Research in Google Docs - Using the Research Tool and NEW Easy Bib Add-on

Can Google Docs get any better?  They always seem to be coming out with new tools that make life easier.  I love how they are always changing for the better.

Today, Google just added Add-ons to their Docs and Sheets.  Add-ons are tools created by developer partners that add extra features to help you do your work.

One of the cool new Add-ons is by Easy Bib.  Easy Bib is an amazing tool to help you write bibliographies.  The new (free!) Add-on integrates into your Google Docs.  Once you install the Easy Bib Add-on, you can use it in each of your documents to help you create a perfectly formatted bibliography in APA, MLA, or Chicago styles.  It even indents the second line!

Here's a video on how to use the Add-on as well as how to use the Google Research Tool to find sources, insert them into your document, and cite the sources as footnotes.

Peer Review using Google Forms and the autoCrat Script

Students should always have feedback throughout their learning processes to help them grow and succeed.  This might be when they are writing essays, lab reports, or creating videos or other projects. Unfortunately, I don't always have all the time I would like to provide feedback, so occasionally I have students peer evaluate or review each other's work.  


In the past, I used to create rubrics and photocopy way too many papers so that each project could be evaluated by multiple other students.  This was such a waste of paper.  

Last  year, I decided to set up a Google form for students to fill out as they reviewed the work.  Then I used the autoCrat script to "mail merge" the information from the form into a nice document that was much easier to read then the spreadsheet.  This document is then automatically emailed to the student so they can review the feedback and continue working on their assignment.

I have created a screencast showing the step by step instructions on how to set this up and use the script.  (UPDATE:  Scripts are now gone b/c of the new version of sheets.  Click on this link instead for an autocrat tutorial.  The tutorial in this link is not the same form as in the below video, but it will help you use autocrat.  You may still want to watch the video below for ideas about this peer editing form.)

If you would like a copy of my spreadsheet (and form) and the merged document, click on the links below.  You can make copies of them which will save them into your Google Drive and then run the autoCrat script to set it up to use with your own students.

Click here for a copy of the spreadsheet and form.  

Click here for a copy of the merged document.

Save Time. Use Your Omnibox

The Omnibox is the search bar at the top of your Chrome Browser.  It does a lot more than just search for information or take you to your web site URL.

The Omnibox can be used as a timer, a calculator, search your google drive, and can even add events to your calendar.  

Timer

If you need a quick timer for a class activity, type timer and the amount of time into the Omnibox.  

It will start counting down.  You can even make the timer full screen by clicking on the blue image of "four corners" on the bottom right.

Calculator

Type in a problem to see it solved on a calculator.

Or just type in calculator.

You can even make line graphs....

and moving 3D graphs!

Search your Gmail (or Google Drive, YouTube, etc.)

To be able to use the omnibox to search your Gmail, you have to set it up in the Chrome settings.

1.  Go to settings.

2.  In the "Search" section, click on "Manage Search Engines".

3.  Scroll to the bottom to add your custom search engines.  

4.  In the first box, enter your new search name.  (Gmail, Drive, etc.)

5.  Then in the keyword box, enter in the letter or shortcut you want to use.  (g for Gmail, dr for Drive, etc.)  You can choose anything you want it to be.

6.  In the last box, enter in the web URL from below.

Gmail
Keyword: g
URL: https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/#apps/%s

Drive
Keyword: dr
https://docs.google.com/?hl=en&tab=bo#search/%s 

YouTube
Keyword: yt
URL: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%s&page={startPage?}&utm_source=opensearch

7.  Now, when you want to search your Gmail, Drive, or Youtube, type in a g (or dr or yt) into your Omnibox, followed by tab.  You will see this:

8.  All you have to do now, it type in what you want to search your Gmail (Drive or Youtube) for.

Add Google Calendar Events from Your Ominbox

To add a calendar event directly from your omnibox, you will do the same thing as above.  Go to settings, manage search engines, other search engines, and then add in the following:

Add Calendar EventKeyword:  cal
URL:  http://www.google.com/calendar/event?ctext=+%s+&action=TEMPLATE&pprop=HowCreated%3AQUICKADD

Now, to use it, type "cal" into the Omnibox and press tab.   

Then, type in the name of the event, the date, and time.  It will bring you to the calendar event add page.  And then you can choose your calendar, edit the event, and then save the event!

One Last Tip

Have you ever had too many tabs open, and want to easily and quickly switch back and forth between tabs?  Press "Control" and the Number "3" (If I want to open the third tab).  On a mac, press "Command" instead of "Control".

Maybe Just One More....

To open a tab that you accidentally closed, type "Control", "Shift", and "T".  (On a Mac:  "Command", "Shift", and "T")