Latest News

IDEA Con 2024 - February 16th, 2024

I'm attending IDEA Con 2024 in Febraury 2024! My materials are posted under the 2024 Presentations page. I hope to see you there, PLN!

Site Updates November 14th, 2023

I made some site updates to my Ongoing Presentations or Publications page to reflect some of my latest content offerings. Hope your autumn is going well!

Updates to 2023 Presentations October 26th, 2023

There is a new presentation available that I have made since my last post in August 2023. Please feel free to explore the materials in this page! 2023 Presentations 

Updates to 2023 Presentations August 6th, 2023

There are mutliple presentaitions that I have made so far in the year of 2023. Please feel free to explore the materials in this page! 2023 Presentations 

Publication on K12 Leaders January 8th, 2023

I have an article that can be seen on https://k12leaders.com/ It is also linked in the 2023 Presentations page in as a publication. I hope it inspires you in your educational journey!

Conference Season 2023

I know that updates here have been sparse as of late. This situation has been due to many happy life events that occurred from September 2022-December 2022 However, Confernece Season of 2023 is upon us! I will be presenting at various meetings, and conferences in this year such as Ditched Con 2023, and  IDEA Con 2023. I have also created the 2023 Presentations page in preparation for these events. Keep a look out on my social media pages for additional updates.

SPLASH Conference June 14th, 2022

I presented at the SPLASH conference virtually on June 14th, 2022. My presentation "I Survived My First Year of Teaching... Now What?" can be seen in the 2022 Presentations page and the All Presentations & Publications by Theme page. 

Google Certified Coach - February 24th, 2022

I am, as of February 23rd, 2022, a Google Certified Coach! I was able to complete the program due to my participation in the Learning Technology Center of Illinois' cohort for Google Certified Coaches. For more information on this organization, please go to https://ltcillinois.org/. 

Winter Conference & Course Updates - February 17th, 2022

With winter conferences taking place, you can now find new presentations in the 2021 section, and the 2022 section. The first is Hour of Code for Littles which was first presented on December 11th, 2021, and then again on February 4th, 2022. The second is Creating a Handbook for your Job: A Roadmap for Educational Duties, which was first presented in February 2022. Check them out in the appropriate pages: 2021 Presentations or 2022 Presentations

I also have a course now available at Teach Illinois: New Teacher Mentorship as of February 8th, 2022! This course is 1 hour of PD for Teachers in Illinois. Please share with anyone who would be interested.  

New Presentation Posted - October 25, 2021

A new presentation has been posted in the 2021 list of presentations: Google Classroom vs Google Sites - Which to Use When? The publicly available materials can be viewed here: 2021 Presentations, or in the Google Workspace for Education section of All Presentations & Publications by Theme.  

New Youtube Series - October 8, 2021

Do you have any new teachers in your district? Does it feel like there is too much to cover all at once? Now, there's a Youtube Series for that situation! I have created a Youtube Playlist called First Year Teaching Tips that will help support new teachers with managing all the responsibilities that come with adjusting to a new role. Veterans may find some of these tips helpful as well. Subscribe to my channel so you have the most up to date access. 

Site Relaunch - August 3, 2021

Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing in Technology has officially relaunched on August 3, 2021! 

The site's focus will now be on a professional development hub for various presentations or publications focused on the themes of Educational Technology & Pedagogy, Ten Second Tech Tips,  General Best Practices for Educators and Google Workspace for Education. The presentations and publications can be viewed chronologically or thematically under Presentations & Publications .

While it is possible I may update some tutorial series for Google Workspace, that will no longer be the main focus of the site. All previously created tutorials will still be available. 

Moving forward, this focus on thematic presentations or publications will allow me to demonstrate more comprehensive topics, and maintain the quality of the content. 

I hope what I post continues to inspire you to grow in your knowledge of technology. 

Reflection & Changes to Come- March 16, 2021

To all who come to this website for updates on tutorials, I want to thank you. 

