SOME EARTH DAY IDEAS

1. TAKE THE EARTH DAY QUIZ: Type in "Earth Day Quiz" into a Google Search Bar (Omnibar) to find out which animal you are.
2. USE LESS PLASTIC!  Try to waste NOTHING today.  (YES.. NOTHING!)  See if you can go the whole day without throwing anything into the garbage!
3. GROW SOMETHING:  Eat something that has seeds and remove the seeds and plant them.  Give back to the earth!
4. DESIGN & INSPIRE:  Make a poster for your neighbors, delivery peron, or just your family to see about making the world a cleaner, healthier place.
   
5. TAKE A PLEDGE:  Make a promise to stop using 1 thing that is harmful to our environment for the rest of 2020.  Some examples are plastic straws, single use water bottles or plastic bags, styrofoam, make up wipes, etc.  
   
6. DON'T DRIVE (OR BE DRIVEN) ANYWHERE:  This should be an easy one as many of us are staying home right now!  The world is starting to heal itself and become a cleaner places with one month of less people commuting each day.  Spend the day home or, if you have to go somewhere, ride your bike or grab your roller blades.. do they still make those?!
   
7. EARTH DAY LIVE:  Tune into Earth Day Live and listen to the speakers, musicians, and more that are scheduled to perform. 
   

​When you're done with any of these ideas, celebrate Earth Day by posting pictures on social media with the hashtags: #EarthDay2020 or #EarthDayAtHome!  This way you can show everyone how good of a human you are and inspire others to do good things for our planet, too!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other great Earth Day activities!
Thanks for stopping by!
-Sue

On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Google for Education granted full premium permission to all educators and edu leaders on their video conferencing tool, Google Hangouts Meet, until July 1, 2020.  In my latest How To With Sue YouTube Tutorial, I explain how to use Google Hangouts Meet Premium in the classroom as an educational tool. I also discuss the importance of helping your students combat the isolation by having a Virtual Classroom to "see" their classmates in each day or, each week.  This can be mirrored for a full staff as a Virtual Break Room where educators can pop in to see if there is anyone there to share resources, ideas, or even just vent.

​Check it out here:

I started using Google Keep about 2-3 years ago when my husband and I were looking for a solution to losing our handwritten grocery lists.  As we got to using it, we realized that it was INSANELY helpful tool (to keep us happily married lol!) but also one we could use in the classroom, too!  The countless ways we use Google Keep, has nearly eliminated my use of sticky notes - and I use to have a problem!  

​The best way to use Google Keep is by also having the phone app.  You can edit the list or note any time, anywhere.  If you are collaborating, you can edit the list or note simultaneously.

When you create a Google Keep note, there are many options including:

• CREATE LOCATION REMINDERS - For when you're close to the grocery store or playing the opposing team but forgot the head coach's name... 
• CREATE DATE REMINDERS - To alert you on the day that you'll need your note
• FAVORITE!  CHECKBOXES - So that you can check off what you have completed.  If you made a mistake, it is saved toward the bottom of the note and can simple be unchecked.
• FAVORITE!  ADD COLLABORATORS - Share with spouse, roommate, parent, co-teacher, student, collaborative groups, coaches, teammates, etc.
• CHANGE THE COLOR OF EACH NOTE
• ADD A PICTURE OR A DRAWING TO THE TOP OF EACH NOTE - Some mice for your Orlando vacation or a screen shot of your Google Classroom Banner.  Some teachers have created custom Google Keep banners on Teachers Pay Teachers
• GRAB IMAGE TEXT - if upload a photo of notes or images, it will convert it to type
  
• COPY TO GOOGLE DOCS - if you are using checkboxes, they will copy in an outline, bullet pointed list
  
• SPEECH TO TEXT - on the phone app only
• PINNED - Pin your favorite Google Keep notes to the top for easy access

WAYS TO USE GOOGLE KEEP IN THE CLASSROOM

• STUDENT "TO DO" LISTS  - Shared with the teacher
• HOMEWORK JOURNAL - Shared with the parents
• SHARED GROUP WORK PLANNING NOTE - Shared with the teacher
• CLASS "TO DO" LIST - Created by the teacher and shared with the students
• A CHECKLIST FOR ALL OF THE END OF THE PAPERWORK DUE
• IMPORTANT CONTACT INFO DURING A FIELD TRIP
• EXPORT LIST INTO A GOOGLE DOC OUTLINE
• CREATE A VOCAB LIST OF WORDS FROM A READING
• PARENTS TO CONTACT LIST
• GRADE CHANGE LIST
• TO HELP REMEMBER PARENT/COACHES' NAMES
  

