Weekly Tech News and Tips for November 11, 2016

After such a drama-filled week, I know I'm ready for the weekend. How about you? Regardless of if your candidate won or lost the election, it's a relief that all the bickering is finally over. Now it's time to get back to our normal activities. Included in this week's post are the latest G Suite updates (finally Sites will be easier to use!), as well as several tech ideas to try out in your class, such as voice dictation, help with reading comprehension, story starters, interactive maps, timelines, and more. If you are not sure how to get started, please let me know and I can help you out. Feel free to leave comments below if you like or dislike something, have tried something new, or would like to see something different or specific.  Enjoy the post-election peace and quiet. See you at Eaglefest!

• G Suite Updates:  New Google Sites, and Updates to iOS and Android
• New and Improved Voice Typing Commands in Google Docs
• Improve Reading Comprehension with Google Docs "Black Out"
• Create MadLibs with a Google Sheets Template
• How to Create Media-Rich Interactive Maps for Deeper Learning
• Battlesheets!
• Create Multimedia Timelines on Hstry.co

G Suite Updates:  New Google Sites and Updates to iOS and Android

As you may (or may not) recall, Google Apps for Education (GAFE) is now called G Suite. The only thing that changed is the name - aside from the usual flow of updates and enhancements.

Gmail and Google Calendar get a whole lot better on iOS

The Gmail app in iOS (iPhones and iPads) is getting a facelift and will function faster. When using Gmail on your Apple mobile devices you'll now be able to Undo Send, search faster and swipe to archive or delete. The Calendar app is also update to include month and week views in landscape, spotlight search and support, and the ability to add alternate calendars. Click here for the full details and images.

Notifications and more in the Google Docs, Sheets and Slides apps for Android

Those of you with Android phones (and/or tablets) are getting updates too. Notifications (when someone mentions you in a comment) will now appear in Docs, Sheets and Slides - not just in Drive anymore. The Sheets app on Androids has also received several enhancements, such as resizing rows and columns, data validation, and the ability to change the color of sheet tabs. Click here for full details and images. 

A totally rebuilt Google Sites

If you've ever tried using Google Sites to create web sites for your class, you probably found it frustrating and difficult to figure out. Google Sites is finally getting a complete rebuild that is very overdue. Don't be confused if you go looking for this update and don't see it right away. It probably won't be available for another week or so (after November 21st). Based on what I'm seeing in the G Suite Learning Center, it looks like Sites will be much more intuitive, and work similar to the other apps, such as Docs, Slides, etc. Sites will also integrate easier with Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides. Here's the full announcement.

New & Improved Voice Typing Commands in Google Docs

New & Improved Voice Typing Commands in Google Docs, from BetterCloud Monitor

Do you have students who have difficulty writing or typing? Maybe you like to multi-task and prefer to dictate while doing something else rather than type? Google Docs added voice typing last year, and now has added many formatting options with voice typing so you can verbally format as you dictate. Give it a try.

Improve Reading Comprehension with Google Docs "Black Out"

Improve Reading Comprehension with Google Docs "Black Out" from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
Take the Text Reduction Strategy digital. Instead of making multiple paper copies of a magazine article and blacking out text with markers, use Google Docs. This also allows for corrections, that permanent markers don't. There are also several kid-friendly news article sources listed in this blog post.

Create MadLibs with a Google Sheets Template

Create MadLibs with a Google Sheets Template from Practical Ed Tech by Richard Byrne

This is another Flippity activity. Instead of creating flash cards or a Jeopardy game, Flippity has now also added templates for MadLibs style story starters. You simply enter the data in Sheets, use the Flippity MadLibs template. 

How to Create Media-Rich, Interactive Maps for Deeper Learning

How to Create Media-Rich, Interactive Maps for Deeper Learning, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Think about how interactive a student report could be if he or she could add pins to a map, and include text, images, video, links, surveys and more  to each pin. It's easily done with Google My Maps. To create your own My Map, open Drive, click New, More, then select My Maps.

BattleSheets!

BattleSheets! from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts

The Battleship game is perfect for teaching students critical thinking skills and locating coordinates on a grid system. Of course you won't have enough Battleship games for all of your students to pair up and play. Enter Google Sheets. This article has instructions and templates for creating your own game for your students to play in Sheets. 

Create Multimedia Timelines on Hstry.co

From Free Tech 4 Teachers by Richard Byrne

Here's a way for you and your students to create interactive timelines with questions built in. Hstry.co is a free resource up to 200 student timelines.