Captions and subtitles in PowerPoint

PowerPoint in Microsoft 365 allows you the instructor to present with real-time, automatic captions or subtitles in PowerPoint.  As you are presenting with PowerPoint, it captures your audio and converts it to text on the PowerPoint slide.  In addition, PowerPoint has the ability to translate into several different languages.  Now make your presentation more accessible to students with disabilities and students with language barriers.

To setup captions and subtitles.

1. On the Slide Show ribbon tab, select the box next to Always Use Subtitles.
2. Choose Subtitle Settings:
1. Spoken Language.  This will be the language you are speaking.
2. Subtitle Language. This will be the language of the subtitle on the PowerPoint.
3. Micrphone.  Select the appropriate microphone.
4. Choose where the subtitles will be displayed.  Bottom, Top, Below, Above.

Here is a how to video.

You are now ready to use subtitles with your PowerPoint.

Free QR Code Maker

Using a QR code is an easy way to direct users to any website or weblink.  Seeing that almost all mobile device cameras will read these codes, it is simple to use these to distribute information.  

QR Code Maker is a browser extension that is a quick, easy and free way to quickly create QR codes.  No account required!  It has the flexibility to create different shaped codes, codes with color, codes with text, and much more.

QR Code maker can be installed on both Google and Microsoft Edge.

You can create an account at https://www.qrcodechimp.com/ and have the ability to design your own code.

New Icon maker in Canvas

The new Icon Maker will allow Teachers and Designers to create simple and reusable Icons directly inside the Canvas Rich Content Editor. No LTIs or desktop software required! 

Once the icons are created, they can be copy and pasted in any other page, assignment or quiz where the Rich Content Editor is used.

You can watch this how to video Icon Maker in Canvas

To create an icon using the Icon Maker, create a new page.

To start the Icon Maker, click on its icon in the RCE.

Once the Icon Maker is selected, a configuration menu will fly out and there you will create your icon.

Settings include:

Name

Alt Text 

Icon Shape

Icon Size

Icon Color

Icon Outline

Text included with icon

Text size color and position

Add an image

Once the icon is created, you can save the page to have it available for use.  

You can watch this how to video Icon Maker in Canvas

Windows 10/11 tips and tricks that help you get stuff done faster

 

Sometimes, every second counts and every second we spend fiddling with menus is a second wasted.  We can waste a lot of time wading through context menus or navigating aimlessly through Windows.

I have assembled a list of 4 time saving tips to help you save time in the Windows OS.

1.  Adjust your startup programs

Let’s start where it all begins: When your computer boots up, seemingly every program you install worms its way into activating alongside your PC. Some software, such as OneDrive, Adobe updater app or your antivirus, deserves that lofty status. Others don’t such as Cortana, the Windows digital assistant.  And every program that leaps to life when Windows does delays your ability to use your system.

Fortunately it is easy to gain control over which services launch with Windows.  To change the startup apps start the Settings app from the Windows start menu.  In Settings, you can search for Startup Apps.  From that you can toggle the app on or off to suit your needs.  

2.  Customize your Task bar

Launching a program that’s pinned to your Windows 10 taskbar is always faster than hunting it down in the Start menu or on your desktop. So populating your Taskbar with programs that you use frequently saves you time.

To pin a program to your Taskbar, simply right-click the program in the Start menu and select Pin to Taskbar option in the context menu that appears.  You can also do this to a program's icon when it appears in the task bar after opening it.

3. Jump lists

Now that you have pinned your most-used programs to the Taskbar, you are ready to take advantage of the awesome feature known as Jump Lists.

When you right-click a program icon in your taskbar, most will reveal a pop-up list of your most recent open files for that program, or shortcuts to common tasks. It’s a great way to jump right back into a project without needing to hunt through folder after subfolder in the Windows File Explorer.

Better yet, if you know you’ll constantly return to a particular file or shortcut, you can pin it to the top of the jump list by mousing over its entry, then clicking the pin icon that appears all the way on the right. Any files you do it for will appear under a new “Pinned items” section at the top of the jump list. Simply click the pin icon for an entry again to remove it.

4. Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are wonderful for performing tasks much quicker than you can by clicking around menus with a mouse. If you’re a keyboard shortcut novice, here’s a sampling of some of the more useful ones:

• Crtl + C: Copy
• Ctrl + X: Cut
• Crtl + V: Paste
• Crtl + Z: Undo last action (these Crtl tips work with most software)
• Alt + Tab: Cycle through open programs
• Win + Tab: See all open program on a per-monitor basis, summon Windows Timeline
• Windows key: Open search
• Windows + E: Open File Explorer
• Windows + Print Screen: Takes a screenshot and saves it to your Pictures folder
• Windows + I: Open Windows Settings
• Crtl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
• F5: Refresh the active window

If you want to see a full list of all Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts, check out this cheat sheet on Microsoft's support site

Intellectual Property-What you need to know

 

As we increasingly use information and content from the internet, we need to be aware of its legal use.  This article from the TCEA gives good information on what you should know.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 101: COPYRIGHT, FAIR USE, AND MORE

Canva templates to use in the classroom

Canva is a free digital design service that makes creating graphics so easy.  In a previous post we discuss Canva and how it is free for educators.  Read it here.

