Spring Clean Google Drive #4: Don't Take it Personally

When Spring Cleaning your Google Drive you have to remember: Don’t take it personally! Literally.
We often have so many accounts and the videos, images, etc get shared between them all. If you have any personal items on your school Google Account, now is the time to safely transfer them to your personal accounts.

Since Google is reducing the amount of storage, those pictures of your new puppy, your baby's first birthday cake, and your daughter’s wedding could be at risk when they start to lessen storage. Educational Technology has you covered!


Let’s start on your Google Drive dashboard. We prefer the list view to quickly access and see who owns the file and who you are sharing it with. To view Google Drive in List View click on the List Layton icon on the top right of your drive folders/files.

List view allows you to see a column with the owner of the file, the date modified, and more options.

Once in List View, find the file you want to move and click the three dots on the right side. It is good to check for some things before you move the file.







Select View Details from the menu that pops up after clicking the three vertical dots. In the details it highlights who has access.




You can note who has access to the file and also manage the access in case you want to transfer ownership or remove access before you move the file out of your professional Google Drive.


You have many options where to copy your personal documents, pictures, videos, and files to. You can download them to a personal Google Account, a flash drive, external hard drive, another cloud storage and more. In order for this to be a smooth transition, an easy way to move all files from your work device and work Google Drive to your personal storage is to create a folder on your computer desktop.


On many devices you can right click on the desktop and select “New Folder”. I would name it something along the lines of “Google Drive Personal Files” or something you will be able to easily locate and know the contents when moved to the other storage space.


Chrome allows you to designate where the files are saved when you click “Download” in Google Drive. On the top right of Google Chrome, click on the 3 vertical dots.





Choose Settings from the menu that appears.





On the left choose Downloads.




Choose a location to save to and toggle on “Ask where to save each file before downloading.”





Back in Google Drive, RIGHT click the name of the file, photo, etc. and select “Download”.

 


Choose the folder on your desktop you created for this purpose. When you are finished saving all personal files to the folder on your desktop, upload the folder to your personal Google Drive or other storage account.


Now you have done the one thing we all strive to do, keep work and personal life separate! Happy Spring Cleaning!


For the full presentation on Cleaning Your Google Drive click here: bit.ly/springcleangoogledrive

Also, find out YouTube Live Spring Cleaning Google Drive: https://www.youtube.com/live/V_wu4Vajy7E?feature=share

Spring Clean Google Drive #3 - Untitled Files & Duplicates

 

Just a reminder if you are jumping into this series on blog post #3, we presented this content live on our KIC Start Your Learning playlist! If you missed it and would prefer the video version, use the link here. 

We are continuing the series today on those Untamed Untitled Files & Daunting Duplicates.

Our Technology Department is cleaning up and cleaning out Google Accounts. Why? Google Workspace for Education has begun imposing storage limits on school districts in combination with their pricing structure. The Tech Department is working hard to maintain enough Google Workspace storage for the teaching and learning in Keller ISD! 

Spring Clean Google Drive Task #3 - Untitled Files and Duplicates

Let's get rid of those unseen dust bunnies!

🫧 First we will search for 'UNTITLED' files and filter to MY DRIVE.

    Delete any files that were accidentally created or that you no longer need.

🧼 Next, let's start tackling those daunting DUPLICATE files. 

            

                Search 'COPY OF' and filter to My Drive. Verify you are the owner. 
                Now delete unneeded files or rename and file the ones you want to keep.

🧼 Another way to locate DUPLICATE files is using a software extension.  

                We tried clouddupicatefinder.com and liked the results. 
                Sign in (using Google), choose Google Drive, add a New Drive, Scan and Select Action.

🧽 Now you have begun the deep cleaning! Don't worry, we have your back!! This Drive will be cleaned and organized in a few more steps. Stay tuned... next we will bring you steps for cleaning out even more files that you no longer need and getting them in the trash, thus opening up more space for teaching and learning in KISD. 

Spring Clean Google Drive #2 - File Ownership

 

Thanks to all of you who joined us for this subject at our KIC Start Your Learning last week! If you missed it and would prefer the video version, use the link here. 

We hear you loud and clear and we are the first to admit - cleaning out a digital space is hard and takes time. We will continue our series today on File Ownership.

Our Technology Department is cleaning up and cleaning out Google Accounts. Why? Google Workspace for Education has begun imposing storage limits on school districts in combination with their pricing structure. The Tech Department is working hard to maintain enough Google Workspace storage for the teaching and learning in Keller ISD! 

Spring Clean Google Drive Task #2 - Let's Talk File Ownership!

Maybe you own it, maybe you don't!

🫧 First let's look through your files for ownership.
     Use the searching method below to find documents you MAY USE, but don't OWN.

🫧 Sorting this way will help you see items that you DON'T OWN.

🧼 Next, let's look at WHO DOES OWN the file and where it is LOCATED. 

                  🧼 IF the file is in a SHARED DRIVE, it is accessible to anyone who is a member of the                         Shared Drive and will not be deleted if an individual leaves the district.

                🧼 However, IF the file is owned by an INDIVIDUAL and YOU use it for teaching and                                 learning, it is only SHARED with you. IF the individual left the district, the file would be                         deleted. In this instance, it would be best to MAKE A COPY, rename, and file it                                     appropriately.

🧽 Now that you have a better idea of how to locate what files you USE but don't OWN and choose appropriate storage, stay tuned until next week. We will be back with our cleaners and begin our third task of deleting files and folders!

Spring Clean Google Drive

It's almost spring, right? The weather is beginning to warm up, the days are a little longer and winter is quickly fading into the background. Spring brings welcome changes and sometimes specific to-dos - such as SPRING CLEANING. 

🧹 It's time to clear out the old, so you can welcome the new! ✨

Guess what also needs spring cleaning? You guessed it - picture clues maybe? Your GOOGLE DRIVE!

Cleaning out your Google Drive... it's a thing! We are going to dedicate the next several blog posts to specific tips for making this as painless of a process as possible. Follow along each week and your Google Drive spring cleaning will be ✅ed OFF your To-Do list, which gives you more time to plant flowers, sing in the rain, watch baby chicks hatch, send EdTech cookies, or whatever brings you spring JOY! 

Spring Clean Google Drive Task #1 - Gather your supplies!

This week we are going to get a good picture of what is in your Google Drive by looking at some data and sorting your items in specific ways. 

🫧 First, let's see what your Storage says:

🫧 Sorting this way will help you see items that you no longer need. For example, there is an 'Untitled document' with 0 bytes of storage in my Drive, which tells me it is possibly blank and just needs to be deleted.

 🫧 Additionally, when I look at what files are using the most storage, I see some videos from 2017 which are most likely no longer relevant and can also be deleted.

🧼 Next, let's look at your oldest files.

🧼 Sorting this way will let you see what is the oldest thing you have acutally modified. This will help you determine if these files are still needed. 

 

🧽 Now that you have a better idea of how to view and sort things in your Google Drive, stay tuned until next week and we will put those cleaning gloves ON and begin our second task of cleaning up files and folders!

Integrate Technology with Purpose: SAMR

SAMR is not just another acronym, it could possibly be one of the most important ones now that most districts have one to one devices for their students. Students have the power of technology in their hands on a daily basis, how do we as educators use this tool to make our instruction more powerful and create future ready students?

My favorite visual of SAMR is ordering Starbucks using the SAMR ladder. I substituted my home made coffee with a roasted from beans freshly ground in a Starbucks cup. Then I leveled up to augment my coffee by adding ice, cream and sweetener. I then modified my coffee with whipped cream, caramel syrup and maybe an extra shot of espresso. Finally, I completely redefined my coffee with a Frappuccino using almond milk with an extra shot of espresso, extra pumps of vanilla, whipped cream, and pure yummy.

SAMR was the brainchild of Ruben R. Puentedura, Ph.D. The world was in need of a framework that allowed educators to take the amazing instruction they provide daily and purposefully integrate technology to promote student engagement, and he provided a framework that works like a ladder for technology integration. The beauty of it is you do not have to always get to the top of the ladder, you just have to find the right step for your lesson and your students.

What is SAMR?

SAMR stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Teachers can start at the first level with Substitution and work up to the Redefinition stage.

Substitution:

This level encourages teachers to simply substitute something they did with paper and pencil with a basic application like word processing. For example, instead of students writing with a pencil on notebook paper, have them type their essay in a word processing application on their device. Instead of using a whiteboard and expo marker, have students use an online whiteboard application.

Augmentation:

The next step calls for the technology substituted to provide a valuable and functional change. What can you do now with this word processing application you could not do with the pencil and notebook paper? Many word processing applications allow for voice dictation, spell checking features, exploring for quotes, etc. You not only made the substitution, but the use of technology allows the students the ability to do something they could not previously do as easily without technology.

Modification:

Level up the technology integration to the next level of modification by redesigning the lesson based on the features of the applications or technology that we did not have previously without it. The use of multimedia, videos, images. Students can gather information from websites across the globe with varying perspectives. They then use that information to create visual creative media to show their process and the learning. Then they can showcase their learning on another platform for viewing.

Redefinition:

The final level of SAMR calls for technology to take lessons and students beyond where they previously were able to go. Students can now collaborate within applications to work together in the classroom, across the district as well as across the world. Students can explore and extend their learning beyond the classroom and produce products that showcase their learning in a multitude of ways from one device.




Technology is a tool we as educators can use to take our lessons beyond pencil and paper and the walls of our classrooms. When purposefully integrated into the curriculum and robust pedagogical practices we already are experts in, there is no limit to what students (and teachers) can do.

Canvas: the Perfect Match! ❤️

 

Valentine's Day is next week and if you need a steady, dependable Valentine, may we suggest Canvas? DWW might try to win your love, but we promise Canvas is your perfect match! ❤️

Don't take our word for it though - check out these HOT tools that pair perfectly with Canvas!

Note: this training was recorded live on our February 8, 2023 episode of KIC Start Your Learning. In case you missed it, we wanted to recap just some of the reasons why we think Canvas is your PERFECT MATCH!

Canvas & Google play well together!

💗 First, be sure to connect your Canvas & Google accounts through Accounts > Settings.

💗 Next, use the Google plug-in tool to embed docs, slides, sheets and more for student resources!

💗 Finally, use the Google Assignments LTI 1.3 external tool to assign student activities that can be completed and turned into Canvas and graded through either Google Assignments or Canvas Speedgrader.

Canvas & Microsoft are in LOVE! 

❤️ Connect your Microsoft account by clicking Office 365 from the course navigation menu and signing in. Access One Drive and add links to PPTs, Word Docs, Excel & more.

❤️ Use the Office 365 Cloud Assignment to assign student activities that can be completed, turned into Canvas, and graded using Speedgrader.

Discovery Education (DE) & Learn 360 resources look beautiful embedded on Canvas Pages, Assignments, Quizzes & Discussions!

💟 Search for DE content & resources directly from the Discovery Education link in course navigation.

💟 Embed DE or Learn360 content & resources directly into Canvas Pages, Assignments, Quizzes & Discussions from the plug-in.

All you need is 'Adobe & Canva' paired with Canvas for 'true love'.

💘 Students can really show their learning creating Adobe projects from either templates or scratch.

💘 Use the Adobe Creative Cloud Express LTI to have students turn in Adobe Express projects to Canvas & to use Speedgrader for grading & feedback.

💘 Click Canva for Education from course navigation or from the Canvas plug-in to create in Canva from a template or scratch & then send straight to Canvas.

When Canvas & Nearpod are matched together - they are in their 'happy place'!

💙 Use the Nearpod external tool to embed Live Participation or Student-Paced Nearpods directly into Canvas with NO joining code!

💙 Use Canvas Speedgrader for amazing reports from Nearpod on students participation & accountability.

Find the link to these slides here and/or our KIC Start Your Learning video here.