6 Possible Things with Google

Recently, I've started the process to become certified by Google - first as a Google Certified Teacher, then a Google Certified Trainer, and hopefully one day have the opportunity to become a Google Certified Educator.

As I go through the process, I'll share a few tidbits that I've discovered along the way. Maybe connected, maybe just interesting, and hopefully some things that will make your life a little easier!

1) If you are composing an e-mail in Gmail and include the word "attachment" in the message and do not attach a file, it will ask you if you want to send without an attachment. How many times have we done that?! A cool new feature.

2) When doing a Google search, you can narrow down the results by reading level (Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced). For example, I did a search for Dorothy Irene Height, an American activist featured on Google's homepage today. If I'm looking for materials to use in my middle school homeroom, I would probably want information at the basic to intermediate level. To find this information, type into the search bar as normal, and when your results come in, click on "Search Tools" under the search bar, and then click on the "All Results" drop-down menu and go to "Reading Level." From there, you can select for which level you would like to see results to read and start discussion on the work of an important (but little-known)
figure in American history.

Reading level options to learn about Dorothy Irene Height

3) Google Images can be a fun and interesting way to see the world, but a little overwhelming if you are looking for something specific. Clicking on "Search Tools" after doing your initial search, you can narrow down the results by size, color, type, time, and (perhaps most importantly) usage rights. After all, we should set a good example for our students by using others' work responsibly and respectfully. Go Digital Citizenship!

Limiting my results to "Labeled for Noncommercial Reuse"

4) Trying to plan a meeting with a group that is constantly on the go? (Just try planning a meeting with a music department that has two teachers at one school full-time and three teachers that teach part of each week at five different schools each!) When you go to add a new event on your Google Calendar and go to "Edit Event," scroll down the page and click on "Find a Time" (in gray). From there, you can invite others to the meeting and if they are colleagues who also use Google Calendar and have shared their calendar with you (even just to view), Google Calendar will find a time at which you are all free to meet.

5) Since YouTube is owned by Google, here's a shortcut for you - in your address bar in Google Chrome, if you start typing "YouTube," Google will recognize the address and auto-complete. Once it recognizes it, hit "Tab," and search for whatever video your are looking for (and eliminate students getting distracted by whatever ad YouTube has featured on their frontpage).

6) Give your students and yourself extra practice researching online with Google-A-Day. (New feature - you can play the basic game without a Google+ account.) Make it a class competition to see who can find it the fastest or compete with other homerooms or class periods for a little team-building. Or just learn a fun fact each day and get really good at researching while you are at it!

What is your one incredibly helpful, fun, or interesting Google Tip you can pass along?