Tag: #EdTech

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Classroom Groups Manager in Google Slides: Seating Charts in Google Slides

I have developed a script-enabled Google Slides application for teachers to create and manage seating charts in Google Slides. Creating dynamic, balanced student groups is an essential part of classroom management. Whether you’re grouping students for projects, discussions, or activities, organizing them efficiently can take up valuable teaching time. The Classroom Groups Manager automates this process, providing you with an easy way to create groups, assign seats, and avoid problematic pairings. With just a few clicks, you can creating seating charts, swap students, change groupings and manage groups based on your needs.

 

Classroom Groups Manager Sidebar  © Avi Megiddo 2024

YouTube demo:

Key Features of the Classroom Groups Manager Tool

This tool leverages Google Apps Script to turn Google Slides into a versatile group creator and random student selector. It’s designed with teachers in mind and offers several features that make classroom management more streamlined and engaging.

New Look:

1. Create Random Student Groups

Teachers can generate random pairs, groups of 3, 4, or 5 students, or even custom groups centered around selected students. Whether forming small teams for a project or organizing students for discussion, this tool provides the flexibility to create groups that fit your classroom structure.

2. Bad Pairings and Wildcards

Certain students may not work well together. The Classroom Groups Manager allows you to save these bad pairings, ensuring they are not grouped together. Additionally, the tool prevents bad pairs from becoming the “odd one out” (wildcard) in groupings where the total number of students does not divide evenly into groups.

If a wildcard needs to be created, the system intelligently chooses someone not involved in a bad pairing and allows them to join a group of their choice. Currently, this feature is not active in circle arrangements or groupings around selected students, but works perfectly for fixed desk or standard group arrangements.

3. Random Student Selector

The random student selector ensures all students have an equal chance to participate. It randomly selects a student, highlights their name in fluorescent green, enlarges their desk/rectangle, and keeps track of the last selected student. This ensures more inclusive and balanced class participation, and that no student is called on repeatedly in succession.

4. Visual Group Layouts

The tool visually organizes groups directly onto the Google Slides canvas, providing an instant view of your classroom seating or group assignments. It places students into rectangles, which can be customized to fit your class’s layout. With drag-and-drop functionality, you can adjust the layout on the fly, enabling real-time flexibility.

5. Grouping Around Selected Students

This feature allows you to assign certain students to specific groups (e.g., group leaders or students needing extra support), while the remaining students are evenly distributed among them. This ensures balanced group dynamics and gives teachers strategic control over group composition.

 

6. Arrange Students in a Circle

For certain classroom activities, like group discussions or icebreakers, you may prefer students to sit in a circle. The tool supports a circle arrangement feature, which automatically spaces students evenly in a circular layout, while
taking bad pairings into account to avoid conflicts within groups.

7. Assign Names to Fixed Desks Without Rearranging

The Assign Names to Desks feature respects the current layout and orientation of desks that a teacher has manually arranged on the slide. Whether desks are rotated, repositioned, or grouped in non-traditional ways (such as bean bags, couches, or different seating zones), this feature simply assigns student names to the desks as they are.

This ensures that teachers can maintain their customized classroom environment, allowing for exact positioning based on various learning areas or furniture setups. Unlike other group creation functions that rearrange desks into grids or circles, this feature keeps your specific arrangement intact and focuses only on assigning names.

How to Use the Classroom Groups Manager Tool

Step 1: Add Your Students

You can input student names into the tool’s sidebar in multiple formats:

  • Comma-separated: “Ashley, Catherine, Derek, Liz, Milo, Raysen, Alexandra”
  • Space-separated: “Ashley Catherine Derek Liz Milo Oliver Raysen Alexandra”
  • A combination of both: “Ashley, Catherine Derek, Liz Milo Oliver Raysen, Alexandra”


    Step 2: Create Groups

  • After entering your students’ names, select the group size (e.g., groups of 4) or assign specific students as group leaders. The tool will automatically balance the groups, taking into account any bad pairings you have saved. You can also group students around selected individuals, perfect for strategic group formations.

    Step 3: Make a Duplicate Slide for Each Class

    For teachers managing multiple classes or needing to create new group configurations over time, duplicating a slide is essential. This ensures that previous groupings are preserved, allowing you to experiment with new arrangements without losing the original layout.

    Here’s how to duplicate a slide in Google Slides:

    1. Select the Slide: In the left sidebar of Google Slides (where all the slides are listed), find the slide that contains the groups or seating arrangement you want to duplicate.
    2. Right-Click the Slide: Right-click on the slide you wish to copy. A drop-down menu will appear.
    3. Click “Duplicate Slide”: From the drop-down menu, select Duplicate Slide. This will create an exact copy of the slide, which you can now modify as needed.
    4. Rename the Slide: Double-click the slide name (usually visible in the notes area or in the sidebar) and rename it according to the class or activity you’re working on (e.g., “Block 2: Science Project Groups”).

