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Google Tips and Tricks

Powerful Add-ons and Functions for Google Sheets

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Have you ever tried to cut a tree down with a hammer instead of a hatchet? If you know how these two tools work, you won’t even try. But that’s what we do with digital tools every day. Imagine if you knew a simple hack for turning a hammer into a hatchet. It could save a lot of time, effort, and money.

It was only last month that I found myself dealing with tons of data. What I wanted was simple, but I had no idea how to get Google Sheets to reveal the data. The answer? Use a function I had never heard of.  This experience convinced me to try and learn about new functions.

So now, I want to share some of my favorite tools and functions of Google Sheets– tools and functions that can help you avoid the frustration of trying to cut a tree down with a hammer instead of a hatchet. In other words, they can make your work a little easier.

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Why We Use Google Sheets

I’ve been using spreadsheets since I was 13 years old, but I still know very little about them. That’s because I’m always focused on the problems I have to solve. But if you take a moment to look around, you’ll realize that you don’t always have to use the same tools to solve problems. And Google Sheets is certainly a tool for solving problems. Examples of problems Google Sheets can solve include:

  • Making sense of complexity or representing data in easy-to-understand formats like graphs
  • Sorting and filtering data to see relationships
  • Calculating and summarizing
  • Connecting more efficiently with others

Add-Ons and Extensions for Google Sheets

If you’re like me, you may have reached for some digital helpers like Google add-ons or extensions to Google Sheets. Some of my favorite solution helpers for Google Sheets include these power tools from Hymel Stayte’s Solutions:

  1. Magic Make Copies
  2. Magic Row Reveal
  3. Magic Cell Notifications
  4. Magic Class Tracker

Mail Merge Tools for Sheets

  1. FormMule
  2. Yet Another Mail Merge (YAMM)

Using Sheets as a Database

  1. Google Data Studio
  2. Watch Mike and Megan Video
  3. Google Data Studio Resources: A Wakelet Collection
  4. Awesome Table
  5. Tweet Archiver
  6. TAGS – Twitter Archiving Google Sheet

Generating Documents Using Google Sheets

  1. Autocrat
  2. Certify’em
  3. Document Studio
  4. Mapping Sheets

If you have more add-ons that you like for Google Sheets, please feel free to share those in the comments. But what if these power tools are too much for what you are trying to do? Or what if you need to dig into your data in a way that’s incongruent with these add-ons?

It’s time to explore some of my favorite functions below.

Google Sheets Functions

The following functions are ones that I use often. You can find a sample spreadsheet here (get a copy of it) that shows how each of these works.

power tools

One simple example that a lot of folks don’t know about that I use every day? Concatenate.

=Concatenate(A2,” “,B2,”<”,C3,”>”)

This allows you to put text together. My biggest use involves concatenating text such as firstname, lastname, and email. I use the result to enroll people in Canvas LMS.

Another one that I didn’t know about but is so powerful: IFERROR. It prevents showing a nonsensical error. Instead, it shows you a message you can customize.

Each of these expands your repertoire of what’s possible in Google Sheets. Take the time to learn them and practice them.

=join(“,”,A1:A5)

=IFERROR(value, [value_if_error]) (See more)

=IMPORTRANGE (sheet_url, range_string)

=QUERY(NAMEDRANGE, “SELECT A WHERE B=‘Google Sites’ “)

=COUNTIF (range, criterion)

=COUNTA (range, criterion)

=DetectLanguage(B2) with =GoogleTanslate(B2,C2,”en”)

Need a few more?

Get the “Make Magic with Spreadsheets” Wakelet

Want to get more examples in video format? You may want to check out this Wakelet where I’ve curated a few videos and tutorials.

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More Ed Tech Tools (You Know You Want Them!)

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

Do you have enough educational technology tools in your toolbox? Can you ever have too many? While I know that it’s not about the tool but is instead about teaching and learning, it’s still helpful and convenient to have exactly the right tool in your reserves to address a specific need. So with that in mind, and to save you time in hunting for some new resources, here are a few fun tools that I’ve discovered recently.

