10 Great Tools to Integrate with your Google Docs Since Google officially changed Google Docs name to Google Drive and a number of updates have been introduced to improve its overall performance. One very recent update is an increase of cloud storage capacity to 15GB usable across Gmail, Drive, and Google Plus. It is quite obvious that Google is trying to outsmart its immediate competitor Dropbox and I think Google is successful in its strategy so far. To make Google Drive stand out from the crowd, Google opened it to apps developers and allowed users to select from a wide variety of web apps to integrate into their Google Drive accounts. I have curated for you some interesting apps that are integrated into Google Drive and which you can install right from your Google Drive interface. This is how o install any of the apps below into your Google drive : Head over to your Google Drive, click on create, then click on " connect more apps", then type in its name in the search pane and click on " connect " 1- WeVideo 2- PicMonkey 4- Lucid Chart
iPad or Chromebook: 4 Questions To Ask Before Choosing Crude mashup for your enjoyment. For the past few days, I’ve been playing with a Chromebook. Though I have been an advocate of Google’s myriad web products since the beta-test Gmail account that I was invited to open over 10 years ago, I had not previously put my hands on one of these devices. I may be in love. This may come as a shock since I have spent the past two years completely immersed in iPads. I love my iPad too, and my iPhone, and my mostly retired iPod Touch. With schools and districts across the country, there seems to be this preconception that a single relationship exists with regard to technology, and in particular, with regard to making a decision about mobile devices. However, my colleagues at EdTechTeacher and I think that rather than asking which device should my school use, the more poignant question may be ‘what do I want my students to do?’ Why? More often than not, the answer is access. What will best support my students learning? What do I want my students to do?
One Stop Resource for Google Docs If you’re a Google Docs user, curious about Google Docs, work with Google Docs with students, and especially if you’re looking for help understanding all of the features of Google Docs, then you’ve got to bookmark MaryFran’s Google Docs Tutorials. Created as a Google Site (of course), this is a huge collection of resources, tutorials, videos, … all devoted to helping the visitor understand the ins and outs of working with Google Docs. That’s really the best description I can think of to describe this site. Navigation and use is as simple and powerful as Google Docs itself. Just select a topic of interest from the left side navigation menu and read on. Google Docs users – make sure that you bookmark this resource. Powered by Qumana Like this: Like Loading... Related OTR Links 12/16/2011 Main Page - Math Lesson and Unit Plans page divided by grade level and strand. In "Links" OTR Links 04/09/2012 OTR Links for 07/10/2011 In "Computers"
Getting Started - MaryFran's Google Docs Tutorials Once you have an account, go to the Google start page and sign in. You will be able to access Docs either through the list of blue underlined options at the top left hand side of the page, or under the drop-down menu under more You come to the Documents List Page. From here you will be able to: begin a New < Documentor Upload Files. When you upload a text document, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing you will have the option to "Convert documents, spreadsheets & presentations to Google Docs format."
Google Classroom: Viewing Rights One issue with using Google Docs with students is remembering to set the viewing rights on a document. How many times have you linked students to a file in Google Docs only to hear a sea of voices exclaiming “We do not have permission!” When you create a Google document the default viewing permissions are private. You have to click on the blue share button to change the sharing permissions. Something that is easily overlooked. Google Classroom solves this problem by allowing the teacher to link to Google Docs from their school Google Drive account. Additionally you can set the Google documents you share with students to be “Students can edit file” or “Make a copy for each student.” No matter the sharing options you choose in Google Classroom you can be assured that the students will have access to the document so long as they are signed in with their school Google Apps account. For more information about Google Classroom see: Like this: Like Loading...
PSD70 Digital Portfolio Project 7 of the Best New Add Ons for Google Docs and Sheets Yesterday the Google Drive team announced one of the biggest updates to Docs and Sheets that we’ve seen in a long time. The new Add-ons feature for Docs and Sheets makes it really easy to bring some advanced functionality, or just some missing features, to your most important Drive files. With this new Add-ons feature comes a brand new marketplace with dozens of options to choose from. 1. Before Add-ons were introduced, creating a mail-merge required some knowledge of apps script as well as a lot of patience when putting together all the materials. 2. Collaboration is already one of the most powerful tools in Google Docs, but asking for (or receiving) approval for changes can really only be addressed with a workaround by using comments. 3. Students (and teachers, for that matter) finally have a much easier way to cite their sources directly inside of Google Docs with the Bibliography Creator from EasyBib. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Google Docs for Administrators – 5 Ideas to Get Started As another school year begins to come to a close, I have recently had some of our administrators (mostly elementary) contact me with ideas for making administrative tasks more paperless and create a more efficient workflow not only for themselves but for their teachers. Some of these have been regular “end of year” tasks and others are being put into motion in preparation for next year. Given my known affinity for Google Apps for Education, and being we are a Google Apps for Education district, my first inclination is always to figure out how these tasks could be completed using GAFE in one way or another. As I begin to help several of our administrators with these projects, I thought I’d start a post that I could come back and add to over time. They might be beneficial to you as a teacher or you might want to share them with administrators in your district. So here they are in no particular order: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Please feel free to add your ideas in the comments section! Like this:
15 Amazingly Useful Google Services You Should Know About As one of the most innovative tech companies in the world, Google have a very special place in my heart. They’ve created a huge number of products and services that make all of our lives easier, beginning with their famous web search engine. Everyone’s heard of Gmail and Google Maps, but it may surprise you to find out just how many Google services exist that you probably don’t know about. As the co-founder of a busy tech company with offices across the globe, I think anything that increases productivity – and reduces frustration – is worth talking about. In this post, you’ll learn about 15 lesser-known Google services that can help you out with everything from building your business to tracking down loved ones when crisis hits. Google Scholar A personal favorite of mine, Google Scholar is a great way to keep up to date with academic research and progress in science and technology. Google Keep Google Inbox Trendalyzer Google Business View Google Correlate Google Goggles Google Sites FieldTripper
Five Essential Google Drive Skills For Teachers This school year I've worked with a few school districts that are using Google Apps for Education for the first time. A lot of what I have done with those school districts is help to get the teachers acclimated to using Google Drive. When I sat down to plan an upcoming Google Drive training session I thought about some of the essential Google Drive skills that teachers need in addition to creating documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. Here are five essential Google Drive skills that I think teachers and students need. 1. Open and Edit Word Files in Google Drive. 2. 3. 4. 5. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: