Use Google Keep to stay organized

Back in November I posted an article regarding Google Keep and how it is so much more than just note taking.

Today's post deals with how simple it is to take an article you are reading on the web and store it for later reading using the Keep Extension. While you can certainly store sites to your bookmarks, they are only available on the computer you are using. With Keep, whatever you save is available across all platforms. So, you could read on your mobile device, another computer, etc.

Google Keep is a great site for students to "keep" themselves organized as well. We will re-visit that topic at a later date and time.

Embedded below is a GIF showing how to use the extension as well as a 53 second YouTube tutorial I created.

Enjoy "Keep"ing organized!!!

Brad

Great free extension for recording your screen

Richard Byrne posted some time back about the extension Viewedit. Today I got to take a look at it and it is a nice and simple extension to record your screen for free.

Viewedit (click for Chrome Extension) allows you quickly and easily create and share screencast videos. The extension allows you to record your entire screen, a single tab, as well as incorporating your webcam, or just using your webcam to record yourself.

There are 3 ways to share the video.
1. Through Gmail (this also allows you to see what person watched the video you sent).
2. Through a direct link.
3. Posting to Social Media.

One item to bring up is that the site does not allow you to download the video and share to YouTube.

Embedded below is a GIF to show you what the site looks like as well as a more detailed 2 minute and 12 second YouTube tutorial I created.

Again, thanks to Richard Byrne for mentioning this site on his blog!

Brad

Great money game to check for understanding on ABCYA

My daughter has been working with money in her math class at school and I thought to try and see what ABCYA had to offer. Turns out - they have a great game for money called Learn to Count Money.

Users choose their level and then if they are a beginner or an expert.

A problem is presented to them and they have to drag the correct amount of money onto the mat. If they do - they earn a fish. The goal is to get up to 10 fish in the tank.

Embedded below is a GIF as well as a 51 second YouTube tutorial.

Take care,

Brad

iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Keynote, and Numbers free for all iOS and macOS users!

As of April 18, 2017, if you have an Apple device, the apps mentioned above are now free to download! Click here to be taken to Apple's article on how to download the apps.

Take care,
Brad

Play chess or checkers with Google Drawings

Eric Curts created an awesome post on his site Controlaltachieve about Checkers and Chess in Google Drawings.

Basically all you need to do is click on his template and make a copy.

Once you make a copy, the drawing is all yours to do as you wish. A great way is to share the doc with a friend and the game is on. You can go back and forth playing the game of checkers online.
** If you ever have a questions about someone's last move you can always see revision history to see how the doc has been revised!

Embedded below is a short GIF to show you what the site looks like and below that is a 1 minute and 19 second YouTube video tutorial

Take care!

Brad

Make your Google Slide presentation more fun - add a GIF

If you have ever sat through a Google Slide presentation that included a GIF (animated image) at just the right time, it can really make the presentation even better!

It really is very easy to create.

Below you will see an animated GIF I created to show you how to insert the GIF right into your Slide as well as a YouTube video I created with step-by-step directions.

1. search for your topic

2. select images > tools > type > animated

3. right click on the image > copy image address 

4. enter into your Slide

5. insert image > by url > paste the url > select

Enjoy!

Brad

Name a folder in Google Drive as an emoji 😀

If you would like to either name a folder in Google Drive with an emoji or add an emoji to your folder follow the GIF below. You can also watch the embedded 35 second YouTube video below.

Before you name your folder with an emoji, you will need to have one to copy. I use the Emoji for Google Chrome Extension.

Take care,

Brad

Want to duplicate the page you are on quickly and easily?

If you want to quickly and easily duplicate the web page you are on, if you are on Chrome simply right click on the tab and select duplicate.

This is especially important when you are working on a presentation and want to go back and forth and see what you already have on one slide. Also, it is great when you need to see the top and bottom of the same web page quickly.

To see how to do this - look at the embedded GIF and YouTube video below.

Have a great day!

Brad

Ever wonder how Google Earth's 3-D pictures are so clear, how often do they update, how do they put all the pictures together?

If you have ever been curious about how Google creates such amazing 3-D imagery - please watch this awesome 8 minute YouTube video.

Brad

Want to see a "movie" of how a Google Doc was created?

If you want to see a fast-forwarded version of how a Doc that has been shared with you (or created by you) was written - try using the Draftback extension.

The extension will live in your Doc (upper right area near your name and the blue share button).

Once you select Draftback (# revs)you will then need to select view and you will be taken to a "movie" type look of your Doc.

The playback will be fast, but you can slow it down by selecting play at actual speed. Embedded below is a 20 second GIF followed by a 41 second YouTube tutorial I created.

Take care,

Brad

Pattern Block Templates in Google Drawings (by Eric Curts)

Eric Curts has an amazing post about using pattern blocks in Google Drawings.Not only has he created the pattern blocks for you, but has also created other examples with horizontal and vertical lines  of symmetry, ways to make a whole, perimeter of a garden, biggest and smallest perimeter, tessellations, and create and write about a picture. Below is an example Eric made using the pattern blocks he wrote a story about.

Picture on Eric Curts' blog

Embedded below is a 1 minute and 38 second YouTube tutorial I created showing you what the site looks like.

Hope you and your students enjoy this awesome resource!
Brad

New Google Earth in Chrome Browser just in time for Earth Day!

