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Episode 37
This week, we take a look at tools and features in Google Docs that can help you and your students in class. Plus, some news and updates, and a tip from the treasure chest.
News & Updates
- School matches are available in originality reports for Education customers
- Education + and T&L upgrade
- Admin must enable it
- Any submitted assignment will be added to a school repository after an originality report is run
- Documents will be included in any flagged content
- Chrome Updates
- Link highlighted text
- Highlight, right-click, select “Copy link to highlight”
- Link with go to that section of the web page
- New PDF reader features
- document properties, two-page view and an updated top toolbar, which puts the most important PDF actions (zoom, jump to page, save, print and more) within a single click.
- Chrome now mutes any notifications if you’re sharing your screen
- Chrome performance improvements
- decreased Chrome CPU usage, which often means more battery life, less fan noise and less heat
- up to 100MB per tab, which is more than 20% on some popular sites
- Soon, collapsed tab groups will freeze so they won’t use up memory and CPU
- Name your windows coming soon
- Link highlighted text
Treasure Chest:
“You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”
Jim Rohn
- Make the best of the time you have with your students
Boss Battle: Things You May not Know about Google Drive
Visual Organization
- Color code your folders
- Right click on a folder and hover over the change color option
- Use emojis in folder names
- Add emojis icons to your folder names to make them visually easier to see
- Good for folder you go to often
Adding Shortcuts
- If someone shares a file with you that you’ll use often, add a shortcut to your Drive
- It doesn’t copy the file; think of it as a link to the original
- Look for the Drive logo with the plus
- In the right-click menu
- Also in the toolbar of Drive when you click on a file or folder
Creating Files from Templates
- Click “New”
- Instead of clicking on Doc or Sheet, etc., use the arrow to the right to pull up a submenu and click “From a template”
Connect Apps directly to your Drive
- Click “New” and hover over “More”
- Click “Connect More Apps” and then search for apps you use
- Example: I can connect Formative, then click on it in Drive to create a Formative for class
Add descriptions
- Click on a file
- Then click the information button
- Scroll down and you’ll see description (this is searchable)
- Add keywords or tags in the description
- I like using it for types of reading and skills in a document
Available offline
- Allows you to access files when you don’t have an internet connection
- Right click a file and toggle on the available offline option
- This is a great option for students who don’t have internet access at home
- They can access and edit files at home, and it syncs the next time they are connect online
Advanced Search features
- Search by type
- By owner
- Date modified
- Include items in Trash
Crew Members’ Board (#8BitCrew)
QOTW: What value are you bringing to your classroom?
Use #8BitCrew on Twitter, tag me @comicsocks, or post longer stories in the comments section here.
Get connected
- Twitter: @comicsocks & #8BitCrew
- Web site
- Youtube
- Email: 8bit.instructor@gmail.com
- Support the show on Patreon.
Check out my Google Classroom Udemy course.
Credits
Music by David Fesliyan (https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/)
- Intro/Outro: “Retro Platforming”
- Boss Battle: “Boss Battle Rock”
- Crew Member’s Board: “Pirate Dance”
- Wrap up: “Game Over” by Patrick de Arteaga
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links to products or services. I may receive commissions or bonuses from your actions on such links.
The Educator's Quest 