Tech Tips and News for May 26, 2023

Vietnam Memorial K.Szczyto

I'm sure everyone is ready for a long holiday weekend, or should I call it summer break preview? The weather will even be cooperating, which has historically been a rarity for Memorial Day weekend in Michigan. While we are enjoying the extended time off and this taste of summer, hopefully we remember to say a prayer of thanks to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. To that end, I've included a post from We Are Teachers with many Memorial Day activities for kids, to remind them of the true reason for the holiday. Enjoy your long holiday weekend - only two more weeks to go!

• How Not To Get Hacked - Install Updates
• How to Create a Strong Password (and Remember it)
• How AI Could Save (not destroy) Education
• A New Google Bard Feature
• Create an Animated Timeline in Google Slides
• Create Animated Simulations With Loopy
• 21 Meaningful Memorial Day Activities for Kids
• Play Your Dates Right - A History Timeline Game

How Not To Get Hacked - Install Updates

How to Create a Strong Password (and Remember it)

How to Create a Strong Password (and Remember it), from How-To Geek by Chris Hoffman

How to create your own or choose a password manager. 

How AI Could Save (not destroy) Education

Watch Sal Khan's Ted Talk to see how AI can be an opportunity to provide each student with a tutor and writing coach with the right guardrails.

A New Google Bard Feature

A New Google Bard Feature, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne

Now that Bard is included in Google Workspace for Education, it is much easier to access than ChatGPT...and I've never encountered an inability to use it due to excessive traffic. Learn how to use it in this article, as well as how to translate your Bard Chat into a Google Doc. 

Create an Animated Timeline in Google Slides

Create Animated Simulations With Loopy

Create Animated Simulations With Loopy, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne

Can't find the right animation to illustrate a concept? Create your own!

21 Meaningful Memorial Day Activities for Kids

21 Meaningful Memorial Day Activities for Kids, from We Are Teachers by Elizabeth Mulvahill

So many ideas here, from books, videos and songs, to arts and crafts and speaking with veterans. 

Play Your Dates Right - A History Timeline Game

Play Your Dates Right - A History Timeline Game, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne

Check out this game template from classtools.net for reinforcing the correct sequence of events. 

Tech Tips and News for May 19, 2023

Vera Kratochvil publicdomainpictures.net

Due to too many broken chromebooks, as well as other system updates and repairs, this week's issue is short and sweet. While I'm grateful that there weren't too many repairs during my unintended absence, I sure wish they weren't now breaking all at once! That being said, I'd much rather be busy than not have enough things to do. There are some notable Google updates, such as Bard, a new spam folder in Drive and a few other features that are worth noting, so you're ready when they appear in your google account. These new features are cropping up around us like all the new growth we see in spring!

• Give Me the Security Code - Wham! Bam! That's a SCAM #8
• Google Bard Now Available for Google Workspace for Education
• Keeping Your Students (and Yourself) Safe on Social Media:  A Checklist
• Google Workspace Updates:  
• Google Drive:  New Spam Folder
• Google Docs:  Create Custom Building Blocks
• Google Docs:  Collapsible Headings 

Give Me the Security Code - Wham! Bam! That's a SCAM #8

Google Bard Now Available for Google Workspace for Education

Until this week, Google Bard was only available for Gmail accounts. It is now available for Google Workspace for Education accounts. At ASA, that means for faculty and staff accounts. It will continue to be blocked for students, because they are too young for the terms of use and privacy policy. Google Bard is the Google version of an AI chatbot, such as ChatGPT, and can be used just like ChatGPT or Bing Chat. Some examples include creating lesson plans, generating letters to parents, helping with research, drafting explanations at a specific grade level, or creating poems, riddles, etc. Just pop over to bard.google.com and give it a try. 

Keeping Your Students (and Yourself) Safe on Social Media:  A Checklist

Keeping Your Students (and Yourself) Safe on Social Media:  A Checklist, from Common Sense Media by Tanner Higgin

To piggyback on last week's student privacy post, here's a handy checklist to consider before posting any information about your classroom or students on social media. 

