The New Gmail: 3 Helpful Tips for a Better Inbox

If you're anything like me, you've already seen the new Avengers movie. How insane was that scene where [REDACTED] [REDACTED] like [REDACTED] the [REDACTED] with a [REDACTED] of his [REDACTED]?! 

Oh, man.

If you're anything like me, you're also excited by the improvements Google makes to its suite of educational tools, right? Let's talk about that first--then geek out over movies later.

Gmail Gets a Makeover

Google released its first big update to Gmail in over five years last week. You can turn it on today and try it out by clicking on the gear icon and selecting "Try the new Gmail." 

But what does the new Gmail do differently?

You can instantly see any Drive attachments on your emails

Whenever you get a Drive attachment, you'll see them under the preview text of the email. You can click on it to be taken directly to the document!

You can snooze emails until you're ready to respond

Click the clock on the right to set a reminder time (I'm personally a fan of responding Someday) and it will appear again at the top of your inbox when you wish!

You can access your Calendar, Keep, and Tasks right from Gmail

Click on any of those icons and you'll be able to check your daily schedule and add an appointment, jot a quick note to yourself, or check something off of your to-do list--all without opening a new tab!

If you're as excited as I am about new email layouts, give it a try! If you're unsure, book some time with your DLS to go over the features in person and make sure you're confident with all the changes.

Turn a Google Document into a Google Form

Turn your Google document...

into a Google Form...

Have a paper test, quiz, or survey that you would like to make into a Google form? GFormIt is a Google document add-on that will allow you to take questions and answers and translate them into a Google form with the first submission of the form being an answer key for grading using another add-on like Flubaroo. Check out this video on GFormIt. 

To use GFormIt...

1. Install GFormIt as an add-on in your Google document.
2. Create questions and answers as with the same format as shown in the video.
3. Run the GFormIt add-on. A link to the form and the form responses will be emailed to you. GFormIt will take your answers as the first submission to create a key for grading with another add-on like Flubaroo.
4. You can edit the form after it is created to change the theme or questions.

Google Educator Certification

This week is the last week of the certification process. This week we are working on the elective lessons and taking the exam. Click here for training page. Remember that you will have to pay $15 to take the exam and will reimbursed for the cost of all of your exams upon completing the certification. If you need any help, please email Cassie or Matt!

Upon completion of the certification click here to submit for reimbursement. You will need to provide links to your receipts and links to your exam certificates. If you choose to do two electives you will be reimbursed $90.00. If you choose to do one elective you will be reimbursed $75.00.