Google Tools for Schools eHandbook Volume 2 Updated July 31, 2013
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Volume 2 of Google Tools for School eHandbook features the skillbuilders for Google Apps core services.The following Skillbuilders were created to accompany the Google Tools For Schools professional development series. They are not stand alone modules, but can be used as resources and reference for participants who have completed these modules. Please do not distribute this ebook to participants who have not participated in Google Tools For Schools professional development. Google Tools for Schools SkillBuilders have been organized to into 5 sections Overview which introduces the tool and includes online resources to READ and WATCH Practice Section which gives you a quick exercise to PRACTICE with that gives you a sense for how this tool can be used Challenge Section which coaches you into trying CREATING something NEW using this tool Dig Deeper Section which includes resources for more advanced features of this Google Tool Going Mobile offers you some tips and tricks for using this Google Tool with mobile tools
Google Docs Skillbuilder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Google Presentation Skillbuilder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Google Spreadsheet Skillbuilder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Google Draw Skillbuilder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
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Google Tools SkillBuilder ~ Google Docs Students who master this Google Tool will ● ●
KNOW how to use a shared Google Docs UNDERSTAND the power of using Collaborative documents synchronously and asynchronously ● DO: Add formatted text to a Google doc and make a comment on a Google doc
Google Docs offers a text editor that allows you to collaboratively edit a text document. Not only can several people edit the same document, but you can also view the revision history of the document. Google keeps adding more formatting features to increase the word processing functionality, along with new features (such as commenting and research) that extend its functionality beyond word processing. Let’s get started learning more about Google Docs.
Read
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Google Docs Basic Formatting Google Docs Add and Reply to Comments
Watch
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Introducing a New Google Doc Creating a Google Doc
Do
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Add text to a shared Google Doc Add a Comment to a shared Google Doc Create your own Google Doc Share the Google Doc with 4 classmates Collaborate to brainstorm a list of ways you could use Google Docs in the classroom
Why
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Google Docs can be used professionally to collaborate with colleagues ● Improve the efficiency and the quality of the workflow with your students directly (i.e. writing process) ● Check out more examples of teachers and students using Google Docs
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What Am I Good At? Step 1: Use the Read/Watch Resources to learn more about Google Docs cloud based collaborative word processor. (read about basic formatting and adding comments) Step 2: ● ● ● ●
Log into your Google Account using either Google Chrome or Firefox Open (Click on) the your GTFS Class Shared Folder Open the the following file: Google Tool ~ I’m Good At Doc Type a couple phrases into this Collaborative Google Doc that completes the prompts (typed in RED) Play with colors and fonts as desired.
Step 3: ●
Note the comment written on the right hand side from our instructor If you don’t see a Comment there. Click on the COMMENT button in the upper right hand button. Someone might have hidden the comment by hitting the Resolve button. A comment can be unhidden by unresolving it. ● Click on Reply at the bottom of the comment to answer the question in the comment.
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Question Storming with Google Docs ●
Identify 5 or more members of this class and form a small group.
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One of you should create a NEW Document and name it “GTFS 2013 Questionstorming Team Name..
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Each of you should SHARE the document with 1 other team member, until all team members have the document in their doc list. The last member should share it with your instructor. Make sure that each team member knows how to share a document. (This is your chance to EACH practice this skill and get help if you need it, since we will use this feature frequently in this course). Don’t forget to share it with your instructor and change the visibility to your classmates can view the document.
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Start creating a collaborative list of questions that can help you imagine the school you work in as a better place to learn. Each suggestion needs to be phrased in the form of a question. (i.e. What if there were no bells?) If you have not used questionstorming before, you may want to read more about here.
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When you are done with your list. Change the visibility of the document to “ANYONE With the LINK”. . Each of you should Copy and paste the web address/URL of the document in your individual column of the Collaborative Class List. (New Web Address/URL will now replace what was your Team Name. Here are a few Screenshots to guide you with your Share Settings.
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Troubleshooting tips: Make sure you are logged into the correct Google Account. If something doesn’t work correctly, try doing this same tasks in a different browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox.