    By duplicating slides, you can create different group configurations for different classes or activities, while keeping a history of past groupings. This is particularly helpful if you want to revisit a previous arrangement or quickly switch between different layouts for various lessons. It also ensures that you don’t lose the initial setup when experimenting with new configurations.

    Practical Applications for Teachers

    The tool isn’t just for group formation. Here are a few other ways it can be useful in your classrooms:

    • Differentiating Instruction: Assign stronger students as group leaders, ensuring every group has a capable peer for guidance.
    • Avoiding Conflicts: Use the bad pairings feature to avoid putting certain students together, preventing disruptions or conflicts during group work.
    • Creating Varied Groupings: Over time, you can create different configurations by duplicating slides, saving past groupings, and re-using them to keep things fresh.

    Using the “Add Class Name/Label” Feature

    Labeling your slides is important for keeping track of different groupings or activities over time. You can easily add class names or labels to your slides to, for example, “Block 2: Science Project Groups”

By duplicating slides and applying unique labels, you can save past groupings for future reference. This means you can easily switch between different configurations and ensure students experience varied group dynamics over time.

The Classroom Groups Manager is designed to offer flexibility in how teachers manage student groups. Here are just a few ways the tool can be used:

  • Differentiate Instruction: Assign strong students as group leaders, ensuring each group has guidance from a capable peer.
  • Avoid Problematic Pairings: Use the bad pairings feature to avoid placing certain students together, allowing you to prevent known conflicts in group work.
  • Create Varied Groupings: Over time, you can create different group configurations and save past groupings by duplicating slides. This ensures good variation and prevents the same students from working together repeatedly.

Manually Adjusting Text for Long Names

Although the tool resizes text automatically based on name length, some longer names may require manual text fitting. To make sure the text fits properly within shapes, you can set the text padding to zero:

  • Select the shape containing the student’s name.
  • Open the Format Options panel.
  • Scroll to Text Fitting and set the left, right, top, and bottom padding to zero:

 

This ensures that even long names fit within the allotted space. Note that as of this writing, the Google Apps Script API does not allow programmatically changing the text fitting/text padding.

New Look!

If you read this far, this is what the sidebar now looks like (color coded), and with toast notifications (less user clicks requried).

Conclusion

The Classroom Groups Manager simplifies the complex task of managing classroom groups. Whether you’re creating groups for discussions, seating arrangements, or projects, this tool provides the flexibility and control needed to organize your class efficiently. With features like bad pairings, random student selection, and grouping around key students, it saves valuable time while hopefully fostering more dynamic and effective student collaboration.

Try it in your classroom and see how it transforms the way you manage student groups!

 

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NY Times Connections Game in Google Sheets

August 19, 2024

Introduction

The New York Times has long been a leader in word games, captivating players with titles like Spelling Bee, Wordle, and most recently, Connections. These games offer not only entertainment but also a valuable mental exercise, encouraging strategic thinking and vocabulary expansion. Inspired by the innovative nature of these NY Times games, I decided to implement a version of NY TImes Connections in Google Sheets using Google Apps Script. This project is an ode to the original game—I hope this Google Sheets version can serve as a gateway for more people to discover and appreciate the original NY Times Connections game as part of their daily routine. This project is designed to be an accessible and educational tool that can help students, particularly those learning English as a second language (ESL), to engage with language in a fun, interactive way. Teachers can customize the word categories and members based on their curriculum.

Project Overview

Objective: To emulate the NY Times Connections game in Google Sheets, allowing users to categorize words based on common themes.

Rules: Players are presented with a 4×4 grid of words and must group them into four categories by identifying which words belong together. The challenge lies in finding the connections between the words, which can be more complex than they initially appear.

How to Play

  1. Start a New Game: Select ‘New Game’ from the custom menu in Google Sheets to generate a new 4×4 grid of words.
  2. Categorize the Words: Hold the appropriate key (Ctrl on Windows, Cmd on Mac, Shift on Chrome OS) and click on four words that you believe belong to the same category.
  3. Check Your Selection: Click the ‘Check’ button to see if your selection is correct. If it is, the words will be highlighted and the category name will appear on the side.
  4. Complete the Game: Continue categorizing words until all four categories have been identified.

Educational Benefits

The game is an excellent educational tool that fosters critical thinking and analytical skills by encouraging players to consider the relationships between different words. As they group words into categories, players experience vocabulary expansion and deepen their understanding of word meanings and connections. The puzzle format is inherently engaging, keeping students focused as they persist in finding the correct groupings. By making learning fun through word categorization, the learning process becomes more enjoyable, with a competitive element that adds excitement as students aim to complete the game as quickly and accurately as possible. This competition not only enhances attention to detail but also fosters a competitive learning environment, driving students to improve their vocabulary and categorization skills through healthy rivalry.

