Chrome Apps for the Classroom

This time around I want to share some Chrome apps that I use in my classroom.  Before we start I need to clarify two things.  First, I am an ELA teacher so you will see a particular bent in my selection, but I tried to pick apps that are cross-curricular.  Second, Chrome apps are not like apps for your desktop.  They are essentially websites that have been customized and/or optimized to be used with Chrome and Chromebooks.  In most cases they are completely web based and tightly integrated with Google Drive.  Oh, I almost forgot, I am cheapskate and so I only look for apps and websites that are completely free.  I thought you might like that.

Without further pandering, my list of classroom tested Chrome apps.

1. Mindmeister

Mindmeister is a mind mapping and diagramming app.  I use it to create all kinds of diagrams for the students and assign it to the students to use as well.

2. RealtimeBoard

RealtimeBoard is another mind mapping app.  What I like about this app is that is collaborative so you can have several students or an entire class working together.  This is quickly becoming my favorite mapping app.

3. PowToon

I used PowToon for the first time this spring to create a presentation for a seminar that I was apart of.  The web app was intuitive and easy to use.  I liked it so much I had my incoming AP students use PowToon to prepare their presentations for their summer reading.  PowToon is being aggressive about getting into the education market so they have created tons of how to videos and webinars.

4. Stupeflix 

Stupeflix is another video making web app that I came upon this summer.  I have yet to test it out in a teaching environment, but it looks like a fun options for the kids to use instead of a boring PowerPoint presentation.  It is worth taking a look at but keep in mind that you have to pay to make longer videos.

5. Blendspace 

PowerPoint and I were once inseparable, but she refused to change with the times and my infatuation dimmed.  She couldn't go where I wanted to go.  She hated that I spent so much time with an iPad.  She refused to collaborate and share with others.  That is when I came across Blendspace (or Edcanvas as it is sometimes called) and it really impressed me--it still does.  Within Blendspace I can create presentations that include videos, text, graphics, and instantly scored quizzes.  I don't have to leave the app to search for content on the internet and I can create and share as many presentations as I want.  Sorry PowerPoint, I have found someone better.

6. Google Drive and Its Core Apps

I don't have to the time to write nor you the time to read all the benefits of Google Apps for Education so let me try to hit just a few highlights.


Google Drive is your one stop spot for all things Google.  You get a crazy amount of free storage, access to all of Google's other apps, and the ability to manage and share almost anything with almost anyone.

Google Doc is a word processing app that makes it easy to start working on a document on one device and finish it on another.  You can share and collaborate on a document in real time.  With optional plugins you can add voice annotations and automate grading.

Google Spreadsheet is a spreadsheet app that isn't as robust as Microsoft's Excel but will suit 90% of the people 90% of the time.  It is great if you want to share and track data with others.

Google Form is a great way to gather information and assignments.  You can even use it to create instantly graded quizzes.  All data gathered by Forms are compiled and deposited in a spreadsheet for you to look over.

Google Calendar is invaluable for me.  I can never keep track of what all I have going on.  I know that there is no shortage of calendar apps out there, but Google's Calendar app has time and again proven to be my favorite.

Google Slides is Google's answer to PowerPoint.  Expect the same thing from this app as PowerPoint with the added bonus of being able to edit the presentation from anywhere and sharing with other.  I also like that you can import both your old PowerPoint presentations and PowerPoint themes straight into Google Slides.

This link has great tutorials on how to use Google apps and what they can do for you.

Well that is about it folks.  I'll add to my list as I find more useful Chrome apps for you.

Cody

Must Have Chrome Extensions for the Classroom

For my inaugural (Okay, technically my second) blog post I would like to tackle a few Chrome extensions that have been critical (Fine, maybe not critical, but definitely instrumental) in my classroom. I'm only going to talk about Chrome extensions because it best fits the workings of my district and classroom.  I have used Safari, IE, and Firefox, but it makes sense to use Chrome if you are already in the Google ecosystem with GAFE like my district happens to be.  With that said, if you prefer another browser, go ahead and use it.  You can probably find similar extensions or plugins for them as well.

