A Year of eMINTS Tips

Individual #eMINTSTips in this collection were published on
Tuesdays from August 2018 to July 2019 on eMINTS social
media pages. Follow @emintsnc on Twitter and FB.
Tip cards are color-coded by the eMINTS Instructional Model
(eIM) and/or eMINTS Facilitator Model (eFM).
2019 emints.org

Share Your Google
Files As Templates
1. Open any Google file; set Share settings to
“Anyone with link can view”.
2. Replace “edit” in URL with “template/preview”.
3. Copy/Share new
link; viewers see a
preview with “Use
Template” button.
4. Click button and
new file is created
with identical name
(no “Copy of”).
emints.org

Force Copy a Google File
1. Open any Google file; set Share settings to
“Anyone with link can view”.
2. Replace “edit” in URL with “copy”.
3. Copy new URL and
share; user sees “Copy
document” prompt.
4. Click “Make a Copy”
and new file is created
with “Copy of” added
to original file name.
emints.org

Preview a Google File
1. Open any Google file; set Share settings to
“Anyone with link can view”.
2. Replace “edit” in URL with “preview”.
3. Copy new URL
and share; user
sees preview of
doc with no
toolbar or copy
prompt.
Hyperlinks
remain active.
emints.org

Establish a Strong
Community of Learners
Use a variety of strategies and approaches
to help develop a Community of Learners.
❏ Find Someone Who
❏ Give One, Get One
❏ Just Like Me
❏ Mix - Freeze - Pair
❏ Shuffle & Share
❏ Tell Me Something Good
Find directions at bit.ly/emintscommunity.
emints.org

EFFECTIVE Educators...
❏ ENGAGE & MOTIVATE learners.
❏ BELIEVE all learners can SUCCEED.
❏ Are KIND, RESPECTFUL, & CARING
toward ALL learners.
❏ Are REFLECTIVE.
❏ Are POSITIVE.
❏ Are CONSISTENT.
❏ ADAPT to learner NEEDS.
❏ EMBRACE strategies & tools creatively.
emints.org

Design Beautiful Learning
Materials: Five Tips
❏ Find a THEME & stick to it.
❏ Include LARGE TEXT & IMAGES.
❏ Use consistent COLOR SCHEME
(2- 3 dominant colors).
❏ Embrace WHITE SPACE.
❏ Be BRIEF and CONCISE.
emints.org

Design Learning Materials:
Make an Impact with IMAGES
Pictures are worth a 1000 words!
Use LARGE images that
convey a message
and/or tell a story.
Find high-quality,
copyright free images
and give credit.
Find Free Images With
Google Slides Add-ons
Unsplash Photos
Insert Icons for Slides
The Noun Project
emints.org

Create Custom
Themes
with Google Drawings
1. Create new Drawing, set
canvas size to 800 x 200 px.
• File > Page Setup
2. Add text/images/shapes/lines.
• Avoid center of canvas where
Class title will be displayed.
3. Export Drawings image file.
• File > Download as… > jpg or png
4. Upload Photo to the Stream in
Google Classroom.
emints.org

Design Learning Materials:
Custom Image Dimensions
Use these dimensions to create images
for training platforms & social media.
Facebook
Cover
Post
820 x 312
810 x 450
Instagram Post 1080 x 1080
Twitter
Header
Post
1500 x 500
1024 x 512
Google Classroom Theme (Header) 1500 x 400
Google Forms Header 800 X 200
Google Sites Header 963 x 360
emints.org

