ASA Tech Tips and News for May 1, 2020

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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
• G Suite Updates:  See Up To 16 Google Meet Participants at Once With Tiled Layout, Start or Join a Google Meet Video Meeting Directly from Gmail, New Sharing Interface
• Google Meet:  3 Ways to See Your Students When Presenting on Your Screen
• Every Google Meet Keyboard Shortcut and How To Use Them
• Using Jamboard in Google Meet Hangout
• Create & Manage Multiple Gmail Signatures - and Why You Might Want To
• How to Quickly Create a Narrated Video From PowerPoint or Google Slides
• Facts v. Opinions - A New Common Craft Lesson

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.