Google Drive Template Gallery

If you are in Google Drive and click on “Create” and then “From template…” you will gain access to the Google Drive Template Gallery.  Hundreds of free templates, of a wide variety, are available to create your document, spreadsheet, presentation or form. Template categories include Students & Teachers, Calendars & Schedules and Resumes & Cover Letters. The Student & Teacher template category includes hundreds of helpful templates for grade reports, student evaluations, syllabi, lesson plans, and more. You can view a full screen preview of the template in a new window by clicking on “Preview” and if  you click on “Use this template” you can create and add a copy of the template to your Docs list.

Certified Google Power Searcher

Recently, I completed the free Power Searching with Google online course to improve my search skills and become a Certified Google Power Searcher. The course consists of  six classes covering many search techniques. Each of the six classes consists of sessions that contain a video to watch and an activity to complete. You have to complete the pre-assessment, and pass the mid-assessment and post-assessment to complete the course and earn a certificate. Also, to earn a certificate you have to take the assessments within the time frame decided by Google. Google has offered this course two times so far and plans on offering it again in the future.  I highly recommend taking this course. It is worthwhile for searchers with basic or even advanced skills. I consider myself a searcher with advanced skills and, while I did already know most of the search techniques taught,  I still learned some search techniques to add to my repertoire. Check out Google’s Tips and Tricks site to view some of the search techniques covered in the course.