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As the school year winds down, most teachers go through some sort of check-out procedure for their physical classrooms, making sure everything is properly organized or put away for the summer. In much the same way, you may want to do some clean-up and close-out steps for your digital classroom ... Google Classroom.

Google Classroom is a powerful tool to help you and your students collaborate and communicate, but when used year after year, it can start to become a bit of a mess and a management challenge. To help with this, there are several suggestions to consider for Classroom when wrapping up the school year.

See below for six steps that may help you clean up your Classroom as you transition from one school year to the next. However, keep in mind these are all just suggestions and each is optional. While some may not apply to your situation, hopefully several will assist you in keeping your Classroom organized, clutter-free, and efficient for a new year.

(Note: The video below is from 2019 but the content is still relevant. I have updated a few of the images in the written directions to reflect some minor changes, such as "To do" now being called "To review".)

Resources

Podcast Version: (Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast tool.)

Video Version: (subscribe on YouTube)

Tip #1 - Return all student work

One of the great features of Google Classroom is how it streamlines the process for turning in work. When a student turns in an assignment, Google automatically changes the sharing permissions on the file (or files), making you the owner and reducing the student's rights to view-only. This is helpful for grading, but you don't want to leave it this way.

When done grading an assignment you want to make sure to return the files to your students, so the ownership of the files will revert back to the students. This is especially critical if later you decide to clean up your Drive and delete old files. If you are still the owner of the students' work, when you delete it, you are really deleting the file. However, if you have returned the files, you are no longer the owner, so if you delete them, all it does is remove them from your Drive.

So, one of the first tips to consider is to make sure you have properly returned all the Classroom assignments to your students. One way to do this would be:

Click the menu button in the top left corner of Classroom

Choose "To review" from the drop-down menu.

This will show you all of the assignments from all of your classes.

You can narrow it down to just one class at a time if needed by choosing a class from the "All classes" drop-down menu at the top.

For each assignment you can click on the "Turned in" link to view the student submissions.

You can now look for any student work that is marked as "Turned in" rather than "Graded".

Select those students, add a grade if still needed, and click the "Return" button at the top to return them to the students.

When done checking an assignment you can go back to the "To review" page and move it into the "Reviewed" section by clicking the three-dots menu and choosing "Mark as reviewed".

Repeat as needed.

Tip #2 - Un-enroll students from old classes

Another possible clean-up step is to remove students from the old classes. This may be an option for you if you prefer not to have students accessing content from your class in the future.

For example, this could be for academic integrity issues if you do not want students showing certain course content to new classes in future years. Of course, no cheating-prevention solution is guaranteed, as students can always find many ways around preventative measures. Still though, it is an option that may help.

If you decide you would like to unenroll students from old courses, you can do the following:

Open the course and go to the "People" tab.

Check the box at the top of the "Students" section to select all the students in the class.

Click the "Actions" button.

Choose "Remove" from the drop-down menu.

Tip #3 - Archive old classes

When you are done with a class, a good way to clean up Classroom is to archive the old classes. Archiving is a process that:

Removes the class from your main Classroom home page (making your page cleaner and easier to navigate).

Freezes the class so no new changes can be made to it (especially helpful if you choose not to remove students from the old classes).

Still allows you to copy and reuse old posts and assignments from the archived class in your new classes.

To archive an old class, do the following:

Go to the home page of Classroom

Click the three-dots menu in the top right corner of the "card" for the class you wish to archive.

Then click "Archive" from the drop-down menu.

You will now get a pop-up window asking you to verify that you want to archive the class. Click "Archive" again to verify.

If you ever need to un-archive a class, you can do so as follows:

From the home page of Classroom, click the menu button in the top left.

Scroll down to the bottom of the drop-down menu and choose "Archived Classes".

Click the three-dots menu in the top right corner of the "card" for the class you wish to un-archive.

Then click "Restore" from the drop-down menu.

You will now get a pop-up window asking you to verify that you want to restore the class. Click "Restore" again to verify.

Not only will archiving old classes help keep your Classroom screen clean, but it will also help your students. As the students start back for a new school year, they will not get distracted by classes from the previous year, but instead can easily jump right into this year's content.

Tip #4 - Remove old class calendars

When you create a class in Google Classroom, and then make assignments with due dates, this automatically creates a Google Calendar for the class. This is a convenient way for your and your students to go to Google Calendar and see upcoming due dates for classwork and projects throughout the course of the school year.

However, when the year is over and the class is done, you don't really need that calendar showing up anymore. If you have a number of classes, they can quickly clutter up your calendar list. Thankfully there are a couple of easy options for removing the calendars for old classes.

Go to Google Calendar.

You should see the names of your classes in the list under "My calendars" on the left side of the screen.

To remove an old class calendar you will need to access that calendar's settings.

Click the three-dots button to the right of the class name in the "My calendars" list.

If you just want to hide the class calendar from your list, simply click "Hide from list".

If instead you want to delete the calendar, click "Settings and sharing".

You can now scroll down to the bottom of the calendar details screen and in the "Remove calendar" section click "Delete".

This will open a pop-up window asking you to confirm the deletion.

Tip #5 - Move old class folders in Drive

Because Google Classroom automates the sharing and collaborating process, it is easy to forget what is actually going on behind the scenes in Google Drive. For each class you create in Google Classroom, a folder gets created in your Google Drive where all of the assignment documents and other files are stored.

Now you may never open that Classroom folder in Drive, so this tip may not apply to you at all. However, you may choose to browse that folder as another option for easy access to all your students' submitted work. If that is the case, the "Classroom" folder in your Drive can get pretty crowded over the years.

If it helps, you are allowed to move class folders to a new location in your Drive, so only the current class folders are easily visible. Here's how:

Go to Google Drive and select the "Classroom" folder.

If you do not already have a place to move the old class folders, create a new folder by clicking "New" and "Folder".

Name it something like "Archive" or "Old Classes" or such.

You can now simply drag and drop the old class folders into the new folder you have created.

Moving class folders does not interfere with their use in Google Classroom in any way. It simply cleans up your "Classroom" folder to make it easier for you to find current classes, if so desired.

Tip #6 - Remove old class files from "Shared with me" in Drive

When files get shared as part of a Classroom assignment, sometimes the files will also show up in the " Shared with me" area of your Google Drive. If you have a lots of students and lot of assignments, this can cause quite a mess in "Shared with me".

Now I am of the philosophy that it is not really worth the fight to try to keep "Shared with me" clean or organized in any way. I tend to think of it as Grand Central Station and just accept the fact that it will always be a mess.

However, if you really want to clean up "Shared with me" you are allowed to remove files from there. So you may want to consider getting rid of old files from this year's classes.

First though, two quick but important notes:

Make sure you have returned all the assignments to your students first before you delete anything out of "Shared with me" (see Tip #1 above). Remember that you actually become the owner of a file when a student turns it into you. If you have not returned the file yet, then you are technically the owner of the file, and if you delete the file, it really gets deleted.

