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7 Google Experiments to Explore
Google Tips and Tricks

Seven Google Experiments to Explore

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

In case you missed it, Google Experiments got a fresh new home in 2024. After 14 years of showcasing groundbreaking projects, the original site will now be an archive of past experiments. But the adventure doesn’t stop there! Head over to labs.google for the latest and greatest in tech tools and playful innovations. Now let’s dive in and keep experimenting with the future of technology with some new experiments for you to give a go!

Check Out These Google Experiments!

Infinite Wonderland
Infinite Wonderland is a captivating online experience by Google that invites you to explore a magical, ever-evolving digital world. Through stunning visuals and interactive elements, users can journey through imaginative landscapes, discover hidden secrets, and interact with a range of whimsical characters and environments. It’s a dynamic and immersive adventure that blends creativity with technology, offering a unique exploration of a fantastical universe.


GenType
Jump into GenType where you can make an alphabet out of anything. It’s powered by Google’s Imagen 2 model. It creates custom letters and fonts through advanced generative image techniques, allowing users to explore and design unique typographic styles. Perfect for the creative type. 

Illuminate
Illuminate transforms academic papers into engaging, AI-generated audio discussions, allowing you to absorb complex content in a dynamic and accessible format. By converting text into spoken dialogue, it offers a personalized and immersive learning experience. Illuminate brings academic insights to life through the power of voice.

MusicFX
MusicFX lets you bring your musical ideas to life with ease. Simply describe your concept, and watch as it transforms into a full-fledged composition. No need to be a musician—just let your imagination run wild and see your creative visions turn into vibrant, real-time music!

Say What You See
Say What You See is a fun way to level up your image-reading skills. It helps you get better at interpreting visuals by guiding you through the art of prompting and analyzing images. If you’re looking to sharpen your eye for detail and enjoy some engaging visuals along the way, this is a great tool to explore!

Pocket Gallery
Google Arts & Culture’s Pocket Gallery offers a virtual experience that brings world-class art exhibits directly to your device. With this immersive tool, you can explore curated collections in stunning detail, all from the comfort of your own space. It’s like having a miniature museum in your pocket! Take a virtual museum day out!

Food Poems
Food Poems is your go-to for culinary inspiration! With a dash of Google AI magic, you can blend influences from two different cuisines to create exciting new recipes. It’s a fun way to spark your creativity and cook up something delicious and unique for your next meal!

As you wrap up your exploration into these cool Google Experiments, let me know which one you had the most fun with?

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Using AI in Google Workspace for Education
Artificial IntelligenceChromebooksGoogle Tips and Tricks

An AI-Powered Google Workspace

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

If you’re following the top education technology trends, then you know that Artificial Intelligence is what is on everyone’s lips. The big question for a lot of educators is “How is Google, your favorite solution partner, using AI to impact the classroom?” While skeptical about yet another technology, Google’s latest updates have me intrigued. Let’s dive into how these innovations change the game for teachers and students alike. At the end, you will also find a table organizing updates to Google Workspace for Education.

Gemini AI in Google Docs side panel via Google Workspace Updates
Gemini AI in Google Docs side panel via Google Workspace Updates

What Are Google’s New AI Tools for Education?

You may already know about Google’s AI offering, Gemini. One question is how this AI tool fits into the Google Workspace for Education ecosystem. Some may see it as a new digital teaching assistant. In this way, it lessens the workload that keeps you from working with students.

Let’s take a look at some of the ideas shared in recent weeks.

Image via Google
Image source: Google

Streamlining Teaching Tasks

These are some of the AI assistants in Google Docs (source). Remember that you can always turn these features off to skip using them.

  • Write in Docs. Get Gemini to generate an outline for a lesson plan or activities for learning.
  • Organize in Sheets. A tough aspect of working with numbers is sorting and organizing data. Google has made that pretty easy (source).
  • Visualize in Slides. You can use Gemini in Google Slides to do quite a bit including creating images, generating new slides, and writing/rewriting content. You can also summarize a presentation. What’s more, your new slides get a nice design assist from Gemini.
  • Create videos in Google Vids. Create AI-enhanced videos using Google Vids. Watch this video for an overview.

But that’s not all. Google is also rolling out AI-powered classroom management tools.

AI-Powered Google Classroom

Google Classroom has a lot of power for a simple, easy-to-understand tool. But with the addition of AI, it now allows the generation of practice sets and tailored learning experiences.

  • In-the-Moment Assistance. Gemini checks if content is inappropriate for learners. It also fact checks responses to fact-based questions students may pose.
  • Practice Sets. Need to craft some retrieval practice questions (entry/exit tickets, anyone)? Google makes it easy to generate practice questions and gives students real-time feedback. And you can now “import images, like graphs, charts or photos, into practice sets using files from Google Drive or directly from [your] computer” (source).
  • Adaptive learning experiences. Classroom and AI bring learners one step closer to personalized learning paths. It involves giving students customized resources and activities that work to address their specific needs when learning (source).

Tools to help do the following via Chromebooks are also available:

  • Text to speech
  • Using customizable fonts
  • Summarizing and translating content

Although not all new, Reading Mode and Smart Select make Chromebooks a bit more usable (source).

Ways to Use These AI Tools

These features open up a world of possibilities:

  • Plan lessons faster.
  • Grade quicker.
  • Make lively slideshows.
  • Help struggling students directly.
  • Adapt content for all learners.
  • Create time for individual talks.

Note: Administrators have control over these AI features. Student data won’t train AI models or feed advertising bots.

Try these tools to save time, boost creativity, and take back time you can spend on students.

AI-Powered Google Workspace for Education: New Features

Here is a table organizing some of the new features announced recently. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, please do not hesitate to leave corrections/additions in the comments below. The data is current as of June 24, 2024.

Accessibility and Fonts

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
New handwriting fontsLater this yearGoogle Workspace for Education

Admin Console and Security

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
Context-aware access for mobile devicesNow availableAdmin console
Multi-party approval in Admin consoleNow availableAdmin console

AI and Gemini

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
Gemini for teen studentsComing soonFree, but requires admin activation

Chromebook Features

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
Gemini in Chromebook PlusComing soonChromebook Plus devices
Google Task and Calendar integrationsRolling out in coming weeksNot specified
New accessibility features for ChromebooksVarious timelinesChromebook devices

Google Classroom

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
AI-suggested questions for science videosAvailable now (English)Not specified
Gemini in Classroom (pilot)Coming soonNot specified
New Classroom add-onsLaunchingNot specified
Read Along in ClassroomAvailable globallyNot specified
SIS integration with Google ClassroomComing soonFor select SIS partners

Google Meet and Chat

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
Google Meet LTIComing weeksFor Canvas and PowerSchool Schoology Learning users
New Chat settings for studentsComing monthsAdmin console

Google Vids

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
Google Vids (with generative AI)Not specifiedGemini for Google Workspace add-on
Google Vids (without generative AI)Later this yearGoogle Workspace for Education Plus

Other Integrations

FeatureAvailabilityEdition/Add-on Required
Assignments LTI 1.3Coming weeksFor PowerSchool Schoology Learning
Expanded app licensing programComing soonNot specified

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Google Arts & Culture's Instrument Playground provides a unique opportunity for anyone to experiment with and learn about different instruments.
Google Tips and TricksMusic

Instrument Playground: Making Music is Google to My Ears

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Did you like Google’s Blob Opera? Or Blob Beats? Both are tools that make interacting with sounds fun and easy. Take a moment to explore a new addition to Google’s shop of digital musical tools. Allow me to introduce you to Instrument Playground, a new Google Arts & Culture experiment. It offers an interactive instrument space where you can explore various AI-generated sounds.

Introducing Instrument Playground

Unlike other AI-powered tools, Instrument Playground empowers you to mix words and instruments. Google describes it in this way:

Instrument Playground is an experimental tool. It uses MusicLM, an experimental technology. MusicLM allows you to generate your own synthetic music for inspiration.

If you have some background in music, you can type in the name of an instrument along with an adjective to personalize your sound:

Pick an adjective and an instrument, click Go, and AI will generate a 20-second music clip.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Google Arts & Culture | Instrument Playground Experiment Page

Types of Instruments

Although I grew up trying to learn how to play music, I only experimented with a few instruments. Those included a guitar, an organ, a flute, and a recorder. I always wanted to play crazy bongos or maniac maracas, but my musical talent was lacking. Google’s Instrument Playground offers sixty-five different instruments. To access the list of instruments, click the “Need inspiration? Try one of these instruments and/or adjectives” link below the Go button.

Instrument playground offers inspiration for instruments.
Instrument Playground, a Google Arts & Culture Experiment, offers 65 instruments to choose from.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Google Arts & Culture | Instrument Playground Experiment Page

After you choose the type of instrument you want to experiment with, you can select an adjective. And, you won’t need a thesaurus to look up adjectives if your imagination misses a note.

Matching Instrument to Adjectives

Are you asking yourself, “What would Raw Bongo sound like?” Well, you can get a list of adjectives from Google matched to your instrument of choice. Here are some options Google offers for bongo:

Each instrument offered by Instrument Playground has adjectives that offer different sounds.
Screenshot by Miguel Guhlin: Google Arts & Culture | Instrument Playground Experiment Page

Choose an instrument, match an adjective, and discover what’s possible. In case you are wondering, that’s a total of 4,745 possible combinations! Once you have selected your instrument and adjective, Google will use AI to create your sound.

Choose an adjective and instrument to get started with Instrument Playground.
Screenshot by Miguel Guhlin: Google Arts & Culture | Instrument Playground Experiment Page

Once your sound is created, you can have fun learning more about the instrument you chose by clicking the “Learn more” tab in the bottom left corner of the page. You’ll find information about your instrument along with additional articles and sources.

Learn more about 65 different instruments in Google Arts & Culture's Instrument Playground.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Google Arts & Culture | Instrument Playground Experiment Page

Bongos (Spanish: bongó) are an Afro-Cuban percussion instrument. They include a pair of small open bottomed hand drums of different sizes. The pair consists of the larger hembra (‘female’) and the smaller macho (‘male’). A wooden bridge joins these two hand drums. You play them with both hands. They are held between the legs, but can also be played with sticks or mounted on stands. source

A Unique Sound: Groovy Bongo

As you can see, I went with “groovy bongo,” hearkening back to my misspent youth. You can play with your AI generated instrument, adding adjectives. Each adjective you add affects the sound of the instrument.

Once AI generates the twenty-second-long sound, you can make more changes. There are three adjustable components. Here are the quoted explanations from Instrument Playground’s walkthrough:

  • Beat. “This slices the audio automatically to find the most interesting peaks. Each key plays a different slice. You can change the length and location of the slice by dragging and dropping.”
  • Pitch. “This mode picks one slice which is transposed per key. You can change the length and location of the slice by dragging and dropping.”
  • Ambient. “This relies on granular synthesis, a sound processing technique. This technique involves chopping up a piece of audio into tiny samples. By playing the keys, you navigate within the audio file and generate new sound textures.”

