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Google Earth Education Experts Unite

7/26/2018

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I just returned from a fabulous weekend at Google's mothership in CA, where 50 of us gathered from literally around the globe. Officially known as Google Earth Education Experts, we are "a global network of teachers and educational technologists that help [our] organizations and educators everywhere push the boundaries of what’s possible for Google Earth in the classroom." We are ambassadors to promote geoliteracy through our classrooms and trainings and are passionate about both exploring and making sense of the world around us.

As I wrote earlier after I attended the Geo For Good Summit in India:
"Geoliteracy, as defined by Google Earth Education, is a relatively new term for a long-standing idea consisting of three components: interactions, interconnections and implications. It is the ability to use geographic understanding and geographic reasoning to make far-reaching decisions. It's more than mapping. Way more. It's making sense of our world in a way that sparks change. I've seen how important it is for teachers to help students develop geoliteracy, to interact well with the world around them, and to make a lasting impact on humanity as a whole."


A main goal of this global gathering was to put our brains together. We aimed to create engaging content and classroom resources that channels the power of Google Earth into practical classroom resources educators can use across all content areas and around the globe. We spent two days thinking, hacking, reflecting, creating, and... repeat.

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This is our USA East Coast group
There is a lot of energy and fun in a room full of movers and shakers in education and educational technology. The jokes and wit never let up. Our zest for change and giving back was palpable, fueled by great minds, great ideas, great enthusiasm and pizazz (and great food). It was a blast!
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We also had the unique opportunity to pick Googlers' brains about what they're working on, what's coming, and how products will keep improving so that all can benefit. It's pretty cool talking to the very people and teams who create and write the tools we use everyday.

It's always a treat to visit a Google campus and no detail is lost on me. The food, design, decor, bulletin board notices, even heated toilet seats...were all so fun and inspiring. I also loved the Google bikes (and had quite the adventure riding where #nogooglebikehadbeenbefore as I trekked to a different campus and ended up logging 10 miles.) 
I can't wait to be a small part of the impact moving forward as we strive to get Google Earth in all classrooms #eartheveryday. 

It's an awesome world we are part of!
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My Google Earth power pose :)
Please take a few minutes to watch this inspiring story about a few of our Google Earth Education Experts and see what Google Earth can bring to the classroom. It's powerful.
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Google's Geo for Good India Summit

2/12/2018

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I was invited to attend Google's Geo for Good Summit in Bangalore –  the first of its kind in India. It was awesome and my mind is still spinning!

Google's Earth Outreach team brought together regional experts in the fields of conservation, air quality, agriculture, and education for collaboration and learning. Together, over an intense 4 days, we put our minds together around how we can use geotools and data to solve real challenges in India. Cross-disciplinary discussions like this are so beneficial and I could tell everyone in attendance really appreciated the opportunity. 

I was part of the education track and we analyzed India's unique challenges in education, brainstormed ways to better use geotools as a resource for teachers and students, and designed potential geoprojects that could have lasting impact.

Our guiding formula was:
"If Google did X, I could do Y, which would have Z impact on the world."


It took some serious brainpower during multiple hackathon sessions to come up with ideas, but the culminating presentations showcased some pretty amazing possibilities. Using a geo-inquiry process, our group looked at creating an open-source crowdsourcing map that could better match corporate funding and nonprofit expertise to the schools who need it the most.
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Geoliteracy, as defined by Google Earth Education, is "a relatively new term for a long-standing idea consisting of three components: interactions, interconnections and implications. It is the ability to use geographic understanding and geographic reasoning to make far-reaching decisions."

​It's more than mapping. Way more. It's making sense of our world in a way that sparks change. I've seen how important it is for teachers to help students develop geoliteracy, to interact well with the world around them, and to make a lasting impact on humanity as a whole. 
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Google offices are so fun! There are lots of details that make them great...but sadly we weren't able to take photos and can't discuss much. Maybe someday I'll land my dream job there...
We deep-dived (dove?) into some amazing geotools, led by Googler experts from Mountain View and around the region. Several others joined us by DVC. It was uniquely beneficial to have access to the very Googlers who design and maintain these tools. They shared their knowledge graciously and were genuinely interested in our feedback and challenges. We were given a few hints of how these tools will be even better in the future and I can't wait to see what's in store. 

A few of the resources we used in our education track:

Mapping
  • Google Maps
  • Streetview app
Visualization and Storytelling
  • My Maps (check out these tutorials if you want to be a mapping expert or boost your skills)
  • Google Earth (check out Voyager stories by clicking the sailor's wheel or spin the dice and get lucky)
  • Google Expeditions app
​Other fun stuff
  • Google Arts and Culture and its app (for more than selfie matches!)
  • Google Earth Engine ​(the platform for Google Earth data and analysis) and timelapse (visualizing change is powerful)
  • Google Science Journal
  • Google Scratch
  • YouTube Impact Lab ​(social impact for nonprofits)
  • Google.org​ ​ (Google's philanthropy arm)
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I have several thoughts as takeaways, particularly around visualization and storytelling possibilities. I'm going to need a bit of time to strategize how I can apply what I've seen and learned in a way that can help the teachers and students I work with, but I'm excited. ​

Thanks, Geo for Good team – you've inspired me!
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Why I love my Apple Watch...for Entirely Different Reasons than I Expected

11/3/2015

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Like many people in my field, I'm a techie. I love the latest, fastest, most well-equipped technology out there. I even daresay it's my professional responsibility to try things out and make recommendations. I'm not able to buy each model as it's released, whether it be a laptop, desktop, Google Glass, camera, phone, or whatever, but I do as often as is feasible. Still, it fascinates me to learn about a new tool and explore it's possibilities, especially when it comes to increasing productivity or learning. 

Enter the Apple Watch. Of course I wanted one when they were first released in April. I had a hard time justifying the expense, knowing that later models would be improved and not being sure I'd even like it. I hadn't even worn a watch in years. I eventually convinced myself to give it a go and I'm thrilled I did. 

What I expected: enjoying the "cool" factor of a new gadget, one that wasn't able to stand much on its own but was fun to use. I knew I'd enjoy the health and fitness stats and activity tracker and I do. 
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But, it goes way beyond that and I've used and loved it much more than I thought I would.
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Why I love the Apple Watch:
  • Productivity - I check and briefly reply to an email or text in just seconds. I verbally set a timer or reminder or ask Siri a question. At a glance I can see the date, time, where I'm at on my activity for the day (standing, calories, and exercise), current time in two different locations which helps me since we're overseas, unread notifications, and my favorite...what's next on my calendar. It takes me less than a second to glance and refocus and see what needs attending to. And if nothing? Even better. Rather than make me more distracted it actually helps me focus more.
  • Hands Free - I don't need to get out my phone as much. I like to be present in the moment, especially with my children, and my watch allows me to handle urgent issues quickly and efficiently without having to stare into my phone or check it to make sure I didn't miss something. I know if Uber's almost here or if it's going to rain. We live in a huge city with busy streets and lots of people and I like not having to get my phone out unless I have to.
  • Time Management - I don't miss things. I am instantly alerted to texts, calls, and messages wherever I am, which helps put my mind at ease. When the nurse calls from school saying that my daughter probably broke her arm (which she did), I don't miss the call. I don't have to carry my phone room to room or on my body all the time. I know that as long as I'm nearish my phone, I'll be alerted to anything important and the rest can wait.
  • Subtle Reminders - I LOVE the haptic alerts. I have all sound disabled on my watch and only I feel it's vibrations. I can instantly tell if it's a more important alert, like a text or direct message rather than an activity notification or reminder. I haven't turned the volume on my phone since I've had my watch for a few months. It's so nice to not have sounds going off distracting everyone. I quickly feel the notification and determine if I need to act or ignore without anyone else even noticing. 
  • Navigation - We live in a city (Mumbai) that's sadly not supported yet in Maps so I rely heavily on Google Maps on my phone rather than my Watch. But, on a recent trip to Venice I was able to put Maps to the test on my watch and loved it! I felt subtle taps when it was time to turn a corner and it quietly and seamlessly guided me exactly where I needed to go. Way cool. 
  • Camera Remote - I love being able to capture a group photo using my camera remote on my watch rather than fumbling with it on my phone, a skill I haven't been good at.

