Pull the Paragraph Add-on

This is an add-on that will allow you to see all of your students google doc written assignments in one place without opening each of them individually AND let you easily provide written feedback to them.

I have had several teachers tell me that one issue they have with using Google classroom with assignments is that it takes too long to open each student’s document to look at it and make comments. This Add-on script allows you to grab what students wrote into a Google Doc and put all of the responses into a spreadsheet. This allows you to save time from opening each Google Doc individually.  The add-on was created by Alice Keeler, but it has not been formally added to the list of Google add-ons at this point, but the steps below will show you how to get it and start using it with your Google Classroom assignments.

Step 1: Create an assignment in Google Classroom
The first thing you need to know is that this only works with Google text docs (not with sheets or slides).  Create your Google Classroom assignment and either give each student a copy or allow them to upload a google doc to the assignment.  Again they have to do the assignment in Google Docs.

Step 2: Download the Pulltheparagraph template
Since the add-on itself is not one that you can get yourself through the normal method, you will need to make a copy of the template created by Alice.  Here is a link to make a copy for yourself to use: [Make a copy of the template].  This sheets document will have the add-on already set up.  You will use this document every time you want to see student work and leave comments for them.

Step 3: Run the Add-on
Open the Pull the Paragraph Template.  Go to the add-ons menu and choose “Pull the Paragraph” then “start”.   You will be asked for authorization, choose “continue” and then “allow”.  

1. On the right side you will see a button that says “Choose a folder”.  Click this button and ”select folder” to choose the folder inside your classroom folder that has the assignment in it. Remember every assignment you make in Google classroom will automatically have a folder created for it inside your Classroom folder.
2. You will be given a reminder that you can provide feedback in column C.  Click “Ok”. The sheet will be created in which each row represents the work typed by a student.  
3. Scroll through the document to read each paragraph they typed.  
4. When finished add your comments in column C for any student you want to provide feedback.  This feedback could include the grade you have given them.
5. When all the feedback has been added, click the “Send Feedback” button on the right.  This will add your feedback to each student's document.

Step 4: Return the student work
In order for the students to see your comments, you will need to go back into Google classroom and return their work.

If you would like to see a video of me performing these steps it is available [Here].

To see Alice Keeler’s description of the Add-on visit her site.

For more helpful information and the archive of previous Check This Out! Digests, go to http://www.greenlocalschools.org/technology.aspx

Clipular

Great tool for grabbing images off the web to be easily used in G-Suite or other online applications.

As we say goodbye to 2016 and look forward to a nice long winter break, I thought I would share another easy to use Chrome extension that will make grabbing images off the web easier.  The extension is called “Clipular” and it will run directly from your Chrome extensions.

Step 1: Add the Clipular Extension to your Chrome browser
Login to your Google account and go to the web store (here is a reminder of how to access the webstore).     Search for Clipular and choose “Add to Chrome”, Then “add the extension”. Be sure that you are adding the extension, not the app.

Step 2: Using Clipular
Once Clipular has been added, you will see a teal box with the letter “c” in it sitting in the upper right side of your browser window.  You can now use this extension to grab any image off a webpage or to copy an entire screenshot. Once you find an image or page that you want to copy, click the “c”.  The scissors will allow you to grab a single image and the camera will allow you to take a picture of the entire page. If you click on the camera a screenshot is taken and saved.  If you use the scissors you will have to click on the image you want to copy then it will be saved.

Step 3: Using the images you have saved
All of the images and screenshots you save are stored in the “My Clips” area (green notebook).  From the “My Clips” area you can download the images, copy and paste the images to use in another application, or if you have the “Save to Google Drive” extension you can use it to get a copy of the image saved in your Google Drive.

If you would like to see a video of this tool in action, I have created a demo for you to watch.  Please note - you should always consider copyright when using images off the web.  It is possible within Google to search for images have various usage rights.

For more helpful information and the archive of previous Check This Out! Digests, go to http://www.greenlocalschools.org/technology.aspx

Google Communities

Introducing Green’s Tech Integration Showcase.

