Showing posts with label Data Privacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Data Privacy. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Tech Tips and News for August 2025


Have you survived the first couple weeks of school, or are you hanging on by your fingernails? Hopefully this upcoming long weekend will give you a chance to catch your breath. The first two weeks are behind us, with all their new schedules and procedures. Enjoy the long weekend and soak up the last bits of summer - you deserve it!



Safety and Security

Tips & Tutorials




Gmail Security Alert for all 2.5 Billion Users - Steps to Take Now

You will not be contacted by Google Support - do not respond to emails, texts or phone calls claiming to be them. I'll also remind you again - NEVER reset your password for any online account using a link in an email or text, and NEVER share your 2 factor authentication code with anyone. I suspect this threat is mainly for personal Gmail users, but I'm sharing the info just in case it also involves business and education users. With education accounts, there is also some additional security layers in place in our infrastructure, but no system is fool proof. Our students should be isolated from this threat as their accounts are within a "walled garden" where only authorized senders can contact them. So continue to be ever vigilant with both your school and personal online accounts. 

Verify a Security Alert is From Google

This article from Google Guidebooks explains how Google uses security alerts, and how to confirm a security alert is, in fact, from Google. 

Warning: Instagram Users Targeted by Sneaky New Phishing Scam

This is another variation of the usual phishing attempt we all receive. Protect yourself, regardless of the current flavor of the month scam, by following these hard and fast rules:
  • Never login to any account from an email or text link - go to the website itself through its app or a browser to verify the legitimacy of the message.
  • Never click on ANY links in an email or text - see above
  • The more urgent the message, the more likely it's a scam - ignore or report it
  • If any payment is requested in gift cards or Bitcoin, it's a scam - ignore or report it

FBI Issues Warning to All Smartphone Users — This Dangerous New Scam Could Be At Your Door

Let's add to the list of not clicking on links from people we don't know - don't click on QR codes unless you know what they are for. Definitely don't click on any QR codes on random packages. 
 

Why Every School Should be Using Gemini - Data Privacy

Why Every School Should be Using Gemini - Data Privacy, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
This is a nice privacy endorsement from Eric Curts. 

Unplugging These 7 Common Household Devices Helped Reduce My Electricity Bills

I don't know about you, but the peak hours electricity rates in the summer usually send me running around my house every Monday morning unplugging anything that doesn't get used on a daily basis. Learn which devices you should definitely be unplugging. 

A Teacher's Guide to Chromebooks (video)

Just as a Windows laptop is different than a Mac laptop, chromebooks are a little different than both. Help your students make the most of their Chromebook by watching this video. Many of the tips will help you using Chrome on any device as well. 



Combating Sneaky Students

Combating Sneaky Students, from Chromebook Classroom by John Sowash
Do you have students who always seem to find a way to bypass GoGuardian? Listen to this podcast by John Sowash and Eric Griffith.

Google NotebookLM for Teachers:  10 Things to Know for Educators

This is a very useful tool that is baked right into Google Workspace for education. Find out ten ways it can help you. It is currently turned off for students. 

Gemini's Guided learning - Moving from Answers to Understanding for Students

Gemini's guided learning for students will support learners, but not do the work for them. Find out how. 

Vault Learning Games Library

This site contains a collection of educational games from the Field Day Lab at the Wisconsin Center of Education Research. On the Vault Game Library site, you'll find 75 games for grades K-12, covering a wide range of subjects and topics, from creators, such as iCivics, PhET, Learning Games Lab, and more. You can easily filter the games by grade level, subject, topics and maker. 


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Thursday, July 24, 2025

Tech Tips and News for July 2025

Image generated by Gemini
Well July is certainly a major Google update month! Many were announced via the normal channels, but many more were announced at the ISTE conference at the end of June/early July. They are listed below in the Updates section, and wow, it's a long list! Some updates have already been released, and others are coming soon within the next two months. Teachers, you will definitely want to take a look at the many updates and added features to Google Classroom. If you're currently using MagicSchool or SchoolAI, many of those tools are now available right in Classroom within the Gemini tab. Check out the video in the update article below. There are so many time saving tools for teachers! I also added tutorials for the new features where I could find them. Of course there's always the new Google training platform, also listed in the updates section, to learn all the Google Workspace for Education apps. More will come as the new features roll out. I wanted to share this info with you now to give you time before school starts, in case you wish to check out all the new tools. If you are still savoring every last bit of summer before you return to school in three short weeks, save this info for later. See you soon.

