Usually we offer “12 Days of Google” but this year we are doing 12 WAYS using screencasts to allow folks to access the resources asynchronously. These short, 5–7 minute videos, led by our expert instructional designers and Google for Education certified trainers, are designed to help you quickly learn practical tips and tools to enhance your productivity, collaboration, and teaching. Perfect for busy schedules, each video offers focused insights to make the most of Google tools in your work and beyond!

Watch them using the playlist below. There are also individually linked videos with titles and descriptions below the playlist.

TOPIC

New Features in Google Calendar Explore the latest updates in Google Calendar with this quick overview of new features, including dark mode, time insights, task view integration, and enhanced event types like focus time and out-of-office scheduling. Learn how these tools can help you organize your time, track productivity, and customize your calendar to fit your workflow.

Keep it Simple with Google Keep Discover how Google Keep can streamline your workday with features like color-coded notes, shared checklists, voice memos, and seamless syncing across devices. Watch the video to see how it can help you stay organized, collaborate effortlessly, and boost productivity.

Smart Chips in Google Drive Smart Chips in Google Docs and Sheets are dynamic tools that connect your documents to other Google services, making it easier to access and integrate data like calendar events, files, and contacts directly within your work. This video explores how to use Smart Chips effectively, including data extractions in Sheets, quick commands in Docs, and tips for streamlining workflows with these versatile features.

Google Calendar Appointment Scheduler Learn how to streamline your scheduling with Google Calendar’s Appointment Scheduler in this short tutorial. Discover how to create flexible schedules, set booking preferences, and manage appointments with features like co-hosting, meeting format options, and automated notifications—perfect for staying organized and supporting students throughout the semester.

Conversational Exploration with Gemini AI Learn about the latest features in Google Gemini AI and what is and is not available on the Alaska.edu domain.

Using Templates in Google Slides Discover how to enhance your presentations with Google Slides Templates in this quick tutorial. Learn how to choose and customize templates, collaborate with team members in real time, and create polished, professional slideshows that save time and focus on delivering impactful content.

Gmail’s Meeting Scheduler Learn how to streamline meeting planning with Gmail’s Meeting Scheduler in this step-by-step tutorial. Avoid the hassle of back-and-forth emails and external tools by proposing meeting times directly within Gmail, making it simple to coordinate schedules and add events to calendars with just a few clicks.

Google Spaces for Groupwork Learn how Google Spaces combines chat, file sharing, task management, and scheduling to simplify group work and project planning. Perfect for collaboration, announcements, and staying organized, Google Spaces helps teams work smarter and stay on track.

Build a Website with Google Sites Learn how to create and publish a professional-looking website using Google Sites. This tutorial walks you through planning your site, adding content, customizing design, and making it live—all with an intuitive, user-friendly platform.

Using Google Tools with Canvas

What’s New with Google Search Uncover the newest features in Google Search designed to improve research, teaching, and administrative workflows in academia. With AI-generated summaries, advanced contextual understanding, and multimodal search capabilities, these tools make finding information faster and more efficient.

Intro to Google Photos Learn the basics of Google Photos in this introductory tutorial, part of the 12 Ways of Google series. Discover how to add, organize, and share photos, explore powerful tools like face recognition and search, adjust settings to personalize your experience, and seamlessly integrate Google Photos with other apps like Docs and Slides.