From the blog on Ditch That Textbook, here is a list of 20 Canvas templates to use in class tomorrow.

https://ditchthattextbook.com/canva-templates/

25 Practical ways to use Google Forms in class, school

This article is chock full of different ways to use Google Forms.  From assessments to procedures, to learning and creating Google Forms can help make it happen.  

https://ditchthattextbook.com/20-practical-ways-to-use-google-forms-in-class-school/

Seven Resources and Websites for Free Icons

 We all like icons.  They help us say so much with just a small image.  You can use icons in all sorts of class resources and materials.  You can use them on choice boards, presentations, quizzes, Canvas pages and so much more.  Here are seven resources for all of your icon needs.

1.  Insert Icons (Google Docs or Slides)

This resource comes in the form of a Chrome add-on for both Google Docs and Slides.  It offers more than 1800 free icons in color.

2.  Google or Microsoft 

These platforms have the built-in ability to search for an icon in the document or presentation itself. 

In Google, click insert>Image>and Search in the Web.  Define your search in the search box, ie tree icon, book icon, person icon, etc.

In Microsoft Office, click on the Insert tab in the menu bar and select Icons.  Define your search in the search box and select icons to insert.

3.  iconmonstr

This website offers over 4,500 black and white icons.  Using the websites search bar you can easily search by collection, award, holiday, school subject, etc.  You can then download icons as SVG or PNG files or directly embed them.  No account needed

4.  Icon Archive

You can choose from over 600,000 black and white or multi-colored icons from IconArchive. And IconArchive offers icons in PNG and SVG formats. The IconArchive search bar is so easy to use! Once you find the perfect icon, just click on the ICO in the upper right corner, and it downloads the icon in a jiffy.

5. The Noun Project

This website is free with a fee option. They offer a 50% discount for educators and students, Additionally, there are three million icons to choose from! In the free version, icons are black and white, but with the paid version, you can edit color. This resource also offers icons in PNG and SVG formats. Once you create your account, you are frequently notified of special collections. 

6. SlidesCarnival

SlidesCarnival is free for students and teachers, and you can download Google Slides or PowerPoint Templates. You also have the option to upload some templates to Canva. Each SlidesCarnival template has 80 icons, 60+ diagrams and infographics, and usually, there are extra graphics, which is great.

7. JoyPixels 6.6

JoyPixels allows you to use emojis as icons. There are 3,559 icons, and you can save them as PNG in 32px, 64 px, or 128px. There’s lots of color here! You will need to create an account to access these fantastic emojis

Canvas Pro Tip-Recover deleted items

Did you ever delete a page, module or quiz and needed to get it back?  There is an unofficial way to recover deleted items in Canvas.  This video walks you through how to easily restore deleted items in Canvas.

Take a spin with a spinner wheel

 Who doesn't need a name picker, number picker in their classroom?  Here are 7 free wheelspinners you can use in your classroom.

Wheel Decide

Beachball colored wheel with a spinner click sound.

The Steps:

1. Visit: https://wheeldecide.com/.
2. Scroll down the page and enter your choices (The max is 100.).
   
3. Title your wheel.
4. Click (Apply Wheel Changes).
5. That’s it. You have your wheel.
6. If you want to save the wheel, copy the URL and save it.

Red flag: If you scroll down to the very bottom of Wheel Decide, there are some pre-made wheels that are adult themed: What Wine to Drink?, Tarot Cards,  and What Domestic Beer to Drink (US)?

Random Name Picker Spinner

Created by: Classroom Tools

Multiple colors with a spinner click sound and applause

The Steps:

1. Visit: https://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/.
2. Below the Spinner, you will find Edit/Save.
   
3. Enter your information.
4. Press Submit (your spinner is visible immediately).
5. Or better yet, save your spinner for future use with the following steps:
   1. Click Save this List.
   2. Provide a password.
   3. Save the unique address to access your spinner.

Extra! You can opt to remove each option immediately.

Flippity Random Name Picker

Created by: Flippity.net

Rainbow-colored spinner

The Steps:

1. Visit: http://flippity.net/.
2. Find the Flippity Random Name Picker.
   
3. Make a copy of the template.
4. Enter your information.
5. Label your roster.
6. Go to File, Publish to the Web.
7. Click Publish.
8. Click on the Get the Link Here tab (at the bottom).
9. Bookmark the page to return in the future.

