Learn Lead Grow: April 2017

3 Tips and Tricks to Manage Tabs in Chrome

Do you use the Chrome Browser? If you do, here are three tips and tricks to help you with managing your tabs in Chrome.

Tip 1 - Pin Tab Feature

Do you have a tab or tabs that you are going to be using all day? I often use the Pin Tab feature when I make presentations so that I don't accidentally close out of a tab. Even if you close Chrome, your pinned tab will still be there if you reopen your browser. Just right click on the tab that you would like to pin and choose "Pin Tab."

Tip 2 - Open a Recently Closed Tab

Have you ever accidentally closed out of a tab? Instead of searching through your browsing history or retyping the URL, use the following shortcut to open a recently closed tab:

Tip 3 - Open Specific Pages to Start

Do you want a specific set of pages to open up when you open up your Chrome browser? If you open up your Settings in Chrome, you can choose "Open a specific page or set of pages" in the "On startup" section in Settings. Choose Set pages and enter the URL of the pages you would like to visit upon startup.

SeeSaw + Google Drive = Awesome Possibilities

SeeSaw is a free digital portfolio too to give students the ability to express their knowledge in different ways through written text, drawings, images, video and web links.

SeeSaw just launched a new feature to share files from Google Drive!

Here's how it works:

Step 1 - Click on the Add button and choose Add File.

Step 2 - You can now choose to add files from Google Drive.

Step 3 - Add your files from Google Drive. SeeSaw converts your file into a PDF copy, which can be shared with others and annotated!

Want to watch it in action? Check out this quick video from SeeSaw!

Conclusion:

I must admit, I really like this feature because it allows parents to see how their students are using Google Tools to create and showcase learning without the hassle. Many of the teachers that I work with have been asking for this feature for a very long time.

You are NOT your...

It is hard to believe that I am on month five of my leadership to interview 50 leaders in one year. As of today, I have interviewed 27 different leaders. Although some are in business, others in education, and others in the non-profit sector, they share many different similarities and themes.

Know Who You Are

In every interview that I have had, each leader has stated the importance of knowing who you are. Ironically, this lesson became quite clear to me while taking my eleven-year-old daughter out to breakfast during this past weekend. She and I talked about troubles that she was having at school.

At one point in the conversation, I asked her to fill in the blank:

You are NOT your ___________.

How about you? How could you fill in the blank? You are NOT your job title...bad day...college degree....promotion....lack of promotion....divorce....difficulties. You are so much more! You were created to serve in a way that cannot be confined by a label.

I recently heard a speaker, who stated "You are not what others do to you. You are what you do to yourself." How often do we allow the words, thoughts, and actions of others

Who Are You?

How do you typically introduce yourself to a new person? If you are like me, you introduce yourself by your job title, where you live. Is your value

How often do we tie our value to another's opinion of our value, performance, or potential?

If you could never work again, who are you? If you could never earn another dollar, receive another promotion, earn another degree, or receive another compliment....who are you? This is an important aspect of effective leadership.

Effective leaders know who they are and they have outlets, support networks, and hobbies outside of work. They effectively balance the challenges of leadership with friendship, fellowship, and family. Take away their title or job and they will still thrive.

Take-Away

So, I have to ask you, who are you? Who are you without all of the stuff? Who are you without the titles, the recognition, or qualifications? It's a very difficult, yet important, question to ask.

Drawing to Learn through Google AutoDraw

Brain research is crystal clear that the way students learn is highly variable; however, have we started to make adjustments in our instructional style to address variability?

Drawing is an important and under-appreciated aspect of learning. How often do we restrict the ways students respond? In our highly digital classrooms, it can be difficult to find easy-to-use and free tools to help students draw content. Google AutoDraw is a new web-based tool available on any device that pairs artificial intelligence and drawings created by you. Here is how it works.

Step 1: Open Google AutoDraw

Visit Google AutoDraw on the web on any device!

Step 2: Create

Use the drawing tools to draw, create shapes, or add text. If you use the AutoDraw tool, Google will try to identify your object and provide you with suggested images that you can use instead.

Step 3: Download or Share

Google AutoDraw provides you with the option to download your image or share via a link or social media.

Conclusion

This tool provides you with so many possibilities in the classroom! Solve math problems, illustrate concepts, define vocabulary words, create timelines, etc. The possibilities are endless!

12 Things You May Not Know About Google Photos (and Cheat Sheet)

Google Photos is a popular way of backing up your images and videos; however, it offers many creative solutions as well. Here are 12 things you may not know about Google Photos:

Anything uploaded to Google Photos is automatically private as default. Items can be seen by others ONLY when shared.

High Quality photos uploaded via Google Photos have unlimited storage space.

You can search by a person's face, the location of your photos, or even a word - like "skyline."

Google Photos is available on multiple devices. Whether you are using the web or your favorite Android or iOS device.

You can set up Automatic Sync (in Settings) on your device to automatically back up your photos to Google Photos.

You can create albums, shared albums, animations, and collages on any device.

Google Photos can create movies with music on the mobile version (iOS and Android)

Items uploaded via Google Photos DO count against your Google Drive storage quota if they are stored in "Original Quality" or uploaded via Google Drive.
The Assistant Feature is a helpful feature for creating new items. Google Photos even creates and offers suggestions for sample items.