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Weekly Tech Tips 25 April 2021

 Dear Friends,


I was really hoping to make it to the end of the year without having to open up Zoom again, but alas, it was not meant to be. If you haven’t opened up Zoom in a while there have been a couple of neat additions in the latest updates. I’ll show you below in this week’s……


WEEKLY TECH TIPS !!!

but first ...

Weekly Shortcuts 


This is an odd but potentially useful little shortcut that lets you zip back up to the search box while conducting searches. When you're looking at search results within a Google app on a computer, you can use the forward slash key (/) to jump back up to the box at the top of the page and start searching for something new. You kind of have to see  it or try it to see what I mean and see how useful it could be. According to Mr. Raphael at Android Intelligence though, “you've been able to accomplish the same thing for ages by hitting Ctrl-L and then typing your search query directly into Chrome's address bar” This works no matter what kind of computer or operating system you're using, and it work in the search boxes for:  Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Google Keep, Google Calendar, Google Maps, Google Photos, YouTube, and more. Open one of these and search for something. While looking at the results hit the forward slash and you should see what I mean. You don’t have to mouse your way back to the search bar, highlight, delete, and start a new search. Pretty cool.


Weekly Tech Tips

Zoom Updates:

If you haven’t updated (or even opened) Zoom in a while, you might want to make sure you have the latest version. Here’s how you check. Open up Zoom, login and click on your profile icon in the upper right of the screen and Check for Updates:

Zoom will let you know if you have the latest version or not. If not, download and install. The latest version has a few neat features that you and your students might enjoy.


Here are some of the new features:

Immersive View - Windows, macOS

Recreate the feel of your class or conference room by placing video participants onto a single virtual background. Participants are automatically placed onto provided scenes, but the host can upload their own custom background and adjust the arrangements as needed. This requires client version 5.6.3 or higher and works best when using Virtual Background, but not required

New annotation tool: Vanishing Pen - Windows, macOS, Linux

In addition to the arrow and spotlight tools, Vanishing Pen will allow the presenter to mark on the shared screen to highlight certain information, but the markings will fade away within a couple of seconds. This provides easier highlighting of information without having to undo or erase annotations. 

Auto-shapes for whiteboard annotation - Android, iOS

Easily create straight lines, rectangles, and ovals when annotating on the Zoom mobile apps (only on tablets).

Clearer Original Sound designation when on/off - Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

The in-meeting/webinar button for the Original Sound feature has been enhanced to provide a clearer designation of when the feature is on or off.

Enhancement to screen sharing Zoom windows - Windows, macOS

When sharing screen and allowing Zoom windows to be seen during the share, Zoom windows can be minimized.

Full emoji suite for Reactions - Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Any emoji available for Zoom chat can be used as a reaction in a meeting. The host can also restrict reactions to the standard set, or allow use of the full emoji suite. This feature requires client version 5.2.0 or higher.


This Week’s Apps and Resources

Not Tech but helpful and heartwarming especially at this time of year.

28 Educators Share their Best Teaching Advice

The message here is clear and something Dr. Rader used to always tell us; Develop Relationships with your Students!


Don’t forget that the Weekly Tech Tips are now all online for you to reference if you ever want to go back and look up something that caught your eye but can’t remember.

https://drwsweeklytechtips.blogspot.com/


Also please remember I have made a Google Certified Educator Level 1 Class for anyone and everyone. It is SELF-PACED. It is just sitting there for you to use whenever and however you wish. It is a series of exercises designed to prepare you for the Google Certified Educator Level 1 exam. The course is almost complete. You can join any time by going onGoogle Classroom and inputting class code: 76trm2u

or going here:

https://classroom.google.com/c/MTQ5Mjg3ODQ1MjZa?cjc=76trm2u

I will be making a new course soon to reflect the changes that Google has made to the apps and to the suite as a whole now that it is Google Workspace for Education. I should have that for you by mid-summer.


Have a great week!

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