1. Collaboration Activity Wheel

I like wheels. And so does everyone else, if the continued high readership numbers of An Online Wheel Spinner for Every Occasion by Peggy Reimer’s hold true. You’re sure to like the Collaboration Activity Wheel. It’s a standard online wheel spinner but has a different focus. Instead of student names, it has exit questions on it. I like the idea of using this with your own exit questions at the end of a lesson or unit for student reflection in pairs or small groups after a collaborative activity.

2. Mouse Skills Choice Board

Teaching kindergarten students to use a mouse or trackpad can be difficult at the beginning of the school year. But John R. Sowash has put together a nice choice board that will do this for you. The first few activities do require some reading, so he recommends that you do them as a whole class activity. After that, the students may pick which activity they want to do. You can make a copy of the choice board here.

3. Copying Web Data into Excel

While this isn’t a tool, it is a tip that really has saved me a lot of time. Let’s say that you want students to do a report on a country. They go to a website and find all of the data they need to begin analyzing. They would then have to painstakingly copy it into Excel. Instead, follow these five steps!

  1. Copy the web address, and go into Excel.
  2. Go to Data.
  3. Select Get Data from Web.
  4. Paste the URL.
  5. Select the data table you need.

Voila! Your content is copied and ready to be studied. What’s really cool is that the data will auto-update when the table is refreshed. You can see a short video of the process created by a Reddit user here.

4. MapPuzzle.xyz

Although basic, this interactive site is a good way to have kids learn where countries and states are located. You can select the type of map you want and then the students can drag pieces into the correct location. The activity is timed and will show mistakes and successes. You can even change the language the activity is offered in.

5. Etch a Sheet in Google Sheets

I must admit that there is not a huge amount of educational value to this tool. But it is so cool! Ben Collins has created an Etch a Sketch game in Sheets using checkboxes to move left, right, up, and down. He gives a complete explanation of how the game works, which is really interesting. For secondary students, you could even challenge them to make a similar game using his work. Make your own copy of the template here. (Ben also has a great checklist template that you can use.)

6. Turing Machine in Google Sheets

While I’m on the topic of Sheets, here’s another great template and explanation from Tyler Robertson. He created a Turing Machine, which is incredibly complex to begin with. He provides a lot of detail on how he did this, as well as the history of the original Turing Machine. This might be good for first year computer science students to study.

7. Sook

Sook is a free Google Chrome or Firefox plug-in that aggregates product listings from stores that sell via Shopify to help you “buy from the boutique next door.” It was designed to help small, local businesses compete with Amazon. The tool serves up a page of nearby products for you to browse. Sook also alerts you with small business suggestions when browsing on big retail sites. Search for a jacket on Amazon, for example, and Sook will alert you of similar products sold by small, local alternatives. (Yes, I know it’s not an educational tool, but it’s still useful!)

8. PALMS Backchannel/Yoteach!

I love using a backchannel tool with students and adults. It’s a powerful way to allow everyone to have a voice in the learning. My old favorite was Today’sMeet, but it’s been discontinued. You can easily replace it, however, with PALMS Backchannel. Like all of the other tools shared in this blog, it’s completely free and doesn’t require registration or login. The teacher creates a virtual room and gives the students a PIN code to enter it. Once in, students can share only with each other and the teacher. If you create a free teacher account, you can add administrative features, text-to-speech, and more. It’s available in different languages and will accept text and images. You can even create a collaborative space for groups to work in.

I hope that at least one of these resources will meet a need that you or your students have. And if you’ve discovered a new tool recently, please share it with all of us in the comments section!

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ChromebooksCTO/CIOCybersecurityDigital CitizenshipGoogle Tips and Tricks

Update Your Browser Now: Seven Tips for Securing Google Chrome

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“Update now! Multiple vulnerabilities patched in Google Chrome.” It’s a headline that you encounter with surprising regularity. Here are a few more from May to July 2022. Each is sure to chill any IT Director’s heart:

Let’s explore some steps you can take to avoid Google Chrome issues and keep your browser secure.

Did You Know?

In August, 2022, a new Gmail attack was announced that exploits Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. “SHARPEXT is a malicious browser extension,” reports Volexity.com.  The threat? It can bypass two-factor or multi-factor authentication on Gmail. This means that even if you do have two-factor authentication, your Gmail may be accessed by nefarious individuals seeking to steal your data. Follow the suggestions in this blog entry to avoid SHARPEXT.

