Google Drive

In this episode, I’m sharing the must-have Google Drive skills for teachers. Google Drive is much more than just cloud storage. And once you start using Google tools with your students, it’s imperative that you use and understand Google Drive. Let’s take our Google Drive skills to the next level, and learn some tips and tricks along the way. (This is Part 3 of a 4-part series on Must-Have Google Skills for Teachers.) Part 1 (Chrome) Part 2 (Google Classroom) Part 4 (Google Docs and Slides) [ctt template=”11″ link=”8ZSUh” via=”yes” ]Must-Have #GoogleDrive Skills for Teachers![/ctt] Listen to this article.  Continue Reading

Do you get frustrated by the font selection in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, etc.? You can GET MORE FONTS! Let me show you how!

Get FREE Google Classroom Resources: https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/category/google/google-classroom/

Get the FREE Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students: https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/the-google-classroom-cheat-sheets-for-teachers-and-students/

Join the Google Classroom Master Class: https://shakeuplearning.teachable.com/p/getting-started-with-google-classroom-course

Listen to the Shake Up Learning Show podcast for quick tips every week: https://shakeuplearning.com/shake-up-learning-show-podcast-with-kasey-bell/

Be sure to subscribe for more tips and awesomeness! https://www.youtube.com/shakeuplearning

Subscribe to Shake Up Learning emails to get free tips and resources delivered to your inbox each week! http://shakeuplearning.com/subscribe

Oh and follow me!
http://twitter.com/shakeuplearning
http://instagram.com/shakeuplearning
http://pinterest.com/shakeuplearning
http://facebook.com/shakeuplearning
https://www.tiktok.com/@shakeuplearning

Join my FREE Facebook group @
http://shakeup.link/community

In this episode, I share The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit, a free download to help teachers create dynamic, blended learning experiences for students with Google tools. I will walk you through each step, share proven strategies, and recommend the right Google tool for the job. Get access to this FREE PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools! (Scroll down and fill out the form on this page.) [ctt template=”11″ link=”daAIu” via=”yes” ]Blended Learning with #GoogleEdu Toolkit for Teachers[/ctt] Listen to this article.   Shoutout Thank you to Becky Young for this tweet: Almost done catching upContinue Reading

A Teacher’s Guide to Google Drive Sharing Google Drive Sharing–EXPLAINED! Do you ever get confused by all the options for sharing in Google Drive and Google Workspace for Education? I’ve got the guide for you! In this 15-page guide, I break down the three steps to sharing, as well as the six levels of sharing in Google applications. Also, learn how to restrict sharing, set expiration dates on sharing, and more! Google Drive is loaded with great features, but the ability to share and collaborate is truly what sets Google Drive apart from the pack. For experienced users, sharing is second nature;Continue Reading

What is Google Workspace for Education? Whether you are brand new to Google or a seasoned user, there are probably a few things you don’t know about Google Workspace for Education. If you want to become a Google Certified Educator or Trainer, you need to learn the basics of Google Workspace for Education. (It will be on the Level 1 exam.) What is it? What does it include? How does it help teachers and students? Below is an explanation of the Google Workspace for Education program for teachers. [ctt template=”11″ link=”e54LQ” via=”yes” ]What is Google Workspace for Education? – AnContinue Reading

YouTube Video Library for Teachers FREE Tech Tip videos for teachers! Save time, learn tricks, and up your Google game! © Shake Up Learning 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

Did you know many of your favorite Google apps have built-in TEMPLATES for things like lesson plans, reports, contact forms, and more? Yes! And it’s ALL FREE!

Get FREE Google Classroom Resources: https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/category/google/google-classroom/

Get the FREE Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students: https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/the-google-classroom-cheat-sheets-for-teachers-and-students/

Join the Google Classroom Master Class: https://shakeuplearning.teachable.com/p/getting-started-with-google-classroom-course

Listen to the Shake Up Learning Show podcast for quick tips every week: https://shakeuplearning.com/shake-up-learning-show-podcast-with-kasey-bell/

Be sure to subscribe for more tips and awesomeness! https://www.youtube.com/shakeuplearning

Subscribe to Shake Up Learning emails to get free tips and resources delivered to your inbox each week! http://shakeuplearning.com/subscribe

Oh and follow me!
http://twitter.com/shakeuplearning
http://instagram.com/shakeuplearning
http://pinterest.com/shakeuplearning
http://facebook.com/shakeuplearning
https://www.tiktok.com/@shakeuplearning

