Tech Tip Archive: Google Apps, iPads, Chrome, Productivity & More!

Written By Tony Vincent
Tech Tip Archive with Cartoon Tony Vincent

I love to share tech tips! Sometimes one little piece of information can make a difference for teachers and students. Social media is a great place to share my tips. I use Twitter (@tonyvincent) to post weekly tips on Tuesdays. I've been posting weekly tips since August 2013. Those same tips also appear on the Learning in Hand Facebook page. Meanwhile, on Instagram (@learninginhand) I post at least one visual tech tip each week. That collection has grown to to over 320 posts, and those posts also appear on the Teaching & Technology Tidbits board on Pinterest.

Topics I post about include Chromebooks, Google apps, iPads, Chrome extensions, useful websites, keyboard shortcuts, and productivity advice. I'd love for you to follow along—the best part about posting on social media is that I get many replies with extra hints, tips, and ideas!

If you don't follow on social media, that OK. Below are the latest posts from Twitter and Instagram. Bookmark this page and come back periodically to see what's new.

 
 
 
 
 
Add summer vibes with these fonts—available for free in Google Workspace and downloadable at fonts.google.com. #EdTech #Teaching #Arted #DitchBook #GoogleClassroom #GoogleEdu
A good question to ask students after they've worked on a Shapegram is... "What can you do now that you couldn't do before?" #Shapegrams #Teaching #ArtTeacher #EdTech
Pastel colors are soft and calming, like baby blue, pale yellow, pastel pink, peach, and periwinkle. Pastels are often associated with spring. Perhaps because spring brings us flowers and ice cream? #Shapegrams #Arted #Teaching #ArtTeacher #EdTech
This comic was drawn in Google Slides using shapes! #GoogleSlides #EdTech #GoogleEdu #Shapegrams #ArtTeacher #DigitalArt
Spark excitement withthis digital art challenge! The Thunderstorm Zipper invites learners to recreate a storm cloud, complete with rain and a lightning bolt. Yes, there is indeed a lightning bolt in Shapes menu in Google Slides and Google Drawings!
It's toad-ally possible to draw comics using shapes and word art in Google Slides! #DadJokes #Shapegrams #DigitalArt #GoogleSlides #TeachersofInstagram #EdTech
Zooming can make it easier to draw with shapes. There are multiple ways to zoom in and zoom out in Google Slides and Google Drawings. #GoogleSlides #EdTech #DitchBook #YourNETA #GAETC #GoogleEdu #DigitalArt
Maybe you'll find this cat comic a-new-sing! #DadJoke #Shapegrams #YourNETA #TeachersOfInstagram #iTech #iteachtech
A “ribbiting” way to celebrate Leap Day → Challenge your students to recreate this fabulous frog! Members can copy the template, which includes animated instructions for drawing the frog with shapes. shapegrams.com/frog You can to
The Trophy Zipper challenge is a golden opportunity to practice skills learned from Shapegrams Lessons. Don’t worry, the template comes with step-by-step instructions (and teachers can download them as a PDF). Level = Outstanding Orange ⬜️⬜️
You might develop a crush on these lovely fonts! They're available in Google Workspace and downloadable from fonts.google.com.
This comic was built using lots and lots of shapes. Swipe to see an "x-ray" showing how shapes overlap to form a picture. Bonus Joke: How do you find a LEGO in the dark? Walk around. 🦶🧱😫
This new Zipper graphic art challenge is a plastic brick. Have a block party as you try to recreate the picture. The brick is drawn at an angle, which makes it tricky to recreate. shapegrams.com/brick Level = Progressing Purple ⬜️⬜️🟪⬜️⬜️ #FETC #
Kandi posted something very sweet about Shapegrams. Our digital drawing lessons and challenges are great for libraries, makerspaces, and classrooms! #teacherlibrarian #futurereadylib #FETC #edtech
Draw an abominable snowman in the Yeti Zipper challenge: shapegrams.com/yeti #DadJoke #Shapegrams #GoogleSlides
Are you ready for this Yeti Zipper graphic art challenge? You might not be! It’s "no small feet" to recreate the yeti with shapes. The amount of detail puts it at the Outstanding Orange skill level. shapegrams.com/yeti Skill Level =
The Snow Globe lesson invites learners to insert something under a shiny glass enclosure. That something could be their #OneWord for the new year, which is like a simplified new year’s resolution. Members can get the template at shapegrams.co
Isn't it amazing what stacking a few shapes can do?! Draw a cookie sheet using four rounded rectangle shapes and two shades of gray. #edtech #teachersofinstagram #shapegrams #graphicarts
You've got to wreath-pect a good pun! P.S. Step-by-step directions for drawing a festive wreath is in the Wreath Zipper graphic art challenge: shapegrams.com/wreath #DadJoke #Shapegrams #TeachersofInstagram
After drawing a gingerbread person in Google Slides, duplicate your drawing. Move the duplicate over and make changes and additions to create a new outfit or character. Be creative and make each cookie exTRAY special! Get the Gingerbread Person Shap
Tony Vincent
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