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Hacking Google With Google Apps Script and Add-Ons

Change display time — Currently: Central Daylight Time (CDT) (Event time)
Location: La Nouvelle Ballroom, Table 19
Experience live: All-Access Package

Participate and share : Poster

Mariana Sandoval  
Brian Wise  

Google Workspace users, have you ever wished Google could do more, like translate Google Slides presentations, create custom-filtered spreadsheet tabs or automatically send custom emails? You can hack Google! Learn how you and your students can customize Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and more using free tools!

Audience: Coaches, Teachers
Skill level: Intermediate
Attendee devices: Devices useful
Attendee device specification: Smartphone: Android, iOS, Windows
Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Tablet: Android, iOS, Windows
Participant accounts, software and other materials: Participants should have access to the basic Google Workspace apps (Docs, Sheets, and Slides) via either an enterprise Google account or a private Gmail account.
Topic: Teacher education
Grade level: PK-12
Subject area: Computer science
ISTE Standards: For Education Leaders:
Systems Designer
  • Establish partnerships that support the strategic vision, achieve learning priorities and improve operations.
For Educators:
Facilitator
  • Create learning opportunities that challenge students to use a design process and computational thinking to innovate and solve problems.

Proposal summary

Purpose & objective

All of the coding examples shared will be real-world solutions we have developed over the past several years in order to support the work of our school district.
The primary focus of the presentation will be on tools that are embedded withing Google Workspace core apps. Some time will also be spent providing an introduction to one or more third-party add-ons, including the free Autocrat add-on for Google Sheets.
Our presentation will be informed by the T3 model of technology integration, which emphasizes the importance of not only using technology to make tasks more efficient, but also using technology in ways that transform learning and create social entrepreneurship.

Outline

Attendees will need to bring an internet-connected device. The majority of the tools demonstrated will be Google Workspace-based, so if an attendee wishes to download any tools and try them out during the session, ideally their device should be able to access a Google account. However, this is not a requirement of the session. For each of the coding examples provided, the presenter will share links to a copyable template and a text file with the actual code itself.
Brief overview of Google Apps Script and the presentation’s entertaining “hacker” motif.
The presenter will begin with a very simple implementation of Google Apps Script - a simple command to cause a dialog box with a message to pop up when opening a Google Doc.
Google Slides example: A configurable implementation of the Google Translate API, which can be used to create a simple clickable menu that creates buttons will translate text elements one at a time or the entire Slides presentation.
Google Sheets example: A script that handles submissions from a Google Form and uses ARRAYFORMULA and QUERY functions to sort data from the Form Response Sheet to any number of additional tabs/Sheets based on one of the survey responses
“Turbo-charged” conclusion for advanced-level educators: A longer script that accomplishes simple mail-merge and generates automated email responses/receipts from a Google Form.
Also, the free Google Add-on "Autocrat" will be demonstrated, which allows for powerful mail-merge functionalities from Google Forms/Sheets data to be used to create custom certificates, form letters, data handouts, and other documents.
All tools demonstrated have been reviewed for compliance with applicable California and Federal student data privacy laws and acceptable best practices for K-12 students. The presenter is not affiliated with any vendor. All recommendations in this presentation are based on the presenter’s personal experiences as a classroom teacher and District technology specialist in a comprehensive public TK-12 school district.

Supporting research

The T3 Framework was published in Sonny Magana's book "Disruptive Classroom Technologies: A Framework for Innovation in Education"
https://www.amazon.com/Disruptive-Classroom-Technologies-Framework-Innovation/dp/1506359094

Google Apps Script page for developers:
https://developers.google.com/apps-script

Autocrat is produced by the New Visions for Public Schools project:
https://cloudlab.newvisions.org/

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Presenters

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Mariana Sandoval, Ceres Unified School District

I have been a District EdTech for Ceres Unified School District in Central CA for the past eight years and an educator since 2006. I've taught adults and 6th-12th grade. I have a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and a M.A. in Education. I support with EdTech integration, District PD, and EdTech programs for students. My passion is to have a positive impact and make a difference. In 2020, I received the ACSA Region 7 Tech Admin of the Year award. I like to karaoke, dance, ride my bike, watch movies, and spend time with my family!

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Brian Wise, Ceres Unified School District

Brian Wise (“The EdTech Wise Guy”) is an Education Technology Specialist for a public PK-12 school district located in the Central Valley of California. Brian is an experienced conference presenter who has entertained and informed a variety of audiences including teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and students. Brian’s particular areas of expertise include Chromebook/Google Workspace, equity and inclusion, accessibility for learners with special needs, and student data privacy. Brian was a classroom teacher for 20 years, and holds a Master’s Degree in Education Technology. Brian is a proud dad to two sons and a dog.

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