Examine the DOCS Resources below to learn more about Google Docs Create a Document that uses one or more advanced feature Make the document viewable to anyone with the link Invite your instructor as a collaborator that can EDIT your Document Allow a few of your classmates to add comments to the document Post the Link Address in our GTFS Virtual Studio/Checklist You can learn more about advanced features ● from the Google Documentation ● from other Google Users ● New Features Blog ● Change the default font style
Try to locate information that will help you ● ●
Use INSERT Comments to add comments to the document. Examine the Revision History of this document
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● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Try the New Research Feature Download the document onto your local computer so you have your own copy Change the Paper Size to Landscape and change the margins Practice Inserting Images in the document Add a hyperlink in your document Change the linespacing to double spacing Adding Footers and Headers for MLA type papers Creating a Table of Contents in Google Docs Use Google Docs Templates or Create your own
Explore and Practice advanced features of Google Docs Those with Stars are some of our favorites
Documentation from Google ●
Create, edit, and format ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Add titles, headings and customize the style of your document Create, name or delete a Google document Edit and format a Google document Save your Google Docs Copy and paste in Google Docs Change the font in a document
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**Using bookmarks in a document **Table of contents in documents
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Righttoleft text editing Paint format tool Using Google Docs with a screen reader Copy a Google document Upgrade a document to the new version of Google documents
Tools ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Keyboard shortcuts for Google documents Revision history Search a document with find and replace Spell check and automatic corrections Define a word Word count Translate a document Mathematical equations Export Google Notebook data to Google Docs
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**Research tool
Insert items
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○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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**Insert a link into a document **Insert an image **Comments in documents Headers and footers Add footnotes to a document Insert a drawing into another doc type
Page settings and printing ○ ○ ○
Print and print preview Full screen mode and compact controls Page setup
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**Pagination and page breaks Page numbers and page count Zoom settings in Google Docs
Advanced Tips: ●
Changing the Default Font in Google Docs
Learn more about Google Mobile at http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/
Download Free Google Search App and use it to access Google Docs It can be used to make basic changes on a Google Doc.
Create an icon to access Google Docs via Safari on your home screen. Video Tutorial by: Kyle Henderson Review the following resources ● Google Docs Mobile: (text and video) ● Read/Write Web Review ● Google Search App video ● Google Goggles Video ● Google Search Learning Independence
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Google Tools Skillbuilder ~ Google Presentation Student who master this challenge will ● ●
KNOW how to use a shared Google Doc Presentation UNDERSTAND the power of using Google Presentation for more than ‘presenting’ (use them as Collaborative index cards) documents synchronously and asynchronously ● DO: Add text and multimedia to a slide in a Google Presentation
Google Presentation allows you to create collaborative slideshows. But these slideshows can be used for much more than presentations. The slides can be used as storyboards, book builders, graphic organizers, exit cards, digital chart paper, and many additional uses along with presentations. Let’s get started exploring Google Presentation.
Read
Watch Do
Why
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● Google Presentation Tutorial ● Google Apps Training Center Presentation ● The most awesome 450 page presentation ● Introducing a New Google Presentation ● Google Presentation Tutorial ● ● ● ●
Add an image or video to your slide Add a hyperlink to your slide Add text to notes Browse other slides
● Google Presentation can be used by teachers and students to create slideshows for presentation. [Our Favorite Playground Activity] ● Use Google Presentation as a book authoring tool for younger children. [Firetruck Stories]
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● Assign a group summary card for small group discussion. ● Curate and Collaborate with colleagues remotely Bonnie Collects Ideas Using Presentation ● Check out more examples of teachers and students using Google Presentations
Step 1: Use the Read/Watch Resources above to learn more about Google Presentations cloud based collaborative slideshow tool. (read about basic formatting and adding images and videos) Step 2: ● ●
Log into your Google Account using either Google Chrome or Firefox Open GTFS Passion Presentation located in your class shared folder.
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Read the directions in slide 2 and 3 and complete the steps in those directions on the Slide that was assigned to you.
Step 3: ●
View the slides of your colleagues. Add comments to a couple slides. Try to pick slides that have not yet been commented on.
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Form a Team with some of your colleagues. Put the name of your team in your Virtual Studio space next to Google Presentation Challenge. Create a collaborative presentation that shares different ways that you could use a Google Tool that you have learned about so far in teaching and learning.
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One of you should create a NEW Google Presentation and name it GTFS Challenge PresentationsTeam Name. Change the visibility of the document to Anyone With the Link can comment. Add the URL to the collaborative checklist. Also share the presentation with your instructor as editor.
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Each of you should SHARE the document with 1 team member, until all team members have the document in their Google DRIVE shared with me list. The last member to receive the document should share it with your instructors. (Please do not have one person share the document with all. Let’s give everyone the opportunity to practice ‘sharing’). After you have shared the Presentation with a colleague put the URL to the presentation in the Collaborative spreadsheet next to your name. This will give others a way to see who else is waiting for the presentation to be shared with them. Keep an eye out to make sure your colleague passes the ‘sharing’ baton and ‘encourage’ them if they need encouragement or pass it on to someone else if necessary.
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As a group, create a title slide and put the name of each team member on the title slide. Next each member should create a slide and add to that slide a way to use Google Docs or Google Presentation in teaching and learning. Make the slides visually appealing using some of the tips you learned about making Google Presentation.
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Each of you should Copy and paste the web address of the document in the appropriate column name for this exercise in your Virtual Studio Space. Note that if you copy the URL when you are viewing a specific slide in Google Docs it will bring the view to that slide. Try capturing the URL of the Presentation from one of the slides you created. It will look something like this fake URL https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1p5MfNX_w_fhnQys2HQU/edit#slide=id.g4bbe68ee_0_75
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Try using Presentation for other creative uses other than (presenting) For example: Create a story that has a title, Beginning, Middle and End using Google Presentation and export it as a PDF and print it in Booklet format. Consider uploading it to Issu or other book publishing tool. Look at some of the Google Presentation templates and create certificates for your students. Create a collaborative presentation in Google Presentation and upload it to VoiceThread. Or challenge yourself to explore Google Docs Presentation Help to learn one of the more advanced techniques such as adding animations
Presentations ●
Create, edit, and customize slides ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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Insert shapes, images, and other objects ○ ○ ○ ○
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Insert and arrange text, shapes, and lines Insert a video or an image into a slide Insert, format, and edit tables in a slide Insert word art into a slide
Tools and animations ○ ○ ○ ○
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The new version of Google presentations Insert, duplicate, and delete slides Organize slides Import slides from another presentation Copy and paste in Google presentations Customize a slide with layouts and themes Format text and objects on a slide Customize slide transitions Comment on a Google presentation
Keyboard shortcuts in Google presentations Add animations to a slide Revision history Zoom in and out of a slide
Preview, present or print a presentation ○
Zoom settings in Google Docs
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○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Add and view speaker notes View or show a completed presentation HTML view Embed a presentation in a website Print a presentation
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*** Example Our Favorite Playground Activity Video Google Presentation basics Topics: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
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How do you start a Google Presentation? How do you save a Google Presentation? How do you add a new slide? How do you delete a slide? How do you change layouts? How do you add a picture to a slide? How do you add text to a slide? How do you add a video to a slide? How do you add animation to a slide? How do you add transitions between slides?
Google Presentation Basics Handout
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/ Currently Google Presentations cannot be edited using mobile devices, but they can be viewed and the viewing works quite well. This is a great way to a student to see the directions and resources you are viewing on their device. There is something about the being able to review the resources and see it closer that makes learning more personal. Students can also take screen shots of specific slides or save the presentation on their device. Students can use a variety of Mobile Apps to create an image that can be shared as an image that can be shared with an editor of Google Presentation using a desktop version of Google Apps Most classrooms have a personal computer that can be used in conjunction with mobile devices.
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Consider embedding a Google Presentation Slideshow into your webpage, that students contribute to by sending images or movies from their mobile devices. Many Apps can be used to Open your Google Presentation locally on your mobile device when accessed through the Google Drive App. If you have create using a slide deck for students to download locally, they can open it in Notability, Explain Everything, annotation aps, etc. This will not allow them to collaborate in real time, but it will give them a saved copy that they can mark up. Other Tools like Keynote can be saved in a format that can be uploaded to Google Presentation. Tools like Cloud on or Live on can also use a Powerpoint version of a slideshow that can be exported to Powerpoint or a version that can be uploaded to Google Presentation. Quick Office and Office HD can be used to create, edit, and upload Google Presentations into Google Docs.
Download Free Google Search App and Google Drive and use them to access Google Docs. Note that at this time, Google Spreadsheet and Docs are editable using these apps, but Google Presentation are still view only. Download Google Drive App View your Google Presentation
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Google Tools Skillbuilder ~ Spreadsheets Students who master this challenge will ● ●
KNOW how to use a shared Google Doc Spreadsheet UNDERSTAND the power of using Google Spreadsheet for collecting and organizing data and creating graphs ● DO: Add numbers as collaborative data into a Google Spreadsheet and create a chart/graph with the data
Google Spreadsheet allows you to collect and organize data (text and numbers) into columns and rows, add formulas, graphs, and create rich visualizations of your data and to do it all collaboratively with others. Whether it be a simple vocabulary list or a complex financial analysis, Google spreadsheet helps you stay organized and make databased decisions.
