Wednesday 27th August 2014 Google have announced the launch of their Slides app for iOS, along with updates to their Docs and Sheets apps. It is now possible to work on any file, on any device, at any time. The iOS apps save edits locally, syncing when you next have WiFi network access. Read more about the new apps at the Google Blog … Read More
Google launches Classroom
Wednesday 13th August 2014 Google yesterday officially launched Google Classroom. Classroom is now available for schools using Google Apps for Education – though I expect that there will be a ‘rollout period’ over the next month or so. Google have added a number of new features to Classroom, following feedback from the trial that has been underway since May. No doubt … Read More
Google Drive updates for teachers
Monday 11th August 2014 Over that past few weeks Google have announced a number of updates to Drive. Many of these updates are significant for K-12 teachers. These updates include new ‘Suggested Edits’ in Google Docs, editing Microsoft Word docs in their native format, and a number of new features in Google Slides. Check out a summary of the new ‘teacher features’ … Read More
Can Google continue providing free apps?
Wednesday 30th July Discussion around the lunch table recently turned to online office software, with a colleague expressing concern that Google Apps for Education (GAFE) would only be ‘free’ for a limited amount of time, then once everyone was hooked there would be an annual fee imposed. Maybe. But I doubt it. Read why at The Staffroom >>>
11 things to know about the new Google Drive
Friday 25th July 2014 Google Drive has a brand-new look and there are a lot of changes to discover. While many of theses changes are design and user-experience improvements, Google also added some new functions. Check out the video along with a list of some of Google Gooru’s favorite changes >>>
Checked your Google Drive lately?
Tuesday 22nd July 2014 Google have announced a redesign of Google Drive, and it is now being rolled out to all Drive accounts. Log into your Drive account to see if the upgrade is available, and follow the prompts to activate the new interface. The video below provides an overview of the changes…
Mobile anti-virus not needed: Google
Thursday 3rd July 2014 Mountain View, California: The majority of Android smartphone and tablet users do not need to install anti-virus and other security apps to protect them, despite dire warnings from security companies selling such products, Google’s head of Android security says. Adrian Ludwig, the lead engineer for Android security at Google, said there was “a bit of a … Read More
Google announces Drive update and transparent MS Office compatibility
Friday 27th June 2014 Google has announced the full integration of QuickOffice technology in Google Apps to provide transparent opening and saving of Microsoft Office files on Google mobile apps and in the Chrome browser on desktop computers. Read the Google announcement >>> Google have also announced a redesign of Google Drive. The video below provides an overview of the changes…
Hapara v Google Classroom
Wednesday 25th June 2014 Google are currently trialling the new Classroom app, due for release to all GAFE schools in September 2014. But what is the difference between the new (free) Classroom, and Hapara, the well-regarded commercial provider of GAFE integration and management? Watch the videos, and read the comparison >>>
32,000 Chromebooks: Virginia school system adopts Chrome OS
Tuesday 24th June 2014 Milwaukee Public Schools rolled out 11,400 devices, Edmonton Public Schools rolled out 13,000 devices, and Chicago Public Schools topped them both at 16,000 devices. Now Virginia’s Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS), one of the largest school systems in the US, announced that it will be switching to Chromebooks in some of its schools. The rollout will begin … Read More
Improve Writing Skills Using Digital Writing and Google Docs
Monday 23rd June 2014 Would you like to improve your students’ writing skills and help them bridge the gap between writing in school and writing in the real world? One way of doing so is by using digital writing and Google Docs, the documents editor available in Google Drive. Since Google Docs is collaborative and available 24/7, students using Google … Read More
K-12: GAFE v OneDrive v iCloud Drive
Monday 16th June 2014 With collaborative cloud apps rapidly becoming an accepted ‘norm’ for file creation and storage, ICT discussion in schools often turns to which of the popular online file-editing and file-sharing packages is the most suitable for use in a K-12 environment. Microsoft, Apple and Google all offer a combination of remote ‘cloud’ file storage, and the usual suite of online, browser-editable ‘office’ applications, as well … Read More
Chromebook and Google Apps Showcase
Wednesday 28th May 2014 Arthur Phillip High School invites Principals and Technology Coordinators to a showcase of digital learning. This event is an opportunity to hear the story of the school’s journey from DER to BYOD with Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education. Following morning tea in the Governor’s Room, school principal Lynne Goodwin will lead a presentation describing the circumstances and … Read More
Google to stop scanning apps inboxes for ads
Wednesday 7th May 2014 Google has announced that it will stop scanning students’ Apps for Education accounts to target ads at them. What was somewhat lost in that announcement was that Google will also make similar changes to other account types. Google will also soon stop scanning the accounts of Google Apps customers with Business, Government and legacy accounts for the free version. … Read More
Sync Multiple Google Drives
Wednesday 30th April 2014 If you have a Gmail account for personal use, and a Google Apps account for school, then you have probably already felt the pain of not being able to sync multiple Google Drive accounts to your computer. Insync is a utility that allows you to sync multiple Google Drive accounts to your computer, along with several other neat … Read More
Google Apps – New image editing tools
Google Drawings and Slides now have new image editing tools available. Check out the Google Gooru video below for the latest info about these new tools…
New Add-ons for Google Docs and Sheets
Google have announced the inclusion of 3rd party Add-ons to Docs and Sheets, bringing additional functionality (or just some missing features) to the Google Office suite. You will notice a new ‘Add-ons’ menu item has been added to your Docs and Sheets menu bar: With this new Add-ons feature comes a brand new store with dozens of options from which to … Read More
New Google Sheets
Have you activated the new version of Google Sheets yet? There are plenty of new features in the latest update, including Filter views, enhanced function help, new functions, advanced conditional formatting, coloured sheet tabs and new find-and-replace features Watch this short video to learn more…