Instrument playground also offers an advanced mode. This mode gives you access to your sequencer and allows you to add up to four more instruments. At this point, I would love to provide a link for you to listen to my groovy bongos. But since I never quite learned to play a musical instrument, read music, or anything like that, oh, well.

A Google Arts & Culture Bonus

I know. You’re disappointed. You were hoping to listen to an original Miguel van Guhlin piece titled “Ode to Ed Tech.” Instead, take a moment to play around with Viola the Bird. This Google Arts & Culture music creation puts a cello in your hands!

Google Arts & Culture offers a fun tool in Viola the Bird. Play a digital cello and follow the instructions to improve your sound.
Screenshot by Miguel Guhlin | Google Arts & Culture | Viola the Bird

A Finale

Google’s Arts & Culture continues to try to bring musical tools to the table. But those with a note of talent will find music tools like Viola the Bird, Instrument Playground, Blob Beats, and Blob Opera a joy. Each tool offers a unique experience for users to explore and interact with music in exciting ways. Instrument Playground empowers users to personalize their musical compositions by combining instruments with descriptive adjectives. These tools showcase Google’s commitment to music lovers, novice musicians, and experts alike.

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Title" 30+ Ways to Use Gemini Across the Curriculum" written on lined paper with colorful symbols and shapes surrounding it.
Artificial Intelligence

30+ Ways to Use Gemini Across the Curriculum

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Google announced back in December that Gemini was coming, offering features that are comparable to, and even better than, OpenAI’s ChatGPT. As of February 8, Bard was replaced with Gemini. Let’s take a look at this AI tool and how it can support teaching and learning.

About Gemini

Gemini's Desktop App home page with examples for using Gemini and a prompt box with microphone and image icons.
Screenshot by Emily Horn | Gemini Desktop App

Gemini gives you direct access to Google AI, offering help with writing, planning, learning, and more. It offers many features that teachers will find helpful as they look for ways to be more efficient with their time and more engaging in their classroom.

Gemini is trained on large amounts of publicly available data and can communicate and generate human-like text in response to a wide range of questions. If you need a more robust version, consider Gemini Advanced, for $19.99/month. Gemini Advanced is great at highly complex tasks like coding, logical reasoning, following nuanced instructions, and collaborating on creative projects. 

If you are looking to access Gemini in ways other than your browser, consider downloading the dedicated Gemini app for Android or iOS. Using Gemini on your phone will allow you to type, talk, and add an image to accomplish amazing tasks. If your phone is eligible, you can opt-in to Gemini through the Gemini app or watch for an invite to try Gemini when you activate your Google Assistant. 

Gemini Features to Explore

Upload Images

You can upload various image file types (JPG, JPEG, PNG, and WEBP). Gemini can understand and describe images, generate text based on images, answer questions about images, classify images, and compare and contrast images. Here are just a few ideas for what you and your students can do using this feature.

History:

  • Mystery artifacts: Students upload images of historical objects (paintings, tools, clothing) and Gemini creates descriptions based on its knowledge. Students then research the actual history and compare their findings to check Gemini’s accuracy.
  • Time travel tourism: Students research a historical period and upload images of famous landmarks. Gemini generates “travel brochures” describing them in the language of that time, helping students immerse themselves in the era.

Science:

  • Science scavenger hunt: Students take pictures of natural phenomena or experiments and upload them. Gemini analyzes the images and generates hypotheses or explanations, prompting students to test them and refine their understanding.
  • Animal adaptations: Students photograph different animals and upload them with questions about their adaptations. Gemini uses its knowledge of biology to suggest answers, leading to discussions about evolution and natural selection.

Language Arts:

  • Creating stories: Students upload images and use Gemini to generate different narrative prompts based on them. They then write creative stories inspired by the prompts, practicing narrative writing and critical thinking.
  • Character analysis: Students upload images of fictional characters and use Gemini to describe their personalities and motivations. This helps them delve deeper into character development and analyze literary works.

Math:

  • Data visualization: Students upload images representing data sets (e.g., bar graphs, pie charts) and ask Gemini to interpret them. This strengthens their data analysis skills and understanding of visual representations.
  • Geometry in nature: Students take pictures of shapes they find in nature (e.g., spirals in sunflowers, honeycomb patterns) and upload them. Gemini helps them identify and classify geometric shapes, connecting math to the real world.

Additionally:

  • Collaborative projects: Students across different subjects can work together on projects, uploading images related to their research and using Gemini to brainstorm ideas, summarize information, or translate languages.
  • Accessibility: Uploading images can be a great way to engage students with different learning styles and make content more accessible for those who struggle with text-heavy materials.

Generate Images

You can also have Gemini create images on the fly. The better description you give of the image you want, the better the product Gemini will create. Consider specifying the format (1:1, 3:4, 16:9, etc.), Additional characteristics you can specify in a prompt include:

  • Style: Realistic, cartoon, abstract, watercolor, pixel art, etc.
  • Subject matter: Specific objects, landscapes, historical scenes, characters, etc.
  • Level of detail: High detail, stylized, minimalist, etc.
  • Mood or tone: Happy, scary, peaceful, mysterious, etc.
  • Color palette: Specific colors or a general mood like “vibrant” or “monochromatic”.
  • Composition: Rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry, etc.
  • Text: Including specific words or phrases within the image.
  • Perspective: Bird’s-eye view, close-up, etc.
  • Lighting: Time of day, specific light sources, etc.
  • Action: Static image or something with movement (e.g., a running figure).
  • Background: Specific surroundings for the subject matter.

