Friday, February 20, 2026

Tech Tips and News for February 2026

 
Image created by Karen Szczytko
 using Gemini 3.0 Flash 2/12/26
A common topic of conversation in my Ed Tech feeds is the dramatic increase in phishing emails at schools. We are definitely seeing this at ASA. It feels like schools are under attack. AI has made it easy for anyone with a desire to make a quick buck to become a hacker. Coding skills are no longer needed. This is coupled with the desire for those with ill intent to get their hands on the personal information of children. It could be years before anyone realizes a child's identity has been stolen and used for monetary gain. Then, of course, there's always the tried and true Ransomware, when a hacker locks a network and demands a ransom to unlock it. Add to this recipe the fact that schools have a wide variety of employees with varying technology skills. Many of those employees may only have access to a school email account, but sometimes that's all a hacker needs to access a school's network. This why it's so important for every school employee to realize they may be a target, and not to fall for social engineering or phishing attempts. You may only work a few hours a week, but you are a prime opportunity for a cyber criminal. I encourage you to take a minute to review the Safety & Security articles I post each month, as well as take the few minutes to complete those monthly Wizer cybersecurity trainings that Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) sends. No one expects you to be a tech genius, but we all have to be aware of these threats, know how to spot them, and more importanly know how to react and report them. Knowledge is power, my friends. Let's be powerful!

Safety & Security


News



Updates


Tutorials





PSA: This Browser Setting Could Be Giving Hackers Your Credit Card Info

Convenience almost always sacrifices our security online. Find out why you shouldn't save your credit card info with an online shopping site or browser. More importantly, where should you store that information so shopping is still convenient? The most important info includes ways to remove your credit card info from all your online browsers and shopping sites.

Valentine's Day Scam Warning: Flirty Text Messages Might Be Money Traps

While this is a little late for Valentine's day, these scams happen all year long - they're just more likely during the Valentine's Day season. This article gives a clear path of action so you know what to do when you receive texts like these. 

Cybersecurity Tips for Tax Season

Cybersecurity Tips for Tax Season, from National Cybersecurity Alliance
Tax season is prime time for cybercriminals. Find out how you can protect your identity and refund. 

The Shady Emails Keep Coming. It's Time to Fight Back Against Spear Phishing

While Google does a pretty good job of catching most phishing messages, some do make it through to our inboxes. We've seen a noticeable increase in these in just the past couple months. Spear phishing emails are no longer just directed at higher level employees, they are now sent to all level employees. This article does a great job of explaining how those spear phishing messages work and what to look out for. The article also recommends the use of a password manager - not your browser's built in password manager. I use BitWarden, which has free personal accounts and works across all platforms. 

Is Spyware Hiding on Your Phone? How to Find Out and Remove It - Fast

This article does a good job of explaining how you get malware on your device, what signs to look for, as well as how to get rid of it.

These Are the 4 Biggest Scams to Watch for in 2026

What scams should you be on the look out for? 

Data Brokers: What They Are, How They Work, and How You Can Protect Your Privacy

There are hundreds of companies you've never heard of quitely collecting, buying, and selling information about you. Think twice before participating in a loyalty program or giving your email address to a retailer.


After 23 Years in the Classroom, This High School Teacher Insists on Less Tech in His Classroom

Many studies are indicating students learn better when they are actively participating, such as taking handwritten notes or hands-on activies, rather than the passive learning that happens on devices. See how this teacher makes it work. 

Offline Digital Citizenship: Soft Skills to Support Strong Online Habits

Offline Digital Citizenship: Soft Skills to Support Strong Online Habits, from Common Sense Media by Christine Elgersma 
Common Sense Media has updated their digital citizenship lessons to include ways for students to learn a healthy balance between their online and offline life. It includes sensitive topics like online peer pressure, and what it looks like in all its forms, such as a friend blowing up your phone because you're not responding, hanging with friends who decide their going to participate in the latest viral challenge, a gamer friend who needs you to help them with a challenge right now, a crush who wants you to send a nude photo and more. There are lessons for every grade level, starting in Kindergarten. These lessons are ready-made for teachers to use. This is a good addition to the PYE curriculum we already use. 



Google Updates Coming Spring 2026


Google Updates Coming Spring 2026, from Chromebook Classroom by John Sowash
Google often announces their upcoming education updates at the BETT conference. This year was no different. See what exciting updates are in store for us. Just a reminder, ASA uses the Teaching & Learning license for teachers and admins. 

15 Updates to Make Google BETTer

15 Updates to Make Google BETTer, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
Eric shares 15 updates Google announced at BETT in London for Gemini, Classroom, Chromebooks, Drive and more. We will see the updates that are for the Teaching & Learning edition.

Gemini:  Select Gemini in Workspace Features Available for Teaching & Learning Customers

ASA uses the Teaching & Learning Google Workspace subscription for teachers and administrative staff, so this is great news! Here are the features that will be available:
  • Google Docs:  Side Panel, Help Me Write, Help Me Create, and Summarize a Document
  • Google Slides:  Side Panel, Generate an Image
  • Google Vids:  AI Avatars, AI Video Clips with Veo 3, Help Me Create, Slides to Vids, AI Voiceover, Generate an Image
  • Google Forms:  Help Me Create a Form, Summarize Responses, Question Generation
In the coming months, Gemini features will also be added to Google Sheets. Learn how to use these features here. You should see these features by the end of February, if not before. 


Google Vids:  Expanding Access to Select Features for All Users

Google Vids is designed to help users share information and tell stories through video. To help more users create professional-quality content, Google is making three features in Vids available to all users, regardless of what Workspace edition they use. These features include: 
  • Read-along teleprompter: Allows you to read from a script that automatically scrolls as you speak, helping you maintain eye contact with the camera and deliver a more natural performance. 
  • Transcript trim: Provides a simple way to edit your video by deleting words or silences directly from the video’s transcript. 
  • Styled captions: Lets you choose from a variety of visual styles to render captions directly on your video, making your content more accessible and engaging. 
This gives you another video ceation tool that's built right in to Google Workspace, so you no longer have to use (or pay for) a third-party service. In addition, because it's part of Google Workspace, it automatically integrates with all your Google files, saves the video to Google Drive and uses the same sharing features all your other Google files do. These features will be available by default whenever you use the recording studio or editor in Google Vids. Visit the Help Center to learn more about recording a video or audio clip,  using the teleprompter or trimming transcripts in Vids. I've also included a Google Vids for Beginners video link in the Tutorials section below. If you aren't already seeing this feature, you should be seeing it by late February. 



The Gmail Survival Guide for Busy Teachers

The Gmail Survival Guide for Busy Teachers, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Let's take some of the pain out of keeping up with those emails!

Beginner's Guide to Google Vids

Now that Google Vids is available to everyone, it's time to learn how to use it. If you've ever created a video in Canva - Google Vids works similarly. Because it's part of Google Workspace, it automatically integrates with all your Google files, saves the video to Google Drive and uses the same sharing features all your other Google files do.



Google NotebookLM for Teachers:  10 Things to Know for Educators

This is an updated version to include NBLM's recently added features. 

New EduGems:  Project Breakdowns, Differentiate Assessments, IEP/504 SMART Goal, Vocabulary Tiers

 Eric Curts shares the latest Gems that have been added to his EduGems site. Think of EduGems as very thorough Gemini prompts that you can customize to perform a specific task for you. 
  • 📋 Project Breakdown - Help students manage their workload by breaking complex projects into manageable micro-steps with a clear timeline
  • 🎚️ Alternate Assessment - Create high-quality alternate versions of your existing quizzes or tests for retakes, make-ups, or differentiation (lower level, higher level, accommodations)
  • 🎯 IEP/504 SMART Goal - Generate high-quality IEP/504 SMART goals based on a student's data, needs, strengths, grade level, and special education category
  • 🪜 Vocabulary Tiers - Categorize words from a text into Tier 1 (Basic), Tier 2 (High-Utility Academic), and Tier 3 (Domain-Specific) to support student comprehension
  • 📖 Story Writer - Create high-quality, engaging stories tailored to your specific classroom needs and content

The Power of Gemini AI in Chrome (Video)


20 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do with Google Arts and Culture

If you haven’t checked in on Google Arts & Culture lately, it’s time for a revisit.

Your Social Media Feeds? I'll Show You How to Clean It Up

I don't know about you, but my social media feeds deliver very little content that I'm interested in, and even fewer posts from my actual friends. Wasn't that supposed to be the whole purpose of social media?Here's a helpful article showing you how to reset your feeds in most platforms. 

