Update 24/06/2014: Recording of the session currently here
As well as talking about Google {Learning} Analytics at the Google Apps for Education European User Group Meeting (GEUG14) at the University of York I’m also doing a session on Google Apps Script. The abstract I submitted at the time for the session was:
Recently Google announced Add-ons which allow anyone to enhance Google Documents and Sheets with customised features. Already there are a number of add-ons to support teaching and learning such as bibliography and track changes tools. Add-ons are developed in Google Apps Script. Apps Script is free for anyone with a Google account and not only can let you author your own add-ons but also automate your workflows within Google Apps, integrate with external APIs, and more. This talk will introduce users to add-ons exploring some educational scenarios. As part of this we will discuss some threats and opportunities. We will then touch upon how add-ons are authored using Apps Script and highlight opportunities for personalised automation of workflows.
Having been to two other GEUG events I know the event attracts a diverse audience from educators to administrators to developers. This is one of the events strengths but for me makes presenting something on Google Apps Script difficult particularly thinking back to my experience starting with very little code experience but still able to make stuff.
A factor I have to also consider is since submitting the session proposal Google announced Classroom. Classroom is still in development but looks like a layer to Google Drive to administer assignments. This type of functionality has been achievable with Apps Script for a long time and I will be definitely highlighting the awesome work Andrew Stillman & Co. have been doing with scripts like Doctopus.
Another factor in my mind is from my circles the feedback I’m getting is add-ons are causing Google Apps admins headaches in that there are currently no built in fine grained controls to restrict certain add-ons (3rd party solutions are available). I don’t know how many Admins to choosing to switch off add-ons on their Google Apps domain and it’s one of the questions I’m looking for feedback on at the event.
All this has shaped the focus of my talk but hopefully there is enough there for everyone. You can tune in to the streamed Google Hangout of the session 23rd June at 3pmBST (see programme). The current slides for my talk are below:
