Make a custom Google Map

Beth Helm created the following 3 minute, 30 second screencast explaining how to create a custom Google Map. The only things I'd add to this excellent overview are:

1. Remember you can use the Google Maps search bar FIRST before dropping a placemark and editing it. You can also pan and zoom within the displayed map view, so you can get the exact place you want to mark.
2. Remember to click the RICH TEXT option when editing a placemark if you want to add a hyperlink or image, as Beth demonstrated.
3. Remember to copy the direct link or embed code for a specific map by clicking the LINK button in the upper right corner of you map, instead of just copying the website shown in your web browser's address bar at the top as you work on your map.

Great job Beth!

Make a PowerPoint with 20 photos FAST

Kylee Woodard created this 1 min, 50 second screencast showing how to create a PowerPoint presentation VERY quickly using all the images in a single folder. In this case she used 20 pictures which she had downloaded/saved for her Pecha Kutcha presentation. Great demo Kylee!

Embedding a Google Doc on WikiSpaces

It's very straightforward to embed a Google Doc on a Google Site (when editing a page choose INSERT - DOCUMENT) but a bit more challenging if you're using WikiSpaces.

This post shows how to do this for WikiSpaces. You'll first need to publish your Google Doc under the SHARING options for the document.

Setting view permissions for your Google Doc

Question:
Why can people not view my Google Document (unit plan) which I've embedded in my Google Site?

Answer:
You probably need to change your SHARING settings so everyone can view your document. The two screensnaps below show you how to do this.

Embed a Google Document on a Google Site

Question:
How can I embed my unit plan (a Google Document) into my Google Site, so I can turn in this assignment for a grade?

Answer:
This 4 minute screencast shows you how. On the Google Site page you want to edit, go to the INSERT menu and choose Document. Then find the Google Document you want to insert, and click OK. Save your Google Site page. You can submit the direct link to that page to turn in your assignment.

Copy direct link to a custom Google Map

Question:
How can I copy the direct link to my Google Map?

Answer:
When viewing your Google Map, in the upper right corner click on LINK. Then copy the link field which is shown.

Copy the direct link to a VoiceThread

Question:
How can I copy the direct link to my VoiceThread digital story?

Answer:
When viewing your VoiceThread, in the upper left corner click MENU and then SHARE.



Next, click COPY LINK AND SHARE to copy the direct URL to your clipboard.



Now you can paste it in a blog post using the link tool, or in a WebCT/Blackboard quiz, as needed.