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

Tech Tips and News for January 2026

Image generated by Karen Szczytko using
Nano Banana (Gemini 3.0 Pro), 1/20/26
Another month, another phishing email attempt for us. To that end, I've listed several resources in the Safety & Security section to keep your scam sighting skills sharp for the next attempt. In addition, I tried another experiment with Google Gemini Canvas and ended up accidentally vibe coding (coding without having any actual programming skills) an app that saved me DAYS worth of work! I'm really excited about this. I have no formal coding skills, so believe me, you can do this too! Gemini does ALL the heavy lifting. I'm sure you have tedious tasks you do that you can automate with Gemini as well. The whole process took maybe 45 minutes to create the app, and now I have a tool I can use from now on that converts a week-long job to a task I can complete in less than a day! Check out the Accidentally Vibe Coding article under the Tips & Tutorials section below. I hope you are staying warm and safe inside now that Winter is in full force, along with it's friend the Polar Vortex. 

Safety & Security


Updates


Tips & Tutorials    





7 Cybersecurity Tips NOBODY Tells You (but are EASY to do)




Anatomy of Scam Emails - How To Recognise A Phishing Scam Message




10 Red Flags to Indicate a Scam



New Scams to Watch Out For in 2026



FBI Issues Urgent Warning over Quishing Scam

FBI Issues Urgent Warning over Quishing Scam, from Tom's Guide by Scott Younker
This is very timely considering many of our teachers received a quishing email in early January. So remember, in addition to not clicking on links or attachments in unsolicited emails also refrain from using QR codes in emails. 

One Simple Setting Can Block Most Scam Texts. Are You Using It?

This article includes instructions for both iPhones and Androids. This setting sorts text messages from unknown senders into a separate folder, which allows you to safely ignore them. 


Should You Stop Logging In Through Google and Facebook? Consider These SSO Risks vs. Benefits

Yes it's convenient to sign in to yet another online account with your Google or Facebook account, but what info are you handing over to them? 

People are the Password Problem:  How You're Creating Your Biggest Security Risks

Are you setting yourself up for identity theft? Please consider using a password manager. I use the free, personal version of BitWarden, but there are many other good options as well. 



Classroom:  Generate Podcast-Style Audio Lessons Using Gemini

This feature will be available in the Gemini tab within Google Classroom within the first couple weeks of January. Navigate to the Gemini tab in the navigation bar in Google Classroom. When using generated content, you should always review the outputs as AI can make mistakes and refine the output so that it fits your context and local policies before assigning to students. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini in Classroom, and check out these resources for teachers, including this resource with tips and best practices for trying Gemini in Classroom.

Google Forms:  Automatically Stop Accepting Responses Based on Date and Time or Response Count


We no longer need to use an add-on to automatically turn off a form on a certain date/time, or once a certain number of responses have been submitted. Now Form owners and editors  can set a date/time to close the form, or set a number of responses to close it. This feature is off by default and can be enabled after the Form owner or editor publishes the form This feature will be available by tapping Published, then selecting the link below Accepting Responses. There you can choose On a Date or After a Number of Responses. Enter your criteria and tap Save. (See GIF above.) Learn more about automatically closing a form here. If you are not yet seeing this new feature, it should be available by the end of January. 

Gmail in the Gemini era: Explore the new features



Gmail:  Help me schedule in Gmail simplifies scheduling (video)



NotebookLM:  Transform Sources into Structured Data Tables


NotebookLM now allows you to organize your source files into data tables. Here are some ways to use them:  
  • Prepare for exams with study tables of historical events, organized by date, key figures, and consequences.
  • Turn meeting transcripts into a clean table of action items, categorized by owner and priority. Or build a competitor comparison table analyzing pricing and strategies.
  • Streamline curriculum mapping by aligning state standards, learning objectives, and assessment criteria across your semester plan.
  • Synthesize clinical trial outcomes across multiple papers to track study years, sample sizes and statistics.



