, and in a straightforward way.
This generation wants information presented that is relevant to their own interests.
They are mostly comfortable with digital information, but Generation X still prefers to receive information in person, like the generation before them.

Millennials

This generation ranges in age from approximately 42 years old to 27 years old.
Millennials are the generation we are referring to when we say someone is a digital native.
They are accustomed to receiving information quickly, concisely, and visually appealing. This generation is more visually oriented (because of its experience growing up with digital devices) and prefers visuals to illustrate a point.
This generation appreciates information in a short and concise manner that is relevant to their own lives, personalized, and authentic.
They are completely comfortable with digital information, having been raised on it, and they prefer to receive information in this format.
When digitally formatting information be sure to do so in a way that addresses multiple devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) for this generation as you can never be sure which device they will see what you have provided to them.

Generation Z

This generation ranges in age from 26 years old to 14 years old.
This generation was raised on and predominantly knows information in a digital format. They spend vast amounts of time on a digital device each day.
Gen Z is accustomed to and expects to receive information quickly, concisely and and visually appealing. This generation is also more visually oriented and prefers visuals to illustrate a point.
They appreciate being presented with information in a short and concise manner that is relevant to their own lives.
They want, not prefer, information in a digital format.
Just like with millennials, when digitally formatting information be sure to do so in a way that addresses multiple devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) for this generation as you can never be sure which device they will see what you have provided to them.

The way we communicate with each generation can be tailored to their unique needs and expectations. Each generation we interact with grew up in different circumstances, with different resources for receiving information. By taking the time to understand how each generation prefers to receive information, we can be better communicators within our school communities.

*This is a series of blog posts on generational differences by Scott Rocco who presents and provides Keynotes on generational differences, hiring different generations, and the funny things about generations interacting with each other. Contact us at evolving@evolvingeducators.com to schedule Scott for a conference or training.

6/29/2023

Hiring Educators in a Multi-Generational World*

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There are now five generations in the workforce. Each of those generations have their own set of values, beliefs, work ethic, and unique ways about going through a day at work. This poses a unique challenge in all employment fields but specifically within the education field where challenges abound related to the hiring and retention of employees in all positions required to make a school and district efficiently function.

Currently our applicant pool, for all types of positions in the education field, comprises the Silent Generation (just a handful still working), Baby Boomers (retiring in increasing numbers0, Generation X (getting close to retirement age), Millennials, and Generation Z. These generations span almost 90 years of time with different life experiences and work expectations based on the lives they have lived.

Both the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers tend to be more traditional in their approach to work, teaching, and educational leadership. This means less technology, more direct instruction, and more personal contact. They have a very strong work ethic focused on the job they have been assigned. The Millennials and Gen Z are more comfortable and accepting of the use of technology and innovative teaching methods and within the leadership realm. Their work ethic is focused on getting the job they have been assigned done as required. Generation X educators fall in the middle because they grew up with more of the traditional concepts but have seen, and used, the innovation that has come from the technology infusion into education. Gen X’ers tend to be dedicated to the position they have been assigned.

These generational differences must be considered in the hiring process, otherwise the differences can become challenges. Below are two multi-generational areas to consider in the beginning of the hiring process:

Advertisement: It’s easy to advertise to Millennials and Gen Z if you have robust and consistent social media accounts for your school or district. Just continue to post. However, those posts need to be engaging and varied. They not only need to be static images and information but you also need to develop stories and reels on some of the platforms. Millennials and Gen Z want to learn about your school and district from your posts. For older generations, you want to keep your website and Human Resources page updated with the latest vacancies.
Communication: For the Silent Generation and Baby boomers you should make a call to set up an appointment or send an email with very specific directions associated with the interview process. For Gen X forward, using email, text messages and automated appointment slots (so that the candidate can pick their interview time) will help address their generational priorities for communication.

It is essential for those in the education field to understand the generational differences and use them as a positive in the hiring process so candidates of all generations feel like your school or district understands and respects their generation.

*This is a series of blog posts by Scott Rocco who presents and provides Keynotes on generational differences, hiring different generations, and the funny things about generations interacting with each other. Contact us at evolving@evolvingeducators to schedule Scott for a conference or training.

4/11/2023

Our Top 5 Highlights of Updates on Google For Education

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Google for Education has released several new features that will benefit students. A few of the ones we thought were important to highlight are the New reading mode feature in Chrome browser, Adding interactive questions to YouTube videos, Adding closed captions to Meet recordings, Keeping track of class activities with timer and stopwatch chips, and one of the most anticipated features is the AI feature that will be built into Google Classroom that will help design practice sets for educators.