On the other hand, if you are not the owner of a file, and you delete it from "Shared with me" it does not really delete the file. It simply removes it from the "Shared with me" list. The file will still show up in your "Classroom" folders, even when you remove it from "Shared with me".

To remove a file from "Shared with me" do the following:

Go to Google Drive.

Click "Shared with me" on the left.

Select the file (or files) you wish to remove.

Now you can click on the "Remove" icon in the top toolbar (looks like a trashcan).

Or right-click on the file(s) and choose "Remove".

The file(s) will now be removed from "Shared with me".

BONUS: Delete Old Classroom Bookmarks

Here is an extra bonus piece of advice I got from a good friend. Sometimes we try to make navigation easier for our students my having them add a bookmark directly to our Classroom page, rather than the Classroom site in general. That can certainly help save a click or two on a day to day basis, but can become confusing the next year when that class is no longer active.

If you have a practice of having your students add bookmarks for you Classroom page, also be sure to have an end-of-year practice of reminding your students to delete those old bookmarks. Again, this will help for a much smoother launch in the new school year.

Google Classroom is a wonderful tool to help you and your students share documents, have discussions, access resources, and more. However, even something as useful as Classroom can become cluttered and less efficient if we fail to manage it well. Hopefully some of the tips shared above will be useful for you, and will help keep your Classroom running smoothly.

If you have other suggestions for end-of-year clean-up and management of Classroom, please share them in the comments below.

Post by Eric Curts. Bring me to your school, organization, or conference with over 50 PD sessions to choose from. Connect with me on Twitter at twitter.com/ericcurts

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End-Of-Year Google Classroom Clean-up Tips

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As the school year winds down, most teachers go through some sort of check-out procedure for their physical classrooms, making sure everything is properly organized or put away for the summer. In much the same way, you may want to do some clean-up and close-out steps for your digital classroom ...

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It's that time of year again! As many teachers begin to wrap up the end of the school year and prepare for summer, let's make sure everything is clean and organized!

I've put together some Google Classroom cleanup tips for the end of the year!

Google Classroom and Google Drive can get quite messy throughout the school year, and you want to get everything cleaned up and set up for success in the next school year.

Now that even more teachers are using Google Classroom and planning for whatever the new normal is in the fall, it's even more important to take the time to reflect, cleanup, and plan!

Let's go all Marie Kondo and tidy up this mess!

Listen to the article:

This episode is sponsored by Fluency Tutor.

Introducing Fluency Tutor; an App for Google Chrome that helps students improve reading fluency while saving busy teachers valuable time. Fluency Tutor fosters independent reading practice, while helping educators provide personalized instruction and tracking of student progress throughout the school year. And because it's web-based, it's great for remote learning!

Texthelp, the makers of Fluency Tutor, are offering it for free through the end of the school year.
Visit: text.help/shakeupreading
Shoutout

I'd like to give a shoutout to all of the participants in the Shake Up Learning book study for leaders! Y'all rock!

If you'd like to participate in our next FREE book study, sign up here. (Starts June 18th)

Quick Tip of the Week

From Google Drive on the desktop, you can preview files without having to open them in a new tab by selecting the file and hitting "P" on the keyboard. This is great for checking information in a document without having to open and close new tabs.
Watch this 2-minute video to learn how!
Below are six tips to help you clean up Google Classroom and prepare for the next school year.

Tip #1: Reflect on the Year

First things first, before you get all happy with the delete and archive buttons, I suggest you take the time to reflect so that you have a good idea of the files you want to keep, the lessons you want to improve and repeat, and those lessons and activities that totally bombed!

Reflection is a critical part of the lesson plan cycle.

Ideally, you want to reflect immediately following the lesson or activity.

However, teaching all day, lunch duty, bus duty, parent meetings, and staff development (among a million other things) doesn't always give you the time you need for reflection. And given the fact that so many teachers just learned how to teach from home, there's even more reason to reflect on the experience.

So take a breath, take some time to look through your Google Classroom assignments, their coordinating folders in Google Drive, and that pesky calendar.

What went well? What do you want to do differently next year?

Think about what went well PRE-COVID, and what went well during COVID-19 school closures. We need to be prepared for all possibilities.

Did you give too much or too little time for projects? How engaged were students at home?

Make some notes, digital or paper, before you get into cleaning mode!

Something else I want to encourage you to think about during this reflection time is how you used Google Classroom and G Suite tools in your classroom.

Did you use digital tools to substitute for what you did on paper? Or did you go further?

Did you take advantage of the collaborative features of G Suite? If so, how, and how can you improve? If not, why not?

If you have been uploading your PDF worksheets and Microsoft Office files into Google Classroom, did it transform the learning in any way? How might you move forward next year and take advantage of all Google has to offer?

If you want to learn more about using G Suite in your classroom, consider taking an online course, or even getting Google Certified!

Tips #2: Check Your "To Do" List in Google Classroom

Open up your "To Do" list in Google Classroom to see what work you need to review, grade, or return.

You can view all your classes at once, or use the drop down at the top to filter this list by class.

Depending on how much clean up you have to do, you can approach this in a few different ways.

You can open up each assignment individually if you have several assignments left to grade and return. (Remember, the using the Control key on your keyboard when you click will open the page in a new window.)

You can also click on the three dots to "mark as reviewed." Marking as reviewed is just a way of moving assignments to the "reviewed" tab so you can clearly see what is left to do. Students will not be affected.

Tip #3: Clean Up Folders

One of the beautiful things about using Google Classroom is how it automagically connects to Google Drive and creates folders for each of your assignments.

Well, not that class has ended, you need to decide what to do with all of those folders and files.

Your earlier reflection should help you decide how to handle these files.

FIRST - DO NOT DELETE THE CLASSROOM FOLDER!

I repeat, DO NOT delete the Classroom folder from your Drive!

This folder is automatically created when you create your first class in Classroom and can be difficult to get back so leave it alone.

What you can do is move or delete the sub-folders and files that are contained in that Classroom folder.

This will be a personal preference kind of thing.

You can delete if you REALLY want to, but keep in mind that you have UNLIMITED storage in your Drive so you can be a pack rat if you want.

Personally, I like to curate exemplary work into a new folder to reference or share later.

I also like to create master folders for each school year, like "2018-2019 Classes." You can create a folder like this in your Drive, or even as a sub-folder within the Classroom folder. Then just click and drag to move things around.

Tip #4: What to Do with All Those Calendars!

Another fantastic feature of Google Classroom is the way it creates a Google Calendar for each of your classes and adds due dates!

But when you go to Google Calendar, your list of calendars is cluttered with classes that you don't teach anymore.

If this drives you crazy, you can delete those calendars from your list.

However, consider printing your class calendar to a PDF, or take a screenshot so you can reference your due dates when planning next year. (Tip: choose the schedule view so you can see the dates in a list.)

