Google Drive is becoming like a second home to me! Anytime that I start a new project with someone, be it either in committee, learning team, or just between a couple of teachers, I create a new google doc, or google sheet. I have even turned our school's schedules into google sheets for everyone to access and adjust from anywhere. I use Google Forms for parent surveys and student questionnaires. If anyone knows how I can get some Google Drive swag, I'd love that!
However, the newest challenge for me has been Google Script.
It is essentially writing code in javascript for google docs, sheets, calendar, etc. Have you ever said "if only google docs would communicate with google sheets", well they do. I have been trying to figure out how to do it, and I am so far, not having so much luck. I really want to get better at this, but it really seems like an uphill battle for me. Time for me to show some Grit!
So, this post is just a way of saying that everyone has their new thing they are trying to get better at. This one is mine right now. I find it pretty hard and I have had little victores. I just recent followed Alice Keeler's (If you're a tech-loving teacher, you should follow her) tutorial and I had my first real success!
So, good luck to all of you trying out new things!
Learning portfolios are great! They enhance parent-teacher communication and give the parents a window into the classroom. They become the portal where learning is documented and celebrated! But what program to use?
5 years ago, I waded in the idea. I did not have any clue what options there really were, but I had found something that could work for me. I used Evernote! I would create a folder for each of my students, share that folder with that particular parent, and violà! The beginnings of a portfolio! I loved it! My parents loved it! My district....not so much.
You see, Evernote is a program with servers based in the US. For BC teachers, that's a big NO NO for student information (FIPPA). So, I went looking for an alternate. Then, two years ago, FreshGrade walked into my life and I have not looked back!
I can honestly say, I'm a FreshGrade fanboy! If they would give me a flag, I'd run around my school district waving it. For those of you who haven't used it yet, FreshGrade is a Canadian-based (servers in Vancouver) online portfolio program to enhance Parent-Teacher communication. It goes way beyond that, adding in a user-friendly Gradebook as well. It supports, text, image, audio, video, pdf, weblinks, etc! It is also mobile friendly with apps for iOS and Android.
We see our students perform greats tasks everyday and can usually only share that with parents by writing them about it or telling them about it after school. However, imagine the power of having a video of that learning, sharing that with the parents on their child's portfolio along with all their other accomplishments. This is power of FreshGrade. Their portfolio becomes a living exemplar of their child's development and can also be a place where the students themselves can see how they are learning and growing.
This year, I have only activated the parents connection to the portfolios. I have not yet tried the student access (that will be something for next year). However, I encourage my parents to share FreshGrade with their children. After all, it is all about them!
If you haven't tried FreshGrade yet, take a look at it here! https://www.freshgrade.com/