While some of the examples below may have students starting with an image they upload, that is not necessary. They can just describe what they want and ask Gemini to create an image for them. Here are just a few ideas that you and your students can do using this feature.

History:

  • Imagineering the future: Students upload images of historical inventions and Gemini generates images of their futuristic counterparts, sparking discussions about technological advancements and potential societal impacts.
  • Propaganda analysis: Students upload political cartoons or propaganda posters from different eras. Gemini creates new ones based on those styles, prompting analysis of historical messaging and its manipulation techniques.

Science:

  • New life forms: Students describe hypothetical species and their environments. Gemini generates images of the aliens based on the descriptions, fostering creativity and discussions about adaptation and evolution.
  • Cellular close-ups: Students ask Gemini to generate magnified views of cells or microorganisms depicting their internal structures, aiding in visualizing complex scientific concepts.

Language Arts:

  • Poetry prompts: Students upload images that evoke emotions or specific themes. Gemini generates poems inspired by the visuals, encouraging creative writing and analysis of figurative language. Or, students provide a poem and ask Gemini to generate an image.
  • Book cover redesign: Students upload existing book covers and use Gemini to generate alternative designs based on different genres or interpretations, promoting critical thinking and visual communication skills.

Math:

  • Geometric creations: Students upload images of abstract shapes and ask Gemini to generate geometric figures that fit within them, challenging their spatial reasoning and understanding of geometric relationships.
  • Data visualization reimagined: Students upload existing data visualizations (e.g., graphs, charts) and ask Gemini to generate alternative representations, encouraging different perspectives on data interpretation.

Additionally:

  • Interdisciplinary projects: Students across subjects can collaborate on projects using Gemini to generate illustrations, diagrams, or concept art related to their research, fostering interdisciplinary connections and creativity.
  • Personal expression: Students upload self-portraits or images representing their hobbies, interests, or experiences. Gemini generates images based on their descriptions, helping them explore self-reflection and personalized creative expression.

Microphone

This multimodal feature allows students to talk to Gemini. Just click on the microphone icon in the prompt box. Your computer/laptop/device will need to have a microphone enabled in order to use this feature. Here are a few classroom ideas on using this in your classroom.

Language Arts:

  • Voice acting workshop: Students upload scripts or poems and use the microphone to record themselves performing. Gemini can analyze their pronunciations, rhythm, and tone, providing feedback and helping them improve their delivery.
  • Debate club: Conduct debates within the classroom with students using the microphone to present their arguments. Gemini can transcribe the recordings, summarize key points, and fact-check claims, fostering critical thinking and communication skills.
  • Interactive storytelling: Start a story collaboratively, with each student adding a sentence or paragraph using the microphone. Gemini can weave individual contributions into a cohesive narrative, promoting creativity and teamwork.

Science:

  • Science fair presentations: Students record their experiment explanations and findings using the microphone. Gemini can transcribe the recordings, extract key data points, and even generate visuals to support their presentations, enhancing clarity and professionalism.
  • Sound investigations: Record different sounds in the environment (e.g., nature, machines, instruments). Students analyze the recordings, identifying pitch, frequency, and other characteristics. Gemini can help visualize the sound waves and explain the science behind them.
  • Language learning: Students record themselves pronouncing foreign language words or phrases. Gemini can provide feedback on pronunciation and suggest improvements, making language learning more interactive and efficient.

History and Social Studies:

  • Oral history project: Interview community members or experts about historical events or cultural practices. Record the interviews using the microphone and transcribe them with Gemini’s help. This creates a valuable archive and allows students to analyze firsthand accounts.
  • Mock trials or debates: Reenact historical events or debates on social issues. Students use the microphone to deliver arguments and testimonies, bringing history and social studies to life through active participation.
  • Foreign language immersion: Record conversations in a foreign language and use Gemini to translate them. Students can analyze the recordings, compare them to written dialogue, and practice their spoken language skills.

Additionally:

  • Accessibility tool: The microphone can be a valuable tool for students with writing difficulties or learning disabilities. They can record their answers, ideas, and presentations, making participation more accessible and inclusive.
  • Differentiated learning: Adapt activities to cater to different learning styles. Visual learners can create presentations with audio narration, while auditory learners can benefit from listening to recordings and analyses.

Which of these features will you and your students make use of first? What other content ideas and activities can you think of? Share ways you’ll make use of these features to engage your students with Gemini!

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Laptop with colorful background and title "Streamline Workflow with Google Forms".
Google Tips and Tricks

Streamline Workflow with Google Forms

by Dr. Amanda Smith
written by Dr. Amanda Smith

In today’s rapidly evolving school system, teachers and administrators are required to document everything from exterior door security checks to gifted and talented program referrals. Managing these tasks efficiently is crucial, and one powerful (and FREE) tool that can significantly enhance workflow is Google Forms. Let’s look at a few ways that Google Forms can help streamline tasks– from security checks to counseling referrals.

Google Forms for Safety and Security

Security is a top priority for schools, and keeping doors securely closed is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a safe environment. Our district requires our district police officers to travel from campus to campus and check each exterior door. With the new TEA security audits that were implemented the previous school year, door checks are a top priority. Google Forms have been a game-changer in this regard due to the distance being covered between locations. 

Easy-to-Complete Checklists: Create a Google Form checklist for each security checkpoint, listing the doors that need to be checked. Include details such as the door’s location, time of check, and the name of the staff member responsible for it. Make sure to add checkboxes to indicate whether the door is securely closed and locked. Distribute these forms to security personnel, teachers, or designated staff members. When a door check is completed, they can quickly fill out the form on their smartphone or tablet.

How to Make a Google Form Checklist

Real-Time Updates: This data is instantly recorded in a Google Sheets spreadsheet, allowing administrators to monitor the status of doors in real time. For example, this real-time update helped administrators discover that a key had broken off in a door lock and maintenance was able to repair it in an expedited manner. 

Historical Data: Over time, the data collected can help identify trends and areas that may require additional security measures. It provides a valuable resource for enhancing overall security protocols. For example, this documentation helped the maintenance department realize that some doors were not closing properly, even though they appeared to be firmly shut. They were able to prioritize which doors needed replacing and get to work on them.

Documentation of Required Information: Another TEA mandate, Threat Assessments, requires a committee to determine the severity of a threat made by a student and the best way to proceed with actions and consequences. At the end of the school year, TEA requires a count of how many students threatened to harm themselves, harm others, etc. You can make a copy and view our Threat Assessment Google Form to see how we approached the documentation of the required information. 

Example Threat Assessment Google Form

Google Forms for Behavior and Counseling

Another critical aspect of school district operations is ensuring that students receive the necessary support for their academic, emotional, and personal development. Google Forms can simplify the process of referring students to the school counselor or assistant principal for informal support. There are many instances where a formal referral is not warranted and teachers need help with interventions. Here are some benefits of using Google Forms for counseling referrals and behavior documentation.

Easy Accessibility: Make the referral form accessible to all staff members, teachers, and even students, if appropriate. This ensures that anyone who identifies a need for counseling can quickly initiate the process. Same with behavior when it’s not a serious behavior issue but is concerning enough that an administrator needs to intervene. We linked the forms to QR Codes and the teachers taped the QR codes to the back of their school ID badge for ease of scanning. Many of our primary-level teachers loved the ease of putting in a referral while on the playground where emotions can be high. 

Automated Notification: Use Google Forms notification settings to notify the counselor or principal that a referral has been made. The counselor can then schedule a counseling session based on the notes cited in the form. You can further customize notifications with a free Google Forms add-on.

Screenshot by Emily Horn | Google Workspace Marketplace | Form Notifications Add-on

Track Progress: Counselors and Administrators can easily track the status of referrals, monitor response times, and ensure that students are receiving the required counseling services. This documentation also helps when the time comes for a formal referral for behavior or counseling services. 

Follow-Up: After a behavior referral has been addressed, the system can facilitate follow-up actions, such as tracking the effectiveness of interventions and ensuring that parents have been contacted and informed of the resolution.

Here is an example form you can make a copy of and view for our Counseling Referral or Discipline Documentation Form.  

Example Discipline Documentation Form

Google Forms for Gifted and Talented Program Referrals

Identifying and nurturing gifted and talented students is a vital part of any school district’s mission. Google Forms can be an efficient way to streamline the referral process for Gifted and Talented (G&T) testing. We utilize Google Forms to receive feedback from teachers, parents, and administrators. 

Efficient Data Collection: The form should include fields for reasons for referral (such as academic achievements, exceptional skills, or other noteworthy qualities) and any supporting documentation or anecdotes from teachers or parents. These will be stored, sortable, and all in one place!

Efficient Data Organization: Google Forms can automatically collect and organize referral submissions into a central spreadsheet, making it easy for G&T program coordinators to review and process referrals. Gone are the days of shuffling through stacks of paper forms! With the built-in notification settings, program coordinators are instantly aware of submissions; plus, the filter and sort capabilities in Google Forms make it easy to organize the submitted data.

Screenshot by Emily Horn of the Data Menu in a Created Google Form

Transparency and Communication: Using Google Forms to handle G&T referrals promotes transparency in the process. Parents and teachers can easily track the status of referrals, making it a collaborative effort to identify and nurture gifted students.

Google Forms offers a versatile and efficient way to enhance workflow in school districts. From conducting security door checks, streamlining counseling and behavior referrals, and documenting special program referrals, these digital forms can significantly improve overall school operations. The ability to collect real-time data, automate notifications, and maintain digital records makes Google Forms an invaluable asset for any school district looking to boost efficiency and ensure the well-being of its students and staff. By harnessing the power of technology, schools can create safer and more supportive environments for learning and growth.

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2023 Google Resource Roundup
Google Tips and Tricks

2023 Google Resource Roundup

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Every year, I gather all the fabulous Google resources from our TechNotes blog and put them all in one place for you. This year, we’ve had some amazing posts on everything from Google’s new AI tools to Google experiments. Check out this incredible list of Google articles from 2023 categorized by topic/tool.

Google Add-Ons

You Can Do That with Autocrat blog detailing the Autocrat add-on as a Google resource.

AI

Blog outlining three tools to use with Sheets to help write formulas.

Announcements

Calendar

Blog article outlining how to teach students to use Google Calendar.

Cybersecurity

Google Docs

12 Google Docs Features to Try blog article

Google Drive

Experiments

10 Google Experiments to Explore

Sheets

8 More Google Sheets Tips

Various Google Topics and Tools

Article outlining how to organize and clean up your Drive.

In addition, don’t forget to check out our Google resource roundups from previous years. Happy New Year, everyone!