Accidentally Vibe Coding to Automate Tedious Jobs with Gemini


During Christmas Break I decided to experiment with Gemini Canvas a little more to see if I could automate some of my more tedious chores and save myself some time. One of the most tedious things I do all year is creating and programming scheduling forms for conferences. I must create a form for each K-4 teacher, with two days full of appointment slots, then program them to eliminate choices as they're selected, and then send a confirmation message to parents. Previously, I've created a template, made copies of it and customised the form for each teacher. It can take the better part of a week to create and program each of these forms, and if I'm interrupted somehwere along the process, it will sometimes result in a missed step that causes the programming to malfunction. I must say, Gemini exceeded my expectations. My initial thought was to create a Gem that I could reuse each year to create the forms. I started with a prompt* asking Gemini Canvas to help me create a Gem to create the scheduling forms for each teacher. In my prompt I went on to describe the form I needed for each teacher. I also included each teacher's name, as well as the dates and times for February conferences. I even included how I wanted each file named and where in Google Drive the forms shouled be placed so I could find them again. It was a very detailed and lengthy prompt. Gemini's first response was to explain a Gem wasn't the right tool, but instead it would program a Google Apps Script. I had just accidentally vibe coded an app to create eight scheduling forms in a matter of minutes. If you aren't familiar with one of the latest AI buzzwords "Vibe Coding", it's when those of us who are not programmers use AI to create an app. AI writes the code for us. After tweaking my forms a little, Gemini fully explained to me how to save and actually run the app. The entire process of creating the app and running it to actually create the forms took about 30 minutes. I now have an app I can customize for each conferences season and create eight forms in about five minutes. That's a day or two of manual labor completed by a Google App in FIVE MINUTES! 🤯 All it cost me was 30 minutes of my time to create the script. I encourage you to find those time-consuming, tedious tasks you do and ask Gemini to automate them for you. Here are some key take-aways I learned during this process:

  • Use the Gemini tools:  Guided Learning, Deep Research, Create Images or Canvas. I used Canvas for this project with the Thinking option (not fast).
  • Be as detailed as possible with your prompt. There's no limit to how long it can be.
  • Use plain language - talk to Gemini as you would a human.
  • Remember, you're having an ongoing conversation with Gemini to get exactly the end result you want - it's not a one and done prompt. 
  • Make adjustments as necessary to your prompt by asking Gemini to make as many changes as you need.
  • If you don't understand what Gemini is asking you to do, ask for an explanation. It helps to tell Gemini your level of understanding:  "Explain it to me like I'm a child", or "I'm not a programmer". 
I can't wait to see what else I can automate. I'm thinking about automating those field trip forms next. If you find a task to automate using Gemini, please let me know!

*If you want to see my detailed prompt, please let me know and I'll send it to you. 

Making Graphic Novels with Gemini and NotebookLM

Making Graphic Novels with Gemini and NotebookLM, From Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
Just WOW is about all I can say about the variety of topics and art styles Eric used to create many graphic novels for students. Not only are the graphic novels impressive, but he also explains exactly how he created them - including the detailed prompts he used. If you want to get your students' attention while presenting new content, this is a terrific idea. Eric's templates make this truly doable even if you are not the least bit artistic.

Building a Second Brain with NotebookLM: From Blank Page to Full Research Report

In minutes, see how you can create quizzes, explainer videos, interactive podcast, slide presentation, mind maps, and more.



Organize Your Google Classroom in Ten Minutes

I recently received an email newsletter from Jeff Bradbury of teachercast.net, where he outlines a quick way to organize your Google Classroom in ten minutes using Topics. Unless you're organized from the beginning, it's way too easy for your Classroom to become a "jumbled mess" as the year moves along. His solution is to use the Topics feature using these steps:

Step 1: The "Chaos" Audit (2 minutes) Open your primary Google Classroom and look at the "Classwork" tab. If you feel a slight sense of "overwhelm," you’re ready for the system.

Step 2: Create Your Framework (3 minutes) Click "Create" → "Topic" and add categories that match your curriculum structure. My favorites for a clean "Impact" look:

📘 Unit 1: [Name]
📗 Unit 2: [Name]
📝 Daily Quick-Checks
📌 Important Resources

Step 3: Assign and Move (5 minutes) Edit your last 10 posts and assign them to a Topic. Then, use the "Move to Top" feature on your CURRENT unit so it’s the first thing students see when they log in.

