Convert a PDF to Word Using Google Drive

How many times have you needed to edit a PDF, but couldn't do it as easily as you had hoped? Today I want to share how you can use Google Drive to help convert that PDF document into an editable MS Word document.

The first thing you need to do is simply click and drag your PDF document into your Drive Window to upload it to Drive.

Then, select your document in Drive and click the More Actions button (it's the one with the three vertical dots).  Select Open With Google Docs.

Your PDF will open with Google's word processing program, Docs.  It will convert your document page by page.  You will see the first page as an image followed by the conversion of that image into editable text on the following page.  At this point, you can choose to keep the image or remove it altogether.

Once you have removed any images you don't need, then you should be left with editable text.  You can certainly edit within Google Docs, but if you specifically need to work in MS Word, then you have one easy step left.  Go to the File menu and select Download As...Microsoft Word (.docx). That's all there is to it.  Now, you have a MS Word file that you can you edit as you please.

If you're a visual learner like myself, you can watch this short screencast to view the process from beginning to end.

Feel free to leave me comments if you have any questions or leave me a suggestion for a future post.

~Rosie

Share To Classroom Chrome Extension

Getting your students all on the same webpage has never been easier.  If your working with Google Classroom and your students are working on any laptop, including a PC, Mac or Chromebook, or using desktops in a lab setting you can quickly get all students on the same web page by pushing it out with the Share To Classroom Chrome extension.

As educators, we all know how challenging it can be to get a classroom full of elementary students on the same web page in a timely manner.  As long as you and your students have the extension installed and enabled for each of them, you can find a web page and then push it out to them. It will instantly open on all of their devices.

Get your students on the same (web)page, instantly. 'Get Your Students On The Same (Web)Page, Instantly'.Google for Education. N. p., 2015. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.

This is a great tool to use when you want all of your students to begin research on the same page. An added benefit is that students aren't locked into that page, so if they find a better resource they can simply push it back to you.  Once you review it, you can choose to push the new web page out to all students.

What better way to keep your students engaged, start them on the same level, allow them to share their discoveries with you and save a few minutes of instructional time? Want to learn how to install the extension? Go here. It includes a link with easy instructions to share with your students via Google Classroom.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

~Rosie F.

Learn how to Set Up Students on GAFE

Starting a new year is exciting and always a busy time of year.  It's also the best time to make sure you have all your online instructional tools ready to go.  I've recently created a simple step sheet for McAllen ISD teachers to help get your students set up with Google Apps For Education.  Starting now will help you have everything in place to support your students' online learning this year.  Good luck and have a great year!
~Rosie

View Student Google Apps For Edu Accounts full version on Tackk
Create your own customized Tackk page