We believe these updates will help improve Google For Education products for educators and students. We will have training videos on these updates in the next few months. Take a look below for descriptions of the new features. Keep an eye out for the upcoming training videos!

New reading mode feature in Chrome browser
One of our newest features to support this effort is reading mode, a customizable reader view coming to the side panel in Chrome browser. Reading mode reduces distracting elements on the screen, like images and videos, to help you focus on a page’s primary content. You can also customize settings like the typeface, font size and spacing, and text and background color. Reading mode will be available in Chrome browser in ChromeOS in M114.

Add interactive questions to YouTube videos.
Educators will soon be able to add questions to a YouTube video and assign it to students, all within Classroom. As the video plays, students can answer the questions, get real-time feedback on their responses and rewatch the video as needed. Educators can receive insights about their student’s progress, like which questions they struggled with. Express interest in the beta, which will be available in English, Japanese, Malay, Portuguese and Spanish.

Add closed captions to Meet recordings.
You can now add captions in English, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish to Meet recordings, with more languages coming later this year.

Keep track of class activities with timer and stopwatch chips.
Educators can use timer and stopwatch chips for class activities, keeping track of how much time is left or how long a certain exercise took. Timer and stopwatch chips are rolling out today. Try them by typing @timer and @stopwatch in Docs.

Practice sets use AI to help educators transform their existing teaching.
Practice sets use AI to help educators transform their existing teaching content into interactive assignments and provide more personalized support. As teachers add questions to their practice set, they’ll see suggestions for skills to focus on — like solving equations with decimals or writing thesis statements. Based on the skills teachers select, students will receive helpful hints if they get stuck. Educators can also add interactive questions to YouTube videos in Classroom so that students can answer questions with real-time feedback, and educators can get insights into student performance. And with Screencast on ChromeOS, students and teachers can record, trim, transcribe, and share lessons, presentations and demos, all with new demo tools and in a dozen new languages.

Don’t forget to check out our training for School Administrative Assistants, Secretaries and Paraprofessionals. These trainings have ongoing enrollment.

If you're looking for your Paraprofessional training, check out our Digital Paraprofessional Institute.

Digital Paraprofessional Institute Benefits:

Over 4 hours of online asynchronous training videos
All training is focused on the Google needs of the school-based paraprofessional and supporting students in the digital world.
Access to On-Demand Google Workspace Library for one year
Access to a Digital Bulletin with tips and tricks

Consider signing your team up for the online and asynchronous Digital Secretary Institute. Visit Digital Secretary Institute for more information.

Digital Secretary Institute Benefits:

1 Year of Access to On-Demand Google Workspace Library
Individual or Group Rates
Over 9 hours of training videos and training events
Two Live Webinars while they occur or in the Institute Library
One Live Online Google Workshop Support Event
Customized 30-minute training video based on group type
A Digital Bulletin aligned with modules.

3/26/2023

30 ChatGPT Prompts for Educational Leaders

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ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI. It has been trained on a diverse corpus of text data, including books, articles, and web pages, to understand natural language and generate human-like responses to a wide range of questions and prompts. As a language model, its primary function is to process and produce language, and can be used for a variety of applications, including chatbots, text generation, language translation, and more. The implications on the educational world are many. Below is just a sampling of the various ways educational leaders can leverage ChatGPT in their everyday lives.

How can you access and use ChatGPT? Follow these steps:

Step 1 - Visit https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt.
Step 2 - Sign up or log into your account.
Step 3 - Locate the chat box towards the bottom of the webpage.
Step 4 - Begin typing in prompts or questions you want to use.
Step 5 - Wait for the response to be generated. Type in more specific information if needed.
Step 6 - Responses will be captured, archived and titled on the left hand side of the page.

3/19/2023

Why Educators Should Use ChatGPT... Created by ChatGPT

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NOTE TO READERS: We asked ChatGPT to tell us why educators should use ChatGPT in 125 to 150 words. The results are interesting. Read below!

In recent years, technology has become an increasingly important aspect of the educational landscape. As such, many educators are looking for ways to incorporate innovative and interactive tools into their teaching practices. One such tool is ChatGPT, a powerful language model that can be used in a variety of educational contexts.

There are several reasons why educators should consider using ChatGPT in their classrooms. First, it allows for personalized and adaptive learning experiences. ChatGPT can be programmed to respond to students' specific needs and learning styles, providing tailored feedback and guidance. This can help students to better understand complex concepts and improve their academic performance.

Second, ChatGPT can be used to promote creativity and critical thinking. By engaging in conversations with the AI, students can explore new ideas and perspectives, test hypotheses, and develop their problem-solving skills.
Finally, ChatGPT can be used as a tool for language learning. Its advanced language capabilities can help students to improve their reading, writing, and speaking skills in a foreign language.

