Logging in to Google Chrome By logging in to Google Chrome, you will be able to quickly access any saved applications, bookmarks, and resources from any location. Please remember...if you are using a lab computer or common login, you will need to log out before shutting the computer down to prevent other people accessing your information. 1. Open Google Chrome. In the upper right hand corner, click on the Chrome menu and choose to Sign in to Chrome. 2. You will then be brought to the Google Sign in page. Type in your user name (which is your district user name plus @apps.southwindsorschools.org and your district password). Please note...if this is your classroom computer, it is recommended you select Stay signed in before clicking the Sign in button. 3. You will then be brought to the South Windsor Public Schools single sign on page. Type in just your user name and password and click Login.
Accessing the Chrome Web Store for Apps and Extensions Another great feature of Google Chrome is the ability to download apps and extensions, which enhance the functionality of Chrome and provide access to valuable resources and tools. 1. When in Chrome, open a new tab. In the upper left hand corner of the screen, you should see a button for Apps (similar to as shown on the right). Click on the Apps button to continue. 2. Next, click on the Chrome Store icon, as shown to the right. 3. Once in the Chrome Store, you can use the search box to find apps and extensions, or browse through the different collections. If you just want to search for extensions, you can click directly on that. 4. Once you find the app or extension you would like to add, click on the blue button (similar to the one shown on the right) and follow the instructions on the screen.
Accessing Google Apps & Google Drive 1. Open Google Chrome and go to a South Windsor Public Schools web page (any school or site will do). At the top bar, go to Staff Resources and choose Google Apps. 2. When the login screen opens, type in your district user name and password. Once you login, you will then be brought to your Google Drive. Using Google Drive Google Drive can be used in a similar manner as you would your h: drive. You can 1. create folders to help with organization of files 2. add new documents (by either uploading or creating) 3. prioritize important folders, and access work that others have shared with you.
Uploading a file to Google Drive Google Drive can be used similarly to a flash drive in that you can upload files from whatever computer you are on to be stored in the cloud. Then, you can go to any other computer with internet access to view, open, or edit the document. 1. Once in Google Drive, click on red button with an arrow next to the create button. Choose Files to find the file you would like to upload. 2. A window similar to the one on the right will open. Navigate to the file you would like to upload. Once you find it, click on it to select and click Open. Please note.you can also download Google Drive for your computer by clicking on the Connect Drive to your desktop link at the left hand side of the page. This will make it easy to save to and open from Google Drive easily from any application. Converting a file to edit in Google Apps When you upload a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file, you can view it in Google Apps but not edit it. If you d like to actually edit the file, you will need to convert it to the appropriate app. 1. Right click on the uploaded document you would like to edit. Go to Open with and select the appropriate app (in this case, Google Docs since it is a word document). 2. Once you do this, the file will convert and open in a new tab. You can then work with and edit the document. Please note: after converting a file, you will then have 2 files of the same name. You will be able to distinguish the difference by looking at the icon and name (as shown below).
Sharing documents and files within Google Drive One of the greatest features of Google Drive is the ability to quickly and easily share documents and files with others. This way, when working collaboratively on a document, everyone can work in real time on the document, eliminating the need and confusion of maintaining different documents. 1. When in Drive, right click on any item (document or folder) you would like to share with others. Navigate to Share and choose Share. 2. Once selected, a window similar to the one on the right will appear. You can then add individuals access to the document, or make the document public. To add individuals (1) type in the person s name or user name in the Invite people: box at the bottom of the screen. To make the document public (2), click on the word Change at the top and choose the group you would like to give access to. Click Done when finished.
Creating new documents using Google Apps The basic Google Apps can be compared to Microsoft Office in that it has a word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation program. The benefits to creating a document in Google Apps as opposed to Office is that it is much easier to collaborate within Google Apps and it can be accessed from any computer or device with an internet connection. 1. Once in Google Drive, click on the Create button and choose the type of file you would like to create. The three most popular or used ones would be Document, Presentation, and Spreadsheet. 2. Once you select the type of file you would like to open, a new tab will open with that file.
Working with Google Apps 1. When the file opens, you should first rename it. Click on the title (#1 as shown above usually Untitled document, Untitled presentation..., depending on file type). A window similar to the one on the right will come up. Type in the file name and click OK. 2. When you create a document, by default it is only accessible by you. To provide access to others, click the Share button (#2 as shown above). A window similar to the one on the right should appear. Begin typing the user names of the person you would like to share the document with in the Invite People box. You can then change his/her permissions to either edit (make changes), comment (add comments but not make any change) or view only. Once done, click Done. 3. You can then use the menus and tools (#3 as shown above) to do any formatting necessary and create your document (similar to Microsoft Office).
Accessing the Revision history within a Document, Spreadsheet or Presentation Revision history is a great tool within the Google Apps suite that allows you to access previous versions and see what each person has contributed to the document. This can be especially helpful when working with a group of students, as previous versions can also easily be restored. 1. Go to File on the menu bar and choose See Revision history. 2. The Revision history task pane should open to the right of the document. Scroll through to see how the document has been modified and restore versions as necessary. To go back to a previous version click on the date and time of the version you would like to restore and select Restore this version. To continue working on the document normally, you will need to close out of Revision history by clicking on the X at the top of the task pane. Using the Research tool within a Google Document Another great feature available within Google Docs and Google Presentation is the Research tool. With this task pane open, you can search the internet just as you would using Google. If you choose to use this tool, you could also add a citation or link directly to your document, which will then automatically generate a footnote. In addition, you can choose to filter images by free to use, and choose the appropriate style sheet (MLA, APA or Chicago). 1. Go to Tools on the menu bar and select Research. 2. Once the Research tool is open, you can type your search term in the box and it will automatically begin searching. 3. To filter results...click on the small arrow next to the Google icon and select what type of resources you want to search. 4. To modify style sheet or filter images for free to use...click on the small triangle beneath the search term. Then, choose the appropriate filters or formats from the drop down menus.
Exploring Add-ons Add ons are fairly new to Google Docs and allow you to add more features to individual programs to further enhance the options and productivity. The great thing about Add ons is that they will always appear from that point on in the application until you choose otherwise. 1. Go to Add ons on the menu bar and choose Get Add ons 2. Once you select this, a window similar to the one on the right will open. Scroll through and find the add on you would like to add to your application. Once you find it, mouse over the box until the blue button appears. Click on the button and follow the directions to add the feature to your application. 3. Once you have the add on, you can manage or access it by going to the Add on menu from the menu bar and either selecting the specific tool you wish to access or by going to Manage add ons