Google bits and pieces

Just thought it might be useful to share some stuff that you may not have found on Google yet.


1. Learn some search tips and tricks via "A Google a Day"

According to Google - "Trivia with a twist. Search for answers, then challenge friends and climb the Google+ leaderboard.  A Google A Day is the trivia game where searching for the answer on Google is not only allowed but encouraged".
While it works well with Google+, if you haven't enabled Google+ n your Google Apps for Education account just follow the link at the top to go to the "regular version"
So far today I've learned about electric- blue clouds in the mesosphere and cartomancy. Might be a fun activity for a class or tutor time.


2. While on Google - check out their "Inside Search" pages for ways to improve your results with Google search options

3. And while still around Google - check out their educators pages - lots of new and newly organized stuff here.

They have a new "curriculum" for helping better understand the use of YouTube.
YouTube is probably the first or second place I go to search for information. Why?


I'm a visual learner - and often I am looking for "how to do" something ... and for me, a video on how to do something is better for me than wading through pages of "standard hits" on a regular search.


There may be just as much value in this for teachers as students if you are unsure of many of the issues and how they play out in today's rapidly changing world. Youtube accounts for the majority of web traffic that we consume at school. This video explains it a little, and this link takes you to the YouTube curriculum.

4. Sticking with "literacy" issues - check out the Digital Literacy tour. Staying safe and playing safe are covered well here with teacher guides and student notes.

5. Last one for now ... Google Apps for Education

I'm a fan of Google Apps - mainly because they are easy to use, easy to share and easy to maintain. More recently Google have restored offline access and editing (anyone remember Google Gears?) and while the editing tools on iPhone and iPad are pretty rudimentary at this stage - you can at least do some editing and  that is good. 

On the training page for Google Apps for Ed you'll find a wealth of resources.

But of course - you'll find that YouTube has a whole series of videos on how to do stuff in Google Apps - here's just 1 example

TAGGED

"When a group of high-school friends posts an online rumour about a rival, it sparks a chain reaction that leaves no one untouched. Cyberbullying, sexting, filmed fights and police action ensue—will these friends be Tagged forever?

Developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority's Cybersmart program, Tagged is a short film for teenagers that encourage students to discuss the core ethical obligations of going online. It explores issues like the widespread impact of cyberbullying, how internet users can manage their digital reputation and how online interactions may have real-life consequences." 

That's the intro to the YouTube video "Tagged". It's a great resource for teachers and parents - in fact anyone who needs to work with young people (around 10 - 15 years of age) about the power of using your head and to "think before you click". 

Here is the video - its worth the 16 or so minutes to watch.

One of the nice things about the ACMA site is that they have resources for schools, parents and teens at the appropriate page of their site. If you are a school head to this link , if you are a parent head to here, and if a teen head to here. 


And while on the "think before you click" idea, don't forget the great resources that NetSafe offer here in New Zealand.

Learn, Guide, Protect - Netsafe's new approach to cybersafety

Was able to spend an hour or so at the launch of the new Netsafe website aimed at promoting cybersafety for students (in fact aimed at everyone, not just students) last night. There was s small group of teachers from schools around Auckland and we were shown a brief look at the new website that Marty, Sean and Nancy have put together.

While I haven't yet had the chance to look in detail at the site I think the approach the team has taken is admirable - allowing users to add "bits" to the system - very much a social environment where those who want to can contribute to the greater benefit of all in this area of helping people make good choices out on the net.

The new approach is Learn/Guide/Protect and rather than be prescriptive, attempts to make the best information available and under a Creative Commons 3.0 license allows any user to reuse/remix and of the "bits" of information" for themselves. I will certainly be looking to use the reference materials in the site with our staff and parent communities at every opportunity over the next few months.

The site is due to go live at Ulearn in October, but have a look and provide some feedback to the team at Netsafe from next week when you should be able to register for an account.