Instructional Technology Resource Teachers
Teresa's Tech Tip for the Week of November 11:
At the middle schools, we have been experimenting with using a Chrome extension called "Screencastify" to simulate audio testing on common assessments and benchmarks. This more closely simulates an audio session for SOL's than having a test read to students who receive this accommodation. Please schedule a time or reach out to your ITRT so you can show you how to set this up for your students if you would like to use this in your classroom.
Teresa's Tech Tip for the Week of Nov 4:
Force Users to Make a Copy of a Google Doc!
How to Force Users to Make a Copy of Google Drive Files
Here’s an easy way to force users to make a copy of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides or Drawings! By hacking the URL you can prompt users to make a copy! Have you ever shared a file with a student or colleague and instructed them to go to file>make a copy, and instead, they start typing on the document like it’s their own? There are lots of ways to make a copy and distribute to students, like using Google Classroom or Doctopus, but this little trick is super simple! Since Google Classroom solves this issue with students, this is mostly a trick that comes in handy when sharing with adults or on your website or blog
Here’s how it works!
STEP 1
Be sure you have shared your document either as “anyone with the link,” or “public.” This has to be enabled before you can use the force a copy trick.
You could share it individually with the person, but that usually prompts a notification and they will see it in Drive and could still ignore your instructions.
STEP 2
Open the doc, slide deck, sheet, or drawing you want to use. Click in the search box and look at the end of the link. Replace the word EDIT with the word COPY in the link. Click return/enter.
STEP 3
Copy and paste this new copy link wherever you need–in an email, on your website, presentation, newsletter, etc. Don’t forget STEP 1! If you haven’t made it shareable the link will not work! When the user clicks on the copy link, they will be prompted to make a copy of the file. Once they click the “Make a Copy,” button, it will make a copy of the file and add it to their Google Drive. AWESOME!
