What in the world are Google Chrome Extensions? These extensions are software you can install within your Chrome browser that allows you to run other services in the browser. It sounds super complicated and you might think, “ why would I need these extensions?” Well my friends, I am here to share some extensions I use especially during distance learning.
First things first, adding Google Chrome extensions is so easy and FREE! If you don’t use chrome I highly recommend downloading it to use as your web browser. Personally I use my Mac at home but I go back and forth using Safari and Chrome to achieve specific tasks. You can add extensions with just 2 quick clicks! Here are my favorite Chrome Extensions for Distance Learning!
- Screencastify - Right after the PD from Jeff Quick on Screencastify, I downloaded the extension and it has been super easy to use instead of having to record myself in Zoom, waiting for it to download, edit in iMovie before I can upload it on to Drive. This program easily record your screen, yourself, or both! Not only does it save directly into your Google Drive, I also love how you can directly add it to your Google Classroom!
- Bitmoji -This is my FAVORITE Chrome extension. Long gone are the days of emailing your Bitmoji from your phone to your email on your laptop and having to maneuver the Bitmoji with the set background around. Within this extension, your Bitmoji will have a translucent background, which means, you can place it anywhere you want and it would have that pestering white or black background blocking your content. I love using Bitmojis. Here are some of my favorite ways to use this extension:
- I put Bitmojis on my daily message slides I share on Class Dojo and Google Classroom. My students LOVE this!
- I insert Bitmojis on student’s work. It acts like a digital sticker. You can search for Bitmojis with the extension and then just copy and paste them or click and drag right into the Google slides, powerpoint or even the student’s work in Google classroom. It becomes a digital sticker when I use it on students' work.
3) Emoji Keyboard – Use this extension to add emojis to your announcements, slides, or Google Classroom! So easy and your students will love it! I use it for changing Google Classroom topic names! Anything to give our students some giggles and excitement to push through this last month fo distance learning.
4) Custom Curser Make your curser something fun for your online class meetings or screen recordings! We have to get that motivation going any way possible.
5) Google Keep- Organize your notes and to-dos by category! You can even color code and add your own labels. You can access it from your computer, phone, or even your apple watch! Game Changer!
I hope these extensions will help motivate your students to continue with distance learning and also help you with some productivity and some silliness!
Thank you for explaining and putting all these extensions in one post!! This is awesome!!
ReplyDeleteReading your post was just plain fun. I am currently in the process of downloading the Bitmoji app. =^..^=
ReplyDelete