Google Drive Workspaces

Workspaces are a great way to create a collection of documents you use often or need quick access to. I use it for times when I need to set up groups of files for Conference Presentations or tasks that require multiple files that I want to access quickly (not having to dig through Drive to find the created folders). Workspaces are only available to Google Workspace accounts (work, not personal accounts). Check out the details below to learn how to use this page to its fullest to keep you organized and working fast!

---

How to Work with the Workspaces:

Create a Workspace:

1. Click on “Workspaces” on the left in Google Drive.

2. Click on “Create workspace” next to the word Workspace on the Priority Page.

3. Name the space and click “Create”.

4. A new pop-up will ask you to choose files to add; some suggestions will come up, and you can click “Choose other files” to get more. Select from your Drive what you want to be added to this Workspace, click “Add Files”, and click “Done”.

5. Your new Workspace is now set! You can add and remove files anytime you wish. The “Add” button allows you to add new files to this Workspace, and if you click the Snowman, you will see “Remove from Workspace” on individual files.

6. When you are done with this Workspace and want to no longer see it, you can Hide or Remove it. Hide just tucks it away for later use, while Remove deletes it. No worries, your files are not removed from Drive, just from this visible “Bundle”.

7. If you hide the Workspace, you can find it later in the “Hidden workspaces” section at the bottom. These can be brought back for later use!

Head into your Drive and create a time-saving Workspace to organize your related content!

Create an Infographic with Gemini Notebook

With all the AI tools available, it is tough to choose what to use. Most are amazing, but Gemini Notebook stands out. Instead of working with a world of data and pulling from sometimes unverified sources, it pulls knowledge ONLY from the files YOU share with it! There is a lot to explore in this tool. Explore Gemini Notebook and see how awesome it is!

---

Create an Infographic:

1. Start by creating a new Gemini Notebook at notebook.google.com. 

2. Upload a few resources. These can be files from your Google Drive, PDFs you have, YouTube videos, websites you use, or any other files. Upload at least 3 files.

3. Click on the ”title box” in the center and customize your Notebook. You can make a notebook image and rename it here. Click ”Done” to save. 

4. Have Gemini Notebook create an infographic from your files. Make sure you have the files on the left checked to be included in the data for the image.

5. You can make this infographic fit your needs by selecting the style and options on this page. Type your prompt in the bottom box to give Notebook some direction in what you want the infographic to display. The more detailed you are, the better the image will fit your needs. Click “Generate” when you are done.

6. This will take a few minutes. One thing to keep in mind…you can only create 3 infographics per day. Once it is done, click the icon to the right.

7. You will be able to download this by clicking the 3 dots, then “Download”. 

8. If you do not see what you want, you can run it again and edit the prompt for more details on what you want.

If you want these directions in a document, click HERE!

 

Create Slides with Gemini

Google Gemini makes it even easier to create anything. After entering a descriptive prompt, you can have Gemini create Slide decks with ease. Then you can make the Slides your own.

---

Create a Slide Deck:

1. Open Google Gemini by going to gemini.google.com. 

2. Type in what you want the content of your slides to be. The more detailed you are, the better the slides.

3. Send this prompt to Gemini and wait while it creates.

4. You can preview your Slides. 

5. If you want this as your starting point, click the “Export” button, and these slides will be imported into your Google Drive.

6. Edit these slides. Make sure to check all content!

Important Reminder: You MUST check over all content Gemini creates. Check it for appropriateness and factual content. Gemini can be wrong and is just a tool to get a skeletal outline of your project!

Close Multiple Chromebook Tabs

Close Multiple Chromebook Tabs

Are your students’ Chromebooks getting laggy? It is probably due to the 75 tabs that are open. Don’t panic; there is an easy fix. 

• Right-click (2-finger press) one tab.

• Choose “Close other tabs” or “Close tabs to the right”.

Now you are working with a clean and fast Chromebook!

Curved Text

 Making text curve in Canva is Easy Peasy. Check out just how easy it is!

---

Steps:

1. Add text to your canvas.

2. Click on the text box and click on “Effects”. Under “Shape” choose “Curve”.

3. Use the slider to adjust the curve

4. With your EDU account, you will have access to some apps. Try the “Type Craft” app.  There are a ton of other 

More Canva Image tips & tricks HERE!

