google-tools

= Google Tools =

toc

100 + Google Tricks for Teachers
//**TeachHUB**//

Tricks & tips about using Google Search, Gmail, Google Docs, & Google Calendar.

Google Calendar
Since we will soon be using Google for everything including email, documents, etc…, this month let’s talk about Google Calendar. It is very easy to use the calendar. Once you click on the calendar tab, then you can name the calendar. To add events just click once in the date that you want & type in your meeting or event. You can then edit the event & color code the events if you need to. Once you have set up the calendar it can be shared with anyone that you wish to have it. You can also let the people you share it with to edit the calendar or just to edit it. We use Google Calendar at the Middle School to keep track of the mobile laptop carts. The calendar is shared with the teachers who need to make sure the carts are distributed to the right teachers at this time.

Google Connected Classrooms
Connected Classrooms uses Google+ Hangouts On Air to take students on virtual field trips to museums & zoos. Students have the opportunity to ask questions. A complete list of field trips are available online. You can also find links to the recordings of previous virtual field trips.

**Google for Education**
Get ideas on how to you Google & Google products in your classroom. Online word processor, spreadsheet & presentation editor that enables you & your students to create, store & share documents instantly. Collaborate online in real time, all your work is stored safely & can be accessed from any computer. Students can get feedback easily from teachers & enter updates anytime. Users can go back to the revisions history to see how their assignment has evolved & who has helped.

**Google Maps**
A service for creating map information. It enables you & your students to look up & study addresses anywhere in the U.S., & in many other countries & get point-to-point, draggable directions plotted on an interactive street map. More than just a tool for finding a location or getting directions from point A to B, Google Maps allows students to design their own annotated maps.

Create a historical walking tour of Plattsmouth, share a 20 mile bike route complete with drink & restroom stops, measure distance & compare routes taken by car with those on foot (eg. I can walk across Central Park, but driving my car through Strawberry Fields isn't an option). ** Google Lit Trips ** has used this tool to track plots in literature; students could make there own lit trip from a book not featured & maybe even contribute to the site - besides expanding their knowledge!

Never used Google Maps before? Be sure to check out the Getting Started Guide. You might be surprised to see how easy it is to incorporate maps into your existing lesson plans. Here are some ideas for using Google Maps in your classroom,
 * **Google for Educators - Google Maps**
 * **15 Interesting Ways to use Google Maps in the Classroom**
 * **Math Maps**

Google Trends
Pair this tool with an infographic site (like **easel.ly**, **Infogr.am**, or **Visual.ly**) above to have students present on search trends in Google.

//Last Updated - January 2014//