When I launched Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing in Technology in 2017, I created it to be a starting point for anyone who needed to start from the very first step when it came to using technology tools, such as Google Workspace for Education. As time has gone by, and as may have been evident in the various posts in "Latest News," I have not always been able to consistently create content in the way that I would have hoped to do so. This situation is partly due to personal life events, as well as other professional goals superseding the maintenance of this website. 

As such, I am going to take a step back from adding to the site until further notice. I plan to use this time to consider ways I can share my knowledge with others that fulfills the needs of viewers, as well as my own needs as a creator.

All existing tutorials will stay active. However, the type of content that is posted will undergo changes. I look forward to sharing them with you when I am ready to do so. Until then, keep growing in your knowledge of technology! 

Winter Hiatus - January 5, 2021

For 2021, I have to start the year off on hopefully a short hiatus. I am currently working on my ISTE Certification, and the responsibilities of my current position are ramping up due to new regulations in my state. I hope to have new content posted soon. Until then-keep growing in your knowledge of technology! 

Screencastify - December 22, 2020

For the last post of 2020, two videos on how to use the paid and free version of Screencastify have been posted. Regular updates to the Google Slides - Features Under Files Series will resume in 2021. Happy New Year to all!

Google Slides -  Features Under Files Started December 15, 2020

The series  Google Slides - Features Under File written tutorial has been posted, and can be viewed here: Features Under File  Video tutorials to follow.

Google Slides -  Features Under Files to Come December 7, 2020

The next series that will be posted on Ms. Gutsell's Guide Growing in Technology will be Google Slides - Features Under File.  The written tutorial will be posted first on December 15, 2020 and then video tutorials will be posted every week afterwards until the series is completed.  

Google Slides Toolbar Formatting on Youtube Channel November 19, 2020

All videos for Google Slides Toolbar Formatting at the link below. Check them out! From now on, videos will be posted simultaneously on this website and the Youtube channel.  Starting in December 2020, look for new videos in the Google Slide Deck series!

Google Docs on Youtube Channel November 12, 2020

All videos for Google Docs are now on Youtube at the link below. Check them out! The next series to be uploaded will be Google Slides. 

New Updates September 10, 2020

Videos are being converted for Youtube again at the channel linked below. Check out the latest posts for the Google Doc Series. Updates may still be intermittent, but I hope to have more to share soon!

Updates for the Updates July 28, 2020

The Site Hiatus is still onging. However, it is going to be adjusted slightly.  Since June 2020, Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing in Technology has been undergoing some revamps due to the creation of the Youtube Channel. In August 2020, the school year in the United States will begin, and during this time I will have to prioritize the needs of my other role. I work on Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing in Technology  because I believe in the importance of giving users of all kinds a place to start when using technology tools. However, updates to the site will be slower. All other materials currently posted will remain available for use. 

The Youtube Channel will have some tutorials about Google Classroom available before they are updated on the site in a revamped Google Classroom section. That webpage is currently under construction, as are other parts of the site.  However, I hope to help you all grow in your knowledge of technology with other new tutorials soon!  

Site Hiatus Starting Summer 2020 June 23, 2020

Starting during the Summer of 2020,  the site Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing in Technology will be undergoing a site redesign. After the last Google Slides Toolbar Formatting tutorial is posted, no new tutorials  will be posted for the foreseeable future. During this time, video tutorials will be uploaded to the Youtube Channel listed below. Google Docs Toolbar Formatting has already been uploaded, and more are to come! I look forward to sharing ways to grow with using technology!

Google Docs Complete! Google Slides Begins! April 7, 2020

The Google Docs Series is complete, and the Google Slides series has begun. Please use these tutorials to help learn all of the features of these tools. 

IDEA Con 2020 Presentation-February 24, 2020

I presented a session at IDEA Con  2020 called "Bringing Home the Conference." It can be accessed at the link below. 

Features Under Add-ons Complete-February 4, 2020

The Google Docs series has a complete list of tutorials for Features Under Add-ons as of February 4, 2020. The next series for Google Docs will be Features Under Help.

IDEA Northern Suburbs Mini Con Presentation-January 28, 2020

I presented a session at IDEA Northern Suburbs Mini Con about using the GSuite tools to organize your digital life. It can be accessed at the link below. 

