Group Tabs in a minute

Helpful minute-long video from Dean Stokes.

[Chromebook] Ctrl + Alt + -

To access every keyboard shortcut on your Lenovo C13 Yoga Chromebook with a Swiss french keyboard, press Ctrl + Alt + -.

The feature, once activated, is built up of several sections:

• Popular shortcuts
• Tabs and windows
• Page and web browser
• System and display settings
• Text editing
• Accessibility

Insert emojis inline with text in Google Docs

Type “@” followed by a descriptor, such as “@smile,” to search for a specific emoji amongst other menu items.

Read more here → workspaceupdates.googleblog.com - Insert emojis inline with text in Google Docs [29 August 2022]

mote.new

The quickest way to start recording audio is to head to mote.new.

Supporting your child getting started on social media

Young people are always looking for the latest app or site to go on, and if they come to you talking about social media there are lots of things to consider.

Here, we will help answer the big questions that parents and carers may have when their child asks about signing up for a new social media app.

childnet.com/blog - Supporting your child getting started on social media [13 September 2022]

Read more here → childnet.com/blog - Supporting your child getting started on social media [13 September 2022]

Padlet - now with email and push notifications

Everyone at Ecolint currently has access to a paid Padlet account. Padlet is an excellent collaboration tool and can be a useful 'front page' for a class, group or department.

Padlet has recently made it possible to follow individual padlets to receive notifications when new posts are added. If you visit a Padlet that you would like to follow and click on the notification 'bell' in the right-hand side tool column - you then have the opportunity to 'follow'.

If you click on the three dots at the bottom left-hand corner of the Padlet home screen → then Settings → then Notifications you have the possibility to control the notifications you generally receive from Padlet as well as the Padlets and individuals you follow.

Read more here → padlet.blog - Stay on top of your Padlet activity with email and push notifications [15 December 2022]

[Chromebook] Use Search + V to paste one of the last five things you copied

Hopefully, we all know Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C, and Ctrl+V for cut, copy and paste actions on not only your Chromebook but on Windows as well (substitute Cmd for Ctrl and these work on a Mac).

If you use Search (the key with a magnifying glass icon on) + V you will see a list of the last five things you copied to the 'clipboard'. You can then use the pointer (mouse or trackpad or touchscreen) to choose what you want to paste. The up and down cursor keys and enter also do the same selection role.

Read more here → support.google.com - Chromebook keyboard shortcuts

Easily see file locations in Google Drive

In addition to seeing a file’s name, owner, modification date, and size, Google added a column to include location information in the Search, Recent, Starred and Trash web views of Google Drive.

This feature makes it easier to differentiate between similarly-named files stored in different locations and find precisely what you’re looking for at a much faster rate.

Read more here → workspaceupdates.googleblog.com - Easily see file locations in Google Drive [1 June 2022]

The Mote Certified Educator Program

As discussed in the last ICT-themed faculty meeting, all educators at Nations Secondary have access to 'full' Mote accounts.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the Mote Certified Educator program. The online self-lead course, which can be paused and rejoined, takes about an hour and is a valuable way to upskill yourself, building on the introduction in the staff meeting.

ChatGPT3 in education

There is a lot being said about OpenAI and ChatGPT and their impacts on education. This podcast from 'The International Schools Podcast' is well worth a listen to help you understand some of the questions being asked about this quickly evolving situation.

Google's Interview Warmup

Google released Interview Warmup this week as part of their Grow with Google programme.

The Interview Warmup is interesting. It poses interview questions, it then transcribes the responses and offers tool to highlight the most-used words, job-related terms etc.

Even if you are not looking for a new job the technologies here are worth a look.

If you still have classic Google Sites take action now!

Google has kept extending the related deadlines but if you still have 'classic' Google Sites now is the time to transition them to 'new' Sites.

The new timeline is:

• Starting December 1, 2022 (previously June 1, 2022): You will no longer be able to edit any remaining classic Sites in your domain.
• Starting January 1, 2023 (previously July 1, 2022): Classic Sites will no longer be viewable unless they are converted to new Google Sites.

Read more here → Google Workspace Updates - Migrate your classic Google Sites before December 1, 2022 [16 May 2022]

Using mote STEM mode

mote enables you to easily leave audio comments/feedback within the Google Workspace for Education tools that we use. These comments can also be transcribed by mote.

For those of you appreciate any equations or compounds in your mote transcriptions to appear nicely formatted mote has 'STEM mode'.

Just enable the Enable STEM Mode and transcription sliders in the mote popup so all your new motes enjoy this feature. To access the mote popup, click on the extension icon in the upper right of your browser window.

If you are wondering about the syntax for equations and compounds is, it's a standard known as AsciiMath.

Read more here → support.mote.com - Using mote STEM mode

Top tips for talking to teenagers about online safety

A useful blog post worth reading titled → Top tips for talking to teenagers about online safety [23 September 2021]

A really good outline of ideas and starting points!

Childnet is a UK-based charity who empower children, young people, and those who support them in their online lives, and its mission is to work with others to make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people.

Their blog is certainly worth following for updates, ideas and resources. You could also follow them on Twitter →

Canopy magazine - for teachers using Google Workspace for Education

Canopy is a Google for Education partner based in the UK. They recently launched a magazine for teachers using Google Workspace for Education (like we do).

You browse the magazine here and sign up for magazine updates and access to download individual articles.

New email draft template in Google Docs

Google have added a new feature to the Smart Chip menu. In Docs type @ and you will now see the option to add an 'email draft' layout.

"You can mention people in the recipient fields using the @ menu without having to remember their email addresses, and collaborate on the message body using comments and suggestions. When ready to send, simply click the button that is shown alongside an email draft. A Gmail compose window will pop up, with email fields (subject, to, cc, bcc, and body) automatically populated based on the email draft in the document."

Read more here → Google Workspace Updates - New email draft template in Google Docs [15 March 2022]

A 'byte sized' introduction to Mote during a departmental meeting

I used the presentation above to structure a 15 minute Essential PD byte session that I lead this week. The aim was to introduce some of the key features of Mote to a department at school - to get them interested in having a go.

If any other departments would like me to come into a meeting and lead a Essential PD byte session - please just ask!

Four conversations to have with older kids and teens about their screen time habits

Common Sense Media - 4 Conversations to Have with Older Kids and Teens About Their Screen Time Habits [15 March 2022] is a useful article focused upon students of secondary age.

The publishing of the article is linked to the release of the The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2021. More about this in the near future.

The launch of 'Essential PD bytes'

What is a 'Essential PD byte'?

A 20 minute long digital skill focused professional development session.

The aim of 'Essential PD bytes' is to offer a range of 'byte' size professional development opportunities for staff at the International School of Geneva - Campus des Nations. Each 'byte' should last no longer than 20 minutes so can easily be an agenda item at a meeting or part of a larger event.

What 'Essential PD bytes' are on offer?

Check out the ever growing list of suggested sessions here.

Mote - voice messaging for the web, integrated into the products we use

Mote - at its simplest - enables you to leave audio comments on a Google Document. So instead of typing feedback as comments - you can leave audio feedback.

We have 'unlimited' subscriptions that we can assign to interested staff so that the audio clips recorded can be 90 seconds long, rather than 30 seconds. If you are interested in benefiting from an 'unlimited' subscription - please contact Richard Allaway.

Using Mote for Google Forms

With Mote for Google Forms, you are able to leave Motes as a question in Google Forms.

We do not have Mote accounts for students - but this is something we are investigating. If you are interested in exploring how your students could use Mote as part of their learning in your subject - contact Richard Allaway.

Read more here → support.mote.com - Help! How do I use Mote for Google Forms? Troubleshooting tips

Using Mote for Google Slides

Mote for Google Slides to be the easiest, most delightful way to record and insert audio content to Google Slides.

Using Mote for Google Slides you could add explanations or instructions as part of a Google Slide deck that other will use asynchronously.

Again - we do not yet have Mote accounts for students. If you are interested in how students accounts would enable them to produce 'new' and different classroom artefacts - contact Richard Allaway.

Read more here → support.mote.com - Help! How do I use Mote for Google Slides? Troubleshooting tips

ManageBac subject pages

ManageBac now has 'subject pages' for IB Diploma and MYP.

Our new Subject Pages for IB Diploma and MYP provide searchable, dynamic, curated support, resources, ideas and unit plans to support IB teaching and learning.

managebac.com/blog/subject-pages

Subject Pages are accessible by Teachers from the Curriculum Tab via the Subject Centre Tile.

Read more here → ManageBac - Subject Pages [23 August 2021]

Cursive - a new note taking app for Chromebook users

Cursive is a new note taking app from Google but it isn't an app store app - it is a web-based 'progressive Web App' and that means anyone (with a Chromebook) can use it now.

It is still 'early' in it's life and I will try and share more about it in the future. If you are a Chromebook user - visit the URL cursive.apps.chrome, unleash your stylus and give it a test drive.

Discover how Google Search works

We all use Google Search - regularly! We rely on it to find the answers to our questions. Seeing we are so dependent upon it maybe we should take an opportunity to learn more about it.

Google has recently updated their 'How Search works' website. It is worth a couple of moments of your time.

Mote - recent updates and developments

Mote is a platform that allows you to record audio comments and the like in Google Workspace applications. For example - if you are commenting upon a student's Google Document you can leave audio comments in the comment boxes - rather than texting.

Staff at Campus des Nations who are interested in giving Mote a try - please let me know and I will sort you out with a subscription.

Mote has made the following recent updates:

• Pause recording in Google Classroom and Google Slides
• iOS app
• Extension and iOS app localization into Chinese, French and other languages. Find out how to switch your language.