Is it perfect? No. You can't type on it (everything is dictation with limited editing functionality). The battery needs to be charged daily. I'm still experimenting with a sleep tracker. I don't know anyone nearby well enough to communicate Watch to Watch with heartbeats and drawings and the like and there's a lot of apps I don't really use (like Apple Pay which isn't accepted here). But for what I use it for, it's been surprisingly worth it.

​And yes, it is fun!

Maybe the Watch isn't for everyone, but as a mother and Mission Control for my family, it has been an incredibly freeing tool and helps me to be more present and focused on the things that really matter. That alone is a winner.
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"It's All Geek to Me: Add-Ons, Extensions, and Apps" for the CUE Learning Revolution Online Summit 2014

9/6/2014

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I just presented at the CUE Learning Revolution Online Summit, the First Online Summit Featuring Google for Education. Educators and edtech gurus from around the globe participated and shared some tremendous enrichment. Exciting times! [If you click into the actual presentation you'll see the speaker notes]
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Cool Google Stuff

5/20/2013

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I'm going over this document with a few teachers today who want to know more of what I learned at the recent Google Teacher Academy. It's by no means comprehensive but it represents a few recent favorites. I dare you to walk away without something you're itching to try.

Some are fun but most have strong (and fun) potential to improve student learning in exciting ways. For example, Voice Comments Chrome extension allows you to leave easy audio feedback right within Google Docs -- now that has some powerful potential for student reflection and feedback.

Wish you could join us!

Cool Google Stuff

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Google Teacher Academy Recap

5/9/2013

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I just returned from the Google Teacher Academy (GTA) in Sydney, an amazing mind-blowing two days. I am now officially a Google Certified Teacher (GCT), a true honor and privilege, and I join the ranks of 1,000 worldwide GCTs. Lucky me.
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Yay! I'm a Google Certified Teacher!
As I think about how to explain this experience to others, I am flooded with swooping, game-changing, reach-for-the-stars verbs that I merged into the word cloud above. Fifty-two educators from 13 countries were invited to the Google Sydney office to inspire, connect, collaborate, create, engage, learn, laugh, share, synergize, and plan a forward course of action. We are each ambassadors of change in our various learning environments. These two days were but a pitstop as we paused on our journeys, refueled, and designed a plan of action to move forward. Between us we directly influence 32,727 students, 40,311 teachers, and therefore indirectly influence 1,410,885 students. And we’ve only just begun.
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Google Teacher Academy Sydney 2013

What is the GTA?

The Google Teacher Academy is joint effort between Google and Computer-Using Educators (CUE), an educational non-profit organization. It launched in 2006 and seeks to Improve teaching and learning by leveraging innovative tools. Admission is by invitation-only, is extremely competitive, and is the only way to become a Google Certified Teacher. 

What does the day look like at GTA?

It’s a mind-blowing, hold-on-tight kind of experience. There are no beginners. We were divided into small groups with lead learners even before the conference began and continued with our group members throughout the day. We are all active members of a community within Google+ so by the time we arrived we recognized many others by name. The agenda was fluid and changed as needed, but generally the day was a mix of short presentations by Googlers and small group breakout sessions led by GCTs. The sessions were fast-paced creative exercises using Google tools on a new level. For example, in the Discovering Your World session, we realized that exploration is not over: we can still create, edit, share, and contribute to the maps of the world.  We used some advance Map features to create, edit, and share maps with others. In the Creating Your World session we used YouTube editor to create a short inspirational film starting with a still image and using Creative Commons footage. In Collaborating with your World, we used a variety of tools like Story Builder to share to social media platforms. In Automating Your World we saw how advanced scripting can save teachers heaps of time. I ran out of time on everything, even though I’m generally fast, and have a lot to play with once I get home. For sure.

What pedagogy is used?

It’s hard to pinpoint one exact model, but it’s certainly a student-based, inquiry-based, active learning environment. Creative energy flowed through the room. There were a few short presentations, but mostly we were given the tools we needed, thrown into the ring, were given a task to produce, and were supported along the way. Things moved fast. we got up and moved a lot. Everyone had at least one device active at all times. There was never enough time to take it all in or finish something completely. The agenda was a living document that changed frequently, loaded with resources and links. Backchannels were active on both Google Plus and Twitter. Feedback and reflection were built-in. We were doers, thinkers, creators, and active participants. No one was a passive observer.

