Connect to the Gmail App for Mobile Devices

The Los Rios Google account can be connected to Google's apps on mobile devices. The following are noted in the demonstration video:

1. There are two steps to authenticate a Los Rios Google account: the first screen requires the entire email address (including the @apps.losrios.edu domain) but the password does not matter; the second screen requires only the Los Rios username and the Los Rios password
2. Other Los Rios Google services that have associated Google apps (like Drive) can also be used.

Using a Google Form to Collect Information from Alumni

A Google Form can be used to collect information from program alumni. It includes a variety of question types and the results are automatically time stamped and collected into a spreadsheet. Since we have an apps.edu domain we have the option to require a login before accessing the form, but our alumni might not have easy access to their eServices username and password information.

Here are the steps shown in the embedded video:

1. In the Google Drive application, create a new form, title it, and pick a theme.
2. Create questions and choose the data validation options as appropriate (e.g., require that certain questions be answered)
3. Test the form at any time
4. Share the form via a URL
5. View results from Google Drive page (a Google Spreadsheet) is automatically created that collects the results
6. Turn the form off on the edit form page at any time
7. Turn on notifications to get an email any time the form is completed

Upload Videos to Google Drive and Embed in Desire2Learn

This is cross-posted on Greg Desires2Blog

Video files can be uploaded to an instructor's Los Rios Google Drive and then embedded within a course offering on Desire2Learn. This video shows how to do this and includes an option to prohibit downloading by viewers.

Use Los Rios Google Apps to Create an Image Gallery and Share via Desire2Learn

This is cross-posted on GregDesires2Blog

The Google Drive application can be used to create an online image gallery with thumbnails that link to higher-quality images.

Use Los Rios Google Apps to View PowerPoint

This is cross-posted on GregDesires2Blog

Though Desire2Learn includes an inline file viewer that displays PowerPoint presentations within the browser, there are still situations where students will need or want to download the presentation file to a local computer. For those who are off campus and do not have access to Microsoft Office, one option is to use Los Rios Gmail and Google Apps. A PowerPoint file can be uploaded to Drive and Docs, and Google will convert it to the Google Presentation format. It can then be viewed within the browser and downloaded as a PDF file for printing.

Forward Los Rios Gmail

I created a video showing how to set up forwarding for Los Rios Gmail to another email account. This is especially for students who were used to the automatic forwarding that occurred with our previous student email system.

Los Rios Google Apps and PowerPoint

Los Rios Google Apps can be used to manage PowerPoint presentations.

Student Editors on a Los Rios Google Apps Site

This is cross-posted on Greg Desires2Blog
The Los Rios Google Sites tool can support a group assignment wherein create a web site together. This video shows how to add students' Los Rios Google user accounts as editors to a Los Rios Google Site. The names are taken from the classlist on a D2L course offering.

Sharing MS Office Documents with Coworkers

Documents in MS Office can be shared confidentially with coworkers for the purposes of collaboration. This can be done with and among students as well, but for them the complete Los Rios Google username must be used (i.e., the names of students cannot be typed and w+StudentID@apps.losrios.edu is required).