Switch on Learning (description)

At the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, we are Switching on Learning by integrating Google’s powerful ecosystem into every classroom. This blog is a dedicated space for sharing the ideas, methodologies, and digital tools that transform the modern educational experience. Our Digital Toolkit We empower educators and students by leveraging a robust, collaborative environment: Google Workspace for Education: Driving seamless collaboration through Docs, Drive, and Classroom. The Power of AI: Utilizing Gemini and integrated AI features to personalize learning and spark creativity. Data-Driven Assessment: Using MarkBook to track student growth with precision and transparency. The Process of Learning: Leveraging Revision History to emphasize growth, iteration, and the visible journey of a student's work. From interactive Chrome tools to digital storytelling, we aren't just using tech—we’re using it to bridge gaps, foster global collaboration, and future-proof our students' skills.

Google Workspace Updates - Originality Reports and Google Docs Watermarks

 

NEW!!  Google Orginality Reports Update

    
    Google Originality Reports is a tool available through the Google Classroom.  This tool allows teachers and students to check for plagiarism on student work.  Previously, this tool only worked with Google Docs, however, in the latest Google Workspace update, this tool will now also work with Google Slides.  

Please see this document for more information on Google Originaliity Reports.


Watermarks in Google Docs

    
    A watermark is an image that is superimposed behind the text of your document.  A watermark can be used to identify the type of document .  For example, you can use a watermark to identify a document as a "draft" or "final" version.  

With the latest Google update, you can now insert text watermarks as well as images.


To add a watermark, click on Insert--> Watermark from the top menu.   

You can choose to insert an image or text watermark by clicking on the tabs.

To insert an image watermark, simply click on the "select image" button to insert an image from your Google Drive or the web.  You can also adjust the scale here. 

For text watermarks, enter the text and then select your desired settings including font, size, transparency and direction (horizontal or diagonal) 

The watermark can be changed later by clicking once again on Insert--> Watermark and selecting a new image.  If you want to remove the watermark, you can click on the "Remove Watermark" text at the bottom of the Watermark window. 






Google Slides - Students cannot insert youtube videos

 

Due to recent changes to Google user accounts who are under 18 years of age, students can no longer embed youtube videos into Google Slides presentations.  Google is aware of this issue, however, has not comitted to a date when this will be fixed.  In the interim, here is a workaround for students to insert videos into a Google Slides presentation.

1.  Get an image of the youtube video using screen capturing tool.

2.  Insert that image into the Slide show. 

3.  While the image is selected, click in "Insert --> Link".  Use the URL from the Youtube video.

Althtough the video will not play within the Google Slides presentation, it will have a look that is close.  The video can then be opened in a new tab.





Instructional Videos for New Features: Revision History

WECDSB | Revision History Updates ↑ WECDSB Revision History Updates Short ins...