Google Drive for iOS

Google has been working at upgrading what was formerly known as Google Docs. Their new and improved product is Google Drive. Drive is Google's cloud storage solution, very similar to Dropbox. You get 5GB of storage and can sync and manage files across multiple computers with a desktop app. A huge benefit to Drive over other solutions is the ability to collaborate on work from your computer and the Drive viewer which supports viewing a variety of file types like Adobe's Illustrator or CAD files without needing the software installed. Click here for more Drive features. 

Google has just updated its app for iPads and iPhones.In Google Drive's first release on the iPad/iPhone, you were only be able to view items that you had in Google Drive/Docs and edit the document's permissions. With the newest version, you can now create and edit documents too!

If you are collaborating with someone on a document, the app will continue to refresh every couple of seconds so that you have a similar experience as you do when collaborating on documents from your computer.

The app also supports richer presentations with animations and speakers notes so it has a great potential to lighten your load. If you haven't started using Google Drive yet and would like some help visit during out office hours or email itshelp@colgate.edu  and some one will get back to you.

Bookmarks and TOC in Google Docs

If you often work with a large document, you know that some times it can be difficult to navigate, especially if you aren't the only one working on it. Google provides two tools to make this navigation easier - Bookmarks and Table of Contents. Bookmarks can be defined within in a google document allowing you to create links to them within the document, enabling you to jump around and avoid scrolling . The Table of Contents tool relies on the document formatting and will convert all of the text designated as "Headings" into the topics of the Table of Contents. The topics generated are automatically linked to that section of the document.

I hope you found this post useful and if you'd like some help send an email to itshelp@colgate.edu. Here are some links to some Google help pages to get your started.

Table of contents

Bookmarks 

Power Searching with Google

I just wanted to pass along that Google is offering a six class course on internet searching. The search techniques and their application will be accompanied with activities to help practice. The first class is July 10, 2012. For more information and registration go to http://www.google.com/insidesearch/landing/powersearching.html.

E-books

There is a lot of chatter being generated about e-textbooks, some positive and some negative. Ultimately its up to you to decide where you fall on the spectrum but I want to share my feelings from what I have seen so far. For me the best way to describe e-books is "Dynamic"! I want to highlight a few features which I find useful but if you have any questions please leave comment. 

With some of the ebook readers, you can bookmark, highlight, look up definitions and even take notes right within the book. To make things even more convenient, all of the notes and comments are displayed right in the table of contents, which has made it very easy for me to review at a later time.  Most e-book readers also have a search feature which helps when you are trying to find those few key words or sentences but aren't quite sure where in the book you read them. I know when I was a student, I always avoided writing in my paper textbook because any perceived damage really hurt the buy-back value. 

Another really great feature of some e-book platforms is that your reading can be synchronized between devices.  For example,  I've started reading a book on my iPad and was able to pick up where I left off, while waiting for an oil change, on my iPhone and when I got home and turned on my iPad, the ebook was exactly where I left off on my phone - very cool! 

The last feature that I would like to highlight is that e-books can contain rich media instead of just text and images. Some of the books we have seen have videos, 3D models, dynamic charts and graphs, and high resolution images embedded right within the text on the pages. This content provides students with new ways to immerse themselves in what they are learning.

E-books are new and their platforms are constantly getting better. Schools are starting to partner with e-book publishers and are able to get even greater discounts on books making them a very affordable. Here is a link to Educause's "7 things to know about the Evolution of the Textbook". The article includes a usage scenario and covers pros, cons and implications of this format. 

If you would like to learn more about e-books ask your Instructional Technologist or email itshelp@colgate.edu

Google Docs Research Tool

Not too long ago Google released a research sidebar tool for Google Docs. It allows you to look up information while working on a Google Doc without having to open a new browser window. You enable it from the "Tools" menu and then do a general search or narrow the search down to images, scholar, or quotes.  Google even lets you filter your results by usage rights.   See picture on the right for a preview of what the tool looks like. 

Also right-clicking on any word in the document  and selecting "Research"  will display results in the sidebar regardless if the tool was on or off. If you look at the picture below you'll also the the ability to preview, insert a link and cite the link. If you cite the link it will automatically insert a footnote for you. 

View a short video on the research tool in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvsTdnHRYhM

As you get into using Google Docs and all of its collaborative features, keep this great research tool in mind. If you would to learn more about this tool ask your Instructional Technologist or email itshelp@colgate.edu

Google Forms

Google Forms is a tool that you can utilize to simplify the collection and organization of information. On campus we have used Forms as surveys, checklists, rosters, and a way to collect RSVPs. After you've created a form in Google Docs you share it and as people fill it out all the responses are collected in a spreadsheet by the same name. This saves having to sift through emails and manually creating a spreadsheet. I've linked a video of one of it's uses here at Colgate, and if you want more information on Forms or need help getting started send an email to itshelp@colgate.edu.

Google Tasks

There are several books out there on how to get things done and how to make to-do's that work. I found some to be very helpful and some that made a lot of sense but just weren't convenient enough that I could stick to them. So here is one that I like. Google along with all of its other features also offers Tasks, a way to keep track of what you need to do. I personally find Tasks very simple to use and they are accessible right from your email which is very convenient.

Here are some of the features I find useful:

• Converting emails into tasks
• Access Tasks from a mobile device
• Tasks with due dates automatically appear on you calendar
• Can have multiple tasks lists

For more information click here. If you would like assistance with Google Tasks email itshelp@colgate.edu

Google Drive at Colgate

Google Drive is now available at Colgate! Google Drive is a cloud storage solution a lot like DropBox and it will be taking over what is currently Google Docs. Don't be alarmed when you transition because your documents will all be in Google Drive. You start with 5GB and we are looking into ways of provisioning more storage as necessary.

Some Cool Features:

• Upload anything as long as you have space
• Google Drive Viewer can view multiple file types such as word, photoshop, autocad.....many more
• Accessible from mobile devices
• Desktop client for syncing files across multiple computers and devices

Here is an example of how it could work for you: You have an Adobe Photoshop file you want to present but the computer you will be presenting on doesn't have photoshop. You could either export the file as a picture and then email it to yourself or you could save the file to your Google Drive and use the viewer to show the file anywhere you have access to the Internet, including your mobile phone. And as a bonus Google will keep a revision history for you just in case you want to revert to a previous version.

As of this date Google Drive is available but requires you to take a few steps to upgrade Documents to Drive. If you would like to try Google Drive go to drive.google.com and click on "Get started with 5GB free". The link will take you through a series of prompts that will set up your drive and also provide you with a link to download the client for your computer. For more information on how to use Google Drive click here. If you would like additional help using Google Drive email itshelp@colgate.edu with your request. Also don't forget to tune into our webinar on Google drive August 29.

Digitizing Videos

One of the things that we have discussed regarding classroom workflow, is the amount of time spent preparing a video for class especially, if only showing clips and not full titles. Something that we recommended to a few faculty and which has worked well in these instances is digitizing the necessary video clips so they are ready to go for class. This saves having to queue up the DVD before class or spending time looking for it. This would also work with those youtube video clips that you saved after reading Zlatko's post on keepvid. A great tool for this is HandBrake.

With HandBrake you can digitize clips from dvd's and blu-ray disks into modern video formats. Handbrake is not limited to digitizing physical media such as DVD's and blu-rays, it can also convert existing files from older formats to newer formats that are compatible across more devices. With HandBrake you have a couple of options for selecting clips. The two easier ones are chapters and seconds. You can specify which chapters you want to digitize or a time range of the desired segment. HandBrake can also bring over subtitles if those are needed. If you would like to try it you can download a copy from handbrake.fr. If you would like additonal information and help using please contact itshelp@colgate.edu.

Digital Posters

Digital posters share the same goals as printed posters: to provide text and visual content in an informative, attractive and concise manner. The digital/virtual posters that we have done so far have been held in the library.  We do need a specialized room that is equipped with computers and additional projectors, (we are currently limited to Case-Geyer 501 and 560). Some of the benefits to the digital poster approach include: no submission limitations to printing, it's much greener, and we can display more than just powerpoint slides. One additional advantage that can be consider moving forward is the ability to include movies/ animations int he poster as opposed to static images. Click here for more information on the digital/virtual posters.

We just wanted to make everyone aware of this option so that if you decided that you would like to have your students do a poster you are not limited to the poster printing schedule. If you would like more information about posters please visit our academic poster site or contact itshelp@colgate.edu and request more information. 

Using Webex to Extend the Classroom

Webex is an online meeting tool. It supports 25 simultaneous video/audio connections and provides the ability to share individual user's applications and multimedia files. At Colgate we host meetings, academic classes, and office hours with Webex. We do not want to replace face time but for those times that you are away and still want to hold a class this tool is very useful. Here is a video of Professor Burnett using it for office hours.


If you want to know more about it contact itshelp@colgate.edu or visit your instructional technologist during office hours. Office hour Schedule.