Google Workspace Updates:

  

Drive:  New Spam Folder

In an effort to improve the security of Google Drive, a new spam folder will be added around the end of May. The spam folder in Drive will work in a similar way to the spam feature in Gmail. If an unwanted or suspicious file is shared with you, you will be able to mark it as spam, and it will be moved to the spam folder. Likewise, if Google suspects a file is spam, it will automatically be moved to the spam folder, so if you aren't seeing a file that was shared with you, check your spam folder. Read all about this new feature here. 

Google Docs:  Create Custom Building Blocks

Building blocks are the fields you can insert into a Doc by typing @. You can now save combinations of building blocks you commonly use as custom building blocks to reuse in other Docs. Just select the part of the doc containing the building blocks, right click and select "Save as custom building block". Name the block and save. It will appear in the building blocks menu the next time you insert one in a doc. Custom building blocks are also saved as documents in Drive, in a Custom Building Blocks folder. If you are not already seeing this feature, it should be available in the next 2-3 weeks. Here are all the details. 

Google Docs:  Collapsible Headings

A new collapsible heading feature is coming to Google Docs by early June. This allows a section of text to be hidden behind a heading, and expanded or collapsed as needed to make the doc more readable. An example of collapsible headings can be found on most pages of the ASA Tech Guide. Clicking the expand arrow in the heading reveals the text for that section, and clicking the arrow again collapses it. Details, inclding a link to learn how to use headings, can be found here. 

Tech Tips and News for May 12, 2023

Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash

Be sure to take a look at the free cybersecurity training that Michigan Catholic Conference is offering. I'm not sure if it will be required at some point, but for now it's voluntary. This is usually how they introduce new requirements, by offering them on a voluntary basis until they've perfected the process. Later they become a requirement. Most of these trainings are held during the school day, with the exception of the June session. The previous sessions are supposed to be posted on their website soon, but I haven't seen them yet. I'll let you know when they are available. Free cybersecurity training is always helpful!

• Your Bank Calling Scam - Wham! Bam! - That's a Scam #5
• MCC Cybersecurity Training in May and June
• 3 Steps to Secure Student Privacy
• What's New in Chrome
• Assign IXL Quizzes in Canvas
• This Teacher Asked ChatGPT to Write a Personalized End-of-Year Peom for Each Student, and the Results Are Pretty Great

Your Bank Calling Scam - Wham! Bam! - That's a Scam #5

MCC Cybersecurity Training in May and June

Michigan Catholic Conference is providing online cybersecurity training for all parish, school, and Diocesan employees who have access to a computer on parish, school or diocesan  network. That includes all ASA employees. The next session is focused on hacker prevention on May 17th at 10:00 am. Register for the May 17th session here. The final session, focused on best cybersecurity practices will be on June 21st at 10:00 am. Two other sessions have already taken place, and I've been assured by MCC that they will be available on demain on the micatholic.org risk management page, although I don't see them there just yet.

3 Steps to Secure Student Privacy

3 Steps to Secure Student Privacy, from Common Sense Education

Here is some very useful questions to ask yourself whenever you are considering a new online resource to use with your students. I'll also add a link to this on the Student Privacy page of the ASA Employee Tech Guide. (Pro tip:  the tech guide is in your magical ASA/DOGR bookmarks folder)

What's New in Chrome

Chrome is in the process of updating to version 113. This page outlines all the new features this version brings, such as memory and battery saving measures, and a reading list to save online articles for later.

Assign IXL Quizzes in Canvas

Teachers can now assign IXL quizzes directly from Canvas. First assign it in IXL, then launch the IXL activitiy selector in Canvas to assign it to the student from their Canvas page. Read all about this update in the IXL blog here. 

This Teacher Asked ChatGPT to Write a Personalized End-of-Year Peom for Each Student, and the Results Are Pretty Great

This Teacher Asked ChatGPT to Write a Personalized End-of-Year Peom for Each Student, and the Results Are Pretty Great, from We Are Teachers by Stacy Tornio

If poetry doesn't easily roll off your tongue, or through your keyboard, get a little help from ChatGPT, BingChat or Google Bard. Feed it a few facts about each child, and you're off to the races. 

