Embedded Files
Today's (December 7, 2017) CUE Workshop was led by Melissa Hero, covering topics: Google+, Google Search, Google Calendar, and Google Hangouts. So many topics to cover and so little time! Melissa prepared for a full and diverse evening of exploration and discovery. After introductions via a Google form (inset), we jumped right in. Some highlights from today's workshop are shared below.
Google Search Techniques:
Where do I begin??!! I had no idea how versatile and adaptive the Google Search format and its features can be. We explored ways to Search and explore the internet by using "short-cuts" and "customizing" our search engine. Before we began, the instructor helped us get familiar with where things are in our Drive and locate the Google Icons or "waffle". Icons within this cluster may be rearranged so that the ones you use the most are those that appear first for easier access; nice to know!
She referred to the Search Bar as an "omnibox", which, appropriately named, allows for the use to enter "extension keywords" into the address box allowing it to adapt searches related to your topic. One such example she provided and, incidentally, uses in her classroom, is to use a "-" to eliminate or filter items out of your particular search. The word she showed us was to search: jaguar. If you do it just that way, you get lots of information on both the animal AND the car. However, if you type: jaguar -car, then you are telling the search to ELIMINATE all posts related to the car Jaguar. This is especially helpful for students searching the internet who will become overwhelmed very easily by the plethora of information retrieved, much of which may not pertain to their intended search.
(STEPS) Another GREAT TIP is to specify the file type when searching. To do this for searching PowerPoint files on Mitosis (for example), type: filetype:ppt mitosis and it will pull up only those types of files, again filtering out file types that you aren't interested in. This may be done for: Twitter, YouTube, .gov, file types as well, just to name a few. Please notice that there is an INTENTIONAL space between the specified file type and the topic you are searching.
Other ways she demonstrated searching for files is by using the tabs located UNDER the "Omnibox": All / News / Images / Books / Tools / More...
An example of how she uses this feature in her own classroom is by using the "Tools" tab and going to the link for "Free Google e-Books". Once a book is chosen, you can then SEARCH a WORD within that book. This could be helpful when a student is writing a paper on a character or theme and wants to be able to cite from the book, making it a really quick and easy process. Also in the "Tools" tab, you can CREATE SHORTCUTS for searches that you may use frequently. The examples she showed us were: "my" for My YouTube; "d" for Things from My Drive; and, "th" for Thesaurus. The user may create any CUSTOM shortcut settings; or, DISCOVER and CHOOSE from a long assortment of default shortcuts already embedded within the search tools. A link and steps to create a custom search may be found HERE.
Another really cool way to search a topic is by doing a "Reverse Image Search". You can actually take an image that you've found and learn more about it by: (STEPS) Using SNIPPING TOOL to select the image; Save that image to a file; then, go to the Search Bar, typing your topic or item (Ex: Waterfall); Click on the CAMERA icon to UPLOAD your saved file (image). The search image will search-and-find your waterfall image and locate information on that specific waterfall. LOVE this feature. I can see many applications for this in my classroom as I mentioned here:
Google+:
We talked briefly about the Google+ application. As I spend more time here, I'm finding (once again) how easy it is to use. The instructor introduced us to a few of her favorite G+ Communities:
Google Calendar:
Google calendars recently updated its formatting (apparently) so there were several of us on the call who are still using the older format since, she mentioned, this is an Admin direction; a lot of schools may not have switched over yet. Although she did try to show us features on both (old and new), the connection at this point was very "lagging" and made it a bit choppy to follow as she moved around between features. However, I was able to ascertain the following:
- (Old and New) Events may be added by clicking on a day and completing the relevant information
- (NEW Calendar) You may add in numerous helpful features to your created event such as: a map, video call, attachments, color notification, and a guest list
- (Old and New) Calendars may be shared
- "Other" Calendars may be searched and imported into your calendar to include things like: National Holidays, Sports, and more.
I scheduled an event in My Calendar for our next CUE Workshop:
Reflection
The thing that was a bit of a challenge with this particular workshop was the "lag" time that we had. Every time she changed something on her screen we saw a tremendous lag on our end as the image appeared very slowly in a "pixelated" way. It was a bit distracting and, at times, I disengaged because by the time an image appeared for our viewing, she was already talking about or going over something else. I realize this was not anything she could control but I would have liked to have a better connection with her so that I could follow along better. BTW: Others in the group experienced the same view, so I know it wasn't an issue on my end.
That being said, after going back through my notes to create this Blog, I realized that we really did cover a lot of information. So much of this must be through self-discovery and practice anyway but it is so helpful to have, at least, a starting point to play around with.
WHAT I LEARNED: Some things that I plan to put into use in the very near future is the "Reverse Image Search" feature". I teach Earth Science and it will be really easy to create slides with images that student would need to find and learn more about. Another great idea she suggested is trying to use the Google-A-Day feature, if not daily then weekly. This is a great way to teach the students how to more efficiently navigate through the internet to find information. This has a competitive component which kids this age really love. I learned that I can create a (SAFE) Custom Search Engine by going to google.com/cse and adding in websites that I want my students' searches to be allowed (or limited) to use. This way they have some freedom of choice without getting bogged down in an overload of information. I know once our District makes updates the calendar features, I will explore its uses more, particularly how it may be linked to Google Classroom assignments and Google Sites.
CONFUSIONS / QUESTIONS: I don't have any questions or confusions at this time. I do know that, like with most new things, getting acquainted with the multitude of facets that Google has to offer will just take time and practice. I do want to spend some time, probably during Summer 2018 planning find ways to build in short-cuts and employ a variety of Search techniques as I begin to develop my databank of hyperdocs for the classroom. Onward and upward!
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