Join my FREE Facebook group @
http://shakeup.link/community

Digital tools are part of everything I do throughout the day. I use so many online tools, gadgets, and software to do all the things I need to do. From productivity, to organizing my day–to podcast production and screencast videos–I need a LOT of different tools to keep Shake Up Learning running. In this post and podcast episode, I am sharing 15 EPIC Tools I Can’t Live Without! What are the tools that you can’t live without? This is an updated post from my very first year of blogging (2014). [ctt template=”1″ link=”6xNK6″ via=”yes” ]15 EPIC Tools @ShakeUpLearning Can’t LiveContinue Reading

Remote learning has sent teachers and schools into high gear! We are all trying to figure out what works. In this post, I’m going to show you 10 Google Tips for Remote Learning. This has never been done before, not like this, so cut yourself some slack. We are all learning together! Most schools have come to rely heavily on Google and G Suite for Education tools. I’ve put together some of my favorite Google tips and hacks to help you during remote learning and beyond! Remote learning has sent teachers and schools into high gear! We are all tryingContinue Reading

As a former reading teacher, I know how difficult it can be to support struggling readers, English Language Learners, and to improve the fluency of all of my students. I wish I’d had Fluency Tutor to help! I don’t endorse a lot of products, but Texthelp produces some of the best accessibility tools and they work seamlessly with my favorite Google tools. You can get access to Fluency Tutor for FREE, and it’s perfect for remote learning. Below is some information to get you started. [ctt template=”1″ link=”j62g3″ via=”yes” ]FREE Access to Fluency Tutor to Support Student Literacy from @texthelp[/ctt]Continue Reading

When you find a free or paid template that is in Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, or Google Drawings, do you know how to save that to your Google Drive and assign it in Google Classroom? This video will show you how to use Google templates and assign in Google Classroom. There are free lesson plans, choice boards, and other activity templates floating all over the web. Many, are found right here on this blog! But many users don’t know how to save the template to their Google Drive, or how to properly assign in Google Classroom. My inboxContinue Reading

With Google Docs more popular than ever in education, I thought I should share some of my favorite tips. I have 10 Google Docs Tips Every Teacher Should Know Over the years, I have shared a lot of Google tips. In this post, I’m pulling together ten posts with Google skills that every teacher should know. From learning the basics, how to make a copy of files that have been shared online, creating template links, using voice typing, citing sources, inserting GIFs, editing images, using Docs offlines, and much more! [ctt template=”1″ link=”habvx” via=”yes” ]10 #GoogleDocs Tips Every Teacher ShouldContinue Reading

Sometimes we need to work on our Google Drive files when we don’t have an Internet connection. So I’m going to show you how to access files in Google Drive using the Google Docs offline extension. This comes in handy when you are traveling. It is also a great tool for students and teachers with limited or no Internet access at home. This process varies by device. The post below details the steps for accessing files in Google Drive offline on desktops, Android, and iOS devices. [ctt template=”1″ link=”Me90J” via=”yes” ]How to Use #GoogleDrive Offline[/ctt] How to Access Files OfflineContinue Reading

In this post, I will show you how to edit Microsoft Office files in Google Drive! This is the best of both worlds! If you are using Google Drive to store your files, you may find yourself with some Microsoft files that you would like to edit without having to download and open in their native applications. I rarely use Microsoft Office these days, but occasionally I am sent Office files to view or edit. (My eyes usually roll when I see a giant .pptx file attached to an email.) Anyway, I realize some users still need to edit OfficeContinue Reading

Assess Student Writing in Google Docs with WriQ WriQ is a FREE tool that helps teachers easily assess writing in Google Docs. This Google Chrome extension helps teachers not only assess writing, including grammar, punctuation, spelling and more but also helps teachers track progress over time. Below is a guest post outlining the features and recent updates. Please note, this is a guest post, not sponsored. [ctt template=”5″ link=”ffEmT” via=”yes” ]How to Easily Assess Student Writing in Google Docs[/ctt] How to Easily Assess Student Writing in Google Docs This is a guest post by Mark Schwartz from Texthelp. All teachersContinue Reading

In this blog post and podcast episode, you will learn 13 Tips to Organize Your Google Drive. Google Drive is the heart of G Suite. Google Drive allows you to store your files securely and access them from any device, as well as create, open, and edit your files. I have thousands of files stored in my My Drive and struggle with keeping them all organized. Luckily, Google Drive has an amazing search capability that saves me loads of time. But did you know that you can do things like color-code your folders, add emojis, hashtags, or add the sameContinue Reading

How to Force Users to Make a Copy of Google Drive Files Here’s an easy way to force users to make a copy of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides or Drawings! By hacking the URL you can prompt users to make a copy! Have you ever shared a file with a student or colleague and instructed them to go to file>make a copy, and instead, they start typing on the document like it’s their own? There are lots of ways to make a copy and distribute to students, like using Google Classroom or Doctopus, but this little trick is super simple!Continue Reading

