Evernote 101: Publish To A Blog

Evernote, Evernote, Evernote!  Every where I turn someone seems to be talking about Evernote, but why? Yesterday was the day that I started my quest to figure it out and answer my UltiMaTe BiG QueSTioN: How do I use Evernote with students and teachers at school?

Let me back up even further...In 2012, I was on my treadmill (yes, that probably WaS the last time...) listening to Classroom 2.0 Live featuring Linda Yollis, a teacher of 3rd grade students in California.  The topic: blogging with students.  Let me state the obvious...she was so phenomenal that I still remember the conversation 2 years later!


Blogging?  In the vodcast, she stated that any class could blog, because blogging provides an opportunity to teach and practice quality writing (great for any content area and any grade level).  Blogging gives students an opportunity to produce quality posts for an authentic audience from around the world helping to build a global community.  By design, it provides

Image from Mrs. Yollis' Blog

opportunities for differentiation and it gets kids reading and writing about things that interest them (my mother-in-law, a retired librarian, says that this is critical).

So, what does this have to do with Evernote? Well, when researching ways to share a note in Evernote , I  found that you can publish from within Evernote to Postach.io, a blogging platform.  This is huge!!! I know of several teachers who have wanted to blog with students for some time, but the logistics of how and with what equipment has stalled the progress of the project.

In my mind this is Evernote to the rescue!!! Since you can use any device to add content to Evernote, students can add content to their blog from a computer, a phone, or anything else loaded with the Evernote app!  I had to give it a try...

So, I signed up for Postach.io and 

linked my Postach.io account to my Evernote account.

Postach.io asked if I was sure that I wanted to give it access.  (Don't worry, I can change my mind later if I decide not to use it.)

And then, poof...I was done!

I headed back to Evernote to tag the notes that I wanted to add to the blog as "published".  It was supposed to automatically publish to my Postach.io site, but...  

I guess I missed something.  So, I headed back to Postach.io and clicked the "pencil" to edit (though now, I wonder if I could have just hit the swirly arrows to sync...not sure.)

I then went to "Sources" and chose the notebook I wanted to share. The man on the video didn't say anything about selecting just one notebook, so I am not sure if it only possible to share from only one notebook in Evernote, but if so, consider naming it "Postach.io" or "Blog Posts", so that it is clear for students.

Final step, I went back to the Postach.io Dashboard and clicked the arrows beside the blog's name to sync.  Once Postach.io and Evernote are set-up, every note that is tagged as "published" will automatically appear on the blog  (without having to click the "swirly arrows")!   

So, Way #2 to use Evernote with students and teachers: PuBLiSH To A BloG!

Evernote 101: How to Share Notes Using Evernote

I love summer, a time to think, reflect, and learn!  What can you learn? The possibilities are limitless...you just have to ask, "What do I want to learn today?" (kind of like Siri :)  Some days I know what I want to learn before my feet hit the floor and other days (like today) I'm inspired around mid-morning.

Today, it started with a #NT2t Chat (New to Twitter Chat) this morning where I met Rik Rowe and Dina Moati, who were talking about ways to squeeze all that you wanted to say into 140 characters and Evernote came up. Rik suggested sharing your Evernote notes via Twitter and my first thought was how do you do that?  Thus, the inspiration for "what I want to learn today...": the how-to's of Evernote, not because the web doesn't have tons of resources already on the subject, but because I am simply logging my journey.

I know, I just blogged about Evernote after ISTE, but it was a short post and there was so much more that I wanted to know! My UltiMaTe BiG QueSTioN: How do I use Evernote with students and teachers at school?  My answer..."I don't know...yet.", but I am embarking on a journey to figure it out. So, here I go...my first entry on using Evernote:

• What is Evernote?
• A Self-Syncing, Note Taking Tool Available for All of Your Devices: phone, computer, iPad, etc.
• Cloud-based Utility (It's available anywhere even if you don't have the device that you originally typed your note on).
• FrEE!!! (A teacher's favorite word!)

• What Can You Use it For?
• Quick Notes: shopping lists, pictures of receipts, links to resources, meeting notes, and images of brainstorming sessions.
• Formatted Notes: Complete with Titles, Font Styles and Colors, Bullets and Numbered Lists, Checklists, Tables, Attachments like Photos and Voice Recordings (these go directly into Evernote when you are using the app on your phone or iPad) and Links to Useful Websites (use the "..." on the tool bar to create a dropdown menu to add the hyperlink)
• Capture Business Card Info: Use your phone's camera to capture a business card and the information will sync directly into your contacts list.  
• Reminders: Though it is not a management tool (it is a note taking tool), you can set reminders for time sensitive tasks.