Read
If you are NEW to Spreadsheet, read the following Section. ● ● ●
Getting Started with Google Spreadsheet The BASICS Create Charts/Graphs with Spreadsheets Comprehensive Google Spreadsheet Reference (for Google Certified Trainer Exams) ● Spreadsheets in the classroom
Watch
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Do
● Add data to a collaborative Google Spreadsheet
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Introduction to Google Spreadsheet (1 min) Google Spreadsheet Video Tutorial (8 min 2011) Share a Google Spreadsheet Insert a chart into a Google Spreadsheet
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● View data and graph/charts grow as data is entered ● Create your own spreadsheet and graph
Why
● Google Spreadsheet can be used by teachers and students to create organize data (text and numbers) ● Check out more examples of teachers and students using Google Spreadsheet
Step 1: Use the Read/Watch Resources above to learn more about Google Spreadsheet cloud based collaborative spreadsheet Step 2: Please purchase/obtain a standard size pack of plain M&M’s to prepare for this activity and count the number of M&M’s of each color in the package. ● ● ●
Log into your Google Account Open the File called M&M Fun from your class Shared Folder Pick an unused row and add your first name to column A. Do not select a row that has been claimed by someone else.
Step 3: Enter a comment in Response to the Prompt “Predict the most popular” M&M color Step 4: Enter data in the Row that corresponds to your name that tallies the number of M&M’s you have of each color in your M&M packet. Step 4: Examine the Graphs that were created to visually represent this data by clicking at the bottom of the spreadsheet. Add your M&M count to these spreadsheets and notice the different ways data can be organized to create graphs. Read and Watch resources related to creating Graphs Spreadsheets. Notice, how we organize our Virtual Studio / Checklist information in a Google Spreadsheets throughout this class. Look for examples of how other students and teachers use Google Spreadsheets.
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Create your Own NEW Spreadsheet that only has the data from YOUR pack of M&M’s. Add 2 different types of graphs that visually displays your data. Change the spreadsheet VISIBILITY Settings so that ANYONE can see the Link. Share the Spreadsheet with EDIT rights with your instructors AND another Google Account you use. (The purpose of this is so that you can add data to a spreadsheet from either Google Account yet only one is the OWNER of the Spreadsheet) Make sure you can edit it from BOTH of your Google Accounts. Practice adding data while logged into each of these accounts. (I WOULD SUGGEST that you open your different accounts in different browsers. Use Google Chrome for one or Google Firefox for the other. Finally when you are DONE this assignment, copy the URL (web address) of the spreadsheet and paste it in our Virtual Studio / Checklist next to your name.
Troubleshooting tips: Avoid using Internet Explorer if possible. Try doing this in a different browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox.
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(Point to a task or lesson for those who want to explore further and go beyond awareness level of skill using this tool) Look at some of the Google Spreadsheet templates and find a spreadsheet template that would be useful for you as an educator or for your students. Read about a couple of our favorite Spreadsheet features. ● ● ●
Lisa Notification Lucie Conditional Formatting (example) Elizabeth Graphs into Docs/Sites
If you are NEW to Spreadsheet, read the following Section. Spreadsheets in the classroom Enter data into spreadsheets About sheets Create and publish charts If you are already a confident user of Spreadsheets in general, also explore the rest of the sections of Chapter 4: Spreadsheets and take note of some of the advanced features of Google spreadsheets. You may want to use some of these in your final project. • Share and collaborate spreadsheet data • Useful functions and formulas • Manage spreadsheets • Analyze spreadsheet data Or find a Spreadsheet feature for Google’s spreadsheet documentation that you are not familiar with yet and build on your knowledge. ●
Spreadsheets settings, views and printing ○ ○ ○ ○
Zoom settings in Google Docs About spreadsheet views Print a Google spreadsheet Change locale, date format and currency settings
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○ ○
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Create, edit, and format ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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Notifications Keyboard accelerators, mnemonics, and shortcuts Spellcheck Using date picker
Work with data ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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Protecting sheets from being edited Copy, reorder, and delete sheets Add and delete rows or columns Move rows and columns Change row height and column width Freeze or unfreeze columns and rows Hiding rows and columns Draganddrop cells and rows Hide a sheet from view
Tools ○ ○ ○ ○
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Find and replace in spreadsheets Edit and format data in Google spreadsheets Enter links in a Google spreadsheet Copy and paste in spreadsheets Copy a Google spreadsheet Insert images into a spreadsheet Import data sets and spreadsheets Create a series of numbers Add and delete comments Merge cells Format numbers, dates, and currencies Using Google Docs with a screen reader Paint Format Tool
Work with sheets, rows, and columns ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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Righttoleft text editing Save your Google spreadsheets