Why This Matters for Your Impact
  • Student Autonomy: When your Classroom is organized by system, students stop asking "Where is the assignment?" and start working.
  • Professionalism: A structured Classwork tab shows parents and administrators that you are orchestrating a high-level learning environment.
  • Teacher Peace of Mind: You’ll walk into your building on Monday knowing exactly where everything is located.

How to Organize Google Classroom



New EduGems from Eric Curts

As a reminder, Gems are pre-made prompts in Google Gemini that you can use over and over. Eric Curts, of Control Alt Achieve, has curated a list of Gems specifically designed for educators on his EduGems website. His site full of Gems are not just for assignments or student activities, but also include tools for instructional support, making sub plans, and communications with parents. Feel free to use his Gems from the site or copy them into your own Gemini. Here are the latest Gems he's added:
  • 🔠 CYOA Story - Create an interactive "Choose Your Own Adventure" game based on topic, learning goals & grade level
  • 🗯️ Graphic Novel Maker - Turn any idea into a formatted script that can be used in NotebookLM to generate a completed graphic novel
  • ⌛ Historical "What If?" - Create an engaging "Alternative History" scenario with new narrative, primary sources, critical thinking activities and more
  • 🎭 Reader's Theater - Transform a topic, text, or concept into an engaging Reader's Theater script to build reading fluency and comprehension
  • 🖼️ Slideshow Maker - Generate a complete Google Slides presentation based on your topic, content, audience, style and tone
  • 🦸 Staff Superhero Image - Celebrate your school staff by transforming their photos into high-quality superhero portraits
  • 📦 Standards Unpacker - Translate complex academic standards into skills, knowledge, concepts, expectations, targets, strategies, and more
  • ✍️ Story Co-Writer - Have students collaboratively write a story with AI in "round robin" style on any topic
  • ✍️ Text Rewriter - Analyze and adapt any text to adjust reading levels, length, tone, style, format, and accessibility features
  • 🎬 Video Prompt Generator - Construct the perfect prompt for AI video generation tools for your Scene, Cinematography, Style, and Audio



7 Steps You Need To Become a Gmail Power User



Spam Calls are Out of Control. Here's How I Stopped Them

Spam Calls are Out of Control. Here's How I Stopped Them, from PC Magazine by Lance Whitney & Kim Key
Learn how to block those pesky spam calls. 

6 Ways to Prepare Students for an AI Future

6 Ways to Prepare Students for an AI Future, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Whether or not students are using AI in class, we can, and should, still start to prepare them for an AI world. 


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Monday, December 22, 2025

Tech Tips and News for December 2025

Gemini Generated with Nano Banana
Did you know that most data breaches start with an employee falling for a phishing email? Have you fallen for a phishing attempt recently? Some of your recently received a phishing email that appeared to be from Fr. Christoper. Many of you were alert enough to realize it was not a legitimate message, but a few of you fell for it. I encourage you to review the safety and security articles below and participate in each of the Michigan Catholic Conference cyber trainings that come through your inbox. Accidentally interacting with a phishing message is exactly what they are intended to prevent. 

During our recent snow day, I had a chance to do some experimenting with Google Gemini. I used Canvas in Gemini (not to be confused with the LMS) to create two interactive lessons and an infographic all in an afternoon. Take a look at the last article below, or watch the short video linked in that article, to see how easy it was and how much time Gemini can save you. I learned so much in just one afternoon about how to better use Gemini just by playing around with it. I also linked the lessons and infographic Gemini and I produced so you can see exactly what it created. It's time to work smarter, not harder, and Gemini has made it so much easier to do. Since Gemini is part of Google Workspace for Education, it's secure to use, and I don't need to create a third party account. Since teachers are some of the most creative people I know, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this tool.  If you have a chance to experiment with Gemini, or have already been using it, please let me know what you've created and how your experience went.

Safety and Security

News

Updates

Tips and Tutorials




Before You Check Out, Read This: 10 Crucial Online Shopping Safety Tricks

Before You Check Out, Read This: 10 Crucial Online Shopping Safety Tricks, from PC Magazine by Eric Griffith and Kim Key

Is That Your Delivery Driver Calling or a Phone Scam? Don't Pick Up Until You Read This? 

Rule of thumb, If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail. If it's important they'll leave a message and you can call them back. This article also explains what the caller labels on your phone really mean and shows you how to block those scammy callers. 

