5 Best Chrome Extensions for Educators

When I see educators operating without these lovely Chrome extensions, it makes me sad, so I figured I'd better share. If there are other Chrome extensions you love and use for your role in education, please let us know in the comments.

1. AdBlock: Advertised as "The Most Popular Extension for Chrome," AdBlock does an amazing job of blocking ads on the Internet. Try pulling up YouTube without AdBlock, install it, then refresh the page. WOW, right?!

AdBlock

2. Goo.gl: You are likely already familiar with the power of shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl.com), but this little extension gives you the ability to turn any url open in your browser into a short URL with a QR code with one click. Neat, to say the least. Short URLs are important for getting people in your training sessions or classroom to the place where you want them to be quickly.

goo.gl

3. Trash Can: This nifty extension has no fancy advertising and runs with a simple picture of a tiny trash can in your extensions area. I've accidentally closed about a million web pages that I wished I could get back again. This happens to inexperienced web users often as they try to get used to working with multiple tabs. Install this app and they will be able to quickly get back to the previously closed tabs.

Trash Can

4. LastPass: A free password storage utility and form filler, LastPass is probably a security freak's worst nightmare, but MY worst nightmare is standing in front of a few hundred people (or even a few people, or really even be alone) and not be able to log into a website I use every day. After you install LastPass it will bug the crap out of you every time you log into something to save the password on the site. Do it. Eventually, the password for every site you use will be stored in LastPass and will pop up automatically when you access the site. 

*Note from the security freak in me: when you log into Chrome on a public computer, make sure to disconnect your account before walking away from that machine. For good measure, I also create a new Chrome account and close my own.

LastPass

5. Buffer: Soon to add Google+, Buffer is already my favorite tool for posting to my Facebook Page, Twitter Account, and LinkedIn all at one time. Once G+ is added, it will truly be ideal. When you find something cool online, you can click the Buffer button and automatically share it to all your channels, but what's even better, if you use the Buffer function (instead of Post Now), Buffer will spread your updates out so that you don't overwhelm everyone with your enthusiasm, not that that would ever happen to you. When your Buffer is full, you can either relax or pay money to get more space. I tend to take that as a sign that it's time to log off.

Buffer

UPDATE! Don't miss "Black Menu," a compact Google Dashboard for Chrome. Learn all about it  on the Chrome Story blog here or GET IT here.

Honorable Mention Chrome Apps:

• One of the many great Delicious bookmarking tools. I use the one from Kasun somebody, and it works great. The days of browser based un-shareable bookmarks are coming to an end, and until Google gives me a better solution, this is it.
• Awesome Screenshot is . . . well, awesome. Truth is, I have SnagIt and Jing, but when I use a Chromebook, this thing is invaluable!
• I know everybody's obsessed with Pinterest, but when I need a brain break or to get re-inspired, the truth is, I rely on StumbleUpon. Having it running in my extensions makes it easy to remember to access it.

Lifesaver: Using Multiple Accounts within Chrome

Guest Post by David W. Malone
Twitter: @dwmalone
Blog: dwmalone.org
 
Tech Coordinator, K-8 Tech Teacher, EB CUE Board, MS Education: EdTech Leadership, Google Apps Evangelist, iOS Guru, Cloud Obsessed, Father of two girls (3 & 5)

If you're like me, you have multiple Google Apps accounts. This is a good thing. However, having to go back-and-forth between accounts to check e-mail or open a shared Google Doc can sometimes be a burden.

I have seen users open Firefox, Safari and Chrome all at the same time in an attempt to use multiple Google Apps accounts simultaneously. If you're still doing this, that's about to change. Chrome built-in a feature allowing multiple users to use the same Chrome browser at the same time.

Jeff Utecht (of Google Apps Ninja Program fame) showed me this at the GAFE Summit in Santa Clara. It's a feature within Chrome Canary (the beta/developer version of Chrome). I went to download Canary and toy with the feature myself, but found the same ability built into standard Chrome already. No Canary required.

This feature has changed my life and eliminated tons of frustration. If you're not already using this feature and you have more than one Google App account, you need to check out this screencast:

http://youtu.be/uh_dYhXVnbs

Note: As with most things in technology, especially with Google, there are multiple ways to achieve the same results. One doesn't have to add users via the wrench and "Settings". Going to "Preferences" or clicking on "New user" from the avatar menu will give one the option to add

more users as well.

Add a New User to Google Chrome

From Amy: David is SO RIGHT. My friend Jessica Johnston, @edtechchic www.edtechchic.com, showed me how she runs three Chrome accounts at a time, each for different purposes. Each of them has different bookmarks, themes, etc. She finds this organizational technique helps her keep her work life/home life, etc. separate and organized. 


Another important point, remember to disconnect your Google account if you're using a shared computer before you walk away from that browser. You also might want to add a new user and close your own account.