Technology Tools
| Site: | Learnbps |
| Class: | Moodle Template Exchange |
| Book: | Technology Tools |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Monday, December 15, 2025, 2:16 PM |
Description
This book contains the directions & resources for the Web 2.0 technology tools used for Career Ed courses.
1. BPS Apps (Google)
This chapter contains links and directions to your most commonly asked questions regarding Google Apps. Use the subchapter links in the left margin to navigate.
1.1. Accessing your Google Apps account
Students and teachers can access the logon portal for Google Applications via the BPS website (Student logon portal and Teacher logon portal). The direct links are also located below.
1.2. Google Docs Basics
1.3. Google Spreadsheets
Introduction to google spreadsheets
___________________________________________________________
Sample Activity Using Google Spreadsheets
Directions: Follow the steps below to create a sample google budget spreadsheet.
Create the new spreadsheet
Here is a short video on Creating a new google spreadsheet
- Log into your google docs account and create a new spreadsheet.
- Rename the new spreadsheet in the following format: John Doe Budget (use your name in place of John Doe)
- A new spread will open.
Create your budget table
- Use information from class or create your own to fill in the [enter amount] values that you will use for this spreadsheet.
- Create a table similar to the one below, Be sure to use the indicated cells. All amounts are monthly.
- Enter the amounts from your My Life, My Budget worksheet in column B.
- Format column B to be dollar amounts (highlight the column and click on the $ in the toolbar).
- In cell B9, enter the following formula: =B1-(sumB2:B8)
Create a pie chart
Here is a short video on Creating a Chart
- Highlight cells A2 through B9.
- Click on the chart icon on the toolbar.
- Select the pie chart
- Click the customize tab and add a chart title. You may also customize other features, but make sure your final chart is a pie chart that includes a title and a legend.
- Insert the chart, and move it to a location on the sheet where it is easily viewed.
- If you need to edit the chart, click on the chart box and you should see a title bar appear. Click on the drop down box on the title bar and select Edit Chart.
Share your spreadsheet with your teacher
- Click on the Share button in the upper right corner of the page.
- Under the Add People section, type the email address your teacher provides.
- Click Close.
Your final product should look similar to this:
1.4. Forms
2. Word Clouds
There are a variety of websites where word clouds can be created. A few are linked below:
This chapter contains links and directions to your most commonly asked questions regarding Word Clouds. Use the subchapter links in the left margin to navigate.
2.1. Wordle Quick Tutorials
2.2. Tagxedo Quick Tutorials
2.3. WordSift Quick Tutorials
2.4. Using Screen Shot to save a word cloud
Different word cloud sites have different options for saving. One method that works for all word cloud sites is to save an image of the screen, which is sometimes called "Taking a screen shot".
Visit this website for a directions on how to take a screenshot of your finished wordle: http://take-a-screenshot.org/
3. Animoto
This chapter contains links and directions to your most commonly asked questions regarding Animoto. Use the subchapter links in the left margin to navigate.
3.1. Setting up Animoto accounts (Teachers)
Step 1: Apply for an Educator account. Once your account has been created you will recieve a email confirmation with a classroom code. You will need that code for step 2.
Step 2: Create Student Accounts. Each student will need to register for animoto using this link: https://animoto.com/sign_up Make sure they expand the "Do you have a promo/referral code" section and enter the code you provided to them.
Step 3: Students log in and create their videos. https://animoto.com/sign_in
3.2. Setting up Animoto accounts (Students)
Your teacher will provide you with a classroom code that you will need when registering your Animoto account.
Step 1: First you will need to register your account at this site: https://animoto.com/sign_up
- Be sure to expand the section "Do you have a promo/referral code?" and enter the code provided by your teacher.
Step 2: Once your account has been registered, you can log in and use animoto: https://animoto.com/sign_in
4. Prezi
Link to Prezi: http://www.prezi.com
This chapter contains links and directions to your most commonly asked questions regarding Prezi. Use the subchapter links in the left margin to navigate.
4.1. Creating a Prezi Account
Follow the directions on this handout to create your Prezi account.
4.2. Prezi Quick Tutorials
4.3. Sharing your Prezi with your Teacher
You can share your Prezi at any time after it has been created. It does not have to be completed in order to share. If you make changes to your Prezi after sharing, your teacher will always see the most recent version.
To share your Prezi with your teacher
- Open your email account and create a new message to your teacher using the email address they provided
- Open the Prezi you want to share (edit mode)
- From the menu at the top of the screen, click on the drop-down arrow on the "Meeting" button.
- Select "Invite to Edit"
- Copy the link from the dialog box
- Paste the link into the email message and send to your teacher
5. Voicethread
Voicethread for BPS staff and students: http://bismarckschools.ed.voicethread.com/
What is a Voicethread? (videos)
This chapter contains links and directions to your most commonly asked questions regarding Voicethread. Use the subchapter links in the left margin to navigate.
5.1. Voicethread Quick Tutorials
1 Minute VoiceThread
Video Doodling
5.2. Activating your Voicethread account
Activating your Voicethread Account - Student
Activating your account is easy! VoiceThread is connected to our Active Directory.
- Click on the "Sign in or Register" link.
- Use your BPS email address as your ID
- Use your BPS password
5.3. Voicethread Help Page for Teachers
Click this link to view a quick BPS created video on how to use Voicethread with students
Activating your Voicethread Account - Teacher & Student
Activating your account is easy! VoiceThread is connected to our Active Directory.
- Click on the "Sign in or Register" link.
- Use your BPS email address as your ID
- Use your BPS password
Student usernames and passwords can be found on the intranet student directory
Creating a Class Group
- Log into your teacher VoiceThread account
- Click on the "My Voice" tab
- Click on the icon next to your name
- Go to "Groups and Contacts"
- Click the "New" button
- Name the group using the following format:
School - TeacherLastName - Period for instance SMS - Tschosik - 5A
- Save
- Repeat for any additional courses using the appropriate period number.
Linking Students to your class groups
There are two ways that students can be added to your class group. Method 1 requires the teacher to scan the list of student names and manually add each student. Method 2 requires the teacher to share the group link with the students, and once they click the link they are automatically added to the group.
Method 1: Adding Students Manually
- Click on the "My Voice" tab
- Click on the icon next to your name
- Go to "Groups and Contacts"
- Click on Bismarck Public Schools
- In the text box on the right, start typing the first name of the student
- Click on the student name and drag it to your group
- Repeat this process for each of your students
Method 2: Student Joining Groups
- Click on the "My Voice" tab
- Click on the icon next to your name
- Go to "Groups and Contacts"
- Click on your group name
- Click on the Add button
- A dialog box will pop up with the option to copy a link
- Once the link is copied, you can share it with students in several ways:
- Display it in the classroom
- Send it to their email address
- Post it on your classroom webpage
- If the student has a VoiceThread account and visits your link, they will automatically be added to your group.
6. NETS for Students
National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) are skills that students are expected to learn to be college and job ready. The following NETS standards are the focus for Career Ed:
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression
c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
d. identify trends and forecast possibilities
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures
d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:
a. plan strategies to guide inquiry
b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
d. process data and report results
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:
a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
b. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
d. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions