L4E PD: Helpful apps & tools

Helpful apps & tools

iCloud vs Google Drive

Your SFUSD Apple ID comes with some iCloud storage. This is separate from your Google Drive files, and iCloud and Google Drive won't "talk" to each other. So items you put in Google Drive will not show up in your iCloud account, and items you put in iCloud won't show up in Google Drive.

However, iCloud storage can still be very useful. Your L4E laptop doesn't have a ton of memory, so storing things in iCloud can move a file to the cloud to save space on your laptop. iCloud files can also be accessed on other Apple devices, such as an iPhone or iPad that are logged in with your SFUSD Apple ID. You can also find iCloud files by logging into the iCloud website (icloud.com)

The biggest difference between the two storage locations is that files in Google Drive are much easier to share and collaborate on with SFUSD staff and students, especially with Google Classroom.

Resource: What is iCloud?
Resource: Set up iCloud features on Mac
Resource: Set up your Apple ID to use with iCloud on Mac
Resource: Sign in or out of your Apple ID on Mac
Resource: SFUSD's Google Drive resources

Self Service app

The app store may not work if you've logged in with your SFUSD Apple ID, but SFUSD has its own version of the App Store called Self Service. It comes pre-installed on your L4E laptop, and it houses some of the most commonly requested apps, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

You can find the Self Service app in the dock and in the Applications folder.

Resource: How do I get Microsoft Office Suite installed on my SFUSD-issued Laptops for Educators (L4E) device?

Notes

Notes is a note-taking app that comes pre-installed on your L4E laptop. If you're logged in with an Apple ID, you can share notes across Apple devices that use the same Apple ID. If you're logging in with your personal Apple ID, it's important to know that your personal notes may automatically sync to your district-owned L4E laptop. Learn more about privacy and security on your L4E laptop.

Resource: Notes user guide for Mac
Resource: Search your notes on Mac

Screenshot

To quickly and easily take pictures of your screen, you can use the Screenshot app. It's located in the "Utilities" folder inside the Applications folder, and you can pin it to the dock for quick and easy access.

Resource: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac

Quicktime

Quicktime is both a video player and a video recorder. You can record your screen and do some light video editing, such as trimming, rearranging, and rotating. You can also split one recording into multiple pieces and adjust each one individually.

Resource: QuickTime Player User Guide
Resource: Record your screen in QuickTime Player on Mac
Resource: Record audio in QuickTime Player on Mac
Resource: Save or rename a recording in QuickTime Player on Mac
Resource: Split a movie into clips in QuickTime Player on Mac
Resource: Remove audio or video from a movie in QuickTime Player on Mac
Resource: Show subtitles or captions when watching a video in QuickTime Player on Mac (video must already have subtitles available)

Use Gmail and Google Calendar

Your MacBook automatically comes with Apple's Mail app (blue square with a white envelope) installed. Although you can use this app for SFUSD email, the SFUSD Department of Technology recommends using the Gmail website (mail.sfusd.edu) for reading, searching, and sending emails. Your district email account runs through Gmail, and Apple's Mail and Gmail don't always work seamlessly together. Many times, when people are having trouble with sending or receiving emails, it's because they are using Apple's Mail app instead of the Gmail website. Using Gmail yourself can also help you feel more confident supporting students with questions about email, who only have access to Gmail on their Chromebooks.

You also have a calendar app on your MacBook, but it can also have a lot of trouble connecting with your SFUSD Google Calendar. The SFUSD Department of Technology recommends using the Google Calendar website (calendar.google.com) for your calendaring needs. Many issues with calendar events and invitations happen because someone is using a MacBook, iPhone, or iPad calendar app. Apple and Google just don't work very reliably together, unfortunately.