DT With Mrs B

  Tired of students accidentally editing your original Google Doc or Slide Deck? Or maybe you want to provide a template for your colleagues without risking unwanted changes? The "force copy" function is your new secret weapon! What is Force Copy? Force copy is a simple trick that turns your shareable Google Doc or Slide Deck into a template. Instead of allowing others to directly edit your original file, they're prompted to make a copy for themselves. This preserves your master copy while giving everyone their own version to work on. How to Force Copy It's easier than you think! Share your document: Make sure your document is shared with "Anyone with the link" or "Public". Grab the link: Copy the shareable link to your document. Edit the link: Replace the word "edit" at the end of the link with "copy". For example, if your link was originally https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hf12345/edit , you would change it to https://d...

Kia ora, fellow educators and parents! Today's blog post takes a slight detour from our usual content to introduce a game-changer for teachers who are also parents, especially those with younger children. Meet SquareOne , a Kiwi-created app designed to revolutionise the way we manage pocket money. As a teacher and a parent preparing for an upcoming family trip to Australia, I found myself on a quest to instil financial responsibility in my 12 and 14-year-olds. The challenge was to discover a digital tool that not only facilitated money management, but also made the process engaging and educational. SquareOne emerged as the answer to my quest. This New Zealand-developed app allows parents to set chores and allocate corresponding amounts to their children. The beauty lies in its simplicity – kids submit completed chores, and parents approve payments through the app. The real magic happens when the money is transferred from the parent's account to the child's account. SquareOn...

Kia ora, fellow educators! 🌟 Have you ever eagerly clicked on a hyperlink, only to find yourself stuck on a 'share request' page? Annoying, right? Let's tackle that inconvenience and make link-sharing a breeze. Clicking on a link that leads to a 'share request' page can be frustrating for both the document creator and the person trying to access it. But fear not, there's a simple solution to avoid this digital roadblock. Prevention is Key: Adjust Sharing Settings Before creating links, ensure your documents are ready for sharing. You can modify the access settings for individual documents or go big by making an entire folder sharable. This way, any docs linked from that folder will automatically grant access without the pesky 'share request.' Quick Steps to Share without Stress: 1. Open your Google Doc (or any Google app). 2. Click on the 'Share' button in the top right corner. 3. Adjust the access settings to either 'Anyone with the link...

Emojis can add a creative and interactive dimension to your Google Classroom topics. In this post, I'll guide you through the process of using emojis within topics and explain why it's a valuable addition. Why Use Emojis in Google Classroom Topics? 1. Visual Organisation: Emojis can be used as topic icons to make your Google Classroom more visually organised and attractive. They help students quickly identify different subjects or modules. 2. Engagement: Emojis can make topics more appealing. They add an element of fun and can pique interest in the subject matter. 3. Personalisation: Emojis allow you to infuse a bit of your personality into your virtual classroom. You can choose emojis that reflect your teaching style or the topic's content. How to Add Emojis to Google Classroom Topics 1. Access Classwork: Start by navigating to the "Classwork" tab in your Google Classroom. 2. Create a Topic: Click the "+" button to create a new topic. This is where you...

 Kia ora, fellow educators!  📚 Today, let's explore two sweet presentation tools - the laser pointer and pen tool. 🖋️🧐 These features can be invaluable for teachers in presentation mode within Google Slides. Let's dive in! Laser Pointer: 🔦 The trusty laser pointer mimics the real-world tool we've used for years. In presentation mode, you can use it to highlight specific content on your slides. Point out key concepts, important details, or direct your students' focus effortlessly. It's a simple but effective way to keep your audience engaged. Pen Tool: ✍️ The pen tool, on the other hand, lets you write and draw directly on your slides. This feature is like having a digital whiteboard at your fingertips. You can underline, circle, or jot down notes as you go along. It's fantastic for live explanations, brainstorming, or solving problems interactively. Benefits for Teachers: 👩‍🏫 So, why are these features essential for us educators? Here's why: 1. Engagem...

Utilising Google Chrome's Reading Mode for Educators Kia ora, fellow educators! Today, let's delve into a handy tool that can significantly benefit both teachers and students: Google Chrome's Reading Mode. This feature allows you to strip away distractions from web pages, making the content more accessible and engaging, which can be particularly advantageous in an educational setting. Why Should Educators Embrace Reading Mode? 1. Enhancing Accessibility Reading Mode enables educators to customise fonts, font sizes, line spacing, and text/background colours. This flexibility makes it easier to cater to students with dyslexia or other learning needs, ensuring that reading materials are tailored to their specific needs. 2. Focusing on Core Content Reading Mode helps students concentrate solely on the essential text by eliminating distractions like ads, images, and sidebars. This proves invaluable for easily distracted students or those struggling to stay on task. 3. Boosting R...

  Kia ora, fellow educators! 📚 In today's Tech Tip Tuesday, we're diving into the powerful "Search Within" function in Google Drive. As teachers immersed in the digital realm, you're likely managing a treasure trove of files from various sources – students, colleagues, shared drives, and more. Here's why "Search Within" is your digital ally, and why you should consider it over the conventional search method. 1. Precision at Your Fingertips 🧐 Search within a specific folder, ensuring pinpoint accuracy in finding files, assignments, and resources. 2.  Time-Saver Extraordinaire ⏱️ Quickly locate teaching materials, lesson plans, or shared resources, maximising your teaching efficiency.  Follow the steps in the gif I made below, to support the process. So, there you have it! "Search Within" in Google Drive is your digital compass, helping you navigate the vast sea of files and resources in the digital classroom. 🌐 Give it a go, and watch you...

In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of effectively organising your Google Drive. Whether you're a digital technologies specialist or a solo teacher looking to enhance your skills, a well-organised Drive can make your life easier. Let's dive in. The Art of Folders 1. Logical Numbering: Start by numbering your folders to maintain a logical order. For instance, begin with "01 - Planning," "02 - Resources," and so on. 2. Colour Coding: Colour-coding your folders can help categorise subjects, terms, or any system that suits your needs. 3. Emojis in Names: Did you know you can add emojis to your file or folder names in Google Drive? Emojis can bring creativity and fun to your organisation. To do this, right-click on the folder or file, select "Rename," and insert your chosen emoji. Perhaps a 📚 for resources or 🗓️ for planning? Visual Guide I've prepared a short video to guide you through these steps visually. Check it out below: Benef...

 Kia ora, fellow educators!  🌟 Have you ever hit that "send" button on an email only to feel an instant pang of regret? Or perhaps you've had that sinking feeling when you realise you forgot to attach an essential document? Fear not! In the digital realm, mistakes happen, but Google's got your back with the remarkable 'Undo Send' feature in Gmail. As a digital technologies enthusiast and educator, I'm here to walk you through the wonders of this function and how it can be your best ally in avoiding those dreaded email mishaps. Undo Send: Your Second Chance in the Digital World 📧 Picture this: you've just composed an important email to a colleague, a parent, or even a student. Your finger hovers over the send button, but doubt creeps in—did I attach the presentation? Is my tone just right? With the 'Undo Send' feature, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. This nifty tool gives you a brief window of opportunity to recall your email after sendi...

  In our ever-evolving digital landscape, harnessing the power of tools like Gmail's Template Function can be a game-changer. Let's dive into how this feature can elevate your communication game, specifically in scenarios that teachers commonly encounter. Templates in Action: Streamlining Teacher Communications Do you frequently find yourself composing emails time and again, with the same or similar context? Utilising 'templates' is all about working smarter, not harder. Making use of this function will mean that every time you wish to recreate an email, you can access it with the press of a few buttons, without having to start from scratch. Here's how it works: Effortless Implementation of Templates: Creating these templates is easier than you might think. Follow these steps to set them up: 1. Compose the email as you normally would, adding the relevant details. 2. Click the three dots in the email toolbar, navigate to "Templates," and select "Save d...

  Elevate Your Teaching Game: Embracing the Magic of Pinned Tabs Hello to all my fellow educators. 👋 Let's talk about a simple yet incredibly effective trick that can level up your administration game: pinning tabs! 📌 Imagine this scenario: You're deep in the zone, crafting a lesson plan that's bound to captivate your students' attention. You've got a bunch of tabs open – resource sites, platforms, maybe even a cute cat video (no shame!). But hold on, where did that important website go? *Cue the frustrating tab hunt.* Say hello to the game-changer – pinned tabs! Let me break down five reasons why this little hack can make a big difference: 1. Instant Access to Essential Resources Ever wished for a magical button that could teleport you straight to your most-used websites? Well, pinning tabs is like having that button! Whether it's your trusty curriculum hub, student info system, or that fantastic educational app, pin them, and they'll always be waiting fo...