Tip #5: Set Up a Class Template for Next Year

Did you know you can copy an entire class in Google Classroom?

1. Open your Google Calendar and go to the setting icon near the top-right and click "Settings."

2. Scroll down until you see your list of calendars on the left and click on the calendar you wish to delete.

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Delete," and then confirm you want to permanently delete.

When you do so, it will copy almost everything and save your assignments as drafts so you can easily reschedule.

This is a huge time-saver for the beginning of school, so why not create your ideal class template while everything is still fresh on the brain?

My advice is to make a copy of your class and edit it to be your "template," that you can reuse year after year.

I have step-by-step directions for setting up your own class template in this post.

See also: How to Create a Reusable Class Template in Google Classroom

Tip #6: Archive Classes

Last, but certainly not least, you can archive your classes in Google Classroom.

This tip is last in the list because you want to make sure you have taken care of all of the things mentioned above before you are ready to archive.

To archive a class, go to your Google Classroom homepage and click on the three dots on the class card, then choose "Archive."

You will receive a quick warning about what this means.

Click "Archive" to confirm.

Archival is great because it moves the class out of your list, but it can always be accessed or restored if you need it.

Go to your main menu (three lines) and scroll down to the bottom and select "Archive" to see your archived classes. You can also copy, restore, or delete them from here.

What would you add to this list?

Ready to Learn More About Google Classroom?

Perfect for the beginner to intermediate skill levels! Consider this your video guide to Google Classroom!

Learn All About the Course

Who Should Join the Google Classroom Master Class?

Beginners can learn everything they need to get started.

Intermediate level users can focus on learning more advanced features, tips and tricks, and best practices.

Go at your own pace.

Let's dig in! This class is for all skill levels!

What's Included in the Google Classroom Master Class?

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© Shake Up Learning 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.
Click here to learn more and to ENROLL TODAY! Learn more: GSuiteTrainingforSchools.com

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Google Classroom Cleanup Tips for the End of the Year

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I've put together some Google Classroom cleanup tips for the end of the year! Google Classroom can get quite messy throughout the school year, and you want to get everything cleaned up and set up for success in the next school year. Let's go all Marie Kondo and tidy up this mess!

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Take the next step with the Educator Level 2 Certification

Validate your expertise and advanced technology integration skills with the Educator Level 2 Certification. Completing the certification earns you a badge that helps you stand out on your resume, portfolio, website, and more.

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Product expertise | Teacher Center | Google for Education

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Validate your expertise and advanced technology integration skills with the Educator Level 2 Certification. Completing the certification earns you a badge that helps you stand out on your resume, portfolio, website, and more.

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3 Easy Strategies to Organize Google Classroom

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3 Easy Strategies to Organize Google Classroom

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5 easy strategies to organize your Google Classroom

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Is your Google Classroom a mess? An organizational disaster? Use these five strategies to get a handle on it!Let’s be honest. Your Google Classroom is a

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10 Ways Google Certification Can Support Remote Learning

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10 Ways Google Certification Can Support Remote Learning

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Sink or swim, teachers and educators across the globe have clung to tools like Google Classroom and Google Meet to survive

school closures and remote learning.

Building capacity and increasing your Google skills is more important than ever.

Google Certification changed my thinking, my career, and gave me the skills to teach and learn online.

Teachers need the skills and confidence to survive the new normal.

Let's dive into 10 Ways Google Certification Can Support Remote Learning.

Shoutout

I'd like to give Todd Hausmann a shoutout for sharing his kindness choice board for Kindness Week. Check it out here.
Listen to this article:

This episode is sponsored by Fluency Tutor.

Introducing Fluency Tutor; an App for Google Chrome that helps students improve reading fluency while saving busy teachers valuable time. Fluency Tutor fosters independent reading practice, while helping educators provide personalized instruction and tracking of student progress throughout the school year. And because it's web-based, it's great for remote learning!

Texthelp, the makers of Fluency Tutor ,are offering it for free through the end of the school year.
Visit: text.help/shakeupreading
Quick Tip of the Week

This week's tip is for one of my favorite Google tools, Google Slides! Use Control + D (Command + D on a Mac) to duplicate a slide. You must have the slide selected in the left-hand slide sorter first! You can also use this keyboard shortcut to duplicate objects on the slide, like a text box, shape, or image. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! I use this ALL THE TIME!
Watch this 2-minute video to learn how!
All quick tips can be found on this page.

Remote learning has forced educators across the globe to learn on the fly and use digital tools in new ways, often tools they've never even used before. We have a golden opportunity before us. Educational technology has never been more important, and digital learning skills for teachers and students have moved from nice to have to must-have skills in order to survive remote learning, or whatever hybrid stands before us in the remnants of COVID-19.

I became a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator in 2014, and it changed everything for me as an educator. ( Hear my story in episode 39.) I don't work for Google. They don't pay me any money to share Google tips and strategies. I found easy-to-use tools that are free, readily accessible from any device, and the potential to change classrooms.

Fast forward to the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. Teachers, administrators, parents, and everyone in between suddenly found themselves leaning on G Suite tools and other digital resources like never before. This is survival mode. We were not prepared, nor did we receive much training in preparation for school closures.

But amid the chaos and fears, something amazing happened. Teachers stepped up in the biggest way that I have ever seen. Even teachers who resisted technology often hated it and were resentful about any technology or training available saw the light. There was no alternative, virtual learning, and digital communication skills became a priority.

I am in awe of my fellow teachers. You were given a brand new job, something no one has done before, and you did everything you could to help your students. I guarantee you that other professions wouldn't have adapted so quickly. This is why I love educators. There's a depth and heart to this profession that often undervalued.

Many teachers and schools were already using G Suite, especially Google Classroom. But teachers were desperate for help, training, tips, pretty much anything they could get their hands-on. I rushed to create FREE Google Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students. I've never finished cheat sheets that fast, nor have I ever created 54 pages and called it a cheat sheet! I knew this resource would help get us through the school year, but it's not enough. Teachers need more than survival skills, not just because of the unknown reality of COVID-19 and remote learning, but because technology isn't going anywhere!

I've been preaching this for years. I knew when I got my masters in edtech in 2007; I couldn't go wrong. This is my passion, and the door is open for me to reach even the most resistant audience.

The Google Certification program is more than just a badge or certificate. It's a journey, a process.

What is the Google Certification Program?

Google offers three certifications specifically for educators, Google Certified Educator Level 1, Google Certified Educator Level 2, Google Certified Trainer, and Google Certified Innovator. The Certified Educator program is designed to help teachers learn how to use Google tools through blended learning models. Google Certified Trainers and Innovators are leadership programs for those ready to lead professional development and change in their schools.
Learn more about Google Certifications in this FREE Webinar.
When I first started discussing the Google Certification program with school leaders, we talked about the skills and not worrying about the stress of passing the exam. Teachers don't need any more stress right now. But then I discovered that many teachers WANT to take the exam and prove their skills right now, which is FANTASTIC. Either way, the program will help teachers prepare for digital learning with G Suite tools, whether it is blended learning in a physical classroom, or some version of virtual and remote learning.

Below are the original 10 Reasons to Become a Google Certified Educator, but I am adding a remote learning twist to help schools better understand how the program can help right now. 10 Ways Google Certification Can Support Remote Learning

1. Gain Confidence with Digital Learning Strategies and Google Tools

You don't know what you don't know! And there is always something new to learn about Google tools! Even if you are an experienced G Suite user, you will learn something new, including new ways to use G Suite in the classroom. The more you know and use these tools, the more confident you will be in your own classroom and teaching others.

No one has ever come out of the Level 1 training and said, "I knew all that," and if they did, they'd at least be fibbing a little. We can't know it all and retain it all at once.

The more teachers know and understand G Suite, cloud computing, and using Google tools FOR learning, the more confidence they will have to do more. Confidence cannot be undersold! This makes all the difference in the world when it comes to technology integration and remote learning. Even teachers that I know have had the skills for years, don't have confidence, and proving their skills through the certification program changed everything.

2. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

The Google Certified Educator program isn't just about the technology; it is learning how to use these tools to facilitate meaningful learning experiences for your students. Through this program, you will learn how to use G Suite tools to support and deepen learning in your classroom, as well as ideas for inspiring creativity in your students.

Now that we are wrapping up the school year, muddling our way through this remote learning thing, and whatever requirements were given to us by our country, state, and school districts, we can reflect on the process. What worked? What didn't? How can we improve? How can we create more meaningful learning experiences now that we know what to expect?

The Google Certified Educator program is focused on learning, not on the technology. How to use G Suite tools to assess, give feedback, and facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. One thing is certainly clear. Those that have clung to old-school static lessons, and then tried to replicate in a digital environment DID NOT engage their students. It's not about taking our old ways and putting them online in Google Classroom; it's about rethinking our assignments.

3. Create a Paperless Classroom

Going paperless is easier said than done. G Suite tools can help you learn how to create a paperless classroom and improve your digital workflow and grading. And now, we've had to get extra creative with our paperless approach. Don't forget that many students haven't had access to computers or the Internet during this time, so paper packets still went home. However, I believe the gaps in digital equity are in the spotlight, and while it's not ideal in every community, we are making great strides.

4. Collect Data and Increase Feedback Loops

Assessment data is a critical part of any classroom! Using Google Forms and Google Sheets, you will learn how to collect all kinds of data from your students and improve feedback.

During remote learning, traditional grading went out of the window in many places, and suddenly feedback was at the forefront of, as it should have been all along. Teachers can learn how to use G Suite tools to improve feedback and collect data beyond a traditional test.

5. Learn How to Find Answers and Support

What do you do when you get stuck? Do you know who to ask for support? Do you know where to search? When you have questions, it's important to understand how to search the support center, help forums, and find assistance when you need it.

Yikes! Who needs this now more than ever. By the way, bookmark this now, support.google.com, your new best friend! But through the certification process, teachers also learn about many other places to connect and find support.

6. Increase Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy Skills in the Classroom

Finding time to teach digital citizenship skills can sometimes feel impossible. G Suite offers many ways to support these skills and help you find practical moments to build this skill set with your students.

Can I get an amen? I mean, seriously, y'all! Have we ever seen a more perfect example of the need for digital literacy and citizenship skills? Learning how to behave online, in video chats, in online discussions, and what to do if something goes wrong-there's never been a more opportune moment!

7. Increase Efficiency and Save Time

The number one complaint of most teachers is lack of time. What if technology could actually save you time? When you learn how to use digital tools to be a more efficient teacher, everyone wins!

I always say that time-saving tips are the best buy-in for teachers who struggle with technology. G Suite tools should make working and teaching easier, not more complicated, but good professional development makes the difference. If teachers are not given the opportunity to learn in a meaningful way, differentiated for their skill level, they will always struggle.

8. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Are you a lifelong learner? You should be! That's part of a growth mindset and will help you learn and grow with your students.

Yes! Teachers have always had to be flexible, but they were just stretched to the limits. There has never been more opportunity to stretch the mindset and build capacity and leadership.

9. Prove Your Skills

Teachers have to learn so much, isn't it nice when you are recognized for your accomplishments? When you become a Google Certified Educator, you get a certificate and badge that proves you know your stuff!

Don't underestimate the power of recognition. We all need validation.

10. Get the Badge and Join the Google Certified Family

Share your badge in your email signature, your blog, or your website, and wear it proud. Google Certified Educators are part of an elite group, a family of teachers that share and grow together.

How to Get Google Certified

You can become a Google Certified Educator on your own, through training offered online or at your school, or attend a face-to-face boot camp.

FREE Webinar!

If you are new to Google Certification, I highly recommend you watch this free webinar to learn exactly what it's all about, what it takes, and how to get there. (Please don't go into this blindly!) Oh, and I'll give you a TON of free resources!
>>> Register here for the How to Get Google Certified Webinar.
Online Courses

Shake Up Learning offers three online, self-paced courses to help you reach your goals:

1. The Google Certified Educator Level 1 Academy

2. The Google Certified Educator Level 2 Academy

3. The Google Certified Trainer Academy

Teachers don't pay out of pocket! Make the case with your administrator, or apply for a scholarship. (Details available on each of the course pages listed above.)

Training for Schools

We also offer group, campus, and district licenses to help get all your teachers on board!
Learn more: GSuiteTrainingforSchools.com
Podcast Question of the Week

Do you have a question or idea to share on the podcast? Leave me a message here.

© Shake Up Learning 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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10 Ways Google Certification Can Support Remote Learning

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Remote learning has forced educators across the globe to learn on the fly and use digital tools in new ways, often tools they've never even used before. Building capacity and increasing your Google skills is more important than ever. Let's dive into 10 Ways Google Certification Can Support Remote Learning.

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Google Classroom - your most common questions ANSWERED!

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Google Classroom - your most common questions ANSWERED!

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Google Classroom is more popular than ever!

Many teachers are searching for help and tips, so I decided to put together a Google Classroom FAQ - your most common questions answered, based on the questions I receive from teachers.

I see the same questions asked over and over again, so I hope this page is helpful to educators looking for help with Google Classroom.

I will continue to add more questions and answers to this page.

What questions do you have? Please leave a comment!

Below are the most commonly asked questions about Google Classroom.

CLICK ON A QUESTION TO JUMP TO THAT SECTION

General Questions

What is Google Classroom?

Not everyone has received training, or been given a complete explanation of what Google Classroom actually is-and this is apparent by the questions I receive every day.

Google Classroom is part of a suite of applications from G Suite for Education. Google Classroom is an app, both web and mobile. Google Classroom is NOT a term for using various Google tools IN the classroom.

The Google Classroom application is designed to help teachers and students communicate and collaborate, manage assignments paperlessly, and stay organized.

If you are new to Google Classroom, we highly recommend you grab a copy of the Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students, or enroll in The Google Classroom Master Class.

How Do I Sign In to Google Classroom?

Go to classroom.google.com.

Assignment Questions

How can I distribute an assignment to multiple classes at once?

For those of you that teach the same subject across multiple class periods, you can create an assignment and distribute to multiple classes at once and save valuable time.

When you create a new assignment in Google Classroom,

1. Click the drop-down arrow next to the name of your class.

2. From here, you can use the checkboxes to select each class that you would like to distribute the assignment.

If you need to edit the assignment, you will have to edit each assignment in each class individually.

You can't post to individual students across multiple classes at the same time. Posts to multiple classes are shared with all students in the classes.

This is a MUST-HAVE Google Skill. Learn more here.

How do I schedule assignments in Google Classroom?

Sometimes you need to create assignments ahead of time so students don't see it in their feed or get an alert until you are ready.

1. Create your assignment.

2. In the bottom right, click the drop-down arrow and choose "schedule."

3. Select the date and time you want the assignment to post.

4. Click "schedule."

Can I schedule to multiple classes at once?

Posts can only be scheduled for one class at a time. So if you want to schedule for multiple classes, these steps will have to be followed for each class. You can, however, save as a draft for multiple classes at once by selecting the checkboxes for each class.

How do I make copies of assignment materials in Google Classroom?

You can add attachments, links to outside resources and websites, YouTube videos, or Google Drive files to your assignment. When the file attachment is a Google Docs, Sheet, or Slide, you gain additional options for distribution and how students interact with the file.

After you select the Doc, Sheet, or Slide file, you will see a new drop-down menu option.

Students can view file -All students can read the file, but not edit it.

Students can edit file -All students share the same file and can make changes to it.

Make a copy for each student -(For Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides only) Students receive an individual copy of the file that they can edit. The student's name is automatically added to the document title. When a student turns in the assignment, the teacher sees the file labeled with the student's name.
Notes:
After giving an assignment, can I edit the template I attached without having to edit each student's copy?

Once you click assign, you cannot edit these options. If you choose the wrong option, or simply change your mind, you will have to delete the assignment and start over.

The short answer is no. There isn't currently a way to do this inside Google Classroom. If you assign a template and have Classroom make a copy for each student, you cannot edit and push out changes to every copy.

In most cases, you will need to delete the assignment and start over with your newly edited template.

If you are using Google Slides, there is an add-on that may work. Check out the Slip-in-Slide add-on to insert slides into multiple student presentations at once.

How do I assign work to individuals and groups?

You can give an assignment just to one particular student, or a group of students instead of the entire class. By default, an assignment is posted to all students in the class.

1. Click the drop-down arrow next to "All Students."

2. Deselect "All Students"

3. Select just the student or group of students you wish to receive the assignment post.

Note:

Is there a way to hide or expire an assignment in Google Classroom?

No. You cannot hide, archive, or set an expiration on an assignment.

If an assignment is turned in late, it will be marked as late, and you will be able to see it was turned in late.

If you need to move the assignment out of view, rearrange the assignments on the Classwork page and click-and-drag it to the bottom, so it's not on top of the page.

Can I add an assignment without adding to the Stream?

Many teachers are annoyed with the Stream, where you can post announcements and see notifications of new items that have been added to the Classwork page.

Teachers can customize what appears on this page for each class. Inside your class, go the settings icon near the top-right and scroll down to the "General" Sections.

The Stream is your Google Classroom communication hub. This is where you post announcements and keep students informed.

By default, the Stream will also show notifications of new items posted on the classwork page. For some, this feels like a duplication and can muddy up the Stream. (Ha! See what I did there.)

If you're using the Classwork page, you can choose a collapsed or expanded view for Classwork notifications on the Stream page. You can also hide them entirely from the Stream page.

You can learn more about all of the Class settings here.

How do I put my worksheet in Google Classroom?

1. Go to classroom.google.com.

2. Click the class.

3. On the Stream page, click Settings.

4. Under General, next to Classwork on the Stream, select an option:

Usually, this question REALLY means, how do I put a PDF inside Google Classroom so my students can write on top of it.

Keep in mind that sometimes it is actually more difficult and not worth the time and energy to try to digitize a paper worksheet.

Before you attempt to do this, ask yourself:

First, save your PDF to Google Drive.

Will this worksheet help the learning stick?

Is this worksheet better than hands-on learning?

Is this worksheet better than discussion?

Is this worksheet better than engaging students in new ways? - That's why you use technology! Not to save paper or digitize your old stuff. Technology is a tool that allows us to create new learning experiences for students that weren't previously possible.

Once you've uploaded it to drive, you will need to use a PDF editor so that your students can work on the PDF. Most educators use KAMI. It is designed to integrate with Google Classroom.

1. Go to drive.google.com

2. Click on the "New" button.

3. Then choose "File Upload."

4. Navigate to where you saved your PDF file on your computer and upload it to your Drive.

Next, choose a PDF editor and make sure your students have access.
PDF Editing on Laptops and Chromebooks:
There are several PDF applications that allow you to edit, even draw on PDFs that are also compatible with Google.

Kami - The Kami Chrome extension and Drive App is probably the number one recommended PDF editor in the education space. I know many schools that use it. It is freemium, meaning you can use some features for free, and it integrates beautifully with Google Classroom.

DocHub is another application that some teachers use to edit PDF documents and save them to Google Drive.

A quick search will also help you find alternatives, but these are the two most recommended by educators.

Once you have installed the Kami or DocHub extension (and it is installed for students), they will be able to mark-up and write on the PDF with that extension on their laptop or Chromebook.

Don't forget to assign it in Google Classroom and attach the PDF from Drive.

Did you know there are some features in Classroom that are ONLY available on mobile (iOS and Android)?

One of my favorite mobile features is the ability to annotate and draw on documents. These can be PDF documents, Google Docs, Microsoft Word Docs, JPEG, or GIF files.
PDF Editing on Mobile
This feature is great for many types of assignments and learners, as well as teachers.

Students can use this to draw a response, annotate on text, label an image, and more.

Teachers can use this to give meaningful feedback to students.

Give it a try! Here are the step-by-step directions on iOS and Android.

Assessment Questions

Where do I find my responses to the Google Form I assigned on Google Classroom?

Click View responses on the assignment or the Student Work page to see all responses in Forms.

Notification Questions

How do I manage email notifications?

Students and teachers can customize their notifications. All notifications can be customized in your settings.

Go to the main menu (3 lines in the top left corner).
Tips for using Forms quizzes with Classroom
Select "Settings" at the bottom of the menu.