Technical Setup – Google Sheet Structure

There are two main sheets used in the project:

The Category Words Sheet serves as the database for the game’s categories and their corresponding members. Each row in this sheet contains a category in the first column, such as “Fruits,” and a comma-separated list of items in the second column, like “Apple, Banana, Cherry.” The data for this sheet was generated using AI tools like ChatGPT, which allowed for the quick creation of a wide variety of categories and members. This approach not only saved time but also ensured a diverse range of content, making the game more engaging and educational. Additionally, this setup is scalable; if you want to add more categories in the future, you simply need to append them to this sheet, and the game will automatically incorporate the new data.

The Connections Game Sheet is where the gameplay takes place. The primary interface is a 4×4 grid, located in cells C3:F6, where users interact with the game. To play, users select four words by holding down the appropriate key on their keyboard—Ctrl on Windows, Cmd on Mac, or Shift on Chrome OS—while clicking on the words in the grid. After making their selection, they click the ‘Check’ button to see if their selection is correct. When a correct selection is made, the corresponding cells are highlighted with a pastel color, and the text is struck through. The game also provides immediate feedback by displaying the category name and the selected words in a summary area located in cells H2 to the right of the grid.

 

 

AI, specifically ChatGPT, played a significant role in generating the category data for the game. The efficiency of AI allowed for the quick creation of a diverse range of categories and their members, covering common topics like “Fruits” as well as more niche areas like “Magical Creatures” or “Programming Languages.” The data is structured in a format that makes it easy to expand the game’s content without requiring any code changes. This AI-generated content not only makes the game more fun but also introduces students to new words and concepts, adding educational value.

In addition to generating data, AI also assisted in writing the Google Apps Script that powers the game. For instance, AI helped create the newGame function, which populates the grid with words and resets the game state to ensure each game is unique and challenging. The AI also contributed to scripting the logic that validates whether the selected words belong to the same category, ensuring smooth gameplay. Moreover, the feedback system, which highlights correct selections and displays the corresponding category in the summary area, was also co-authored with the help of AI.

The game’s mechanics involve several key processes. First, the script randomly selects four categories from the “Category Words” sheet and then randomly picks four members from each category to populate the grid. The cells are formatted to enhance readability and user experience, ensuring that all the information is clearly displayed. As players make correct selections, the game tracks how many categories have been correctly identified and provides immediate visual feedback by highlighting and striking through the selected words. This immediate feedback not only enhances the user experience but also makes the game more engaging and educational.

Explanation of Functions

newGame Function

The newGame function is responsible for setting up a fresh game in the Google Sheets version of NY Times Connections. It starts by accessing the spreadsheet and the specific sheets where the game and category data are stored. It then adjusts the size of the rows and columns to create a 4×4 grid, making sure that the grid is clear and ready for a new game by removing any existing content. The function also ensures that the text in the grid cells is properly formatted and wrapped, so all words are easily readable.

Next, the function retrieves all the available categories and their associated words from the “Category Words” sheet. It randomly selects four different categories and then randomly picks four words from each selected category to fill the grid. The words are shuffled to ensure they are placed randomly within the grid. 

checkSelection Function

The checkSelection function is activated when a player selects four words and clicks the ‘Check’ button. This function first checks if exactly four words have been selected. If not, it prompts the player to select the correct number of words. Once four words are selected, the function compares these words with the categories listed in the “Category Words” sheet.

For each selected word, the function identifies all possible categories that the word might belong to. It then checks for a common category that all four selected words share. If a single common category is found, the selected cells are highlighted with a random pastel color, and the text is struck through, indicating that the selection is correct. The category name and selected words are also displayed in a summary area to the right of the grid. 

If all four categories in the grid are correctly identified, the game asks if the player wants to start a new game. If the selection is incorrect, the player is alerted that the words do not belong to the same category.

showInstructions Function

The showInstructions function provides players with the necessary instructions on how to play the game. When this function is called, it displays an alert box with step-by-step instructions. The instructions explain how to select four words that belong to the same category and which key to hold down on the keyboard while clicking on the words, depending on the operating system (Windows, Mac, or Chrome OS). It also reminds players to click the ‘Check’ button after making their selection to see if they are correct. This function ensures that all players, regardless of their familiarity with the game or the platform, can easily understand how to play.

Feedback and User Experience

Providing Clear Feedback: When a player makes a selection, the script provides immediate feedback on whether the selection is correct. This helps players learn from their mistakes and understand the connections between words more clearly.

Smooth Gameplay: The use of toast notifications and non-intrusive feedback ensures that the game remains engaging and that players can focus on categorizing words without unnecessary interruptions.