Google tools help support teachers and students in many different ways. As the role of instructional coach and tech coach continues to grow, I thought it would be useful to take a look at some Google tips through the lens of a coach. In this guest post by Pam Hubler, you will find many useful Google Tips for Instructional Coaches and Tech Coaches. As an Instructional or Technology Coach, we have a lot to do on a daily basis.   It’s not more or less than a classroom teacher, it’s just different. The trouble with a coaching schedule is flexibility.Continue Reading

The Google Drive Advanced Search is a thing of beauty. My Google Drive is not the most organized, and I frequently rely on the search tool to find what I need. I have never been good at keeping all my digital files inside perfectly organized, color-coded, nested folders. It’s a good thing that I don’t have to worry about organization inside my Google Drive. The search inside Google Drive is very powerful and helps me find any file that I need. Even with the thousands of files that I have accumulated over the years, the Google Drive advanced search isContinue Reading

See a great Google Doc or Slide deck that you want to use? MAKE A COPY! How to Make a Copy of Google Files IS A MUST-HAVE GOOGLE SKILL! If you are a Google-using educator, you must know how to make a copy of Google files. When you come across a Google file that has been made available for you to view, chances are, you can make your own copy and save it to your own Google Drive. So instead of clicking on the share button and requesting access, click on File > Make a Copy! Think of this likeContinue Reading

Google Docs Cheat Sheet! In this handy, Google Docs reference guide, you will get access to beautiful screenshots of all the main features of Google Docs. This is a great reference guide for experienced users, and a fabulous tutorial to help new users learn the basics of Google Docs. Back in 2014, I released the first version of this cheat sheet, and it has been a go-to resource for many Google Docs users. Now, it’s back and even better! Oh, and guess what? This fantastic guide is FREE for Shake Up Learning subscribers! [Tweet “Hey Teachers! Get this AWESOME #GoogleDocs CHEATContinue Reading

160+ Chrome Apps and Extensions for Teachers and Students I have put together a Google Chrome App and Extension Database for Teachers hat is loaded with apps and extensions for productivity and classroom integration. In this post, you will find 160+ Chrome Apps and Extensions for Teachers and Students! This database is searchable and filterable by category, subject area, and grade level! If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you probably know that I love the Google Chrome web browser! Google Chrome is the learning environment for all things Google and allows you to customize yourContinue Reading

16 Curation Tools for Teachers and Students If you follow my blog, you know I curate a lot of resources for teachers. This post brings together a suggested list, a curated list if you will, of 16 curation tools for teachers and students from the Shake Up Learning community. Choosing how to curate and what tools to use can be a very personal decision depending on your own needs and preferences. That’s what’s so great about the world wide web of tools! There is no shortage of tools. Curation is absolutely necessary in the information age! As Gayle Allen saysContinue Reading

Differentiate with Learning Menus and Choice Boards I love learning menus, and it is one of my favorite ways to incorporate student choice and to differentiate learning. And with digital tools like G Suite for Education, it’s super easy to make menus interactive, digital, and more dynamic! Digital Differentiation offers teachers and students many ways to reach all learners. “…at its core, differentiated instruction means addressing ways in which students vary as learners.” – Carol Ann Tomlinson [Tweet “Interactive Learning Menus with @GoogleforEdu #edtech#gsuiteedu”] What Are Learning Menus? IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOICE! Learning menus (aka choice boards) are a form ofContinue Reading

Do you listen to podcasts? I do! I love them. Podcasts are a great way to get PD on the go. You can listen in the car, on your run, during your workout, or whatever you prefer. I teamed up with my friend, Matt Miller, from DitchThatTextbook.com to create The Google Teacher Tribe podcast. We just completed our first season, and I don’t want you to miss out on this fun and FREE PD! You might say, I am #superexcited to share this with you! What is a Podcast? In case you are new podcasts, let me explain. An audioContinue Reading

ISTE 2017 – shakeup.link/iste17 Presentations and Resources [Tweet “Kasey’s #ISTE17 Presentations and Resources #googleedu #edtech #gttribe”] Shake Up Learning with Google Keep (Monday, June 26, 9:30-9:50, Google Teaching Theater #214) CLICK HERE to view full screen. Top 10 Reasons to Go Google (Poster & T-Shirt) Want the T-Shirt? You can order your own! Shake Up Learning T-shirt Store Or get the poster: FREE Poster download         Shake Up Learning with G Suite (Tuesday, June 27, 11:16-12:06, Google for Education Playground Stage C) CLICK HERE to view full screen. Google Classroom Advanced Tips and Tricks (Tuesday, June 27, 12:09-1:00,Continue Reading

