Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts

Leave Audio Comments on Google Drive Files with Kaizena!

Kaizena is a free resource that let's you leave audio comments, text comments or links to resources on Google Docs.  What a great way to give feedback to your students!  Students can share their work with you through their Google Drive account. Then you open the document in Kaizena (on a computer) and quickly and easily record comments.

Here's how to get started:
  1. Go to https://kaizena.com.
  2. Click Connect to Google Drive.
  3. Login to your Google account and click Accept.
  4. Pick a file from “My Drive” or “Shared with Me".
  5. Highlight desired section to add a comment.
  6. On the toolbar that pops up, click the microphone to add an audio comment, click the quote bubble to type comments or click the tag to add a resource (link to video, lesson, game, etc.)
  7. Send the comment to the creator by clicking their name on the left hand side.
  8. Choose to send via Doc Comment.
  9. When the student opens the document, he/she will get a link to listen to or view your comments in Kaizena.  (They will be asked to "Accept" the Kaizena to Google Drive link the first time they connect.)
Note: Kaizena works best on a computer.  Comments can be accessed on an iPad using Safari and "Desktop Version" following these steps:


  1. Open the document
  2. Tap the Edit button
  3. Tap the down arrow button next in the top right hand corner and select "Use Desktop Version".  
  4. Wait for the document to fully load and tap the Comments button.  Ignore the yellow bar warning about an "unsupported browser".
Kaizena will not work within the Google Drive app on an iPad.

    Goo.gl - URL Shortener and QR Creator


    Looking for an easy way to share long URLs with students?  Try http://goo.gl.

    So why should you try Google URL Shortener instead of any of the other URL shorteners like Tiny URL? When you login with your Google ID, Google URL Shortener actually becomes a 2 in 1 tool.  It shortens your URL and creates a QR code all in one step!

    How to use:
    1. Go to http://goo.gl.
    2. Login to your Google account.
    3. Paste a URL into the box and click SHORTEN URL.
    4. Your URL will be shortened into a "goo.gl/____" address on the right hand side of the screen.  
    5. Click DETAILS below the shortened URL to view the QR code.  The code can be copied/pasted to a document or saved with a right-click.
    6. All URLs that you've shortened will be tracked in your main list so you can always go back to access the code.
    Want to learn more about QR codes in the classroom?  Check out our QR code blog post here:  http://gcisdleadwithtechnology.blogspot.com/2012/02/qr-codes.html

    Google Search - Filter by File Type


    Let's say you're looking for a PowerPoint presentation on the American Revolution.  If you just search for "American Revolution", your results would look like this:
    Rather than searching through the millions of results for PowerPoint files, you can use the filetype: operator.  Just type "filetype:ppt" (notice there's no space after the colon) before or after your search terms and your results will look like this:
    The filetype: operator works with lots of filetypes.  Some examples are:

    • PPT- PowerPoint files
    • PDF- Adobe Acrobat files
    • DOC- Microsoft Word documents
    • XLS- Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
    • CSV- Comma-Separated Value files (like Excel spreadsheets)
    • KML or KMZ- Google Earth files
    • SWF- Flash files


    Why would you want to find specific files by filetype?  Here's a few ideas for using filetype searches in the classroom:

    • PPT- Find a good PowerPoint presentation to introduce a new topic to your students.
    • SWF- Find interactive Flash files use with an interactive slate or board in your classroom.
    • PDF- Find free graphic organizers, information sheets or other printables.
    • XLS or CSV- Find data files to use for graphing or data analysis.
    • KML or KMZ- Find already created lesson activities for use in Google Earth.  You'll find everything from Shakespeare to geometry to the Civil War... it's not just for geography!


    Have you used a filetype search to find classroom resources?  Share your ideas in the comments!

    Google Image Search - Filter by Color


    You've probably done a Google Image search before, but did you know that you can also filter the image results by color?  Just scroll down on the image results page and choose the desired color from the color palette in the left hand column.  

    For example, if you wanted a picture of a red car, you could do an image search for the word "car" and then choose the red color box to see only red cars.  

    A good use of this for educational research would be to search for charts or graphs for a particular topic.  Just do an image search for your topic and then choose the white color box.  This works because most graphs or charts have a white background.

    For example, if you want a diagram of a Tesla Coil, do an image search for the word "tesla coil" and then choose the white color box.  

    Regular image search for "tesla coil":

    The same search filtered for the color white:

    How have you used Google Image searches or color filters?

    Using Google Forms


    Google Forms are an excellent way to collect information from students.  Students can fill out the form without having to login to Google so there's no worry about the age of your students and Google's terms of use.

     How to Create a Google Form Helpsheet
    http://gcisdtraining.wikispaces.com/file/view/Google+Forms.pdf/345106966/Google%20Forms.pdf
    (if you don't already have a Google account, you'll need to create a free one before beginning.)   

     80 Interesting Ways to Use Google Forms in the Classroom


     More Resources
    Coppell ISD Site-
    https://sites.google.com/a/g.coppellisd.com/googleforms/

     Google Forms in the Classroom
    http://tbarrett.edublogs.org/2008/08/23/10-google-forms-for-the-classroom/

    Self-Grading Quizzes
    http://www.tammyworcester.com/TipOfWeek/TammyWTechTipOfWeek/Entries/2010/2/15_Tip_81_-_Google_Docs_Self_Check_Quizzes.html

    How to Publish a Quiz Using Google Docs
    http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/01/how-to-publish-quiz-using-google-docs.html

    Google Advanced Search


    Did you know there's WAY more to Google than just typing a word or phrase into the little search box?     

     Try out these cool Google searches: 
    • Calculator‐ just type your equation into the search box 
    • Conversion tool‐ 1 mile in feet, etc. (type into search box) 
    • Dictionary‐ “define:” and then the word you want 
    • Weather‐ “weather” and then the City 
    • Flight‐ Enter the airline and flight number 
    • Movies‐ “movie:” and your zip code 

      Want to learn more? Go to http://www.google.com/help/features.html 

     Have you ever clicked the "Advanced Search" link at the bottom of the search results page? There you'll find a variety of useful searches.  
    https://www.google.com/advanced_search

      "Find pages with..."-  These options will narrow your search by including or excluding specific words or phrases.

     "Then narrow your results by..."- Check out these great options for narrowing results by language, last update, specific site, reading level, file type (.docx, .pptx, .pdf, etc.) or usage rights (copyright free).