Google Drive Link Tips

Google quick links shortcut blog post

Sharing Google Drive files is easy, but the standard link doesn’t always work the way we want. With a simple trick, you can change a link to do exactly what you need, saving you and your audience time.

Four Handy Link Modifications

By slightly altering the end of a Google link, you can change its function:

  • Preview Link: Gives a clean, clutter-free view of a Doc or Slide.
  • Make a Copy Link: Forces the user to make their own copy of the file.
  • Template Link: Shows a professional preview with a “Use Template” button.
  • PDF Link: Instantly opens your file as a PDF in the browser.

The Best Tool for Student Assignments

A quick reminder: For student assignments, our #1 recommendation is to use the Google Assignments integration in Canvas. When you attach Google Docs or Slides to an assignment this way, Canvas automatically gives each student their own copy to work on and attaches it to the assignment so the student doesn’t accidentally duplicate their work in multiple places.

These link-altering tricks are fantastic for other situations, especially when sharing resources with colleagues and families.

The Easy Way: Linking in Hand

Instead of memorizing these tricks, use the free Linking in Hand tool. Just paste your regular Google share link, and it will instantly generate these special links for you.

Bookmark it for the next time you need to share a template with your PLC or send a read-only PDF to families!

Register for MiStar-Q Academy

MiStar training
Registration is now open for
MISTAR-Q ACADEMY: TEACHER EDITION
Sep 22 – Dec 15, 2025  
 
Teachers are invited to participate in MISTAR-Q Academy Teacher Edition online training.
Working online at your own pace, you will complete activities designed to increase your skill and knowledge of teacher apps including Class Attendance, Grade Book, Seating Chart, reports, and more. This course is especially beneficial for teachers new to MISTAR-Q.
You may earn between 1.0 and 17.5 SCECHs depending on which topics you complete by the end of this 12-week course. At least two topics must be completed to qualify for SCECHs.
QAcad-SCECHs.jpg
Should I register for MISTAR-Q Academy if I previously participated in Monarch?
If you completed Monarch, you completed all content in MISTAR-Q Academy. If you participated in Monarch but did not complete the course, you are welcome to register, but your progress will not transfer from the old Monarch course.
Register here – after registering, watch for emails on Sep 22 with details on how to get started. Registration fee: $0.
This course will be offered again on Jan 19-Apr 13, 2026.

Edpuzzle Updates

edpuzzle logo
edpuzzle logo

Great news for our district! Our Edpuzzle subscription has now expanded to cover K-12!  Edpuzzle offers a powerful alternative for creating engaging video content, including capabilities that can complement or even replace some functions of Canvas Studio. You can easily upload your own video files from your computer, Google Drive, or Canvas Studio directly to Edpuzzle, supporting various formats like AVI, MOV, and MP4, as long as they are under 1 GB in size. Beyond just uploading, Edpuzzle allows you to create screencasts using its Chrome extension’s screen recording function. What’s more, you can transform any video into an interactive lesson by embedding questions. This includes videos you’ve uploaded yourself, or content from YouTube – simply paste a YouTube URL into the Edpuzzle search bar to start editing.

For those already familiar with Edpuzzle, we’re excited to highlight some fantastic new features designed to enhance student engagement. You can now create gamified quizzes (like Kahoot and Blooket) by adding points and a Leaderboard, allowing students to complete them individually or in Live Mode. Additionally, Edpuzzle supports interactive Slides (like Nearpod and Peardeck), enabling you to assign engaging presentations where you can even add questions along the way. These new tools offer dynamic ways to enrich the learning experience. For more detailed information on setting up and utilizing Edpuzzle, be sure to check out the first draft of our P-CCS Guide and the NotebookLM.

Prepping Your Canvas Course for the New School Year

We’re excited to let you know that your Canvas courses will soon be visible and ready for action. Canvas is designed to simplify your teaching journey and provide you with a user-friendly platform to engage with your students, organize course materials, and foster a dynamic learning environment.

Course Template

To assist you in creating an engaging and effective online learning space, we’ve prepared comprehensive resources for the course template. These resources include step-by-step guides, video tutorials, and best practices for setting up your Canvas courses. Whether you’re a seasoned Canvas user or a first-timer, these tools will ensure that you’re making the most of Canvas’s features. Using the Canvas template ensure students and families have a more consistent experience in Canvas.

locate all courses

Locating Courses from Past Years

Looking for courses from previous years? Rest assured, they may not be on your dashboard, but they are still there. If you navigate to https://pccsk12.instructure.com/courses and scroll to the bottom of the page, you’ll see such courses under “Past Enrollments.” Past enrollments (such courses) are in read-only format. If you would like to make some edits and updates to your course(s) for current or future usage do the following. Click on the course under Past Enrollments, go to Settings on the Course Navigation Menu and click the “Copy this Course” button.

copy course option

Import Previous Content

You can easily copy previous Canvas courses into your 25-26 course shell. However, if you have been keeping the same content from year to year, some unused content might be slowing you down. Below, you will find steps to import Canvas content into your new course shell (once generated automatically through the MiStar integration).

