No Red Pen
By Tom Mullaney
Host Tom Mullaney was a classroom teacher. Now he helps teachers meaningfully integrate technology in their classrooms.
No Red PenJun 07, 2022
Episode 18 – The Anywhere School 2022 Recap and Reaction
Google for Education held their annual The Anywhere School event on June 7, 2022. Listen for a recap and my reactions to the updates.
Links from the episode:
- The Anywhere School 2022
- Google Classroom Anywhere School Updates
- Google Classroom - Preview and Add YouTube Videos
- Video made with Screencast on a Chromebook
- Read Along Android App on a Chromebook - Works Offline
- Figma
- Figma on Chromebooks
- Apply for the Figma Chromebook Beta
- Google Meet for teachers can automatically transcribe lessons into a Google Doc
- Cast moderator interest form
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode 17 - Noto Emoji Are Better Than Regular Emoji
Google Workspace has a new font for emojis. Listen to this episode to learn why Noto Emoji are better than conventional emoji in Google Docs and Slides for students.
Links from the episode:
- Noto Emoji Font For Google Docs, Drawings, Sheets, and Slides (3-minute video)
- Emojipedia
Episode 16 - Google Docs Updates That Amplify Student Voice
Google Docs recent Smart Canvas updates are turning this word processing app into an interactive digital experience. Listen to learn more about Emoji Reactions and Dropdowns, and how they can help amplify student voice.
Links from the episode:
Episode 15 – Canvas Positives and Negatives
What happens when a Google Classroom expert dives into Canvas LMS? Listen to learn about Canvas’s positives and negatives, and how it compares to Classroom.
Links from the episode:
Episode 14 – February Fonts Fun
It’s February so let’s get our mind off winter with some fonts fun! We’re talking all things fonts and Google Workspace.
Links from the episode:
- Teachers: Please Use This Font
- Google Fonts For Any Era
- Install Google Workspace Fonts (2:12 video)
- Google Fonts
- Google Fonts Icons
- Google Fonts Knowledge
- Seasonal Fonts For Google Workspace by Peggy Reimers for TCEA
- Clean and clear: making reading easier with Lexend (Google Design)
- Shirley Chisholm Unbought, Unbossed, and Unlocked Digital Escape Room
- More information on Bungee Fonts
Episode 13 - Are the Google Level 1 and Level 2 Exams Too Easy?
Are the Google for Education Certified Educator Level 1 and Level 2 exams too easy? The exams are now 35 multiple choice questions each with no scenarios or separate testing accounts.
This episode shares what you need to know about the exams and whether or not they are too easy.
Episode 12 - Twelve Google Wishes
Inspired by Steve Martin on SNL, here are twelve wishes I have for Google Workspace and Google improvements.
- Multiple Chrome Profiles on Chromebooks
- Students unable to rename Google Chat Spaces and remove members
- The ability to embed Expeditions in Google Arts & Culture on websites
- Links to specific scenes in Expeditions in Google Arts & Culture
- Google Drive videos playing in Google Doc preview panels
- Smart Chips and Preview Panels for Forms, Jams, My Maps, and Google Earth Projects in Google Docs
- Lexend fonts in Google Forms and Google Jamboard
- See all Jamboard Jam frames in the Google Classroom feedback and grading screen
- Jamboard option in Google Drive advanced search
- See all Jamboard frames in Google Drive preview
- Ability to add Google Slides and YouTube videos to Jamboard Jams
- Insert Google Slides slides and Jamboard frames into Jamboard
BONUS Wish: An improved rich text editor in Google Classroom and rich text editors for Google My Maps and Jamboard sticky notes.
What do you think? Are these worth wishing for? What are your Google wishes? Please let me know by commenting below or tweeting me, @TomEMullaney.
Episode 11 - The 8 Best Google Updates of 2021
My eight favorite Google updates in 2021. Can you believe these did not exist at the start of this year?
7. Use Google Maps in Google Calendar
6. Annotate Images in the Chrome OS Image Editor
5. YouTube Previews in Google Classroom Search
4. Checklists in Google Docs and Sheets
3. Google Expeditions is now web-based in Google Arts & Culture
2. Use Your Webcam in Jamboard on the Web
What do you think? What did I miss? Please let me know by commenting below or tweeting me, @TomEMullaney.
Episode 10 - edpuzzle vs. Screencastify
Two of the best edtech tools are invading each other's turf. This episode breaks down how teachers will use updates to edpuzzle and Screencastify.
Links from the episode:
Episode 9 - Beyond Hyperdocs with These Google Docs Tips
Use recent updates to make Google Docs that engage students. Links from the episode:
Episode 8 - Cursive, Playspace, and 360 Schools
This episode: updates about Cursive, Playspace, and a possible Tour Creator replacement - 360 Schools.
Links from the episode:
- Cursive
- Google's Cursive App for Chromebooks - First Look
- Some Thoughts on Cursive - Google's New Handwriting App for Chromebooks (Chrome Unboxed)
- Playspace
- Google Workspace acquires Playspace, a video, screenshare, & whiteboard collaboration tool (9to5 Google)
- Google Acquires Playspace in Hopes of Making Your Workspace More Fun and Interactive (Chrome Unboxed)
- 360 Schools
- Kathryn Greene's tweet praising 360 Schools
Episode 7 - All Things Mote
The Mote Google Chrome extension is a wonderful tool for teachers to add audio to digital content and student feedback. Listen to learn what teachers can do with the free version of this tool.
Episode 6 - Return to Remote Learning?
With the Delta Variant running rampant, might schools find themselves in remote and hybrid learning again?
In this episode, Tom looks at the blog post he wrote at the start of the pandemic to give teachers ideas for a possible return to remote learning. These strategies apply to students with devices both in-person and remote.
Episode 5 - Google Expeditions Lives!
Google Expeditions lives - on Google Arts and Culture's website. I tell you everything you need to know to get started. Please see the accompanying blog post at tommullaney.com.
Episode 4 - Flipgrid LIVE!
My reaction to updates shared at Flipgrid Live. But first, some Google updates including Expeditions and YouTube video smart chips.
Episode 3 - The Anywhere School
Google for Education's The Anywhere School event is done and we have updates to Google Classroom, Google Workspace, and Google Forms to dive into.
Episode 2 - Jamboard in the Classroom, The Problem with Immersive Reader, and Checklists Arrive in Docs and Sheets
This week starts with a deep dive into using Google Jamboard in the classroom, continues with one big issue in the otherwise great Immersive Reader, and concludes with the plusses and minuses of checkboxes in Google Docs and Sheets.
Next week - news and reactions to Google for Education's Anywhere School event.
Episode 1 - Intro, Google Expeditions is Going Away, and Google Docs
More information about the Google Expeditions situation:
The Google Docs tweet:
- @JakeAnbinder on Twitter: "Something interesting I've noticed teaching is Gen Z just does not use Microsoft Word, period. When you ask them to submit .doc files they're all converting them from Google Docs or Pages."
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