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7 Google Updates from December 2023
Google Tips and Tricks

Seven Google Updates from December 2023

by Emily Horn
written by Emily Horn

Google never ceases to amaze me with its continuous improvements and updates. If you want to stay on top of changes to your Google Workspace, you can check out the Google Workspace Updates blog. You can also keep an eye on the What’s New in Google Workspace page, which allows you to search using keywords and filter by product. Let’s take a look at a few interesting updates that started rolling out this month!

Google Admin Console Updates

2-Step Verification (2SV)

If you are a Google administrator, it’s important to know that Google has started to enforce 2SV. This is an additional security measure to protect businesses and organizations from cybersecurity threats. For some admin, this change is already effective, and Google will be enforcing this across the board in 2024. Once this goes into effect for your domain, admins and super admins will be notified to turn on 2-step verification by a specified date. If 2SV is not enabled by the required date, you will be locked out of your admin account and forced to recover it. Google recommends going ahead and enabling it as soon as possible.

Learn More: 2SV

Google Classroom Updates

Excuse Assignments

Educators can now excuse assignments in Google Classroom.
Screenshot by Emily Horn

Starting December 12, 2023, teachers have the ability to excuse assignments for absences, dropped grades, etc. in lieu of giving a grade. This heavily requested feature will be available to all users. With a gradual rollout, Google workspaces and personal users should have access to this feature by December 27.

Learn More: Excuse Assignments

Video Assignments 

Now, users with Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade can create video assignments for students using YouTube videos. Add questions for students at different points throughout a video and see a dashboard of insights once they’ve responded.

Learn More: Video Assignments

Google Docs Updates

Placeholder Chips

You can now add placeholder chips in Google Docs.
Screenshot by Emily Horn

We’ve been able to insert smart chips into Docs for people, dates, files, events, and places. Now we can insert placeholder chips for collaborators to complete! All users should be able to view placeholder chips by December 23. 

Learn More: Placeholder Chips

Smart Compose 

Google's Smart Compose will now suggest answers to math problems.
Screenshot by Emily Horn

Smart Compose in Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drawings now does more than offer suggestions for writing content. It can suggest solutions to math problems! This feature is available to users with certain accounts. Depending on whether you’re a Gradual or Rapid Release domain, you may or may not have access yet. 

Learn More: Smart Compose

Google Chat Updates

Mute/Unmute

All users will be able to mute and unmute conversations to disable notifications and push chats to the bottom of the conversation list. This feature is already available in mobile, and depending on whether you’re a Gradual or Rapid Release domain, you may or may not have access yet on the web version.  

Learn More: Mute/Unmute

Shortcuts

You will now see shortcuts in your left sidebar menu. This permits you to easily go to the Home screen and access @ mention messages. Plus, you can now filter unread messages or view threads from Home. Rapid Release domains should already have access to this feature and Gradual Release domains will have visibility by December 26.   

Learn More: Shortcuts

What do you think of these new updates? Don’t forget to take a look at the Google Workspace Updates blog for any newly added changes or features that may affect you and your organization.

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13 Firefox Extensions & Sites You May Not Know
Web 2.0 Tool

13 Firefox Extensions and Sites You May Not Know

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Did you know that Firefox offers a host of security features and is a viable alternative to the Chrome browser? If you’ve not used Firefox, it might be worth giving it a try. Let’s explore a wealth of extensions for Firefox that I use every day. And maybe you can, too.

These extensions also work with Google Chrome! If you are on a Chromebook, use the Chrome Web Store to find them. Some extensions also work on the Mac Safari browser. The websites presented work on all devices!

Firefox Extensions to Try

LightShot. Need to annotate a screenshot and add boxes, arrows, and text in different colors? Then this is the extension for you. Available as an app on Windows and Mac, it also works for Firefox and Chrome browsers. A cool feature? Reverse or similar image search for any image you capture.

Lightshot Firefox extension makes screenshots easy.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: LightShot Home Page

Fireshot. If you need to save a scrolling, page-long screen capture as a PDF or image, this is the extension to use. It’s available for free with great features, but lifetime licensing expands what’s available.

ClearURLs. Do you despise those tracking elements that get added to website addresses? ClearURLs removes pesky tracking codes from Google Sites and Amazon links, making them easier to share.

Custom Scrollbars. If you wish the scrollbars on your browser were easier to see and access, this is a great option. The Custom Scrollbars extension allows you to pick colors for customization. Try it out!

FeedBro. If you want a fast, free RSS reader for skimming blogs and news, including TCEA’s TechNotes blog, FeedBro is the tool for you. This fantastic RSS feed reader allows you to subscribe to blogs and content with RSS feeds.

Feedbro
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Nodetics, FeedBro Page

Video Download Helper. Want to get a video from a webpage or site? This extension makes doing that as easy as a click. Go to the site, click the extension, see what videos are available, and choose the one you want.

Tree Style Tab. Do you wish you could run your browser tabs down the side of your screen instead of across the top? Or group them so you can collapse similar tabs into easy-to-manage sets? This extension can do this for you!

SimpleLogin. Avoid spam when you sign up for a newsletter or service. Instead of providing your actual email address, give them an email alias. SimpleLogin makes this process easy for you.

Create alias emails with Simple Login
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Simple Login Home Page

Must-Visit Websites

Reverse Image Search. This site provides a quick way to do a reverse image search. That way, you can help your students, staff, our yourself avoid copyright violations and properly credit images.

Reverse image search lets you get to the source of images.
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Reverse Image Search Home Page

Free Videos via Pexels. Did you know Pexels offers more than free images? They offer videos you can use and edit, all without attribution. You can also give author credit (not required) using the provided citation information.

