Google Resources

Alice Keller has another great blog post explaining 10 things in G Suite (all the Google Products) that you might not know! She lists many that will be huge time savers in your classroom! Visit her blog for visuals and more informative posts.

10 Hidden Features of G Suite

Not everything can be found in a menu. Here are 10 features of G Suite that you have to know to use.

1) Google Sites

In Google Sites double click to reveal a wheel to insert content. Try making a Google Site by going to http://sites.new.

2) Force a Copy

When I share my templates I would prefer not to have a bunch of request for access. To immediately give someone a copy of a Google Doc, Sheets, Slides, or Drawing I modify the document URL to force a copy.

In your G Suite document use Control L to highlight the URL and Control C to copy.

For my progress bar of objectives template the URL is

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LeTFk0QEcVPWe80bXJH7CO4UKKymOrFgigCesZeMp6s/edit#gid=0

Notice after the slash it says edit (and some other stuff). DELETE the word edit and the other stuff and replace it with copy.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LeTFk0QEcVPWe80bXJH7CO4UKKymOrFgigCesZeMp6s/copy

Click here for a collaborative Google Slides template. Notice the link will prompt you to make a copy of the document. Check out more of my templates at the top of my site.

3) Google Docs

Look in the sidebar of Google Docs and Slides and notice there is a Google Keep icon. Find your brainstorm, notes, or student feedback and DRAG the Google Keep note right into the Google Doc or Google Slides.

4) Plus Mention

When leaving comments in G Suite documents such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Drawings you can add a plus mention to the comment to assign that person to the comment. A plus mention…. starts with a plus sign, no space, and the person you want to mention’s email address. +ss2@fresnoteach.org You can then choose to assign it to this person as an action item.

Tip: In Google Drive in the search box options you can filter your Drive for action items in Google Docs.

5) Google Forms

There are no keyboard shortcuts in Google Forms… FALSE! Use the keyboard shortcut Control Slash to see a list of all the keyboard shortcuts in Google Forms! Control Shift Enter is my favorite to add a new question to the Form.

http://alicekeeler.org/go-slow-workshops/

6) Google Classroom

When you open a students work document from Google Classroom it opens in the Feedback tool. On the right hand side of the Feedback tool notice the option for “Comment bank.” You can create a list of frequently provided feedback comments.

To insert the comments from the Comment bank, start a comment within the document (not a Private Comment) and add a HASHTAG to your comment to prompt a drop-down menu of choices from the Comment bank.

7) Google Sheets

When you do a series of steps in Google Sheets that will will repeat again, try recording a Macro. Use the Tools menu and choose Macros and “Record Macro.” Do what you want to your spreadsheet. Perhaps, freeze the first row, resize a column, merge some cells. Press stop recording on the Macro. Now when you want to do these same steps again, go back to the Tools menu and choose Macros and find your macro and like magic, those same steps are performed all at once.

However, that is not an Easter egg. The Easter egg is that when you record a Macro, it creates Google Apps Script. Use the Tools menu and choose Script editor to see the code that was created based on your series of steps. Use this to help you learn to code Google Apps Script.

8) Google Drawings

Google Drawings and Google Slides have the same drawing engine. So why can you insert a video into Google Slides but not Google Drawing? Hack… Use the Insert menu in SLIDES to insert a video from Google Drive or from YouTube onto a slide. Click on the video, Control C copy. Then in a Google Drawing, Control V paste. Video in Drawings. Hat Tip to Eric Curts.

9) Google Classroom

When adding “attachments” to a Google Classroom assignment you are NOT ATTACHING! You are LINKING from Google Drive. Notice when adding documents to an assignment the pop up says “Insert files using GOOGLE DRIVE.” In the search box there is a tiny triangle to allow you to filter for file type. Notice however, Google Forms is NOT ON THE LIST (neither is a Google Apps Script file type.) I would much rather add an interactive Google Form to my assignments than a static PDF!

You can manually filter by typing in

type:form

into the search box. Tip to click on “Last modified” to sort the results and find the Google Form you just made.

10) Google Classroom

Since we are talking Google Classroom and Google Forms… Here is a tip. When you create an assignment in Google Classroom and add a Google Form to the assignment if you ONLY have a Google Form “attached” it will automatically mark the assignment as turned in when the student finishes filling out the Form. If you “attach” or link to ANYTHING else… that trick does not work.

