New Features in Gmail to Save You Time and Keep You Organized

Are you overwhelmed with all of the emails that you receive?  Do you have a hard time finding emails on the day that you really need them?  Google recently released some new features for gmail that may help!

To turn on the new features: 

• open Gmail
• go to Settings 
• select “Try the new School District of Elmbrook Mail.”

Note: If for some reason you don’t like the new features, Google will allow you to return to the "classic" view...at least for now.

Managing Individual Messages

When you hover over an email message, the following icons will pop up:

Like my alarm clock at home, my favorite feature is “Snooze.”  On a regular basis, I receive email messages about special schedules, meeting agendas, school events or something that does not need an immediate response or action.  This feature helps me not only clean up my inbox but it eliminates the searching I would do when I needed access to the email.   (Note: Conversation View must be turned on in Settings for this feature to be available.)

Although these features are not new, the new gmail provides quicker access to these buttons:

During really busy times it is easy to get behind on email so Google added the “Nudges” feature to send you reminders.  When you turn on the new version of gmail, this feature is turned on:

One last time saver to manage a message….when you are replying to an email you can add a button that will allow you to send a reply and archive the conversation with one click.

Quick Access to Other Apps

Calendar: The Day view will appear in the side panel.  Besides viewing your calendar, you can create a calendar event by clicking on a selected time or dragging through a time frame and then entering the specific details for the event. Frequently, I have to check my calendar before responding to an email or add an event to my calendar when I am working in email so this is nice time saver.

Keep: Access and create notes or lists.  Using this app that is accessible on the web or any mobile device has cut down on paper to do lists and post it notes on my desk.  For more information on using this awesome app, check out: blog post “Stay Organized with Google Keep”, Google Keep on Web, Keep (Android App), iPhone/iPad

Tasks: Create a simple to do list that is accessible in gmail. 

Now that spring has finally arrived in WI, hopefully these new features can help you "spring clean" your inbox and save you some time!

Submitted by Joanie Rueth, Teaching and Learning Coach/Technology Coach at Brookfield Central and Brookfield East

Taking Virtual Field Trips with Google Expeditions

Students come to school to learn about the world, but the world they long to experience is outside the school. While we may be able to create amazing learning experiences through field trips, these are often cumbersome to plan, expensive, and intrusive to student’s learning in other classes. On the other hand, the new technology offered through the use of virtual reality (VR) glasses, Google Expeditions, and a host of other apps allow an opportunity to explore beyond the walls without the burdens of a field trip. While a field trip will always be the more complete experience, these virtual opportunities offer the chance to learn beyond the walls of the classroom more frequently, on demand, and to places far further than can be tackled in your standard field trip.

The first thing you will need are some VR glasses. Fortunately, you can pick these up for a reasonable cost if you shop Amazon rather than going through educational vendors. You can get a set of glasses that will do everything you need for as little as $7.99. This picture is just one example of a set you can pick up. Many people purchase the Google cardboard glasses, but those are more expensive and far less durable than a plastic set like these.

At Brookfield East, the social studies department was able to obtain a class set to be shared between the entire history department, for just over $200. The supplier actually knocked down the price a little since we were buying in bulk.

But, now you have your glasses. What’s next? 

First and foremost, contact your friendly tech department. They will bring you a spare router that you will need to host all of your students on an expedition. Please don’t think you can skip this step. It’s quick, easy, and will get you in business so much faster. Once you have this, you just need to remind your students that they must specifically connect their phones to this alternative wi-fi in order for them to be able to join your expedition.

Next, you need to get the Google Expeditions app. This is free and easy to download from both Google Play and the App Store. Once you have this app, log-in and choose to be a guide.

From there, it’s time to explore and the tours seem endless. You can scroll through and check out what’s there, but there is also a search bar if you just want to cut to the chase.

Once you’ve chosen and downloaded an expedition, just click launch and wait for your students to follow. The great part is, once they’re in, you can see where they are looking . . . and they’re pretty funny to watch. In addition, the app provides you with a tour guide's script so you can give the kids all the information about what they are looking at. 

It may sound a bit confusing at the start, but once you get going, it’s really a breeze. Sure, some kids won’t have a phone, and some kid’s phone will decide not to connect that day, but they know how to share. It’s worth the experience even if everything doesn’t go exactly as planned every time.

To wrap things up, please realize that there are numerous other options that may be used with these VR headsets if you’re feeling adventurous. YouTube 360 offers numerous VR experiences that are actual videos with sound that students can access via headphones, and Google Earth offers the opportunity to visit just about any place on Earth. Once you get used to the set-up, there are a continuously growing number of VR opportunities to check-out or create your own with Google's Tour Creator.  

If you have questions, or need any assistance getting everything up and running, please feel free to shoot me an email at saylesl@elmbrookschools.org.  Best wishes for your adventures!

Submitted by Lindsay Sayles, Social Studies teacher at Brookfield East High School

Finding Credible Sources Is Easier with Library Databases

Are you worried that your students’ Google searching has sucked them into a filter bubble so they are no longer exposed to different perspectives and points-of-view? Help burst the bubble by encouraging them to search databases provided by BEHS and BCHS library media centers. Our databases include articles from credible global news sources, periodicals on a multitude of topics, peer-reviewed journals by top researchers, and electronic versions of reference books. 

Look for the Databases table on the LMC homepages and explore.

Here are a few of our favorite general purpose databases:

ProQuest Global Newsstream - archived articles from hundreds of credible news sources, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, includes newspapers in world languages.  BEHS, BCHS

SIRS Knowledge Source - content from periodicals for a high school audience, keyword, advanced, and hierarchical searches. BEHS, BCHS

 

Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost database provided by Badgerlink) - used by undergraduates in most 2-year and 4-year colleges, peer-reviewed research available. BEHS, BCHS

Flipster - browse magazines virtually via a chromebook or a personal device, includes recreational reading. BEHS, BCHS

Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) - over 100 ebook reference sources available 24/7. BEHS, BCHS

In a time when our news is so commonly filtered, consider these resources to help broaden your students’ perspective on the issues around them. 

Submitted by Melissa Matz, Library Media Specialist at Brookfield East and Dan Paese, Teaching and Learning Coach/Library Media Specialist at Brookfield Central

Our Elementary Libraries Have Many Great Databases!

Last week, some of the great databases that are available to middle school students were shared with staff. There are many great tools also ready to use with our elementary students as well!

All students have access to the Library Catalog. This makes it easy to check on their accounts, look for a book, and put things on hold, all from their classroom! It is a great idea to check and see if a book is available before even making a visit to the school library!

Overdrive is a resource for both staff and students. Overdrive has a great collection of ebooks and audiobooks that students and staff can access 24/7. We continue to add to this collection!

Many already utilize Brainpop, BrainPOP Jr. and PebbleGo. These are great resources with video, audio, and read to me options of many different non fiction topics! Be sure to use these with all students when looking for online information about a variety of interests!

There are a few other resources that are often overlooked. On the MyElmbrook page of each student is a School Library folder. In this folder are some great online resources to check out!

Discovery Streaming

This resource has thousands of pieces of digital resources including videos, digital textbooks, and interactive media to help support curriculum as well as provide tools for out students. This site also provides great professional opportunities for teachers as well!

Encyclopedia Britannica

This is a safe and reliable resource for students to use while exploring and looking for information. The site includes three different reading levels covering a wide variety of topics and presents the material using articles, media, atlases and more!

Picturing America

This collection of photographs can be used by both teachers and students. This project tells the story of America through reproductions of pieces of art from 1100-1996.

WorldBook Online

This valuable encyclopedia has resources for our youngest learners through high school! With a few quick clicks,students and staff have easy to read and useful information at their fingertips.

It is easy for all Elmbrook users to get to these resources from the MyElmbrook page. By simply going through the portal, students have access to all these wonderful resources. If you need help getting started, check in with your library assistants!

Submitted by MaryBeth Bartels, Teaching and Learning Specialist at Swanson Elementary