WAYS TO USE GOOGLE KEEP IN LIFE

• AN UP-TO-DATE GROCERY SHOPPING LIST - Shared with spouse or roommates
• A VACATION PLANNING DOC
• A BOOK LIST
• BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY SALES
• CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY PRESENT IDEA LIST - That can be updated all year round!
• A PLACE TO SAVE MEMBERSHIP IDs - PLEASE NOTE: I do not recommend saving secure password on here. 

Google Keep now integrates with Gmail and Sheets - look for the lightbulb on the side panel. ​

The new Google shortcut, ".NEW" is really a game changer and time saver.  I decided to share it here because it is REALLY THAT AWESOME!  Why?!  Here is a simple scenario:
​
You'd like to create a new Google Doc.  Instead of heading to "Drive", pushing the "New" button, and selecting the app, you can just type in the name of the app + ".NEW" and BOOM!  Need better clarification?

• STEP 1:  In your URL or OmniBox (the url bar on Google Chrome) type in the G-Suite App 
  • EXAMPLES:  DOCS, SLIDES, FORMS, SHEETS, CAL, or SITES
• STEP 2:  Type ".NEW"
• STEP 3:  Hit enter!

A new Doc, Slidedeck, Form, Sheet, Calendar, or Site will open and will save AUTOMATICALLY to your Google Drive!  To see this in action, check out the video below.

If you love the ".NEW" shortcut, leave me a comment!  Any questions, feel free to contact me directly!

On the forefront of the personalization movement is student choice.  Student choice drives up student engagement and invites students to take ownership over their learning.  With the technology tools available in the classroom today, this is more possible than ever.  Assigning a video project can personalize students' learning experiences by offering choices and allowing them certain creative control, while also assessing their knowledge. As an added bonus, they learn to use a new tool of technology.

At the 2020 Garden State Summit in New Jersey, I delivered a presentation solely on assigning and assessing videos called "Student Choice = Video."  Here is the link to that presentation:  bit.ly/HTWSVideo20. 

If you're a teacher that is ready to incorporate video projects into your curriculum, here are my tips for you:
​
VIDEO PROJECT IDEAS

• INTRODUCTION  - TEACHER, STUDENT, ADMIN
• ​VIDEO TUTORIALS - EDUCATIONAL, DEMONSTRATION VIDEO (QUICK VID), SCREENCAST → maybe w/SLIDES
• NEWS PACKAGES/BROADCASTS
• INTERVIEW
• VLOG/PODCAST
• STOP-MOTION ANIMATION - Maybe w/SLIDES + SCREENCASTIFY
• RE-RECORD LIVE COMMENTATING - SPORTS OR FASHION SHOW
• ​PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS - PROM or TEXTING & DRIVING
• BOOK or MOVIE REVIEW or TRAILER
• GREEN SCREEN
• MESSAGE TO PARENTS
• DIGITAL STORYTELLING → FAV. STORY - MODERNIZE A FAIRYTALE
• MUSIC VIDEOS - VOCAB RAP → PI DAY
• COMMERCIALS - COMMUNITY EVENTS or LOCAL BUSINESSES
• PRODUCT PITCH → SHARK TANK
• MOCK ELECTION
• FAMOUS SPEECH RECREATION
• THANK YOU NOTES
• TOUR OF SCHOOL (CRIBS) or CLASSROOM (Day 1 Expectations)
• ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ASSIGNING A VIDEO

• PROJECT INTRODUCTION 
  • SHOW EXAMPLE PROJECTS SO THAT YOUR STUDENTS KNOW YOUR EXPECTATIONS:  CREATE YOUR OWN, FIND A SIMILAR EXAMPLE ON YOUTUBE, USE FORMER STUDENT SUBMISSIONS AS SAMPLES

• BE VERY *CLEAR* ON
  • ​PROJECT REQUIREMENTS - GROUP SIZE, VIDEO DURATION, DATES FOR LIST CHECKS & DEADLINES
  • EXPECTATIONS & GRADING - GRADING CRITERIA & RUBRIC, # OF SHOTS optional, WILL YOU REQUIRE ORIGINAL SOUND & FOOTAGE
• HAVE THE STUDENTS CREATE COLLABORATIVE TO DO LIST - THESE CAN BE USED FOR DO NOWS &/OR CLASS CLOSURE ON "PRODUCTION DAYS."  STUDENTS CAN USE GOOGLE DOCS or GOOGLE KEEP (BLOG POST HERE!)
  