Eric Curts is one of my all time favorite EdTech gurus. I honestly don't know where he finds all his treasures! Some of the tools he shares in his presentation Hipster Google are familiar, but for the most part I would bet there are just as many that you've never seen.

Google is well know for certain tools and services - Search, Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Maps, Chrome, and such. These are all powerful and useful tools that are transforming teaching and learning in schools around the world.

However, in addition to those tools, Google has also created a wide range of services, apps, extensions, features, and other tools that are not as well known. Even though these tools may not be as popular or as widely known, they are still very useful in school settings.

These are the "Hipster Google" tools.

In our culture, one of the defining characteristics of the hipster movement is to appreciate things that are not mainstream, to use services that are not well known, or to embrace something before it becomes popular among the masses. With that thought in mind, I have collected a list of tools from Google that the average person may not know about yet.

Of course with any such list, there will be some tools that you do know, but hopefully you will pick up a few new ideas and resources from the bunch. And of course simply by sharing this blog post I am potentially making these tools more well known.

Below you will find my 1-hour recorded webinar covering each of the tools, as well as the session slideshow, and a write-up for each tool with a description and related links. So, jump on them now while it is still cool to say you used these before they were popular!

Do you want to monitor the web for mentions of your name? Or perhaps your business? Or maybe even your competitor? Google Alerts can do this.

It’s simple to use. You enter a word or phrase, and you’ll be alerted by email whenever Google finds new mentions on the web.

Want to track a particular topic or person (maybe yourself) and have all the information that bubbles up in the news be automatically delivered to you in any time frame you specify? You can do this quite easily with Google Alerts, a simple way to set up automatic delivery notices to yourself on any topic or person you might be interested in.

For example, say you want to be notified every time a prominent sports figure is mentioned online. Instead of taking the time to search for this person when you remember - potentially missing out on information simply because you forgot - you can just set up an automatic news feed that will scour the Web for any mentions of this person, and deliver them right to you. The only effort on your part will be to simply set up the alert and then your part is done.

You can also use this if your class is studying a current event and you want to know when new information is added.

I use this free service with my name. I want to know when I'm mentioned online. This happens more times than you know with your own name!

To use Google Alerts - you will need to go to www.google.com/alerts and sign in with your HOME Gmail account. Then, you can make an alert for any topic, person, place or thing that you want to be alerted. You will have an option for a daily digest or delivered to your inbox at a particular time.

Google Alerts - what they are and how to make one

How to create an alert

Paint Format in Google -

The Paint format tool is the paint roller icon in the top left of a google doc, slide or sheet. Its function is to copy formatting from one selected object or text to another. For example, if I highlight some text and bold it, change the color and size then click on the paint format tool I can copy that formatting to another highlighted text. This also works with shapes and pictures. This can be a huge time saver when creating slides and documents.

Thanks to Keith Barnes and Jake Miller for providing this tip. Click HERE for a video by Keith to walk you through how to use Paint Format.

Here are 14 Google Classroom Tips for Teachers by Teachers!

1. Number your assignments!

Numbering your assignments is one of the best tips I ever received. It helps you organize files not only in Classroom but also keep Google Drive neat and tidy.

2. Use Ctrl + F to Find Numbers and Words in Classroom

Even the most organized Classwork page can become quite long after a few weeks of assignments. Use the keyboard shortcut, Control + F (Command + F on a mac), to search for keywords or assignment numbers (as mentioned above) on the page. Teach students this trick, too!

3. Pick an Organizational Strategy for Using Topics

Using the topics featured on the classwork page helps organize assignments for students and teachers. There are several different ways to organize. There are several ways to do this and what works for one teacher doesn’t work for all. This is a personal preference for teachers. Choose a strategy that works for your content area and grade level.

4. Create a “Resources” Topic and Keep at the Top of the Classwork Page

Every class needs a place to store resources, links, class rules, syllabus, etc. Mindy Barron suggests you create a special topic for resources and class materials and keep it near the top for easy access. Be sure to name these files clearly so that students know exactly what is there.

5. Create a Google Classroom Class Template

Once you have selected your favorite organization method for Google Classroom (and tested it!) Make a copy of the class as your template. You can continue to make a copy every time you need a new class and already have all of your topics created and organized, and your assignments will be saved as drafts!

To make a copy of a class in Google Classroom: Go to your Google Classroom home, then click on the 3 dots on the class card and select “copy class.”

