Internet Easter Eggs to Enhance Student Engagement

An internet easter egg is a secret or hidden message, feature, or joke placed within a website or software by a programmer or developer. Think of them like little digital surprises! (Look carefully, and you may find a few in this post. 😀)

Why should we occasionally use them in student activities?

• Fun and Unexpected: They add a touch of whimsy and playfulness to the digital world.

• Showcases Creativity: Easter eggs demonstrate the creativity and personality of the developers who created them.

• A Bit of a Challenge: Finding them can be a fun little puzzle or game, encouraging exploration and curiosity.

• A Break for the Brain: Some easter eggs can provide a short brain break for students exploring content and concepts. 

• A New Perspective: An easter egg can sometimes be used as part of the content exploration. Images and videos make great hidden additions to help students remember important concepts. 

Links can be hidden in images or text. Easter eggs are a reminder that even in the world of technology, there's room for a bit of fun and surprise.

2024 Year in Review - A Collection of Resources to Explore and Reflect on the Year

 

Two of my favorite moments each year are when Spotify releases my "Wrapped," and Google releases the "Year in Search." I love both because they encourage me to think about where I've been and look ahead to what's next. 

Today, I am sharing one of my yearly passion projects. Starting mid-December, I will explore and share resources to wrap up the year. When we return from Winter Break, I typically connect some of the best reflection resources to student activities. Reflecting on where we've been is important, so I always welcome back my students to the New Year with several activities connected to the events, stories, and trends from the previous year.

Past years have taught me that these resources are posted from December through the middle of January, so I will update this post as I discover more. 

Student Engagement Using Interactive Features in Google Documents

Enhancing Engagement with Google Docs 

This document explores Google Docs features for creating interactive student activities. These features can enhance the design and support student and staff engagement in any Document. This document includes brief tutorials and resources connected to various interactive features in Google Docs.

Student Engagement Using Google Docs Interactive Features

I'll update the doc as new features become available. If I missed something, please let me know in the comments below! 

Educator Coloring Books - Get Creative, Practice Mindfulness, & Release Stress

 

Today I was reflecting on the past school year and somehow it led me to explore some ideas to reduce stress for the upcoming school year. This led me to the amazing world of adult coloring.

Adult coloring offers a surprising range of benefits, both for mental health and well-being. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Stress and Anxiety Relief
• Improved Focus and Concentration
• Enhanced Relaxation and Mindfulness
• Better Sleep
• Creative Expression
• Mindfulness 

Today I wanted to share some amazing coloring books for educators. 

Exploring AI with Google Arts and Culture Projects and Experiments

Google Arts & Culture uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create interactive and engaging experiences for students. For example, students can use "Art Selfie 2" to see themselves placed within famous artworks, or "Poem Postcards" to generate AI-written poems inspired by art pieces. This lets them creatively explore art. Features like "Art Remix" challenge them to imagine how artworks could be different, sparking their critical thinking skills. AI: More than Human features stories and videos that explore the evolving relationships between humans and technology.