What tools are introduced?

Heaps. More than a person could ever master. Old friends were taken to a new level (e.g. Maps, Earth, scripting, Google Art Project, Chrome, YouTube editor, Google Books). New friends were introduced (e.g. Google Lit Trips, Moderator, Story Builder, World Wonders Project, Google Cultural Institute, and dozens of Chrome extensions like Voice Comments, Timeline JS, and Video Notes). Everything that was introduced was looked at through the lens of “How can this (website, tool, app, extension) improve student learning?” That was a necessary and powerful connection. It’s never about the tool – it’s about the learning.

How is the Google office in Sydney?

Google is awesome. I am bound by a non-disclosure agreement, so I can’t discuss many details, but I can say that Google believes and lives it’s motto to work hard, play hard. They have a strong company culture of innovation and it shows in every detail. The food was phenomenal. The workspace design and atmosphere was truly inspiring. They are continually working to improve the user experience and we got a sneak peek at some powerful ideas in the works. I must say it is extremely fun to have a Q&A with a Googler, to hear why they do what they do, to suggest changes and give feedback within certain apps, and to hear about what’s up next. Technology will continue to improve and change the way we interact with the world, and I have no doubt Google will lead the pack.

What is the second day un-conference?

After sleeping on the dizzying amount of information from the previous day, we were ready to better connect in small focus groups on specific topics. We used Google Moderator to submit and vote on topics. There were a few rules that governed the day: no spectators, only participants; if you are not learning or sharing use your feet to move somewhere else where you are; whatever you talk about, that’s what you were meant to talk about; whatever group you’re in is the right group for you, etc. The conference facilitator went through the topics listed in Moderator and small groups formed all over the place. There was a lot of moving around, and a lot of learning and sharing. It was a great time to pick everyone’s brain around me and I have a long list of ideas to look into.

What did you learn?

I learned a lot for sure, but it’s more than that. It’s what I felt. It’s what I wanted to be. Do. Share. Create. My biggest takeaway wasn’t a new tool or trick, though we used some great ones, but it was the reminder of what can happen with shared creative energy. It’s that creative spark that we hope to capture and recreate for our students, that desire to learn when no one is watching and when there’s no grade. I relearned many things too: that educators are amazingly brilliant people who care about their students, that technology can be leveraged in powerful ways for learning, and that it’s up to me to make a difference in my community. 

How do I apply?

There are specific qualifications that are released when applications are accepted and it is very competitive. But don’t let that discourage you. I was fortunate to present two sessions at the Google Apps for Education Summit in Sydney during January. That opened some doors and I was encouraged to apply for GTA. I never in a million years thought I would get it. I almost didn’t even try. Many of the others were in the same boat: simply surprised and grateful to be there. Creating the one-minute video was a fun challenge. Here’s mine along the theme of making a difference in my local community:

Now what?

As Google Certified Teachers we create an action plan that will be peer-reviewed and reflected on in 12 months. In short, we are to develop a project that shares with others innovative ways that Google tools are being used for learning. We are encouraged to think big, dream big, and be the change we want to see in the world. With that, we can start small, take baby steps, and eventually it will come together. We will continue to grow and our ideas will gain momentum over time. We will feed into and gain from the GCT community.  I’ve got some ideas, but I’ve been encouraged to sleep on it for a bit, let it all settle, and then dive in and move forward. I’m still stewing. GCTs from other cohorts have developed some inspiring projects. It’s really about student learning and empowering others. We are not only using technology to improve learning, but we are empowering students to become creators of technology. They will build apps, write software, and design hardware. They will be ambassadors for change as well.

Let’s do this.
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Introduction to Google Docs: Jigsaw activity

5/1/2012

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This is a collaborative learning activity based on the jigsaw classroom approach by Elliot Aronson. Students will work together in groups to explore some of the tools available to them in Google Docs.
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    EdTechDidi

    In Nepali, didi means older sister and is often used to describe one who works for you, one you respect, one who walks beside you on your journey. I work hard to bring teachers, parents, and students the best educational technology tools out there that educate, engage, and empower. Enjoy!

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