Thursday, September 28, 2023

Tech Tips and News for September 29, 2023

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Don't be caught off guard on October 4th, FEMA and the FCC are conducting a nation-wide emergency alert test. At 2:20 pm that day, all cell phones, TVs and radios are going to play that loud emergency sound and flash the test message. I'm sure this will be a disruption to your class, so plan ahead. Similar to our lock down, fire and tornado drills, it's just a test to make sure the system works, and everyone knows what to do if a true emergency were to happen. You can find full details in the article below.




Nationwide Emergency Alert Test October 4th

FEMA and the FCC have planned a nationwide emergency alert test for October 4, 2023. A test emergency alert will be sent to all TVs, radios and cell phones at around 2:20 pm that afternoon. So don't be alarmed when everyone's phones begin making the emergency alert noise. You may even want to give your students a heads up so they don't panic. A message explaining the test will be displayed. If the test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or "other significant events", the postponed date will be October 11th. You can read the full details about the test here. 

Can Old or Cheap USB Cables Damage Your Devices? 

Can Old or Cheap USB Cables Damage Your Devices?  from How-To Geek by Sarah Chaney
Is it just that old cables are slow, or can they actually harm your device?

Here's What's in the Now Available Google Chrome 117 Release

Here's What's in the Now Available Google Chrome 117 Release, from About Chromebooks by Kevin C. Tofel
Many changes are subtle, but there are a few warnings you'll notice. 

Bard Can Now Connect to Your Google Apps and Services

Bard is Google's AI chatbot, similar to ChatGPT or BingChat. It can now interact with Gmail, Google Docs, etc.

How to Use Google Docs Substitutions to Save Time and Effort

I use this feature all the time to not only correct words I tend to mistype, but also as shortcuts. As I type the word cents, it becomes ¢, copyright becomes ©, and 1/2 becomes ½. I don't have to go hunting through the special characters menu to find the symbol I need. 

23 Fabulous Features of Google Docs

23 Fabulous Features of Google Docs, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
I guarantee there are features in this list you didn't know existed. 

How to Use Google Bard to Generate Reading Comprehension Questions



15 Reasons Why Teachers Love Their Wireless Classroom Doorbells

This seems like a brilliant idea to save your vocal chords. 

How to Save a Route on Google Maps

How to Save a Route on Google Maps, from How-To Geek by Mahesh Makvana
While you're planning a fall color tour, or any other road trip, this can be a helpful tool.
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Thursday, September 21, 2023

Tech Tips and News for September 22, 2023

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What is one of your biggest frustrations in modern life? Would remembering lots of passwords make that list?  I can tell you first-hand that using a password manager makes that frustration completely disappear. I use BitWarden both at school and at home, and it has made my life so much easier. All I need to do is remember one password for BitWarden (it's free for individuals!) and it remembers the rest of my passwords. With one or two clicks, it enters my user name and password, and I'm off and running. It wasn't an inconvenience at all to set up, because it prompts me to save passwords as I enter them into the various sites and online services I use, or I can have BitWarden make up a secure password for me. In addition, if you've saved passwords in your browser, BitWarden will walk you through importing those as well. A password manager is much more secure than passwords in the browser. I've added the BitWarden extension for all the browsers I use, as well as the BitWarden app on my phone. No matter where I access a site, BitWarden is there to remember the passwords for me. BitWarden is just one of many password managers, feel free to test a few and see which one works for you. If you've found one you like, let me know in the comments, and tell me why you like it!

Why You Should Use a Password Manager, and How to Get Started

Once you start using a password manager you'll ask yourself what took so long! You'll only have to remember one password from that point on. Entering your passwords will be as easy as a click or two. I use Bitwarden, which is free for individuals. 

Canvas Webinar:  Beginning of the Year Best Practices

Are you interested in refining your Canvas skills? You can view the on-demaind Beginning of the Year Best Practices webinar here. This is a 25-minute recording. 

Canvas Update:  Migrate Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes


Canvas Introduces the Panda Bot


A new AI tool, that leverages the official guides for Canvas in a personal way has been introduced in Canvas. Panda Bot will appear in the lower right corner of Canvas Community. This is in beta for now, which means it is being tested for several months. To access Panda Bot and ask a Canvas support question, you'll need to be logged in to Canvas Community. Full information about Panda Bot can be found here. As you use Panda Bot, be sure to offer feedback on your experience.

Google Workspace Updates


Google Slides:  Live Pointers


This feature will allow you to turn on live pointers so you and your collaborators can see everyone's mouse pointer. This allows each user to more accurately call attention to points of interest in slide. Each user will need to turn on this feature when they wish to use it by going to View > Live Pointers > Show my pointer, or by using the pointer icon in the toolbar. Your pointer will remain visible across all slides until you turn the feature off. Learn more about this feature here. Live pointers should be available anytime between now and mid-October. 

Google Meet:  Add-ons Available

Third-party add-ons are now available from within Meet, just like they are in Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc. Add-ons are available clicking the Activities button in the lower right, and selecting from the featured add-ons. This feature is available now. More details about this new feature can be found here. 

22 Killer Keyboard Shortcuts (and a challenge!) for Busy Educators

Learn a few shortcuts and save your self some time. 

How to Access Thousands of Free Audio Books, Thanks to Microsoft AI and Project Gutenberg

Going on a road trip? Taking a walk? Listen to the classics for free. 

9 Templates for Responding to Tricky Parent Emails

These templates will get you started on those common email replies. To save even more time, create template messages in Gmail so all you have to do is tap compose, select the template and fill in the blanks. Pro tip:  If you have a signature in your email, remove the email from your template before saving, otherwise you'll have two signatures when you use the template. Need help? I'll be happy to walk you through the process, it's very quick. 

