Some summer resources highlighted in the Google for Education newsletter

Google Education newsletter

Almost monthly, Google shares an education focused newsletter. You can view past issues by browsing to https://inthecloud.withgoogle.com/gfe-newsletters-na/northam-repository.html

Below are some resources called out in two of their summer newsletters:

Arts & Culture: Explore UNESCO World Heritage
For World Heritage Day, Google Arts & Culture released a new, updated destination for people to explore UNESCO World Heritage sites online, featuring hundreds of expert stories and thousands of images and videos.Unesco world places

Arts & Culture: Calling in our Corals
Take part in the preservation of coral reefs from your desk and learn to identify underwater sounds with marine biologists whilst contributing to vital research.

calling in coral

Arts & Culture: Step inside 3D exhibitions from around the world
Step into a diverse range of 3D immersive exhibitions curated by 50+ cultural institutions around the world, ranging from artist retrospectives to collections that are not publicly visible and to nature inspired galleries.

3d virtual museums

Arts & Culture: Try 4 new Arts and AI experiments
A new series of AI and Art experiences uses Google AI Image Generation Research to inspire cultural discovery and learning through play

AI options

New artistic data visualizations highlights hidden environmental effects
“Seeing the Invisible” explores four invisible environmental issues with in a new experiment on Google Arts & Culture in collaboration with artist Cristina Tarquini and the World Health Organisation

Seeing the Invisible

Teach CS First with help from Cobblestone and Google engineers
Our partners at Cobblestone will be livestreaming weekly lessons throughout the school year to help you teach a CS First lesson alongside Google software developers. It’s free, and lessons include ideas for both teachers and students to learn new skills!

Coding with Google

 

Highlighting Five Recent Google Workspace Updates

Google notes its Workspace Updates at https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/.

 

Listed below are five recent updates that will be in place by the start of school:

 

Linkable headings now available in Google Docs
To improve shareability of documents, especially longer ones, we’re adding the ability to copy links to headings in Google Docs. Simply, open a Google Doc on web > add a heading (type some content and set to “Heading 1”) > right-click the heading > click the “Copy heading link” button > paste the contents. 
Linkable Headings
Insert emojis into Google Sites 
By the end of August, you can create more engaging content on Google Sites with the new option to insert emojis directly into text boxes and headings. Simply, create or open a Site > click any textbox and the emoji button will be visible in the toolbar > select the emoji button > choose an emoji. 
Add annotations to your presentations in Google Slides
We’re introducing a feature that lets you highlight or emphasize key content while you present in Google Slides. With the new pen tool, you can circle, underline, draw connections or make quick notes directly on your presentation.
annotate slides

Bringing Collaborations in Canvas to Google Assignments 

We’re introducing a new feature exclusively for Canvas that allows users to create a Drive item and collaborate on it with other users in the course.  Today, we’re introducing a new feature exclusively for Canvas that allows users to create a Drive item and collaborate on it with other users in the course. Teachers and students can now work together on a variety of Google Drive items, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, Forms, Jamboards, and Drawing.
  • Use the following steps to create a collaboration in Canvas:
    • Sign in to Canvas > open the course > in the sidebar, click Collaborations > click + Collaboration > Google Drive (LTI 1.3). If you’re not signed in, sign in to your Google Workspace for Education account. Enter a title for your assignment > (optional) enter a description > under file type, select a Drive file type > under invite people to collaborate with you, select any LMS users for which to share the collaboration Drive file > click Create > in the opened pop-up, confirm your changes, and click Create. 
  • Use the following steps to open a collaboration in Canvas:
    • Sign in to Canvas > open the course > in the sidebar, click Collaborations > click the title link for the collaboration you wish to open. Note: You can only view a collaboration if you are an instructor or were added as a collaborator. In the new tab that is opened: 
      • Sign in to your Google Workspace for Education or Google account
      • If this is the first time you’re opening the collaboration, click Join

Adding line numbers to Google Docs

We’re introducing the option to display line numbers within Docs that are set to paged mode.  See https://support.google.com/docs/answer/13820512
The numbers are automatically calculated next to each line in the document, and can be configurable for the entire document, a page, or a specific section. Additionally, these numbers are preserved when printing.
This feature makes it easier for you to reference specific content positions in documents, particularly when collaborating with others on long or complex content.
adding line numbers

 

THE GOOGLE FOR EDUCATION NEWSLETTER ISSUE 65

Google newsletter

A few highlights from the July issue.

New Google for Education Training Course Catalog
Looking for Google Workspace for Education trainings for educators? Find the full catalog of offerings at goo.gle/teachercenter.

Journey to ancient Egypt in Return of the Cat Mummy
Students can explore ancient Egyptian beliefs, hieroglyphs, & mummies including a new game which invites users to explore and learn about the ancient Egyptian afterlife.