Scroll down to the bottom and click the drop-down arrow to see all of your notification options for each class. Toggle them on and off to fit your needs.

Guardian Questions

Can parents have access to my Google Classroom?

Parents can receive guardian emails with information about their student's classwork.

You can only add guardians for students using Classroom with a G Suite account, not a personal account. For details, go to About Classroom user accounts.

When guardians join Classroom, they receive regular, automatic email summaries for each of their students. Guardians choose the frequency of the emails-daily or weekly-and can unsubscribe at any time.

Guardian email summaries include:

By default, email summaries for your classes are turned off. Learn how to turn on and manage guardian email summaries for your class. Guardians can't access Classroom or view your class stream.

For more information, check out the Guardian Summaries FAQ.

Ready to Learn More About Google Classroom?

Missing work-Work that's late at the time the email was sent

Upcoming work-Work that's due today and tomorrow (for daily emails) or work that's due in the upcoming week (for weekly emails)

Class activity-Announcements, assignments, and questions recently posted by teachers

Learn all about the new updates to Classroom and take your skills to the next level. This course will give you everything you need to get started using Google Classroom and best practices to help you make the most of this tool.

Perfect for beginner to intermediate skill levels! Consider this your video guide to Google Classroom!

More Google Classroom Resources

Looking for other Classroom tips, ideas, and resources? Be sure to check out the Google Classroom Resource page for all the latest posts, podcasts, and resources.

© Shake Up Learning 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.
Click here to learn more and to ENROLL TODAY!

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Google Classroom FAQ - Your Most Common Questions ANSWERED!

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Many teachers are searching for help and tips, so I decided to put together a Google Classroom FAQ - your most common questions answered, based on the questions I receive from teachers. I see the same questions asked over and over again, so I hope this page is helpful to educators looking for help with Google Classroom.

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EduProtocols are instructional templates that are designed to engage students in learning through critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity, in any subject or grade level. In this session you will see how engaging these can be for students by trying out several hands-on activities such as Sketch and Tell, Iron Chef, Tier List, Thin Slides, and more.

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Shake Up Learning in your classroom today!

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Alice Keeler Teacher Tech blog provides tips and resources on teaching with Educational Technology EdTech.

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Ed tech, creative teaching, less reliance on the textbook.

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Tech Tips for K-12 Educators by Joli Boucher

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vLookup: Quickly Find & Return Data When I find myself trying to pull together data from multiple spreadsheets, I frequently turn to using the vLookup function. VLookup can be used provided there is a unique value (search key) in both data sets. For example, a student identification number or email address. The vLookup function uses this search key to "lookup" ...

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Preparing today's teachers for tomorrow's digital learners

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Location

This event will be held online. Confirmed attendees will be provided with the virtual meeting link within one week of the conference.

Trainers

Joli Boucher
Joli is a dynamic educator with over 17 years of experience. Her passion is empowering and engaging both educators and students with technology while promoting collaboration and creativity. As a former elementary classroom teacher, Jolianne has expertise in best practices across the curriculum. Joli is a Google for Education Certified Trainer, a Tech4Learning Innovative Educator, Seesaw Ambassador, and a BrainPOP Certified Teacher. Over the last year, Joli has presented professional development opportunities to educators and administrators across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. This Summer, Joli will be presenting sessions in Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut at Summit featuring the G Suite for Education. Joli curates her classroom tips and resources at www.flippedtechcoaching.com and you can follow her on Twitter @ joliboucher.com .
Laura Cahill

Laura is a district technology coach and former visual art educator in the Worcester Public Schools as well as a lecturer at Assumption College. She is a Google Certified Trainer and ISTE Certified Educator, who is an advocate for equitable access to technology for all students. Laura is also the proud mom of two college students and enjoys blogging and reading about educational technology topics. You can find her at or on Twitter at

Erin Foley

Erin is the Digital Literacy Specialist at Hanover Middle School in Hanover, MA, and is a Google for Education Certified Trainer. She has 12 years of experience as a classroom teacher with 9 of those years specifically in the field of instructional technology. Erin is a member of the Hanover Public Schools Technology Committee and believes that technology is a powerful tool in transforming the learning environment to meet the academic needs and interests of students. Erin has presented at conferences including the MassCUE 2018 Fall Conference and the MassCUE Datapalooza 2019. She was also named as a PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator in 2016.

Rayna Freedman

Rayna is a 5th grade teacher at the Jordan/Jackson Elementary School in Mansfield, MA. She has taught grades 3-5 and is an ITS. She is working on her doctorate through Northeastern as she hopes to change the field of education some day. Rayna is President of MassCUE and has been presenting at the annual conference since 2010. She is a Google Level 2 certified educator, a BrainPOP certified educator, Flipgrid Ambassador, Fablevision Ambassador and Wakelet Ambassador. Rayna has presented for ISTE, Ed Tech Teacher, Tech and Learning, Medfield Digital Learning Day, FETC, BPLC, and BLC.

Jessica Garbowski

Jessica has been an educator for 12 years at the middle school level in everything ranging from 6th grade to ELA to Coding. She lives in Foxborough with her husband and son. Currently, she teaches Digital Literacy classes and also works as the Instructional Technology Specialist for the Easton Middle School. Jessica has taught graduate level courses, has presented at many conferences, and is a Google for Education Certified Trainer.

Jennifer Judkins

Jennifer is the Director of Digital Learning for the Woburn Public Schools district. Jenn is a Google for Education Certified Trainer, 2016 MassCUE Pathfinder recipient & was awarded the 2015 PBS Lead Digital Innovator. She provides professional development in her home district and schools throughout MA. Jenn curates useful technology resources, tip sheets and integration ideas for educators on her blog, www.teachingforward.net and is a regular contributer on the TechEducator Podcast. Find Jenn on Twitter @jennjudkins.

Audra Kaplan

Google for Education Certified Trainer, Makey Makey Certified Trainer, Digital Learning Coach and Computer Science teacher for the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, and Co-President of CS Teachers Greater Boston chapter. Online graduate instructor for Ed Technology Specialists and Andrews University with a master's degree from Lesley University in Educational Technology, as well as a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Conference presenter across New England and in New York. Prior to completing her degree and becoming a technology integrator, Audra spent over 17 years in the classroom teaching ELL, ELA, Social Development, Science, Math, and Computer Technology classes. At Groton-Dunstable Ms. Kaplan works to integrate technology into student and staff learning across the district and teaching Digital Literacy and Computer Science at the middle school. Ms. Kaplan was recognized as one of 100 teachers nationally by NCWIT and the NSF because of her efforts to support Computer Science in Education. During the 100 Teachers Meeting in Washington DC in December of 2014, honorees were invited to the White House. When away from school Ms. Kaplan enjoys spending time with her family, co leading a Girl Scout troop, learning new things, and exploring the world. Follow her on twitter @AudraKaplan.

