Google Drawings in the Classroom = No More Copy Machine!

#DitchSummit Inspired! 

Okay, so I'm a PD geek!  This is nothing new to anyone who knows me...
This is when blogging is really effective! As soon as you get an idea, you can write about it and share it with the world (well, the small part of the world who reads my blog). 😉
That being said, while watching one of the Ditch Summit session with Tony Vincent, it made me think of all the ways we can teach "on-the-fly" with GSuite tools.  Yes, planning ahead is the best way to have awesome lessons, but sometimes you get a brilliant idea that only works RIGHT NOW.  This is when GSuite tools come in handy! 
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DitchSummit Notes:

Each of the Ditch Summit sessions have notes, but I still need to type notes while I'm listening so I don't forget the ideas that come to mind. In this session, I also made the decision to sign up for Tony's Classy Graphics course.  I do pay for these things myself, but if it makes me better at what I do, I believe it's worth it.  Should educators get a budget for this type of thing, most definitely, but that's out of my sphere of control, so I digress.  This course starts in February, so it's not too late to sign up. It's discounted until January 8th!  

Day 6: Tony Vincent

I learned so much from Tony in less than an hour, I can't wait for the course!  Here are some of the tips he shared, along with the notes from the session.  Hopefully they make sense without watching the video. Let me know if you have any questions after reading it. 

• Notes - Google Drawings 
• Use the “grippy” tool to resize the canvas while working. 
• Check out this link from Alice Keeler for more resizing ideas.
• Use “preview” in the URL to take the tools out of Google Drawings for just viewing purposes.
• Change transparency to make diagrams where you can see the lines between (Venn Diagram).
• Create a shape instead of a text box to make it easier to drag onto a drawing. Make it a transparent background if you don’t want color.
• Question Chart! (Control Alt Achieve) and other Google Drawing ideas from Eric Curts
• When creating documents for students to work in ,color-code pages so it’s easy to see if students are working on the correct one. Also, make the fill in sections white so students know you have to work on that area.

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• When creating shapes, grab the gold diamond to change the curvature of a shape. 
• Find more Colors here!
• Need Images for presentations and digital lessons, check this one out! 

• Classroom management tip: Have “Essential Agreements”, create class rules together (do together in groups at the beginning of the year).
• Typorama app - use with the Cricut for room decor
• Creation resource:  Online Money Pieces site for images of money & use for kids
• Check out the fraction templates! (look at Math Manipulatives in the session notes) 
• 60-second presidents site (poly-line shape w/transparent line & background) then change to preview to make a Thinglink type “image map”.​

Time to Explore! 

I hope the ideas & links I shared here will give you plenty to check out if you want to use Google Drawings more effectively.  Maybe you don't use it at all and need a reason to check it out. If you want to learn more, I'm signed up for Tony's class beginning in February, so maybe I'll see you there! 😁​

P.S.  Thank you Matt Miller for putting on this amazing "PD in your pajamas" opportunity every year! You can find out more about #DitchSummit here. 

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