Mockups in Canva

Have you ever wanted to create an image and put something on a curved object like a mug or can? Canva can do this!

---

Steps:

1. Open a new project.

2. Click in the Search box and typ “Mockups”. 

3. Choose what you want to add your image on. There are mny categories. Drag this onto your canvas.

4. Drag your image onto the Image Placeholder in the canvas.

5. Done! Your image will follow the contours of your chosen object.

More Canva Image tips & tricks HERE!

Make an Image POP with Canva

Make an Image POP with Canva!

Make a focus part of an image pop!

---

1. Insert an image into your canvas.

2. Click the image and click “Edit”.

3. Choose “See All” from the Tools option. 

4. Choose “Magic Grab”. 

5. Then click all parts of the image to select them.

6. Place a rectangle over the image and make it cover the entire canvas.

7. Change the color to Black.

8. Right-click on the rectangle and choose “Layer”, then click “Send Backward”.

9. Adjust the transparency to fit your needs.

For all my Canva Image Tips & Tricks, click HERE!

Satellite Text Images

NASA has a cool site that lets you create words from letters derived from satellite images. Each letter is a satellite image that has an object shaped like the letter. This is worth taking a look at and creating a text masterpiece!

---

Create Text:

1. Head over to science.nasa.gov/specials/your-name-in-landsat.

2. Enter the text you want created in the box at the bottom of the page.

3. Click “Enter” to see your creation. If you want it changed, click “Enter” again to recreate.

4. If you want to keep it, click the Download icon and keep your creation as an image. You can also click the QR code icon to share this image with a QR code.

Start creating some awesome satellite-generated text images!

If you want these directions in a document, click HERE!

Google Vids Extension

There is a great extension for recording your screen, webcam, audio, or all of the above. The best part is that it uses Google Vids already within your Google Drive! Using the Google Vids Screen Recorder, you can capture your screen and camera with a single click right from Chrome’s extensions toolbar. It is easy to use and completely free!

Details:

• Capture high-quality video from your Chrome browser.

• Record up to 30 minutes.

• Seamlessly share and edit captures with Google Vids.

---

Record your Screen:

1. Install the Google Vids Screen Recorder.

2. I suggest you pin this extension to the toolbar. Click the puzzle piece and then click the pin icon to the right of the Google Vids icon.

3. Click on the Google Vids icon in your Chrome extensions toolbar. 

4. A new tab will open. Choose whether you want to record your screen, your screen and camera, just your camera, or just audio. Make sure to select the correct microphone and camera. Click “Next”.

5. Choose what you want to record: your entire desktop, a specific window, or just your current tab. Each has its benefits, but I tend to move from tab to tab, so I usually choose “Entire Screen”. Then choose the image you are recording and click “Share”.

6. Record your video by clicking “Start”. You can pause and restart as needed. Click “Finished” when done.

7. Review your clip. You can copy a link to your video and share it by clicking the “Share” button. You can also open this recording in Google Vids for advanced editing by clicking the “Edit in Vids” button.

Using the Google Vids Screen Recorder is easy, and it stores all your videos in your Google Drive for easy sharing and editing. Also, it links directly to Google Vids. For more details on editing in Vids, click HERE!

If you want these directions in a document, click HERE!

Cute Desk App

Are you looking for a way to spruce up your computer screen? Do you want some cool widgets on a tab to show the weather, your To-Do list, a calculator, timer, photos, or more? Check out cutedesk.app. It is free and easy to use, and it might be just what you are looking for.

---

Set Up Your Desktop:

1. Head over to cutedesk.app.

2. Click through the first couple of screens and then click the “Don’t show this again” and click “Start”.

3. The basic widgets are at the bottom. You can click to add or remove them from the screen. You can also click the app logo and see all the available widgets. 

4. Explore the tools and set up the ones you want.

5. You can bookmark this page, or set it as your “Start Page” in Chrome to come up when you open a new tab.

• Open Chrome Settings. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome, then select Settings.

• Click "On startup".

• Select "Open a specific page or set of pages" and click "Add a new page".

• Enter https://cutedesk.app and click “Add”. 

If you want these directions in a document, click HERE.