Tech Tips and News for December 21, 2018

blog.whooosreading.org

I'm often amazed by the way timely topics show up in my news feed. For example, a couple weeks ago a few of our colleagues experienced the Microsoft service scam in their browser. Within a few days, and without actively searching for them, I ran across several articles addressing this particular scam. This happens often. In addition to this phenomenon, I also tend to see recurring variations on themes in the articles I encounter. You'll notice that in today's post. There are several different tips about Google Forms. They are all from different sources, and focus on a different feature, but all focus on how useful a tool Forms can be. It has become even more indispensible for teachers with the built-in, auto-correcting quiz feature, and the recently added ability to lock down the quiz so students cannot open new tabs  or leave the quiz. In addition to Google forms tips, are some important ones for anyone who accesses more than one Google account on one device, as well as ways to create strong passwords that are easy to remember, and some Google search tips. Have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy your hard earned break!

• How to Use Multiple Google Accounts at Once in Google Chrome
• How to Create Easy to Remember Strong Passwords
• EDU in 90:  Google Search Tricks for the Classroom
• Google Forms Instructional Videos:  Custom Confirmation Message, Insert Images, Customize the Form
• How To Create Distraction-Free Quizzes in Google Forms
• Hacking the Sub Lesson:  Videos IN Google Forms

How to Use Multiple Google Accounts at Once in Google Chrome

How to Use Multiple Google Accounts at Once in Google Chrome, from Make Use Of by Nancy Messieh
This is the cleanest way to juggle more than one Google account, or share a computer with others. This process will create a separate shortcut on the desktop for each user, so you don't need to worry about whose account is logged in to Chrome and which bookmarks are, or aren't, available.

How to Create Easy to Remember Strong Passwords

How to Create Easy to Remember Strong Passwords, from Medium by Christine Brennan
There's no question we all hate needing to remember so many passwords. The struggle is real to keep track of them all. This formula will help. We all have our favorite phrases from movies or books we love, or maybe it's a slogan from a jingle that's stuck in your head. Even phrases of affirmation will work.

EDU in 90:  Google Search Tricks for the Classroom

Google Forms Instructional Videos

How To Customize Google Forms Confirmation Message

How To Insert Images in Google Forms

How To Customize Google Forms

How To Create Distraction-Free Quizzes in Google Forms

Google has created this handy, dandy guide to creating quizzes in locked mode on Chromebooks. This allows you to create and give a quiz in Google Forms without students being able to exit the quiz. Google Forms quizzes will also auto-grade for you as well. 

Hacking the Sub Lesson:  Videos IN Google Forms

Hacking the Sub Lesson:  Videos IN Google Forms, From Tech & Learning by Ramsey Musallam
Here's a clever hack for a guided lesson when you have a sub,  complete with baked in accountability checks for student work.

ASA Tech Tips and News for December 7, 2018

In a follow up to last week's scam article, I've include advice directly from Microsoft about the Microsoft scams. These scams are sometimes via phone, but are increasingly in the form of a pop up or browser window that starts speaking to you or locks your device until you either respond or shut down. No vendor (Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, etc.) will never contact you with suspected infection information. A legitimate warning for infection from your antivirus or malware program will never lock your device. Never pay ransom and always back up your device. Take a look at what Microsoft has to say toward the end of this post. In addition to these warnings, are easy ways to get to your G Suite apps without opening Gmail first, several "how tos" for Docs. Slides and Calendar, and how to track progress of pretty much anything in Sheets.

• G Suite for Education Shortcuts
• How to Add Page Numbers to Google Docs
• How to Add Videos to Google Slides Without Using YouTube
• How to Attach Files to Google Calendar Events
• Microsoft's Tech Service Scam Advice
• How to Create a Progress Tracker with Google Forms and Sheets
• EDU in 90:  Apps for Creating Engaging Presentations

G Suite for Education Shortcuts

G Suite for Education Shortcuts, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Quickly access your G Suite apps without needing to open your Gmail to see the app switcher. You'll notice a pattern to the URLs. That makes it easier to remember the URL and access the app directly.

How to Add Page Numbers to Google Docs

How to Add Page Numbers to Google Docs, from How-To Geek by Brady Gavin
It's easily done, and very much helps with multi-page documents. You can even set a different first page.

