Open Pages Docs from Google Drive

You can now open your Pages documents, or any other document that uses an application on your computer, directly from your Google Drive when using Chrome (doesn't work in Firefox).

Here's how:

1. Install this Chrome extension.
2. Download, install and launch the latest version of the Drive app for Mac
3. Ensure you are using the new look for Drive

Once you are setup with the above steps, Ctrl-click on any Pages document in your Google Drive and select Open With.  Pages will be one of your choices.

Until next time!

For more details

Tips to speed up your Mac if it is running slow

Here are some things you can do to help keep your Mac running smoothly.

1. Shutdown unwanted apps
2. Use Activity Monitor
3. Get rid of preference panes
4. Cut down on Login items
5. Free up hard drive space
6. Software update
7. Verify Disk and Repair Permissions
8. Turn off visual effects
9. Reboot

Google Docs Offline Editing

HOW TO ENABLE OFFLINE EDITING

If you and your class are using Google Docs on a regular basis on a Mac or Chromebook, you should consider enabling the offline editing feature.  This will allow you and your students the ability to create and edit Google Docs, Sheets, Presentations (Slides), and Drawings without an internet connection.

*To edit Google Docs and Sheets offline on your mobile device, you must have the Google Docs and Sheets apps installed. All other files can be viewed using the Google Drive app.

Google Gadget-Slideshow Maker

If you want to add a rotating image slideshow on your Google site a quick way is to add the Slideshow Maker gadget.  The first thing to do is follow the link below to the Slideshow Maker Template I have created below.  Copy the template by selecting "File" and then "Make a Copy" so you can edit it and add your own photos.  When using the template do not move the blue frame!  This is very important or your final project will not be correct.  Delete my photo from the slide. From there insert one of your photos to the first slide.  Control click the photo and select Order, then Send to Back.  This will put your photo behind the frame.  Move, crop or shrink the photo so the image you want on the final product is visible inside the frame. Again, don't move the frame over the picture, move the picture behind the frame. Duplicate the slide and repeat the process above.  Continue with this until you have all the photos for your slideshow in the presentation.

Use Gmail as an RSS Reader

Many people would like to subscribe to RSS feeds to get news and updates from sources they find on the internet, but don't know how to use an RSS reader, or would rather get the updates in their gmail.

This post addresses both issues.

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Excerpt:
One interesting alternative to Google Reader can actually be found right within Google’s own services — one that you know won’t be going anywhere: Gmail. With a few easy steps, you can turn part of your inbox into an RSS reader, accessible on your desktop computer, mobile phone, or just about anywhere you can access your Gmail account.

Including iMovie video in a Google Slides presentation without resorting to Youtube.

My students were working on Google Slides presentations and wanted to insert some video they had recorded.  Upon checking they found Google slides only wanted YouTube video links.   Possible, if they already had a YouTube channel to upload the video to, but not what they wanted to do.

I experimented and found a way to include the video without using YouTube.

Here's my work around to include the video without using YouTube

Adjust image color and filters in Google Slides

Google Update

People working with images in Google Slides on the web will now have the ability to adjust their color, transparency, brightness, and contrast.

Google Help Files

By Carl Rankin

Over the summer I have been collecting tip sheets and how-to pages on all things Google.  To access the whole folder of PDF files, click here:  Google Help Files or you can click on each one from this list:

The Chromebook Challenge

Over the course of the next several weeks you will be approached by a peer with a little black laptop that looks like this:

We'll call it "the football."

How to Access Your Yahoo Mail with Gmail

Do you have an email account with Yahoo or some other POP webmail provider that you want or need to access through your Gmail account?  Don't let the man slow you down.  Get all of your email in your Gmail inbox. Here is how

The Paperless Classroom

Love the idea of a paperless classroom, but overwhelmed by the idea of making it work?  Some small shifts in organization can make your classroom flow smoothly.  Here are some tips to help.