Conclusion

The Google Sheets implementation of NY Times Connections offers a unique blend of entertainment and education, making it a valuable tool for both teachers and students. Whether you’re looking to enhance vocabulary, improve categorization skills, or simply enjoy a challenging word game, this project provides a fun and accessible way to engage with language. 

Here again is the template preview.

Full Code Base

The full Code.gs file is below and can also be found here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MakeWords: Implementing a Classic Pen & Paper Game in Google Sheets

Make Words Game:

Implementing a Classic Pen & Paper Game in Google Sheets

Introduction

Word games have always been a popular form of entertainment and education, with classics like Boggle, Scrabble, and the New York Times’ Spelling Bee captivating word enthusiasts worldwide. Growing up, I played these games with my family using paper and pencil, which created wonderful memories and a love for word puzzles. Inspired by these timeless games, I set out to create MakeWords, a Google Sheets-based game that brings the excitement of word puzzles into a digital and easily accessible format. This game isn’t just a fun way to pass time; it’s also a valuable educational tool, particularly for ESL and ELL students.

Project Overview

Objective: Form as many smaller words as possible from a given longer word.

Rules: Players are given a long word and must form as many valid smaller words as possible using the letters from the long word.

Video Preview

Educational Benefits

  • Vocabulary Expansion: Players are encouraged to think of and form longer, more complex words, helping them expand their vocabulary.
  • Strategic Thinking: The exponential scoring encourages strategic thinking, as players need to weigh the benefits of finding longer words against the time it takes to think of them.
  • Engagement: The increasing points for longer words make the game more exciting and competitive, which can help maintain students’ interest and engagement.
  • Reinforcement of Spelling: Regularly forming and validating words helps reinforce correct spelling and word usage.

Gamifying Learning

MakeWords is a powerful tool for engaging students through gamification. Teachers assigning this game are leveraging the principles of gamification to make learning fun and interactive. Here’s how:

Engaging Through Gamification

  1. Making Learning Fun: By turning word practice and spelling into a game, students are more likely to enjoy the learning process. The competitive element, where students aim to find as many words as possible from a given word, and the longer the word, the more points are awarded.
  2. Attention to Detail: The game requires students to pay close attention to the letters in the given long word. They need to ensure they are using the letters correctly, checking for duplicates, and verifying the validity of the words. This meticulous approach enhances their attention to detail and spelling accuracy.
  3. Fostering a Competitive Learning Environment: By choosing the same starting long word,and playing simultaneously, users can compete to see who can get the most points in the given time. This healthy competition can drive players to improve their word recall and spelling skills as they strive to outperform their peers.

Tracking Performance and Growth

  1. Timestamps for Tracking Progress: Each game session is automatically named and saved with a timestamp. This feature allows teachers and parents to track the progress of students over time. They can see how students are improving in their ability to recall and form words.
  2. Performance Review: By reviewing past game sessions, shared with teachers or parents, it’s easy to identify patterns in a student’s performance. Teachers can see which types of words students struggle with and provide targeted support to help them improve.
  3. Growth in Word Recall and Retrieval: As students play more games, their ability to recall and retrieve words is likely to improve. Teachers can use the timestamps and saved game sessions to monitor this growth, providing evidence of learning progress over time.
  4. Data-Driven Insights: The structured data from each game session offers valuable insights into a student’s learning journey. Teachers can analyze this data to understand individual strengths and weaknesses, adapting their teaching strategies to better support each student.

Practical Implementation

Assigning the Game: Teachers can easily assign MakeWords to students in Google Classroom. The game is accessible and straightforward, making it easy for students to start playing and learning immediately. Teachers can keep track of usage; this shared access ensures that those involved in the student’s education can see their progress and provide encouragement or additional support as needed.

Encouraging Continuous Improvement: With each game saved and accessible, students can see their own improvement over time. This visibility can be a powerful motivator, encouraging them to keep practicing and improving their word skills.

Technical Setup – Google Sheet Structure

Dictionary Sheet: Contains a list of long words organized alphabetically into columns (A-Z). 

This structure significantly improves efficiency by limiting the search space. Instead of searching through one long column containing the entire dictionary, the search is confined to a single column corresponding to the first letter of the word, making lookups faster and less resource-intensive.

Game Sheet: The gameplay takes place here, where players enter their words and see their scores.

Google Apps Script

  • Random Word Selection: The script draws a random long word from the “Dictionary” sheet.
  • Word Validation: Players enter their words in designated cells, and the script checks their validity, ensuring they can be formed from the letters of the long word.
  • Scoring System: The script calculates points based on the length of the words and handles duplicate entries and invalid words.