If you have not used Google Communities before this may be one tool you want to investigate.  Google

Communities are groups created on a specific subject. They provide a place for people to interact with each other.  In a Google Community you can post something you would like to share with the rest of the community OR post a question to the community that they may be able to help you find an answer.  To find the google communities:

1. Login to your Google Account
2. Click on the Google Apps Button
3. Click on the Google+ App
4. In the left menu click on “communities”

From here you can search for communities to join that match your interests.  Allow me to recommend a few that are good resources for all things Google.

• G Suite for Education (255,000+ members)
• GEG Ohio (local people)
• Google Apps in Education (144,000+ members)

Just go to the community and click the green “join” button on the left.  These Communities are great places to post questions and get answers from other users of Google tools.

I would also like to recommend that you join the “Green Technology Integration Showcase” community.  My thoughts here are that is will be a place for you to share projects and ideas you have used with your students.   This will be a place that Green staff can get ideas from each other on how to integrate technology into their classrooms.  Click Join and post some of your ideas. This is a quick link to the Community: http://tiny.cc/techshowcase

For more helpful information and the archive of previous Check This Out! Digests, go to http://www.greenlocalschools.org/technology.aspx

Google Cast for Education

Turn your computer into a wireless screen sharing device.

Looking for a way to quickly and easily have your students share their screen with you and to the class?  Then Google Cast for Education is the app for you. This app allows a student to request their screen to be shown on the teacher computer.  With the teacher computer connected to a projector, the entire class is able to see what is on the student computer. This is a great tool for showing student work, student presentations, or showing what they have found during a research session.

The app is easy to setup allowing you to invite an entire google classroom of students to participate.  Here is what you need to do:

1. Go to the chrome Web Store and search for “Google Cast for Education”
2. Click “Add to Chrome”
3. The app is easily accessible from the Apps section in your browser.   (directions on how to access the webstore, launch apps  and add apps).  
4. Click the “Show Apps” button .
5. Click on the “Google Cast for Education” app to launch it.
6. You will need to give your computer or receiver a name.  This is the name the students will see when they try to connect to you.  Add a name and click save.
7. Click the Share button
8. In the Add people section, click on the box that says “Emails, groups, and classes”.  You should see your Google Classrooms. Select the class you want to connect. Leave the setting “Teacher can present, Students can request”.
9. You are now setup and ready to have students connect to your computer.
10. Have the student you want to project their screen on your computer go into their chrome browser.  They need to click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser and choose “Cast” from the menu.   They will be asked what device they want to “Cast to”. They select the name you gave your computer.
11. The teacher computer will get a request from the student. Click to allow the cast and the students screen will display on your computer.

Once finished click on the X at the top of the screen to end the cast session for that student.

This is a great way to engage students!

For more helpful information and the archive of previous Check This Out! Digests, go to http://www.greenlocalschools.org/technology.aspx

G Suite Training Extension

Adding this extension will create an interactive training and walk through area that lives right within Google Apps

It is safe to say that Green is now a “Google District”.  Most of you have begun embracing using the various applications available in Google.  Where do you go to get help when you need it? Last month I introduced to you the “Tech Integration” category in our Help Desk system.  In this digest I would like to show you a Chrome extension that you can add that will create an easy to access reservoir of helpful tutorials and training videos that are specific to the application you are working in.  Here is all you have to do to add the “G Suite Training for Google Apps” extension.

1. Launch Google Chrome and login to your Google account
2. Access the webstore (directions on how to access the webstore and add extensions)
3. Search for “G Suite Training”
   
   
4. Click “Add to Chrome”

Next time you go into a Google product (Docs, Classroom, Sheets, etc), you will see this icon in the upper right corner of the app. If you click on this icon a menu will appear that shows you all the topics available.  For example in Docs:\

• Insert a Chart 
• Using Voice Commands While Editing
• Adding Fonts

If you click on any of the topics in the menu you will be given assistance with that specific task within that specific app.  Just-in-time training and assistance right when you need it - while you are in the app!

If you need help adding this extension or using it, put in a Help Desk Ticket.  Be sure to choose the “Tech Integration” category and include a time that works to come help you in the description.

For more helpful information and the archive of previous Check This Out! Digests, go to http://www.greenlocalschools.org/technology.aspx

Tech Integration Help

Get the help you need when you need it using the GLS help desk and new Technology Integration Category

Now that the school year has gotten underway, you may be interested in trying some new things involving integration of technology into your classroom.  There is now an easy way for you to request assistance! We have added a new category in the Help Desk system called “Technology Integration”.

