Hi Reader, The Google Admin console has many helpful reports that provide insight into what’s going on on your domain. Strangely, most of these reports are DISABLED by default. The video below will walk you through the process of enabling key policies that will begin collecting useful data on your devices, user activity, and district data. 👉 Don't wait for an incident to realize you're missing crucial information. 💻 Professional Development for teachers For the past 12 years I have been...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
✨ Now scheduling summer and fall professional development sessions! ✨ Hi Reader! Over the past few months I have been intentionally experimenting with different ways to incorporate AI into my daily life. Some of them are very helpful, others, not so much (see my fails below)! There is no question that AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT can improve productivity and access to information, but it’s not exactly the “magic wand” 🪄 that we were promised. As I reflect on the ways that AI is helping...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
✨ The winter Google Certification Academy starts January 21. There are only five spots left! Don't miss out! ✨ Hi Reader! This week I am attending the FETC conference in Orlando, Florida. FETC is one of the biggest and best edTech conferences in the United States. If you ever get a chance to attend, do it! One of my FETC sessions is all about integrating AI into Google Classroom. I’ve put together some of the highlights below. I am cautiously optimistic about the use of AI in the classroom....
3 months ago • 3 min read
🥳✨ Become a Google Certified Educator in 2025! 🥳✨Registration for my winter certification academy is open! Hi Reader! This month, I'm taking a look back at some of the big updates, developments, and edTech trends from 2024. I will also peer into my crystal ball 🔮 to consider what might be on the horizon for 2025. Did teaching & learning improve in 2024? Make sure you respond to my poll below! 👇 🎦 Watch on YouTube | ✍️ Read the blog post | 🎧 Listen to the Podcast 1. AI Tools for Teachers -...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Get Google Certified in 2025! Registration for my winter certification cohort it open! This event will sell out...register soon! Hi Reader! Happy Thanksgiving friends! I'm grateful that you have chosen to journey through the world of edTech with me! 🙏 As a small thank you, I am offering a special sale! Anyone who registers for my winter Google Certification Academy (begins Jan. 21) before December 15 will get free access to my Wednesday Webinar program ($99 value). Click here to register!...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Google Vault is a tool I hope you don’t need to use. Generally, if you have to go into the Vault, something bad happened. 😬 Google Vault archives your Workspace data and makes it easy to search. It is commonly used for: Criminal investigations Employee misconduct Cyberbullying incidents Emergency data recovery FOIA requests. Sponsor Chromebook Academy for IT Admins Join me for a five session deep dive into managing Chromebooks through the Google Admin Console! We'll cover device...
6 months ago • 1 min read
⚙️ Do you manage the Google Admin console? Sign up for The Google Admin Weekly, my newsletter for IT admins! ⚙️ Hi Reader! Happy fall! 🍁🎃 Sip on some cider or your favorite pumpkin flavored drink while we review some updates, classroom ideas, and news stories for the month of October. One of the big updates this month is a change to Google's terms of service which allows Gemini access for students as young as 13 years of age. How would you feel if your school enabled Gemini for HS students...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, A small, seemingly insignificant policy change can have a HUGE impact on how teachers and students use your devices. 🤯 Today I am sharing one of those changes. If your district is 1:1 with Chromebooks, enabling PIN unlock can simplify the login process. Students can use a personal PIN code to unlock their Chromebook quickly, without entering their full password. A few important details: PIN numbers can’t be used to sign in to a device. PIN codes are ideal if your devices are set to...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Organizational units (OUs) are the foundation of your Google Workspace domain. You can think of your OUs as folders that organize your users and devices into different groups. At a minimum, you need “folders” for STUDENTS and STAFF. When it comes to setting up your OUs, there are two extremes you want to avoid: Not enough OUs: this makes it difficult to give everyone the policies they need Too many OUs: this becomes a tangled web of complex policies Sponsor Google Admin Bootcamp...
6 months ago • 1 min read