Play a cello inspired instrument with the help of machine learning
Viola the Bird is a way for anyone to learn about string instruments and to explore their own creativity through music. Regardless of their musical ability, users can help Viola the Bird play its cello-inspired instrument, and take a playful musical journey.

Leonardo da Vinci: Inside a genius mind
Google Arts & Culture has unveiled “Inside a Genius Mind” — the largest online retrospective dedicated to the genius of the Renaissance, showcasing his extraordinary codices alongside his artistic and scientific contributions.

Unpack Life Beyond Earth with NASA and Astrokobi
Students can hear from NASA astrobiologist Heather Graham and YT creator Astrokobi to understand what life is, where we would find it beyond Earth and what it would look like.

See past issues or sign up for the Google Education Newsletter.

Beat the heat with a REMC course and learn new skills for the start of school

REMC August PD

Summer is a great time to learn a new skill, connect with other educators and explore ways to increase student engagement. All REMC courses offer 10 FREE SCECHs and can be taken from the convenience of your home and when the time is right for you. August courses include creating instructional videos, design thinking and much more!

Registration deadline is Thursday, August 3rd, each course begins on Monday, August 7th. Through the support of REMC SAVE’s vendor partners, all courses are FREE and there are no SCECH fees. Don’t miss out on this great summer learning opportunity!

Check out August 2023 courses here:

Register by Thursday, August 3rd. You will receive a welcome email with the course information prior to the course start date. If you have questions or need further assistance with your course registration, please click here.

Technology Checklist (shared one more time) for Summer Break!

Summer Break has arrived! We hope you enjoy all things summer, but as you close out your classrooms for the year, please ensure these technology items are also taken care of.

Classroom Technology

  • Please comply with the directions of your principal and main office to turn in or secure all classroom technology equipment such as document cameras, microphones, interactive pens, and remotes.
  • Please also secure or take home all District-assigned devices (laptop, Chromebook, iPad, etc.), as well as all personally-owned devices. Please consider plugging in and updating your District Laptop prior to the start of PD in the fall (sometimes updates can take an hour or two if your device is off all summer) – see this blog post about Suggested Laptop Maintenance for reference.
  • Power off projectors/IFPs, sound amps, and desktop computers. Unplug any lamps, power strips, etc. You may leave district printers and copiers plugged in and powered on.
  • If you have a cart of devices, ensure that all devices are plugged in, the cart is locked and plugged in. 
  • Follow the care suggestions for classroom audio

Canvas

Rest assured, you really don’t need to do anything to your Canvas page. It will roll over to Past Enrollments and you will be able to copy the content into your new course shell in the fall. If you’d like options and considerations that you may wish to think about for next year, view this blog post.

After today students will no longer be able to submit or edit any work. Teachers have a few days thereafter to finalize grades.

Clever

Staff and Students will have access to all clever resources throughout the summer. Clever syncing has been paused to allow student’s continued access to their 22-23 teacher’s pages and links until around mid-August when syncing will resume for the 23-24 school year. If you’re interested in learning how to make the most of Clever in your classroom, consider looking at training and ideas here.

IXL

PCCS’s digital subscription for K-5 elementary students will continue throughout the summer. Students will have access to their NWEA skill plans (which were just updated with any spring scores) all summer. Students will have access to any current teacher starred skills through around mid-August. Students in 5th grade currently will lose access around mid-August when syncing begins for the 23-24 school year as they will then be recognized as 6th graders.

Other District Provided Subscriptions

For the most part if it is a district provided subscription, the district will handle any archiving and rostering needs for you. For example, WeVideo, Newsela, BrainPOP/BrainPOPjr, Seesaw for Schools, – there is no action required on your part. If you have manually created classes for things like Epic, Seesaw (grades 3-12 who do not have the Seesaw for Schools subscription), SplashLearn, etc. you may want to archive/delete old classes.

Sharing Digital Content

Whether you are separating from service, working on curriculum, or you are teaching different classes next year there are several options for sharing digital content with colleagues.

Need SCHECH credits?

Leaving the District?

Your TIS team is available all summer to support you – simply put in a tech request at helpdesk.pccsk12.com for technology integration!

On July 1, 2023, Illuminate DnA will be retiring Manual/Hybrid assessments

Illuminate DnA

DnA banner

What is happening?

On July 1, 2023, Illuminate DnA will be retiring Manual/Hybrid assessments. Results will continue to be available but you will no longer be able to administer these to students. No student data will be removed or deleted from the system.

Why are Manual/Hybrid assessments going away?

Flexible assessments provide the same administration options (print answer sheets, grade with camera, grade with scanner/copier, enter responses manually, and deliver online) but with an overall easier experience. 