Feedback

Providing clear reasons why a word is invalid is vital feedback that enhances the learning experience in “Make Words.” When players receive specific feedback, such as a word being invalid due to incorrect letters or being a duplicate entry, they can quickly adjust their strategies and avoid making the same mistakes. This targeted feedback not only aids in faster learning but also keeps the game challenging and educational. Knowing why a word is invalid or seeing their scores improve encourages players to think more critically and enhances their problem-solving skills, making MakeWords both a fun and valuable educational tool.

A key feature of MakeWords is the use of toast notifications. These are small, non-intrusive pop-up messages that appear briefly at the bottom of the screen. The name “toast” comes from the way these notifications pop up like a slice of toasted bread. Toast notifications are particularly effective because they provide feedback without interrupting gameplay. Unlike traditional dialogue boxes or alerts that require user interaction to close, toast notifications allow players to continue playing seamlessly. Players are informed about the validity of their words and their points without having to click anything to dismiss the notification. This ensures a smooth and engaging gaming experience.

Toast notifications provide instant feedback on the validity of their words and the points they earn. This real-time response keeps students engaged and helps them learn from their mistakes without interrupting the flow of the game. Moreover, this immediate feedback is crucial for maintaining high levels of motivation and engagement, as it helps players understand the rules better and improve their word-forming skills dynamically.

Smart Scoring Method

One of the unique aspects of this game is its smart scoring method, designed to encourage players to find longer words. 

This exponential scoring system motivates players to find longer words, as each additional letter significantly increases the points earned. It turns the game into a more strategic and engaging activity.

Performance Optimization with Binary Search

One significant challenge was ensuring the game ran smoothly and updated scores correctly during fast play. This required an efficient way to validate words against a large dictionary.

Efficient Google Sheet Structure

  • Dictionary Sheet: Contains a list of long words organized alphabetically into columns (A-Z). This structure improves efficiency by limiting the search space. Instead of searching through one long column containing the entire dictionary, the search is confined to a single column corresponding to the first letter of the word, making lookups faster and less resource-intensive.

Why Binary Search?

Binary search is a powerful algorithm for finding an item in a sorted list in logarithmic time. Imagine you’re playing a number guessing game, where you have to guess a number between 1 and 100. Each time you make a guess, you’re told whether the number is higher or lower than your guess. You might start by guessing 50. If the number is higher, you then guess 75, and if it’s lower, you guess 25. By continually dividing the range in half, you quickly narrow down the possibilities.

Applying Binary Search to Word Validation

By organizing the dictionary sheet alphabetically into columns based on the first letter of each word, I leveraged binary search to quickly validate words. Here’s how:

  • Alphabetical Columns: The dictionary is divided into 26 columns (A-Z), each containing words that start with the corresponding letter.
  • Sorted Words: Within each column, the words are sorted alphabetically.

Example:

Suppose a player enters the word “cinema”. The script:

  • Locates the Column: Identifies the relevant column ‘C’ for words starting with ‘C’.
  • Performs Binary Search:
    1. Finds the middle word in the ‘C’ column. With 24,797 words, the middle word would be around the 12,399th word.
    2. Let’s assume the middle word in the 0 to 12,398 range is “cobra”.
    3. Compare “cinema” with “cobra”:
      • Since “cinema” comes before “cobra” alphabetically, search the first half of the column.
    4. Narrow the search range to 0 to 6,199.
    5. Find the new middle word in this range, let’s say it’s “cherry”.
    6. Compare “cinema” with “cherry”:
      • Since “cinema” comes after “cherry”, search the second half of this range.
    7. Narrow the search range to 3,100 to 6,199.
    8. Find the new middle word in this range, let’s say it’s “clementine”.
    9. Compare “cinema” with “clementine”:
      • Since “cinema” comes before “clementine”, search the first half of this range.
    10. Narrow the search range to 3,100 to 4,649.
    11. Find the new middle word in this range, let’s say it’s “cite”.
    12. Compare “cite” with “cinema”:
      • Since “cinema” comes before “cite”, search the first half of this range.
    13. Repeat this process until “cinema” is found or the range is exhausted.

Benefits of This Structure:

Notice how, in just 4-5 comparisons, we got down to less than 1,000 options from the over 24,000 words starting with C. Compare this method to going through the entire dictionary of over 150,000 words every time we want to validate a word! Binary search can reduce the search space significantly, making it ideal for handling large datasets and ensuring quick word validation even during fast-paced play.

Code Snippet for Binary Search:

  • arr: The array (list) of sorted words being searched.

  • target: The word you’re looking for.

  • left and right: The starting and ending indices of the current search range.

  • mid: The middle index of the current search range.

  • midValue: The word at the middle index, compared to the target word.

Implementation Details

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Set up the Google Sheets: Create a “Dictionary” sheet and a “Make Words Game” sheet.
  2. Google Apps Script: Implement the script to handle word selection, validation, and scoring. Here’s a key snippet from the script:
  3. Start Playing: Draw a random word and begin forming smaller words. The script will handle validation and scoring in real-time.