Features Under Tools Complete-January 6, 2020

The Google Docs series has a complete list of tutorials for Features Under  Tools as of January 6, 2020. The next series for Google Docs will be Features Under Add-ons.

Features Under Format Complete-October 8, 2019

The Google Docs series has a complete list of tutorials for Features Under  Format as of October 8, 2019. The next series for Google Docs will be Features Under Tools. 

Features Under Insert Complete-July 23, 2019

The Google Docs series has a complete list of tutorials for Features Under Insert as of July 23, 2019. The next series for Google Docs will be Features Under Format. 

Features Under View Complete-April 17, 2019

The Google Docs series has a complete list of tutorials for Features Under View as of April  9, 2019. The next series Features Under Insert, started posting on April 17, 2019. 

Site News, & Illinois Computing Educators 2019 January February 26, 2019

Site News

The Google Docs pages has been updated for easier viewing. All tutorial series now have sub-pages so that each section can be viewed individually. The Google Doc Edit Feature Video series has also been completed. The next series that is starting is the Google Docs Features Under View. The typed tutorial has been started, and will be updated until completed.

Illinois Computing Educators Conference 2019

I presented at the Illinois Computing Educators Conference 2019 in an Ignite Session called A Good Place to Start: The Beginning with How to Use Tech. Go to the symbaloo from ICE 2019 here to view both my presentation, and other great resources! 

Uploads for Google Doc Series Videos January 21st, 2019

The Google Doc Edit Feature Video series has been updated to include 3 features in one video: Edit Feature Number 4-Copy; Edit Feature Number 5-Paste; and Edit Feature Number 6-Paste Without Formatting. This one video will be the updates posted for the next 3 weeks due to scheduling conflicts in the output of video creation. However, the written tutorial is completed for this series, and can be used for reference. Updates will resume as normal on February 5th, 2019. 

New Year News -Google Doc Series Videos January 6th, 2019

The Google Doc Edit Feature Video series has begun! Head over to Google Docs to see the first of multiple tutorials  listed there!

Site Updates December 8th, 2018

The Gmail series has been completely updated to reflect the changes in Google's functions for this service. As such, a new series has started in the Google Doc Series-Features Under Edit! Head over to Google Docs to see the tutorials listed there!

Google Docs Series and a Special Event! September 28th, 2018

The Google Docs Series Feature Under File is finally complete. The typed tutorials and videos can be viewed at Google Docs on this website. 

Furthermore, starting on October 1st, 2018, I will be helping to host a special digital event run through the following link. 

https://tinyurl.com/gegcdcc 

Please click on the link for more details!

Status of Site August 20th, 2018

The update schedule is moving along for the Google Doc Series. At this point in time, there are only a few videos left for options under File. As a reminder, the schedule will be as listed below. 

This schedule may change if more updates from Google roll out in  2018. Thank you for your understanding, and I hope these tutorials help in the usage of these tools. 

Gmail Updates Coming Soon August 7th, 2018

 Gmail has updates that are being released in August 2018. While there will be some visual changes to the app, many of the same features are still present. As such, the updated tutorial schedule will be as follows.

This schedule may change if more updates from Google roll out in August 2018. Thank you for your understanding. 

Planned Update Schedule July 26, 2018

Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing Technology's G Suite update will focus on the following areas in the following order:

These changes will take place over time to provide a comprehensive understanding of the G Suite. Any future updates Google provides will be adjusted for when made available.  Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated. 

Updates to Come July 17, 2018

Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing Technology will be updated in July 2018 to reflect the changes in the G Suite. The changes may be incremental, but will start with finishing the Google Doc Series. Thank you for your patience. 

Attending ISTE 2018 June 24 to June 26, 2018

I will be at ISTE from June 24, 2018 till June 26, 2018. I will be volunteering at the Google for Education Booth 1602 on June 25th from 9:30am-12:30pm. Feel free to come ask me any questions! 

Google Doc Series Break Part III May 9, 2018

Due to continuing unforeseen circumstances, the Google Docs Series will be on hiatus until July 2018. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me on the About & Contact page.

Google Doc Series Break Part II March 25, 2018

Due to unforeseen circumstances, it is highly likely that the Google Doc Tutorial Series may not resume until May 2018. I appreciate your understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me on the About & Contact page.

Google Doc Series Break & ICE 2018-February 16, 2018

Google is rolling out updates for Google Docs that will impact the layout of this particular service. As such, there will be no video update for that series for Sunday, February 18th, 2018. Adjustments to the Google Doc Tutorial-Features Under File will be made to account for these changes. Regular updates will resume in March 2018 as the next weekend is the one prior to ICE 2018. 

I will be presenting at ICE 2018. ICE is the Illinois Computing Educators Conference For information at my presentation, please view the link below. 

https://ice18conference.sched.com/event/CWBJ/irl-in-real-life-designing-digital-learning-experiences

Google for Education Certified Trainer- January 25, 2018

As of 1/19/18, I have become a Google for Education Certified Trainer! I am so excited to continue helping people learn how to use these fantastic tools for collaboration and creativity. 

Google Docs Series 2-Features Under File-January 21, 2018

Due to the number of features under the File option in Google Docs, this series will also be broken down into smaller components. 4 new features will be updated weekly starting January 21, 2018. After the typed tutorial is completed, the video tutorials will then be created and uploaded to the site. 

CE 2018-January 13, 2018

I will be presenting at ICE 2018. ICE is the Illinois Computing Educators Conference For information at my presentation, please view the link below. 

https://ice18conference.sched.com/event/CWBJ/irl-in-real-life-designing-digital-learning-experiences

Hiatus Status Update-January 3, 2018

Happy New Year! The hiatus for consistent updates is nearly at an end. The Google Doc Series should resume regular updates starting January 7th, 2018.

Google Doc Series Updated!-December 3, 2017

The Google Doc Series has been updated after a hiatus. However, due to various factors, the updates for the months of December and January may still take place at longer intervals than updates earlier in 2017. Thank you for your understanding. Please check the site for updates. 

Google Doc Series-November 12, 2017

The Google Doc Series has been updated! However, due to various factors, the updates for the months of November and December may not be as regular as the ones from September to October. Please check the site for updates. 

No Update-October 29, 2017

The Google Documents video series  "How to Edit in A Google Doc-Toolbar Formatting" will not have an update this week. The updates will continue in November 2017. 

Google Doc Series-September 30, 2017

Due to the number of icons and options available in Google Documents, the tutorial “How to Edit in A Google Doc-Toolbar Formatting” will be broken down into smaller videos over time. At this point, it seems likely that this tutorial will be completed by December 2017.  Please continue to check the site for updates. 


Technical Issues Resolved & New Posting Schedule-September 22, 2017

Thanks to the feedback of some of the viewers of my sites; the technical issues with viewing some videos or tutorials should be resolved. However, there is other information that must be shared.

It is possible that the update rate for tutorials may slow down as the 2017-2018 school year continues. The original goal was to add a new tutorial every week for a series. However, based on other obligations, tutorials may be posted on a bi-weekly basis. For now, the weekly updates should continue, but if changes to the schedule are made, there will be another post under the latest news section. 


Google Drive is Done-Onto Google Docs!-September 10, 2017

All of the tutorials for Google Drive for the Desktop or full version of Google Drive have been completed. The next tutorial series will be Google Docs, after the final tutorial for Gmail is created. If you think a more specific tutorial is needed for Google Drive, please go to the Contact  page to let me know. You can also share what you think you would want to see in the latest news section. The original intention of this site is to be a stable source of tutorials, but many sites give out newsletters. Would you want to see that from Ms. Gutsell’s Guide to Growing in Technology

Launch Day! - August 28th, 2017

August 28th, 2017 is launch day for Ms. Gutsell's Guide to Growing in Technology.  This site is going to share tutorials, but also the latest educational technology updates that I find as I train myself to be a better teacher of technology. To everyone who is joining me on this journey, I hope I can help you grow in knowledge as I move forward in my own education.