How to Report Phishing in Gmail (Video)



Spot Phishing Emails (Video)


Email Scams are Getting Better, What Should We Do? (Video)


I Compared the Privacy of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity - Here's the One You Should Trust Most with Your Personal Info


This comparison is when using these chat bots with your personal account. When using your school account, Gemini is the most secure. That being said I still wouldn't share any personal information with any of them. 




14 Things AI Can Do Faster Than You, But Never Better

While AI seems like it can think - it really can't, it just predicts what it thinks we want to hear. Find out how else being a human has its advantages over AI.

Pathways to AI - Earn up to 81 SCECHs for Free

Are you ready to master AI tools? KISD is offering an Asynchronous/Self-Paced course, February 1-April 30, 2026. Explore four tailored pathways: AI Foundations, Content Creation, Classroom Instruction, or Student Engagement at your own pace with hands-on tools and vendor-backed certifications. Earn digital badges that prove your expertise, streamline your workflows, and empower students with critical AI skills. Complete one pathway or all four; you decide your journey. No cost, maximum flexibility, maximum impact. Register for Pathways to AI here.

Updated AI Privacy and Safety Checks

Kent Intermediate School District has created and maintains a comprehensive list of educational AI tools and rates their privacy and safety. This is a great place to start when you are thinking about using an AI-enabled tool for your own use or especially with students. You can find it at iamed.tech/aiprivacysafety. 

Brand-New Classroom Game from Common Sense Education

What's AI, and what isn't? In today's media landscape, kids need to know! Two Truths & AI is a 
digital literacy game for grades K–12 that teaches students to spot AI-generated content and develop important media literacy skills.

Through an engaging 60-second challenge, students try to distinguish between real and AI-generated movie posters. It's a fun way for students to test their AI detective skills, while also building their critical thinking muscles.

 Use this new game to help your students:
🔎 Learn to spot AI-generated content by noticing visual clues
✋ Explain their reasoning through thoughtful analysis and discussion
🧠 Think critically about the digital images they see

Best of all, this new game is 100% free for educators everywhere! Learn more and try it here. 



Google Classroom:  Educators Can Now Assign Public Notebooks


Teachers can attach public notebooks to assignments, in addition to the notebooks they create or own. NotebookLM is a great way for students to interact with AI, because it limits the source documents to only those included in the Notebook. Students could then ask questions about the content, create a study guide, flash cards, listen to the content, watch a video containing all the info and more. We do not currently have NotebookLM turned on for students until staff can learn about NotebookLM and plan for its use. Learn more about creating assignments with NotebookLM here. This feature will be rolling out during the month of December.

Google EDU November Update

John demonstrates how to use the latest updates in Google. 

December Google EDU Update







What to Do When Your Computer Won't Start

What to Do When Your Computer Won't Start, from PC Magazine by Whitson Gordon
It's such a sinking feeling when your computer won't start. Don't panic, try these steps instead.

Is That an AI Image? 6 Telltale Signs It's a Fake - And My Favorite Free Detectors

I've noticed some AI images and videos are so obvious, but others aren't. I appreciate the AI detector suggestions. 

Is That an AI Video? 6 Telltale Signs It's a Fake

Is That an AI Video? 6 Telltale Signs It's a Fake, from ZDNet by Elyse Betters Picaro
Learn what to look for to spot those fake videos. This article also makes some suggestions for AI detection tools. (Tip:  watch this one from home, as most of the video examples are from TikTok and blocked on school WiFi.)

Your Google Drive is a Disaster - Here's How to Fix it in Just One Afternoon

Thank goodness Drive is easily searchable, but it's even easier when you can find your files because you've organized them!

From 45 Minutes to 8: How to Streamline Assignments with This Hidden Google Classroom Feature

Were you aware of the Reuse Post feature? I wasn't. Having a Google Classroom full of assignment templates is brilliant!

8 Googley Wintertime Activities

8 Googley Wintertime Activities, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
Help your students improve their tech skills with these free winter themed activities. All can be done in Google Slides, Drawing, Sheets or Docs. Templates are provided to get you started. 