How to Add Videos to Google Slides Without Using YouTube

How to Add Videos to Google Slides Without Using YouTube, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
An instructional video is included in this post to illustrate how to save the videos to Drive, and insert them into Slides from there.

How to Attach Files to Google Calendar Events

How to Attach Files to Google Calendar Events, from How-To Geek by Brady Gavin
This is especially helpful if there is an agenda, or something all attendees need to read or collaborate on before or during the meeting.

Microsoft's Tech Service Scam Advice

In a follow up to last week's post about service scams, here is the specific advice Microsoft gives about dealing with service scams, as reported in a ZDNet article, by Catalin Companu, about Microsoft making arrests for the service scams. These are the scams that either arrive by a phone call claiming to be Microsoft needing to repair something on your PC, or via pop-up message telling you your computer is infected and to call a specific number.

Below is the tried and tested advice that Microsoft has always given out to users over the past few years in regards to tech support scams, shady popups, or impromptu phone calls:

1. Microsoft will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support. Any communication we have with you must be initiated by you.
2. Be wary of any unsolicited phone call or pop-up message on your device.
3. Do not call the phone number in a pop-up window on your device and be cautious about clicking on notifications asking you to scan your computer or download software. Many scammers try to fool you into thinking their notifications are legitimate.
4. Never give control of your computer to a third party unless you can confirm that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team with whom you are already a customer.
5. If skeptical, take the person's information down and immediately report it to your local authorities.

How to Create a Progress Tracker with Google Forms and Sheets

How to Create a Progress Tracker with Google Forms and Sheets, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
No need to keep running totals manually! This would work for any goal - contests, reading logs, service hours, etc.

EDU in 90:  Apps for Creating Engaging Presentations

ASA Tech Tips and News for November 30, 2018

If you've never seen what it looks like when your legitimate anti-virus or malware program detects a possible infection, please take a few moments to watch the Tech Support Scams Explained video in this post. Hint:  None of them will take up your entire browser window and tell you to call a specific phone number. In happier news, a new G Suite update will finally allow users to see who the members of a group are when you hover over the address! This one has been a long time coming. Other information will also be available when hovering. Sometimes patience does pay off!

• G Suite Updates:  Google Calendar SMS Notifications Removed January 7, 2019, Learn More About Google Groups with Contacts Hovercards
• How to Set an Expiration Date When Sharing Files on Google Drive
• How to Enable or Disable Gmail Smart Replies
• How to Check Your Spelling in Google Docs
• Tech Support Scams Explained
• Learn Ed Tech From the Comfort of Your Couch
• A Digital Differentiation Model

G Suite Updates:

Google Calendar SMS Notifications Removed January 7, 2019

If you have your Google Calendar appointments set up to notify you via text message, you will need to select a different notification method before January 7, 2019. Here are the full details.

Learn More About Google Groups with Contacts Hovercards

This is a long overdue update. It will provide the ability to hover the mouse over a google group to see who the members are. In addition to seeing who the members are, you will also be able to schedule an event for the group, email them, and see more members. The G Suite Updates blog provides full details.

How to Set an Expiration Date When Sharing Files on Google Drive

How to Set an Expiration Date When Sharing Files on Google Drive, from How-To Geek by Brady Gavin
Did you know it was possible to temporarily share a file with others? If students have an assignment deadline, set an expiration date when sharing the file.

How to Enable or Disable Gmail Smart Replies

How to Enable or Disable Gmail Smart Replies, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Smart Reply or Smart Compose is when Google suggests a response to an email, or suggersts text while you are typing a message. Love it or hate it? Here's how to turn it on or off.

How to Check Your Spelling in Google Docs

How to Check Your Spelling in Google Docs, from How-To Geek by Brady Gavin
These instructions also work in Sheets and Slides.

Tech Support Scams Explained

Learn Ed Tech From the Comfort of Your Couch

Matt Miller is once again hosting Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit over Christmas break. It starts December 14, but you can either watch the webinars live, or watch them later when it's convenient for you. There will be many educators speaking about their ideas for infusing tech in the classroom. Here is more information and a link to get your ticket.

A Digital Differentiation Model

A Digital Differentiation Model, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne, Guest Blogger Danielle Lagnese
This educator created digital "playlists" for her students to differentiate their learning, and it made her life much easier.