Use Remote for Slides - a useful Chrome extension

Have you ever noticed the 'Present with Remote' button when you work in Google Slides? Well, I discovered today that the Remote for Slides Chrome extension works with that on your phone when you present using Googl Slides.  I have just installed the extension from the Chrome Web store.

What is Remote for Slides?

" Remote for Slides is a Chrome Extension and a Progressive Web App that allows you to control Google Slides and Ludus on any device, remotely, without the need for any extra hardware."

How do I use Remote for Slides with Google Slides?

Open a presentation in Google Slides.
On the top right, click the " Present with Remote" button.
Wait until the presentation fully loaded.
Click on the "Show ID & Start Remote" button to view the 6-digits code..
Open s.limhenry.xyz on another device and enter the code on the page.
You are ready to go!

One downside of using Remote for Slides

You can only see controls like next slide and Previous slide. You can't open external links.  Nevertheless, this is a really handy Chrome exptension

5 great Chrome extensions I have just added!

I recentlylogged in to and booked for the Simplek12 Chromebook webinars day and there was a free resource included showing  nine Chrome extensions or add-ins.  I haven't used some of these so I am going to highlight the ones I want to get started with today!

Noisli https://goo.gl/UTaMkH 

Improve your focus and boost your productivity. Block out annoying noises and create the right environment for working or relaxing.Noisli is the best and most beautifully designed productivity companion throughout your day. No matter if you are in an environment where it is too loud or too quiet, with Noisli you can create and listen to your favorite background sounds in order to focus and concentrate on your tasks.

Evernote https://goo.gl/SJp74 
I always thought this was a paid app but I see there isa   free plan...so let me try it. This web clipping tool allows you to clip various web pages as you browse so you can go back to that information at any time, or share with others. You can keep the resources you clip bookmarked and organized with Evernote. Evernote even has a highlighting tool so you can draw attention to a particular part of the clip that you found to be inspirational.

Web of Trust https://goo.gl/zSA7
This sounds good. Maybe the kids should install this at school. Web of Trust is a safe browsing tool that ensures and protects against malware and dangerous links. Various reputation icons located next to the website name tell you the site’s rating and reputation. Best of all, Web of Trust won’t slow down your browser.

Wunderlist https://goo.gl/BnLeYA
I'll try this and compare it to using Google Keep. Wunderlist is a tool that creates organized to-do lists for all those projects. Each project and all the information and communication can be placed in its own special folder. Wunderlist will also send you reminders and set due dates to keep you on top of everything. These lists can also be shared with others for collaborative projects.

Lazarus Form Recovery https://goo.gl/ySTGK2
Have you ever been in the middle of filling out a form when you time out? Or your computer crashes? Re-entering all that information can be time-consuming. Lazarus Form Recovery is an add-on that saves as you type so you don’t have to lose all your information due to an untimely power outage or other type of disaster. Simply click a menu item, and all your information can be reinstated.

This is going to be a favourite Chrome extension - The Great Suspender! It frees up resources...

Have you found that Chrome just stops functioning on  your Microsoft laptop or PC at times...daily? People are loyal to their web browsers, and I love Google Chrome with all it’s functionalities. But its tendancy to slow down one’s computer and drain memory is very frustrating!  So when I heard about ‘The Great Suspender’ extension I installed it immediately. https://goo.gl/OjWhr When I read the words, ‘Magical Chrome extension puts tabs to sleep so they don't kill your browser’ I rejoiced    http://goo.gl/99K92W !

I installed it immediately. https://goo.gl/OjWhr

This extension claims to ‘automatically suspend unused tabs to free up system resources’. When I click on it I get two options.

A message from The Great Suspender after I installed it:

Actually, I am starting to love this extension after using it for a few hours. It really does its job well!

Tool A Day #1: Snagit Chrome extension and app

This morning I was looking through some posts from ISTE2014 and I came across many references to using Snagit. This is a screen capture tool I hadn't yet discovered that can work directly from the Chrome browser to save huge amounts of time. This immediately caught my attention as I am looking fora way to quickly capture images using an Apple Mac. (On my Windows machine I use Snipping Tool).

What can Snagit do?

Snagit offers some fantastic possibilities:

1. Create a quick screencast to create an image or demonstrate an idea

2. Crop the image immediately

3. Create a video screencast
4. Save your screencast video as an animated GIF, (a format that is perfect for publishing quick & short demos.) Note: the duration of your recorded video should be 20 seconds or less. The GIF is sent to your Google Drive for quick sharing or you can download it locally as well.

How to get Snagit's extension and app

1. Open the Chrome browser and click on the Chrome Store application.

2. Ask for the extension Snagit and select  'Add to Chrome'.

  3. To get the app go to the Chrome Store again and ask for the Snagit app and select 'Add to Chrome'.

Classroom Use

I love to show my students new and useful Chrome extensions and apps that they can add to their browser. This is a superb way for students to capture images for a project or assignment.

Further Reading

• Snagit for Google Chrome: Extension workflow update, animated GIF productio
• Create GIF Screencasts with SnagIt for Chrome
• Use SnagIt + Screencast.com As A Free Temporary Image Host
• Snagit for Chrome Update – Screencasting Comes Out of Beta, Gets Facelift
• Tutorials

Chrome Extensions #2: What is a credible webpage? Let Easybib help you decide!

Easybib is a free Chrome extension that has two useful functions:

• The first is to tell you whether a website is credible or not. If the source has not yet been evaluated Easybib will let you know.
• Its second function is to enable to to provide a quick citation of your sources in a bibliography. The bookmarklet will create a properly formulated citation for you.

I really like the Easybib website that gives a clear description of how to evaluate a website. It has been embedded below. The website gives a lot more useful information for students and teachers.

Visit the Easybib website
Click on the bottom right hand corner of this image to be taken to the original enlarged PowerPoint web app for easier viewing

http://content.easybib.com/students/research-guide/website-credibility-evaluation/

Find out more about Easybib in this YouTube tutorial

Read&Write with Google Docs-a useful Chrome extension for students

What I love about using Google Chrome as a browser is the way it makes browsing so efficient and easy.  There are so many very useful free Chrome extensions that you can add to your browser to have everything you need right at your finger tips. I installed a useful Chrome extension today called ‘Read&Write with Google Docs’. This is really designed for students, but I want to explore it and discover all its benefits.

What does Read&Write with Google Docs do?

This extension can only be used when Google Docs is actually open. It then becomes very useful because it can read the Google document to the students. Imagine how useful this could be to with dyslexia, learning disabilities, struggling readers, and English as a second language Learners.  I can also see a great use for this in a writing assignment when the student wants to review a piece of writing and hear what it sounds like.  However there are a number of other really useful features to this extension:

Features
- Text To Speech with Dual Synchronized Highlighting.

- Talking Dictionary

- Picture Dictionary

- Vocabulary Tool

- Study Skills tools to capture highlights

A video from the creators of Read&Write for Google Docs

The creators of this extension have made a video that explains the extension and elaborates on all its amazing features.  Here it is:

Access Read&Write for Google Docs at the Chrome Web store 
You can access this extension on the Google Chrome web store here: http://goo.gl/JNc3o

Ten favourite Chrome extensions

Yesterday I wrote a post about the Chrome browser ‘Get to know the Chrome browser’. Today I want to tell you about some of my favourite extensions (all free) that you can add to your Google Chrome browser bar to make browsing a breeze!

What exactly is a Chrome extension?
Chrome extensions are free extra features and functionality that you can choose to add to your browser from the Chrome Web Store. Generally I don’t go to the web store to choose as it is quite overwhelming – I go for recommended ones by other teachers. All the ones I have added to date are by recommendation. The extensions generally sit in the top corner of one’s browser and you click on one when you want to use it. This is what my browser bar looks like currently in the top right corner.

I love the way Amy Meyer illustrates the Chrome browsing experience in a post on her Fried Technology blog. 

Did you know?
1. The top of your Chrome browser where the URL is found is called an OMNIBOX because it integrates the URL bar and the search functionality. (You don’t have to go to Google.com first.) This is also the place where your Chrome extension icons will be added. 
2. When you open up Chrome you have the option to sign in.  If you do all your extensions show, no matter which computer you  are using. Amazing!

Ten favourite Chrome extensions
 
1. Google dictionary extension
This is SO useful for your students especially primary school students. .This tool can be so useful when students are researching as whenever they double click on a word the meaning is displayed as shown below. The meaning simply pops up in a yellow box. 

2. Diigo bookmark, highlighting, archiving and anootating extension
 

Diigo is a MUST for anyone who surfs the Internet.  The extension added to your browser enables you to quickly save something for laterand open it again on any computer where you have signed into Chrome. You just click on the icon and it opens a box that will enable you to tag the resource very easily.  It is a case of:
 

1) Click on the extension icon
2) Choose ‘bookmark’
3) Add the tag name
4) Click on save 

3. Google URL shortener
Whenever you are in a website and you want to shorten the link to promote it on Facebook or Twitter, the URL shortener is right there on the browser bar. You cick on it and it gives you the shortened version to copy. 

4. Adblock
This is described as ‘The most popular Chrome extension, with over 10 million users! Blocks ads all over the web.’ How often are you in YouTube and the ads start appearing? It is most annoying.  AdBlock It works automatically: just click "Add to Chrome," then visit your favourite website and see the ads disappear! 

5. Webpage screenshot
This takes a picture of your web page immediately and all you have to do is save it. It is like Printscreen except that you can also do the following to the page:

• Draw
• Edit
• Cut
• Change Resolution
• Write Comments
• Share instantly via Gmail

6. Save as PDF
This extension lets you download web pages as PDFs in one click. It uses https://pdfcrowd.com html to pdf online service. This can save loads of time when wanting to download an interesting resource to use later.

7. Tab Cloud

Tab Cloud allows you to save any window session and restore it at a later date or
on another computer. It effectively allows you to sync open tabs
between multiple computers. To use TabCloud you simply click the TabCloud icon on
the browser bar; you will then see your current open windows and previously
saved windows. You can save open windows, or restore saved ones. You can also
delete previously saved windows.

8. Turn off the lights
Turn OFF the Lights is a fantastic little extension that will take YouTube videos and darken the entire screen around the video leaving your video lit up! The focus will be solely on the video you want to show the students in your classroom! No distractions! The entire page will be darkened, so you can watch the video as if you were in the cinema. Click again and the page will return back as normal. Look at this before and after comparison.

Before
After

9. Awesome screenshot
This is a great annotation tool. With this tool you can capture the whole page or any portion, and annotate it with rectangles, circles, arrows, lines and text, blur sensitive info, etc.

10. Watch Doc
This is a useful extension if you collaborate a lot on Google Docs. It could be very useful to a teacher. It notifies you if your Google Docs change. If you have shared some documents with others on Google Docs you normally have to go and check whether anyone's modified them. This Chrome extension will list your shared documents that were updated since the last time you have viewed them right from your browser bar.

Well, there we go – ten Chrome extensions that are among my favourites. But let me tell you – the list doesn’t stop there! These innovative extensions really are an awesome addition to a browsing extension. Why not try a few of them?


Classroom uses
1. With more and more students going online in class, these extensions could really assist students with what they need to do in a task right there in the browser.
2. The time-saving ability that these extensions bring to a classroom is amazing.