Add an annotation to your YouTube video

If you want some information to stand out in a YouTube video - adding annotations is one solution.

Please watch the embedded 1 minute 36 second YouTube video below. Just remember that annotations do not show up on mobile devices.

Any questions please let me know!
Brad

On an iPhone and want to quickly adjust the brightness of your flashlight?

If you want to adjust the brightness on your iPhone - try the following (if you have the 3D touch).

1. When you see the flashlight app - press firmly.
2. You will then see three different option
1. Low Light
2. Medium Light
3. Bright Light

Below you will see a GIF as well as a 15 second YouTube video (with audio).

Take care,

Brad

How to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint

I was just asked today how to embed a YouTube video in to PowerPoint.

Here are the steps followed by a video below.

1. Under the YouTube video select Share
2. Select embed and copy the code
3. Go in to your PowerPoint
4. Select Insert
5. Select Video and then online video
6. Paste your code in the embed video and select the arrow
7. To make sure it works - play the PowerPoint

Google Docs to Word

I was just asked this very question tonight.

Actually is something that can be done with sheets as well as slides.

Simply open your file and then select

File
Download as
Microsoft Word (or Excel, or PowerPoint)

Below you will see a short video on how to do this as well!

Take care!
Brad

Awesome site for pre-K to 5th grade - ABCYA.com

My daughter Sydney came home talking about this site called Abcya.com 

Abcya offers online games from pre-k to 5th grade sorted by grade level. Games include areas such as math, language arts, social studies, and introduces computer skills in a fun game type atmosphere.

Below you will see a short video my daughter and I created.

Check this site out!
Brad

Best way to start your day with a fun routine - try Scholastic's Daily Starters

Scholastic's Daily Starter website is a great way to start the day. The site provides short and fun math and language arts prompts, as well as teachable moments and fun facts.

Take a look at a sample of what the site looks like.

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Use a form and an add-on to keep track of students checking out and checking in tech

If you have items in your classroom (iPads, Chromebooks, etc) that you want to keep track of who has what - try using Google forms and an add-on called checkitout.

Below you will see a little over 2 minute video on how to create it.

Any questions please let me know!

Brad

Use a Google form for students to sign out books in your classroom library

If you would like an easy way to keep track of the books that are signed out and returnee in you classroom - try using a Google form.

Click here for a direct link to copy a form I have created. It will ask you to make a copy of the form and will be placed directly in your Google Drive.

Below you will see a 1 minute and 23 second video of what the Form looks like. If you are interested in how the form was created, watch the 2nd video.

How to create a Google form for creating a sign out and sign in form. The sound goes in and out a few times - sorry about that.

As always, any questions let me know!

Brad

On a Chromebook - want to caps lock using a shortcut?

Try using Alt + search (search is where a Caps lock is on a notebook).

To take off the caps lock just use Alt + Search again.

Of course you can always just reset the search button to be CAPS lock all the time by clicking here or following below...

So many times this past year I have had kids and adults ask me, 'Where is the Caps lock button on my Chromebook?"

Well, good news/bad news.

Bad news 1st - there is no Caps lock button.

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Good news - there's a way to make one permanently, but I don't think you will. Ok, maybe I'm way wrong - but check this out....

1. You know the little magnifying glass that is where the Caps lock button should be? Click on it. What do you see? That's right - a Google Search button comes up without opening up a new tab - pretty awesome right?

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2. Ok, Brad - that's cool - but how do I make a Caps lock button?
All you need to do is click on ctrl and the search and it will automatically get you CAPS lock. To disable - just click ctrl search again.



Are you old school and just want the Caps lock to be where the Caps lock should be? No worries - go into:
SETTINGS (bottom right of screen) and look under the device settings.
You will see Keyboard Settings - click on that.

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Then, select SEARCH and then make it Caps lock.  Now you have it back - but no "Search" button.