I Spent a Snow Day Afternoon Experimenting with Gemini Canvas

My first Gemini Canvas project

Gemini can create just about anything you ask it to. I recently explored the Canvas tool (no, not Camvas the LMS) to create a couple of phishing lessons and an infographic (see the video here). First I used the Fast method- which took about 20 minutes to create from start to finish includeing all the adjustments I made to it. Then I tried the thinking method, which took closer to 45 minutes to create and refine due to its complexity. The Thinking option was definitely overkill for this exercise and made the assignment more of a course with modules than just a simple lesson. The thinking method would be better used when needed to incorporate images, such as when creating an infographic or if you are looking for something more complex. In hindsight, I could have shortened the time it took to refine the projects if I'd created a more detailed prompt in the first place. Your prompt can be as long and detailed as you need it to be. I've seen some that are pages long and include dot points. Neither of these lessons are ready for prime time, but are a good start considering they took less than an hour, were free, customizable, and I didn't have to know how to code to create them.  

Once the lessons were created, I then asked Gemini how I could share them. Sharing the infographic was easy, but the interactive lessons were a little more complicated, and this is where Gemini was less helpful. I had to spell out that I am not a programmer or coder, am new to Gemini Canvas, and needed specific instructions as to where to find the code file it was referring to. Turns out there's a tiny filing tray icon in the upper right corner that lists all of the files Gemini creates for a project. I also needed to switch between the preview and code views - another thing Gemini neglected to mention. (I point out the location for both of these in the video I linked above.)

You can see all three of these Gemini created projects here, including the prompts I used and what I learned. 

Here are my take-aways:
  • Start Simple - Start with a project you are familiar with, such as creating a worksheet in a Google Doc, a presentation, or an infographic and use the Fast method - unless you need Gemini to create graphics.
  • Detailed Prompt - be as detailed as possible when creating your initial prompt. Use natural language as if you were speaking to a human. Include your role, your intended audience, details about what content to include including any key terms it should use, and what kind of project you're creating (printable worksheet, interactive lesson, infographic, etc.). The more detailed your inital prompt is, the fewer adjustments you'll need to make and the faster the project will go.
  • Continue the Conversation - Usually the initial creation is just a start, and as you look through it you'll think of things you'd like Gemini to change. Consider the Gemini chat to be an ongoing collaboration. You tell Gemini what to change and it will do it. Ask Gemini for advice, and it will provide it. If you don't understand what it's telling you to do, ask questions. 
  • How to Share?  I spent the most time with the lesson projects trying to figure out how to share them. Because they were interactive lessons, it's more complicated than creating a doc or slide file to share as you normally would. Gemini was less detailed in it's instructions for where to find files it would refer me to. I eventually realized all the files Gemini creates based on your prompts are accessible via a very small filing tray icon in the upper right corner. I also didn't realize at first that there's a preview and code view, so if you need to copy and paste the code you need to switch to code view. 
  • Keep Trying! The more you work with Gemini, the faster you'll become at telling it what you want, and knowing what details to include in your prompt. 
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Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Tech Tips and News for November 2025

Now that we're well into the holiday season, make sure you know better than to fall for any holiday scams. Unfortunately any shopping season brings out lots of online shopping scams. When we're full of holiday cheer and goodwill it seems even more offensive when we encounter these cyber thieves. There are several articles listed below on this topic. Staysafeonline.org is a great organization to subscribe to for timely cybersecurity reminders and news of the latest online scams to watch out for. Just open any article on their site and hit the subscribe button. Arm yourself with knowledge to stay a step ahead of these threats. They also hold cybersecurity webinars periodically. If you have any older adults in your life who struggle with technology or online secrity, this is a great resource for them!

Safety and Security


News


Updates


Tips and Tutorials




Don’t use a single password for every site, here’s why

If hackers have your password for one site, will they have the password for all of them? Hopefully not, because they're going to try them on every possible site. 

Beware the 'Hi, how are you?' text. It's a scam - here's how it works

Don't be tempted to be friendly or helpful if someone you don't know texts you. 

This Windows Update Screen is Actually a Hacker's Trap

Beware of any screen that looks like a Windows update, but asks you to do anything other than restart your computer. True updates never need you to perform any keyboard commands to complete. The screen you are seeing in that case is usually just a website. Closing that tab in your browser can remove it. 

Is That Holiday Deal Too Good to Be True? Here's How to Tell If It's a Scam

Shopping scams are expecially prevalent during the holidays. Find out how not to fall for the new "fake seller" or any of the other scams they run.