Use a Secure, Chromium Alternative

Want to keep working in the Chromium ecosystem but are worried about the headlines? Then consider getting one of the following Chromium-based browsers that are hardened for security:

You might also try Microsoft Edge as an alternative browser. It supports the Chrome web store but enjoys Microsoft’s ongoing support. Of course, Google will tell you to use Chrome, and Microsoft will say browse securely with Edge, but it’s up to you to choose.

update browser
Screenshot by author

If you would rather not deal with Chrome/Chromium browsers at all, then consider Firefox. These Firefox-based browsers get the job done and enjoy increased security:

For the best compatibility with websites, Firefox works great while safeguarding your privacy. If you need more intensive protection, get Firefox Focus. Both work on mobile devices, too. Of course, LibreWolf offers even more stringent protection on the desktop.

update browser
Screenshot by author

What’s the main problem with Google Chrome that these alternate browsers address? A wide variety of permissions and settings set to “open” or “allow.” It’s like leaving the doors and windows of your domicile open when there are criminals around.

Let’s see how you can secure Google Chrome, especially if you have to use it for work purposes.

Securing Google Chrome

A Google Chrome browser design flaw could allow malicious websites to record audio or video. This could occcur without alerting the user. The user would not get any visual sign that they are being spied on. (Source: The Hacker News, 2017)

Here is a list of suggestions that Zaafir (@zaafirsalam) provides, and I’ve shared a video or image with each one. Let’s explore each one at a time.

Tip #1: Set Site Permissions

Google Chrome may be set to allow access to your location, camera, and/or microphone. To limit what Chrome makes available to websites you visit, follow these instructions:

  1. Go to Settings in Chrome.
  2. Select Privacy and Security.
  3. Click Site Settings.
  4. Disable access for location, camera, and microphone.

Here’s a no-audio video walkthrough on how to do that:

Tip #2: Secure DNS and Connections

A lot of websites fail to secure their connections with your browser. That is, they allow connections that enable malicious folks to steal your password. Think of it as writing your bank account and password on a postcard. It’s not the best way to send confidential information.

Google’s Chrome browser allows both secure and insecure connections. You can restrict that by follow these steps:

Tip #3: Restrict Pop-Ups and Redirects

Ever visited the wrong website by accident? If the site is malicious, it may attempt to open countless pop-up windows. These will open up faster than you can close them. A malicious site may also redirect you to a series of inappropriate websites. Combined with unstoppable pop-ups, you may find yourself a long ways away from where you began.

Only allow pop-up windows for sites you trust. Here’s how you can restrict pop-ups and redirects in your Site Settings.

Screenshot by author
Screenshot by author

Note that you can allow specific, or custom, websites to send you pop-ups that are allowed. This can be handy on government and education websites that require pop-ups.

Tip #4: Disable Third-Party Cookies

As you may know, cookies are bits of code that store information about your internet use in your browser. Worse, these cookies can track you across websites. Websites like Facebook use these cookies to track your interests. Then, based on your interests, deliver tailored advertisements. Do a search on baby formula, you will soon see advertisements for diapers and baby stuff.

Here’s how you can disable third-party cookies via your Privacy and Security Settings:

Tip #5: Enable Enhanced Protection

You can turn on an additional layer of protection. The purpose of enhanced protection is to provide more protection. What’s more, it enables you as the user to flag suspicious content to Google. This helps everyone reduce the risks of malware spreading to others.

Here’s how you can turn it on:

Tip #6: Stop Background Apps

Wondering why your computer is running slow? It may be that Google Chrome is taking up memory. This happens even when you’ve “closed” Chrome. It’s closed for you, but Chrome continues to work in the background of your computer. It uses up valuable resources other programs may need. Turn it off completely.

To do that, go to System in the Settings and turn off “Continue running background apps.”

update browser
Screenshot by author

Tip #7: Conduct a Safety Check

Want to conduct a safety check? Access your Settings, looking for Privacy and Security. Select “Check now” to run a safety check on your browser.

update browser
Screenshot by author

Ensuring Browser Security

If you want to avoid making these changes, consider using one of the alternative browsers. They are already locked down. Keep a browser like Firefox or Chrome around. Use them only for legitimate websites that need a less restrictive experience.

