Keeping track of work in G Suite

From the Google blog:

How many times have you worked in a document only to realize halfway through that you’re editing an outdated version? Beyond being frustrating, this can cause confusion and slow down your project. One of the great things about working in cloud-native tools like G Suite is that everything is automatically saved. You never have to worry if you’re working on the most up-to-date version of a document because your apps do that for you.

But for the times that you need to go back and see changes, it’s simple. Go to File > Version history > See version history and view a complete list of changes to your document in one place. You can restore previous versions of a document there, too.

Another trick is to simply click the text at the top of your navigation bar that says “last edit was…” or “all changes saved” in Google Docs. If you hover over that text, it will actually tell you what the last change to the document was and who made it. Or if you’re returning to a document, you can click “See new changes” and the Doc will highlight edits that have been made since your last visit.

Live from ISTE: 12 Google for Education launches to save time for creativity

From the Google blog:

"On the first day of ISTE, Google for Education gives to you: 12 updates to help teachers save time and spark creativity in their students. By releasing educators of time-consuming tasks, these new features and tools will enhance teachers’ ability to organize courses, increase collaboration with students, and unleash creativity in the classroom."

Check out the full post.

May Issue of Learning, Teaching & Technology Newsletter

You can read the latest newsletter here:
https://spark.adobe.com/page/CR2RdhQ7OF4dk/

Save the Date: Camp Chromebook, June 20, 2018

Join us for Camp Chromebook on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt School in Portland, OR. This is a *free* professional learning opportunity for anyone that is interested in learning more about Google Apps and G Suite for Education tools and how to integrate them into your classroom instruction using best practices and relevant strategies. All levels welcome. Check back for the schedule to see the sessions that will be offered.

Register here for the event to save your spot! You can volunteer to facilitate a session here. Please share with any interested colleagues.

About the camp:

• Will run from 8am - 1pm for a full day of fun.
• Bring your own device (Chromebook or laptop recommended).
• Four session times, each one 55 minutes long.
• Each session time slot will have multiple workshops to choose from, you pick what you want to learn more about.
• Use the hashtag #campchromebook to share your learning.
• PDUs will be available.

New Ways to Comment on Microsoft Files (and More) in Google Drive

From the Google Blog:

"Google Drive makes it easy to store and share files in the cloud so you can collaborate securely with your teams and clients while on the go. And we understand that teams work with all kinds of files and tools to get things done. Starting today, we're making it possible to comment directly on more file types including Microsoft Office files, PDFs and images—without having to convert them into Docs, Sheets or Slides." Read more details at the post linked above.

Clever Badges for K-3

Clever Badges were sent out to all K-3 classrooms right after winter break. The badges are a fast and fun way for K-3 students (sorry, not for staff) to log in to Chromebooks—no typing necessary, allowing instructional time to be saved. TechSmart and Title 1 schools have already been using Clever Badges with great success. This first year, IT has partnered with PPS Libraries to sponsor the printing and distribution of Clever Badges, including lanyards and badge holders, to our remaining K-3 grades at the 33 schools that don’t currently have them. All K-3 staff at each building have the ability to print out new and/or replacement badges and it is expected that after this year, each building will be responsible for printing out their own badges for the new class of incoming kindergartners while transitioning the current student badges to their next grade level. A Clever Badge/IT Outreach pop-up station is available to visit schools to offer support and answer questions about Clever Badges or general IT-related issues. If you are interested in having the pop-up come to your building, please fill out the form and offer three possible dates and times. Once the calendar is finalized, you’ll receive a confirmation message with the date of your visit. If you have questions, please visit the Clever webpage for more information or contact the IT Service Desk at itservicedesk@pps.net or 503-916-3375.

An Update on the Classic Google Sites Deprecation Timeline

Check out this information about how to migrate from the classic version of Google Sites, so you can effectively plan for the eventual shutdown of the classic Sites.