Add CC Images Directly in Google Docs

Amit Agarwal recently highlighted another great reason to use Google Docs in his post on adding stock photos.

Google Docs is integrated with Google Image Search to help you quickly find and insert web photographs in your documents. The results are filtered to only show images that have been licensed under Creative Commons and labeled for commercial reuse so you are legally allowed to insert these images in your documents.

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Google Docs Viewer Gets Even Better

I have already posted about the delights of Google Docs Viewer and now it has just got even better!

12 new file formats have now been added, which can be viewed online without having the specific software. Also, in Gmail, these types of attachments will show a “View” link, which will bring up the Google Docs Viewer.

New formats available:
* Microsoft Excel (.XLS and .XLSX)
* Microsoft PowerPoint 2007/2010 (.PPTX)
* Apple Pages (.PAGES)
* Adobe Illustrator (.AI)
* Adobe Photoshop (.PSD)
* Autodesk AutoCad (.DXF)
* Scalable Vector Graphics (.SVG)
* PostScript (.EPS, .PS)
* TrueType (.TTF)
* XML Paper Specification (.XPS)

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Google Docs Viewer Rocks!

Google Docs Viewer is very useful for displaying any doc, pdf, tiff or presentation files that are saved online.

You don't have to worry about loading your files onto any third party server and although it is a basic version, no bells and whistles, it does the job that it is meant to do very well.

You can move forwards and backwards through the document, zoom in and out and show one page or four pages at a time. You can also choose a full screen mode where you can then select to download the file.

And, of course, you can also embed the viewer. Here is a little introduction to Google Docs in the classroom!

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Google Apps Just Keeps Getting Better

I just love the way Google Apps keeps getting better and better.

Just recently, there was the inclusion of 'upload and store any file' from Google and then came the addition of Aviary integrated directly into Google Apps.

Now, Google Apps very nearly provides the complete one stop solution for covering the FETAC Level 4 requirements in Information Technology Skills and Computer Applications.

It makes it so much easier for the students when they only have to sign in to one account and everything is in one place.

Information Technology Skills Module
Docs takes care of the typing speed test, wordprocessing and file management sections. Sites takes care of the theory section, while Gmail covers the Email section.

Computer Applications
Docs takes care of the spreadsheet section and Aviary takes care of the graphics section. The only thing missing, now, is the integration of a suitable free database application.

Here's hoping it won't be too long....

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Add RSS Feeds with Google Spreadsheet

Using Google Spreadsheet , you can easily import any RSS feed into your blog or website.

Using the attached spreadsheet example, the steps are as follows:

1. Enter the RSS URL in cell A3. 
http://feeds.feedburner.com/FreeResourcesForEducation
2. Enter the following formula in cell D3.
=importfeed(A3, "Items title", False, 4)
3. Enter the following formula in cell E3.
=importfeed(A3, "Items URL", False, 4)
4. Enter the following formula in cell C3 and replicate it in the next 3 cells.
=D3
5. Enter the following formula in cell B3 and replicate it in the next 3 cells.
=HyperLink(E3, C3)
6. Select Share, Publish as a web page, Start publishing
7. Select HTML to embed in a page
8. Select Sheet1
9. Enter the cell range.
B2:B6
10. Copy the <iframe> code and select Close
11. Paste the <iframe> code into your blog or website

NB: Set widget=false and add gridlines=false to remove extra unwanted features. Adjust the height and width to suit your site.

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Original Spreadsheet:

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Resulting RSS feed:

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Google Docs & Tracking Progress Collaboratively

The whole collaborative nature of Google Docs provides a great way for students to keep track of their own progress in completing tasks for any subject area.

It is fairly straightforward to set up a colour coded spreadsheet that will allow students to change the appearance of the document by simply pressing one key.

Just select 'Format, Change colors with rules...' and decide on the rules you want to use. If you are not sure how this works then have a look at the settings on this shared document or just select a cell and 'press the delete key' to see how easily it works!



I am using the above template with my classes this year and the students have been enthusiastically updating their progress as they go along, without having to be constantly reminded to do so!!

This is also a great way of enabling parents to keep track of their own child's progress as a non-editable version of the document can be published to the web, as shown below.

First came across this idea looking at Dan Stucke's own version for his Y11 GCSE class. Many thanks Dan :-)

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Create Data-Rich Interactive Pages

Exhibit lets you easily "create web pages with advanced text search and filtering functionalities, with interactive maps, timelines, and other visualizations".

With Exhibit you can create dynamic visualizations of your data collections without having to resort to complex database and server-side technologies. Your data can be searched and browsed using faceted browsing. Various different views including tiles, maps, etc can also be provided.

To keep things really simple, the data can easily be created and accessed from a google spreadsheet.

Although not necessary, a rudimentary knowledge of HTML and CSS is beneficial and will enable you to enhance the basic appearance of the webpage. Several examples are provided to help you get started.

Exhibit would be an excellent tool to support an integrated project involving spreadsheet/database and web design modules.

This website was created with a little data from the International Edubloggers Directory.

NB: Best viewed in Firefox or Chrome. Some formats appear to be lost when viewing in Internet Explorer and sometimes the page is redirected!!

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Technorati Tags: exhibit, simile

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Putting Your Data in Motion

Google Docs Spreadsheet provides a lovely motion chart widget which will very easily bring your static data to life! I can see this little tool being very useful for projects in ICT, history, geography, mathematics, social studies etc....

You can see the motion chart in action at Gapminder World as well as viewing many interesting videos using motion charts.

Gapminder also provides an excellent tutorial explaining how to use the motion chart widget.

Check out this interactive example, from Gapminder, to see what can be done.

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Drawing Added to Google Docs

Google Docs just keeps getting better and better. The latest new feature, drawing, allows you to "create and insert rich, colorful drawings into documents, presentations and spreadsheets".

The drawing feature is quite comprehensive letting you draw

using lines, free hand scribbles, text labels and a large choice of shapes that you can move, resize, rotate and adjust. Group, order, align and distribute and other features are available when you select objects you've drawn. You can also customize a range of shape properties, from line widths to fill color, and from arrowheads to font size, and much more. If you change your mind, there is undo and redo.

You can, also, collaborate with a friend or colleague on the drawing. Drawing even works in Google Apps. Happy Days!!

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Technorati Tags: google apps, google docs

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