Also, consider using these browser add-ons that allow you to turn security on or off as needed per website:

Finally, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when using the web at home or on the go (work environments may restrict their use). Let me know how your browsing experience changes for the better.

Photo by Amol Tyagi on Unsplash

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five free tools for chromebooks
Chromebooks

Five Free Tools for Chromebooks

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Have a cart full of Chromebooks but aren’t sure what digital tools you can use? Or why? While many use Chromebooks every day, it never hurts to review some amazing digital tools. Of course, you can find a lot of great apps for Chromebooks at the Chromebook App Hub. It offers paid apps for every subject and grade level. But what if you want free, no-cost apps? This is the list for you.

Two New Features for Chromebooks

You may have missed the announcement earlier this summer. Chromebooks are arriving with two special powers. These include built-in screencasting with closed captioning and simple video editing. Check out my infographic for more info.

Learn more about these

Now let’s get to a quick roundup of Chromebook-friendly tools and add-ons. Here we go.

Digital Tool #1: Kapwing Video Editor and Creator

five free tools for chromebooks

Kapwing Pro is now 100% free for students and educators. No longer will you have to pine for some free, high-quality video editor. Kapwing Video Editor, featured in this TCEA blog entry, offers so much. And the Pro version is now available at no charge for educators and students. Isn’t that amazing?

Kapwing Pro for Education features:

  • Presentation recording
  • Group projects
  • Video editing and greenscreens
  • Template and worksheet design
  • Video translation
  • Subtitles
  • Copyright-free images, music, and templates
  • Video import from the Internet

Want to know if you qualify for the Kapwing Pro plan? Per their website:

Teachers at accredited K-12 schools and higher education institutions are eligible for the Kapwing for Education Plan.

Students currently enrolled at accredited K-12 schools who are at least 13 years old are eligible for the Kapwing for Education plan. (Students enrolled at higher education institutions are not eligible at this time.)

five free tools for chromebooks
Get your free Kapwing Pro account via their website. 

Digital Tool #2: Canva for Educators

Canva is an incredibly versatile tool that you can use for everything. You only have to read these TCEA blog entries to see how amazing Canva is. It does everything:

Here’s a quick video overview of how to get started:

Want some help with back-to-school resources? Canva has you covered.

Get verified as a teacher or student to use Canva Pro for free.

Digital Tool #3: Book Creator

If you haven’t used Book Creator, it is an excellent ePub creation tool boasting over 15 million ebooks. It works on Chromebooks, iOS, Android and Windows devices.

Book Creator allows you to create a simple ePub without media. Or you can liven things up with an enhanced ePub. The latter includes video, audio, and more embedded. Read their blog for TONS of ideas. You can also share your creations to cloud storage (e.g., Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive, or iCloud). It also supports the creation of digital comic books.

Get Book Creator for free.

Note: You can create one library and store up to 40 books for free. It’s enough to get started.  Be sure to explore templates! Then get become a Book Creator Certified Educator via TCEA’s $39 online course with one year membership FREE! Start Your Journey of Creativity and Learning NOW.

Digital Tool #4: Image Capture Tools

Need an easy-to-use image capture and annotation tool? You know, a browser-based add-on that captures your screen, then lets you annotate the image? Lightshot is my all-time favorite tool and works great in the Chrome browser.

Sometimes, you need a tool that can capture a scrolling webpage, not only what appears on the screen. Give Fireshot a try. It’s a great tool to have in your toolbox. Of course, if you need a photo editor, give Pixlr E and Photopea a shot. Need another amazing tool that makes assembling content easy? Try out Sketch.io’s Sketchpad, which I’ve written about before. It offers support for multiple languages, so it’s usable in any space you like.