Security 


Updates


Tips and Tutorials




How Hackers Steal Passwords


Watch Out:  How to Stop Your Smart TV From Spying on You

As with most online services, convenience comes at a cost and with possible risk. Learn how to protect your data and privacy. 

Core 4 Online Safety Basics

Core 4 Online Safety Basics, from National Cybersecurity Alliance
It doesn't have to be complicated - just remember 4 good habits. Simplify them further by using a password manager. With this tool, you can stop stressing over remembering all your passwords or thinking up new ones. It also speeds up the login process. I use Bitwarden free version, and it works like a charm. 

What to Do When You Get Hacked: Follow These Steps Now

What to Do When You Get Hacked: Follow These Steps Now, from PCMagazine by Neil J. Rubenking
This article not only covers what to do after you get hacked, it also discusses the ways you can get hacked and how to avoid them. 



Google's Biggest Workspace EDU Updates Ever (video)

As a reminder, we have the Teaching & Learning ediction of Google Workspace for Education. Most of the Classroom updates he mentions will be coming to our version soon, if it's not already there. 

Google Classroom:  New Capabilities for Student Groups

Teachers can now email groups, sort by groups on the Student work page, and edit student groups when creating an assignment. Group names are not visible to students. You should see this update now. Learn how to manage student groups here. 

Google Classroom:  Gemini in Classroom Available to All Adults

Gemini in Classroom was only available to Education Plus users, but has now been made available for all Google Workspace for Education versions for users who are 18 and over. You'll now have access to many of those teaching assistant tools right in Classroom. Those features include
  • Create a rubric
  • Brainstorm project ideas
  • Translate text
  • Build a choice board
  • Write an iniformational text
  • Write a story
  • Tackle common misconceptions
Teachers can also ask Gemini to refine content it has generated, and then easily add it to an assignment with the Add to class button. In addition teachers can also use starter prompts to help with things like brainstorming real world examples, gamifying an activity, generating differentiation strategies, drafting an exemplar and non-exemplar, as well as creationg depth of knowledge qustions. Watch the video below for ideas. Learn more about Gemini in Classroom here. 



Google Classroom:  Upload Standards and Add Them to Assignments

It will be possible to upload state standards via Case Network 2 to your Google Classroom. Once uploaded, you be able to tag assignments with the standards to gain insight into goal proficiency. More information about this update will be coming when it becomes available, so stay tuned. 

Google Classroom:  Analytics Tab Coming to Teaching & Learning

Soon you will see an additional tab on your course page for Analytics. This tab will allow teachers to receive relevant, real-time insights about your class, such as alerts on grade drops or changes in assignment completion. This will help you identify students who may need support. This update should also be available in the next couple months. 

Google Classroom Read Along:  Create a Story with Gemini + More

These updates were previously only available in Workspace Plus, but will soon be available to our Teaching & Learning version. 
  • Right within the Classroom flow, teachers can create a story with Gemini that will turn into a Read Along Activity.
  • Phonics Skills Dashboard
  • Heggerty Decodables Library Expansion
  • Silent Reading and Listening Modes

Google Drive:  Video Engagment Insights



Google recently enhanced the video play experience in Drive with a new look and feel, enhanced functionality, automatically generated captions, and video transcripts. With the latest update, you'll now be able to measure the engagement on videos uploaded to Drive with the ability to see the total number of times a video is opened. You can see this information in a new Analytics section in the Details panel. To see a video's "open count", open a video file in Google Drive > click the three dot menu > click on Details > open the new Analytics section. Learn more about storing and playing video in Google Drive here. This update became available in early June. 

Google Gemini:  Now Available for Students Under 18

Google has now made Gemini (Google's LLM like ChatGPT) available to all students under 18. It is considered a core application in Google Workspace for Education, and as such, it complies with the same privacy laws as the rest of the apps. Common Sense Media has recently awarded Google Gemini with their privacy seal. For now, we have disabled this for students until we can have a planning conversation as a staff to approach it thoughtully and intentionally. When activated it will allow teachers to assign Gems and Notebook LM in Classroom.

Google Gmail:  Manage Email Subscriptions From a Single Location

When this update arrives in late July, you'll be able to all of your email subscriptions in one place, and more importantly unsubscribe from any you no longer wish to receive. This is available now in a new Manage Subscriptions view that will also allow you to see which subscriptions send the most emails, and the number of messages they've sent in the past few weeks. Right now it is only available in Gmail on your mobile device.   Learn how to manage your subscriptions in Gmail here.