    Breakdown of the Scoring Formula

    The formula used in cell F2 to calculate the total score is:

    =SUMPRODUCT(IF(ISNUMBER(B4:B45), B4:B45, 0)) + SUMPRODUCT(IF(ISNUMBER(D4:D45), D4:D45, 0)) + SUMPRODUCT(IF(ISNUMBER(F4:F45), F4:F45, 0))

    How It Works:

    • SUMPRODUCT Function: This function multiplies corresponding components in the given arrays and then sums the results. It’s used here to handle both numeric and text entries.
    • IF Function: IF(ISNUMBER(B4:B45), B4:B45, 0) checks each cell in the range B4. If the cell contains a number, it returns that number; otherwise, it returns 0. This ensures that only valid points (numbers) are included in the sum.
    • ISNUMBER Function: This function checks whether each cell contains a number. It’s essential for filtering out non-numeric values like text or empty cells.
    • Sum Calculation: The formula does this for three ranges: B4, D4, and F4. It sums the valid numeric values from these ranges separately and then adds the results together to get the total score.

    This formula efficiently calculates the total points from multiple columns, ensuring that only numeric values are considered, which is particularly useful during fast-paced play.

    Conclusion

    The MakeWords game is a fantastic way to bring the joy of classic word games into the digital age, using tools like Google Sheets and Google Apps Script. Whether you’re an educator looking for a fun classroom activity or a word enthusiast, this game offers endless possibilities for learning and enjoyment. I invite you to try creating your own version and share your experiences!

    Explanation of Functions

    1. Initial Setup Functions
      • onOpen: This function adds a custom menu item to the Google Sheets UI when the spreadsheet is opened.
      • newGame: This function sets up a new game session, renaming the current game sheet with a timestamp, deleting any existing game sheet, duplicating a past game sheet if available, and initializing a new game sheet.
    2. Helper Functions
      • getLetterCount: This function counts the occurrences of each letter in a given word.
      • binarySearch: This function performs a binary search on a sorted array to efficiently find the target word.
    3. Core Game Functions
      • drawRandomWord: This function selects a random word from the dictionary sheet.
      • isRealWordLocal: This function checks if a word is real by performing a binary search in the dictionary sheet.
      • isValidWord: This function validates a word by comparing its letter counts with those of the given long word.
      • isDuplicateEntry: This function checks for duplicate word entries in the current game session.
      • updatePoints: This function updates the points in the adjacent cell based on the length of the word.
      • showToast: This function displays toast notifications within the spreadsheet.
    4. Event Handling Functions
      • onEdit: This function handles the onEdit event, validating the entered word and updating the game state accordingly.
      • processUpdateQueue: This function processes the update queue, ensuring smooth handling of word entries and validations.

    How to Play

    Click the MakeWords game to make your own template. A new menu item called ‘Make Words’ will be created. Select ‘New Game’ from that menu. If you encounter a problem, click on the ‘Extensions’ menu and choose ‘Apps Script’. Then, run the onOpen function from the script editor.

    Running the Google Apps Script shared is safe. Here’s what you can expect during the process:

    1. Authorization Request: When you run the script, you will encounter an authorization request. This is a standard procedure for the script to access specific data within your Google account.
    2. Clicking “Advanced”: During authorization, you will need to click on “Advanced” to review and understand the script’s permissions.
    3. Allowing the Script to Run: You might see a warning about the script being unverified. This is not indicative of any malicious activity. Simply select the option to allow the script to run. It’s important to note that this grants the script permission to read and modify the contents of cells in the sheet, which is necessary for it to perform the requested actions.I hope you find this tool to be a useful game-changer. Here’s to taking tournament management to the next level! Please enjoy these interactive tournament brackets. Play on!

    Full Code Base:

    Make Words Code.gs

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Code, Click, and Spin: The Digital Spinner

Bridging Computer Science, Design, Physics, and Math with Interactive Classroom Experiences

Welcome to the home of innovation, where the classic game spinner is reimagined for the digital age. Here, I combine the time-honored joy of anticipation with the precision of modern technology. This spinner isn’t just a tool; it’s a harmonious blend of design, mathematics, and computer science, all brought to life through the power of conversational coding with ChatGPT.

Check it out:

Features:

Programmatic Creation: Spinners are generated through Python code, leveraging ChatGPT’s conversational AI to refine the design and functionality. This ensures a seamless and efficient process from concept to creation.

Dynamic Spinner Size: The tool automatically adjusts the spinner’s size based on the participant list length. By parsing a comma or space-delimited string of names, it dynamically generates a spinner with the corresponding number of sectors, making it adaptable to various group sizes.