• Where Do the Notes Go and Are They Private?
• The notes are in the cloud and this is great because this allows you to access your notes anywhere: work, home, or even the beach by logging into Evernote on a computer or launching the app on your phone or other digital device.
• You can keep your notes private or choose to share them via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Email, or with a Link. (Remember...that was my question of the day that prompted this post.)

Here's what I learned...

start by choosing how you want to share.  I picked "link".

Evernote double checked that I meant to click share 

and gives me an option to change my mind after I actually share my note.

Then, it gave me a public link.  

This would be perfect for sharing meeting notes at work! 

Way #1 for answering my UltiMaTe BiG QueSTioN and the answer to "what I wanted to learn today": How to Share Notes in Evernote.  If you would like a copy of my notes for this post, here's my note.

Opus Math...Favorite Find!!!

I have a new love and his name is Opus...Opus Math.  The best thing about Opus is that he is loaded...loaded with math problems aligned for the Common Core along with handy, dandy answer keys! What more could a girl wish for???

Let me tell you how we met...this year, I have had some trepidation as I was tasked with creating new content aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).  As anyone who wants to make sure that they are not leading a class full of students down the wrong path, I searched and researched to verify that what I was teaching was what the authors of the CCSS intended.   My first find was LearnZillion (bless those precious creators for producing quality content to help boost my confidence as I transitioned to the new standards) and then I stumbled upon Saginaw Valley's pacing guides linked to online resources aligned with the Common Core.  Both were fantastic resources for me to ensure that I was explaining the content in the same manner that someone else did, but I wanted to find yet another place to verify that I was assessing student understanding according to the standards.  After much searching, I found Opus Math!

Logo from Opus Math

Opus Math is a beautiful resource.  You can search for assessment items directly if you know the standards that you want to assess...

or you can search from the whole list of standards to find what you need.  If you choose to search standard by standard, you will see a full description pop-up as you scroll across each one.

After you select the standard you want to assess, you can browse through the questions and choose to include "all" or only specific items.

To create your assessment, scroll down to the bottom of the page to "Make Assignment".  You will be prompted to sign in or make an account (if you didn't already) - don't worry, it's free!

Build your assignment to meet your needs: add a title, class period, teacher's name, etc.

Then, your assignment will download to your computer and you can open it using Microsoft Word or in your Google Drive.  You can continue to edit the assessment items or add more questions to the document if needed.

As if that weren't fabulous enough (I know, it sounds like I am selling it, but I am really just this excited), you can download the KeY!!!!!

I know!!!  Can you see why Opus Math is my new favorite find???!!!??  My mind is racing...I could download one question a day on a half sheet of paper for a bellringer, take a screen shot and throw it on my whiteboard for an exit ticket, or have all of my assessments created before school starts.

Opus Math = Love!!!

Follow My Favorites

I actually had no intention of blogging today, but after accepting the #July2014Challenge of blogging more than normal (and panicking just a little), I began to think about those faithful bloggers that have risen to a similar challenge day after day for year after year.  I have relied upon them for ideas, inspiration, and at times, a lift to my spirit.  All I can say is that I am truly grateful to them for sharing their time and their talent. I appreciate their reliability to produce posts complete with detailed directions, lots of pictures and a bit of a personal touch.

If you have read this blog for any length of time, you know I love technology (and therefore technology blogs by default). I look for ways to use digital tools to engage my students and enrich their experiences.  So for this Thursday post, I want to introduce you to 3 fantastic techy--educator-bloggers who integrate technology into everything they do (not for technology's sake, but for students').  They have had tremendous influence on me as I have sought to do the same. If you are looking for fresh ideas, I invite you to follow my favorites:

1.  Moving at the Speed of Creativity by Dr. Wesley Fryer

Banner from Dr. Fryer's Site

I met Dr. Fryer years ago at a mobile learning conference and he is just as generous with his knowledge in person as he is online.  I can always depend on him to produce thorough "how-to" technology posts on topics that I have not even started to consider...like this week's 3 different ways to publish an e-book. Well, of course, I have been wanting to write an e-book, so I certainly need to know how to publish one!  Turns out, his 10 year old daughter actually DiD write a book and it was her creation on which they were working. #inspired

2. The Daring Librarian by Gwyneth Jones

Banner from The Daring Librarian

I adore this blog and its author!!!! From the splashes of color to the unique approach to foster a love of reading in students, The Daring Librarian is a true inspiration. From the first posts I read about creating a QR code scavenger hunt to the most recent on using vine to create book trailers, I am always challenged to look beyond what I see and imagine what can be.