Design Beautiful Learning
Materials: Google Forms
Custom Theme Options
• Upload custom header
• Select a Theme Color
• Adjust Background Color
• Pick a Font Style
Basic
Decorative
Formal
Plal
emints.org

eMINTS Instructional Model (eIM)
3 Critical Components Powered by Technology
Educators plan
student
centered
learning
activities
that meet
the needs
of all learners.
All learners
connect,
take risks,
share,
support,
respect, &
challenge
each other.
Learners engage in problem-solving, inquiry, and
critical thinking to make connection with the real world.
emints.org

eIM: Community of Learners
Continuous lifelong
learning takes place in
a community that
understands the
importance of learners
sharing, taking risks,
respecting & pushing
each other as they find
their own best ways to
learn engaging in deep
content with one
another.
Essential Elements:
• Purposeful
Collaboration
• Supportive Learning
Environment
emints.org

eIM: High-Quality
Lesson Design
The best teaching & learning take
place in classrooms where teachers
value self-directed learning.
Through the use of high-quality instructional &
assessment strategies, teachers have the
opportunity to create the kinds of lessons that
are designed to meet the needs of learners.
Essential Elements
• Self-directed, Diverse Learners
• Assessment
• Instructional Decision Making
• Authentic Learning
emints.org

eIM: Authentic Learning
Through the use of
real-world projects,
students become
problem-solvers,
collaborators, critical
thinkers, inventors,
and creators. Students
begin to ask and think
about their world in
new and innovative
ways and interact on a
global level.
Essential Elements:
• Questioning
• Construct Knowledge
• Inquiry and Innovation
emints.org

Emoji Keyboard Shortcuts
Place your cursor in any
online text field and follow
the applicable keyboard
shortcut below for quick
emoji access.
Chromebook: Open on-screen keyboard.
Click More (lower left corner). Click Emoji.
Mac: Command + Control + Spacebar
Windows 10: Windows Key + Semicolon
OR Windows Key + Period OR
; .
emints.org

Thinking Sponges:
Quick Start Connections
Quick start sponges engage
learners with content from the
moment they enter the room.
Example quick start sponge prompts:
➔ During the next few minutes, smile & say hello
to at least three people & tell them what you
already know about_____.
➔ Before start time, tell two people three things
you remember from yesterday’s session.
emints.org

Thinking Sponges:
Transition Reflections
Extend thinking during
transitions to maximize time
engaged with content!
Example transition sponge prompts:
➔ When you and your partner finish the
activity, share three things you learned.
➔ In the next 60 seconds, look at your notes;
circle three important things to remember;
share with someone sitting nearby.
emints.org

Thinking Sponges:
Visual Representations
Demonstrate and deepen understanding
by creating visual models or diagrams.
Sample visual sponge directions:
➔ Create a visual representation of a word,
process, concept, or skill. (Team or individuals)
➔ Each person in the group controls a different
color marker. (If working in teams)
➔ All colors must be used in the created graphic.
➔ Be ready to explain your design and thinking.
emints.org

Thinking Sponges:
Exit Reflections
Extend/clarify thinking and/or gauge
understanding at the end of a session.
Example *exit sponge prompts:
➔ Write 3 key ideas or questions you still have
from today’s learning on a sticky note.
➔ Draw a picture to show what you learned today.
➔ How is Topic A like Topic B? How are they
different?
*Place responses on door frame as you exit.
emints.org

Rules of ENGAGEment
ENGAGED learners are active, willing,
focused, and determined BECAUSE
they recognize and value the
relevance of the process and task.
SO
• Have dialogue over discussion.
• Set working norms as a team.
• Establish purpose.
• Keep participants active, mind & body.
• Develop a supportive community.
• Facilitate deeper thinking and creating.
• Incorporate fun and humor.
emints.org

On-Task and/or ENGAGEd?
SEE: Disinterested,
compliant behavior
results in routine or
rote work.
DO: Rethink topic
for authentic
connections.
SEE: Energetic,
self-directed
learners take risks
and full ownership
of task.
DO: Facilitate
learning.
SEE: Resistant,
unable/unwilling to
participate.
DO: Redesign lesson
or procedures.
SEE: Distracted
periodic compliance.
DO: Needs
intervention to stay
on task.
emints.org

ENGAGEd Learning
How do you actively engage learners so that
they are personally invested in their learning?
Link learner
interests to
curriculum.
Give choices in
content, process,
& product.
Provide info
in a variety
of formats.
Make authentic
connections to
real life.
emints.org