Mathematical Precision: Incorporates mathematical formulas to accurately determine the spinner’s winning sector based on degrees rotated. This not only enhances the fairness of the selection process but also introduces students to practical applications of geometry and arithmetic.

Engaging Sound Effects: The inclusion of sound effects and the potential for an AI-hosted voice add an auditory dimension to the experience, making the spinner more interactive and enjoyable.

Interdisciplinary Educational Tool: This project exemplifies interdisciplinary learning, combining elements of Language Arts (communicating ideas to AI), Computer Science (coding the spinner in Python and Scratch), MYP Design (creating a user-friendly interface), and Mathematics (applying geometric and arithmetic principles).

Accessibility and Integration: Designed to run in Google Colab, the spinner tool is accessible and easy to share, thanks to its integration with Google Drive. It requires no setup, making it readily available for educators and students.

Active Learning: Encourages active learning by allowing students to directly engage with coding concepts and see the immediate impact of their work. This hands-on experience is invaluable in reinforcing learning objectives and fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Conclusion:

The spinner is a bridge between the physical and digital.  This project is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, demonstrating that with creativity, technical skill, and a bit of AI assistance, the possibilities for enhancing education are limitless.

My original Scratch project and code:
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/970791967

My createSpinners Python code:

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Mood Meter Google Sheets App

Enhancing Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom

Have you ever wondered how the emotional state of your students impacts their learning experiences? Or have you found it challenging to track and understand the emotional climate of your classroom? Today, I want to introduce a digital tool that could help us perceive and respond to our students’ emotions: the Mood Meter Google Sheets App. This project was inspired by Marc Brackett’s pioneering work with the Mood Meter, as outlined in his book “Permission to Feel“, and my passion for Google Sheets and Apps Script.

The Mood Meter was designed to elevate emotional awareness and enhance our overall well-being. Marc Brackett is the Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He and his uncle developed the RULER method—an evidence-based approach to social-emotional learning. It focuses on improving 5 skills of emotional intelligence: Recognizing emotions in self and others, Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions, Labeling emotions accurately, Expressing emotions appropriately, and Regulating emotions effectively. Managing emotions effectively allows us to navigate challenges and setbacks with resilience and adaptability, fostering a fulfilling and harmonious life.

The Mood Meter Google Sheets app, which is currently in development, focuses on tracking and analyzing the emotions and moods of students on a daily basis. This can be particularly useful in understanding students’ well-being, identifying patterns or trends, and addressing potential concerns. It generates a heat map of the aggregated moods in each class over time, showing which emotions were more often felt over time. The student mood table tracks how each student felt each day and can provide valuable insights for teachers and administrators.

This Apps Script project is now verified by Google!

 

The tool I’m developing is an interactive version of Marc Brackett’s Mood Meter, enhanced with Google Apps Script. It enables concurrent editing by an entire class, providing a dynamic visual snapshot of the collective emotional state. This can be implemented in a Homeroom, Advisory, or other class setting.

The sheet records user data, generates daily and cumulative heat maps, and can manage multiple sub-sheets for educators overseeing various classes. Though we are on summer break and I’ve yet to test it with students, I’ve strived to make the code robust, anticipating a large group of students using it simultaneously.

Foremost in the design is the privacy and security of students’ emotional data. The tool ensures that such sensitive information is accessible only to authorized individuals.

Demo:

Detailed Walkthrough:

Understanding Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions, as well as understand and empathize with the emotions of others. It encompasses skills such as recognizing emotions, understanding their causes and consequences, accurately labeling emotions, expressing emotions appropriately, and regulating emotions effectively. Developing EQ empowers individuals to navigate emotions, build healthier relationships, and make informed decisions.

The Role of Emotional Awareness and Metacognition: Emotional awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence. It involves consciously recognizing and understanding our emotions, as well as the impact they have on our thoughts, behaviors, and overall well-being. By cultivating emotional awareness, individuals can develop metacognition skills, which involve the ability to reflect on and regulate one’s own thinking and learning processes. The Mood Meter serves as a powerful tool to enhance emotional awareness and metacognition, enabling individuals to explore and express their emotions more effectively.

The Power of the Mood Meter in the Classroom: The Mood Meter provides teachers with a valuable resource to gauge the emotional well-being of their students in an engaging and efficient manner. Unlike traditional methods of checking in on emotions, such as asking “How are you today?” or using simple thumbs-up, sideways, or thumbs-down indicators, the Mood Meter offers a technologically-driven solution that encourages active participation. Teachers can easily create a class-specific Mood Meter using the app, enabling students to select their current mood by clicking on corresponding checkboxes.