Calligraphr. Transform your handwriting into an actual font. My handwriting is terrible, and this is an excellent alternative. I suggest giving it a go.

Change your handwriting into font with caligrapher
Screenshot by Emily Horn: Calligraphr Home Page

Jotti Virus Scan. Not sure if that file on a student or staff’s flash drive is safe from malware or viruses? Use Jotti to scan it before you share it. It works great for browser-based devices, too. Whew, I’m feeling safer already!

FilePizza. Need a quick way to share files with someone else? FilePizza can make it happen. Upload a file, share the link, and the file is auto-magically transferred. You also get a QR code! Of course, encrypt the file if the data is sensitive.

Example of file sharing with File Pizza
Screenshot by the author: File Pizza Example File

I hope you’ve enjoyed this roundup of versatile extensions and sites! Were there any you’ll be trying out? Have any suggestions to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.

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12 Google Docs Features to Try Blog Header
Google Tips and Tricks

12 Google Docs Features to Infuse Style, Efficiency, and Fun

by Cari Orts
written by Cari Orts

These quick and breezy Google Docs features are destined to provoke delightful “wow” reactions from both you and your fellow document adventurers! Your documents will captivate even the most hesitant learners and astonish your colleagues as well.

1. Customize a Watermark

Personalize your documents by adding images or text with adjustable size, layout, and transparency. This Google Docs feature is particularly useful for indicating due dates, displaying the grading weight of assignments, or adding a unique touch to your document. You can even create personalized stationery for your classroom.

2 Google docs examples with a text watermark reading "Test Grade" and an image watermark of a pink flamingo.

Learn How to Add a Watermark

2. Make Docs Pageless

If you frequently incorporate tables into your documents and want to avoid awkward page breaks, Google docs offers a “pageless” feature. This setting ensures a seamless flow of information and is especially beneficial for documents that include both text and graphs or charts, making it ideal for data discussions. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. In your doc, click File.
  2. Select Page Setup in the menu.
  3. Choose between Pages or Pageless.

Watch those page breaks disappear!

3. Type Meeting Notes for Calendar Events

Easily connect a Google Doc to an existing calendar event using the convenient “@” menu feature. Simply type the “@” symbol anywhere in your document. When the drop-down menu appears, select Meeting Notes.

Google Docs @ menu showing Meeting Notes in the dropdown.
The @ menu in Google Docs

As a bonus, once you’ve typed your notes, the document will prompt you to share them with all the participants in the calendar event. This feature is particularly handy for keeping meetings productive and setting goals for future meetings through the inclusion of “action items.”

Example Google Doc with meeting notes.
Example of meeting notes in Docs shared with meeting attendees.

4. Insert Emoji Text in Docs

🙂 Emojis are beloved by students and teachers alike, but inserting them as images into a document can be tricky. No worries! You can easily add emojis to your Google Docs from the insert menu. Once inserted, emojis behave like text and can be resized to match the size and formatting of your original text.🦩 Here’s how:

  1. In your doc, click Insert.
  2. Select Emoji in the menu.
  3. Choose the Emoji you’d like to insert!

5. Get Advanced Comment Notifications

Take control of your documents with “any edits to the doc” notifications. This Google Docs feature is particularly useful for teachers and students to keep track of who’s working on the document and prevent major changes. You can customize your notification preferences in the Tools menu under Notification Settings.

6. Add Emoji Comment Reactions

Sometimes, pictures convey messages better than words. Instead of using text for feedback or comments on students’ documents, consider using emojis. Emojis serve as a universal language and help bridge the communication gap between English Language Learners (ELL) and younger students.

Where to find the emoji reaction menu in Google Docs.

7. Simplify Advanced Citations

Let’s face it, citations can be challenging. But this Google Docs feature makes the process a breeze. It offers nine modern source types to choose from, allows you to specify the source location, and provides a step-by-step guide to assist with even the most complex citations. This is a game-changing tool for middle and high school students and teachers. And yes, it will assist you in citing your favorite TV series! 

Tools menu showing Citations features in Google Docs.
Where to find the Citations tool in the Tools menu.

8. Elevate Your Google Docs Fonts

I have a favorite add-on that lets you transform your fonts in exciting ways. You can choose from features like smooth highlight colors, rainbow letters, wobbly text, and even text that appears upside down and backward (ndsᴉpǝ poʍu ʇǝxt), just to name a few! With Fun Text, you can apply multiple effects to the same text, taking your document customization to the next level.

Fun Text Google Extension icon
Screenshot by the author: Google Workplace Marketplace, Fun Text

Say goodbye to messy hyperlinks! You can now use the convenient @ toolbar to create professional-looking clickable hyperlinks that display the linked file’s icon. As an extra benefit, when you hover over the link, a document preview appears, saving you the trouble of opening the file to preview its contents. This preview also provides information on the last time edits were made and allows you to copy the file link with ease. Here’s how:

  1. Type “@” where you’d like to insert your hyperlink.
  2. Scroll down in the menu to Files.
  3. Choose the file you’d like to hyperlink.
A Google Doc showing example hyperlinks and file previews.
A Google Doc showing example hyperlinks and file previews.

10. Customize Dropdown Menus

Take your to-do list to the next level with custom dropdown menus inside your doc. Click the @ sign anywhere in your document and then choose dropdown. Customize the menu to your preferences by choosing your preferred color and text, and then you can start creating your list. These dropdown menus make it incredibly easy to change the status of each item on your list with a simple click. The potential uses for this feature are limitless, making it an excellent tool for keeping student groups on track during extended group assignments.