Digital Tool #5: GIF Cap

Need to make a quick walkthrough of steps to share with students or colleagues? You could record a video. Another popular approach relies on creating animated GIFs for a screen recording. gifcap makes that possible.

five free tools for chromebooks

It’s so easy to use, that you’ll be creating short walkthroughs of steps for students. If you need a digital tool that takes a series of images and turns them into an animated gif, give EZGIF a try. EZGIF “…is a simple online GIF maker and toolset for basic animated GIF editing.” It makes it easy to “create, resize, crop, reverse, optimize, and apply some effects to GIFs.”

Now that you’ve seen some of my favorite, go-to tools for Chromebook, what would you add? Add them in the comments.

five free tools for chromebooks

Bonus Tools!

What, you thought I was done? Here are a few more that make my life easier. I bet they will make your life easier, too.

  • Custom Scrollbars. What a lifesaver. The current trend in browser scrollbars is thin and thinner. But when you’re working on a Chromebook or tablet, small scrollbars are problematic. They disappear, and if you scroll through content (imagine a long Google Doc), whew! It can be tough. That’s why Custom Scrollbars add-on is so awesome. And it’s free!
  • Icon Insertion Tools: Explore these two tools to get icons you can insert into Google Slides.
  • Background Removers
  • Classroom Screen makes it easy to share information with your students on the big screen.
  • Tab Resize. Split your screen layout on a Chromebook, if you need to. Many are accustomed to working on dual monitors, but when you are on the go, you may still need a split screen. This Chrome add-on can make that possible.

Have an incredible year. Use technology to lessen your stress, increase connections with others, and make your life easier.

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Google Tips and Tricks

Google’s Appointment Schedules Provides More Options and Accessibility

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

Google has recently made some major improvements to their solution for scheduling appointments using Google Calendar. Appointment Schedules make it possible for any individual to use the system regardless of what email server they use. This new solution also sets up a booking page making it super easy for individuals to find and use. 

Getting Started with Appointment Schedules

In order to get started using the new Appointment Schedules, you first need to turn it on in your Google Calendar settings. 

  1. On a computer, open Google Calendar.
  2. Click on the gear icon and scroll through the general settings to Appointment schedules.
  3. Check the box next to Create appointment schedules instead of appointment slots.
    • To turn off appointment schedules, uncheck the box.

Create an Appointment Schedule

You can only create an appointment schedule on your calendar in week or day view, so make sure one of those two views is enabled.

1. Create an event as you normally would, but select Appointment schedule instead of Event, and then title it. 

2. Determine how long each meeting will last and choose the block of time for these appointments. 

Scheduling Options

You have some options for when the scheduling window will open, how far in advance individuals can sign-up for an appointment, and when individuals may reserve an appointment. It is important to remember that time slots won’t show up on your calendar until they meet the criteria you set in the Scheduling Window. For example, if you determine that individuals cannot sign up for an appointment until two weeks before the appointment, you won’t see any available slots on your calendar three weeks from now. However, in a week, they will be there because you are now two weeks before that date. 

Create a Buffer Time

You can also add some buffer time between appointments and choose how many bookings you want in a day. This is nice if you want to give yourself some time to take care of personal needs or take breaks between appointments.

Booking Page

As mentioned above, one of the best features of Appointment Schedules is that you direct individuals to your Appointment Schedules webpage, not your calendar.  For each schedule, you have the ability to pre-determine if these appointments will be in person, on the phone, via Google Meet, or to be determined later.  You can also provide a description of the appointments. 

To sign-up, individuals will click on a slot and insert their information. Because I set up the example below as phone call appointments, the phone number field is required. 

Once they complete the set-up process, individuals will get a confirmation for their appointment in their email as well as a calendar invite to add it to their calendar. 

To get to your booking page, click on one of the appointment schedule events on your calendar. It will open up a box that has a link to your booking page. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Since Google has given us more options, it may take some practice for you to become familiar with how appointment scheduling works. So my advice is to create some to practice! Google has all the information you need to use this new feature on their Google Calendar Support site.

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Google Forms: New Features for Formatting and Customization

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

Google forms just got better. Most of us have come to rely on Google forms. They are a great way to collect information, check for understanding, poll a group on a variety of topics, quickly assess the mood in a room, and enable individuals or groups to record their thoughts on a variety of topics. These are just a few ways you can use forms. In my book, the possibilities are endless.

