Weekly Tech Tips and News for March 23, 2018

In today's post, there are some basics, some news and some tips. I received several positive comments about the basics in previous posts, so I'll try to continue to include some basic instructions each week. In the basics category, you can learn how to remove any unwanted apps on your iPhone or iPad, how to easily find Windows files by tagging them and how to disable those irritating notifications in Windows 10. (Thanks Windows, but I really don't want to use the Edge browser no matter how many times you suggest it to me!) News includes a few G Suite updates. You'll definitely want to be aware of the new Activity Dashboard which lets all users with edit access know who has viewed or edited a document. Since you'll be asked to allow this feature or not, you'll want to know what it does before that pop up appears. Tips include learning how to use Google Keep for notes and lists, automatically grading quizzes in Google Forms, great ideas for Pear Deck interactive slide presentations (easy!) and ways to find public domain videos. Learn something new this week while you're counting down to Spring Break...or just counting down to Spring. Although the calendar says it's here and it's still a little on the chilly side, those harbingers of Spring, the robins have returned. Spring weather can't be that far off, right?

• How to Delete or Offload an App on iPhone or iPad
• How to Tag any Windows File for Easy Organization
• How to Disable Notifications in Windows 10
• G Suite Updates:  Activity Dashboard, More Menu Changes
• How to Use Google Keep for Frustration-Free Note Taking
• EDU in 90:  Quizzes in Google Forms, Grading
• 20 Ways to use Pear Deck to Engage Students
• How to Find Public Domain Videos in Flickr

How to Delete or Offload an App on iPhone or iPad

How to Delete or Offload an App on iPhone or iPad, from How-To Geek by Harry Guinness
Do you have too much clutter on your iPad or iPhone from apps you tried, but never use? Maybe you need to clear up some space? Here are a few ways to get that job done. You can delete the app and all its data, or you can delete the app, but keep the data.

How to Tag any Windows File for Easy Organization

How to Tag any Windows File for Easy Organization, from How-To Geek by Michael Crider
I'm excited about this tip, especially for finding photo files. File names can be somewhat limiting when you are trying to find that file weeks later. Sometimes folders aren't quite enough, and you want to tag files by more than one topic. You can set tags while saving a file, or you can go back and tag files that you've already saved. I'm looking forward to more easily finding photos of my kids, or those lighthouse and sunset shots.

How to Disable Notifications in Windows 10

How to Disable Notifications in Windows 10, from How-To Geek by Chris Hoffman
Are you tired of getting those messages in the lower right of your screen? Especially the ones telling you how wonderful Edge is, or pushing the latest app? You can turn them off. Either turn them all off, you can turn only some of them off if there are some you find helpful, or just mute them temporarily.

G Suite Updates:  

Activity Dashboard

Activity Dashboard is a new feature that will allow all users with editing access to see who has viewed the file, and when they viewed it. Knowing whether someone has seen a file will help you communicate with them better. You can decide whether or not you find it useful - if not you will be able to choose if you want to exclude your viewing data in your Personal Privacy Settings. We should begin seeing this feature after March 21. You'll know it's available when you see the notification pictured at left. The dashboard will not show any of your viewing data until after you click I Understand on the message. If you would like more detailed information on the Activity Dashboard, here is the Google help page.

More Menu Changes

As we've seen in the last two months, there will be a little more menu rearranging in the G Suite apps. If you can't find something when the changes happen, refer back to this blog post. They are as follows:

• In Docs and Slides:  In the Format menu, text options (bold, italic, etc.) will be movved to a new Text submenu.
• In Slides: The Table menu will be removed. The option to insert a table will be under the Insert menu. Table formatting options will appear in the Format menu.
• In Slides:  In the Slide menu, options to move slides will appear in the new Move submenu.
• In Slides:  in the Arrange menu, if you are looking to align horizontally or vertically, those options will be moved into the new Align submenu.
• Google Docs: On the toolbar, text color and highlight color will be split into separate buttons.
• Google Docs:  On the toolbar, a new option to Insert Image will be added.
• Google Docs:  The Table menu will be removed. To insert or remove a table you'll look in the Insert menu. Table formatting options will appear in the Format menu.
• Google Docs, Sheets and Slides:  The Insert menu will be rearranged.

How to Use Google Keep for Frustration-Free Note Taking

How to Use Google Keep for Frustration-Free Note Taking, from How-To Geek by Cameron Summerson
Google Keep is part of G Suite, so you can find the app, along with Docs, Sheets, Slides, Maps, etc. in your app switcher grid. It's also available in iOS and Android, so you can have it with you on every device you own. I use if for my grocery list (which I share with my husband so he can add items), to do lists, bookmarking articles to read and recipes, and taking notes in meetings. You can color code and tag all your notes and lists with labels, so you can easily find them again. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but it's simple, easy and always with me.

EDU in 90:  Quizzes in Google Forms, Grading

Can you spare 90 minutes to save yourself a lot of time grading quizzes?

20 Ways to Use Pear Deck to Engage Students

20 Ways to use Pear Deck to Engage Students, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
We've talked about Pear Deck before, it's a great way to make your slide presentation interactive. This post not only reviews how to use Pear Deck, but also suggests "Ninja Pear Deck skills" and gives you 20 ideas for how to use it in your class. There's also a free deal included in the post if you act quickly.

How to Find Public Domain Videos on Flickr

How to Find Public Domain Videos on Flickr, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
I've posted before about sources for public domain photos, and images with Creative Common licenses, but Flickr also has public domain videos, and those with Creative Commons licenses. Learn how to find them with this post.