Getting Started with Canvas

Just getting started with Canvas or wanting to start anew? Check out this Canvas Quick Start Guide.  It has links to crosslisting directions, template homepage information, button templates, and more!

Crosslisting Guide

When you have taken time to update the homepage and import previous content, you might not want to repeat those steps for multiple sections on the same course. If that is the case, take a look at the crosslisting guide. This will allow you to only update one course and the changes will be reflected in all sections.

Publish Your Course(s)

You must publish your course in order for it to be visible for students and families. Rest assured, students cannot view course content until the term starts (check this under the course settings). Avoid unnecessary emails from students and families and set yourself a reminder to publish!

Canvas Studio Discontinued

As a reminder, Canvas Studio has been discontinued for the district. You have until November 30 to download videos and update videos linked via Studio in your course. Please note that the download option will not appear for videos that are connected to outside media resources, such as Youtube or Vimeo. Also, video quizzes will only download the video content and not quiz questions. Do NOT create new Canvas Studio content as it will not be available after November 30.

If you need assistance with any of these steps, please submit a tech ticket.

Summer Learning Opportunities

Summer vacation is around the corner. If you feel the like taking part in some free learning opportunities, here’s a list of offerings to check out:

  • Tri-County AI Collaborative Professional Learning Network is taking place next school year but applications are due June 6. It will require administrator support for substitute costs. Information Flyer and Application
  • Shake Up Learning Summer Series: This asynchronous video course hosted by Kasey Bell is available from June 3-July 24. Find out more.
  • REMC continues to offer free courses all summer long. Professional Learning – REMC Home
  • Get Started with Google AI in K12 Education Learn more about how to use Gemini to support your work and productivity.
  • Lumio Palooza: As mentioned last week, all teachers have been provisioned with Lumio accounts. While this program is designed to enhance Smartboards, it can still be used on existing technology in your classroom. Learn more about it Jul 15-16. If you can’t attend, recordings will be available. Lumio Palooza July 2025
  • Classwize Training for Teachers: Classwize, our digital classroom management tool is offering several sessions this summer to help you maximize your use and learn more about the newest features. All sessions are the same so you only need to register for one. Linewize Learning Resources – Classwize
  • Check out Wayne RESA’s Summer Learning Blitz for August for free learning opps.

 

Get Ready to Transform Your Lessons with Lumio!

introducing lumio

We are thrilled to announce that all secondary (elementary teachers already have access) teachers will soon receive access to Lumio by SMART, a powerful web-based learning platform designed to elevate engagement and streamline your workflow. Lumio effortlessly transforms your existing content into dynamic, engaging learning experiences on any device.

Lumio allows you to import, combine, and edit pages from your PDFs, Google Slides, PowerPoint, and  SMART Notebook files into a single lesson, adding only the pages you want to make your lessons flow from start to finish. You can also save time by browsing through thousands of FREE customizable, ready-made resources created by teachers for teachers in the Lumio library.

The platform is packed with features designed to engage students, including game-based activities like Match ‘Em Up, Super Sort, and Monster Quiz, which can be customized in minutes to get students excited about content and gauge understanding. You can also create individual or collaborative Workspaces from any lesson page, allowing students to contribute in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class to build understanding together. Tools like Shout It Out! enable instant brainstorming and discussions, capturing student ideas in one space.

Lumio is a perfect complement to the new SMART Board MXv5 or v4 displays that some of you may have. You can open your Lumio lesson files directly from the display, eliminating the need to connect your computer. You can deliver Lumio lessons live in the iQ whiteboard on the SMART Board. When you sign in to your SMART display with your school account, your Lumio lesson files can sync directly to the display.

However, you absolutely do not need a SMART Board to use Lumio! Lumio works seamlessly with any existing technology. Teachers can launch their Lumio lesson from any device (laptop, tablet, interactive display). Students can join with any device that has a browser, such as Chromebooks, iPads, or even a phone. Instead of students solely looking at one large display, they can access everything they need directly on their own devices. Lessons can also be set to be self-paced and can be assigned through Canvas.

Starting next week, you will receive a welcome email from Lumio, followed by 4 additional follow-up emails over the coming weeks. These emails will guide you through getting started and exploring the possibilities with Lumio.

Lumio is accessible from the Google “Waffle.”

Get ready to save time, enhance your lessons, and increase student engagement with this versatile tool! Lumio is designed to maximize every student device and create rich, collaborative learning experiences.

We are excited for you to explore Lumio and see how it can support your teaching practices and student learning!

Important Update: Canvas Studio Discontinued for 25-26 School Year

Canvas Studio discontinued

For Canvas users, please note this important change regarding Canvas Studio. Effective for the next school year, Canvas Studio will be discontinued.

This decision comes as we’ve recognized the abundance of powerful and versatile video creation and storage tools already available within our Google ecosystem. These tools offer similar, and in many cases, enhanced functionality compared to Canvas Studio. See, for example, our past blog posts about Google Vids and Screencast in Google Slides.