6. Use Direct Links to Assignments

Did you know you can get a direct link to a specific assignment? This makes it so easy to refer students back to a particular activity. Just go to the Classwork page, locate the assignment, click on the 3 dots to the right of the assignment and copy the link.

7. Use a Google Doc as a Syllabus (Secondary)

Many teachers use Google Docs to create a syllabus so that it is a living document that can be updated throughout the year. Add links to outside resources, daily assignments, important dates, etc. You can even put links to Google Classroom assignments to avoid the long search for students. (Thank you to Michael Stroud for sharing this!)

8. Break Projects into Smaller Assignments with Separate Due Dates

Project-based learning is so important, and as we try to move past the static, one-and-done assignments, we have to think differently about how we implement in our classrooms.

Big projects can be overwhelming for students, especially those who haven’t learned how to manage their time. It’s important to give them milestones and chunk the project into smaller assignments with checkpoints.

9. Create a Separate Class for Enrichment and Extension Activities

In my class, finishing your assignment early didn’t mean free time or games. For my students, it involved reading and enrichment activities. Consider creating a separate class inside Google Classroom for extension or enrichment activities. You could even gamify this idea and give digital badges for accomplishing a task or challenge.

10. Use Private Comments for Meaningful Feedback and Conversations with Students

One of my favorite features of Google Classroom is the private comment feature. This little tool can help streamline communication with your students and improve the feedback loop. Feedback from teachers is one of the most important factors in student growth! Private comments are just that–private between you and your student. (No one else can read these.) Remember to use private comments not just at the end of the assignment, but throughout!

And this doesn’t negate the power of face-to-face conversations, but it does help document so students can remember the feedback, as well as give students an opportunity to communicate who do not usually speak in front of the class. There are a few different places where you can add private comments to students.

To add a private comment from the Student Work page:

From the Classwork tab, click on the assignment for which you would like to give feedback.

Click on “View Assignment.”

Select the Student from the roster on the left.

Toward the bottom of the right-hand panel, you will see “Add Private Comment.”

Click to type and add your private comment for your student.

You can also now add private comments using the new grading feature in Google Classroom from inside the student’s document.

To add a private comment using the Grading Tool:

From the Classwork tab, click on the assignment for which you would like to give feedback.

Click on “View Assignment.”

Click on the student’s file that you would like to give feedback.

Use the right-hand panel to post a private comment.

11. Use Private Comments for Reflection

Some teachers take the private comments feature a step further and make it part of the assignment by requiring that students add a reflection as a private comment after they submit their assignment. Sean Fahey suggests using an open-ended question or give students a prompt like, “What did you like most about the assignment?” or “What part challenged you the most?” Be sure to add this to your directions, so they don’t forget!

12. Attach a Template Document for Each Assignment.

This tip comes to us from Michelle Baragar. She attaches a blank Google Doc or a template to each assignment as a copy for each student. In Google Classroom, you can view the assignment page and see a thumbnail for each student. This allows you to see progress, or lack thereof, at a glance.

Even if you do not have a template for your assignment, Michelle Baragar suggests attaching a saved blank document to use as a template so that you can still get the thumbnail view!

13. Invite Teachers that are Hesitant to Use Google Classroom to Be a Student or Co-Teacher in Your Class.

Not every teacher is on board with Google Classroom. If you work with a teacher who is hesitant or maybe a little technophobic, invite them to join your class as a student or a co-teacher. I suggest inviting them as a student at first, so they get an idea of how it works before giving them the ability to add and edit your class as a co-teacher. Co-teachers can do everything you can do in a class.

To invite teachers:

Go to the class where you want to add them,

Then click on the People tab at the top of the page.

To invite as a co-teacher, click on the invite teachers icon and type their name or email address and click Invite.

To invite a teacher as a student, click on the invite students icon and type their name or email address and click Invite.

14. Create a demo student account to demonstrate Google Classroom to your students.

Google Classroom doesn’t currently offer teachers a way to view their classes as a student. (I wish it did!)

The more information you provide in the assignment, the fewer questions you have to address, and the fewer excuses students have for not having the assignment completed and on time.

Do you like to manipulate Google app URL's to meet the needs of your students? Well, you are in luck because Sir Links-a-Lot extension has your back with big round buttons in your face to do all the work for you!

Templates ~ Force a copy ~ Preview ~ PDF with just a click check this out!

​Click on the link to access the extension - Sir Links-a-lot