Flubaroo has quickly became one of my favorite tools. It is a script for Google Forms that will automatically grade your quizzes for you. I have heard of it several times before, but never really took the time to learn it... little did I know is how much it would be worth it!
You first create a quiz in Google forms, and then add the script Flubaroo. Flubaroo then looks over your questions and decides if the questions are for a point value or if they are just a question to identify the student (you can change this as you see fit). Then it will ask you to select one of the responses as the answer key and this is when the magic happens. Within seconds you are given a graded quiz and have the option to e-mail the students a copy of their scores. I must use this in the future!
Have you ever wondered if you have made the newspaper or were quoted online in an article or materials you have created were used? Google alerts is one of my favorite tools for this. I have a Google Alert set up for my name, my spouses and children's names, as well as the school where I work and other topics I'm interested in. Once any of these search criteria are entered online I receive an e-mail with a link. I have discovered many places where my materials have been cited that I never would have discovered on my own! Setting up only takes a minute or two and once it is set, you don't have to do anything again! To get Google Alerts set up go to http://www.google.com/alerts and then input the search criteria, result type (everything, news, blogs, videos, etc) how often you would like to be notified and your e-mail address and you are set to go! You can unsubscribe at any time!