However, the formatting options for the text used in the titles and the question or direction sections have been very limited. Google has now given its users additional font styling options. We also have the ability to customize the header, sub-header, and body text separately throughout the form. This highly requested feature allows you to easily change the look and feel of your forms.

Let’s take a look at how these new styling options will look and why you might want to use them. The update enables you to bold, underline or italicize the text. You can also hyperlink a word or a phrase to a website and include lists in your descriptions.

New Formatting Options in Google Forms

In the example below you can see why you might want to make text bold or italicized. It draws your attention to the directions given. You should also notice that you can make a list in the description. However, this option is not available in the title section.

In order to do this, you will need to click in the description box, and the formatting options will appear. You will also see that you have the option to remove any formatting you have used. 

Adding a Hyperlink

If you want to hyperlink to another document, you can easily do that by highlighting the text and clicking on the insert link icon. 

Italics

Italicizing can be useful to draw attention to something. I like italicizing the words “First and Last” to draw attention to how I want someone to insert their name. 

Roll-out for New Features

Google is making this available to all Google Workspace customers as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers. They also are making it available to users with personal Google Accounts. They began rolling this feature out on June 28. If you don’t see it in your account yet, be patient. Sometimes it takes several weeks for new features to be turned on for all accounts. 

Although I’m thrilled with these new formatting options, I’m always wanting more! Two features they have not yet given us are font type selections and the ability to have these new customization features in the body of each question. However, I must remind myself to give them time. Good things do come to those that wait, right?

Resources

Google Support for styling options for fonts in Google Forms.

Google’s announcement on the new changes to Google Forms.

Blog Post: Forms + Content = A Teacher’s Best Friend

Blog Post: Five Hacks for Google Forms

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Google Tips and Tricks

Google Announces a New Screencasting App for Chromebooks

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Google for Education recently announced some new features for Chromebooks, Google Classroom, and Google Meet, including a screencasting app for Chromebooks.

Screencast App

With the new Screencast App, both teachers and students will now be able to easily create videos. The new Screencast App will be built into Chrome OS. According the Google, the screencast feature is available now for users whose Chromebooks are running the Chrome OS M103. It will soon be available for Google Workspace for Education.

Uses for Screencasting

There are so many ways the Screencast App can be used. For teachers, the Screencast app will allow you to record instructional videos or live classes. This will allow teachers to build a video library of lessons and demos. Students can then watch the videos if they miss class or need extra help with the lesson topic. In addition, students can also use Screencast! For example, they can record presentations or videos that show understanding of concepts taught. In fact, there are many uses for screencasting for both teachers and students.  

Features

Some features of the Screencast App include the ability to trim your video. In addition, the speaker’s face and voice can be recorded along with the content on the screen. Furthermore, a marker tool will allow users to write, draw, or point to and highlight different parts of their screen while recording.

Transcription and Translation

The screencasts will have built-in transcription and translation. Each recording will automatically be transcribed once it is completed. When the recording is viewed, the transcript will appear to the right of the video. When watching the video, students can search the transcript for keywords or click on sections of the transcript to view that particular section of the video. The transcript can also be translated into different languages. This will be great for second language learning in the classroom.

Saving and Sharing Recordings

The recordings will automatically be saved to Google Drive. A unique video link will be generated once the user clicks on the Share button. This link can then be shared with those with whom you want to watch the video. Click here to see a video walkthrough of the Screencast app and additional Google updates.

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Eight Google Goodies You Want to Use

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

If you live in the Google ecosystem, you know some things get rolled out without a bunch of fanfare. But sometimes, gems get snuck in and we are pleasantly surprised. I wonder if Google secretly smiles as they go into stealth mode and slip new features in? Let’s check out some Google goodies, and if you have more you know and love, please drop a comment below.

Google Docs

1. Dropdown Chips

Example of Dropdown Chips

Google recently rolled out a new feature in Docs called “Dropdown Chips”. These were intended to indicate the status of a document or various project milestones. There are two default dropdown options:

  • Project Status– Includes selections for “Not Started”, “Blocked”, “In Progress” and “Complete”
  • Review Status– Includes selections for “Not Started”, “In Progress”, “Under Review” and “Approved”

But the best part? You have custom options and colors! So you can create some cool things. Eric Curts turned this new tool into a “Cloze Reading” activity. Check out the Flipped Tech Coaching blog for three more ideas.

