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- 4 Great Fact Checking Sites for Tweens and Teens
- G Suite Updates - Hangouts and Sheets
- How to Disable Windows 10's Taskbar Pop-up Notifications
- The G Suite Show: Explore Feature for Docs and Slides
- How to Create an Online Slideshow from Your Google Slides Presentation
- 5 Ideas for Using Google Classroom's New Differentiation and Grouping Feature
- NEW Google Sites: 10 Things Teachers Must Know
- 7 Super Screencasting Activities for School
- Use Historical Images to Spark Discussions
4 Great Fact Checking Sites for Tweens and Teens
From Common Sense Media
In this current culture of fake news and alternate facts, here are some good ways to show our students how to separate fact from fiction.
G Suite Updates
If you recall, G Suite is the new name for Google Apps. Here is a collection of the latest updates and new features in G Suite:
Streamlined Group Chatting in Google Hangouts
When creating a new hangout, you can now share a short link to group chats. This means you no longer need to invite others to your hangout, you can send them a link and they can opt in. Click here for more details.
Insert and Delete Groups of Cells in Google Sheets
Until now, we've only been able to insert and delete rows and columns of cells in Sheets. Sometimes that's not quite what we need to do. Now you have the option of inserting or deleting AND shifting the surrounding cells. This provides much more flexibility. Here are the details.
New Features for Your Google Docs and Sheets Mobile Apps
In Docs for Android, you can now insert and edit headers and footers, drag and drop text, resize, move, and rotate images, as well as change their text wrapping and borders. In Docs for iOS (iPhones or iPads) you can now insert headers and footers, insert page numbers in headers and footers and change a page's size, orientation and color. In Sheets for iOS, you can insert and edit solid, dashed and dotted borders. Click here for details and instructions.
How to Disable Windows 10's Taskbar Pop-up Notifications
How to Disable Windows 10's Taskbar Pop-up Notifications, from How-To Geek
Are you tired of having Microsoft 10 nag at you to use the Edge browser when you are using Chrome or Firefox? Here's how to turn those irritating notifications off. If you're curious about Microsoft's claims that Edge is safer, here's another article from How-To Geek comparing Edge, Chrome and Firefox in all areas of security, not just socially engineered malware.
The G Suite Show: Explore Feature for Docs and Slides
(Formerly known as The App Show) Speed up the creation process with Explore. I've discussed it before, but here is a nice video to explain what it does.How to Create an Online Slideshow From Your Google Slides Presentation
How to Create an Online Slideshow From Your Google Slides Presentation, from Better Cloud MonitorPublish a slideshow for others to view online by either providing a link to it, or embedding on your web page. If you're interested in embedding it, please let me know and I'll show you how.
5 Ideas for Using Google Classroom's New Differentiation and Grouping Feature
5 Ideas for Using Google Classroom's New Differentiation and Grouping Feature, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Until now, we have not been able to create groups in Google Classroom - assignments were for everybody. Now it's possible to assign work to small groups or individual students. This post has a tutorial showing you how to use this new feature. There are also ideas on how to use groups in Classroom.
Google Sites has finally been overhauled to make it as easy to use as Weebly. The best part is that as a Google app, it integrates with Drive, Docs, Sheets, Maps and all the other Google apps. It's now easy enough for your students to use as well. Take a look at Matt's post and video to see how you can use it in your classroom.
Screencasting is not just for creating video tutorials, although it's great to make those available for your students to re-watch if they need review. There are so many more things you and your students can do with screencasts, such as providing voice over or sound on a Slides presentation, having students demonstrate their knowledge of a topic, dubbing a video, giving a speech, and so much more. Take a look at this post, and scroll past the hour long video to the terrific list of ideas. Keep in mind, your students cannot install any Chrome extensions, so if you'd like them to use Screencastify, please let me know and I'll push it out for them.
There are millions of historical photos that are free to use with no restrictions. You can also filter your searches for specific image types and topics. The image at left, for example is of the White House in 1860. The grounds and surroundings look quite different today. Notice how anyone could walk right up to the mansion to see the President. There are no surrounding buildings, no fountain, and no fence. Things have certainly changed in the past 157 years.
NEW Google Sites: 10 Things Teachers Must Know
NEW Google Sites: 10 Things Teachers Must Know, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt MillerGoogle Sites has finally been overhauled to make it as easy to use as Weebly. The best part is that as a Google app, it integrates with Drive, Docs, Sheets, Maps and all the other Google apps. It's now easy enough for your students to use as well. Take a look at Matt's post and video to see how you can use it in your classroom.
7 Super Screencasting Activities for School
7 Super Screencasting Activities for School, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric CurtsScreencasting is not just for creating video tutorials, although it's great to make those available for your students to re-watch if they need review. There are so many more things you and your students can do with screencasts, such as providing voice over or sound on a Slides presentation, having students demonstrate their knowledge of a topic, dubbing a video, giving a speech, and so much more. Take a look at this post, and scroll past the hour long video to the terrific list of ideas. Keep in mind, your students cannot install any Chrome extensions, so if you'd like them to use Screencastify, please let me know and I'll push it out for them.
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| White House ca. 1860 - Flickr |
Use Historical Images to Spark Discussions
Use Historical Images to Spark Discussions from Free Technology for Teachers, by Richard ByrneThere are millions of historical photos that are free to use with no restrictions. You can also filter your searches for specific image types and topics. The image at left, for example is of the White House in 1860. The grounds and surroundings look quite different today. Notice how anyone could walk right up to the mansion to see the President. There are no surrounding buildings, no fountain, and no fence. Things have certainly changed in the past 157 years.
