PPS Learning Technologies

Google Forms Locked Mode Quizzes Beta

We just got notice that we joined the Google Forms locked mode Quizzes beta. This is a unique opportunity for you all to pilot a new unreleased feature in this product. Please review the details for the beta below:

Locked Mode Quizzes in Google Forms
Locked mode in Quizzes in Google Forms is a new way to keep students focused and distraction-free during tests and quizzes. Available only on managed Chromebooks, locked mode prevents students from navigating away from the Quiz in their Chrome browser until they submit their answers. Teachers can enable locked mode with a simple checkbox in Google Forms, giving them full control over assessments. For more information, check out the official blog post.

Here is a step-by-step guide, brief animated tutorial, and new Help Center instructions to make learning how to use locked mode even easier.

Feedback
For locked mode Quizzes, we ask that you submit feedback through the “Send feedback” button in Forms. In the case where respondents are able to escape locked mode and open browsers during quizzes, please send us feedback using this form. We’d like to help resolve any issues as quickly as possible, so we appreciate the feedback.

In addition, throughout the betas you may be asked to fill out surveys on your overall experience with locked mode quizzes.

Updated Roadmap for Classic and New Google Sites

Read the full post from Google.

Google has updated plans for Google Sites and there are two key items:

Build more enterprise-focused features into new Sites (including ones from classic Sites): Google listened to extensive feedback from customers and have identified a number of features in classic Sites that are particularly valuable to larger organizations. They plan to add comparable functionality for those features, along with new and unique features, to new Sites. They believe these will help you use new Sites in different and exciting ways, while making the transition process to new Sites easier and more streamlined. See below for more details on specific features.
The final date to transition from classic Sites to new Sites will be the end of 2021: Also based on customer feedback, they realize that classic Sites still offers unique value to our enterprise customers today. Google will continue to invest in maintaining core classic Sites functionality until end of year 2021.

More features coming to new Sites

Create richer, more customized sites
Create and manage larger sites

Transitioning from classic Sites to new Sites
In 2016 Google announced a new version of Google Sites, and in 2017 they announced that new Sites would eventually become the only version of Google Sites. They’ve heard feedback that classic Sites remains valuable for customers. They plan to maintain core classic Sites functionality. This will extend the deadline to transition from classic to new Sites to the end of 2021.

G Suite/Google Apps User Surveys

Hope you can help IT by filling out these G Suite/Google Apps use surveys. One is for administrators and one if for teachers. Results will help guide future use of G Suite, as well as professional learning opportunities offered to district staff, and strengthen support. Please share and pass on to your admins and colleagues.

G Suite/Google Apps for Education Teacher Survey
https://goo.gl/kd1xLJ
Please fill out this brief survey to help us determine the use of Google Apps in your classroom and school.

G Suite/Google Apps for Education Admin Survey
https://goo.gl/zq17c3
Please fill out this brief survey to help us determine the use of Google Apps in your daily work and at your school.

Technology Advent Calendar

Here is a Tech Advent Calendar for 2018: http://bit.ly/techadvent2018 from my colleague @herrplatt. Have fun exploring each day which follows the theme of student voice. Also, check out the 2018 Digital Wellbeing Advent Calendar where a new positive strategy on how to live well with the web, social media and your smartphone is shared.

Keeping track of work in G Suite

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From the Google blog:

How many times have you worked in a document only to realize halfway through that you’re editing an outdated version? Beyond being frustrating, this can cause confusion and slow down your project. One of the great things about working in cloud-native tools like G Suite is that everything is automatically saved. You never have to worry if you’re working on the most up-to-date version of a document because your apps do that for you.

But for the times that you need to go back and see changes, it’s simple. Go to File > Version history > See version history and view a complete list of changes to your document in one place. You can restore previous versions of a document there, too.

Another trick is to simply click the text at the top of your navigation bar that says “last edit was…” or “all changes saved” in Google Docs. If you hover over that text, it will actually tell you what the last change to the document was and who made it. Or if you’re returning to a document, you can click “See new changes” and the Doc will highlight edits that have been made since your last visit.

Unlock the Power of Programming: Apply for a FREE Sphero Kit

Sphero Edu is partnering with CodeFWD by Facebook, a free program for teachers and other adults working with 4th through 8th graders in the U.S. to inspire interest in the field of computer programming. For more information about CodeFWD click HERE.

Together, Sphero Edu and CodeFWD are working to expand participation of underrepresented minority students in programming, including Black, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, and female communities. By partnering with Sphero Edu, CodeFWD can help expand access and participation so that the next generation of tech innovators better reflects and incorporates diversity.

Sphero Edu and CodeFWD are offering a free Sphero BOLT Power Pack (a classroom set of 15 BOLT app-enabled robots valued at $2499) for a select number of accepted applicants through the CodeFWD program. Learn more and apply.

October Issue of the Learning, Teaching & Technology Newsletter

Here’s the October issue of the newsletter. Please share with colleagues.

https://spark.adobe.com/page/vO5n0l0AexNW4/

Live from ISTE: 12 Google for Education launches to save time for creativity

On the first day of ISTE, Google for Education gives to you: 12 updates to help teachers save time and spark creativity in their students. By releasing educators of time-consuming tasks, these new features and tools will enhance teachers’ ability to organize courses, increase collaboration with students, and unleash creativity in the classroom.

Check out the full post.