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.