Friday, October 23, 2020

ASA Tech Tips and News for October 23, 2020

For all the craziness the year 2020 has brought, the weather has certainly been the best part. Summer was warm and sunny with just enough rain. Now Autumn has become a technicolor delight. I don't remember seeing such vibrant colors in many years. I hope you take the time to drive around and enjoy God's beautiful palette. Speaking of changes, there aren't quite as many G Suite/Google Workspace updates this time. The most notable ones will be the ability to check permissions when you share Google Slides, and being able to check for plagiarism and originality in Google Docs from Canvas Assignments. As  the Presidential election looms ever closer, you may want to share with your students how to think like a fact-checker. Finally for comedy relief, see what would happen if the Presidential debates were run with classroom rules. I'm sure they'd be much more successful!

Why iPhone Apps Ask for "Devices on Your Local Network"

This update came with iOS 14. Find out what it means and how you should answer it. 

How to Change Your Home Page in Google Chrome

How to Change Your Home Page in Google Chrome, from How-To Geek by Benj Edwards
Instead of the Google home page, maybe you'd prefer it open Infinite Campus or Canvas? Find out how to customize it for the way you work. 

G Suite Updates:

Google Slides:  Access Checker in Slides Now Checks Permissions When You Share

If you insert a video or audio file in your Slide, Google will automatically check if the users you shared it with have access to it. This update should arrive by mid-November. Here are the details. 

Google Docs:  Mention a User Directly Within a Google Doc

Now you can mention another user within a Google Doc, like you can in comments by using the @ and starting to type their name. Mentioning them in a doc will not send them a message, though. You also will get a notice if you add someone who doesn't have access to the doc. It will allow any readers of the doc to hover over the user's link and get more info about them. Read more here. This feature should be available by the end of October. 

Smart Fill Helps Automate Entry in Google Sheets

When entering data in Google Sheets, Smart Fill will detect patterns and suggest a formula to fill the entire column of data. You should see this update roll out by November 5th. See a demonstration here. 

New Default Video Playback Option in Google Slides

Now when you are presenting in Google Slides a video in the slide will start playing when you click to advance the slide. You can change this option if you wish, by setting it to play automatically when you advance to the slide, or manually when you click on the video itself. Read all about it.

Check for Plagiarism with Google Originality Reports in Canvas Assignments

Concerned that students have copied from each other or plagiarized in their work? Originality Reports works with Assignments in Canvas.


The Easiest Way to Use Jamboard in Google Meet

Bring your interactive whiteboard to the Meet. 


Two Helpful but Overlooked Features of Google Meet

Tutorial for blurring your background, now that we have this feature, and disabling chat and screen share for your students. 



Edu in 90:  Explore in Google Slides




How to Create Your Own Online Boardgame

How to Create Your Own Online Boardgame, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Flippity to the rescue again. Using Google Sheets and a Flippity template you can create a customizable online board.

How to Think Like a Fact-Checker

We should never take as fact anything we see online, and especially not on social media. We also need to teach our students to do the same. 

New Presidential Debate Procedures

In case you missed this video from "erducator" Gerry Brooks...when classroom rules meet the Presidential Debate.


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