Handy Google Search Tools

Google isn't the only search engine available, but over the years Google has developed a search engine designed to make our lives easier when it comes to finding the information we are looking for. Google uses a combination of the OneBox module which directly answers many queries without the user ever needing to click away to an external website, and the Knowledge Graph results that add extra layers of information to each search.

Below is a list of just a few of the Google Search tricks that may save you time in the future:

• Clock: This Google Search shortcut allows you to see what time it is in any major city around the world without ever having to leave the comfort of the Google homepage.
• Type: "time [location]". Example: time France
• 

• Sunset and Sunrise: These Google Search shortcuts allow you to find out what time the sun is due to rise and set on any given day in any given location.
• Type: "sunrise [location]". Example: sunrise France
• Type: "sunset [location]". Example: sunset France
• 

• Demographics: If you need to quickly know how many people live in a particular city, country, or even continent the first search shortcut will be useful for you. You can also look up the unemployment rate in any given location.
• Type: "population [location]". Example: population France
• Type: "unemployment rate [location]". Example: unemployment rate France
• 

• Translation: There is a whole section of Google dedicated to translating one language to another - the Google Translate tool. But you can also use a Search shortcut for single words or short phrases.
• Type: "translate [words] [language]". Example: translate read carefully french
• 

•  Timer: You can use Google as a timer if you don't have a stopwatch handy. You can set the timer either for a set amount of time or for a set time in the future.
• Type: "set timer to [time]". Example: set timer to 5 minutes
• Type: "set timer for [time]". Example: set timer for 19:00
• 

• Weather:  To obtain the basic weather forecast for a location without having to leave Google for another website, this shortcut should provide all of the necessary information.
• Type: "weather [location]". Example: weather Paris
• 

•  Define: For a quick dictionary look-up of a word, its pronunciation, etc. You can even click the speaker to hear an audio clip on the pronunciation.
• Type: "define [word]". Example: define pedagogy
• 

•  Conversion: You can translate various units of measurement.
• Type: "conversion [1] to [2]". Example: conversion yen to pound
• 

For more tricks for Google Search shortcuts, visit the following articles:
Google Search tips cheat sheet
"Are you SURE you know how to use Google?"
8 Google Search Tips to Keep Handy at all Times

Using Google Docs for Word Processing

Why Use Google Docs?

Microsoft Word has typically been the word processor of choice for most people, but there are many advantages to switching to Google Docs. Google Docs may not be as sophisticated as Word, but it is constantly improving. Just of the few advantages of using Google Docs:

• Cloud storage. Your ISU gmail account gives you access to a Google Drive which is a place to store your Google documents with the ability to access them from anywhere. This eliminates the need to save your files to a USB drive in order to access them from home or from the road. Just log in to your gmail account, access the Drive and there are your documents.
• Collaboration. You can share an entire folder or just a file with other people so that they can view and/or edit the documents. Google automatically saves documents whenever changes are made and gives you a list of the revisions that were made. See below for more information about Viewing Revision History. This sharing features makes it a great resource to use in the classroom as a collaboration tool for students. For more information on Google Docs Tips for Teachers check out this article: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-google-docs-tips-for-teachers-go-back-to-school/.
• Sharing files. Instead of attaching a document in your email or Moodle course, you can attach a url to the document. When the url is clicked on, it opens your document as a web page which eliminates the viewer from having to install the software such as Word to view it.

A Few Tips for Using Google Docs:

• Shortcut for Opening a new Google Doc: One big bother with using Google Docs is the steps it takes to start using it. You open a browser, log into your gmail account, click on Google Drive and then click on the Create button to open a new Google Doc. There is a trick that you can use that automatically opens up your browser to a fresh new Google Docs document...and you can run it straight from your desktop. Here's how to set it up:
• Right click on your desktop, select New, then Shortcut.
• For the location of the link, input this: https://docs.google.com/document/create
• When it asks for a shortcut name, type Create Google Doc or whatever else you want to call it.
• You can even change the icon for the new shortcut:
• Right click on the shortcut and select Properties
• Click the Web Document tab.
• Click Change icon.
• Select your desired icon.
•  Before you click on the shortcut, open your default browser so that it will open the new Google doc in a separate tab.
• File Revision History: Google Docs tracks every single change you make to your files and allows you to revert your file back to any past state instantly. Viewing revisions is easy to do. Just click File and the drop-down menu will give you the option to See Revision History. Click that and a pane with all past revisions will appear on the right of your screen. Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G to open the revision history.
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Google Docs has many keyboard shortcuts that will make your word processing easier. A few of the favorites are:
• Ctrl + Alt + C: Copies the formatting on the currently selected text. Easy to remember because it’s the same shortcut as copying except with Alt.
• Ctrl + Alt + V: Pastes the latest formatting that you copied. Easy to remember because it’s the same shortcut as pasting except with Alt.
• Ctrl + \: Clears the formatting on the currently selected text.  Great for removing bolds, underlines, italics, messed up headings and paragraph settings, etc.
• Tab and Shift + Tab: Obviously, Tab inserts indents. Shift + Tab removes indents. If you have text selected, these apply to the entire selection.
• Ctrl + Shift + C: Displays the word count stats for the current document. If you have text selected, it will also show stats for the selection only.
• For more short keyboard shortcuts, check out the full list of Google Docs shortcut commands for PC's and Mac's.

Conclusion

Google Docs has some catching up to do if it wants to be a complete alternative solution to Microsoft Word, but there are a number of great features that really shows its potential.

The 'Quiet' Online Student

We have all had quiet students in our classes. They are the students who don't raise their hand, don't participate in the class discussions, and are hesitant to offer their opinions. Quiet students can be found not only in face-to-face settings but also in the online environment. A student may be 'quiet' because they are an introvert and don't feel comfortable speaking in front of a group; they may be confused by the topic and don't want to show their ignorance; or they may need extra time to reflect on a subject before responding. The online classroom can provide many benefits to the 'quiet' student.

Dr. Curtis Bonk, professor of education at Indiana University and author of The World is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education describes several ways that an online learning environment can benefit the 'quiet' student:

1. Online learning allows the student time to think and compose a thoughtful response.
2. Students who are slow to respond may simply be giving other students the opportunity to go first. Online learning allows them to do this and still have the chance to be heard when they are ready.
3. Online learning allows those students who strive for perfection the time to refine their ideas before they are shared therefore taking some of the stress out of the activity.
4. An online class is a safe environment to share ideas because they can be edited unlike a face-to-face class in which once something has been said it cannot be taken back.
5. Creative expression can be amplified by tools available on the Web. Students are free to share their ideas through different formats.
6. Instructors have access to an abundant variety of course resources through open education that can supply the students with an academic space rich in video, audio, and pictorial resources instead of allowing text to be the predominate delivery method. (May 3, 2013, Quiet: Susan Cain on Introverted Students).

According to Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, the starting point for instructors is to view a quiet online student not as a passive, unresponsive person, but as a student with something to say and contribute if given the opportunity and the right environment.

Resources:

• Quiet: The Power of Introverts.com
• Tempting the lurkers out of the shadows of online learning, Paul Donovan
• A Heartfelt Note from a Humanities MOOC Professor, cchung90, Charlies Blog [this post highlights the value of online discussions].
• Six Ways Introverts Can be more Powerful, Susan Adams, Forbes.com
• The 'Quiet" Online Student: What it Means and How Educators Can Respond, Online Learning Insights blog, July 16, 2013

Tips for Successful Synchronous Online Learning

Planning and developing learning sessions that require both students and the instructor to be online at the same time (synchronous) can be challenging. Issues such as equipment failure, slow bandwidth, and missed cues can interfere with a synchronous learning session. The following are tips for facilitating a successful live learning session:

• Conduct an equipment check before the session. Always do a quick run through of your classroom setup (computers, cameras, software, etc.) 15 minutes before the session starts and have your students do the same. This not only ensures that everything is working properly, but also helps you gain a level of comfort with the technology you will be working with.
• Have a contingency plan for problems. Let your students know what the plan is in case they lose their connection or you do. For instance, you might want to tell your students that if a session is interrupted to wait 5 - 7 minutes before logging out to give you or other students ample time to get reconnected.
• Don't assume your students have everything under control. Require your students to do a software compatibility check before logging in. Your students may not be using the same computer device every time they log into the session, so if they switch devices they need to do the compatibility check for each new device. Devices such as an iPad may require them to download a special app to access the session.
• Schedule an informal "practice" session where students can get to the know the technology and each other before it is actually used for instruction. This will help you to identify any problems with the technology and any issues that the students might have with this type of learning.
• Keep the online session simple - don't try to use too many types of media, tools, applications and/or software during a session. Focus less on the technology itself, and more on creating an engaging, interesting learning environment.
• Experiment with different pieces of equipment. If your computer has a built-in microphone and/or camera test it for quality before the session. You may want to use an audio headset for better voice quality.
• Be sensitive of your students' learning styles and abilities. Some students may be able to move through information quickly and interact with fast moving chat sessions, while others need a slower pace and reinforcement. Give plenty of opportunities for students to ask questions and interact with the course content.
• Take advantage of the workshops and technical support on Collaborate offered through the ITRC.

Information adapted from "The 'Dos and Don'ts' of Synchronous Online Learning"
by Bridget McCrea.  Campus Technology. 05/08/13

Quality Matters Summer Camp Professional Development Opportunity

What is QM Summer Camp?
For just two hours a day July 22-26 faculty and staff can participate in 5 highly interactive and engaging sessions that provide strategies they can apply right away to their fall term classes. They can participate from any location they are able to access the Internet with their laptops- from the back porch, the veranda at the resort, maybe even by the pool! QM Live! Summer Camp workshops take only 2 hours per day allowing everyone plenty of time to relax over the summer.

QM Live! Summer Camp workshops focus on specific review standards of the Quality Matters Rubric. From each workshop session, participants will take away valuable tools and strategies for designing new courses or improving existing ones, reducing repetitive questions and providing students with a high quality learning environment. After connecting objectives to assessments, writing instructions, looking at instructional materials and learner interactions, the last day of camp pulls it all together to help you connect these dots for students in explaining where to go and what to do to get started.
When
QM Live! Summer Camp meets just 2 hours a day in Collaborate from July 22-26, 2013.

• 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ADT
• 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT
• 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. CDT
• 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MDT
• 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon PDT
• 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. AKDT
• 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. HADT
• 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Singapore

Fees
Subscribers can attend Camp for just $300, a $75 savings! Non-subscribers are $500. Pre-pay or receive an invoice when Camp closes. Your choice!
Questions?
Contact Nancy Ragias, QM Registrar for Higher Education: Nancy.Ragias@qualitymatters.org or 410-497-8043
Register now! Space is limited to 20 participants.

For questions about Quality Matters at ISU contact Lisa Kidder kiddlisa@isu.edu or 208-282-2502