2. Add an Emoji Reaction

Available now, one can add an emoji to the body of a Google Doc. All you need to do is highlight some text. Then, three little icons pop up. You then have the choice of adding a comment, emoji, or suggesting edits.

3. Watermark

Example of a Google Docs Watermark

A watermark is usually an image superimposed onto a document. You can now watermark a Google Doc! Just find the watermark feature under Insert. This is very handy if you would like to make sure everybody knows your working document is in draft form, for example. And a school or district can display its logo as a watermark.  I had some fun watermarking one of my robotics agendas with an image we had made into a button. 

Google Sites

4. Small Business Templates

Adding to the education, personal, and work templates in Google Sites is a new section titled Small Business. This category includes:

  • Dog Walker
  • Holiday Party
  • Photo Portfolio
  • Restaurant 
  • Salon

5. Anchor Image Tool

Google Site Header Anchor Tool

This neat feature allows you to customize the position or focal point of your header image. Upload your photo and click the anchor icon in the bottom right corner of the header. Directional arrows will appear. Click the arrows to preview the image in any anchor position you’d like.

Google’s Cloud Run

6. Coloring Pages

Turn images into a coloring page with Google’s Cloud Run

Use this link to upload a file, and, voila! You have a coloring page that you can download and print. Just for fun, I tried our ETC strawberry and it turned out great. I also tried a photo of my dog, Tuff, and as you can see – he turned out pretty scary-looking. I can see this feature being very handy for teachers who work with our littles. If you are looking to customize an image for coloring – you now have the coloring book power!

Google Sheets

7. Publish to the Web

This took me a while to find. I thought this handy dandy tool was gone, but Google just moved it. If you are looking to publish a spreadsheet, now you will need to go to:

  1. Share
  2. File
  3. Publish to the Web

Chrome Browser

8. Confetti

Last I will leave you with my favorite goodie. Inject a little fun into your day and celebrate with your class using this extension. If you use Google Chrome for your browser, add the Confetti extension. When you press command + B, confetti blasts out on your screen. You will lose the shortcut for bolding words by using this; but if you are like me and forget, the celebratory surprise is worth it.

If you have a Google goody, please consider sharing it with a comment post below. A gagillion cheers to all the google-goodness on planet earth.

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ChromebooksGoogle Tips and Tricks

Eight Chrome Extensions and Sites You May Not Know (June 2022)

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

June has arrived! Hopefully, you have slid right into your summer vacation. Summer is for soaking up time with no alarm clocks and afternoons by the pool, and I hope you’re taking full advantage. Let’s jump right into some great extensions and sites!

Chrome Extensions to Try

Text Mode. Are you someone who gets distracted by the pretty colors and images on the screen? Text Mode helps you focus and concentrate on what you really care about– the text.

Additor. It’s time to actually organize all those random notes and reads that you were saving for later. Additor lets you easily collect content from the web. I like this one because of the multiple highlighting options. Organizing into folders and subfolders is just an added bonus.

Meow, the Cat Pet. Now you can have the joys of having a pet cat without having a pet cat. Loved by more than 200,000 users, this extension is pretty simple. It’s just a virtual cat that walks on your screen while you’re browsing. Meow.

Arcade Classics. Revisit your childhood with this browser extension. There are nine classic games to play from Pacman to Minesweeper. A perfect activity for a summer afternoon of avoiding the sizzling summer heat.

BeeLine Reader. Want to read faster? This extension uses a gradient to guide your peepers from the end of one line to the beginning of the next. Apparently, this simple task allows people to read 20-30% faster. Keep this one in your back pocket for students as it has shown to increase reading fluency and comprehension for all grade levels!

Must-Visit Websites

MuscleWiki. Don’t want to go to the gym? But you still want to exercise? MuscleWiki can become your very own virtual gym trainer. This site leads you to human anatomy and is really simple to use. You just click on the muscle you want to work on and it will give you exercises to try.

100,000 Stars. This website is part of Google Experiments and will leave you in wonder. Take a tour and dive deep into all things space.

