Trick and Tips

We have released version 1.9 of the .NET Library for Google Data APIs and it is available for download.

This version adds the following new features:

• support for 3-legged OAuth
• two new sample applications: BookThemAll (mashup of Calendar and Provisioning APIs) and UnshareProfiles (showcasing a new feature of the Google Apps Profiles API)
• updates to the Content for Shopping API to implement 20+ new item attributes
• support for new yt:rating system and Access Control settings to the YouTube API

This new version also removes the client library for the deprecated Google Base API and fixes 20 bugs.

For more details, please check the Release Notes and remember to file feature requests or bugs in the project issue tracker.

Claudio Cherubino profile | twitter | blog Claudio is a Developer Programs Engineer working on Google Apps APIs and the Google Apps Marketplace. Prior to Google, he worked as software developer, technology evangelist, community manager, consultant, technical translator and has contributed to many open-source projects, including MySQL, PHP, Wordpress, Songbird and Project Voldemort.

Sessions

Google Apps Marketplace:

• Launch and Grow your Business App on the Google Apps Marketplace provided an intro to the Apps Marketplace, but most of the session was third-party developers telling the story of their businesses, demoing their integrations and providing guidance for other developers looking for success on the Marketplace. Teaser: 30% free->paid conversion rates from GQueues on the Google Apps Marketplace.
• Apps Marketplace: Best Practices and Integrations covered a wealth of best practices for business app development and Google Apps integrations based on experience working with hundreds of developers building applications for the Google Apps Marketplace.

Google Apps Script:

• Enterprise Workflow with Apps Script showed how Google Apps Script can be used to build complex workflows using simple server-side JavaScript code. The speakers built on several examples for document publishing approval, showing lots of code for how it’s done.
• Developing Apps, Add-Ins and More stepped through building Add-Ins with deep integration into the Google Apps UI and full applications. The team announced the Apps Script GUI Builder to drag and drop UI components and full Apps Script APIs for Gmail and Google Docs.

Application APIs:

• Google Tasks API announced the brand-new API to interact with a user’s Google Tasks. Several third-party developers demonstrated how they integrated tasks with their project management and CRM apps.
• Using the Google Docs APIs to Store All your Information in the Cloud gave a very brief overview of the Documents List API followed by a deep-dive into gcategorically, an App Engine + Python sample app for uploading documents to Google Docs. Best practices for developing integrations with Google Doc were also covered. This session is very useful for Apps Marketplace developers, especially because of the new ability to upload all file types to all types of Google accounts.

Solutions and Administration:

• Developing Innovative Custom Business Solutions with Google Apps covered how web solution providers are driving us towards the goal of 100% web. Included many real-world examples from a variety of companies who are extending Google Apps using Apps Script, Google Sites, gadgets, Data APIs, App Engine, GWT and more.
• Compliance and Security in the Cloud talked about the suite of APIs and tools available for Google Apps customers to handle policy compliance, audit, incident response and more. Very helpful session for IT administrators, CTOs and CIOs using Google Apps, with much of the session diving into several examples using real-world use cases.

Developer Sandbox

Parties and Fun

Ryan Boyd profile | twitter | events Ryan is a Developer Advocate on the Google Apps Marketplace team, helping businesses build applications integrated into Google Apps. Wearing both engineering and business development hats, youll find Ryan writing code and helping businesses get to market with integrated features.

Posted by Vic Fryzel, Google Spreadsheets API Team

Want to weigh in on this topic? Discuss on Buzz

• Link to Learning Tools Directory
• Janes E-Learning Pick of the Day
• Top 100 Tools For Learning

A growing Directory of over 1,700 learning tools ranging from "traditional" course development tools through E-Learning 2.0 collaboration and sharing tools as well as tools for personal learning. The tools are both free/open source and commercial.

• PRODUCER TOOLS for developers and deliverers of workplace learning, performance improvement solutions or post-16 education (e.g. Blogging tools, Content Management tools, Course Authoring tools, Course & Learning Management tools, Learning Games tools, Podcasting tools and Wiki tools).
  
• PERSONAL TOOLS for students, employees, lifelong learners, etc for personal or group learning purposes (e.g. Personal Productivity tools, (Re)search tools, Social Bookmarking tools and Browsers & Extensions).

