Here is a tool that can support translation services at ANY time of year, not just during conference week.
The video showing how it works is less than two minutes.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/translator/education/parent-teacher-conferences/
I created a help sheet with tips and screenshots in case you have someone who wants to try it out.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s35yf_lg7sLJf42M_tIgXMLHk2J5yg8sjj_bxy8gyvQ/edit?usp=sharing
There is a nice extension called Immersive Reader that combines text to speech and translation tools. It’s pretty impressive. I made a video on how it works. https://watch.screencastify.com/v/X7kYnJoh30kL71yLvWqz
You can download the extension here so you can experiment with it: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/use-immersive-reader-on-w/fmidkjgknpkbmninbmklhcgaalfalbdh?hl=en-US Our secondary students can install it on their Chromebooks.
While Immersive Reader is great for web content, it doesn’t work well for Google Docs. There is an extension called HelperBird that bridges the gap and allows you to use the Immersive Reader tools in Google Docs. Here is a video on how it works: https://watch.screencastify.com/v/bZBaYTyiVjkrsvrymRU2
Helperbird can be downloaded here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/helperbird-accessibility/ahmapmilbkfamljbpgphfndeemhnajme
Gathering and evaluating student feedback can often be time consuming. Flipgrid is an interesting tool that gives you an opportunity to gather verbal feedback into one place. Flipgrid allows you to create a “Grid” (think classroom or collection) and add “Topics” (think questions or prompts) and allow your students to respond in video format (there is a 90 second limit- but that can be adjusted in your settings). Students can share their own feedback and also see what their classmates have said. This would be good for speech teachers and ELL teachers who want to give their students the opportunity to respond orally to questions. Teachers can create a free account, which allows them to create one “Grid” and then post multiple topics. Once the topic is created, it generates a unique code that students use to respond to your topic. They require that you collect a parent permission form if using this with students under 13 or using the PLC/Public option with students under 16. https://static.flipgrid.com/docs/Flipgrid_consent_form.pdf
Teachers have the option of choosing from several settings including the ability to moderate the posts so they have to be approved prior to appearing for everyone to see. This would be a good idea if students are recording unsupervised. I tested this out on a Chromebook and it worked great. It’s also smartphone friendly if they download the app.
If you want to give it a try, respond to my question: https://flipgrid.com/fa4a8d
The password is sargent (I don’t recommend posting passwords online, but I’ll make an exception in this case.)
Here’s a nice 3 minute YouTube video that explains how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aXsIYYEgRY&t=0s&index=8&list=PL3FMVFVAvQFRyJSYA4Feu9qJLZvb_oLWd
And another that shares directions for students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yYFJgbfLTE
Primary and World Language Teachers: I found a cool website that will support early readers and those learning a new language. Unite for Literacy http://www.uniteforliteracy.com/ has a collection of picture books that can be read aloud if students opt to click on the link underneath the book (it has to be done for each page). The default offers book narration in English- which is perfect for primary readers-, but by clicking on the Narration option in the upper lefthand corner, users can expand the option to include a variety of other languages (including ASL Megan!). Once a language is selected, the users have the option of hearing the narration in English or the other language. The screenshot below has Spanish selected. The text will always be in English. This is a great way to support our ELL population as well as emergent readers and those learning a new language.
World Language, Music and ELL Teachers,
I found a couple of nice videos that show how you can integrate an easy voice recording tool (Vocaroo) or video recording app (MoveNote) and Google Classroom to allow your students to record their voices (or musical instruments) and submit an audio or video “assignment” using Google Classroom. The videos do a nice job of walking you through the process.
Using Vocaroo with Google Classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFWg-Hflh4 (this tool is really easy to use and works well with Chromebooks)
Using MoveNote with Google Slides and Classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsDC_9odSc8
This one is more complex, but allows students to use the Chromebook video camera to record students speaking (or Signing- Megan!). MoveNote is a Chrome app which students can add as an extension to their Chrome devices.