Tag: YouTube

Edit PDFs in the Chromebook Gallery App

Starting in ChromeOS version 104, users can now edit PDF documents using the built-in Gallery app.

For us adults, that’s great for adding a signature to a document and then sending it in. In the classroom, though, it lets students complete activities or digital worksheets and then submit them in their LMS.

This Chromebook screenshot shows a PDF open in the PDF editing tool in the Gallery app. Some text is highlighted and signatures have been added to the document using the tool.

So, if you open the document from the Chromebook Files app, you’ll see a text annotation option, for typing into the PDF, and a drawing option for, obviously, drawing on the PDF. It’s also got a highlighter and eraser in there too. Then you can save the completed document and submit it, send it, or whatever. This provides an additional option for those of you who haven’t found a satisfactory alternative for using fillable PDFs in the Classroom.

Sure, we could use Kami, or use the Google Classroom mobile app or put screenshot the PDF and put it in Google Slides or use Pear Deck or Nearpod or a number of other options, but if none of those work or are ideal for you: here’s another option.

This is available for all Chromebook users.

[Image(s) Source: https://blog.google/products/chromebooks/video-editing-and-other-new-features/ ]

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Live stream Google Meet events via YouTube

Nowadays we have plenty of good ways to livestream events—

including Streamyard and built-in solutions on multiple tools, but I wanted to share this one with you because I think it may be handy for school events.

If it’s enabled by your admin, Google users can now livestream Google meetings publicly via YouTube.

This provides an easy way to get your holiday choir concert or your Board meeting on YouTube. Just please don’t make me watch the board meeting, kay? Anyhow, within Google Meet on a computer, you can click the 3 dots, then Manage Streaming. On phones, just go to the Activities panel and select Live Streaming. You can then give the livestream a title, set its privacy and the caption language and start the stream.

Easy peasy!

[More info: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/07/live-stream-google-meet-events-via-youtube.html ]

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Speeding Up YouTube Videos

Ben Franklin coined the phrase “Time is money.”  Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim invented YouTube.   It’s a match made in heaven.  Well, kinda.

There is so much content available for educators and their students to learn from on YouTube.  Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t have enough time to watch those videos.

Know of a 20 minute tutorial that you’d like to watch, but only have 15 minutes available?  I’ve got the solution for you!

Click the gear in the bottom-right corner of a YouTube video to access the speed settings.  I recommend 1.5x for most videos, 1.25x if it’s highly technical.  When I’m watching my own videos to “proof” them or look for a certain spot in the video, I go with 2x.

But the best advice I can give you – check out this video in 2x and 0.5x speed.  You’re welcome.

YouTube Speed Animation

Adding Audio in Google Slides (Hack)

Listen, I get it – when you’re showing your students the chambers of the heart, you want to have “Total Eclipse of the Heart” playing.  And, when you teach your class about the food chain, you need “Hungry Like the Wolf” rocking out of your speakers.  But, guess who doesn’t get it?  Google.  No audio in Google Slides.  Sorry, no music for you.

But!  I’ve got your back.  When you present about the states of water, you need to be playing this, or maybe this.  I didn’t invent this hack, but I created a GIF to showcase it for you.

Step by step instructions are below the GIF.

Adding Audio in Google Slides Animation

  1. Insert > Video
  2. Search for & Insert the video for the song you want from YouTube
  3. Right Click, Video Options
  4. Select “Autoplay when presenting”
  5. If desired, set a specific start time
  6. Make the video tiny
  7. Rock out when in presentation mode
  8. Keep in mind – your song will stop when you move on to the next slide, so plan accordingly

Note – this is a copyright gray area (or worse), for sure. I always try to use Vevo videos, because we at least we know that those were uploaded by the companies that own the rights to those music videos.