12 Days of ENGAGEment
Try these ideas for 12 consecutive
days and see how they influence
engagement with your learners.
1. Add a tech twist.
2. Keep them moving.
3. Integrate the arts.
4. Regroup teams.
5. Ensure equal
participation.
6. Give reason to
share.
7. Provide choices.
8. Use brain breaks.
9. Let them create.
10. Add reflection.
11. Plan purposeful
interactions.
12. Make personal
connections.
emints.org

Resolution to Results!
emints.org

Create Quick Notes &
Lists with Google Keep
Include text, images, drawings, and audio.
Organize by color-coding, adding labels,
and using
drag-&-drop
features.
Add reminders
and / or
collaborators.
keep.google.com
emints.org

Integrate Keep and G Suite
Open Google Keep from Side Panel in
Docs, Slides, Drawings, or Sheets to...
Find an existing note. Use the Search
feature to find keywords in all Keep notes.
Create new notes or access existing notes.
New notes link back to the file where created!
Add Keep note text/images to Doc, current
Slide, or Drawing. Drag to desired location or
use the “Menu” button and select “Add to…”
emints.org

Mobile Keep #FTW
Capture Notes with Images
Create a Keep note with
photo, image or drawing
Annotate images
Grab Image Text
Share as note or email/text
emints.org

More with Mobile Keep
Voice Notes
Notifications
❏ Record audio
& add text
❏ Listen on any
device
❏ Download to
computer (.aac)
❏ Pick date & time
❏ Pick place - To
enable location
reminders, set
Keep access to
“Always”
emints.org

Questioning Tips
What do you see in classrooms where questioning
promotes curiosity, critical thinking and inquiry?
Facilitator...
Uses variety of questioning
strategies to engage students,
guide learning, foster critical
thinking and encourage
reflection.
Provides strategies for
students to generate
questions, classify, analyze &
improve questions to promote
complex ideas.
Uses wait time to allow
students to process questions
and to encourage discussion.
Learners...
Generate questions to drive
their learning.
Write, classify, analyze &
improve questions.
Develop questions that reflect
curiosity, creativity & innovation.
Pose questions that go beyond
facts & require inference,
analysis, or synthesis.
Derive new & more complex
questions to investigate as they
pursue their questions.
emints.org

Questioning Types
A variety of question types promotes all levels
of thinking. How do you move from closed to
more complex questions?
Closed Questions...
• Have one right answer.
• May be answered with
a single word/phrase.
• Keep conversation in
questioner’s control.
Clarifying Questions...
• Are simple questions of fact.
• Clarify the dilemma.
• Provide the basis for asking
better probing questions.
Open Questions...
• Have more than one
correct answer.
• Cannot be answered
with a simple yes/no.
• Require thinking &
reflection.
Probing Questions...
• Dig beyond surface
understanding.
• Encourage thinking
about personal opinions
and feelings.
• Promote critical thinking.
emints.org

Questioning Strategies
Dialogue around questions is an ideal way
to drive inquiry and spark deeper thinking.
Promote conversations with...
Thinking Scaffolds
• 3-2-1 Reflection
• KWL Charts
• Question Stems
Conversation Protocols
• Delve & Dialogue
• Socratic Seminar
• Think Alouds
Cooperative Learning Structures
• Go Round
• Numbered
Heads Together
• Partners Report
• Stay & Stray
• Think-Pair-Share
emints.org

Questioning Tools
Technology tools can be the
perfect scaffold to support
questioning. Consider using...
Flipgrid - flipgrid.com/
• Pose questions, capture reponses & learning
EdPuzzle - edpuzzle.com/
• Pose questions within video
101 Questions - 101qs.com/
• Use images to generate questions
Insert Learning - insertlearning.com/
• Scaffold web content with questions & media
MindMeister - mindmeister.com/
• Capture, develop and share ideas visually
emints.org