Google Apps for iOS The following is a list of Google Apps for iOS (from Google, Inc.). This list is exhaustive and includes several apps that are not on the infographic Guide to Google Apps for the iPad. Some of these have natural classroom integration, and some are more for personal or business use. Some are optimized for both iPad and iPhone, some are only optimized for iPhone. Each app title is linked directly to the App Store so you can click directly from your device to download each app. Updated 5/31/17 Productivity Apps Google  Gmail Inbox by Gmail Google CalendarContinue Reading

The Top 10 Reasons to Go Google! It’s no secret that I am a fan of Google and the G Suite for Education program. In fact, when teachers approach me and say that their administration decided to, “go another way,” I always say, “give me five minutes with them.” Going Google is a no-brainer! It’s free, accessible from anywhere on any device, and the features and tools just keep getting better and better. So I was inspired to create this top ten list. Whether you have already gone Google and are a fan who understands this list, or you areContinue Reading

Did You Know You Can Make Your Google Drive Beautiful? (Jen can show you!) In this episode, Matt and I interview Jen Giffen, a Digital Literacy Resource Teacher, who shares her favorite Google Drive tricks, her special sketch notes, and more! Jen also shares an awesome Mystery Hangouts lesson plan that can be used at any grade level! We also have some Google news and updates and some other great resources to share. You can play the episode using the player below, or subscribe on iOS, Android, Stitcher or RSS. Show Notes and additional resources and links are below. DownloadContinue Reading

Using G Suite in Special Education (Episode 4 of the Google Teacher Tribe Podcast) In this episode, Matt and I interview Carrie Baughcum, a special education teacher from Illinois, who share her favorite Google tips, how she gamifies her class–Star Wars style, and a fabulous lesson plan! We also have some Google news and updates to share, and some great resources from our blogs. You can play the first episode using the player below, or subscribe on iOS, Android, Stitcher or RSS. Show Notes and additional resources and links are below. Download Episode [Tweet “G Suite for Special Education with @HeckAwesome!Continue Reading

How to Differentiate Assignments in Google Classroom I am often asked about differentiation strategies that will work in the Google Classroom application. Google Classroom is a very robust tool that can make differentiating digital assignments a reality. I often present on digital differentiation, and until now, differentiation in Google Classroom has been more of creative thinking than what teachers and students truly need. [ctt template=”1″ link=”PIaUS” via=”yes” ]Digital Differentiation with #GoogleClassroom[/ctt] NEW Feature! Give Assignments to Individual Students or Groups Yay! Teachers rejoice! One of the features we have been waiting for is finally available–the ability to give assignments toContinue Reading

Google Launches Keyword Blog for All Things Google With all of the updates and announcements from Google over the past few weeks, you may have missed this gem. Google has a launched a brand new blog, Keyword; that aggregates the blog feeds from all of their other products and services. Here you will find everything from Android to Translate, and including my favorite: Education! Google says the “Keyword is designed to grow and change as we do, so as we introduce new products and technologies they can find a home here.” [Tweet “Keeping Up with Google: The One Blog to RuleContinue Reading

Last week, Google announced a new name and new branding for our beloved Google Apps: G Suite. This rebranding is also true for our educational suite of applications, now G Suite for Education, as well as the rest of the world using what was formerly known as Google Apps for Work. The core suite of applications did not change, just the name and branding so far. But we also received a few updates over the last few days that are worth mentioning. [Tweet “Google Apps is Now G Suite | And Other Google Updates You Should Know”] Notable Updates to GContinue Reading

TES Teach with Blendspace is the perfect platform for creating interactive lessons to engage your students and share via Google Classroom. This easy-to-use application allows you to create a blended lesson, presentation or project quickly and easily. Oh, and a big bonus: not only does TES Teach integrate with Google Classroom, but it also connects to your Google account and allows you to blend all of your favorite Google apps into one lesson. And guess what? It’s all FREE! [Tweet “Create Interactive Lessons for Google Classroom with @TES_Teach!”] What is TES Teach with Blendspace? The TES Teach with Blendspace platformContinue Reading

Add Animated GIFs to your Google Presentations and Google Docs! In case you haven’t noticed, animated GIFs, those moving pictures that are almost like videos, are ruling the world. It’s not enough anymore to just have a cool image in your presentation; you need to engage them with a little animation. Better yet, GIFs offer an excellent way to show step sets to help teachers and students learn new skills! This post is Part 2 in a series on Google Presentations. Did you miss Part 1? How to Make Your Google Presentations Shine. Note: This works in the entire GoogleContinue Reading