3.  Teaching Creatively with Technology by Allison White

Banner from Allison White's Blog

I just found Allison's blog recently, but if you are interested in stretching yourself with technology integration, this lady has some fantastic ideas! From curating information to planning a Social Scavenger hunt, Allison shares her originality through her distinctive posts.

So there it is...my Top 3 Favorite Techy--Educator-Bloggers...those I look to get new ideas.

Flipping Out with Screencast-O-Matic

 You know me...having a theme helps me focus my thoughts.  I joined the #July2014Challenge issued by @druinok to blog daily (or every other day, once a week, name your own schedule, etc...) for the month of July, but without a theme, I never quite know where to start. To help begin the writing process, I came up with #WebtoolWednesday, the name of the first  professional development series I ever hosted (I know, slightly sentimental).  I absolutely love finding new tools and I feel like I can find enough material to maintain this series for the month (Let me know, if you adopt the same theme...I would love to read your posts.)

I stumbled upon today's tool when I joined a short course this summer led by Joseph Zisk at CALU of Pennsylvania on flipping the classroom. I wanted to see the tools that he recommended and how he structured his e-course. Let me first say...he was great!  We had lots of supporting dialogue, videos, opportunities to practice, and class discussions.  He provide enough support to get me started with my goal for flipping PD.

Why flip? Twice a month, I lead professional development sessions for the whole faculty and throughout the school year I like to share tech tools when I find them. For some sessions, I feel like advance notice on the topic would be helpful.  I know have wandered into a PD session and quickly found my head spinning with ideas or questions.  I wanted to grab my phone and start researching, but I didn't want to be disrespectful to the speaker by looking like I was off task.  I have lead sessions for which I have planned a collaborative component, but everyone seems reluctant to start the discussion, because they are still processing the new information.  My goal for flipping is to allow everyone enough time to learn about, think about, and process the topic prior to coming together in groups to discuss implementation strategies.

In research implementation strategies, I have found blog posts, an iTunes U course on ways to flip, and a great article on the 7 Steps to Flipped PD.  While I understand that planning is essential, it also needs to be manageable...easy to duplicate...easy to implement.  Enter today's webtool...

I've used Jing and software for my interactive whiteboard to record my computer screen, but neither were as easy to use as Screencast-O-Matic!  Following the format of my e-learning course, here is video to tell you a little bit about it:

I used it to create a video of a Livebinder that I put together for new teachers joining our staff in August.  It took all of 15 minutes to make (I kept losing my train of thought and had to keep starting over otherwise it would have taken a lot less time). I had options to save the video within the web tool, publish to YouTube, or to my computer. I chose to publish to YouTube and marked it as private (and now I am sharing it with the blog-o-sphere, ironic!  But if it gives you an idea of how you can use it (with other teachers in your department/grade level, parents, or students), it was worth it!)  So, without further ado, here's my first attempt at using this super easy tool: Screencast-O-Matic:

Everyone Has Value, Everyone Matters

I wish that I could come up with some catchy phrase of the day like "Time Out to Learn Tuesdays" or something 10 times more clever, but honestly this is just a plain post with a a plain truth....Everyone has Value, Everyone Matters.  This post was prompted by what I am learning at Summer Camp...that's #PTCamp to be more specific.  #PTCamp is an online camp for parents and teachers that spans a period of 6 weeks and focuses on the developing meaningful partnerships between schools and families.  Over 100 participants from around the globe are reading Beyond the Bake Sale and tweeting, voxing, and ApprenNet-ting (not sure if that is actually a word) about how to foster strong relationships among all stakeholders in schools.

