Lucidchart, a cool online diagramming tool

I stopped by the Google booth when I was at the ISTE Conference in San Antonio in June.  I saw a demo of Lucidchart and put it on my long list of "tools to explore" list.  It looked to me like a nice alternative to Inspiration, and it is integrated with Google Apps.  Since it is free for educators, I was especially interested!  Over the summer, I set up an account and viewed some video tutorials to help me get started (I found this webinar by Eric Curts to be the most helpful.)  After creating a few graphic organizers with success, I decided that this would be a nice tool for staff in my district.  Upon my recommendation, our Network Manager added it to our Google Apps for Education domain.

To help get the word out about it, I facilitated a session at our annual ed tech conference, Spice it Up! (Aug 22, 2013)  I now have several teachers who will be trying out Lucidchart with their students in the next few weeks.  The interface is drag and drop.  The teachers were excited to discover all the possibilities this app will offer.  I think most participants liked the Google images integration and the mind mapping tool the best.  A science teacher who attended wants to use it when she is teaching a unit about circuits.  A math teacher intends to try out the floor plans tool when teaching geometry concepts.  I've asked the teachers to let me know how it goes when using Lucidchart with students.

Lucidchart's support has been outstanding.  When I needed help, Brad Hanks, a member of their support team, was there to help. He answered questions and offered support as I was planning my session.  I even called him from my session with a question and he was happy to help!

Walled Lake staff, the Lucidchart extension needs to be added from the Chrome store. (Create > Connect More Apps > search for Lucidchart for Education. Add.).  Then you can create a LucidChart diagram right from Google Drive.  See handout here.

This is a tool worth exploring!

GAFE Summer Online Course

I decided to try something new over the summer. I created an online course using Moodle as the course management system. The topic was Google Apps for Education.  Teachers could participate in their own space, at their own pace over the course of the summer. I estimated the time to complete the course would be about 9 hours.  I had no idea if teachers would be interested in learning this way, and I wondered if it would work be as effective as traditional face-to-face workshops.

Over 100 teachers and administrators participated and they loved it!  Here are some of their comments:

• I liked the videos and the application opportunities. I also liked reading the discussion forums to get ideas from colleagues.


• I REALLY liked many things about this course. First of all, I liked that both the Tutorials and Hand-outs were available. I like the 2 different modes of learning, which helped me a lot on the tougher apps! I also thought that the tutorial and handouts were extremely specific which REALLY helps others who lack computer skills.
  I also liked working at my own pace. Some of the apps were more of a review for me while others were brand new and required me to move at a slower pace. In traditional PDs, the instructor often has to move on which would add further confusion to my already scrambled brain! In addition, as a result of the step-by-step instruction, I could return to the handout or video when I became stuck. I also enjoyed seeing how others were using the same apps.


• I liked that this course allowed me the flexibility to complete it at my own pace and when I had the time in my schedule. I also liked that it covered a WIDE array of USEFUL information that I can directly apply to my every day teaching.


• I liked being able to go back and listen to a video again if I needed to. I was able to refer back to the documents as I was completing the assignments. I could also work at my own pace!


• I liked that I could work at my own pace and make mistakes on my own time! I also liked the fact that I could read how other people plan on using some of the apps. I also liked how it didn't have a Wham Bam! feel.


• It covered all aspects of google docs and it forced me to be accountable for my work by participating in the forums.


• I liked that the course was more individualized. Everyone has their own comfort level with technology and google. On some of the topics, I was just happy to complete the minimum but on topics I had prior knowledge, I could take it to the next level and develop deeper understanding or more efficient ways of doing things. I feel like I have a head start for this school year.


• I enjoy working at my own pace at home. I tended to work an hour at a time and go back ant try some of the features.
  Online learning is the best kind of learning for me.


• This course helps me feel more comfortable in using the Google apps with my students, which is essential with them using chrome books. It also greatly improves the efficiency within my classroom and communicating with students and parents.


• This gives me a lot of confidence moving forward with Google Docs. Traditionally I am good at figuring things out on my own, but I am positive this was a great way to learn more about GAFE and how I can use it in my educational setting.


• It has given me a solid foundation for the transition to Google Docs. I'm thinking I'll be using something from the course every day!


• I feel more comfortable using Google Apps. Initially, I was a bit freaked out about using it but now I definitely feel more confident.


• I feel so way more confident in google apps. I had done some dabbling with it before but now I am confident. We will be using google chromebooks, so I will use lessons from this class everyday. I am no longer afraid.

The sharing that occurred in the discussion forums was powerful.  Teachers from all levels were eager to learn, brainstorm ideas, and share their experiences with one another.  I am proud!  I'll be doing more of this type of PD in the future.

Spice it Up! Conference

This article was published in one of our local newspapers, The Spinal Column, and was written by ANNE SEEBALDT.



The annual Spice IT UP! Walled Lake Consolidated School District staff technology conference, which took place at Sarah Banks Middle School on Thursday, August 22, was a resounding success.

“It was a pretty fantastic event,” said Executive Director of Instruction, Technology and Development Mark A. Hess at the district’s school board meeting that evening.

Pam Shoemaker, technology instructional coach, who was heavily involved in the planning of the event and also conducted presentations throughout the day’s breakout sessions, stated: “There was just a smorgasbord of offerings for teachers.”

In fact, there were 54 presentations total, she said. The event, which has been offered for nine years, included lots of networking, collaboration and sharing, she added.

All but three presenters were district staff members, “They’re learning from people using the same equipment, so the support is really there for them after the fact as well,” stated Shoemaker.

More than 400 Walled Lake School teachers were in attendance as Troy Hicks, associate professor, Central Michigan University, who opened the session, shared numerous ways to incorporate digital resources and encourage students to write.

His presentation, Mixing Sources, Amplifying Voices: Crafting Writing in an Information Age, was interactive. Its intent was to aid teachers to “help students find, evaluate, and synthesize information from a variety of sources” as well as to “help them craft digital writing in more effective ways, utilizing the information they have found to develop multimedia texts.”

Teachers were required to bring their own digital device to explore “web-based tools and mobile applications” for Hicks’ presentation. He also hosted a post-keynote conversation with educators to follow up on their questions.

A sampling of the topics addressed at the various breakout sessions included: • Read & Write Gold, a literacy software designed for use with grades 6-12 • New enhancements to the Skyward pupil accounting system • Pixie, an elementary school software that allows students to create multimedia presentations as well as facilitates simple animations • iPad use in the classroom for elementary educators •How to put a lesson on You- Tube • Use of Google Chromebook, which includes basic information about Google Apps for Education (for most of the schools, this will be the first time using Chromebooks) • How to use of Google Forms to create online assessments • Use of Google Sites in the classroom • Updating writing workshops for the digital age and creating students’ own digital writing spaces using Wikispaces • Why and how teachers should use Twitter

Shoemaker said one change from past years was the fact that larger presentation rooms were used, giving event a conference-style format. “It was a great change,” she added. “People seemed to be happy with the way it worked. And the staff (of Sarah Banks Middle School) did a great job getting the school ready.”

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Attendees were asked to provide feedback about their experience at the conference.  They identified plans for implementing what they had learned at the conference in their classrooms.  It is going to be a great year!