Friday, May 29, 2020

Technology Tips and News for May 29, 2020

Courtesy of Flickr.com
The finish line is in site for this very rough marathon we've been on since March. This school year will definitely be one for the history books. Think of all you learned and how your Ed Tech expertise has grown! One of the silver linings, is you would have never otherwise been so motivated to learn so much in such a short time. As a result, I hope you've found some new tricks that make the process of teaching, grading and organizing a little easier. If there are other skills you'd like to refine, reach out to me and we can work on it together. I hope after you've taken a well deserved break this summer, you are able to refine your newly gained skills. While it is still uncertain what school will look like in the fall, rest assured in knowing you can adapt and still shine!




How to Pin Text and Images to Windows 10's Clipboard History

How to Pin Text and Images to Windows 10's Clipboard History, from How-To Geek by Benj Edwards
This is such a time saver when you have to copy and paste several items at a time.

G Suite Updates:  

New Quick Settings to Optimize Gmail Layout

A quick settings menu will be coming soon to Gmail. In the right column, you'll be able to choose inbox types and display options. Full settings will still be available in the settings gear. You should begin to see this feature by mid-June. Here are all the details.

Chat Becomes a Standalone App

Like it did with Meet, Google is replacing Hangouts Chat with Google Chat. What is it? Chat is an instant messaging app, for those times when you need an immediate answer or to have a conversation, instead of waiting for an email reply. You can also set up group chats in rooms. When it is available for our organization, you will be redirected from the existing Chat to install the new Chat app. Chat is currently disabled for students. Complete information is available here.

Google Meet on Your Personal Gmail

Google Meet on Your Personal Gmail, from G Suite Tips
Google Meet is no longer only available for work and school email accounts. It is now available in your personal Gmail accounts.

How to Use Jamboard and Google Meet Together

How to Use Jamboard and Google Meet Together by Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
If you are looking for a virtual interactive white board to use during your class Google Meets, take a look at this article.

5 Tips to Move Students from 'Googling' to 'Thinking' in the Age of Distance Learning

5 Tips to Move Students from 'Googling' to 'Thinking' in the Age of Distance Learning, from We Are Teachers by Kyleen Gray
See how to Google-proof your lessons.

Bitmoji Classroom Tutorial

These are fun, interactive virtual rooms in Google Slides.

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Friday, May 22, 2020

ASA Tech Tips and News for May 22, 2020

I cannot believe we've reached Memorial Day weekend. We're now truly in the home stretch of the school year. It's almost time for the victory lap, a deep sigh of relief, and a well-deserved opportunity for a break. You've earned it more this year than ever! Although this year's Memorial Day weekend will not have the same holiday feel to it, it does give us a chance to truly reflect the spirit of the holiday - remembering those who sacrificed everything defending our country. We may not have sacrificed everything, we've certainly sacrificed a lot this year, and will continue to do so for awhile yet. For this weekend, enjoy the warm weather, say a prayer of thanks to a veteran and continue to stay safe and healthy.


How Your iPhone's New COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Work

How Your iPhone's New COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Work, from How-To Geek by Khamosh Pathak
There's a new update coming soon for you iPhone. It includes notifications if you have encountered someone else who later tests positive for COVID-19...as long as they've enabled the feature, opted in, and reports they tested positive.

G Suite Updates:  

Talk to People Outside of Your Domain in Google Chat

Google Chat, which is G Suite's version of instant messaging, is currently limited to those within the organization. Chat is a much more instant communication option than email, for those times when you need to have a real-time conversation In an update, scheduled for May 26th, you will be able to also chat with those outside our domain. Here are the full details.  

New User Setting to Hide/Show Google Meet in Gmail

You've probably noticed the recent addition of the Meet links in your Gmail account. If you don't like having the links to join or start a Google Meet, you can get rid of it in Settings. You should see this option anytime between now, and the next two weeks. Full details are here. 

How to View Everyone At Once in Google Meet

How to View Everyone At Once in Google Meet, from How-To Geek by Joel Cornell
If you don't have the Grid View extension and have 16 or fewer in your Meet, you can change the layout to see everyone at once.

How to Convert a PDF Into a Google Document

How to Convert a PDF Into a Google Document, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Easy peasy, lemon squeazy! This solution is built right into Google Drive.

Powerful Analytics in New, Free Kahoot! Reports

Powerful Analytics in New, Free Kahoot! Reports, from Kahoot! Blog, by Osama Hanif
Check out how to use Kahoot! reports, in the free version, to use it for assessments.

How to Quickly Create a Slideshow With Google Photos and Slides

How to Quickly Create a Slideshow With Google Photos and Slides, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Looking for an easy solution for the end of the year compilation of classroom photos? Another add-on to the rescue:  Photos to Slides.