What This Means for You

If you have videos (made by you) currently stored in Canvas Studio that you wish to retain, you will need to download them. Otherwise they will be lost when our access ends at the end of August. We recommend saving these videos to your Google Drive, where they can be easily organized, accessed, and shared. Videos imported from YouTube or other sources cannot be downloaded.

Key Steps:

  1. Download Your Videos: Please download any videos you want to save from Canvas Studio by August 31, 2025. Our allocated storage of studio files will be cleared on September 1, 2025 and consequently none of our stored videos will be retrievable on, or after, that date. 
  2. Save to Google Drive: Store your downloaded videos in your Google Drive. Google Drive provides ample storage and integrates seamlessly with the tools you already use.

Link to detailed tutorial.

Important Note for Assignments:

Even though access to Canvas Studio is being discontinued, students will still be able to submit video assignments directly in Canvas. The standard Media Upload option within Canvas assignments will remain available, allowing students to record and submit videos as needed.

We understand this change may require some adjustments, and we are here to support you – if support is needed, please submit a help desk ticket.

Clever Messaging Retiring December 2025

We need to make you aware of an important upcoming change regarding Clever: Clever’s messaging feature will be retired in December of 2025. This means that after December of this year you will no longer be able to use Clever to communicate with families.

While Clever will continue to be a valuable tool for other functions like access to district/teacher resources/links,please plan to transition your family messaging to an alternative tool for the 25-26 school year. To ensure a smooth transition and continued strong communication with our students’ families, our district has already made the following messaging systems available for you:

If you have any questions or need any support please put in a tech ticket for Instructional Technology Coaching.

 

New: Building Blocks in Google Slides

If you are like me, you may find yourself jumping for joy when you check out this new feature of Google Slides: building blocks. With little effort, you can upgrade the visual appeal, organization and interactivity of your slides.

where to find building blocks in Slides

Look at the variety of collections available, add them to your slide with one click.

categories of building blocks

Not only can it improve your slide decks, there are also lot of possibilities for student creativity and creation. Find more ideas for student projects on Matt Miller’s Ditch That Textbook site. https://ditchthattextbook.com/google-slides-building-blocks/

K-12 Digital Privacy: A Teacher’s Guide to Minimizing Student Risk

how to protect student data privacy

The Digital Tightrope: Balancing Tech and Student Privacy

We live in an age where technology is integral to education. From online learning platforms to digital tools that enhance classroom engagement, the benefits seem endless. However, educators must navigate a critical challenge: balancing the use of these technologies with the imperative to protect student digital privacy.

The Rising Tide of Digital Surveillance

It’s no secret that online activity is increasingly monitored. Government agencies and tech companies employ sophisticated methods to track and analyze online behavior, and students are not exempt. In fact, they may be particularly vulnerable. As educators, we must understand that the digital tools we use in the classroom can contribute to this landscape. Each platform students are required to sign up for:

  • Increases the amount of their data collected.
  • Presents complex terms of service that are hard to understand.
  • Creates more opportunities for data breaches.

Why Privacy Matters: More Than Just “Being Safe Online”

The implications of a student’s online presence go far beyond what they might realize. A single social media post, taken out of context, can have long-term consequences for their academic and professional future. We also need to consider the immediate impact on their well-being. Requiring students to juggle multiple online accounts can lead to:

  • Digital fatigue and overwhelm.
  • Wasted time spent on account management rather than learning.
  • Inequitable access for students lacking resources.
  • Eroded trust in the technologies we use.

Protecting Our Students: A Call to Action for Teachers

As teachers, we have a significant role in safeguarding our students’ digital well-being. This goes beyond basic internet safety; it requires a critical examination of our own practices. Here’s how we can make a difference:

  • Less is More: Before introducing a new platform, ask yourself: Is this absolutely essential? Are there alternative ways to achieve the same learning outcome? Does the district already pay for a tool that meets the same goal?
  • Prioritize Integrated Tools: Opt for learning management systems (Canvas LMS) or platforms that offer a variety of features in one place, rather than requiring multiple sign-ups. Ask your TIS, can Canvas do…?
  • Consider the Big Picture: Coordinate with colleagues and the tech department to minimize the total number of platforms students must use across all their classes.
  • Be Transparent: Explain to students (and parents) why a particular platform is necessary and what measures are in place to protect their data.
  • Empower Students: Teach students how to manage their online accounts responsibly, including creating strong passwords and understanding privacy settings.

Partnering with Your Technology Department

It’s important to recognize that school technology departments are also grappling with these issues. They are often tasked with both promoting innovative technology use and ensuring student data privacy. To navigate this balance effectively, reach out to your district’s tech integration specialist. They can provide valuable guidance on:

  • What platforms the district has already purchased or recommends.
  • Which tools align with district privacy policies.
  • Best practices for integrating technology in a safe and responsible manner.

By adopting a mindful approach to technology integration and collaborating with your technology department, we can harness its power without compromising our students’ privacy. Let’s work together to create a digital learning environment that is both effective and safe.