Range names Sort a spreadsheet Filter your data Use data validation Create an incell dropdown list Autofill Apply conditional formatting rules Work with tabdelimited (tsv) format Creating and editing pivot table reports Gadgets Use the Solve function
Functions and formulas
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○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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Google spreadsheets function list Add formulas to a spreadsheet Formula autocomplete Quick Sum Reference data from other sheets
Create and edit charts ○ ○ ○ ○
Getting started with charts Creating, editing and deleting charts Exporting, publishing, and embedding charts Chart types
Google Spreadsheets does work on a mobile device, but the inteface might be slighly different than you are use to. Test the look and feel of Google Spreadsheet using the Google Drive App, then compare it to the look and feel using Safari (or the mobile site). You might find that one interface appeals to you most. Depending on the bandwidth you have and the method you are using, you may be only able to edit each row, one at a time. Read more about using Google Spreadsheet on a mobile device and then try editing the data on your own M&M spreadsheet using a mobile device. It takes a little practice.
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Google Tools Skillbuilder ~ Google Draw Students who master this Google Tool will ● ● ●
KNOW how to use Google Drawing Tools UNDERSTAND the power of representing concepts visually DO: Add Create Webbased graphics
Google Drawing is a webbased graphiccreation tool. If you have experience with Microsoft Word, this tool acts just like the “Drawing” toolbar in that software. You can create text boxes, word art, shapes or graphics, or lines in various colors and design styles. You can also incorporate web images by copying and pasting, or linking from existing images. Once you have a drawing, you can use it in any of your docs, presentations, or websites, or download it to use offline. This graphic (illustrating the Engineering Design Cycle) was created in Google Drawing.
Read
Google’s description of the Drawing tool. How Students use Google Draw for Infographics (step by step) Review from the Cool Tools website
Watch
Introduction to Google Drawinga great overview.
Do ●
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Add to a collaborative drawing
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(suggestion: partner with a colleague, create a drawing, and share it so you can work on it simultaneously)
Create a flow chart (incorporating clipart) ● Create a graphic organizer or custom graphic ●
Why ●
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Drawing allows students to represent ideas and demonstrate their understanding using multiple modalities of learning Drawing allows you to represent ideas visually. Check out this step by step tutorial in How Students use Google Draw for Infographics Each drawing can be created collaboratively and used in many webbased applications Google Draw is one possible tool to support the use of infographics in education Educators can share Drawing Templates such as this “Historical Facebook” or graphic organizer
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Social Media and Learning
Explore this infographic on Social Learning. Open the GTFS Draw Social Media Infographic Master from your class GTFS Shared Folder. In a small group create a collaborative drawing that visually depicts what social media platform your group uses? Use the comment features to share ways to use social media for teaching and learning. HINTS on how do this. (Feel free to be as innovative as you want to complete this activity) Add a shape. Type your name in it. Make a Copy of the Social Media Platform icon you most enjoy using. Click on it. COPY. PASTE Drag the icon on top of the shape with your name on it You might need to Right Click and select ORDER to put the right layer on top. What if my Favorite Platform is not included in the icons pictured here? Feel free to find and different icon using Google Images, Right click, copy image, paste in our drawing, resize)
Add a Comment sharing an idea of how Social Media could be used for Teaching and Learning?
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Complete the Infographic Challenge and your choice of one other drawing challenges. Paste the URL of your completed Drawing Challenge into the Collaborative spreadsheet. (check visibility so we can all see your handicraft)
The Info graphic Challenge
Learn more about Infographics by exploring http://www.coolinfographics.com/ http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/cooli nfographics/ With a dozen or less members of your class, use Google Draw to Create a Collaborative InfoGraphic that introduces you as a group. When you feel you have successfully completed this assignment change the visibility settings to we all can see it, and paste the URL in the Collaborative spreadsheet. Here is an example from previous years where they organized themselves around roles. You do not have to use the same organizational scheme. Be as creative as you want. Take note of your collaborative process. Use any of the methods you currently have available to collaborate on how you will do this. You can plan or communicate on a Google Doc? You can use email? You can use your new G+ Community? Let’s see how your new online collaborative tools can help you complete this challenge. One of the members of your group should create and share a Blank Google Drawing Canvas with the other members of your group. Each member should contribute to the graphic text and objects.