Overall, educators should consider using ChatGPT in their classrooms as a way to enhance the learning experience and promote student success.

3/12/2023

Google Translate Overview

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Google Translate can be a useful tool in a school setting for educators who need to communicate with people who speak a different language. Here are some ways people can use Google Translate in the school setting:

Translating emails and documents: Google Translate can be used to translate emails and documents from one language to another. This can be helpful for communicating with families or colleagues who speak a different language.
Communicating with families: If you have families who speak different languages, Google Translate can be used to communicate with them in real-time. Google Translate has a feature that allows you to translate text messages and even voice calls.
Translating websites: If a teacher has a website that needs to be accessible to people who speak different languages, Google Translate can be used to translate the website into multiple languages.
Language learning: Google Translate can also be used as a language learning tool. By typing in a word or phrase in one language, the educator or student can see the translation in another language. This can be helpful for educators who are learning a new language for work.
Understanding foreign language content: If a student or educator comes across foreign language content while conducting research, Google Translate can be used to translate the content into a language they understand. This can be helpful for staying up-to-date on global trends and news.

It's important to note that while Google Translate can be a useful tool, it is not always 100% accurate, and context is important when it comes to translation. It's always a good idea to double-check translations and have a native speaker review important communications to ensure accuracy.

Portions of this blog post were written with artificial intelligence through the ChatGPT platform.

3/5/2023

5 Ways to Leverage Google Apps to Enhance School Safety

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Are you looking to engage your office staff and/or paraprofessionals in a deep dive of Google Workspace applications this summer? Consider registering them for the Digital Secretary Institute or the Digital Paraprofessional Institute. Visit www.evolvingeducators.com or email evolving@evovlingeducators.com for more details.

2/26/2023

3 Chromebook Features that Support K-20 Learning

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Chromebooks are an integral part of the learning experience for students. Residing within the Chromebook are a wide array of features that can benefit students of all ages and abilities. Three in particular, Chromevox, Screen Capture, and Chrome Canvas provide students with unique opportunities to capture their learning and show what they know about the topic at hand. Consider demonstrating one, two, or all three of these features with your students in the near future.

Did you know that the Evolving Educators Team provides online and in-person Chromebook training for educators? Contact us via email at evolving@evolvingeducators.com or via phone 888.304.9211 for more information and pricing.

Evolve. Impact. Repeat.

2/19/2023

7 Ways Paraprofessionals Can Leverage Google Tools

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1/8/2023

2 Ways That Students Can Use Google Sheets

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Google Sheets has many features that provide students with an opportunity to show what they know about the topic at hand. The first feature is the ability to create a graph that highlights important information in a visually appealing way. Have students follow the steps below to create their very own graph in Google Sheets.

Step 1: Log into your school Google account.
   Step 2: Open a new tab in your Chrome browser.
   Step 3: Click on the waffle on the upper right hand side of the screen.
   Step 4: Locate and click on the green Google Sheets icon.
   Step 5: Provide data points to students from the topic currently being covered in class.
   Step 6: Input data onto the Google Sheet using the columns and rows.
Step 7: Highlight the data that needs to be included on the chart.
   Step 8: Click on the Insert tab at the top of the screen and click on Chart.
   Step 9: Edit the chart that appears in the spreadsheet to meet assignment requirements.
   Step 10: Submit assignment on Google Classroom or click the Share button.

The second feature on Google Sheets that students can use to show what they know about the topic at hand is the Template Gallery. One template in particular, Assignment Tracker, can provide students with a way to display the assignments they have completed in class. This organizational method helps the student actually see what they have accomplished and learned throughout the marking period. Have students follow these steps to create their own Assignment Tracker in Google Sheets.

Step 1: Log into your school Google account.
   Step 2: Open a new tab in your Chrome Browser.
   Step 3: Click on the waffle on the upper right hand side of the screen.
   Step 4: Locate and click on the Google Drive icon.
   Step 5: Click on the New button on the upper left hand side of the screen.
   Step 6: Hover over the Google Sheets icon and click on From a Template.
   Step 7: Select the Assignment Tracker template and name the file.
   Step 8. Edit the Assignment Tracker document to fit requirements of class.
   Step 9: Share the document with your teacher and parents throughout the marking period.
   Step 10: Submit the document via Google classroom at the end of the marking period.

Google Sheets provides students with a plethora of options to show what they know about the topic at hand. Additionally, Google Sheets can help support students stay organized and focused on learning goals. No matter the subject area, Google Sheets can be consistently used in order to make the classroom environment efficient and effective.