Google Explained

Google Drive

Google Classroom

Google Classroom on the iPad

Submitting a photo or hand-written document to Google Classroom

Google Docs

Helpful Tools in Google Docs

Editing a Google Doc on an iPad

Google Calendar

Extensions

20200519 - BMK-BPA Initiative Google Drive

Google Drive

Google Drive is the organizational heart of google apps for education. The student's google drive contains all the student's files created with google apps, including docs, drawings, and presentations. These files can be organized into folders. Google Classroom creates a folder in google drive to hold all google classrooms and should not be deleted.

The BPA slideshow provides some tips for using Google Drive.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a learning management system. Teachers use Google classroom to post digital assignments, materials or links. One of the most helpful Google Classroom features is the ability to make a copy of a google doc for each student and add the student's name to the title.

Accessing Google Classroom on the cloud:

Go to classroom.google.com.
Enter student’s Benchmark email and password.
You will see the dashboard displaying all classes the student is enrolled in.
Click on any class to open into the classroom
The first page you will see is the Stream Page. It will become a list of posts in time order and may become cumbersome as more assignments are added.
Find the blue Classwork tab at the top and click. This page will be easier to navigate.
You will see headings for each subject.
When you click on the subject, you will find the assignments.

20200418 - BMK Parents - Google Classroom - Turn In Assignments

Here's a helpful slide deck put together by parent Patricio Ramirez on accessing Google Classroom and turning in assignments. Click on the pop-ou arrow to see it full screen.

Attachments in google classroom

Locating attachments in Google Classrom when you're using an iPad

Google Classroom on the iPad

Some of the components of Google Classroom are scaled differently on an iPad, for example the steam, classwork, and people tabs are located at the bottom of the screen. Finding attachments is also less obvious on the iPad.

Upload a worksheet onto google classroom

Video of how to submit handwritten work to google classroom

Submitting a photo or hand-written document to Google Classroom

Submitting artwork or written work to Google Classroom is most easily done with an iPad because you are able to take advantage of the camera option on the iPad.

Google Docs

Docs is Google's word processing app. In addition to the basic word processing features, google docs offers many collaborative options, such as shared comments. Google docs also has features to support reading and writing.

20200519 - BMK-BPA Initiative Google Docs

Helpful Tools in Google Docs

Voice typing: This is google’s speech-to-text tool. You access it through the tools drop-down menu when you have a google doc open. You can dictate and it will convert speech to text. You can also use it to read handwritten or poorly spelled text into a google doc to clean up the spelling. Learn more about how it operates with this video.

Find and Replace: This tool locates a specific letter, word, or phrase anywhere it is used in the document and replaces it with the letter, word, or phrase you specify. Use the edit drop-down menu to find the tool, or use control-H. This tool can be handy if you realize you have misspelled a word throughout the document, or forgotten to capitalize a word.

editing a google doc on an iPad.mov

Editing a Google Doc on an iPad

Editing a google doc on an iPad requires a couple extra steps. This video walks you through the procedure.

20200512 - Calendar Strategies

Google Calendar

Google calendar can be a helpful tool to organize work. It can be synced with Google Classroom to show zoom meetings and assignments. Here is a slideshow created by parent Patricio Ramirez to introduce Google Calendar. Watch this parent tech session to learn more about using Google Calendar.

Read and Write for Google Docs: This extension gives you a toolbar when you are working on a google doc. While some functions are paid, the function of reading text back is free. Once you download from google chrome, it appears as a drop-down tab that you can click on to activate. You can also access it when you are on a website, where it will function as a text-to-speech. We also encourage the student to listen to their writing using this extension to help them identify run-on sentences/punctuation issues, missing words, incorrect words, and sentence flow.

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Learn more here

Extensions

One group of tools called extensions are available for free through the Chrome Web Store. Once you select and add the extension, an icon for the extension appears above your bookmark bar and is activated by clicking on the icon. Here is a helpful video tutorial on how to install and delete extensions.

Timer: When you activate this extension, a small timer appears in the top right corner of your screen. You set up time increments such as 1 minute, 5 minutes, etc. and start the timer. When time is up, a relatively discrete chime sounds. This can be helpful for students who struggle with managing their time on task, or need to time some aspect of their homework.

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Google Dictionary: A google chrome extension that gives youa short definition and pronunciation of any word online. To use it, double click on a word when you are in google chrome.

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