Bit-O-Tech - December 2024

 'Twas the Week Before Break...

...and all through the schools, 

teachers were counting the minutes and looking for tools,

to help with their goals of student success

and keep all their classes from becoming a mess....

So it's no Clement Clarke Moore or Robert Frost, or even Dr. Seuss but everyone reading this knows full well the challenge of these final days before Christmas break.  EVERYONE is excited and exhausted and looking forward to vacation time.  But we just have to get there.  It's in that spirit that I offer a couple of tips, websites and tools that you might be able to use in these final days ... and beyond. 

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YouTube Tips and Tricks

YouTube has become a great resource for supplementing educational content.  Whether it is biographical information on historical figures, how-to videos for mathematical operations, music videos of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, or even timers for classroom activities. YouTube seems to have an answer.  But it doesn't come without its headaches.  So here are a couple of tricks I've discovered that can benefit any teacher using this almost limitless resource.

Ad Free YouTube

One of the more annoying parts of using YouTube in your classes is the unwanted and mostly unrelated advertising content that now is commonplace on almost any video selection you choose.  But there is a way to share a YouTube video with your students omitting these pesky ads. if you post the YouTube video through Google Classroom, then it automatically takes out any ads. 

It doesn’t work if you just throw the link in the Stream section. You will need to ad the video using the YouTube button in the Assignment or Materials creation tools. Then you will be able to send the video to your students without them seeing the ads. 

Float Your Timers

I know many teachers who love to use the YouTube timer videos.  You just simply search for something like "Timer 5 Minutes" and you get a selection of video countdown timers.  It's great for activities in your classes, breakout sessions, group discussions, anything really.  The only issue I've had is when I set that timer in my browser, sometimes I want to navigate to a different browser tab but still have the timer be visible to everyone I'm working with.  Well here's a solution.

Search and select your YouTube timer of choice.  Then right click (or Ctrl + L Click), move the cursor slightly and right click again.  The first right click will bring up a menu of options like copying the URL.  But the second right click will bring up a menu that has an option called "Picture in Picture."  This detaches the video completely from the entire browser.  You can play your timer and keep it displayed will you navigate to other browser tabs or other application windows on your computer.

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The Fine Art of Doodling

I am amazed at some of the completely free, completely awesome web tools that I come across on the world wide web.  Here's one that can be fun BUT if a teacher has the desire, could be used for academic or artistic purposes.  Doodle 3D Transform is a free and open-source web-app that makes designing in 3D easy and fun.

It takes a little bit to get the hang of things but I highly encourage students and teachers to just jump in, explore and see what everything does. But if you want to have a tutorial or send one to your students who might need some directions, here is a tutorial video (remember you can post it as a Google Classroom assignment using the YouTube button to omit the ads).  

And even though it's free and web-based and I initially said it was just to mess around, guess what?  You can export designs in file types compatible with 3D printers.  Have fun!  

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Indoor Recess Blues

Here's one for the elementary teachers.

Indoor recess is not an "if" but a "when" in Northwest Ohio.  In fact, I'm fairly certain you elementary teachers might have already had your fill of indoor recess.  Sp if you need some extra activities to keep those young ones occupied and actually practicing some academic skills, try RoomRecess.

RoomRecess.com is dedicated to providing children with free learning games that are fun. Their online games reinforce important skills that are vital to elementary students and their educational process. RoomRecess.com was developed entirely by an elementary school teacher with the goal of reinforcing fundamental learning concepts in math, reading, spelling, language arts, typing, and problem solving. Because our learning games are free, students do not have to sign up or create an account. Your students can simply load up an activity and have fun learning online while they play.

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And Finally...

If you just need some fun and silliness, head over to https://yourelfname.com and get yourself (and maybe your colleagues or students) an elf name.  Just steer clear of all of the ads and you can get yourself an elf name and even a little elf avatar.  Here's mine....

Merry Christmas and have a restful and enjoyable break!

Sincerely,

Twinkling Cookiepants

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