  1. Type “@” where you’d like to insert your dropdown.
  2. Scroll down in the menu to Dropdowns.
  3. Choose the dropdown you’d like to insert or create a new dropdown.
Dropdown menu examples in Google Docs.
Example dropdown options in Google Docs.

11. Connect Charts from Forms or Sheets to Google Docs

Including a chart in your document is a great way to enrich data discussions. What’s even more valuable is the ability to “link” charts from Google Forms or Google Sheets to your document. This linking feature ensures that the chart stays updated whenever the underlying data changes. You can preload charts into your document and then effortlessly update them with a simple click of the “update” button.

Learn How to Connect Charts to Google Docs

12. Add Paragraph Line Numbers

If you need to conduct a running record with a student using an existing document, hop over to the Tools menu and then click on Line Numbers. This feature allows you to count the lines in specific paragraphs or measure the entire document quickly. It’s also a useful tool for referencing specific parts of the text and ensuring you meet line requirements, especially for essays or similar assignments.

Example Google Doc with numbered lines.

Ready to supercharge your Google Docs experience? Get set to unlock a treasure trove of fantastic features that will take your documents to the next level. But don’t keep these tricks to yourself – spread the word among your co-workers and let’s all boost our productivity and fun together!

Cari Orts will be presenting three sessions at TCEA’s Convention & Exposition in Austin, Texas!

Don’t miss the chance to gather up ideas and resources, collect time-saving tips and tricks, and learn from other educators, like Cari. Early bird registration ends November 3, so register soon to get the best price!

Save My Spot!
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Google Guidebook
CTO/CIOGoogle Tips and Tricks

Google for Education’s K-12 Cybersecurity Guidebook

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

In August, Google announced its updated K-12 Cybersecurity Guidebook. The guidebook starts with key points from CISA’s Protecting Our Future report and covers NIST’s (National Institute of Standards and Technology) updated Cybersecurity Framework. For certain, cybersecurity is keeping people up at night. Since October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s take a moment to explore these changes and potential implications.

A colorful infographic showing the updated NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
Screenshot by the author: NIST Article “NIST Drafts Major Update to Its Widely Used Cybersecurity Framework” (08/2023) About the image: NIST has added a new “Govern” component. The new component “covers how an organization can make and execute its own internal decisions to support its cybersecurity strategy.” Would you agree schools need to make and execute internal decisions of this kind?

CISA’s Protecting Our Future Report

The CISA Protecting Our Future report revisits the idea that malicious cyber actors are targeting K-12. These attacks can have “catastrophic impacts on students, their families, teachers, and administrators.” The report’s authors hope it assists schools in reducing the risks of a cyber catastrophe.

What makes up a catastrophe? Any and all the following:

  • Data breaches
  • School ransomware attacks
  • Deleted school data
  • Misused data

You can see that reported incidents have risen from 2018 to 2021, from 400 to 1,300 events.

A graph from the CISA Protect Our Futures report showing a rise in cybersecurity incidents from 2018 to 2021.
Screenshot by the author: CISA, Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats (Figure 1)

Some key findings include:

  • Schools need to deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA) and mitigate known exploited vulnerabilities. They also suggest implementing and testing backups. Additionally, they advocate for exercising an incident response and training plan aligned with national frameworks.
  • District leaders must be creative in seeking funding and securing resources. This includes grants, low-cost services and products, and relying on secure cloud and trusted management services.
  • The report encourages engaging in information sharing with other school districts. Two forums include the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the K12 Security Information eXchange (K12 SIX).

CISA also offers additional resources, such as:

To plug the breach, organizations like Google Workspace are stepping up.

Not only have these attacks disrupted school operations, but they also have impacted students, their families, teachers, and administrators. Sensitive personal information – including, student grades, medical records, documented home issues, behavioral information, and financial information – of students and employees were stolen and publicly disclosed. Additionally, sensitive information about school security systems was leaked online as a result of these attacks.

The White House, “Biden-⁠Harris Administration Launches New Efforts to Strengthen America’s K-12 Schools’ Cybersecurity“

Google for Education’s Cybersecurity Guidebook

Google’s K-12 Cybersecurity Guidebook restates the problems K-12 schools face. It seeks to offer solutions specific to Google products and services. For example, some of the solutions include:

  • Using secure authentication to protect sensitive information
  • Strong passwords and two-step verification (or multi-factor authentication), passkeys, and password managers
  • Put in place zero trust principles to restrict access to those who need it
  • Update and upgrade systems (including Chromebooks)
  • Rely on real-time alert and monitoring systems for devices on the school network
  • Protect against inappropriate account logins, file sharing, phishing, malware, and other threats
  • Provide training to teachers, staff, and students

Google’s guide offers specific suggestions, including relying on data encryption and isolating accounts. Isolating accounts ensures “users only have access to their own information.” To underscore these solutions, the following statistics are cited from the Sophos State of Ransomware paper:

  • 100 million phishing attempts are blocked by Gmail daily
  • 300,000 unsafe websites are identified by Google
  • 46% of ransomware attacks are harder to stop due to sophistication
  • 38% of organizations expect to be targeted

This data supports Google’s assertion that implementing its solutions can protect your school. At least, insomuch as your school relies on Google Workspace for Education.

An Important Read for Google Admins

If you are a Google Workspace for Education admin, the CISA report and Google Cybersecurity Guidebook are must-reads. Put the practices into place. While not sufficient to safeguard your entire enterprise, these provide very valuable information.

Featured Image: Screenshot by author: CISA, Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats (page 1)

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