Save Your Google Doc as a PDF

Your Google Doc can easily be converted into a PDF with just a few clicks. 

To save any document or file as a PDF, simply click File --> Download As --> PDF Document

Just pay attention to where your downloaded files are saved so you can retrieve it. That's it!

Create a Custom Search Engine for Your Students

Creating your own search engine is an easy way to limit the sites students search. If you're teaching young students you may want to use a search engine that uses only a limited number of websites that you've vetted for content, safety, and quality. Fortunately, Google makes it easy to create a custom search engine. Find the sites you'd like students to search and follow the steps below.

Try the custom search engine below by visiting the URL created with the three science sites below. Search for a "sciency" word. You'll notice that only the websites provided in the custom search will appear in the search results.
https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=001767721112283538564:h8nbvngkyyi

1. Go to  Google Custom Search
2. Click “New Search Engine”
3. Add the sites you’d like to the students to be able to search from.
4. Give your Custom Search Engine a title
5. Click Create
6. Select Public URL (It will be long!) 
7. Copy and share this link with students 

Pro Tip: To further customize your search engine using the basics tab. 

Google Read & Write - Super Power #1 - Vocabulary Tool

The Google Read & Write Super Power #1 is the Vocabulary Tool. Learn how to use the Vocabulary Tool in the two minute tutorial below.

Why Teachers Need to Know about Incognito Mode

Google Chrome's Incognito Window is a powerful feature that is easy to use and can help answer some common questions. When you're in Incognito Mode, Google thinks that you're a new user and you're able to view websites, documents, and links the way students, parents, or other users would view them.




To access an Incognito Window, click on the three dots and select New Incognito Window.

Here are a few frequently asked questions that be answered by using an Incognito Window:

💡 I'm getting ready to share a link to a Google Doc. How can I check make sure that others will be able to access it?

💡 My student needs to access his Google account on my teacher computer. How can I allow him to sign in to his account without having to sign out of my Google account?

Tech Tip- Pinning Your Tab

There's a  simple trick to prevent yourself from accidentally closing a tab in your Chrome Browser. Just pin your tab!

Right-click on the tab you want to keep open. Select Pin Tab. That's it.

                 

To unpin your tab, it's almost the same process. Right-click on the pinned tab and select Unpin Tab.

Formative Assessment Feedback - Done in Two Minutes with Google Forms

A teacher came by my office the other day and said, "I graded this in two minutes- I love Google Forms!"  You can see her excitement on Twitter.

Since I'm sure others will ask how she made that magic happen, I'm inspired to repost a blog when Google Forms added the Quizzes feature.

Google apps are always updating, and some of the newest features in Google Forms might make some of you fall in love (if you're not in love already). There are several recent changes, but you may want to take note of this:

 You now have the option to make your form into 

an instant quiz with feedback! 

Here's how: 

After clicking on settings, you'll notice that there is a setting for quizzes. After selecting "Make this a quiz", you can customize some additional options including when to release the score and what students can see after submitting their responses. 

When creating the quiz questions, you can assign unique point values to each question. (Don't forget to mark the correct answer on the answer key!)

Depending on your settings, students may have the option to view their scores. 

Students can review their answers and see their scores quickly and easily. 

Teachers can few responses easily and quickly under Responses. 

Google Classroom Updates You Will Love ❤

Update 1- View a Single Student's Work at Once

Google Classroom now has a feature that allows you to a single student's assignments in one simple view. If you're not sure what this means, just trust that you will love this update. 

1. Open Classroom and open the class you want to view

2. Click Students and select a student's name

3. You can view and filter for the following: 

• The list of the student’s assigned work for the class—assignments, questions, or quizzes—with the due date, if there is one.
• Whether the work is assigned, turned in, done late, or missing.
• The student’s grades for work that’s been graded.
• If the student attached any files. You’ll see File  and the number of attachments next to the work.
• If the student sent you a private comment. You’ll see Comment  next to the work.

Update 2- Display a Class Code in Full Screen 

Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference. When asking students to join your class with a code, be sure to use the drop down menu next to the code and choose Display. Everyone will be able to see the code in full view. 

Chromebooks 101 Resources

During our  Chromebooks 101 Training, we covered a lot of information. We touched on the following topics:
1. Chromebook Hardware
2. Student Google Accounts
3. Classroom Management
4. And more

If you're looking for resources from the session, some of them they are shared below:

• Chromebooks 101 - Checklist of skills to use for yourself or with students
• Chromebook Student Use Agreement- Use this to set the tone and expectations for Chromebook use in your classroom
• Google Classroom Overview- If you're just getting started with Classroom, this presentation provides a few essentials

If you haven't used the Google Explore Tool, you're missing out!

You may have noticed the Explore button in the bottom right corner of your screen when using Docs, Sheets, or Slides. This new Explore Tool offers some powerful features that can help us create our best work. There is a lot to uncover with these new features, but below is a quick glimpse.

The Explore Tool in Google Docs:

• Offers suggestions of topics to learn about based on the content of your document
• Helps you search for other documents in your Drive 
• Has much more to offer when it comes to research  

The Explore Tool in Google Slides:

• Makes it easy to polish a slide layout
• Offers design suggestions for layouts and more 

The Explore Tool in Google Sheets can:

• Suggest formatting for your data
• Automatically add charts to your Spreadsheets
• Analyze your data
• Answer questions based on data 
• Do so much more! 

Chromebooks 101 Training

Chromebook 101 Training is here! 

Mark your calendars for August 24 for our first After School Training of the year. We will be meeting in the LUSD Training Room from 3:00-4:00. Hope to see you there!
Click here to register