Extra! You can also display your information in the form of: lineup, group, team, or seating arrangement.

Spin Wheel

Created by: Lylesoft LLC

Pastel colored wheel with spinner sounds

The Steps:

1. Visit https://www.randomnamepicker.net/spin-wheel.
2. Click on Name Sets.
3. Delete the list of existing names: James, Mary, John, etc.
4. Enter your information.
5. Click Save and Close.
6. Select Reset Name.
7. Click Play.

Extra! You can opt to remove each option immediately.

Red Flag: I could never get this spinner to save multiple sets, so I think you might have to create an account.

Wheel of Names

Created by:  Martin Omander, Google Developer Relations

Red, blue, green, and yellow wheel with spinner click sounds and applause

The Steps:

1. Visit https://wheelofnames.com/.
2. Enter your information to the right of the spinner.
3. Click on the spinner to activate.

Extra! You can opt to remove each option immediately.  One other bonus is that this wheel allows you to add images for options. 

Picker Wheel

Created by:  Tyson Lim

Various hues of yellow and green wheel with spinner clicking sounds and upbeat music to announce selection

The Steps:

1. Visit https://pickerwheel.com/
2. Enter your information to the right of the spinner.
   1. Enter in the yellow “Input here” one-by-one.
   2. Or click on the peach-colored button to add a whole list.
3. Click on the spinner’s middle button.

Extra! Works in three modes: normal mode, elimination mode, and accumulation mode.

It is a PWA application which means you can work offline and can be installed as a desktop, iOS or Android app without surfing through a browser.

Wheel Generator

Created by: WheelGenerator.com

Five muted toned wheel spinner with spinner clicking sounds. The winner is announced in a text box with whistles, whoops, and clapping.

The Steps:

1. Visit https://wheelgenerator.com/
2. Enter random names, numbers, or symbols to the field next to the spinner.
3. Click the blue spin button to activate.

Extra! You can remove and add information immediately from the Entries Box. Includes an easy share button: Facebook, email, Gmail, Twitter, LinkedIn, Messenger and so many more.

Fun Seasonal Fonts for Google Workspace

 

If you are a Google user, you can expand your font selection to include fun, seasonal fonts to use in your documents. 

Follow the link below to find out more.

Seasonal fonts in Google

Classroomscreen: A classroom helper you can use today!

 

What is ClassroomScreen?

ClassroomScreen is a free, simple web tool that is a one-stop-shop with useful widgets you display on your classroom screen to use while teaching or while students are working.

Get ClassroomScreen here.

What Can You Do With The Widgets?

Currently, there are fourteen widgets you can use on ClassroomScreen. You can display multiple widgets at once.

• Background – Customise your background with one of the images or GIFs provided. Or, you can upload or record your own background.
• Random Name – Enter the names of students and choose one at random.
• Dice - Roll one or more dice.
• Sound Level – Monitor classroom noise levels using the microphone on your device.
• Media - You can upload images, embed YouTube videos, share a webcam or embed other tools.
• QR Code – Enter a link and a QR code is automatically generated. Great when students have devices like iPads — they can come up to the board, scan the code and go straight to a site.
• Drawing – There are two sizes available where you can free draw. The larger sized canvas can replace the background if you wish.
• Text – A simple tool to write instructions, reminders, learning goals and so on.
• Work Symbols – Display one of four options: work together, ask a neighbor, whisper, and silence.
• Traffic Light – Display a red, amber, or green light to provide a visual reminder of when to move around, begin a task, pack up etc.
• Timer – Count up or count down, record “laps”, and more. You can customise the tone that rings when the time is up.
• Stopwatch- Useful for timing class activities
• Clock – Shows the time as a 12 or 24 hour clock. Also shows a calendar.
• Calendar - Show the date or the whole month.

Check out the videos for a demo of what ClassroomScreen can do for you.

Canva: What is it and how can it help me?

Creating graphics.  A task that is challenging to me as I find myself "graphically challenged".  Canva is a free-to-use online graphical tool that combines design, photo editing, and layout to help you the teacher and students create beautifully finished projects.

Canva allows for image editing and project-based learning using a simple drag-and-drop interface. From brainstorming as a group working collaboratively to individual project creation, it has lots of potential uses in the classroom.

Oh and did I mention, it is free for educators and students!  You can sign up for Canva using this link.

  Click here for a free Canva account.  

If you are new to Canva, here is a 10 minute video  https://youtu.be/zJSgUx5K6V0

For ideas for the classroom, here is an article from Shakeup Learning.  Kasey Bell has great ideas for using Canva. Click here to read the article.