Google Forms Can Work for You

Have you used a Google Form? I am just learning how to make my life much easier with this little goodie. I may be a little behind the times on this incredible tool, but I just didn't know what I was missing. I believe that people rarely learn to use new tech tools until they have a real-world application for them. Once someone has a legitimate use for new tool, it is worth the effort to figure it out. A need for quick information is what led to my recent discovery of Google Forms.

Our 5th grade students are preparing for a Veterans' Day Program, and solo auditions will be held this week when our students are dismissed early for Parent/Teacher conferences. Rather than typing up permission forms, printing them, handing them out, sending them home, and waiting for them to be returned, I simply created a form in my Google Drive. This has been the perfect opportunity to test a Google Form to see how much it could help me do my job.

One really cool feature is that I could embed the form into my school web page. However, the most awesome feature is that the submitted results are automatically entered into a spreadsheet in my Google Drive. That is amazing! I no longer need to collect forms and create an audition list by day. Now I can simply sort the spreadsheet and print.

The list of uses for Google Forms is limited only by your imagination. If you would like to try one, follow these steps to get started:

1. Sign up for a Google account, if you do not already have one. Click here to register.
2. Go to your Google Drive.
3. Click on the red "Create" button, then select "Form."
4. Create your questions. There are choices for question types, and you can mark questions as required, if needed.
5. You can select a theme.
6. The form or link can be e-mailed, or the form can be embedded in your web page.
7. As completed forms are submitted, the results are directly entered into a spreadsheet that you will see in your Google Drive.
8. Sit back and enjoy the time and paper you saved by using this remarkable tech tool.

If you need more help, Google provides plenty of assistance: Google Forms Help

You should try a Google Form! It will save you time, effort, and paper. It's so simple! Now, if only selecting the soloists for our program could be that easy. Is there an app for that? :)

PLNs Can Be Very Pinterest-ing

Professional learning networks are vital to teachers. Teachers are always looking for new ideas and insights, and PLNs provide the perfect opportunity for growth. I am so fortunate to work at a school with two music teachers. Janet and I learn so much from each other and push each other to grow in ways that would not happen if we were isolated. Most schools only have one music teacher, however. Individual specials teachers can feel very lonely. Even collaborating with other music teachers in a school district can be challenging, due to scheduling and proximity. Never fear! I have discovered a huge PLN through Pinterest.

I first heard about Pinterest a year ago, when my dental hygienist was describing a way to "pin" recipes. I had no idea what she meant, but she offered to send me an invitation to join. I soon discovered that Pinterest is a virtual pinboard for ideas that you can organize into subjects of your choosing. The pins are visual representations that link to web pages. Is that confusing? Think of the pin as a bookmark with a picture.

After pinning recipes, craft ideas, home decor ideas, and more, I came across some interesting music education pins. There were music games, center ideas, lesson ideas, visuals...the list goes on and on. I started a board for my music classroom. Soon my music board was up to 100 pins. I began to notice the pinners of the pins I liked. I clicked on them and realized I could "follow" them. Now all of their pins would show up in my newsfeed. WOW! More and more cool ideas for the music room to pin on my board. I had to add  more education boards to start organizing the pins.

As I began to pin more music education ideas, I began to gain followers. I typically try to check out my new followers, because they are usually music teachers. Then I can follow them, and so on, and so on. My PLN is really starting to blossom. 

In addition, the pins are taking me to some really exciting music education blogs. I am constantly discovering more resources and learning from more people. Reading other teachers' blogs inspired me to start a blog with ideas we use at Crestline Elementary. Now I have the opportunity to learn and share with people from all over the globe. I started the blog three days ago, and the stats tell me there have already been visitors from Germany, Canada, and Burkina Faso!

You can check out my boards by clicking below. It will take you to my Pinterest page, and you can decide from there if you want to follow any of my boards.

Laura's Pinterest Page

Still aren't sure about Pinterest? Check out this article with ways educators can use it:

37 Ways Teachers Should Use Pinterest

I encourage you to join Pinterest and be a part of a global PLN. It's very Pinteresting!