Susan Kiley

Susan is a certified Curriculum & Instructional Technology Specialist and Google for Education Certified Trainer. Her experience includes professional development, integrated lesson planning and fostering professional learning communities to bring a collaborative approach to innovation in schools. Susan was named the 2017 Teacher of the Year by the United Regional Chamber of Commerce for her role as mentor to her fellow teachers, as well as for her innovative uses of technology in the classroom. Susan served as a facilitator for the MassCUE's Leadership in Blended & Digital Learning program through The Friday Institute at North Carolina State University, and is an online instructor for MassCUE. Follow her on Twitter @msskiley

Carol LaRow

Carol is an award-winning educator who taught for 33 years in the Niskayuna CSD, in upstate NY. She is an "authorized Google Education Trainer," "Google Certified Teacher," "Smithsonian Laureate," "Apple Distinguished Educator," "WNYT Educator of Excellence," and was nominated for the "Disney American Teacher Award." She is a recognized speaker at national, statewide, and regional conferences, and is often a "featured speaker." She presents for Google in the "Google Teaching Booth" at national conferences such as ISTE, and for Apple Computer in the Apple Exhibit Area. She has written lessons and curriculum that incorporate Google tools, which are published in Google Apps For Educators, on Google's national site, for educators to reference and use. She has taught for Apple Computer at the Apple Teacher Institutes, and is one of the authors of Apple Computer's 21 st Century Learning Collection.

Neal Sonnenberg

Neal is a technology integration specialist (9-12) for the Medfield Public Schools and a Google Certified Trainer. Previously, he taught High School Math and also worked as a Curriculum Coordinator developing online Math and Business courses He is one of the creators of Medfield's Design Your Learning Day (DLD) conference and also serves on the MassCUE Conference Committee. He has presented at numerous conferences, is one of the co-leaders of the TEC Tech Integrators Job Alike group and loves everything Google Sheets related. Follow him on twitter @nealman17

Details

Schedule

Participant check in: 8:30 am - 8:45 am

Welcome Address: 8:45 am - 8:55 am

Session I: 9:00 am - 9:50 am

Session II: 10:00 am - 10:50 am

Session III: 11:00 am - 11:50 am

Session IV: 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm

Vendor Opportunities

We are looking for four (4) sponsors for this one-day event at $500 each. Sponsorships are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Sponsorship includes:

Acknowledgement in Opening Welcome

One session to present

Logo on event website

Expected Demographics
We expect 140 educators (Administrators, Integration Specialists, Classroom Teachers, Content Coordinators, etc.) for this event.

Please contact Shelley Chamberlain, Executive Director of MassCUE, for more information.

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Get into the Blend! MassCUE's Googlepalooza event is a full day of G Suite for Education hands-on workshops taught by experienced Google Certified Trainers and Educators to promote better learning in the classroom. In the spirit of supporting education in these challenging times, this year's event will be held virtually with focused sessions in support [...]

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List View

View all events available through MassCUE using the < and > arrows below to navigate our Calendar of Events by month. You may also select our main Online Registration Directory to view events open and available for registration.

1 Patriot Pl, Foxborough, MA 02035, USA

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Calendar of Events List View View all events available through MassCUE using the arrows below to navigate our Calendar of Events by month. You may also select our main Online Registration Directory to view events open and available for registration.

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Google Classroom Tips & Tricks: Recorded Session 5/1

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Google Classroom Tips & Tricks: Recorded Session 5/1

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Google Classroom Tips & Tricks (2020-05-01 at 08:03 GMT-7)

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In this blog post and podcast episode, you will learn 13 Tips to Organize Your Google Drive.

Google Drive is the heart of G Suite. Google Drive allows you to store your files securely and access them from any device, as well as create, open, and edit your files.

I have thousands of files stored in my My Drive and struggle with keeping them all organized.

Luckily, Google Drive has an amazing search capability that saves me loads of time.

But did you know that you can do things like color-code your folders, add emojis, hashtags, or add the same file to multiple folders?

There are so many great features of Google Drive that can save you time and help you and your students work more efficiently.

If your Google Drive is a hot mess, I have 13 tips to help you!

This post is available also available as an audio podcast below. Feel free to listen, read, or both!

. ..

Shoutout

Kim Christman is a new Level 2 Google Certified Educator! Congrats! Kim is also a graduate of my Level 2 Academy.

Here's what Kim had to say about the course, "I felt very prepared for some of the items that I don't often use as a Tech Coordinator of my school - Google Scholar, Google Books, YouTube (since it is blocked at my school). I took my time with the course and then went back and reviewed some of the lessons before taking the test. There wasn't really anything that I had to do that I wasn't prepared for after taking this course. Thanks Kasey for putting this awesome course together."
Learn more about the courses: GetGoogleCertified.com
Do you have a question or idea to share on the podcast? Leave me a message here.

Keeping things organized in Google Drive helps save me time and sanity.

Google Drive is where I store EVERYTHING, including not only my Google file types like Docs and Slides, but I also upload and backup other files like my podcasts and images.

Teachers love to organize, so here are 13 Tips to Organize Your Google Drive!

(Please note, these tips refer to the desktop version of Google Drive, but most tips will work similarly on mobile.)

1. Use Consistent Naming Conventions

A naming convention is the way you name your files.

This is an old school recommendation, but still handy. Even though Google Drive will let you name your files however you like, it's important to be consistent.

Keep file names short but meaningful to you and your students. A consistent naming convention will help clean up our Google Drive.

For instance, when naming lesson plan documents, use the same naming conventions to make life easier.

Example:

Notice, I didn't include "and," not because it is wrong, but to keep it short and simple. Extraneous words are not necessary.

In most cases, there isn't any reason to include the name of the file type because Google Drive will allow you to see the file icon and filter by file types, like Docs, Slides, etc.

If you need to add a date, include month, day, and year. However, remember Google Drive will allow you to see the last time you opened or edited a file, so adding a date may not be necessary. I added it above as a note to myself of the date I was delivering the lesson.

If you need to abbreviate, I recommend using CAPITAL letters to help you remember.

Google defaults to display your files in alpha order, so this also helps you see things more clearly as opposed to naming them with different versions of the same title.

Of course, keep this in mind when you assign files in Google Classroom since Google Classroom will name each student's file the same and append their name to the end of the title.

Bottom line, choose the system that works for you and stick with it!

2. Organize into Folders and Subfolders

Once you have determined your naming conventions, you will want to organize things into folders and subfolders.

To see your current folder list, click on the drop-down arrow next to "My Drive." From here, you can easily click-and-drag files into folders.

If you are organizing as you go, you can also just click on the folder icon from the application to move the file to a folder.

To create a new folder from Google Drive, click on the "New" button, and then select "Folder."

You will then be prompted to name your folder. Remember to use your consistent naming convention.

Be sure to pay attention to what you have selected BEFORE you create the folder.