First up is Black Menu

Black menu is an extension that adds a shortcut to all of Google's services, apps, and files.  You can quickly access your email, calendar, and drive; as well as, create short URLs, do a Google search, or just about anything else from with in the Black Menu interface.  The great thing is that it is all done without leaving your current Chrome tab.  You can also customize the layout of Black Menu to make your most used items quickly available.

Next is goo.gl URL Shortener

Next up on my list is my go to URL shortener.  It is a a tiny extension that allows a user to instantly shorten the URL of any page he or she may currently be on.  Just click the button and it gives you a shortened URL that you can then copy and paste into a document as well as QR code to go with it.  You may be asking why anyone would need this.  (It is okay, I get that question all the time.)  The usefulness of this tool becomes apparent as you begin to do more and more assignments/lessons online.  No more writing down long URL's or reciting them over and over to students.  No more countless trouble shooting sessions where 12 students all forgot the "!" 64 characters into the URL.  It is a huge time and sanity saver for you and your students.  QR codes are even quicker for students to use.  All you need is a device with a camera and QR reader and they can instantly go to the site you want them to go to.

Coming in Third is Google Calendar the Extension

Between Staff meetings, department meetings, team meetings, committee meetings, parent conferences, grading deadlines, and all the other business of a teacher's life it can be difficult to keep track of everything.  That is why I love the Google Calendar (by Google) extension.  The icon not only tells how long until your next appointment, but once you click on the icon it gives you a list of all your upcoming appointments, allows you to add and change those appointments, and gives you quick access to your full Google calendar.  (Sorry Outlook people, this one only works with Google Calendar, but there is an extension called Magneto that will take care of that for you.)

And Google Calendar's Cousin Google Mail Checker

I know what you are thinking--Google doesn't get very creative with their extension naming paradigm. Well, maybe you weren't thinking that, but Google Mail Checker is something you should think about.  This little plugin gives you a notification of new/unread emails and lets you go straight to Gmail when you click on the icon.  There are a couple of other Gmail extensions out there but I like this one for its simplicity.  Just this morning I found a similar extension called Checker Plus for Gmail that I am kind of digging.  It not only gives you a notification of new emails but also allows you to read and compose emails without ever opening a new tab.  It is highly customizable.  I haven't had a chance to really test it out which is why it hasn't earned its own place on this list.  But one day, just maybe...

It is Now Time to Turn off the Lights

Unlike these "witty" subheadings I'm having to create, I love Turn off the Lights.  The extension serves as a way to black out all of the unwanted stuff around a video.  If you have ever showed a YouTube video in class you know what I am talking about: the inappropriate videos to the rights, the inappropriate comments beneath; all creeping in to defile our young students' minds.  Turn off the Lights solves all those problems.

Adblock for Chrome Family

The other issue with cruising around websites willy-nilly in front of students are the unexpected and unwanted ads lurking in the crevices of the internet.  Adblock has an entire set of extensions to help with that problem.  I haven't found myself needing most of their services but their Adblock for YouTube has been priceless for me.  It kills all the advertisements and ad bubbles in, before, and after YouTube videos.

Clipular

I admit it, I don't have the stamina to keep up with these cheesy subheadings.  Thankfully this extension doesn't need a cheesy title to sell its merits.  Clipular is a web clip/screen shot extension that allows you to quickly create a screen shot of whatever is in your browser window and then share that in all kinds of different ways.  You also have access to past screen shots from Clipular's website.  It even has keyboard shortcuts.

Save to Google Drive

Save to Google Drive is my favorite tool for borrowing (teachers never steal) stuff on the internet and saving it to my Drive with one button.  Never waste time saving that activity again.

I hope to add extensions over time as I get a chance to review them, but I do have some honorable mentions.  These are extensions that I currently have and like, but they haven't been tested in the classroom.

• Diigo

• Google Cast

• Evernote Clipper

• Easybib

Let me know what you think.

Cody