  

ASSIGNING (& GRADING) A VIDEO
This section is graded.  The links are active and will bring you to samples that I use in class.  Please feel free to make copies of the content and use the material yourself!

• PRE-PRODUCTION WRITE-UP (& another)
  • EVERY PROJECT BEGINS WITH A PRE-PRODUCTION WRITE UP. THE INFORMATION GATHERED DURING THIS WILL HELP THE STUDENTS PLAN THEIR PROJECT.  THIS INCLUDES:
    • GROUP MEMBERS/RESPONSIBILITIES
    • SUMMARY, TREATMENT, or ELEVATOR PITCH
    • SHOT LIST (# of shots required?! OPTIONAL)
    • SHOOTING PLAN (DATES, LOCATIONS)
    • AUDIO USED → YOUTUBE AUDIO LIBRARY
• TWO GRADED CHECKS (OPTIONAL) - RAW FOOTAGE CHECK & EDITING CHECK (1/2 DONE)
• DEADLINE
  • STUDENTS WILL EXPORT, UPLOAD (I USE YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), & SUBMIT (I USE GOOGLE FORMS & GOOGLE CLASSROOM)
• POST-PRODUCTION REACTION
  • AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT, STUDENTS WILL REFLECT ON THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, GROWTH, & GROUP INVOLVEMENT.  THIS WILL IMPRINT THE INFORMATION LEARNED DURING THE PROJECT AND ALSO LET ME KNOW IF GROUP MEMBERS DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE 100%........ 
• FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION
  • ON PRESENTATION DAY, STUDENTS WILL PRESENT THEIR PROJECT BY READING THEIR RESPONSES FROM THE POST-PRODUCTION REACTION FORM.
• TEACHER & PEER EVALUATION

FINAL THOUGHTS
Finally, DON'T GET OVERWHELMED.  This list of recommendations took YEARS of trial and error.  If you are thinking about assigning video in your class, go for it!  

To conclude, here are some of my final thoughts:

• DON'T DO THE PROJECT FOR THEM
• ​HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS - VIDEOS > 5 MINUTES ARE TOO BIG!!
• USE SUBMISSIONS ON GOOGLE FORMS AS SAMPLE ARCHIVE SHEET FOR NEXT YEAR EXAMPLES!
  • ​CREATE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL/PLAYLIST W/FAVS
• AS MENTIONED BEFORE, BE CLEAR ON YOUR GRADING & ASSESSMENT DATES
• ​EVERY PROJECT STARTS WITH A SLATE - IT IS LIKE PUTTING THEIR NAME ON THEIR PAPER.  OUR SLATES HAVE  NAME, SCHOOL, MO/YR., PROJECT TITLE
• EVERY PROJECT END WITH FADE TO BLACK - THIS IS OPTIONAL BUT ADDS A NICE CLEAN, PROFESSIONAL FEEL
• PREMIERE DAY CAN BE FUN!!  WHO'S BRINGING THE POPCORN!?
• ​THE FIRST TIME WILL BE CHAOS!

Use this list as a guide to help you along the way.  Again, don't get overwhelmed.  If you need help, please reach out, if you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments, and if you make any great examples or end up with some ROCKSTAR submissions from your kids, SHARE THEM!

To my luck, these Google Classroom updates launched two days before I had an ADVANCED GOOGLE CLASSROOM training session in NJ... causing me to have to completely update my presentation. (Insert eye roll!) HOWEVER, the educators and edu leaders were really grateful that they were, freshly, up-to-date.  Here are the updates:

SCHEDULE A POST & SAVE DRAFT
At this point, this feels like an oldie but goodie, but educators were still surprised to hear about it.  You can schedule your Google Classroom Announcement or Assignment to post at a later time or day.  When your ready, instead of hitting "Post," hit the downward arrow to the right of the button and select "Schedule" and select the date and time you would like to share your announcement or assignment.  If you're not quite done with your announcement or assignment, simply hit that downward arrow and choose "Save draft" and then share it or edit it when you are ready.  You'll be able to find it in your "Drafts" on your STREAM or CLASSWORK tab.