Google Notebook LM:  More Languages Supported and Video Overviews

This update is two treats in one. Now in Notebook LM, you can upload sources in over 50 languages. In addition, Notebook LM has created audio overviews of your resources, much like a podcast. Now it will also create video overviews. This tool is only available for users over 18, but will be available to students in the coming months. With NotebookLM you can upload resources, videos, and support articles to keep them in one place. Once uploaded, you can ask NLM anything you want about the topic, create a study guide, a timeline, listen to a podcast overview, or watch a video overview. Long articles? No problem, let NLM summarize it for you. Learn how to use NotebookLM in this Google Support article, or watch this video.

Google Training:  New Platform for Applied Digital Skills

Google for Education's Applied Digital Skills platform has been updated and has a new URL. ASA/DOGR bookmarks have been updated to reflect this. You may (or may not) recall, the Applied Digital Skills platform has interactive courses and lessons for learning how to use the Google tools, as well as other topics. This platform can be used by adults, but it is also designed so teachers can use the lesson plans and interactive classes with students as well. 

Google Vids:  Now Available to All Google for Education Users

Google introduced Vids last year to Education Plus users, they have now made Vids available to all Google Workspace for Education users. Google Vids is an AI-powered video creation and editing tool that is integrated with Google Workspace. You should already see Vids as a choice in your Google app switcher (9-dot menu), or you can access it a vids.google.com. Learn how to use Vids with Google's self-paced online training course, or see Vid features in this PDF. This help center article is also available to get you started. This will be an easy way for your students to create a video demonstrating their knowledge.


Meet the New Google for Education Learning Center

Google has replaced the Applied Digital Skills Teacher Site with the Google for Education Learning Center. This site provides free, online, on-demand training for teachers, school leaders and students related to Workspace, Chrome and Gemini. With the course catalog, you can filter courses by role, expertise level and specific Google products. In addition to Google products, there are also courses for Chromebooks, AI, Accessibility, and digital citizenship. This is also where you'll take training courses and test for Google certifications, such as Google Certified Educator levels 1 and 2. If an entire course seems daunting, I've linked many individual lessons (under 10 minutes each) on the Resources page of the Employee Tech Guide, under the Google Workspace for Education section. There, they are broken down by product.

Using Gemini in Google Classroom (video)



Beginner's Guide to Google Vids (video)


AI Introduction Videos & Lessons for You and Your Students

Google has made Gemini safe for students under 18 to use - we have not yet turned it on for students until we can have some conversations as a staff. Whether or not we do open Gemini up for students, it is important to include AI literacy in your Digital Citizenship lessons. Common Sense Media has lesson plans for you to use with your students in grades 6-12, as well as an AI Basics course for K-12 teachers. In addition, Google has provided some helpful videos you could use in class as well.

How to Spot Fake AI Photos (video)



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Thursday, May 22, 2025

Tech Tips & News for May 2025

In case I don't see you before the end of the school year, have a fabulous summer! I won't be around during the last week of school as our first grandchild is due in early June - halfway across the country - and he's been showing signs of wanting to arrive early. We're pretty much ready to fly at a moments notice. I'm sure you are too - fly from school, that is. Of course we all have those end of the year tasks we need to take care of before we can relax and and enjoy the summer, my deadline is just a little sooner than yours this year. I could hear an audible groan when I saw this meme. Once you are finally able to enjoy your summer, you may want to consider taking some time to familiarize yourself with Google Chat, Google Classroom and AI in the classroom to get ready for next year. (Feel free to browse the AI topic in this blog (right column) for numerous articles and training opportunities.) KISD also has an AI for educators workshop available in July (see link below). All these will be introduced/discussed in the 2025-2026 school year. Familiarizing your self with them at your leisure over the summer will ease your stress levels in August. 

Safety & Security

News

Updates

Tips & Tutorials



Cybersecurity Checklist: Follow These Simple Steps to Break Bad Habits

The cybersecurity stakes are higher now than they've ever been. It's so important to break our old lazy habits and form safer practices.

How Google's AI Combats New Scam Tactics - and How You Can Stay One Step Ahead

Learn more about Google's scam detection system. 

Malicious CAPTCHA Test Targets Education Site: What to Do If the Scam Hit Your PC

CAPTCHA are those boxes that ask you to type in the wavy letters you see, or click in every box that shows a motorcycle or traffic light. A legitimate CAPTCHA will never be a keyboard command. 