Up to you. Enjoy!
Brad

Improvement to Google voice typing

Earlier this week Google announced improvements to their voice typing. These improvements include inserting links, adding comments, creating and editing tables, as well as highlighting text, stop and start voice typing, as well as edit your document. For the full list of commands (there are a lot) - please click here.

Want to quickly rename a file you are working on in Google Drive?

Simply select the file and then N. So simple and can save those few extra steps.

Readability Grader - great for finding readability level of an online article

Wow - what a great site Richard Byrne discussed on his blog today.

The topic discussed was the ability of a site, Jellymetrics, to determine the readability level of an article. You could post a doc, an article you found on-line, or any number of things.

Take a look at the embedded GIF below followed by a 55 second video below as to how easy it is to use. Hint - if you are going to look at a long article - it makes sense to shrink your screen to get as much as the article as you can. Or, you could copy and paste the long article by grabbing parts of it at a time.

Any questions please let me know!
Brad

iOS10 Widgets - how to edit them

When updating to iOS 10 a nice feature is the "Add Widgets" to keep you up-to-date on items you are interested in quickly. Some of the main items include your calendar, mail, music, photos, reminders, your fantasy football team, and news.

The news feature is one in which some of the items discussed may be borderline in an elementary setting.

If you would like to learn how to remove the widgets, or at least how to edit them to how you would like it - please watch the embedded  45 second YouTube video (with audio) below.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Brad

Need to calculate a tip quickly?

Many of us  remember the pre-Google days with the Seinfeld episode dealing with the "Tip-Calculator" (see below). Jerry and his dad ended up buying a "Willard" tip calculator instead of a "Wizard" calculator for some members of the board at Del Boca Vista.

Well, it is 2016 and Google has had a tip-calculator ready for you to use on your device. Simply type in tip calculator and you have a section to fill in for the bill amount, tip %, and number of people.

See the embedded Gif below to see what it looks like.

Have a great day! Remember to take care of your wait staff!

Google Chrome & Lego - put constructions all over the world!

Feel like a kid again when you buildwithchrome.com. You can use your phone, tablet, or laptop to build a creation and place it all over the world. You can even become a master bricklayer with Build Academy where you face a series of challenges in different locations.

Below is a GIF to give you a quick glimpse into  what the site looks like.

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Enjoy!

Brad

Want to see a graph of how "popular" any words used in books were between 1800-2008?

If you would like to chart the "popularity" of words used in over 5 million books between 1800-2008 - try Google's Nram Viewer.

I have embedded a GIF and 50 second YouTube video below.

Hope you all have a nice day!

Brad

Want to share your Google Form for others to use?

If you created a Form that has worked great and you want to share it with your colleagues, but you are not sure how - please follow the embedded 1 minute 52 second YouTube video below.

It does take a few steps - but it is worth it.

It is Cyber Security Month - Google's 2 minute security checkup

October is Cyber Security Month.

If you have a Google account - it is worth your time to do a security checkup by clicking here or going on to Google and type in "Google Security Checkup".

The checkup will...
check on your recovery information (e-mail and phone)
check your connected devices - and let you know when they were connected
check your account permissions (apps, websites, and devices connected to your Google account)
check your 2-step verification settings (very important)



Hope you all have a nice day!
Brad

Have an iPhone and want to send balloons or fireworks in your text?

If you have updated to iOS 10 and would like to send a text to someone that includes fireworks, balloons, a shooting star, laser type effect, or different bubble effects - check out the 8 second GIF and 45 second YouTube video below.

Have a great day!

Brad

Want to open a specific set of page or pages when you startup on Google Chrome?

If you would like to either change or set a specific page or pages upon startup using Chrome simply follow the directions below, follow the GIF below, or watch the embedded YouTube video with audio.

1. Select the 3 dots in the upper-right of your screen.
2. Select Settings
3. Open a specific page or set of pages
4. Add a new page

Any questions, let me know.

Thanks!
Brad