Fill this Help Desk ticket out, just like any other, but be sure to choose the “Technology Integration” category.  Along with this category please include a description of what you would like assistance with and a good time to meet.  

Monitor Display Shortcut Keys

This helpful Windows shortcut key combination will help you project your monitor to the projector.

This edition of Check This Out! has been inspired by a number of help desk tickets that read something like this: “I can’t get my projector to show what is on my computer.  The background is there, but nothing else” or some similar situation. This can be very easily explained and resolved.

If you hit the “windows” key and the letter “P” on your keyboard a menu will appear on the left of your monitor.

  +   

The menu will give you the following choices:

PC Screen Only - This option will display content on your monitor but no other connected device (projector, second monitor, etc).

Duplicate - This option will display the same content on both your monitor and another connected device (projector, second monitor, etc).  This was once referred to as “clone the desktop” in the Windows world. In most cases this is what you want if you are working from a computer to projector.

Extend - This option will stretch the display to encompass multiple output sources.  This is often the option that has been selected when you see the desktop background being projected.

Second Screen Only - This option will show the content on the secondary display only and not on the main monitor. (not recommended as it can be tricky to work from your desk in this view).

The option you want to work from to show a class what is on your computer is DUPLICATE.  Hope this helps you project your next lesson with no problem.

Read&Write for Chrome

Boost reading and writing confidence for ALL students.  Offer support for Google Docs/web to students with learning difficulties, dyslexia or ESL.

Read&Write for Google Chrome is an extension that provides a range of useful support tools to help students gain confidence with reading, writing, and research.  Once this feature is added to Chrome students will be able to:

• Hear words, passages, or whole documents read aloud with the words highlighted as they are read. 
• Have the meaning of words  explained with text and picture dictionaries.
• Have text  translated into different languages (great for ESL and foreign language teachers).
• Turn words into text as they speak.
• Highlight text in documents or the web and collect for use in other documents. 
• Create and listen to voice notes directly inside of Google Docs.
• Simplify and summarize text on web pages.

The district has purchased this extension, so all staff and students will have full access to this great tool.  To begin using Read&Write you will need to install the extension on your Google Chrome browser. If you need help with adding apps and extensions a video tutorial has been created to guide you through this process [click here to watch].   If you would like to know the difference between Apps, Extensions, and Themes a short article has been put together to help you make sense of it all [click here to read].

The Read&Write extension has already been pushed out to student Google accounts, so it should be available to them once they login with their account to a Chromebook or into a Chrome browser.

Be watching for an opportunity to come see a demonstration of all the features of Read&Write in an upcoming training.  

Customize Google Menu

Learn how to customize the Google Apps Menu to show the apps you use most often at the top of the list.

by Scott Aten on August 10, 2016

This year you will see a lot of Google tips and tricks heading your way.  All Green staff that have network logins, have been setup with Google accounts using your Green email account (lastnamefirstname@greenlocalschools.org).   If you have never signed in to this account, no better time than now to give it a try.  Simply go to Google and click the Sign in button in the upper right corner of the screen.

Once you have signed in to your account you will see your personal App launcher in the upper right corner.   This launcher shows commonly used apps.  Customizing the order of these apps is simple:

• Customize the launcher to put the apps in the order you want.  To do this, drag and drop them within the menu area.
• You can add more apps by going to the bottom and clicking more.  Again drag and drop the apps to the desired location.
• To add an app that is not in the “more” section, go into the app itself and then choose the app launcher.  
• Follow the onscreen instructions to add it as an app. Note - if you don’t see the App launcher on the product page, you might not be able to add that app to the launcher.

If you would like to add a profile photo to your account like I did on mine:

• Click on the circle picture
• Click my account
• At the top in the middle is a blue shield with the same circle picture.  Click on it to add your photo.
• You can drag a picture into the designated area or upload one from your computer.

I have found that having a profile picture helps me when I bounce between my personal Google account and my school account (I use different profile images).  It is also helpful when you have the whole family using Google accounts to select the correct account to use. We have five different accounts at our house. Google will allow us to select the account we want to use from a list.

