Keep it Clean

I love playing music in my classroom while students work, and they love to talk about the music they hear. I've worked to create a classroom Pandora station that plays quality music from a wide variety of genres, but there's that nagging fear in the back of my mind that something inappropriate will sneak through. I did a little digging and found a way to filter explicit music to keep it out of my classroom station. Of course, this doesn't mean it will all be appropriate for 11-13 year old students, but its a really good way to start!

Here's a link from Pandora to explain how to do this: http://goo.gl/9KmdK

What music do you feature or play in your classroom?

6 Possible Things with Google

Recently, I've started the process to become certified by Google - first as a Google Certified Teacher, then a Google Certified Trainer, and hopefully one day have the opportunity to become a Google Certified Educator.

As I go through the process, I'll share a few tidbits that I've discovered along the way. Maybe connected, maybe just interesting, and hopefully some things that will make your life a little easier!

1) If you are composing an e-mail in Gmail and include the word "attachment" in the message and do not attach a file, it will ask you if you want to send without an attachment. How many times have we done that?! A cool new feature.

2) When doing a Google search, you can narrow down the results by reading level (Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced). For example, I did a search for Dorothy Irene Height, an American activist featured on Google's homepage today. If I'm looking for materials to use in my middle school homeroom, I would probably want information at the basic to intermediate level. To find this information, type into the search bar as normal, and when your results come in, click on "Search Tools" under the search bar, and then click on the "All Results" drop-down menu and go to "Reading Level." From there, you can select for which level you would like to see results to read and start discussion on the work of an important (but little-known)
figure in American history.

Reading level options to learn about Dorothy Irene Height

3) Google Images can be a fun and interesting way to see the world, but a little overwhelming if you are looking for something specific. Clicking on "Search Tools" after doing your initial search, you can narrow down the results by size, color, type, time, and (perhaps most importantly) usage rights. After all, we should set a good example for our students by using others' work responsibly and respectfully. Go Digital Citizenship!

Limiting my results to "Labeled for Noncommercial Reuse"

4) Trying to plan a meeting with a group that is constantly on the go? (Just try planning a meeting with a music department that has two teachers at one school full-time and three teachers that teach part of each week at five different schools each!) When you go to add a new event on your Google Calendar and go to "Edit Event," scroll down the page and click on "Find a Time" (in gray). From there, you can invite others to the meeting and if they are colleagues who also use Google Calendar and have shared their calendar with you (even just to view), Google Calendar will find a time at which you are all free to meet.

5) Since YouTube is owned by Google, here's a shortcut for you - in your address bar in Google Chrome, if you start typing "YouTube," Google will recognize the address and auto-complete. Once it recognizes it, hit "Tab," and search for whatever video your are looking for (and eliminate students getting distracted by whatever ad YouTube has featured on their frontpage).

6) Give your students and yourself extra practice researching online with Google-A-Day. (New feature - you can play the basic game without a Google+ account.) Make it a class competition to see who can find it the fastest or compete with other homerooms or class periods for a little team-building. Or just learn a fun fact each day and get really good at researching while you are at it!

What is your one incredibly helpful, fun, or interesting Google Tip you can pass along?

Tech Review: AirServer

AirServer 5.0 with Recording
www.airserver.com
From the website:
"AirServer is the most advanced AirPlay receiver for Mac and PC. It allows you to receive AirPlay feeds, similar to an Apple TV, so you can stream content or mirror your display from your iOS devices or Macs running Mountain Lion or Mavericks."

In an hour of desperation at a recent conference, I discovered AirServer as a way to present what is on my iPad mirroring it on my MacAir. It turned out that while I had figured on an HDMI input on the conference center projector to AirPlay to my AppleTV, this was not the case. I frantically searched for an alternative, and AirServer met with raving reviews.

There are three types of licenses: Education ($7.99-$11.99), Personal ($14.99), and Business ($19.99). I am a known cheapskate when it comes to software and apps. If its free, I'll try it.  If its not, I probably won't give it a long look because I know a) its a slippery slope when it comes to buying and downloading programs and b) there are so many free resources out there, what's the point in paying?

However, there aren't many free ways to mirror a mobile device (iPad, iPhone) to a laptop. So if I'm going to pay for one, it had better be good!

With AirServer, I got more than I paid for. For the last few months, I've been asking colleagues, asking on Twitter about ways to record the screen of an iPad so that I can create tutorials for my students and screencast to my laptop. Think Jing, but for iPad. And wow was I happy to find that with the latest version of AirServer, a recorder is built into the window on my laptop! I can narrate as I go too, in order to explain what students are seeing in the video. 

The AirServer window on my laptop - I maximize the
window when projecting to my class.

