Locked browser option for Google Quizzes in Classroom

Google Classroom is offering a beta version of Quizzes using a locked browser window. This prevents students from navigating away from the quiz and accessing other resources while the quiz is active. To try it, add a "quiz assignment" question from the Classwork page and toggle on the "locked mode" option.

Right now you have to create the quiz from the assignment, rather than being able to use a previously existing Google Form, but once the quiz exists, you can edit it from anywhere and treat it like a regular Google Forms quiz.

Students must be using a managed Chromebook (meaning a school-owned device) in order to access the quiz. When they click on the assignment, they will see a message that "locked mode is on" and that when they start the quiz, they will no longer be able to access other tabs. Students can close the quiz but will lose all progress (and you, as the form owner, will be notified). After a student submits the quiz, they will return to "unlocked" mode and resume normal access.

If you try it, send Google your feedback!

Useful add-ons for Google Docs

Add-ons are interesting tools that can expand the capabilities of Google Docs. They are created by third parties (often teachers!) who wanted Docs to be able to do something specific, and made it happen. Here are just two examples of what Google Docs Add-Ons can do:

Easy Accents
If you are often adding special characters like ö è ç ñ ¿ and other common characters in non-English languages, you have noticed it requires several steps in Google Docs (going to the Insert menu, choosing Special Characters and scrolling through the many options). The Easy Accents add-on allows you to open a sidebar with the special characters of your chosen language already there. Just click and the character is automatically added. 

WordCloud Generator
Word clouds can be a very quick and powerful way of looking at the content of a document, espcially when looking for specific high-impact or overused words. While there are many online options for word clouds, this add-on allows you to immediately view a word cloud of the Google Doc you are viewing. You can automatically or manually eliminate certain words, change the layout and color/style, and either download it or append it directly to the doc.

For all add-ons, start at the Add-Ons menu in your Google Doc. Click "Get add-ons" to search on the many options available or open the add-ons you've already installed.

Check out this short video from Google on Add-Ons and a few of their favorites: