New(er) Features in GoogleDocs

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Some new options are available in GoogleDocs

In the past, GoogleDocs has been criticized for being somewhat of a lightweight when it comes to working on research papers. Typically, students would use Word to type the paper and then find some other option for generating bibliographies/works cited. Most people have heard of/used the Citation Machine at some point and many others have used EasyBib. Still others have fiddled away with the resources functions within Microsoft Word. EasyBib was really by far the best option of those three since it allows students more flexibility in finding and tracking their sources over multiple projects. It's easy to use and has been a stand-by of many English teachers for some time. 

I did an earlier demo on how to add EasyBib (or other apps) as a Google Chrome app. This allows students to access the EasyBib website and log in automatically using their Chrome profile. 

Now, GoogleDocs allows several options when it comes to research and works cited pages. There is a Google-based version that maximizes Google Search and Google Scholar allowing kids to search the web from within their document. There is also now the ability to use EasyBib as an "add-on" within the doc itself. The benefit of either is that students don't need to leave their document while working on it and waste time copying and pasting URLs. 

These features aren't only for high school students working on research papers. There are image search functions that allow kids to search for images while also learning to cite them when adding them to there work (21st Century Skills). So students using GoogleDocs for projects, flyers, or brochures may also use these new features. 

The add-ons are growing every day. If you find an add-on that works well for you, share it in the comments below. 

Check out this demo: 

Easy Diagrams and Brochures

 Problem: I need something for student brainstorming activities, students' project planning, or organizational activities. Students are on all kinds of different devices, what can I use? 

Solution: Lucid Chart 

Lucid Chart is a browser-based software tool that allows students and teachers to create simple and complex diagrams easily. Since it is browser-based, students can use any device that is connected to the internet. This frees up kids to work from school or home on projects without worrying about whether the computer at home has the right software. 

Here are some key features that make Lucid Chart a great tool:

• Even though it is browser-based, it integrates with Google Drive. This means students can start the project from Drive, save it there, and share it when it is grading time. 
•  Unlike many other tools that do essentially the same thing, Lucid Chart doesn't require students to create a free account and remember more passwords and login info. 
• The interface is drag-and-drop based. Students can easily move, resize, and edit objects and text. This is especially useful on smaller/mobile devices. 

Lucid Chart can be a simple and easy to use tool for the following activities: 

• Brainstorming
• Outlining or Note-taking
• Categorizing or Sorting
• Time-lining
• Planning or Designing Products or Processes

Here is a demo: 

Another Problem: I need a tool for creating brochures, a flyer,  an announcement or an invitation. I don't have Publisher -OR- my students have different devices. Do you have a suggestion? 

Solution: Lucidpress

Microsoft Publisher has been a favorite for the above tasks for some time due to its ability to take out the annoying formatting issues of creating the above products in a word processor. Publisher was one of the first to treat all objects and items as independent floating boxes that could be repositioned or resized without affecting other images or text. 

Currently, Word incorporates many of these features, but neither Word nor Publisher will help if you have students on an iPad. With many of our secondary subject teachers with a cart of Chromebooks, Office products won't be able to help. Additionally, they both have very complex interfaces that can be difficult for younger students to grasp. This, of course, is the trade off with having a software tool that can do so much. 

Enter Lucidpress- 

(Shout-out to Karen R for finding it and trying it out with her students)

Like Lucid Chart, Lucidpress is a browser-based tool that is free and will work anywhere a student has an internet connection. It is also integrates with Drive, so students do not need to create new profiles and remember passwords. The files can be stored in Google Drive and shared with teachers for Grading. 

Anything created can be printed, but this isn't the intention of the software. Digital brochures or flyers have the ability to be animated which takes the information to the next level. Students can have text, blocks, shapes or images move or act as buttons for links to websites. Students can also embed YouTube videos into their flyer or brochure which might link to a video of themselves performing, creating their project, or explaining their findings. 

Lucidpress works well for any assignments that are more creative and require students to use a desktop publisher. Products such as:

• Brochures
• Flyers
• Announcements
• Small Posters
• Handouts
• Invitations
• Visual Aids

Here is a demo:

Both of these tools have been added to your Google Drive under the Create button. Your students will find them there as well. 

As always, if you've used either of these tools and would like to share, please post a comment below.