Pixabay Offers Free Music to Use and Reuse

Pixabay Offers Free Music to Use and Reuse, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne Here's another source to add to your collection of free-to-use sources for music for your presentation or video.

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Friday, May 15, 2020

ASA Tech Tips and News for May 15, 2020

Courtesy of Pexels.com
We are finishing up week 8 of distance learning. Teachers, you should seriously pat yourselves on the back for all you've learned and accomplished. You are well over the hump, with only a couple more weeks to go. There are some resources in this week's post that may help ease your frustration levels, such as video alternatives to YouTube, and Google's distance learning course. I know, it would've been helpful to have these 8 weeks ago, but much like the medical community with the Corona Virus, we're learning and figuring things out together. Like the students, we are definitely growing our brains! The distance learning course might be something you want to look into over the summer, in case there's some distance learning involved in the fall. Hang in there, my friends, we've almost got this!




Here's Why You Might Feel Tired After a Video Call

Here's Why You Might Feel Tired After a Video Call, from Life Savvy by Elyse Hauser
Well, now we know that quarantine fatigue is a thing, and apparently so is video-call fatigue. That would explain why you're so tired at the end of the day.

G Suite Updates:  Tab Groups Coming to Chrome


Do you have trouble keeping track of your Chrome tabs? They do seem to multiply like rabbits at times. With the next update to Chrome (expected next week), you will be able to organize your tabs in groups. Do you have several open for an assignment? Group them together and give them a name. Read about how to use them here.

Alternatives to YouTube

Alternatives to YouTube, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
YouTube is a great resource for videos, and the main go-to for almost everyone who needs an instructional video. Unfortunately YouTube is not child friendly. It does not market itself as safe for children anymore, due to some legal trouble for not protecting children's online safety or privacy. For this reason, Google does not make YouTube a priority for education solutions, and it doesn't work smoothly with G Suite for Education. What's a teacher to do now that lessons are online? Take a look at this list and see if you can find videos from these sources that will work for your classes instead of YouTube.

Must-Have Google Chrome Extensions for Teachers

This video demonstrates how to use these helpful extensions, including Screencastify to create your own tutorial videos. (Thank you Melanie for this one!)

Make Google Meet Better with These 5 Chrome Extensions

Some of these we've discussed before, and some are new. Either way, John gives a demonstration of each. Thanks to Melanie for this one too! I've pushed out Nod and Google Meet Push to Talk to elementary students. If you would like this for middle school students, please let me know. 


Google Launches New Distance Learning Resource for Educators

Google Launches New Distance Learning Resource for Educators, from Educational Technology Guy by David Andrade
This post includes Googles distance learning course, as well as lots of other distance learning-related resources.

An Important Setting for Using Audio and Video in Google Slides

An Important Setting for Using Audio and Video in Google Slides, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
If you are having trouble getting videos or sound to play for everyone in a Google Slide show, here are some tips. 

An Easy Way to Manage Tasks in Gmail

An Easy Way to Manage Tasks in Gmail, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Don't you hate it when you get an email, and forget to do something that was in the message? Learn how to add it to Tasks (a to do list that's built in to Gmail and Calendar) so you don't forget.

How to Add Background Music to Screencastify Videos

How to Add Background Music to Screencastify Videos, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
You've created the perfect tutorial, but it needs a little something...YouTube to the rescue. You can always download it again to make it kid-friendly.

30+ Digital Escape Rooms

30+ Digital Escape Rooms, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Once you're comfortable with distance learning, up your game by creating escape rooms for your students to review content, vocabulary review, and so much more. Think of this as a virtual Breakout. This post includes step by step instructions for creating your own.
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Friday, May 8, 2020

ASA Tech Tips and News for May 8, 2020

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week (for those who celebrate). There's certainly no doubt that teachers earn this week every year, but this year you deserve more than a week! All of you have embraced the sudden and unexpected shift to distance learning with grace, regardless of your comfort level with technology. In this post, there is a testimonial by a teacher who resisted tech for 30 years, and surprised herself by embracing it. I'm sure many of you can relate. After reading that post, make sure you read the post about text message scams. Now that people have become aware of the many types of email scams, hackers have turned to text scams. Basically the same rules apply - do not click on any links from senders you don't know, and verify the links before clicking from people or businesses you may know. If you're looking for some fun, scroll down to the end of this post for some fun with your photos. Turn them into iconic paintings with basically one click. Stay smart, healthy, safe have fun, and stay sane at home!


How to Spot a Text Message Scam

How to Spot a Text Message Scam, from How-To Geek by Tim Brookes
The same types of scams you've learned to spot in email are also true in text messages.