Data Aggregation for Valuable Insights: One of the key advantages of using the Mood Meter is its data aggregation capability. The sheet automatically aggregates and analyzes the data, providing valuable insights to teachers. By monitoring trends and patterns, educators can identify students who consistently experience negative emotions, detect classes that exhibit low energy levels, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the emotional well-being of their students. This information empowers teachers to offer timely support and interventions when necessary, leading to a more nurturing and inclusive learning environment.

Exploring Color Psychology: Colors play a significant role in the Mood Meter, representing different emotional states and energy levels. The hex color codes assigned to each quadrant (red, yellow, blue, and green) were chosen to reflect the emotional experiences associated with different energy levels and pleasantness. The heat map creates a visually stimulating and educational experience. Exploring the impact of colors on emotions enhances students’ understanding of color psychology and contributes to their overall emotional awareness.

Empowering Homeroom Teachers: Homeroom teachers, in particular, can greatly benefit from using the Mood Meter as a tool to monitor the emotional well-being of their class. By using the Mood Meter, teachers can efficiently gather data about their students’ emotions and energy levels without relying solely on verbal or non-verbal cues. This technology-driven approach provides a comprehensive view of the emotional climate of the classroom, fostering empathy, open communication, and targeted support for students.

Conclusion: 

The Mood Meter offers a powerful platform for enhancing emotional intelligence, fostering emotional awareness, and promoting metacognition skills. Its gamified and interactive nature engages students, enabling them to explore and express their emotions effectively. Homeroom teachers and educators worldwide can harness the power of the Mood Meter to create inclusive learning environments, gain insights into students’ emotional well-being, and provide targeted support.

By integrating the Mood Meter into their teaching practices, teachers empower students to navigate emotions, develop essential social-emotional skills, and lead happier and more fulfilled lives.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this tool. How do you think it could be improved? How could it be applied in your own classroom or environment? If you are interested in testing an early-access version of the Mood Meter Google Sheets App, please reach out to me directly. However, please note that the tool is currently in the verification process with Google and might show warnings about being an “unverified app”. If you are comfortable with this, your feedback would be extremely valuable for the tool’s development and refinement.

Please share your thoughts and interests in the comments section below!

Plans for Implementation and App Verification:

As an educator, I am excited about the prospects of the Interactive Mood Meter Google Sheets App. I plan to utilize this tool in my Homeroom class in the upcoming fall semester.

However, I understand the significance of security and credibility when it comes to digital tools, especially those used in educational environments. To ensure the highest level of safety and confidence, the Interactive Mood Meter is currently in the process of being verified by Google.

While this verification process is crucial to ensure the security of our users, it may take 1-2 months to complete.” As a result, I’ve decided to withhold the public release of the Mood Meter Google Sheets app until it has been fully verified by Google. My priority is to provide a tool that is not only beneficial but also secure and reliable.

I am looking forward to seeing the impact this tool will make in the classroom and am eager to share it with you once it’s fully verified. Your understanding and patience are appreciated as we navigate this process together.

Privacy Policy:

What data do we handle? Our application does not actively collect any personal data. However, the application verifies ownership of the Mood Meter Google Sheet Template for certain permissions using the user’s Google account.

Google Data Usage Compliance This application’s use and transfer to any other app of information received from Google APIs will adhere to Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. This ensures that your data received via Google APIs is used and handled according to strict standards.

How do we use your data? The user’s Google account is solely used to check the ownership of the Mood Meter Google Sheet Template and to grant permissions accordingly within the context of the application.

How is your data stored? All data inputted by the user is stored within the Mood Meter Google Sheet Template, and not elsewhere. Users can manually delete the data in the Mood Meter Google Sheet Template.

Limited Use Compliance Disclosure We comply with the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. For more information, please review the Google API Services User Data Policy by clicking here What are your data protection rights? You have the right to access your own personal data, which is stored directly in the Mood Meter Google Sheet Template you are using. Your data is not stored anywhere else.

Cookies Our application does not use cookies.

Changes to this privacy policy We keep this privacy policy under regular review and place any updates on our website and other platforms where we have posted our application. This privacy policy was last updated on July 26, 2023.

How to contact us If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please do not hesitate to contact us. Email us at megiddo at gmail.com

Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By using this Mood Meter Google Sheet Template application, you agree to abide by these Terms of Service. If you disagree with any part of the terms, then you may not access the application.

2. Changes to Terms

I reserve the right, at my sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time.

3. Use of the Application

You are responsible for any activity that occurs through your use of the application. You agree not to distribute any part of the application without my explicit permission.

4. Ownership

The application, including the associated Mood Meter Google Sheet Template and Apps Script code, is owned by me. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the application for its intended purpose.

5. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall I, nor my partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates, be accountable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from your use of the application.

6. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your Country], without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

7. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact me at
megiddo at gmail.com.

 

 

Code Overview:

Coming soon…

Complete Code:

Coming soon…