Today, I'm going to share with you the magic of using practice sets in Google Classroom. Trust me; it's a game-changer! These nifty tools are like virtual worksheets or quizzes that you can create and assign to your students quickly. Here's how it works:  1. Create Custom Practice Sets: You can craft personalised practice sets tailored to your lesson. Add questions of various types – multiple-choice, short answer, or even file attachments. The best part? You're in control, so you can make it as fun or challenging as you like. 2. Assign with a Click: Once your practice set is ready, it's time to share the knowledge! Just hit that "Assign" button, and Google Classroom takes care of the rest. 3. Instant Feedback: Here comes the real magic. As your students work on the practice sets, Google Classroom provides instant feedback on their answers. Students know right away if they're on the right track or need some extra help. 4. Adaptive Learning: This is wher...

  As a teacher embracing digital technologies, it's crucial to optimise your workflow to enhance both teacher efficiency and student digital literacies. One simple yet effective technique to achieve this is by utilising the 'bookmark hack.' This hack involves deleting the names of bookmarks in your browser, leaving only the logo/icon. In this blog post, we'll explore the advantages of this approach and provide a short tutorial on how to implement it. Advantages of the Bookmark Hack: 1. Save Screen Space: Removing bookmark names creates a visually cleaner and less cluttered browser interface, allowing you to view more bookmarks in a smaller space. This is especially beneficial if you have a large collection of bookmarks related to your teaching materials, resources, or professional development. 2. Faster Access: Without text cluttering the bookmarks bar, you can identify and access your desired bookmarks more quickly based on their recognisable logos or icons. This strea...

Greetings, fellow educators!  As a digital technologies teacher, I am passionate about empowering students with the necessary digital skills to thrive in our technology-driven world. Today, I want to share five interesting facts about Google Classroom – a powerful tool that can significantly enhance digital literacy in our students. 1. Seamless Integration with G Suite: Google Classroom seamlessly integrates with other G Suite applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. This feature allows students and teachers to collaborate, create, and share digital content effortlessly, fostering a collaborative learning environment. 2. Simplified Workflow: One of the most significant benefits of Google Classroom is its user-friendly interface, streamlining the teaching process. Teachers can easily create and distribute assignments, manage student submissions, and provide real-time feedback, making the digital learning experience more efficient and effective. 3. Time-saving mar...

In today's digital age, incorporating multimedia content in our teaching practices has become essential for engaging students effectively. YouTube, undoubtedly, offers a vast array of educational clips that can enhance the learning experience. However, we must also be mindful of the potential drawbacks, such as the collection of cookies and personalised data. In this brief post, we'll explore the benefits of opting for 'No Cookies' when using YouTube clips in the classroom, along with simple steps to do so. The advantages of 'No Cookies' for YouTube clips are plentiful. By disabling cookies, we protect our students' privacy, ensuring that their online activities remain anonymous. With increasing concerns about data breaches and digital privacy, this is an essential step in creating a safe and secure learning environment. Moreover, 'No Cookies' can promote a distraction-free educational experience. Without personalised suggestions, students are less l...

Remove.bg: A Powerful Tool for Teachers I'm a big fan of remove.bg, a website that uses artificial intelligence to automatically remove backgrounds from images. It's a great tool for teachers, and I use it almost every day - in fact, I have it bookmarked. Remove.bg has a number of features that make it a valuable tool for teachers. First, it's very easy to use. Just upload an image, and remove.bg will automatically remove the background in a few seconds. Second, the results are usually very good. remove.bg is able to remove even complex backgrounds with a high degree of accuracy. Third, remove.bg is free to use for up to 50 images per month. There are a few flaws with remove.bg. First, it doesn't always work perfectly. If the background is too complex, or if there are objects that are similar in colour to the background, remove.bg may not be able to remove the background completely. Second, remove.bg doesn't allow you to save the original image with the background r...