How a Technophobe Learned to Embrace Education Technology

How a Technophobe Learned to Embrace Education Technology, from Tech & Learning by Tana Schilling
How many of you started out your jackrabbit start to distance learning with little confidence in your tech skills. How many of you have completely surprised yourselves with your new-found tech abilities? Go ahead, raise your hand.

5 Ways to Improve Your Digital Communication

5 Ways to Improve Your Digital Communication, from KISD The Bulletin by Amanda Walma
Number of messages and length of sessions, are just a few of many considerations so we don't overwhelm parents and students.

How to Restore Files in Google Drive

How to Restore Files in Google Drive, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Oh no! That file or folder I was working has disappeared from Drive, what do I do?

EDU in 90:  More Google Meet Strategies for Distance Learning



5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Videos

5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Videos, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Now that we've been mastering the ins and outs of distance learning, we can start to refine our processes.

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
If you haven't used Pear Deck in awhile, it can now be used within Google Slides, and is a great way to make a slide presentation interactive with your students.

How to Create a Green Screen Video Without a Green Screen

How to Create a Green Screen Video Without a Green Screen, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
No need for iMovie or other expensive video editing programs!

Transform Your Photos in the Style of an Iconic Artist

Transform Your Photos in the Style of an Iconic Artist, from The Keyword
This is a just for fun post. It's so easy to turn your photos into a painting in the style of a famous artist. Like VanGogh, Monet or Munch? Done. The cardinal photo below was transformed into Monet and Warhol images.

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Friday, May 1, 2020

ASA Tech Tips and News for May 1, 2020

Pexels.com
As we have started to get used to remote teaching, we are now starting to refine our process. Google is doing the same thing. Google Meet was originally designed to be used with adults, or at least older students. With the stay at home orders, Google, and many other tech vendors, have had to quickly adjust their products to work for all age ranges. They continue to rapidly update Meet with more controls for use with children. Other products that teachers are using to deliver distance learning are doing the same, such as Kahoot! and Pear Deck. As overwhelming as this seems for all of us, we are all truly in this, and scrambling, together.




Apple and Google's COVID-19 Tracker Isn't a Privacy Concern, but It Is a Game-Changer

Apple and Google's COVID-19 Tracker Isn't a Privacy Concern, but It Is a Game-Changer, from Inc., by Jason Aten
This is great news for pandemic tracing, while protecting privacy.

G Suite Updates:  

See Up To 16 Google Meet Participants at Once With Tiled Layout

Beginning this week, Google has built in the ability to see up to 16 Meet attendees at once. If you have more than 15 students,  you will still want to use the Meet Grid View extension. Here are instructions for using Tiled View in a Meet.

Start or Join a Google Meet Video Meeting Directly from Gmail

We should see this feature in the next couple weeks. It will allow starting or joining a Meet right from Gmail - including giving your meet a nickname for use with students! It will appear right above the Chat section. Full details are available here. 

New Sharing Interface

Within the next two weeks, you'll start to see a new interface when you Share docs, sheets, slides, etc. The new interface will include a quick option to copy a sharing link, and the sharing interface will be the same for Shared Drive and My Drive files. There is a full explanation here.


Google Meet:  3 Ways to See Your Students When Presenting on Your Screen

Presenting your screen during a Google Meet with your class is a bit like turning your back on them at the chalkboard, isn't it? Find out how to grow eyes in the back of your head.


Every Google Meet Keyboard Shortcut and How To Use Them

Every Google Meet Keyboard Shortcut and How To Use Them, from How-To Geek by Joel Cornell
Really up your Google Meet skills with keyboard shortcuts for both Windows and Macs.

Using Jamboard in Google Meet Hangout

You can share Jamboard with students and work collaboratively, or use it as a whiteboard in your Google Meet.

Create & Manage Multiple Gmail Signatures - and Why You Might Want To

Create & Manage Multiple Gmail Signatures - and Why You Might Want To from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
You may want to sign messages to students as Mrs. Teacher, and to co-workers and Mary Teacher. It's helpful to be able to toggle between your signatures.

How to Quickly Create a Narrated Video From PowerPoint or Google Slides

How to Quickly Create a Narrated Video From PowerPoint or Google Slides, From Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Pop your narration into the speaker notes and Video Puppet will create a narrated video for you. For slide shows less than 20 slides, you can use it for free without creating a Video Puppet account. This makes it usable for students as well.

Facts v. Opinions - A New Common Craft Lesson

Facts v. Opinions - A New Common Craft Lesson, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
It's so important to teach our students  how to tell the difference between fact and opinion. With so many opinions floating around right now, it's actually important for all of us.

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