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17 Best Kept Secrets in Google Workspace for Education

Google Workspace

GotTechED the Podcast  

Episode #104: 17 Best Kept Secrets in Google Workspace for Education

Welcome back to GotTechED the podcast this is Episode #104 called “17 Best Kept Secrets in Google Workspace for Education” In this episode, Guise and I will discuss 17 hacks, tips, tricks, and extensions that teachers should be using when using Chrome and Google for Education Apps. We’ll also discuss some of our latest published content and share a big announcement that we have been alluding to for the past few episodes. This is another episode you don’t want to miss. Check it out.

Segment 1: Recent Blog Posts

Announcement: We are now apart of the TeachBetter Podcast Network!!!!

Segment 2: 17 Best Kept Secrets of EdTech

Chrome Hacks

  1. Tab Re-open on Chrome (Control+Shift+T)
  2. Scroll through your Chrome Tabs (Control+the number of the tab)

Google Slides

  1. 20:50 Reformat the slide dimensions (File, Page Set-up, Custom, Set the Length and Width)
  2. Use a picture as the background of your slide (right click on a blank slide, choose image)

Google Docs

  1. Word Count shortcuts (control+shift+c OR tools, display word count while typing)
  2. Add your signature to a document (insert, drawing, new, hover over the line icon, choose scribble, sign)
  3. Linda Hummer – adding a video to docs by going to Insert Google Drawings (within docs) and adding the video to the drawing
  4. @LindaHummer
  5. Video on how to add a video to docs 

Google Sheets

  1. Add a line break… meaning go to the next line but stay in the same cell (Control+enter)
  2. Insert checkboxes (Insert, text boxes)

Jamboard

  1. 3 templates (https://jamboard.google.com/d/12-AwVtkDKtYthBfVy7fQjTv2bDMAUtd7VI_LtqN3C8w/copy)
  2. Attendance (drag an arrow)
  3. Group Check in (drag a green, yellow, or red arrow)
  4. Group Station Rotation Progress Tracker (Put the number of the station rotation activity that you have completed in your group’s box

Google Keep

  1. Grade with Google Keep
  2. Make a rubric
  3. Drag it into the students google doc
  4. Make comments underneath
  5. mote
  6. Drag in digital stickers
  7. Make your own or find some on the web
  8. Make gifs
  9. gifit

Universal Google Apps for Education

  1. Activity Dashboard (Tools, Activity Dashboard)
  2. Explore (Tools, Explore or Control+Alt+Shift+I)
  3. Allows you to add photos and text from the omnibox without leaving your doc, slide, or sheet

Chrome Extensions

  1. Mote
  2. Wordtune
  3. Grammarly alternative with sentence structure 
  4. PrintFriendlyPDF
  5. Lastpass
  6. OneTab

Segment 3: Where to Find GotTechED

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  1. Subscribe to GotTechED the Podcast
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  3. Spotify
  4. Google Podcasts  
  5. Stitcher  
  6. YouTube  
  7. Twitter   
  8. Facebook
  9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
  10. Tell your friends about www.gotteched.com
  11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Music Credits:

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Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, GotTechED is best known for sessions on:

  • 1:1 Chromebook Integration
  • EdTech Throwdown
  • TargetED Learning
  • Gamification (Badge Systems)
  • Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
  • Google apps and extensions
  • Personalized learning and Choice Boards
  • Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
  • Digital content creation
  • Student Podcasting
  • Screencasting
  • Flipped Classroom
  • Student-Centered Learning
In this episode, Guise and I will discuss 17 edtech hacks, tips, and extensions that teachers should be using when using Google for Education Apps.

About the author, Eric

Eric Guise is a media specialist and technology coach with more than a decade of experience as a teacher.

Eric was named the 2016 Biology Teacher of Year by the New Jersey Biology Teachers Association and is currently pursuing an EdD in Leadership in Digital Transformation in Educational Technology.

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