How to Use ChatGPT to do Research for Papers, Presentations, Studies, and More

Speed up your internet searching! While these tips use ChatGPT  as an example, they will work in any AI chatbot, such as Bing Chat or Google Bard. 
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Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Tech Tips and news for September 15, 2023

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I hope your school year is off to a great start. There's been time to implement your classroom rules and routines. Students are over the novelty of a new school year and grade, and are settling in to their normal routines. The weather is even cooperating with fall-like temperatures. If only we could reduce the number of indoor recesses. As you are helping students form good classroom habits, please consider also helping them form good digital habits as well. To help with this, Common Sense Media has a few collections of lessons for grades K-5 and 6-12. See the Digital Advice and Digital Well-Being lessons below. Use them as is, or customize them to fit your needs. In addition to the collections highlighted below, Common Sense Media also has lessons on Digital Citizenship and Cybersecurity Essentials. These lessons are pretty much plug and play for teachers. Check out all their collections here. 

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

Here's Why You Should Us Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), from How-To Geek by Jason Fitzpatrick
You should all be familiar with 2-Factor Authentication, because you use it on your ASA email account. It adds a layer of security, and should be used on all your online accounts - especially any that store your credit card or banking information. 

Device Advice:  Onboarding for School-Issued Devices

There are four lessons in this collection for grades K-5, and they might be a nice supplement to the Student Tech Care video. For the students in grades 6-8, perhaps you can amend the lessons provided, have students create posters as reminders of the rules, or even having them create a video of their own may help them feel more invested in the care guidelines. Of course, reminding them that repairs start at $180 helps too. 😉 If students choose to make their own video about caring for ASA devices, I'll be happy to use them and share them with the rest of the school. Common Sense Media also has a set of lessons for Digital Well Being - see below. 

Digital Well-Being:  Middle School Lessons

Digital Well Being Lessons, from Common Sense Media
For grades 6-8, there are 4 lessons focusing on students' digital well being. These lessons include My Values and Tech, Digital Media and Your Brain, Thinking Traps, and Positive Tech Habits. Help your students find a balance between tech and life, and start developing healthy online habits. The lessons include handouts and posters for visual reminders. 

Google Workspace Updates


Google Drive:  Lock Files More Easily


Soon, you'll be able to lock a file in drive by right clicking on it, selecting File Information, and Lock. Locking a file makes sure reviewers can’t change a file. Edits, comments and suggestions can't be added to locked documents. In order to lock a Drive file, you must have Edit-access to the file. You can unlock a file in the same way you locked it. This update should be available before the end of September. Learn more about getting approvals on files in Google Drive here. 

Google Drive:  Reorganized File and Folder Menu


You may have already noticed the Google Drive context menu (the menu you see with a right click) has changed. It's now much shorter, but all the same features are available. Some features have been placed inside sub-menus. For example you'll now see an arrow next to Share, clicking that arrow opens the Share Sub-menu where you'll see Share and Copy Link. Likewise, Move and Shortcut are now found within the Organize sub-menu. 

Google Sheets:  Get Started with Smart Canvas

Now when opening a new Sheet, you'll see the familiar Type @ to insert that we're used to seeing in Docs. This will allow you to insert Smart Chips, such as email information, dates, calendar events, other docs, sheets or slides files, places and map directions, YouTube videos, and more. 

Google Slides:  Add Annotations to Your Presentations


While presenting your Google Slides, you will be able to turn on the new pen feature, and annotate your slides. With the pen tool, you can circle, underline, draw connections, or make quick notes directly on your presentation. To annotate your Slides presentation, ​​open ‘slideshow mode’ by clicking the ‘Slideshow’ button in the appbar > mouse over the bottom-left side of the viewer and open the three dot menu by clicking on the ellipsis icon >select “Turn on the pen”.  To erase annotations, use the eraser tool in the bottom left viewer menu. Learn more about presenting slides here. This feature is available now. 

IXL Teacher and Student Dashboard Redesign

In case you haven't had enough major user interface changes with Infinite Campus and NWEA, IXL has also joined the club with new dashboards for both teachers and students. Learn about the new Teacher Dashboard here. You'll also want to familiarize yourself with the new Student Dashboard here so you can support them. 

REMC8 Educator Resource Center

Keep in mind that the Regional Educational Resource Center (REMC) is available to help you with Ellison die cuts, Variquest Paper Cutter, which makes variable sized cut-outs and lettering on all kinds of materials, and laminating. Check out their services and online catalog here. They are located on the KISD campus on Knapp Street. 

Tabs in Chrome:  10 Power User Tips and Tricks

Tabs in Chrome:  10 Power User Tips and Tricks, from How-To Geek by Reyadh Rahaman
Save yourself some time and work smarter. 

15 Plug and Play Lesson Plans from Google

15 Plug and Play Lesson Plans from Google, from Shake Up Learning by Kasey Bell
There are actually 21 lessons in a variety of subjects. 


Google Form Parent Contact Log

John Sowash offers this Parent Contact Log Google Form template for you to use to keep track of all your parent communications. 

Canva Teacher Cheat Sheet

Kent ISD has created a Canva Cheat Sheet for teachers with shortcuts to the most common templates you might use. If you haven't embraced the wonderful world of Canva yet, for creating newsletters, diagrams, infographics, invitations, and pretty much any other graphics based resource you can think of, you may want to reconsider. ASA has a district account, so you no longer need to create your own account and wait to be verified. ASA teachers can now share resources in Canva with each other, and safely create a class for your students so they can use Canva too. All ASA teachers have been set up with a Teacher account. You should be able to sign in using your ASA email address and signing in with Google (don't create a new account). If this doesn't work, contact me for the invitation code. There are lots of tutorials available here. 
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