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The person who created the canvas should also share it with the instructor and make the graphic visible to the public or to the members of the class. Each of you should copy the URL of the infographic to your Collaborative Checklist when you have completed your contribution. It is okay to come back and help rearrange the graphic for visual appeal.
Flow Chart
Create a flow chart diagramming your hobbies (maybe 2 or 3). Have the materials or resources you’d need to participate in this hobby or activity branch off of each one. Add more and more branches as you see fit. Feel free to color code individual ideas to make them stand out.
Brainstorm or graphic organizer
Start with a central ideathe name of your favorite book, movie or TV show. Then, add a list of characters associated with that piece of media. List a few traits for each character branching from their names. Organize this anyway you’d like. Feel free to incorporate images or clip art (try clker.com) to give your brainstorm some visual appeal.
Custom graphic
Using the various drawing tools, create a custom graphic that helps to illustrate an idea (like my Engineering Design Cycle graphic, for example). You can use a combination of text boxes, autoshapes, or clipart to get your idea from words to pictures. Do your best!
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Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, and the Template Gallery removes that obstacle (for you and your students). Google Drawings (as well as many of the Google Apps) allow you to use and share resources in the Template Gallery. This collection of premade items includes Docs, Spreadsheets, Drawings, (and more) that you can use as a starting point. Imagine being able to provide a blank “worksheet” for them to fill in and customize. Please try the following activities to make the most of your Google Drawing experience. ●
Visit the Template Gallery. Find a Drawing template and see what you think. Make adjustments to the boxes, wording, or shapes, and save it for later. Not sure how to do it? Try this video. It’s based on an older version of Google Docs, but the mechanics are the same.
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Create your own template. Creating a template is a pretty straightforward activity. First, you need to create an item to share. In this case, create a Drawing that will allow your kids (or whomever borrows the template) to fill in some blank text boxes or shuffle some shapes around. Make sure you name your drawing. Get back into your Drive list and look at My Drive. Check the box next to your drawing, go to More, and choose Submit to Template Gallery. From here, you’ll just have to fill in a few blanks and you're done. You have the option to share your template with the domain or the public (it all depends how you're logged in/which account you’re using).
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Publish Your Drawing. This really makes things sound fancier than they are. Let me clarify. “Publishing” simply means changing your Google Drawing from a collection of shapes and boxes that can be edited and turning it into a picture. Once it’s a picture, you can stick it into your Google Docs, Presentations, Siteswhatever. It’s as easy as trying
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to print a document. Go to File and Publish to Web. Once there, change the appropriate size settings, and copy the web address (or embed code), and now you have a version of your drawing that can live in your documents.
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The Google Draw function “works” on the iPad if you’re using mobile app and choose “Desktop Version.” However, it’s really clunky and hard to manipulate, so here are a few alternatives. You could use any drawing apps on your mobile device to create graphic elements that can then be added to a collaborative Google Drawing. You could look for HTML 5 sites that allow Collaborative Drawing. Check out a few of the Apps below.
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Idea Sketch for iOS by Nosleep Software
This is a really quick, easy to understand diagramming app. It’s great for creating flowcharts and concept maps, just like you could in Google Draw. The designs are very basic, but the app creates a visual and a text outline for. Each “idea” can be shared in multiple outputs (full idea, diagram, or outline) via email. If you’re interested, read more about the app and get user reviews here.
iTunes app store price: FREE
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Grafio Lite by Ten Touch Ltd. iTunes app store price: FREE
Baiboard Popplet
Copyrighted 2013
Here is another alternative for making flowcharts or diagram maps. This app is pretty interesting. It turns your doodles into graphics. You can draw squares, circles, triangles, or other geometric shapes, and the app automatically creates a “perfected” version of your finger doodle. You can make connections to certain spots by drawing a line between them, or doodling a little arrow. Any shape can be turned into a text box with color. It wouldn’t take long for some creative individuals to make this app work like the freehand drawing tool in Google Draw to create really interesting graphics. Read more or get customer reviews here. If you are looking for Collaborative Whiteboards for drawing together, these two apps might be good choices.
www.GoogleToolsForSchools.org
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