Google Chrome Bookmark Groups

Ever wanted to open up a series of websites with a single click?  It's easy!


1.  open up the websites in their own tabs
2.  rearrange the tabs to your liking
3.  select Bookmarks --> Bookmark Open Windows from the Chrome Menu
4.  name your bookmarks group and you're set!

Watch the video below for details:

Create bookmark groups for the different subjects/sections you teach, your favorite teacher resources, your daily routine (email, attendance, etc.) or anything else that comes to mind!  Think of all the time you'll save...oh, and you'll also look like a rockstar in front of your kids.

Screencastify: A Quick and Easy Screencasting Solution for your Chromebook!

To completely negate my previous post about the nonexistence of Chromebook screencasting solutions, I have since found a fantastic little extension called Screencastify.  This is EXACTLY what I've been waiting for since discovering that the only way to do a screencast on a Chromebook is to have a solo Hangout on Air.

Screencastify has the ability to record a tab or the entire desktop.  The Record Desktop feature works cross-platform: Windows, Mac or ChromeOS.  It can also record in various resolutions and with two different audio input configurations: system audio or microphone.

When the screencast is finished, it can be renamed and stored within the extension popup window until you download it (as a .webm file), upload it to YouTube or delete it.  Best part of all is that it's lightning quick. 

Now students w/ Chromebooks can quickly capture, narrate and share their learning with you, the teacher! 

Check out my screencast below and see for yourself!

PixiClip: A Whiteboard-casting Solution for Chromebooks

Apps like ScreenChomp, Educreations, ShowMe and Explain Everything have had huge instructional impact in the classroom.  With a click of a button, students are able to demonstrate understanding by having the app record their voice and annotations.  These clips are then saved to the cloud and shared with the teacher.

Like I said, huge impact.  Especially when aligning these skills to the Common Core State Standards for Speaking and Listening.  The problem: these apps don't exist for the Chromebook.  In fact, since Chromebooks cannot install executable files, not a single screencasting solution (aside from Google Hangouts on Air + Screensharing) exists for the device.

After two days of searching (a.k.a. two days of disappointment), I finally discovered PixiClip, a  glorious Whiteboard-casting Web2.0 solution!

The best features include:

• No sign-in needed!
• Ink annotation
• Text annotation
• Upload (multiple) images
• Insert audio/video
• Records automatically
• Automatically pauses between interaction/utilization of tools (unless recording voice/webcam)
• Ability to restart the recording
• Share via social media, email, link, or embed (see below!)

Word-of-warning--PixiClip is still in Beta:

• No Google integration
• Resizing images doesn't always carry over to the finished recording
• Embed is a bit spotty

This app shows a lot of promise, especially if leveraging Acer's new c720p Touchscreen Chromebook. 

Click here if you cannot see the embedded Pixiclip.

Free Professional Development when Going Google

I recently came across this fantastic website containing 5 FREE courses for educators on Google Apps for Education.  Each self-paced course consists of 5 units (complete with video tutorials and activity) and post-course assessment that results in a congratulatory Certificate of Achievement.  Check them out below!



Free courses provided by https://educourses.withgoogle.com/

Chrome & Chromebooks: Chrome and Chromebooks for Education Course

Apps for Education: Google Apps for Education Overview Course

Drive: Google Drive for Educators Course

Gmail: Gmail for Educators Course

QuickTrick: Editing Photos in a Google Doc w/ PicMonkey

I wish Google Docs had a built-in photo editor like Microsoft Word...but they don't.

My solution: the PicMonkey Chrome extension!  I love PicMonkey as a photo editor.  While some of the features and tools are premium that require a paid subscription, the majority of them are free and easy to use.

See my screencast below on how to quickly edit a photo that's already been inserted into a Google Doc using the PicMonkey Extension!