G Suite Training and Update on 2-Step Verification

G Suite Training

Have you ever wanted to be able to do "that one little thing" in an app but couldn't figure out quite how to do it? Would you like to have a Google Apps expert at your beck and call? The G Suite Training Extension is the perfect answer.

This free extension sits in the top right-hand corner of every G Suite (formerly Google Apps for Education) app ready to be called upon. It offers interactive training and walkthroughs without ever leaving your app screen...and it's searchable! Once it's installed, simply click the icon to open a menu of relevant, quick, and easy-to-follow lessons or enter keywords in the search bar to find exactly what you're looking for. Click here to download it now.

Update: 2-Step Verification 

I've heard a lot of positive feedback from teachers and staff about securing their Google accounts using 2-Step Verification. (Don't Get Scammed! 1/26/17) However, though they understand the need for adding the extra step, many still have concerns about not being able to receive a text message with the login code in a timely manner or carrying their codes around on a tiny piece of paper that could easily be lost. 

Shortly after posting that article, a colleague suggested that I try the Google Authenticator app. I've used it for a little over a month now and it really works quite well. In a nutshell, you set up 2-Step Verification on your computer, download the free app to your smartphone or tablet, and follow the directions to link it to your Google account. Then, when you log in to a new computer just open the app and type in the code. The unique code resets itself every 30 seconds and it works regardless of your ability to connect to the internet or find a cell signal.

Click here for more information about the Google Authenticator app.

Great New Updates to Google Classroom and Google Slides!

Google has posted some great new updates to both Classroom and Slides. 

First, teachers can now schedule assignments, questions, or announcements to post at a later date. The post will be automatically published to your class stream at the date & time that you set. See this video for quick and easy directions.

Next, Google Slides now features a Presenter Mode that allows for student Q & A on its own backchannel. It works much like Today's Meet without having to use a separate app. (See Q & A directions here.) A presenter Laser Pointer is also included in this update. Now you can call your students' attention to specific parts of your screen just by using your mouse or touchpad. 

(If you don't see the new options yet, don't worry, they're on the way. NKSD is on Google's Scheduled Release track so sometimes it takes a week or two to get the updates.)