Google Apps Suite offers a variety of free tools you can harness to enhance collaboration and efficiency when working remotely. This presentation takes a look at the most commonly used features of Google Apps and how they can be adapted for your team. Originally presented at the National eXtension Technology Conference in June 2016.

1. SUITE SECRETS
LEVERAGING GOOGLE APPS SUITE FOR
EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION
Coral Owen, MS
Military Families Learning Network
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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2. Welcome!
• Professional Development
Coordinator, Military Families
Learning Network
• MS, University of Florida
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3. DOD / MC&FPUSDA/NIFA
Personal Finance
Family Development
Military Caregiving
Family Transitions
Community Capacity Building
Nutrition & Wellness
Network Literacy
FD – Early Intervention
Special Needs
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PI
NationalLeadershipTeam

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5. What’s out there?
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6. For today…
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7. Browser-based
• Compatible browsers
– Chrome
– Safari
– Firefox
– IE
– Microsoft Edge
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8. Non-browser options
• Microsoft Outlook
– Via Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook
• IMAP clients
– Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Windows
Mail, Apple Mail, etc.
• POP clients
Primarily for syncing contacts, mail and
calendars
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9. Non-browser options
• Apps available for Android and iPhone
– Drive
– Gmail
– Hangouts
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10. A quick note…
…about multiple accounts
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11. Gmail
• 15 GB storage free (shared across Gmail,
Google Drive and Photos)
• Customizable inbox tabs
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13. Hangouts
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15. Calendar
• Manage multiple calendars
• Send invites
• Collaborative
https://calendar.google.com
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16. https://calendar.google.com
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18. Drive
• 15 GB storage (shared with Gmail and Photos)
• Store and share Docs, Slides, Sheets and
Photos
• Save attachments to Drive directly from Gmail
https://drive.google.com
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20. Forms
• Collaborative
• Compatible with both browsers and handheld
devices
• Integrates with Sheets for easy analysis of
results or compilation of responses
• Highly customizable – formatting, photos,
video
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21. Slides
• Import from PowerPoint
• Create/edit in Slides
• Fidelity of graphics or fonts may be altered
when importing
• Export as .pptx, .pdf, .jpg, .png
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22. Docs
• Multiple collaborators
• Different levels of access
• Can import from Word or create in Google
Docs
• Export as .docx, .pdf
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24. Sheets
• Multiple collaborators/access levels
• Can import from Excel or create directly in
Sheets
• Multiple sheets per doc (like Excel)
• Project management aspect
• Export as .xlsx, .pdf
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25. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets
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26. Where can I learn more?
• Lynda: https://www.lynda.com/
• Google Apps Learning Center:
https://apps.google.com/learning-center/
• YouTube
• Google
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27. Thanks for coming!
Coral Owen
coral@illinois.edu
217-265-5144
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