Gettin' "Goo"ey!

URL (web address) shorteners have always been used primarly to create shorter 140 character comments on Twitter.  Recently, we attended a Google conference, where one presenter continuously moved the audience from one website to the next using shortened URL's, specifically with Google's version: Goo.gl.  Even better, throughout his presentation, he would randomly tell us websites to go to, but would shorten the website's URL with his Goo.gl extension.  

For example, this blog has a really long and challenging (silly on our parts) URL: www.mrhnmrsoshangout.blogspot.com.  WHAT WERE WE THINKING WHEN WE CREATED THAT!?  That is a NIGHTMARE telling students to visit.  

"M....R...H...N...yes, N...NO, not a M...a N..." You get the point.

If we use the Goo.gl shortener website or extension, our website now is assigned the unique URL of: goo.gl/ee7A5.  Much easier.

Back to the original presenter...his presentation go Mrs. Olson and I thinking.  Why are we providing our students with nearly impossible URL's?  Many of them struggle to copy down and then type in long and challenging website addresses.  Why not give them a shortened URL instead?

Thus, our "Goo Wall" was created.  We would place important and frequently used "Goos" on our whiteboard.  Short, easy, and always there.  That said, our "Goo Wall" began taking up valuable real estate. It was copied down, and placed on our back wall cabinets.  We now refer to our "Goo Wall" as "Goos We Use."  

Additionally, since our classroom is fortunate enough to be 1:1 with netbooks, we are able to display messages on the SMARTboard.  The image to the left was what our SMARTboard as students arrived back into the classroom following recess today. 

The following are the "Goos" that we currently use most often or find to be of the most importance.