Google Earth has a brand new version, it is awesome, and it is available in your Chrome browser - yes you can use your Chromebook to use it!!

A few quick items to point out.

• Once you search with the magnifying glass (upper left) you will be flown to the destination and you will see what looks like cards on the right (see picture below).
• Just an FYI the information available is from Wikipedia. 
• You will also see a Bookmark that you can come back to at a later date. 
• Under the Bookmark is points of interest that are available in the destination. 
• To fly to that point of interest, click on the blue circle
• When you fly there and want to see street view - place the little yellow figure and you will see a blue grid show where you can place the figure.
• If you want to share your destination, click on the share icon (left side - on bottom) 
• Can share link in Facebook, Twitter, Google + as well as copy the link.

• If you are feeling lucky and want to travel somewhere "random", click on the icon that looks like a die with a 5 on it.

• If you select the icon that looks like a captain's wheel - this will take you to Voyager and will make National Parks, Galapagos Islands, and Natural Treasures available to you. The example I discuss in the video below takes you to Hawaii and a park ranger discusses lava tubes, among other information.

• The last item to point out is that the settings (top left) will make some changes available to you. The one default to look at is that Units of Measurement are set to meters and kilometers and not feet and miles.

• Embedded below is a 4 minute and 13 second YouTube tutorial I created.

This Google Earth is awesome!

Brad

Font weight options in Google Docs

Recently Google announced that weight options for different fonts would be available. This is a nice feature to have for users that want more options than just bold or plain text.

Below you will see what the font Oswald looks like in size 18 font size followed by how an embedded 19 second YouTube video tutorial.

Take care,

Brad

Combine two or more YouTube videos into one

If you have to or more of your YouTube videos that you would like to merge into one video, embedded below is a 2 minute and 13 second YouTube video as well as the steps.

1. Make sure you are signed into your YouTube account.
2. Select My Channel
3. Select your first YouTube video 
4. Select enhancements
5. Click on Try YouTube Video Editor - you will see the video start to play
6. Numerous options are available
1. The main one to point out is the transition one (looks like a bow-tie)
7. Select your transition
8. Choose another video to add - just drag it into your work area
9. Name your video at the top 
10. Select create video (blue) top right
11. You will receive an e-mail stating that your video is ready

Take care,

Brad

Taking photos and videos with your smartphone

With many people celebrating Easter today (Happy Easter) many will be using their smartphones to take pictures and videos.

I see a lot of people using portrait view when shooting a video at their child's performance or baseball game. Portrait mode is easier because we are all accustomed to holding our phones that way.

 Of course this all depends on the situation, but if you turn your phone to landscape mode it will fill the screen entirely. At first this may feel a bit different, but it will make a big difference when uploading videos and sharing them using YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ etc. 

Below you will see some videos and pictures taken with portrait and landscape view that I took looking out to my backyard. The first video shows both portrait and then landscape view.

Portrait and then landscape view

Portrait Mode - notice how narrow - video will not take up entire screen

Landscape Mode - video will take up the whole screen

Hope you take some great shots!

Brad

Explore the World with your voice and Google's Speak to Go

If you would like to quickly and easily explore different places throughout the world - try Google virtual reality experiment - Speak to go with Google.

Q: How do you use the site?

A: Simply enter in the url - click the spacebar and tell Google where you would like to go.

Honestly, it is that easy. If you have Google Cardboard (roughly $10-15 on Amazon) it is a richer experience than on a desktop or notebook.

Embedded below are two pictures of the White House. The first one is from when I said, 'White House" and the second one is when I said, "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C.)

Embedded below is a 1 minute and 11 second YouTube tutorial I created. 

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Brad

In Google Drive and need to see the latest activity on your files? Use view details

If you are curious about your files and any activity with them, select the view details icon. It is the letter i in the embedded picture below.

Embedded below is a 36 second YouTube tutorial I created as well as a screenshot of what the view detail icon will show you.

Take care,
Brad

In Google Docs and need some help? Use the help feature

Yesterday on Google's Twitter feed they shared a nice Tech Tip in Google Docs. If you are working in Docs and would like to use something like strike-through - just simply highlight your text and then click in Help and type in strike-through.

Embedded below is a 28 second YouTube video showing how this works.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Brad

Check out Google's Autodraw

Last Friday I shared Google's Quick Draw - where Google's AI tries to guess your drawing. Earlier on Wednesday Google announced their AutoDraw. Autodraw is web-based and "pairs" machine learning with drawings from artists. I recommend you check out their blog post by clicking here.

Embedded below is my 1 minute and 46 second tutorial showing you how to use the site. Definitely is a lot of fun and makes someone like me look like a pretty good artist!!

Embedded below is Google's 1 minute and 43 second tutorial to share with others!

So awesome!

Brad

Share a picture but disable options to download, print, and copy for commenters and viewers

Today I was asked a great question about posting pictures on-line; however, to not allow others to download, print, or copy the picture.

 One way to do this is through Google Drive and the Google Photos section. Below you will see an embedded YouTube video and then step-by-step directions.

** Of course this is also true if you create a doc, sheet, or slide in Google as well and do not want others to "touch" your stuff. Of course nothing is perfect and people could take a picture of your screen.

• Select the picture or pictures you would like to share in Google Drive (through Google Photos)
• Select the link and click on Sharing Settings

• Select Advanced

• Select Disable options to download, print, and copy for commenters and viewers

Take care,

Brad