Don't Get Tricked by Fake Amazon Reviews This Black Friday. Here's How to Spot the Real Ones

Now that Fakespot is going away, how can you spot those fake reviews? Here are some telltale signs.

Safe Online Holiday Shopping

Safe Online Holiday Shopping, from National Cybersecurity Alliance
Check out this quick list of things to watch out for when doing your holiday shopping online. Beware of those Grinch Bots!


10th Annual Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit

This annual series of webinars is a free online conference for educators, available on-demand from December 15, 2025 until January 11, 2026. You can get free certificates for professional development credits from the comfort of your couch. Register here and receive each webinar in your emailbox. This year there are eight new featured speaker sessions, which are 45-60 minutes long. There will also be 30-minute spotlight sponsor sessions. In addition to this year's offerings, you are usually able to access webinars from previous years as well. I learn something new every year from this summit.




Google Calendar:  Block Off Time to Work on a Task in Calendar


Do you use Google Tasks to keep track of your to-do list? If so, you can block out time in Google Calendar to work on those tasks. When you create a new appointment on your calendar, just select task, and choose the task from your task list. You should be seeing this new feature now. Learn more about reserving time for Tasks on Calendar in this help article. 

;">Google Drive:  AI-Powered Audio Overviews for PDFs

This update will allow you to convertlong, text-heavy PDFs—such as industry reports, contracts, or lengthy meeting transcripts—into a conversational, podcast-style audio summary. With just one click, a new audio file is saved directly to your Drive. Users can listen to the summaries from anywhere they can access their Drive files, whether they’re commuting, working out, or doing chores. Once the audio overview is generated on a desktop, the user receives an email notification that the file is ready. The audio file is automatically saved to a new "Audio overviews" folder in their Drive, which they can then access from any mobile or desktop device. Learn more about audio overviews for PDFs in Drive here. This update started rolling out on November 12, 2025. We should see it before the end of November.

;">Gemini:  Generate Presentations with a Text Prompt

This is now available to all Google users! Simply provide an idea with a simple text prompt or upload a source, and Gemini will generate a set of slides — complete with a theme and relevant images. Then, you'll export the presentation from the Gemini app directly to Google Slides to continue to refine or collaborate with others. You'll start by opening Gemini (it's available in the waffle-app switcher) and selecting Canvas in the toolbar. Then ask Gemini to “create a presentation.” You can specify a topic or upload your own source with the prompt. Learn more about using Canvas in Gemini here. This update is available now. 

Google Vids:  Create Short Videos from Images


Teachers and admins who have the Teaching and Learning Google license can now use Veo 3.1 in Google Vids to create eight second video clips from images. Provide a few images and write a prompt for the video you want to create and voila! Your video will automatically be created. Learn how to create your custom video from images from this help center article. You can also watch this video for instruction. This update may still be rolling out. Everyone should see it by mid-December. Read the update annoucement here. 



Unlock the Power of Google Drive Across All Your Devices

Take control of your Google files! This is a great tutorial for making the most of, and understanding Google Drive. 

Teachers:  Guided Learning for Gemini Won't Complete Homework for Students

We have not yet turned on Gemini for students yet, but this is a compelling reason to think about it!

Gemini for Teachers - Essential Classroom Guide


Using, Creating & Sharing Gems in Google Gemini

Using, Creating & Sharing Gems in Google Gemini, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
If you've spent much time using Gemini or Chat GPT, you know there's an art to creating a good prompt that gives you the results you're looking for. There's usually a lot of trial and error involved before you get what you want. Gems take all that guesswork out of the equation and provides you with a prompt to do a certain task - that you can usen over and over again. In addition, Eric Curts has curated quite a collection of Gems for teachers to use. 

7 Ways I Use NotebookLM to Make My Life Easier

7 Ways I Use NotebookLM to Make My Life Easier, from How To Geek by Jorge A. Aguilar
I've used NotebookLM so many times to teach me a new process or summarize a long article. I've even used it to compare two different products/services to work through a pros and cons list. Now you can completely interact with it and ask questions as it goes. This tool is quickly becoming the swiss army knife of my life. 

Getting Started w/NotebookLM Infographics and Slide Decks!



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