Wanda

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New Extension for Google Admins: Wider Reports

I have created a number of Chrome extensions to meet specific needs of my district. This one just published is for me and my fellow Google admins and fixes one of my pet peeves of the Security Center Dashboard. When you click a VIEW REPORT link, the report is shown but in a very narrow table. All kinds of wasted space left and right when a wider table would be so much more user-friendly. Dug in and found a way to adjust the style sheet to give me wider reports. Sharing the goodness here.

This extension ONLY runs with URLs beginning with https://admin.google.com/ac/sc/dashboard and the only thing it does is change the DIV class of .gCXDaf to have no max-width.

Hopefully this will be helpful for other Google Admins. Get the Wider Reports Chrome extension on the Chrome Web Store.

The image shows a screenshot of an "Admin" dashboard with a "File exposure" section. It includes a "Sharing events" graph displaying sharing events over time, though the graph area is blurred or blank. Below the graph, there is a "Top viewed files" table with columns for "Document ID," "Title," "Views," "Visibility," and "Owner." Various data points in the table are blurred for privacy. At the bottom of the image, there is text that reads, "Before 'Wider Reports'" in large, blue font.
The image shows an "Admin" dashboard with a "File exposure" section, similar to the previous image. It includes a "Sharing events" graph displaying sharing events over time, though the graph area remains blurred or blank. Below, a "Top viewed files" table is visible with columns labeled "Document ID," "Title," "Views," "Visibility," and "Owner." Some data in the table is blurred for privacy. At the bottom, there is text in large, blue font that reads, "After 'Wider Reports,'" indicating an updated or expanded version of the report compared to the previous image.
Screenshot Of A Presentation Slide Titled

Google for EDU Product Training Series

I was honored to be invited to help present during two of the H2 2024 Product Training Series webinars offered by Google for Education. Check them out at the links below:

Unlock your Google Classroom: Interactivity and Differentiation with Classroom Updates – Link to event page – Recorded October 15, 2024. “Discover how the latest Google Classroom updates can transform your teaching with enhanced interactivity and tailored learning experiences. In this session, we’ll explore powerful new features designed to elevate student engagement and assist educators in differentiating their instruction to meet their students where they are. Join us for your key to unlocking the full potential of Google Classroom!”

Maximize Access for All: Google’s Essential Accessibility & Productivity Tools – Link to event page – Recorded October 29, 2024. “Leverage the capabilities of Google Workspace for EDU with essential accessibility and productivity tools that ensure every student can excel. In this session, you’ll learn how to enhance access and boost efficiency in your classroom, empowering all learners to succeed.”

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.

Informational graphic about Google Doc Demo Mode. The graphic includes a logo with 'Wanda Approved' and text saying 'Google Tip.' It explains how to use demo mode by modifying the URL with examples. The graphic shows before and after URLs for preview and view modes, each with a QR code linking to Google resources. The overall layout includes green borders and a cartoon character logo in the upper left corner.

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:

Wanda’s Furry Babies

Miscellaneous Photos

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at-gta

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at-google

glass

outside-of-google
KernCUE 2020

ISTE Google Playground 2019

ISTE Google Playground 2019

Edit Auto-Generated Subtitles on YouTube

Sometimes the auto-generated YouTube subtitles / captions need a bit of tweaking. Here is how to do that:

  1. Sign in to your account at https://studio.youtube.com
  2. Choose Content from the left sidebar.
  3. 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.
edit the details for a video

4. In the right sidebar, click the pencil icon on the Subtitles button.

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.

subtitle editor

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.

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