CREATE -> NEW _______ (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawings, or Forms)
How many times do you get to the Classwork tab ready to create and assignment and realize "I NEVER MADE THE ASSIGNMENT!"  So you proceed to your Google Drive -> New -> .....

NO MORE!  When creating an assignment, under the "Instructions (optional)" section, there is a new "Create" button.  You can choose to create a new Google Doc, Slides deck, Sheet, Drawing, or Form AND THEN the assignment will AUTOMATICALLY LINK TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT!  You will also be able to determine if you would like to make the file editable, view only, or have a copy made for each student, as you could before.   This can also be done with ".NEW" (Blog post HERE!)

RUBRICS THAT LINK TO THE GRADING TAB
Finally, and FINALLY!  Google Classroom has 100% launched Rubrics for Google Classroom.  Trainers have been hearing the rumors for months, nay years!  Nonetheless, Rubrics are here and they are pretty awesome!

​When you create an assignment on the Classwork tab, after you type in your "Title", the "Rubric" button will activate.  When you click on it you will have three options:  Create Rubric, Reuse Rubric, or Import from Sheets​.  You can create a rubric with "Criterion Titles," "Criterion Descriptions," and "Points" for each category.  When a student views their assignment, they see the Rubric.  Better yet, while grading their assignments, you will have access to the Rubric to select the markband of best fit from the "Grading Criterion".  BOOM!

These tools are always growing if you have any comments, feedback using Google Classroom or NEWER updates, please share them in the comments or message me directly!

In early 2010, I attended my first ever Google for Education (called Google Apps for Education or GAFE, at the time) training at Rutgers University.  I WAS HOOKED!  I couldn't believe the new, innovative ways that educators were able to use technology in their classrooms - and no one knew about them.  My mind started spinning as I thought about all the ways that Drive, Docs, and Forms, could be used in my own classroom.  A month later, I turnkeyed that training to our whole staff over a three day in-service.  While presenting, I remember exuding passion for getting this information into the hands of as many educators and edu leaders as possible.
Sue Tranchina, the Google Trainer, was about to be born. 

​THE JOURNEY to TRAINER
From 2010 until 2018, I presented every chance I had.  In my own district in-services, at other district in-services, at conferences, summits, Board of Ed meetings, EdCamps, and more.  I became a Google Certified Educator - Level 1 and the following day, I became a Google Certified Educator - Level 2.  (Please note that I do not recommend taking the Level 1 or 2 test this quickly.)  Finally, in 2017, I decided to stop dragging my feet and make my video submission to become a Google Certified Trainer.  Over the years I became a great friend of Rich Kiker, the owner of Kiker Learning - a Google Cloud Partner for Education. After becoming a Google for Education Certified Trainer, he invited me to be a trainer, on behalf of Google for Edu and Kiker Learning.

FLASH FORWARD to 2019
In 2019, I led 42 trainings in 11 different states.  (Check out my "2019 Trainings" My Map below.  BLOG POST ON CREATING THIS, COMING SOON!) These states include Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virgina, and West Virginia.  Presentation topics ranges from G-Suite for Education to Digital Storytelling to Applied Digital Skills Curriculum.  ​In June 2019, I had the opportunity to present at the ISTE Conference in Philadelphia, PA in the Google for Education Learning Theater.  In September 2019, I delivered my first keynote in Long Valley, NJ.  

GROWING in 2020
As 2020 takes off, my opportunities as a Google for Education Certified Trainer are growing at an exponential rate.  This month, I am presenting a Google Trainer Workshop with Rich Kiker at the Google NYC headquarters.  We are expecting a crowd of 100+ Level 1 & 2 Certified Educators who are aspiring to become for Education Certified Trainers.  In March, I will deliver this presentation at the Google Irvine offices and in May at Google Sunnyvale. I am working toward certifications in various apps, such as EdPuzzle, Newsela, WeVideo, and Adobe.  As an educator you HAVE to keep on growing.  For me, this journey has never been about work or professional growth.  It is about helping educators grow - so that they can help their students best prepare for their future.

& so the JOURNEY CONTINUES..... 
Thanks for stopping by.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments that you have.
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For more information on Google for Education Certifications, please visit the Google for Edu Teacher Center.