Some tools are available in both free and commercial versions, and appear in a number of categories.

Have fun exploring and discovering new useful learning tools :)

Link to the Map of Creativity
"The Map of Creativity is a user-friendly, interactive database of innovative educational projects throughout the world.

The Next Generation Foundation (NGF) exists to promote a culture of creativity by providing exceptional educators working in marginalised communities with opportunities to learn new skills, by supporting exemplary projects around the world, and by providing a platform for dialogue, debate and exchange of ideas. Ultimately, the success of the Next Generation Foundation project, rests on the involvement of as many of the partners in childrens lives as possible."

• Wikipedia
• Warren Buffett MBA Talk (1 hr 28 min video)

WHO?
Warren Edward Buffett (b. August 30, 1930, Omaha, Nebraska), often called the "Sage of Omaha" or the "Oracle of Omaha", is an American investor, businessperson and philanthropist ($30 billion donation to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation!). Buffett has amassed an enormous fortune from astute investments managed through the holding company Berkshire Hathaway, of which he is the largest shareholder and CEO. With an estimated current net worth of around US$52 billion, he was ranked by Forbes as the second-richest person in the world as of September 2007, behind Bill Gates ...more

Lets look at it from another angle. The Worldwide MBA registration figures for the council’s Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), used by 1,700 business schools worldwide in the admission process, were 241,662 in December 2006, up from 238,706 a year earlier and 227,490 in December 2004. For example, if we assume that there are approximately 1 million MBA students around the world today, only 1 out of 10 would have watched this video on Google Video. Hmm, lets hope that this video has been watched in crowds or been downloaded and shared using other tools. Also, I wouldnt be surprised that most of those that have viewed it are not even MBA students (including me!).

WHO CARES!
To sum up, this is only one example (of many) excellent free online learning resources out there that are not being fully utilized by the global intelligence learning network. The world of the Internet has an unbelievable amount of learning treasures, but we often get distracted by all the other fun and junk.

It is alright to have a bit of fun, but we should also spare some time for great learning adventures like the Warren Buffett MBA Talk. Actually, ALL educational programs should make it a requirement in their curriculum to watch, listen and collaboratively reflect such talks or resources.

We should focus more on the people behind the theories and practices than simply learning what their outputs are made of, and how they are being used or practiced. In other words, it is very important to reflect the masterminds or geniuses life stories, and their struggles and trials leading them to their theories, practices, inventions and innovations. By doing so, we will also appreciate their efforts and lessons learned more.

Warren Buffett is one of those geniuses worth reading about, watching, listening and learning from :)

• Wiki-version - A Growing List of Free Learning Tutorial Sites

I was thinking the other day, why not create a simple raw list of links to EXCELLENT SITES (with short descriptions) that have or link to tutorials that explore learning tools and online learning. Here is my initial list, but I am quite sure there are many more great resource sites out there. So, if you have anyone to share, please post them in the comments section and I will add them. Ops, shouldnt we be using a Wiki for this kind of activity (Collaborative list creation)? Click here, if you want to add using the wiki-version.

Here is the initial quick list:

• Learning 2.0 Programme
  This blog has been set-up as part of PLCMCs Learning 2.0 project to encourage staff to experiment and learn about the new and emerging technologies that are reshaping the context of information on the Internet today.
• An Introduction to Social Learning(Jane Hart)
  Provides you with a practical approach to getting started with using social media for both formal and informal learning - either in the form of best-of-breed stand-alone tools or in an integrated suite of social media tools.
  
• ELearning T4T (WikiEducator)
  eLearning Training for Teachers is a project node for the collaborative development of "just-in-time" tutorials to help educators implement eLearning successfully.
• WebTools4u2use
  The purpose of this website is to provide a place for K-12 school library media specialists to learn a little more about web tools that can be used to improve and enhance school library media programs and services, to see examples of how they can be used, and to share success stories and creative ideas about how to use and integrate them. Hundreds of free and inexpensive web tools are available for school library media specialists to use that can make us more productive, valued, and, perhaps, more competitive.
• Pauls E-Learning Resources
  This E-learning resources website is developed and maintained by Paul Andrews (Learning Technologist). On this site you will find his favourite links to free on-line services that allow you to provide your students with enhanced learning opportunities which you can then embed into, or link from, your school/college/universitys website, course blog or VLE/MLE.
• iLearn technology (Kelly Tenkely)
  Is an edublog dedicated to giving teachers practical tips for integrating technology into the classroom.
  
