INTRODUCTION
As we do more collaborating, connecting and creating with online, web-based services, we use web browsers far more often than traditional desktop applications. Whether you use Firefox, Chrome, Safari or some other browser, there’s always more to learn more about how your favorite tool works and how you can customize it with add-ons/extensions.
This lesson is your chance to a take a closer look at your browser’s settings and learn more about adding tools that can trick out your browser through add-ons, extensions and bookmarklets that can make your online life simpler.
What are they?
- Extensions –These add handy functions to your browser. There are oodles to choose from for every browser. Some handy examples: Awesome Screenshot captures & shares screenshots and Buffer shares articles out to social media. The buttons for these services usually appear on one of the toolbars of your browser.
- Bookmarklets – Before there were browser stores full of spiffy extensions, there were humble little bookmarklets that worked great, and some still do! Bookmarklets are buttons you can add to your browser’s bookmarks toolbar. When you click on them, they perform handy functions like adding a page to Pinterest or adding an RSS feed to your Feedly reader. The great thing about bookmarklets? They don’t slow down your browser the way extensions can. The only problem with bookmarklets is that there is no central place to find them. You’ll have to look at the help files for your favorite tools to find them.
- Chrome Apps – In Google Chrome, apps are shortcuts to favorite services like Google Drive, Pocket, etc. The App Launcher shows up as a colorful grid on Chrome’s bookmarks toolbar. Click it and get a popup with shortcuts to your favorite apps. More on the App Launcher
- Google Drive Add-ons – These add functionality specifically to Google Drive whether you’re using Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer. You’ll see the Add-ons option on the top menu in Google Docs, Sheets and Forms.
- Themes simply customize the look and feel of your browser. Themes provide color choices and custom graphics for the toolbar section of your browser.
You’ll often hear add-on and extension used interchangeably. But add-on is really more of a catch-all term that includes extensions and themes.
Adding extensions to your browser
This first video shows you how to install add-ons in Firefox.
And this one from FreeTechForTeachers is for Chrome.
RESOURCES FOR SPECIFIC BROWSERS
Chrome
- What’s the Difference Between a Chrome App and an Extension?
- How to Install and Uninstall Chrome Extensions – Short video shows you how to add extensions and manage them.
- Chrome Web Store – Go crazy! The place to find apps & extensions.
- Security and Safety – Find out about Chrome security settings and more
- Chrome App & Extension Database – Over 130 apps & extensions for educators. Search by subject area and/or type of use. From Shake Up Learning.
- Chrome Apps & Extensions – Recommendations from school librarian.
- 50 Of The Best Google Chrome Extensions For Teachers
- TCEA 2017: 10 Chrome Extensions You Can’t Live Without – Some of my favorites are listed here. Click through to their conference presentation slide deck for more extensions.
- Seven tricks to speed up Google Chrome
Firefox
- Firefox Add-ons store – Where you’ll find extensions for Firefox.
- How to Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox
- Customize the Firefox Toolbar
- Privacy and Security Great collection of tips on private browsing, cookies & tracking, secure sites, deleting search history and more.
- Lifehacker Pack for Firefox: Our List of the Essential Extensions
Safari & iPhone/iPad
General Tips
- Read the reviews of the extension you want to add. Watch for security issues.
- If you install an extension and find you don’t need it, uninstall it.
- Consider using a bookmarklet for simple tasks, it won’t slow your browser down.
- If you really do need tons of extensions, consider using an extension manager (like Extensity) to turn them on and off easily.
SOME HANDY EXTENSIONS
Check your browser’s add-on store or the extension’s website to see if these are available for your browser.
- Evernote Web Clipper: Add web content to your Evernote account in a flash. Handy for saving text, photos, whole web pages.
- Buffer App: When you find gems you want to share, don’t copy and paste the URL to Twitter or Facebook, just buffer it. So simple to send links to FB, Twitter, Google+ and more. And lets you schedule them for posting later.
- Awesome ScreenShot: Quickly grab a screenshot, blur out any personal info, crop, draw arrows, etc. Save online to share, send to diigo, download for local storage. Great for grabbing images for slide decks, tutorials, or sending an annotated screen to someone who needs some help with an online tool.
- Mercury Reader – Renders a webpage as text only for easier and less distracted reading.
- Library Extension – Chrome extension that checks your local libraries for books you’re looking up on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads and other book sites.
- WayBack Machine – If a webpage has disappeared, this extension will help find an earlier version of it. Particularly useful with so many government websites deleting information.
- Some fun emoji extensions:
Too many tabs open, too many things to read, feeling overwhelmed?
- Session Manager – Saves all your current tabs, just in case you have a browser meltdown and you lose all your open tabs.
- OneTab – Crunch all your open tabs down into one list. Lists can be saved and shared. Handy way to make a quick list of resources for your students. Open all the relevant tabs, hit OneTab button, then use the “save as web page” option. So easy!
- Pocket – Find a great article, but no time to read it now? Send articles to your Pocket account to read later, instead or leaving dozens of browser tabs open.
Google Drive Apps
- VideoNotes – Take notes in Google Drive while watching a video. Notes synchronize with video.
- Kaizena – give audio feedback on Google Docs
- More Google Drive Apps for Chrome
More! With many schools using Chromebooks and moving to Google Apps for Education, Chrome has become a very popular browser. As a result, many lists of add-ons are Chrome-centric. Firefox users, don’t despair, many add-ons are available for multiple browsers, just check your browser’s add-on store.
- VirtuaGiff’s FavouriteGoogle Chrome Extensions – Jen Giffen shares her favourites.
- 40 Recommended Extensions for Teachers, Research, and Language Learners
- 21 Chrome Extensions for Struggling Students and Special Needs
- Twitter searches for #tlchat extensions or #edchat extensions yield tons of good ideas.
- Extensions, Add-Ons and Apps, Oh My! How to Utilize Google in Your Classroom
- A Menagerie of Chrome Extensions – Fun Thinglink image with links to lots of popular Chrome extensions. Many are available for Firefox too.
- 23 Chrome Extensions You Must Have
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
There are two learning activities this week.
1: Explore the settings in your browser and find out at least 1 thing you didn’t know about your browser settings. Click on all those settings tabs and see what’s behind them. Are there security settings you need to address? Do you know how to clear your browser history? How do you customize your toolbars? What about secure browsing?
2: Explore the extensions available for your browser and test out at least 1 new extension. Make sure you know how to find new extensions, install them, manage them, delete them.
Write your blog post and share the things you’ve learned about your browser and what extensions you tested out. Are there ones you would recommend to colleagues and students? How might they make your browsing life easier?
Your Blog Post: Share what you discovered. What did you learn about your browser? How about great extensions for your browser? What tools will you recommend to your students and colleagues?
*TURNING IN YOUR ASSIGNMENT
- Write & publish your blog post.
- Copy the URL (webpage address) for your post.
- Return to theGoogle Classroom assignment page, find the assignment page for the lesson you just completed and follow the directions for turning in and sharing your work.
*Only for students participating in the workshop for PD credit hours through the Google Classroom.
