Joyner's Top Ten List Google Tips

EDUC 5611- Whitney Joyner

     10) Google Translate

  (Spanish Translation) Esta característica puede ser utilizada tanto por profesores y estudiantes, para traducir frases extranjeras en la literatura y la investigación. También puede ser útil para el uso en el aprendizaje o la enseñanza de un idioma extranjero!  (English Translation) This feature can be used by both teachers and students, to translate foreign phrases in literature and research. It can also be useful to use when learning or teaching a foreign language!

9) Use the Tasks as a To Do List

Every educator wants and needs to stay organized, and keep up with the responsibilities and activities of a busy school year. Now they may do so with Google Mail's "Tasks". This feature allows for teachers to create to do lists, make notes around the events themselves, and check them off upon completion. Most important of all, it may be accessed wherever internet is available! To see a tutorial of this feature, please view the following:  

Watch "Tasks" Video

8) Add Video to Your Presentation

Teachers are able to now create even more engaging lessons and presentations with the addition of video's to them through Google Docs and You Tube. Video's can sometimes help to create relevancy in a lesson or provide students with a visual representation of a concept. Please view the following link to discover more about this feature:

Adding Video to a Presentation

7) Save as a PDF

PDF Download lets you convert web pages into PDF files from any web browser. This create compatibility between software types for both teachers and students. Add the following bookmarklet to your computer to do so: 

Save as a PDF

  

6) Google ImagesGoogle Images is a fast and efficient way of finding images to accompany lessons, activities, tests, etc. Teachers are able to use this in order to create visuals for their students that accompany the materials and delivery presented in class. Students are able to use Google Images throughout their research and classroom assignments.

5) Search Within a Specific Kind of SiteAs teachers, we often know what type of sites we want to pull information from for our students, as well as what sites we like to guide our students to during research. If you know that you only wish to search for resources from an educational site, try "site:edu"  If you are looking for a government site, try adding"site:gov" to your search term This will yield results from only sites with those address types. It serves as another way of narrowing down research.

4) Use "Show Options" to Refine Your SearchThrough using the "show options" tool, educators and students are able to refine their search on a topic of research. They are able to narrow their search to include or exclude categories such as: date, location, type of source, readability level, etc. This helps teachers to find appropriate sources for their subject matter and their students, and it helps students to narrow their search efforts and remain focused.

3) Google ScholarGoogle Scholar is an excellent tool for educators to use to find scholarly sources regarding topics in education, curriculum, and instruction. Teachers may also guide students through the search engine, in order to teach them how to identify scholarly sources for research. Google Scholar provides higher quality sources that are more reliable and credible for students and teachers to use. It provides access to articles found from college campuses, journals, and other media.

2) Create a Google Custom Search EngineTeachers can create a customized search engine to meet the needs of both students and the projects assigned to them. Through creating a custom search engine, you may narrow the field of research for students, set up links to guide them in research, and help to teach them basic research skills. This feature works with all grade levels and subject areas. It is also a great tool to help students with disabilities, explore research topics and refine their search skills.

And the top tip is...

Drum Roll Please

1) Collaborate on Group Projects through Google Docs

This tool is great for educators, as it allows them to collaborate and plan with one another electronically, share documents, presentations, and resources, and allows students to do the same. Google Docs is even changing the way that students and teachers collaborate! Teachers can create assignments through Google Docs, hold discussions on them, grade them, and allow students to work with one another. It is a fantastic way of integrating technology into the classroom and beyond!