Google Waze

Get the best route, every day, with real-time help from other drivers.  Real people working together in the best GPS app I have ever used!

My first big summer activity was taking my 14 year old down to Columbus for the Nation's State Baseball Tournament.  Between driving to different fields, hotels, and restaurants, I needed a lot of help getting around. I am not real familiar with Columbus and find driving in that city very frustrating, so for this trip I downloaded the Waze app (shown above) and was extremely happy with all the features.

The great thing about this app is that a community of users help you know real time information on traffic conditions, helping you take the best and fastest route to your destination.  Here are some of the features:

• Get alerts when approaching police, accidents, road hazards, traffic jams (shared by actual drivers also using the app)
• Community edited maps that show changes to roads at the local level
• See friends who are driving to the same destination when you connect via facebook.
• Find the cheapest gas through community-shared gas prices.
• Save trips in a favorite areas
• Schedule trips and be given the best time to leave to arrive on time.
• Automatically recalculates your route if you miss a turn or decide not to follow the recommended route.
• 100% FREE!

One of the things I like the best is the voice guidance.  It gives instructions early enough for you to know what your next turn is as well as when you make the turn, an idea of what is coming up next.  For example “Exit on left on exit 2A and stay right”. The display shows you the miles to your next turn, icons of upcoming issues, estimated arrival time, how long the trip is in miles and time, and your speed versus the speed limit.  

I can’t say enough about this app - give it a try on your next summer trip.   I don’t think you will be disappointed.

In the next issue we will start to get into some things you can use in your classroom.

Have a nice rest of your summer

Google Photo

Just in time for Summer, see how Google Photo can clear space on your cellphone for all those memorable Summer activities.

If you are like me you have a lot of pictures saved on your phone.  I am always reluctant to delete them off my phone and rarely plug my phone into a computer to move them off.  So what can you do when you phone starts telling you that you are out of storage space? This is where Google Photo can help by storing the photos in the cloud and allowing you to delete them from your phone.  Here are the steps to be successful with Google Photo:

Step 1: Install Google Photo on Your Device
Works on Android and iOS devices, there is also a web-based version that will work on your desktop PC or Mac. The app icon will look like the image above.

Step 2: Select the Quality Level
You have two choices here.  High quality is free but will reduce the file size.  For most of us this should be fine as it is still a nice photo and is able to reproduce a sizable print (12X14) of good quality. Once you make this selection, Google Picture will begin to move copies to the cloud.  I had around 300 images on my phone and began the process at 10:00 one night. I noticed that it was still moving images the next day at school and it finished around 11:00. I selected the option of only backing up when connected to WiFi so I didn’t use my phones data allowance.  Going forward when you open the Google Photo app it will backup any new images you have taken.

Step 3: View Your Images in the Cloud
If you log into your Google account you should now be able to see the photos (and videos) you had on your phone using the Google Photo web app.  The nice thing is that you can also use any of these images in other Google Apps (i.e. Docs, Slides, Sites, etc). One thing you should be aware of, if you delete an image from Google Photo you will also delete it from your other locations.  Google gives you a warning first, but just be sure you never need the photo again.

Step 4: Have fun with Your Images
Now you can edit the images using some of the basic editing tools like cropping or rotating,  adjust brightness or contrast, or use some color filters. You can also create collages, animations and stylized photos as well.  If you really get into it, you can create albums, movies, and stories as well! Wait a minute - did this just give you some ideas of how you might use Google Picture with your students?  Sorry that was a mistake, I know you are on Summer Break!

Step 5: Clear Space on Your Phone
Feel free to delete the photos from your phone’s picture area because now they are in the cloud.  To clear space on an iPhone (steps 1-7) Android Device (steps 1-4):

1. Make sure your photos and videos have been backed up. (Items that are not backed up will have this icon .)
2. Open the Google Photos app .
3. At the top left, tap Menu , then Settings.
4. Tap FREE UP SPACE and follow the instructions.
5. When you see a prompt asking for permission to delete photos, tap Delete.
6. Open the iOS Photos app (not the Google Photos app).
7. Go to the Recently Deleted album and delete those same photos and videos.

If you want to keep some photos on the device, simply delete the pictures individually in the picture area.  If you need more information: https://support.google.com/photos/

Enjoy the extra space!