Gmail changes, escape rooms, and Google Classroom – Top 3 of the Week
https://eduk8.me/2020/07/gmail-is-integrating-google-chat-rooms-and-meet-to-take-on-microsoft-and-slack/ https://eduk8.me/2020/07/librarians-are-creating-virtual-escape-rooms-with-google-forms/ https://eduk8.me/2020/07/the-joylessness-of-google-classroom/
The joylessness of Google Classroom
When I saw Google Classroom for the first time, my immediate thought was, “This is clearly an under-funded product that ranks fairly low on the list of Google’s priorities.” Our kids use the iPad version and, setting aside the inconvenient fact that it’s at least a few steps behind Google Classroom in the browser, the…
Librarians are creating virtual escape rooms with Google Forms
Through these virtual escape rooms, librarians have been able to serve their communities, as well as those living far outside of them, by giving people something to do while stuck at home. These digital challenges have become a tool for teaching and homeschooling, librarians say, as well as a device for staff development and team…
Testing children’s spatial abilities with Lego bricks
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a test that uses children’s ability to assemble LEGO pieces to assess their spatial visualization ability. Spatial visualization is the ability to visualize 3D shapes in one’s mind, which is tied to increased GPAs and graduation rates in STEM college students. Source: Using LEGO to…
Gmail is integrating Google Chat, Rooms, and Meet to take on Microsoft and Slack
Source: Gmail is integrating Google Chat, Rooms, and Meet to take on Microsoft and Slack – The Verge This will really cut down on “where is that file” and help integrate all of the services. Google Chat rooms can now be used as projects, and you will invite people to work on the project in…
Minecraft on Chromebooks, a virtual biosphere, and a comic – Top 3 of the Week
https://eduk8.me/2020/07/minecraft-is-coming-to-chromebooks/ https://eduk8.me/2020/07/have-fun-managing-your-own-biosphere-with-this-free-web-based-model/ https://eduk8.me/2020/07/comic-ama/
Your brain is not putting its best foot forward when reading text.
By analysing brain activity, researchers found that the brain regulates its resource use and tries to identify the most essential information.A recently completed study indicates that the human brain avoids taking unnecessary effort. When a person is reading, she strives to gain as much information as possible by dedicating as little of her cognitive capacity…