How to Use Bookmarks in Google Documents

Long documents?  No problem!

Learn how to organize your lengthy Google Documents with the Bookmarking tool!

Searching through long documents to find just the right part sounds exciting.  Scrolling through pages and pages of (useful, yes) information or long essays seems like an effective use of time... right?  Let’s be serious:  “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”  Luckily, Google is in agreement when it comes to reading and writing long documents.  One very useful feature of Google Documents is the Bookmarking tool.  This tool is like a shortcut to a specific place in a document.  Bookmarks can be very useful when you want to jump directly from one part of the document to another.  Bookmarks are also perfect for creating a table of contents inside of a document.  Lastly, the Bookmarking tool is such an easy way to organize long documents, so readers can navigate through documents without having to scroll up and down multiple times.  Indeed, Google has made our lives easier once again!  Let’s learn how to insert Bookmarks in a Google Document! 

Before you get started, it will be important for you to have a few key materials:  a computer with internet access, a Google account, and open a document with text already in the document.  This could be an essay, a report, a list, a short story you are writing, or any other such document.  And if you are not already familiar with Google Docs, you should take a minute to locate the “Insert” tab and the “Link” tool, located on the top of your text document.  

When you’re ready to insert a bookmark, the first thing you’ll want to do is highlight the text, or area of the document that will be directly linked.  You may also just place your cursor exactly where you’d like the bookmark to be placed.
  

Next, use the toolbar at the top of the screen to find the “Insert” tab.  Click on “Insert” and choose “Bookmark” from the drop-down list.  Select “Bookmark” by clicking.  Once you have clicked “Bookmark,” a small blue icon should appear next to the words you highlighted, or where your mouse cursor was.  This is the actual bookmark, or placeholder, in your document.  

Unfortunately, the bookmark doesn’t do any good if it’s not linked to a certain area of your document.  In order to make your bookmark useful, scroll back up to the top of your document, or to whatever piece of text you’d like associated with the bookmark, and highlight the words.  After that, find the “Link” icon in the toolbar and click it.  The “Edit Link” box should appear.  Inside of this box, look for the “Bookmark” choice, and again click on this option.  Following this, choose the bookmark you created and select it.   

If the previous steps have been done correctly, you should see a clickable link appear that will take you directly to the part of your document where the bookmark is located.  The bookmark link should look like the picture below. 

     One important thing to keep in mind:  as you add more bookmarks in your document, it will be necessary for you to check carefully which bookmark you are linking to.  It is very easy to select an incorrect bookmark when there are many listed.  A simple way to avoid error is to look closely at the title of each bookmark.  You can also test out the bookmark link after you’ve selected it, as a double-checking measure. 

     Finally, you can continue to add as many bookmarks as you’d like.  For extremely long documents, bookmarks can make finding certain pages, topics, or chapters simpler and less time consuming.  Additionally, the Bookmarking tool helps organize your writing so that it appears sleek, sophisticated, and expertly produced.  Google Documents Bookmarks are the way to go when you want to save your readers (and yourself!) some time!

If you found these directions to be confusing, or not helpful enough, take a few minutes to watch the video tutorial below.

Useful Resources:

Google Drive Directions:  Using bookmarks in a document

Free Technology for Teachers:  Google Tutorials

Techie Experts Interview

What do other "techie" experts say about literacy technology?

     While it seems like there is a new website, a fun new tool, and an increasing amount of useful YouTube videos that pop up everyday, sometimes it's not that easy to know what will be a good fit for reading and writing instruction.  With so many options, it seems like finding technology to teach these important literacy skills should be a breeze.  But technology can be overwhelming and a bit challenging to learn at times.  So how do teachers go about these obstacles?  Reach out to the experts, of course!    

     I'm very fortunate to work in the Plymouth Community School Corporation because there are so many experts in technology all around me.  Additionally, I know I can also fall back on the numerous professors and classmates I've met in my MSU graduate program.  The great news is, I don't have to learn to be a "techie teacher" on my own! 

Meet Janice Curtis...

Mrs. Curtis is currently the K-12 Instructional Technology Specialist for Plymouth Community Schools.

I asked Mrs. Curtis to share some of her thoughts on technology used for literacy learning.  Here's what she had to say:

1.  What impact does (or will) technology have on literacy learning?

Mrs. Curtis:   "I believe literacy will be enhanced with technology through easier research, becoming aware of the reliability of resources,  having an avenue to become globally aware of current events and information, and curating information that is important and relevant."

2.  What are some of your go-to technology tools for reading and writing instruction and/or practice?

Mrs. Curtis:  "I love Diigo to organize information.  Curating information by highlighting and commenting is easy and can be shared with others.  [The] Kindle app is the same, with the ability to bookmark and highlight important information, as well as take notes.  

And, of course, you can't beat a good blog to get kids writing.  I think they are more aware of what they are writing, knowing their post will be published and read by many people.

I also love forums and discussions on Moodle and My Big Campus.  They are great ways to get student thoughts out there, and again, with a captured audience, they are more aware of their writing skills."

3.  Teens are seemingly obsessed with social media for personal uses.  How can social media tools be used as a literacy learning tool?

Mrs. Curtis:  "Connecting with people of like interests can spark thought and conversation, as well as resources they can use for their education."

4.  On a more personal note... when you read, do you prefer to do so by reading actual books (with covers and paper pages!), some type of e-reader (Kindle, iPad, Nook, etc.), on a computer, or some other form?  Why?

Mrs. Curtis:  "I read from the Kindle apps and paper pages.  I have to admit, I love to hold that book and physically turn pages.  However, I have found that I can read and skim through words more efficiently with the Kindle app... I wonder why that is?"

5.   What is your favorite book of all time?  

Mrs. Curtis:  "I absolutely loved reading Gone With The Wind.  All the details of landscape, the horrors of war, the romance, the character development, and all the American history of that time period fascinated me.  As much as I loved the movie, I loved reading the book even more!"

In addition to interviewing Mrs. Curtis, one of my instructors for my graduate classes at MSU shared her thoughts on the same questions.  

Meet Candace Marcotte...
Ms. Marcotte is the Middle School Technology Facilitator in Glenview, Illinois.  She also is an Assistant Instructor for Michigan State University's Master of Arts in Educational Technology Program.  Take a look a what she had to say on the topic:

      I found it very interesting that both Mrs. Curtis and Ms. Marcotte find Diigo a useful tool for literacy skills.  While I have tested out this site on a few occasions, I feel like I need to make more of effort to use this useful tool.  I really liked how Ms. Marcotte mentioned she loves Google Docs; we use Google tools all of the time at school!  And lastly, I was so happy to discover that both "techie" women still love the feel of an actual book in their hands when they read.  I feel the same way!  Even as new technology tools are developed each day, I doubt that anything can ever take the place of really reading.  

     A very special "Thank You" to Janice Curtis (@CurtisJcurtis) and Ms. Candace Marcotte (@canmarcotte) for taking time out of their busy schedules to take part in this interview.  It's always a wonderful opportunity to learn from experts in the "techie" field!