My Fridge Food. Confession! I hate having to figure out dinner every single night of my life. So, if you are anything like me and not sure what to cook, you’ll love My Fridge Food. Just check off what ingredients you actually do have in your fridge and it will give you options of what to make for your next meal. If you really end up loving this, it is now in app form too!

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laptop with Gmail icon displayed center screen
Google Tips and Tricks

Five Gmail Add-Ons: Make Gmail Simple

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Google continues to change the look and feel of Gmail on the web. While some folks may embrace these changes to the interface, others may not. I’d like to share a few ways you can simplify and enhance the look and feel of Gmail.

Less Is More

Many software developers add complexity in the name of enhanced features. In his book, “Life is Simple,” the author Johnjoe McFadden highlights Ockham’s Razor. He tells the story of William of Ockham, a Franciscan monk in medieval times.

Created by author with elements from Wikimedia – https://tinyurl.com/ydb2fnhl

It can all boil down to simplicity in design. Antoine de Saint-Exupery says it this way:

“When there is nothing left to take away, you achieve perfection.”

Software like Sumatra PDF/ePub reader, and MPV video player, offer this simplicity. With the right add-on to Gmail, you can simplify the interface.

The Problem

For some folks, the sidebars that appear in Gmail’s web version aren’t an issue. But for others, they constrain the composition window, as shown below.

gmail
Screenshot by author

You can turn off Meet and Chat (the right-side panel) in your Gmail Settings:

gmail
Screenshot by author

But what about the left side panel? For that, let’s take a look at the first add-on I have for you.

Add-On #1: Simple Gmail Screen

Need a way to remove those pesky panels? Sometimes, you have MORE information than you want in Gmail. You can streamline the look of your Gmail inbox by removing extraneous content. Keep it simple.

Simplify Gmail screen, make the sidebar and top bar auto-hide.

This extension hides the top menu bar and left sidebar of Gmail. The hidden menus could then be re-activated via moving your mouse cursor to the edge of screen.

Here’s a video overview:

Get your preferred version: Chrome | Firefox

Add-On #2: Row Highlighter

Once you’ve removed the unnecessary, how can you improve what remains? One way is to rely on the Row Highlighter add-on. It does the following:

Highlights Gmail and Inbox rows on mouse over with nice and shiny colors.

gmail
Screenshot by author

Get your preferred version: Chrome | Firefox

Add-On #3: Trimless image:clip6

Tired of clicking the three little dots that appear at the bottom of an email message to see what’s come before? I know I do. Gmail represents expanded email content in a threaded discussion as three dots:

Screenshot by author
Screenshot by author

You can use the Trimless for Google Mail add-on to auto-expand the content. This can be a click-saver if you’re involved in many back-n-forth conversations. You can see it below, although I have blurred the content for privacy.

gmail

Get your preferred version: Chrome | Firefox

Add-On #4: Gmail Reverse Conversation

Getting lost in a threaded discussion? Wish you could see the latest message in a threaded email discussion at the top, rather than the bottom? Gmail Reverse Conversation can make that happen.

gmail
Screenshot by author

What’s more, this add-on also puts your Gmail-provided responses at the top so you can respond faster.

Screenshot by author

Get your preferred version: Chrome | Firefox

Add-On #5: Convert Gmail to PDF

Want to save your Gmail as a PDF? Sure,  you could PRINT TO PDF, but there might be an easier approach. Use the Convert Gmail to PDF (locally) to save emails as PDFs. You get two buttons to work with and using them is easy. Click them to bring up a PDF document.

Screenshot by author

Here’s an explanation from the website:

“Convert to PDF Format” extensions aim to provide one-click PDF conversion for well-known services such as Gmail. In oppose to the other similar extensions, there is no server-side PDF conversion to protect user privacy.

There are two methods to convert the current page into PDF document. Either you can use the “simple” mode or the “print” mode. In the simple mode, the jsPDF library is used to convert your HTML document into PDF format.

Five Gmail Add-Ons

These are only five of the many Gmail add-ons you can add to simplify your Gmail experience. Try them out and see if you like less complexity.

Feature Image Source

Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash

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