Tech Tip Tuesday #27

A few weeks ago, I shared 4 Reasons to Use Google Chrome. As today's Tech Tip, I would like to encourage you to use Google Drive over saving to a device or a server. 

4 Reasons to Use Google Drive (and your students too!)

Adapted from What’s so great about Google Drive? And why should my students be using it? at Cult of Pedagogy.

#1. It’s accessible from wherever you have Internet.

Think of the word “Drive” the same way you’d think of the hard drive on your computer, except it’s cloud-based, meaning it exists online. So you can upload a file into Google Drive from your home computer, then open your Drive on your work computer and get into that same file.

#2. Drive is not just a place to store things; it's also a place to make things. 

Here’s where Google Drive starts to completely kick Dropbox’s butt: Once you’re inside Google Drive, you also have access to a collection of tools you can use to create things. 

#3. It's perfect for collaboration. 

Every tool in Drive has built-in collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on the same document, insert comments in the margins, or just let others take a peek at what they are working on.

#4. It saves automatically.

As long as you are working in Google Drive, you don’t ever have to worry about forgetting to save your work and losing everything when your computer freezes up or the power goes out.

Want more? Still not convinced? 

Get started with Drive in the G Suite Learning Center

A Step-by-Step No-Nonsense Guide on How Google Drive Works

The Amazing A's - Episode #2

This weekend Audrey and I experimented with a Stop Motion app on an iPad. We were both amazed by how quick and easy it was. Audrey's already thinking of other applications of Stop Motion.

Tech Tip Tuesday #26

Ever get an email like this and wonder how he does it?

After today's Tech Tip, you too will be able to use Gmail's Vacation responder feature.

How it works (adapted from Why You Should Use an Email Vacation Responder)

When you have the vacation responder turned on, when someone emails you, they receive an immediate reply email with a message saying something like “I’m out of the building on March 8th. I will respond to your message when I return.” Their email to you is delivered to your inbox as usual. You can read your email while the responder is on — and if you want to go back on your word, you could even respond to some of it (although that would be defeating the point of saying you’re away). The value of using the responder is that it assures the sender that you did receive their message and signals that your response will be delayed by some period of time.

Tips  (from Why You Should Use an Email Vacation Responder)

- Provide a time frame or endpoint.

- Don’t provide a starting date.

- If (and only if) it’s relevant and expected given your role, you can provide an emergency contact.

- Don’t overshare.

Quick Directions

- Click the settings gear

- Select "Settings"

- Scroll down to Vacation responder

- Select "Vacation responder on", chose your dates, and type your subject and message

- Click "Save Changes"!

 Or watch a Video Tutorial that I made

Want more?

Out of office or vacation reply in the Gmail Help Center

How to turn off the always-on work culture and save your sanity

EdTechTeam MN Summit - Day 1 Keynote

#EdTechTeam MN Summit

Day 1 - Keynote

Wanderlust with Micah Shippee @MicahShippee

• Why did you become a teacher?
• My reasons:
• To support students
• For the 💡 moments
• To share my love of things that make sense in the world (ie math)

• Innovativeness: the state of change
• "There's a JOY that comes with being innovative."

• First Follower aka Team Player
• The one that comes in after the first jumpers & figures things out
• Legitimizes

• How much of our pedagogy is based on the pencil?
• Sage on the stage or Guide on the side?

• #HackYour Classroom
• A fun example of using the floor as a projector screen

• It's not "will this work?" It's "let's do this!"

My favorite quote:

Tech Tip Tuesday #25

Hopefully, you have shoveled yourself out successfully. (Although as of writing this, the snow has yet to come so who knows...)

 

Today's Tech Tip is from an "oldie but a goodie" blog post from Talk tech with me. Many of know that we should be using Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and whatever other browsers still exist out there. But we don't know why we should be using Google Chrome. 

4 Reasons to Use Google Chrome Over Other Internet Browsers

#1. The syncing across your Google account on all devices. 

I like that my Chrome on my Chromebook, desktop, and personal laptop functions the same. My bookmarks, saved passwords, history, extensions, and more are the same regardless of what I am using.

#2. You can easily switch Google accounts in Chrome to keep all your accounts separate. 

I use the feature on my personal laptop so I can switch between my school account and my personal account quickly. Please note, this does not work on school-issued Chromebooks since you have to log in to your school account.

#3. Extensions!

Chrome allows you to add extensions to personalize your browsing experience. ICYMI I previously shared a few of my favorite extensions. 

#4. Additional Search Engines

This is definitely a more advanced feature. Katie has directions on how to set this up on her blog post. I set a few of these up a couple years ago at a Google Summit and really like that about 10 minutes of setting up saves me minutes every day.

Want more? Still not convinced? 

Top 5 Reasons You Should Use Google Chrome from a business perspective 

5 Reasons Why Google Chrome Should Be Your One and Only Browser

              
What do you like about Google Chrome?

The Amazing A's - Episode #1

After over a year of begging and brainstorming, my daughter (in 2nd grade) and I started her​ YouTube series over the weekend.

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She would love support through your likes and comments on the YouTube page. Now I get to cross another thing off my Tech Goals for 2018 list. 😊