If you want it at the top-level (as seen above), select "My Drive," then create the folder.

If you want to create a subfolder (a folder within a folder), select the parent folder first. This will save you time clicking-and-dragging things around.

3. Use File and Folder Descriptions

Did you know that Google Drive allows you to add even more information to your files and folders?

You can view the details and activity related to a file or folder by first selecting the file/folder, then click on the "View Details" icon near the top-right.

Here you add additional information, a more detailed description, a note to yourself, or whatever you need. This also makes your file more searchable.

4. Create a Master Folder for Each School Year

Many teachers like to create master folders for each school year. As most teachers are on a school year cycle, this helps you organize each year's files and folders.

You can then add subfolders for other topics, lessons, etc.

5. Color-Code Your Folders

Adding color to your folders can help you visually recognize files faster and give you additional ways to organize your Google Drive.

As you can see in the screenshot above and below, the folders are colored. Not only is this more visually appealing than plain old grey, but you can assign meaning to specific colors.

To change the color of the folder from Drive.

1. Right-click (or control-click) on the folder

2. Go to "Change Color"

3. Select the color from the palette

You may really love color coding and color all of your folders, or you may be more like me and just add color to your most important folders, so they stand out.

Again, choose the style and method that works for you.

6. Try a Numbering System

Numbering my files and folders has helped me keep my most important folders at the top of My Drive, no matter what they are named.

Now compare this screenshot to the one above where I only used words. By adding the number, I can now see my classes in order (and the rainbow pattern I assigned ;)).

I also used numbers to help me get my most important folders at the top of My Drive so I can get there is just one click.

7. Add Emoji and Special Characters

Adding emojis ? and special characters ✿ can add a little extra fun to your files and folders, and your students will love this too!

Emojis can give you and your students a visual cue, and help emerging and struggling readers and well as English Language Learners process the information.

There are lots of ways to find and copy emojis into your file and folder titles. One of my favorite resources for this is Emojipedia, where I can search and copy emojis quickly on the desktop. There are also many Chrome extensions and other places you can find emojis.

Another great resource that I learned about from Jen Giffen is copypastecharacter.com, where you can find symbols, emoji, and other special characters to spice up your organization. (Highlight the character you want, and copy and paste where you want it to go.)

Tip: You can use this idea in Google Classroom as well! Try adding emoji to your assignment titles and directions ?.

8. Try Hashtags

Another way to help organize your files and folders is to use hashtags as we use on social media. These could be words or numbers, like #msbell or #001.

This strategy could be overkill if you use it for everything, but it could be a way to personalize your files. I have used hashtags for event files that have hashtags, like #edcamp.

You may find this handy for numbering your assignments. Adding the # symbol helps group the numbers in a unique way, so when you search, you don't get EVERYTHING that has the number one in it, just #001. This is a strategy I recommend for naming assignments in Google Classroom, which in turn, will name your related Google files and folders.

See also: 6 Tips for Getting Started with Google Classroom.

9. Try Google Drive Workspaces

Take advantage of the new Google Drive Priority Page and custom Workspaces to better organize your Google Drive as your work.

Look for "Priority" to appear above "My Drive."

You can make the Priority page your default home by going to your Google Drive settings.

Priority is using machine learning to try to predict what files you will need next and making those available at the top of the page.

Below Priority, you will also see Workspaces. Workspaces allows you to create a collection of files in one location.

"The Priority page also organizes files into workspaces. These let you gather a private set of working files for ongoing easy access. Adding files to a workspace doesn't affect their storage location or permissions -it just aggregates files to help you find them faster. Our studies show most users only work with around 10-20 files at any given time. Workspaces help make sure you can get to those files more efficiently. To build your workspace, you can use Drive's intelligent file suggestions or add files manually." (G Suite Updates Blog)

In Workspaces, you'll be able to see intelligent suggestions of related content to group together for easier access- like multiple files related to the same project. You can also create your own personalized Workspaces collecting any files you have access to, including content stored in your My Drive and various Team Drives.

Create a new workspace from the Priority page.

Alternatively, you can right-click on any file and select "Add to Workspace" to dynamically group files as you work.

10. Add Files to Multiple Folders

When organizing your Google Drive into folders, it can be difficult to decide exactly where to save certain files. For instance, would the draft of this blog post go in my "Blog" folder or my "Google Tips" folder?
Use workspaces to organize files without moving them.
Digital file folders typically imitate the old, paper-based way of doing things. With folders in Google Drive, you can do more!

You can add files to multiple folders without having to make copies. This allows folders to act more like tags or categories, which is much more useful.

1. Single-click the file in Google Drive

2. Then use the keyboard shortcut, "Shift + Z."

3. A pop-up will open and allow you to "add that file to another folder.

11. Use the Advanced Search to Find Anything in Your Google Drive

Even when you aren't the most organized Google Drive use, you can rely on the search capabilities to find anything!

You can do a simple search, or click the drop-down arrow from the search box for more advanced search options. You can filter by file type, owner, keywords, dates, and more!

To learn how to make the most of thes features, see this post: 8 Ways to Find Anything in Your Google Drive.
To add a file to multiple folders from Google Drive,
12. Leave "Shared with Me" Alone

The "Shared with Me" section of Google Drive is just an aggregation of files that have been shared with you in some way.

Many users want to clean up this section, but I advise teachers to just leave "Shared with Me" alone. These are not your files. Think of it like a feed showing you what files you have access to that are not your own.

If you begin deleting files, it can often cause problems for you or other users, so the best advice is just to accept it for what it is.

However, there is a way to add these files to your own folders. (See the tip below.)

13. Use "Add to Drive" to Organize Shared Files and Folders

Even though "Shared with Me" may not be pretty and organized as you like, there is a way to add these files to your own drive and organize files into your own folders.

When you have the shared file open, you will see a Drive icon near the top left.

Once you click that icon, the file will be added to your Google Drive, and you can organize it into a folder. (Note: This is not making a copy. It is just giving you access to the file in your Drive.)

You can also add the files from the "Shared with Me" section of Google Drive by right-clicking on the file and choosing "Add to Drive." Or select the file and click on the "Add to Drive" icon from the menu.

I hope these tips help you keep your Google Drive more organized, and be sure to share these tips with your students! Do you have a tip to share? Leave a comment or voicemail with your favorite Google Drive tips!

Podcast Question of the Week

How can creative organization skills help you and your students in the classroom?

Post your answer to your favorite social media platform using the hashtag #ShakeUpLearning, or share it in the Shake Up Learning Community on Facebook!

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Google Drive is the heart of G Suite and allows you to store your files and access them from any device. Keeping your Google Drive organized can be a struggle, so in this episode and blog post, I am going to share 13 tips to help you organize your Google Drive.

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Organize Google Drive with Colors & Icons

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Organize Google Drive with Colors & Icons

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Organize Google Drive with Colors and Icons 🗂️

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