The Paperless Classroom with Google Docs by - Eric Curts Table of Contents Overview How to name documents and folders How to choose sharing options: Edit, Comment, and View How to share a document with specific people How to share a document as a link How to use folders How to create folders for your documents How to put your documents in folders How to share a folder How to use folders as staff handout folders How to use folders as student turn-in folders How to use forms to turn in assignments How to create and use templates How to use comments in the grading process How to use revision history Use Voice Comments

Giving and grading assignments using Google Docs comments

So you would like to give an assignment using Google Docs, but maybe you are not yet familiar with how this interaction would flow with the student.  There are many ways you can give and receive assignments, but this post will illustrate a sample workflow.  Lets jump in!

Creating and Sharing a Template

For this example, we will assume that you have created a template for students to use.  Click here for a "bad paragraph" template to work with.  Once opened, make a copy of the document (File -> Make a Copy).

Note:  If you would like to create a document from scratch, when logged into your Google Drive, click the red Create button, then select Document, but for this exercise we will assume you are using the template provided in the link from the previous paragraph.

1)  To share with your real or pretend student, or your teacher buddy that is learning this with you, click the Share button.

How to Convert Your iWork Documents to Google Docs

If you have a large number of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote documents that you need to convert to Google Docs, you are in the right place.

If you haven't already done so, install the "Convert iWork 2 Google Tool" from your Self Service app.

Two apps and a read me file will be installed on your Desktop. Since you are using this post as your guide, you can ignore the read me file. The apps are pictured right. Before you begin: If you are running Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, then you will need to work with your tech team to finagle using a computer running Mac OS X 10.7 Lion to complete this task. Open Pages, Numbers and Keynote, then close any individual documents that you may have open, as open documents will interfere with the conversion process.

Create Active Guided Learning with Flip Packs

Use Google Presentation and Google Forms to create guided lessons and collect student feedback.

"Presentation is a natural for assembling multi-media lessons for learning.  Take a Google Form and embed an active learning exercise.  Put it together and you've got a Google Flip Pack.  The student work is assembled in a Google Spreadsheet for easy access, assessment, and analysis.  Your classroom workflows are streamlined, students are active learners, and you'll have more time to teach." -source

Here is an example:

Improve Student Writing with Google Docs

Teaching in the Cloud: How Google Docs are Revolutionizing the Classroom

WBUR
Nov. 12, 2013
by Mike Kalin

Any experienced English teacher knows the drill: on the dreaded due date, students bring printed copies of their essays to class, where we collect them, take them home, jot inscrutable comments in the margins, bring them back to class, return them, and then watch students promptly toss them in the recycling bin on the way out of the room. The whole cycle borders on farce. Students pretend to spend many hours writing their papers, teachers pretend to spend many hours grading them, and we all pretend like repeating this process over and over again leads to something we in education like to call “student growth.” But teachers can finally put an end to this exercise in futility, thanks to an unlikely hero sometimes condemned for its unrelenting pursuit of profit at the expense of the public good…Google.

Why Can't I Open My Pages Document in Google Drive?

...because your Google Drive will only allow you to edit Google Docs from your Google Drive.  You can, however, save your Pages document in your synced Google Drive folder on your laptop and open and edit it just like it was saved in a different folder, like your Desktop.

Because it is in your Google Drive folder, it will be synced to your Google Drive.  So if you have moved your documents to your Google Drive folder, nothing about the process of creating and editing Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc. files changes besides which folder it is saved in.  You just have the added benefit of this new folder automatically backing up these files for you.

Lets take a closer look.

How to Copy a DVD (not copy-protected)

From time to time you may find yourself wanting to burn a DVD that you are someone else has created.  The following instructions will not work with a copy-protected DVD with a Hollywood blockbuster on it.  Sorry Marvel fans.

1) Click on Spotlight in your menu bar, type in "Disk Utility," then select it when it appears.

2) Insert the DVD to be copied and select "SuperDrive" from the left-side menu.

Use Google Drive to Backup Your Files

Why would you want to do this?

1. Our current backup system is sputtering and you may already be operating without a backup of your important documents.  Your computer dies...your files are gone.
2. You can access your documents from any web-connected device.
3. Once setup, it is easy.
4. There are many additional benefits to letting your documents live on your Google Drive, particularly with collaboration and revisions, that we will discuss later.