You Dilly Dilly, You

    Oh! Is that YouTube? I didn't know we could edit videos in there!?

   Yes, you can.

    After you have uploaded a video, go into your channel or the creator studio.



Once in there, click to edit the video you just uploaded. 




    In addition to YouTube, Google has more fun tools to learn about.

    First off, Google+Hangouts. Now, you don't always have to use Skype to video call because Hangouts has that. As well, they offer messaging and have everything available in an App, too! Of course, since it's Google, all messages and video calls sync across all platforms (mobile, tablet, and computer). Another positive feature is that you can access all your contacts--email and phone (if your Google account is on your phone). The final feature is that it is free for educator or business accounts--the mobile App uses wifi first and wireless data second. Here is a great comparison chart between Hangouts and Skype.

Another fun Google Tool is Google Maps SmartyPins. A player can select a category or let the program randomly choose topics.










    You always start the game with 1,000 miles; how many miles you are off of the correct answer is deducted from that amount after each question. If you drop the pin at the correct location before the timer runs out, you get extra miles; however, if you don't, you get a clue. 

    One of the more encouraging parts of the game is that it drops you in a close enough location for you to feel like you have a good chance even if you guess. 



    After dropping the pin, it asks you to verify your answer before submitting.







Once you enter it, it will tell you right away if you're correct and then move on to the next question. 





    And, yes, you can run out of miles after only 2 questions. Never fear, you can play again.

    One of the fabulous ways to use this in the classroom is to select a category that applies and play on teams or individually. Or, this would work fabulously as a practice for Scholars Bowl as there are many details included in the question and clues that would be helpful in question rounds during competitions. 

    Ack, surely you have more than that?

    Well, actually I have one more I LOVE to use in the classroom--Google Scholar.

    Google Scholar allows the user to search the internet for scholarly articles, books, magazines, thesis papers, professional societies, universities, and other websites. 

    It allows several ways to sort the results and narrow the articles. The only drawback is that sometimes the articles are not free and you have to pay for the whole article. Otherwise, this is a fantastic, useful feature when researching a topic. 

    Wait! Is that all?

    Just one more dilly dilly to you. May all your lesson plans ring true.