VIDEO SERIES: Intro to Google Drive Apps in LPS
Facilitator Notes
VIDEO PLAYBACK: If you will be showing the videos to a group of people, please use the button in the bottom right corner of each video to expand it to full screen when presenting. Pressing the ESCAPE key on your keyboard at the conclusion of the video will return you to this page. If you have a need to download the videos ahead of time (poor network connection in the area where you are presenting them, for example) a video download link has been provided below each video. You can download them to your computer ahead of time if needed.
EXTENSIONS: For each section of this video series listed below you will find discussion questions, suggested activities, and other extension items that will assist you in guiding teachers through a staff development session on the ideas presented in the videos.
QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK: Questions will surely arise during discussion. We in Computing Services would like to be responsive to these questions. Please share them with us via the form linked here and we will respond as quickly as we are able.
- LINK: Question/Feedback Form
If you have any further questions, please contact a member of the LPS Computing Services Training team. (Kristi Peters, Chris Pultz, Drew Ramaekers)
Topic 1: Google Apps in LPS
Extension Activities:
- Through this video series you will be introduced to a number of the tools in the Google Apps for Education suite, but it is always good to know where you can turn if you want to learn more about them. On the LPS website we have a resource just for that purpose. Take a few minutes to explore LPS.org keyword: GDOCS
Topic 2: Google Drive Overview
Extension Activities:
- Investigate the drag & drop features of Google Drive by dragging some items from your computer into your Google Drive. You may be surprised how easy (and dare I say FUN?) it is to drag and drop items into Google Drive.
Note: This “drag & drop” feature is available only in the latest versions of Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. If you are not working in the latest version of one of those browsers, you can click the Upload button and select Files from the drop-down menu. - Like most tools on your computer, in Google Drive there are usually 3 or 4 different ways to accomplish the same task.
- Select (single-click on) any item in your Documents List and look for the icons that appear along the top of the list. Investigate what those icons allow you to do.
- Then right-click (control-click) on an item in your Documents list and see how the right-click menu compares to the icons you see when you select an item.
- Take some time to practice in Drive by creating a folder to organize files you may already have in Drive.
Topic 3: Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawing
Extension Activities:
- We didn’t spend more than a few moments in any one of these tools. Take the next 20 minutes to explore them.
- Open a Google Doc and go through the menus. You may be surprised at some of the tools you find hidden in there. For example:
- In the Tools menu, choose Research. Allows you to search for info, drag right into the doc from the sidebar.
- From the Insert menu, select Equation. You will be presented with a mathematical equation editor.
Topic 4: Sharing
Extension Activities:
- To practice and explore sharing settings, everyone SHARE a document with a person sitting near you.
- Find the document that was shared with you in your own list (“Shared with me”).
- Spend 5 minutes exploring features in the document that was shared with you. Make some changes so that the original owner can see that you were in there.
- Check back and look at what changes were made in your document.
Topic 5: Forms
Extension Activities:
- Google Forms take a little practice to get the hang of. Work with a partner. Create a simple 1 or 2 question form for practice, and share it with your partner.
- Locate the RESPONSES Sheet that was created in your Documents List and find the response your partner left.
Exit Ticket
In this video series, you’ve been exposed to a number of ideas. Choose a partner and share:
- 3 things you learned,
- 2 ideas you need to practice,
- 1 thing you hope to use this week.
