Google Doc Demo Mode
Google Tip: When you want to share a PREVIEW or VIEW version of a Google Doc URL AND you also want to have your document outline visible, change the URL by adding ?rm=demo to the end.
Google Workspace for EDU Video
My school district was honored to have been featured in this video about Google Workspace for Education Plus for their partner CDW Amplified for Education (formerly Amplified IT).
UPDATE November, 2023: Unfortunately, the video was removed so I removed the embedded video. It was a really neat experience though.
About Wanda
Twenty-nine year educator Dr. Wanda Terral is the Director of Technology for the Lakeland School System (TN). A former band director, Wanda is constantly seeking information relating to techniques & practices related to the use of tech to empower students and educators. A Google Certified Innovator & Trainer, she is known for widely sharing useful resources and lesson ideas on Twitter and Facebook. She earned her Doctor of Education from the University of Memphis, focusing her research on the topic of self-directed professional learning of educators. Wanda is a member of ISTE, TETA, CUE, and TCEA as well being an organizer of EdCamp Memphis. In 2016 was named the Lead PBS Learning Media Digital Innovator for the state of Tennessee and in 2019, she was named Outstanding TN CTO by the Tennessee Educational Technology Association. When not spending time with her cats, she is coding, listening to audiobooks, or sketchnoting.
Find Wanda online:
- About.me – http://about.me/edtech (I still surprised I was able to snag that URL!)
- X (Twitter) – https://twitter.com/wterral
- YouTube – http://goo.gl/25tSLB
- LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/wanda-terral
- Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/cgeek
- Diigo – https://www.diigo.com/user/wterral
- Geocaching.com – http://goo.gl/xS7xg2 (cgeek)
Wanda’s Furry Babies
Miscellaneous Photos
Edit Auto-Generated Subtitles on YouTube
Sometimes the auto-generated YouTube subtitles / captions need a bit of tweaking. Here is how to do that:
- Sign in to your account at https://studio.youtube.com
- Choose Content from the left sidebar.
- Hover over the video for which you wish to edit the subtitles. Click on the pencil icon to go to edit the video’s details.
4. In the right sidebar, click the pencil icon on the Subtitles button.
5. Edit the subtitle text and/or adjust the timings. Save your draft frequently or you could lose your work. When everything is as you wish it to be, click DONE.
Neat Stuff I’ve Come Across
Check out this page that links to all my Neat Stuff Wakelet collections.
I’m Presenting at #ISTE21
Grab all my resources by visiting bit.ly/wandas-stuff!
Jamboard Version History
UPDATE:
ORIGINAL POST:
We want! …
What do we want?…
Jamboard Version History! …
When do we want it? …
NOW! (Please)
The Power of NOT Done
I began my journey as a doctoral student at The University of Memphis back in 2014 and have finally reached the “done” state. There have been many obstacles along the way but with the support of many fabulous people, I have finished.
I’m not going to wax poetic because that is not my way but I did want to share a few things on my mind since yesterday’s graduation ceremony.
The speaker gave a fairly typical speech that encouraged the graduates (most of whom were in their twenties) to look forward to what their future had in store. I don’t remember who gave that speech when I graduated with my first college degree back in 1990 but I have no doubt I let my mind gravitate to what my future might be.
Yesterday, not so much.
I’m only a handful of years away from retirement and, while I know I have plenty of living left to do and plenty of impact left to have on the world, I know more and more how limited time is. I have lost many precious souls in the past 29 years since I heard my undergrad commencement speaker – including my father. I’ve lost friends / family to accidents, illness – including cancer, suicide, and even murder.
Don’t get me wrong. I feel quite celebratory in finally completing this degree. While I am not changing jobs (because I really LOVE my job), I am thinking about what extra gigs I can take on so I can have a greater impact on the world in the time I have left (and so I can pay off these new student loans!). I hope that time is a nice long block but I know, more than ever, that time is running out. It is true, I have finished my manuscript (save for minor revisions) but I am NOT done with trying to make a difference. I am NOT done with sharing things I’ve learned.
Updated info about “Remote for Slides” Chrome extension
This post has been updated (12-14-17) because the developer of this extension has addressed some issues and released an update. More updates are in the works. Thank you, Henry Lim (@henrylim96 on Twitter).
Remote for Slides (note the name change from version 1) is a great little extension and quite handy. It lets a presenter use any internet-connected device (phone, tablet, another computer) to advance slides on a Google Slide deck AND see their presenter notes without having to be on the same WIFI SSID.
The presenter has to have the extension installed in order to get a 6-digit code after going to a presenter URL.
There are several problems of which to be aware (some have been addressed and others have fixes coming).
(I am speaking more from the viewpoint of a teacher in a classroom of students. Yes, I hope the teacher is not boring their kids with a big deck of advancing slides and an old lecture format.)
ONE problem is that you DO NOT need to have to be signed into that Google account (the one doing the presenting) in order to make use of the 6-digit code. Originally, the 6-digit code displayed by default which would allow anyone in the audience to also see it and possibly take control. Now the 6-digit code is hidden by default. Just click on the SHOW ID icon and you get to see the code for about a second. You will want to do this BEFORE to start projecting.
Also, the second problem I originally mentioned will also be fixed when the person controlling the presentation has to be signed into their account.
Also, you no longer have to change the URL to activate the controller mode. A handy, dandy button is provided!
A SECOND problem is that the URL that is used to control the slide show doesn’t change. As such, it is possible to “control” the deck even when it is not in presentation mode. Give it a try – go to this URL to control my little demo slide deck.
NOT ONLY THAT – Simply by clicking the icon in the upper-right corner of the controller, the presentation hijacker can also view all your presenter notes!
A fix for these issues might be tying it to a Google account and require the presenter to sign into their Google account to control it. Another fix may be to allow only ONE instance of a connected controller.
Hopefully, these design issues will get worked out.
In the meantime, keep that 6-digit code secret!
Thank you, Henry!
Image Template for Google Forms Header
I always have the hardest time getting a custom image header the right size in Google Forms (the “new” Google Forms, of course). I made this Google Drawing template for my use but am making it available to anyone else needing it.
Get your own copy by going to http://bit.ly/formimagetemplate. Instructions are on the sides of the drawing but here is how it works.
The image canvas is set to be 1600 x 400 pixels. There is a rectangular area that represents the center top above the form. If you put your design elements there, you will be a-ok. When you have that area the way you want it, you can delete the rectangle (unless you want to keep it visible on the form). Then, download the image as a PNG. When you upload the image into the color palette on the Google Form, set the cropping markers to match the layout of the canvas on the template.
Here is a quick video – no audio – showing the process.