Computer Chronicles
Version 9.4, December 2019
Holiday Reminders
Please be sure to shut off your computers, Chromebases, Chromebooks, projectors, document cameras, monitors and any other electronic devices before you head out on the Holiday Break.
If you have a Chromecart in your classroom, please check that all the Chromebooks are accounted for and in the correct slot. Let me know ASAP if one is missing so I have time to track it down before the break.
Create or reuse a rubric for Google Classroom assignmentsIn both Classroom and Assignments, you now have the ability to create a rubric from scratch or reuse an existing rubric you’ve already created. When you select the option to reuse a rubric, you can select to use a rubric available in the current class or switch to another class to reuse a rubric from that one. Once you find the rubric you’d like to use, you can preview it or select it to use immediately. While in preview mode, you can also flip between rubrics to easily find the one you need. Learn more about rubrics here: https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/9335069 | Search for files located in a Shared DrivePeople can search for My Drive files by owner, but Shared Drive files are owned by the team. This makes them harder to search for. Now, you can search by “creator” for files located in a Shared Drive. Often you remember the name of the person that created the content, instead of where it might be located. Search by “creator” will fulfill this need. To learn more about finding files in Google Drive, see here: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2375114 | Time SaversI'm always looking at ways to save time and steps. So Google has helped us out a bit by adding the ability to create new files simply by typing in the url bar. For example, instead of going to Google Drive, clicking the “new” button, then the service you want to use, you can just type “doc.new” to get started in a new Google Doc. Try these shortcuts:
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Create or reuse a rubric for Google Classroom assignments
In both Classroom and Assignments, you now have the ability to create a rubric from scratch or reuse an existing rubric you’ve already created. When you select the option to reuse a rubric, you can select to use a rubric available in the current class or switch to another class to reuse a rubric from that one.
Once you find the rubric you’d like to use, you can preview it or select it to use immediately. While in preview mode, you can also flip between rubrics to easily find the one you need. Learn more about rubrics here: https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/9335069
Search for files located in a Shared Drive
People can search for My Drive files by owner, but Shared Drive files are owned by the team. This makes them harder to search for. Now, you can search by “creator” for files located in a Shared Drive.
Often you remember the name of the person that created the content, instead of where it might be located. Search by “creator” will fulfill this need. To learn more about finding files in Google Drive, see here: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2375114
Time Savers
I'm always looking at ways to save time and steps. So Google has helped us out a bit by adding the ability to create new files simply by typing in the url bar.
For example, instead of going to Google Drive, clicking the “new” button, then the service you want to use, you can just type “doc.new” to get started in a new Google Doc.
Try these shortcuts:
- docs.new or doc.new
- slides.new or doc.new
- sheets.new or sheet.new
- sites.new or site.new
- forms.new or form.new
- Cal.new
- keep.new

Magni Momenti Notitia
- PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...Do NOT stack the Chromebooks.
- Got a tech problem? Please submit a help desk ticket here. Be sure to use the Google button to login.
- Did you know you can book time with me? https://melson.youcanbook.me/
- Did you know you can reset your own Gmail password? Click for more info.
- Visit the Information Technology page on the district website for the latest news.
- "Think before you click."
- Where do snowmen keep their money? In a snow bank.
Stuff I have been reading:
- Get Fun Countdown Timers for Kids From YouTube -- https://offspring.lifehacker.com/get-fun-countdown-timers-for-kids-from-youtube-1835328775
- Google's voice Recorder is Pixel's best new app. Here's how to use it --https://www.cnet.com/how-to/why-google-recorder-is-a-best-of-class-app-too-bad-it-only-works-on-pixel-phones/
- Google Assistant gets a customized alarm, based on weather and time -- https://techcrunch.com/2019/12/10/google-assistant-gets-a-customized-alarm-based-on-weather-and-time/
- From Billy Porter to Baby Yoda, here's what you Googled this year -- https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/11/us/google-year-in-search-2019-trnd/index.html
- Future of the Classroom Global Report -- http://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/future_of_the_classroom_emerging_trends_in_k12_education.pdf
- Latest Microsoft Update Patches New Windows 0-Day Under Active Attack -- https://thehackernews.com/2019/12/windows-zero-day-patch.html
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
Michael Elson
Book some time: https://melson.youcanbook.me/
Text @elson to the number 81010 for Tech Updates via SMS (or click here)
Contact me on Slack - @melson