Benefits

• Quickly and efficiently AirPlay to your laptop that is connected to a projector. Bypassing the AppleTV eliminates delays in audio and video that can sometimes trouble users during presentations
• Record presentations to share with students not in your class during that period or to distribute to your students as "How-To" videos and tutorials
• Students can follow what you do in real-time during class presentations
• Password-protect AirServer on your laptop so that students (or teachers who like to play practical jokes...) cannot AirPlay to your feed without permission

Drawbacks

• If you do not have a strong/reliable WiFi network that both your device and laptop are using, it can be difficult to keep them connected (not usually an issue with 1:1 schools)

Sample video for 8th Grade General Music:

I have not received any complimentary material or product from AirServer. I purchased this product myself and am writing this review of my own volition!

Twitter for Beginners

Social media can inspire or intimidate. And based on conversations I've had with teachers dipping their toes into this resource, intimidation can quickly and easily lead to someone throwing their hands into the air and walking away. But it would be a shame for teachers to give up on a valuable resource because they feel pressure to dive in to a pool they know little about or if they haven't been taught to swim.

So here are a few pointers I would give to teachers looking into utilizing Twitter for professional purposes. If you have any questions, leave me a comment, or better yet, give me a shout-out in a tweet (@MrsEMusic)!

1. Keep your personal life personal
If you are going to distribute your Twitter handle (your username; my professional handle is @MrsEMusic), it is best to have one that is personal and one that is professional. Keeping your "worlds" separate can protect you and your personal privacy. Remember that it is not airtight and anyone can follow your personal Twitter handle if they find it. You can request that those users be blocked, but again, its not airtight.

2. Lurk & Learn
I can't take credit for this turn of phrase, nor can I remember where I first heard it. However, this has been a guiding principle for me while integrating technology into my teaching. If you're just starting out on Twitter, find a few people to follow based on recommendations from colleagues. (At the bottom of the post you will find a list of my own recommendations.) From there, watch what happens - observe how people tag one another, use hashtags, retweet, etc... Don't worry about doing it yourself yet. Follow links, look at pictures, and read the tweets, but just enjoy taking in the wide world of information.

3. Make Connections
Retweet - share to your followers something that you read, found interesting, and want to pass along
Hashtags - search for hashtags to find Tweets using that same label (#edtech and #musicedtech might be good places to start), and then use one of your own to join or start a conversation.

4. Expand your PLC! 
Ask questions, answer questions, pass along information, share helpful websites and resources. Connect with educators from around the world and join with them in growing and learning to continue developing in your profession!

5. People to Follow
Other teachers in your school
Apps, websites, and software brands you use in your classroom
Music industry professionals and companies

Educational Technology & Apps

@ICE_IL     @elemenous     @Web20Classroom
@TeachersApps     @friEdTechnology     @WFryer     @TechNinjaStacey
@TechNinjaTodd     @Classroom_Tech     @iPadSammy     @Socrative
@GoogleApps     @SlideShark     @TED_Ed     @CommonSenseEdu     @CommonSense     @edtechdigest     @HuffPostEdu     

Music Education & Technology
@MrsEMusic     @NAfME     @MusiciansApps     @MusicEdTech
@MusiciansWApps     @FinaleOfficial     @SibeliusBlog     @advance_musiced

      

Google Extensions for Teachers

Being a self-proclaimed Google-phile, I was excited to learn about Extensions for Google Chrome. My first question: What in the world is the difference between an App and an Extension? Think of an Extension as a small part of an app that makes it work that much harder and more efficiently for you. 

And a shout-out to my colleague Scott for showing us this huge aspect of Google's offerings at today's Institute Day!

If you're looking for a place to start, here are 7 Google Extensions to install in your Google Chrome browser*:

1. Save to Google Drive

If you're looking at a website, pdf, image, or video, use this extension to save it to your Google Drive. Then, click the link that pops up to go directly to the document.


2. goo.gl URL Shortener

To quickly shorten a URL to send out or to easily generate a QR code, navigate to the website and click on this extensions in your toolbar. You'll have the option to copy the shortened URL or generate a QR code that you can then print or project to your students to instantly use.


3. Print Friendly & PDF

Tired of printing websites with adds, links, and unnecessary page elements? This extension generates a .pdf that you can go through and delete elements or text you don't want students to see. From there, save the .pdf to post or distribute electronically.


4. Webpage Screenshot

Here's an extension that allows you to take screenshots of an entire webpage or just the content that is visible in a window. It will immediately open in a new tab - from there, you can save, annotate, edit, and share the screenshot from that tab.


5. EasyBib Tools

This is a powerful tool that will help students learn to properly cite and evaluate sources. While visiting a website, you can find out how to cite the information and instantly find out if the source is credible, questionable, or if it has not yet been evaluated.


6. E-Mail This Page

Without having to copy and paste the hyperlink, use this extension to quickly send a webpage. Take a moment to choose if you want Gmail or your default mail server to send the e-mail before getting started.


7. Docs Quickly

With one click, you can open a new Google Doc, Presentation, Spreadsheet, or Drawing without typing in the address or opening a new tab - it is a simple extension but it will surprise you how efficient this makes your workflow.










* You have to be browsing in Google Chrome and you should also be signed in to Chrome. In order to do this, click on the three bar icon in the top right corner of Chrome and go through the sign-in process to fully customize Google Chrome to your preferences!