• Resource Kit for Creative Communities (e-Learning)
  In this resource kit, community organisations can find helpful online guidance, ideas and tools for developing and facilitating e-learning in communities and regions. The kit includes suggestions and options on the why and how of e-learning. Youll find guidance on low cost tools and technologies, as well as ideas and stories to help you get started.
• Teacher Training Videos (Russell Stannard)
  These videos were created for teachers to help them to incorporate technology into their teaching. Just click and a video will open and take you through how to use that technology. These videos are for any teachers or lecturers, indeed for anyone interested in learning how to use the technologies.
  
• WonderHowTo
  Hand-selects and curates the best instructional videos from over 1,700 websites. It is your one-stop shop to browse, search, or network your way through the world of free video tutorials.
• EduTube
  Is a educational video search platform with an main aim to organize the best educational video content on the Internet. All content on EduTube is moderated and only relevant, educational content is permitted.
  
• Multimedia Training Videos
  A series of free learning videos (by Russell Stannard and Savraj Matharu) that explore Flash, Director and Photoshop.
• ItrainOnline Multimedia Training Kit
  Is a growing collection of "workshop kits" for face-to-face training. The materials use a standard set of templates, and offer building blocks for trainers to build their own courses.
  
• Teachers TV
  is a digital channel for everyone who works in schools. Their programmes cover every subject in the curriculum, all key stages and every professional role – from teaching assistant to headteacher. You can watch us on digital cable and satellite and programmes are also available anytime, on-demand and for free on this website.
• TeacherTube
  Its main goal is to provides an online community for sharing instructional videos. Here you will find more than 54,000 videos covering all sorts of subjects.
  
• ALISON
  Free Interactive Workplace Skills Courseware including Touch Typing Skills, European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), British Computer Society (BCS) Unit E, Financial Literacy and e-Citizen
• The Moodle Academy
  Is designed to be a drop in centre for you to reinforce your Moodle skills. While we are thinking Moodle, we might want to check out Using Moodle 2nd Edition, which is the second edtion of the OReilly book "Using Moodle" by Jason Cole and Helen Foster.
• Moodle Tutorials
  Ops, cant get Moodle out of my head! Check out this collection of 2 Minute Moodles - an attempt to simplify and show how to use a range of Moodle features. The tutorials try not to assume too much previous knowledge and are presented for the pragmatical and not necessarily tech-savy users (Moodle purists please excuse).
• Drupal in Education Open book (hosted by e-Learning Institute)
  An open resource started by Bryan Ollendyke at the e-Learning Institute to talk about Drupals place in education. Has a great CMS matrix comparing different CMS technologies that can all be used for education / e-learning. It is a living resource and has contributions from several PSU Drupalers though its open to contribution from any / everyone. Good if you are interested in getting into Drupal for Education.
• Google Apps Training
  The Google Apps interactive tutorial provides clear audio and text directions and practice exercises for using six Google products; email, calendar, talk, docs, sites, and start page.
• Go-2-School
  A great resource for learning Google SketchUp and Google Earth.
• W3Schools
  Here you will find all the Web-building tutorials you need, from basic HTML and XHTML to advanced XML, SQL, Database, Multimedia and WAP.
  
• Edumax
  Edumax is an online learning website that provides free lessons on topics from personal development to computer programming.
• TechTutorials
  A directory containing thousands of free tutorials for IT professionals, hobbyists, and home users.
• 14 hours of Free E-Learning Strategy Tutorials
  Bryan Chapman, Chief Learning Strategist at Chapman Alliance does regular webinars on e-learning strategies. He posts these for free use from his website. They are a little bit hidden. You have to scroll down the page to find them. NOTE: Because many of the webinars are vendor sponsored, you may have to add your information before watching them, but they are absolutely free.
  

• Clayton Wright
• Mitch Weisburgh
• Bryan Chapman
  
• Zaid Ali Alsagoff