I've been traveling for a week and still gone. HOWEVER, I'm FINALLY starting to put what I've learned from my notes into the blog!
I'm sure this should become at least two posts - so where to start?
FIRST - even if you think you know all GOOGLE - go, even just to get reminded of cool features. (You'll find out even more cool features!)
I had finally just really started using my chrome browser extensions - I've found so many more that I think could help me teach even better this coming year. So, that make sense to start there.
EXTENSIONS
- Google Tone (Chirp on tablets / phones) - I think this could be a neat way to send links to kids, but I also see them overriding the tone with their own.. so will just have to try it.
- One Tab - to save all those tabs into one and save battery power until you need the tab. I also like the idea to save links to the kids that way - than just giving them one link / QR code to get all the links. I probably will use this more than Google Tone.
- Tab Scissors - This splits all the tabs in one browser pane into two - use Tab Glue to put them back together. (I have students who might use this vs. just separating tabs into other panes.)
- ColorPick Eyedropper - why I never tried this is beyond me. Get the color code for any color you are trying to match in a presentation!!! (Have used this TONS making new presentations!)
- Snagit - Pick just parts of a web page, etc to capture... No more full-screen shots for most of my stuff!!!
EXTENSIONS I WAS ALREADY USING / Always open:
- Save to Google Drive - well, because I like having it all in my Drive.
- Grammarly - Autocorrect for documents, web pages, any typing really!
- +FlipIt - It's how I've been saving my blogs to read. My goal - create a magazine this year for / with my students for articles we discuss.
- Extensity - to save battery power by limiting all the other Extensions that I don't use as often.
- Google Voice - so I can check my voicemail, sent texts to parents, etc, right from my browser.
EXTENSIONS I use with students throughout the year:
- Diigo - so handy to have students annotate pages. THIS MAY NOT WORK since the last Chrome update. IF SO, I WILL BE SAD!!!
- Easybib - so easy for students to cite most sources. You must teach them that if it extension doesn't pull the information, they will have to fill it in... or you end up with a bunch of NA.NA.NA. ND information to try and track down their work... NOT FUN!
- GoogleCast - I have a Chromecast, this makes it easy for students to share their work with the entire class on the interactive board!
EXTENSIONS I need to utilize and see how they work for my Students:
- BeeLine Reader - to help read on a screen. It color gradients a line / whole page. I also has a dyslexic friendly font. I liked it the bit I've used it so far.
- Clearly - links the information / highlights, etc to your Evernote account - I wish this went to Google Drive for the students.
- Skimzee - To help summarize articles / pages for those students who can't read, yet, at the article level.
- Readline - highlight what you want and it pulls it up word by word for you to read - I can see this being very helpful for some students that get distracted / overwhelmed by reading.
- CraftyText - put a banner over top of any website.