Coach’s Toolbox
Key practices every coach needs to master:
ACTIVE LISTENING: Fully attend and take
in more than what is and isn’t being said.
PARAPHRASING: Capture the essence of
another’s ideas or thoughts in a brief
statement.
POSING QUESTIONS: Ask questions to
help the coachee find their own path.
WAIT TIME: Think time before and after
listening and speaking.
emints.org

Active Listening
Try these active listening strategies in order to fully
attend and "hear" more of what is & isn’t being said.
Make conscious decision
to listen & understand
(fully concentrate).
Use non-verbal cues,
e.g., nod, smile, make eye
contact, lean forward.
Ask open-ended
questions.
“”
Paraphrase to show
understanding.
emints.org

Paraphrasing
Capture the essence of what someone says in a brief
summary statement to help them achieve greater clarity.
When paraphrasing….
• Focus on other
person.
• Listen for emotion
as well as content.
• Don’t judge.
• Paraphrase should
be shorter than
original comments.
emints.org

Crafting Coaching Questions
Pose questions that are thought-provoking, challenge
underlying assumptions, invite creativity, give energy, and
bring awareness of the fact there is something to explore.
When crafting questions....
• Listen to yourself to catch
poorly designed questions;
pause and rephrase them.
• Include “why,” “what” and
“how” because they require
more thoughtful responses
than those that begin with
“who,” “when,” “where” and
“which.”
• Avoid questions that can be
answered with a “yes” or “no.”
emints.org

Wait Time
Embrace the Silence
WHAT?
WHY?
HOW?
Think time provided after
question and/or response
before speaking.
Periods of silence give coach &
coachee time to process before
& after listening or speaking.
Allow 3-15 seconds for both
coach & coachee to think before
responding.
emints.org

Coaching Matters
Coaching has more significant impact on transfer
of professional development content into
classroom practice than any other approach.
emints.org

eMINTS Facilitator Model (eFM)
4 Critical Components for Affiliate Trainers
Differentiate for adult
learners through
facilitation
strategies &
experiential
learning.
Facilitate
High-Quality
PD
Develop collaborative
groups by
fostering
PLNs & honing
Collaborate
& Network
communication
practices.
Engage using
current
technologies
while applying
constructivist principles.
Enrich w/
Technology
Coach &
Mentor
Support
instructional
design and
promote
professional growth.
emints.org

eMINTS Facilitator Model:
Collaborating & Networking
Facilitators engage in and develop digital age learning
environments as both consumers and contributors when
they mine and feed their PLN.
MINE
Seek out collaborators
to support the work you
do, challenge your beliefs,
and help you grow and
develop new concepts,
goals, and ideas.
FEED
Share resources,
expertise, and
experiences (including
successes and failures)
with the intent to support
the work of others.
emints.org

eMINTS Facilitator Model:
Coaching and Mentoring
Coaches support educators as they transfer new
skills and strategies into daily classroom practice.
Coaches guide others in refining their
professional practices by providing
expertise and consultation.
Coaches work side-by-side
with educators, collaborating
to reach a common goal.
Coaches encourage
planning, reflecting,
& critical thinking.
A successful coach becomes less necessary over time.
emints.org

eMINTS Facilitator Model:
Facilitating High-Quality PD
Trainers design and facilitate learner-centered instructional
experiences including strategies to support adult learners.
WHAT DO SKILLED FACILITATORS DO?
Design and
engage educators
in PD enhanced by
technology with the
ultimate goal of transfer
to professional practice.
Understand how
planning decisions
and implementation
moves can influence
individuals and groups
they are training.
Purposefully select strategies to ensure learning
opportunities are relevant to the work of the participants.
emints.org

eMINTS Facilitator Model:
Enriching with Technology
Utilize standards to guide
how technology will
enhance learning.
Model strategies
that inspire tech &
instructional
innovations.
Implement
research-based
practices in
learning with tech.
Identify, create, organize, &
share resources to support
purposeful tech integration.
Use tech to equip
learners as leaders,
citizens, collaborators,
& designers.
Design activities to
positively impact
cognition, social skills,
& motivation.
REMEMBER, it’s not WHAT you use, but HOW you use it!
emints.org