With Flexible assessments, you can…

  • Add multiple question types in mass
  • Perform fewer clicks to create an assessment
  • Easily upload assessment materials from Google Drive to be administered via Online Testing
  • Create additional item types
  • Make use of advanced scoring features

What do I need to do?

Creators/owners/editors of a Manual/Hybrid assessment: In order to administer the assessment to students after July 1, you will need to duplicate it as a Flexible assessment. You will want to convert on or after July 1, 2023 and DnA suggests you actually duplicate into flexible Please contact all users with access to view, administer, or edit an assessment to indicate when it has been updated.

How do I do this?

  1. Locate your assessment.
  2. In the Action column select Duplicate.
  3. Click OK in the popup windows that appear.
  4. Update assessment title and any other information as needed. Note: It is recommended to duplicate one assessment at a time.
  5. Watch short video HERE if interested in visual steps OR this longer narrated video
  • Want to know all the details about the deprecation of Manual/Hybrid assessments?
  • Want to know more about how to administer Flexible assessments to students?
  • Want to know more about how to create Flexible assessments from scratch?
  • Want to know more about how to ditch paper/scanning and move to online assessment?
  • Users can start duplicating their assessments beginning July 1,  2023. It is recommended that users duplicate assessment when they are preparing to administering them, not en mass.

How do I get technical support?

Contact the P-CCS service desk or DnA support 

from this document

Another random handful of web resources that might be of interest

Useful Sites

See how items of different sizes compare to each other. Zoom all the way in to a dinosaur or a teapot, or all the way out to gigaparsec scale, accompanied by soothing music.

Scale of the universe

Map of tagged sharks. If you’re interested in shark welfare and want to track migration patterns, or you’re just curious about how many geo-tagged sharks there are near you, this map has what you need.

Shark Tracker

Discover new authors you might like, visually. The closer a name is on the map to the name you entered, the more likely it is that you’ll like (or dislike) them both. A project from the Global Network Of Discovery (GNOD).

Lit Map

Wealth levels visualised. This website shows different levels of wealth using 1 pixel to represent $1,000. People consistently underestimate the relative wealth of the super-rich.  And incarceration visualized.

Incredible drone photography of 20th Century skyscrapers. Real photos of buildings that actually exist you can zoom in on. There is an accompanying bio of each highrise.

high rises

 

 

 

Voting for Student Doodle for Google Contest ends midnight Thursday, 5/25

Doodle for Google

Students and staff can visit https://doodles.google.com/d4g/vote/ to help pick who will go on to become the National Winner.

For past Doodles, visit the Google gallery.

FAQs

What is the “Doodle for Google” contest? Doodle for Google is an annual art contest open to students in grades K-12. Students are invited to create their own Google Doodle for the chance to have it featured on Google.com, as well as win some great scholarships and tech packages for their schools.

Why is Google doing this contest? Doodles are meant to surprise and delight people when they visit Google.com. Past Doodles have celebrated some of the most brilliant, talented, and passionate people throughout history. The Doodle for Google contest offers students K-12 an opportunity to display their own Doodle creativity on Google.com and win some awesome prizes while doing it!

How long has Google been doing this contest? We’ve been hosting the Doodle for Google contest every year in the U.S. since 2008, so this is our fifteenth year. This website shows details for the U.S. only contest, but the Doodle for Google contest takes place in other countries throughout the year as well.

Four of May’s newly released features in Google Workspace

Some Google Workspace Updates for May 2023

 

  • Expanding upon Gmail security with Brand Indicators in Messages – Users will now see a blue checkmark icon for senders who adopted Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) in Gmail.  Brand Indicators for Message Identification, or BIMI (pronounced bih-mee), is an email specification that enables email inboxes to display a brand’s logo next to the brand’s authenticated email messages. This will help users identify messages from legitimate senders versus impersonators. Google BIMI CNN BIMI
  • Replace images quicker in Google Slides with new drag and drop feature. Previously, to replace an image in Google Slides, you could either use the menu toolbar or right-click on the image you wanted to replace and select “Replace image.” Starting this week, you’ll have the additional option to easily drag and drop images from anywhere to replace images in your Slides presentations.
  • Add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs. You now have the ability to add emoji reactions to existing comments in Docs. This new feature increases collaboration by enabling you to quickly and creatively express your opinions about document content. 
  • Coming later in May, there will be a dedicated spam folder within Google Drive to host unwanted files that are shared with you containing spam or abusive content. When an unsolicited file is moved to the spam folder, you will be unsubscribed, preventing all comment, sharing, and mobile push notifications for the file. Once unsubscribed, you will not be able to find the file anywhere in Drive outside of your spam folder.