Why read a book about how to foster meaningful partnerships? "The evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: families have a major influence on their children's achievement.  When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer and like school more."
How do you start? "First, we have to absolutely believe in our souls that families want to support their children and that their support can make a significant difference in a child's educational experience.  Second, we need to prioritize reaching out to families."
     I had the privilege of hearing Angela Maiers along with others present at ISTE on the power of the words "You Matter". As I was thinking about the book study, I thought about the power of the words "you matter" and the connection that parents and teachers could make if only we entered every interaction with that thought foremost in their minds.  No longer would we be on the defense in a parent- teacher conference or assume that we knew more about someone

else's child because of all of the letters behind our name; no, our thinking MiGHt aCtUAllY ShIFt. The book's authors emphasize that "everyone has something to offer"...hmmm, is it because they matter?  Do they have insight that needs to be shared to maximize the learning experience for the child? Maybe, just maybe... If I would enter into the parent-teacher relationship with the attitude that everyone has something to offer and everyone should get something positive out of the relationship, I would avoid the totally inaccurate and very lopsided, "I know best" thinking.  How might the year might progress if my first conversation started with "You are your child's first teacher; tell me about your child." Or, what if small groups met and parents were encouraged to talk about TheIR DrEAms and EXpeCtAtiONs for their child's future and teachers and administrators followed up with discussions and evaluation of the school's curriculum to determine how it was connected to the families' dreams?  Would that change the culture of the school???

    Last week I heard someone ask (via Voxer), "What if the administration doesn't support this type of partnering?"  While I am blessed to be in a school that values people and believes that everyone matters, I can imagine that this is very real in varying degrees in many schools.  So, I say, start right where you are.  One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is when God asks Moses, "What's in your hand?"  It is a question I have asked myself more than once, I can assure you and I have come to think that another way of saying it could be to ask, "Where do I have influence?"  Every teacher can say most assuredly that he or she has influence in the classroom...so, StARt THeRe!
     I love that the book, along with the participants in the study offer practical suggestions.  All of the ideas focus on developing relationships.  If I truly believe that people matter like I say I do, then it only makes sense for me to invest in people.  How?  Honor them with my time, my words and my talents.

• Visit the homes of students.
• Invite them into my home or at least the classroom and not just on Back to School night!
• Make positive phone calls to parents monthly to keep them in the loop on overall student progress.
• Go outside of the building to greet and talk with parents.
• Create a warm, friendly environment by ensuring that the number of student projects and celebrations of student accomplishments outnumber warning posters about alcohol, drug abuse and dropping out.
• Host a class meeting, grade-level social or book club.

I love these ideas make sense!  My favorite quote from these chapters were really words of wisdom that can guide my behavior in any interaction:  

Analog Twitter Wall

For the last 7 years, I have served as both assistant principal and dual enrollment math teacher.  I have loved doing both, though at times I have wondered how effective I was in either position when each seemed to vie for my time and energy.   About 6 months ago, my principal started advertising for my math position, not because I wanted to hang up my teaching hat forever, but because he wanted me to do a few different tasks during the upcoming school year.  So far, a replacement has not materialized and with only 23 days to go until a final decision must be made, it looks like it might be me again.  So after clearing my walls of anything blue or polka dotted a little over a month ago, I am facing the real possibility that I may be moving my stuff out of son #1's room and back to A-5.  Which leaves me wondering what will I change when I go back?
     I normally start the school year with "About Me in 140 Characters" using Wiffitti, because I have been teaching students both in a face 2 face setting and via video conferencing.  I created the assignment to introduce the kiddos who were sharing the same virtual classroom, but if I go back into the classroom, I know that the principal has me only teaching in a face 2 face environment. Since I want to stay with the assignment, but my situation will be different, I thought I might try an analog wall after being inspired by Two Guys and Some iPads. So, for this week's #Made4Math post, I picked up a pack of sentence strips at Dollar Tree and made the graphics I would need to create my analog Twitter space.

Of course, I had to start with the adorable blue bird which set the color scheme for the rest of the graphics

and then I made the little "t" to glue to the ends of the laminated sentence strips.

The tag line for the space is, "What's on your mind today?" (well, besides the obvious...math!!!)

I will definitely use it for the first assignment, "About Me in 140 Characters", but I am thinking about leaving it up for a few weeks to see what the students will do with it - all the while modeling appropriate tweets:) I/m feeling accomplished...it is the beginning of July and the first bulletin board is done!  Oops!  Almost forgot...here is the publisher file for customizing.