Team Builder:
Roll of the Dice
• Form teams of three.
• Roll (1 or 2) large foam dice. *
• Based on number rolled, each teammate
shares a personal connection to thIs school
year, e.g., “I made three new friends.” or “Five
favorite memories from this school year are … “
Content Application
• Based on number rolled, teams make
connections to learning, e.g., “ There are 5
stages of mitosis.” or “Three things I’ve learned
about ____ are…”
*
Large foam dice are available at Dollar Tree.
emints.org

Design Learning Materials:
Make an Impact with EXT
INCLUDE TEXT THAT...
❏ is large enough to read.
❏ has consistent formatting.*
❏ uses 2-3 fonts that
compliment the message &
each other.*
❏ creates hierarchy with font
type, size, and format.
*Non-examples
emints.org

The eMINTS Portal
Do you want to transform learning, facilitation, &
leadership through best practices, innovation &
technology? Check out the new eMINTS Portal!
Explore - Discover - Connect
Explore the eMINTS
repository of facilitation
tools & resources, news &
updates, as well as
eMINTS Program materials
access. See all eMINTS
Tip Cards in ONE location!
VISIT: PORTAL.EMINTS.ORG
emints.org

Manage Versions in Drive
Replace ANY file uploaded to Google Drive
with an updated version and maintain URL.
Select file. Click “more” icon
(or right-click the original file) in
Drive to replace it with newer version.
Select “Manage versions” from the
popup menu.
Click “UPLOAD NEW VERSION” and
browse to select desired file.
File name and URL are unchanged,
but newer version will now be seen
when file is opened.
Older file versions will still be available to download in the Version
Manager but may be deleted in 30 days or after 100 versions.
The option to “Keep forever” is in context menu for each version.
emints.org

Design Training Spaces
Create optimal FLOW during professional
learning events. Control the energy and
physical space to provide the essential
conditions for focus and concentration.
Define clear goals.
Post a simple agenda.
Orchestrate a
streamlined process.
Remove empty
seats and clutter.
Provide directions
visually and orally.
Organize easily
accessible materials.
Balance between
support and challenge.
emints.org

Give Directions: Visually
Refine your craft as a facilitator of learning. Try this
process next time you provide directions visually. It
will help clarify processes and address needs of
multiple learning preferences.
Begin
With the
End in
Mind
Break
Process
into Small
Steps
Briefly
Outline
the Steps
Use
Images to
Convey
Steps
emints.org

Give Directions: Orally
The sky is the limit with well shared directions!
Kinesthetic Framing
Connect each spoken step of process to
a physical movement, e.g., step left or
right, hand gesture, spatial reference.
Use a Model
Walk through process with group using
participants as examples in the model.
Directions Given vs Directions Heard
After sharing directions, invite a
participant to summarize what
was said in their own words.
emints.org

Create an Interactive Agenda
Start on time with session OPENER to help
learners connect with each other and with
training topics/content.
Get all participants
“Voices in the Air” early to
increase participation.
Balance conveying info
with collaborative and
independent experiences.
Provide digital agenda
with materials linked in
a consistent location.
End on time with a
session CLOSER to
provide time to reflect.
emints.org

Principles of Constructivism
eMINTS is grounded in this belief that people learn by constructing
understanding through “hands on” experiences and ongoing reflection.
6 Constructivist Principles that Apply to Each Learner:
UNIQUE
Beliefs, Prior
Knowledge,
Experiences
INTERNAL
Control &
Mediation
MULTIPLE
Tools, Contexts,
Resources
Needed
Accommodate
Assimilate, or
Reject NEW
Information
Learning is
ACTIVE &
REFLECTIVE
SOCIAL
Interaction
Enhances
Learning
emints.org

Find more resources at portal.emints.org.
Watch for a new eMINTS Tip Card on
Facebook and Twitter every Tuesday .
Follow @emintsnc
@higginsb
@perkinsd
2019 emints.org