Google Docs Add-Ons - EasyBib

Google Apps for Education has recently released something new to Google Docs and Sheets.  Add-ons are similar to extensions for Chrome, but they are only for Docs or Sheets.  They are very easy to find!  Open a Doc or Sheet and you will notice "Add-ons" in the tool bar.  Clicking on that will take you to an interface that looks similar to the Chrome Webstore.

One of these Add-ons is EasyBib.  EasyBib is a web tool that allows users to input some basic source information and it will produce a bibliography entry for the source.  Better yet, it will add it right to your Doc with another click of a button.

It is a great tool!  We have seen it in action already!  It does need some permissions to add it to your Doc. It is a trustworthy site and the permissions are minimal.  Some other add-ons ask for several permissions.  I am still learning about these and will update when more is known.  Until then, enjoy EasyBib!

Thanks to Tricia LaRue on for sharing this quick tutorial on YouTube.

More Google Tips and Tricks

After attending the Google Apps for Education Summit last month, I am more convinced than ever of how much Google can do for education.  The summit was amazing and the learning, although overwhelming at times, was great!  There are so many different things that you can do with Google.  Here is another link with tips and tricks.  It says it is for teachers, but anybody can use most of them.  Thanks to @gregesteves for the tweet with the link!

Google Tips and Tricks

Bell Let's Talk Day

It is always nice to see large corporations supporting worthy causes.  Today is an example of just that.  It is Bell Let's Talk Day.  For any text message, mobile and long distance call made, Facebook share of the Bell Let's Talk logo, and any tweet with the hashtag #BellLetsTalk Bell is donating five cents to mental health initiatives. This is a worthy cause because mental health impacts the lives of everybody either directly or indirectly.  It is a topic that more people need to learn about and become aware of.  Unfortunately, the stigma that goes with mental illness prevents many people from talking about it.

Through events like Bell Let's Talk Day, awareness is being spread and more and more people are learning that they can talk about it.  Last year some students did an amazing job in contributing to the awareness with their video project called Let's Talk Mental Illness - A Grade 9 Awareness Video. The importance of talking about something like this cannot be stressed enough.  Hats off to Bell and anybody else raising awareness for such an important cause!

For more information about Bell Let's Talk Day visit their website here.
For resources for young people and/or parents and educators about mental illness and mental health, please visit the Teens on Mental Health blog.

Google Tips - Offline Accessible Google Apps

The ability to customize Google Chrome to fit your needs is one of the biggest draws to the browser.  Adding apps and extensions can make many of things you do or use just one click away.  What many people might not know about, however, is that there are several apps that can be used while offline.  These can come in very handy in places you do not have WiFi access.  You can find these apps by checking out the Chrome Web Store or by clicking here.

Google Tips - Table Borders in Docs

If you are used to using a processor like Microsoft Word, then working with Google Docs will seem quite different.  At first it seems like Google Docs cannot do as much as Word.  The more you play around, however, the more you will find it actually can do.  You just have to know where to look.

For instance, how do you hide the borders of a table on Docs?  On word this is simple.  On Docs, it can be done as well, however.  Right click on the table, click on table properties, and set border width to zero.

Class Calendar

This is a reminder to students and parents that the class calendar is up and running.  This is the agenda for the class as it contains homework, reminders, important dates and due dates.  It is easy to sync your mobile phones and/or i Pods to have access at your fingertips.  This calendar will help everybody stay in the loop of what is going on in class.

Update on the Chromebooks

The junior high class has been using their new Chromebooks for a few weeks now!  The little hiccups are working themselves out and it is turning into the great pilot project we all knew it would be.  Students are getting acquainted with Google Apps and they are learning how some of the applications (like Google Docs) differs from programs they had become accustomed too (like Microsoft Word).  

The 100 Word Challenge is still going strong and the Chromebooks have made the completion of the weekly posts much smoother.  If anybody is interested in checking out the 100 Word Challenge they can visit the website at http://100wc.net/ or they can simply click on some of the students blogs along the side of this page.