Tech Tips and News for May 5, 2023

"Credit card and padlock on white background"
by wuestenigel is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

As you are all aware, we implemented 2 factor verification with all Google accounts last year. But you may wonder why we did that...beyond it being a requirement of our cybersecurity insurance.  The 2FA article below explains why it is more secure than just a password in "non-techy" terms. It also explains why you should use it on any account that has a credit card or bank account attached to it. I realize that for many, it's just an additional inconvenience. We really need to get beyond thinking about convenience first and security second. Anything that connects or interacts with the internet or WiFi is at risk. I encourage you to arm yourself with a little bit of security knowledge and a healthy dose of skepticism. If you add a new internet-connected device in your home, such as a smart speaker or doorbell, make a point of looking at the privacy policies, and learning how to set it up so it's secure and cannot be hacked. Do the same with your online accounts, and check privacy policies and terms of use before using any new apps or online services. 

• Call Centre Scams - Wham! Bam! - That's a Scam
• The Best Free PC Antivirus Software
• Here's Why You Should Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
• Google Day of Learning - May 18th
• MLA and APA Provide Guidance for Citing Content Created by AI
• How to Send Password-Protected Emails in Gmail
• How to Convert a PDF Document to a Google Doc
• A Round-up of 15 AI Resources Created Without Using AI
• 10 Ways Curipod Engages Your Students with AI
• The  5 Biggest Risks of Generative AI, According to an Expert

Call Centre Scams - Wham! Bam! - That's a Scam #2

The Best Free PC Antivirus Software

The Best Free PC Antivirus Software, from ZCNet by Charlie Osborne and Ed Bott

If you're looking for somthing beyond Microsoft's built in antivirus, here's a list of free options. 

Here's Why You Should Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Here's Why You Should Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), from How-To Geek by Jason Fitzpatrick

Password hacking and identity theft have become so common now. You should use it on as many online accounts that offer it. Learn why to embrace it instead of resent it - in laymen's terms.

Google Day of Learning - May 18th

MACUL is hosting Google Day of Learning on May 18, 2023, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm in Lansing. FriED Tech is sponsoring this session, and their training sessions are always full of engaging, helpful tips. Topics covered include high impact teaching strategies, accessibility, practical magic, organizing Drive and favorite app mashups and extensions. Find out more or register here. 

MLA and APA Provide Guidance for Citing Content Created by AI

MLA and APA Provide Guidance for Citing Content Created by AI, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne

Once we, and our students, begin using AI, how do we cite research done with ChatGPT, BingChat or Google Bard? Both MLA and APA have issued guides. 

How to Send Password-Protected Emails in Gmail

How to Send Password-Protected Emails in Gmail, from ZDNet by Jack Wallen

Use Confidential Mode to send sensitive emails.

How to Convert a PDF Document to a Google Doc

How to Convert a PDF Document to a Google Doc, from Workspace Tips

Need to edit a PDF? Upload it to Drive and open it as a Google Doc.

A Round-up of 15 AI Resources Created Without Using AI

A Round-up of 15 AI Resources Created Without Using AI, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne

Create content, cite sources, AI detectors, video creation and student feedback are all covered in this post. 

10 Ways Curipod Engages Your Students with AI

10 Ways Curipod Engages Your Students with AI, from Ditch That Textbook

Cuirpod will create an interactive slide presentation for you. Interactive slides include polls. word clouds, open-ended questions, drawings and Q&A slides. This free tool will take your topic, and create a presentation that you can tweak as needed. You'll run the presentation on the classroom projector, and students will be able to interact from their chromebooks. 

The 5 Biggest Risks of Generative AI, According to an Expert

The 5 Biggest Risks of Generative AI, According to an Expert, from ZDNet by Sabrina Ortiz

It's always inportant to balance the benefits and the risks.