Fake CAPTCHAs are Taking Over the Internet. Here's How to Spot Them


Beware: This Social Security Scam Installs Remote Access Malware on Your PC

It bears repeating - never download anything, or click on links in an email - go to the official website and download from there. This is a variation on a common theme. 

5 Easy Ways to Stop Companies from Collecting Your Data

One of the reasons scammers are so effective is because they have access to so much information about us.


Google is Going to Let Kids Use its Gemini AI

Google is Going to Let Kids Use it's Gemini AI, from The Verge by Umar Shakir
This will also be coming to Google Workspace for Education. While we can turn it off until we're ready for it at school, kids will be able to access it at home. It's way past time to include AI in your digital citizenship lessons. 

AI for Educators KISD Workshop - July 24 & 31

KISD is offering a 2-day AI for Educators workshop, July 24 & 31. This hands-on experience will cover AI literacy, AI ethics, and prompt engineering, while discovering how AI can boost your efficiency, enhance your instruction, and empower your learners. During this course you'll earn 13 SCECHs. Cost is $50. More information and registration is available here. 




Classroom:  New Capabilities for Groups

Last year Google added the ability to create student groups in Classroom. Now you'll be able to email those groups, sort by groups on the Student work page for easier grading, and edit those groups when you are creating an assignment. Learn about managing student groups in Classroom here. 

Classroom:  More Interactive YouTube Assignments

In 2024 Google added AI-suggested questions to save educators time. Now the collection of YouTube videos that have AI-suggested questions available has been expanded. Before assigning the questions to a video, educators will be able to edit the suggested questions before attaching the YouTube video to an assignment. Learn more about interactive questions for YouTube videos in Google Classroom here. 

Docs, Sheets, Slides:  Out-of-Domain File Warnings


Similar to the gold External warning you see at the top of emails when a message is from someone outside the organization, you'll see that same warning in Docs, Sheets, and Slides files too. It will be visible whenever a file is owned or shared by someone outside the DOGR or ASA domains. There will also be a pop-u with more details and the option to report the file for abuse. This is an extra layer to alert you when a file is not being shared by someone in our domain. 

Gmail:  Quickly Respond to Emails with Emoji Reactions

If you aren't already seeing this update, you should be seeing it soon. You'll have the ability to quickly react to an email using an emoji. There are just a few things to keep in mind: 
  • We cannot respond to group emails with an emoji.
  • Emoji re3actions work best in the Gmail app or via Gmail.com on the web. They may not work well if you use an Email service, like Outlook or Mail. 

Keep:  Rich Text Formatting Now Available

You can now format your text in Google Keep. Users can cusomize and add emphasis to their text through bolding, underlining, italicizing and using heading styles. Learn more about creating or editing a note in Keep here.

Slides:  New Sidebar with Design Elements

To help you find the features you need when creating, building and presenting Google Slides faster, users will now be able to access templates, image generation, new design components and more in a new sidebar on the right side of your canvas. You'll be able to access the following new and existing features and edit them:
Building Blocks - a new library of pre-formatted content, such as agendas, quotes, key statistics
Stock Images - easily access millions of web images, stickets and GIFs.
Templates - an expanded library of Slide templates
You should already be seeing this update in Slides. 




4 Powerful Ways Teachers Can Build AI Ethics & Stop Cheating

4 Powerful Ways Teachers Can Build AI Ethics & Stop Cheating, from KISD The Bulletin by Amanda Walma
Find out why AI ethics matter beyond the concern for cheating.

AI and Cheating:  20 Things Educators Should Consider

AI and Cheating:  20 Things Educators Should Consider, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
There are some really great insights and thoughts to ponder here. 

>20 Ways Google Tools Can Make the End of the Year Rock

20 Ways Google Tools Can Make the End of the Year Rock, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Student showcase ideas, free time activities, games...there are so many ideas here.

>10 Ways to Use Google Slides Building Blocks in the Classroom

10 Ways to Use Google Slides Building Blocks in the Classroom, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Learn how to use this very handy new feature in Slides. 

Improve Your Google Sheets Skills With AI


5 Teacher-Tested AI Tools for Beginners

5 Teacher-Tested AI Tools for Beginners, from Edutopia by Eric Curts
Feeling curious about AI but overwhelmed by options? Edtech specialist Eric Curts cuts through the noise with five tools you can start using today.

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