If you ever need to take a picture of part of a webpage, a nice extension to do that is Awesome Screenshot.
Below you will see a GIF followed by 2 more embedded YouTube videos. The 1st one is a 1 minute and 17 second video (with audio). The 2nd one is a 40 second video that Awesome Screenshot created (without audio).
Thanks for watching!
Tomorrow is the last of the "Week of Extensions" posts. The best has been saved for last!
The extension Google translate is a fast and easy to use extension. First, click here for the extension. Then all you will need to do is find a website, click on the extension and choose the language you would like the website translated to. If you would like to return to the original language, simply select, "show original", or click on the x on the right hand side of the extension rectangle.
Below you will see an 18 second GIF followed by the same video, but on YouTube with audio (click here for a direct link to the YouTube video).
Tomorrow I will show you a quick way to take a picture of a part of a webpage.
Here is what the site stated when you log-on to your Engrade account. If you want to store any data be sure to follow the directions that are on the site, as it will be gone by 9/2/16.
If you find a website that you would like to print - the extension Print Friendly & PDF extension is a great one.
Below is a screenshot from the creators of the extension, followed by a GIF on what it looks like, and followed by an embedded YouTube video that gives more description.
I am a huge baseball fan and have found a free and interactive app to try. The app is called Fanzcall.
I was listening to sports talk radio and heard about this new app. The creator of the app was talking about how he loves the game of baseball and took his young sons to their first game. As soon as their favorite player for the Red Sox (David Ortiz) struck out, they were ready to go home. So, he thought of creating an app that would keep his kids entertained and keep them interested in what happens during the game.
So, he created Fanzcall! You create a username and password (or log-in with Facebook). Then you can create a group of just your friends, or you can compete against other users interested in the same game as you. Then, the app instantly shows who is up and you predict what the batter will do - single, doubly, triple/HR, strikeout, or just plain out. You gain points for each correct prediction (I did beat my nephew the other day by predicting a HR for Ryan Braun and received 75 points!) and lose points for each incorrect prediction. While the winner gain bragging rights, all users have enjoyed the experience! *The updated version now allows the user to create their own contest so they could compete with their friends directly (as well as a chat feature to talk to friends directly).
Here are a few pictures from the site. Check it out!
If you just want to look (or show) a webpage without distractions and just show text - try the extension Text Mode. Below you will see a Gif and then the same video on YouTube with audio - click here for direct link to YouTube video.
You are watching a YouTube video on Dr. J's top 10 dunks of all time (one of my favorite basketball players of all time), but you just don't like all the "stuff" on the sides. Try the extension "Turn off the Lights" to improve your video watching experience.
If you have not checked out the Google Chrome Web Store - you should. It has a lot of amazing features. Over the next week I will be highlighting some for you. In today's post I will be showing you just how to access the Chrome Web Store.
You can access the Google Chrome Web Store by clicking here or by clicking on the Google Apps shortcut (if you have it available on your screen).
If you do not have the shortcut -watch the GIF below - right click underneath your url box (Omnibox as Google calls it) and check Show Apps Shortcut.
In case it was difficult to see in the upper-right hand corner of my screen is the shortcut and it looks like this.
Word Art in Google Slides allows the user to type in their terms or sayings and it will "make it look cooler" according to my 7 year old daughter.
There are limitations with Word Art - but the user can change the color of the body of the word (Fill color), the color of the outline of the word (Line color), as well as the thickness of the line (Line weight), and how the line around the word looks (Line dash).
You can also change the font of the word art as well - see the 2nd GIF.
How to add Word Art and change the color and line thickness of the word.
One of the amazing features of Google Drive is the ability to share files and collaborate. However, every once in awhile you have that file that you do not want anyone to be able to copy, edit, or print your file.
Well, Google allows you that ability. First you will see a GIF (video clip less than 20 seconds with no audio) followed by some step by step directions.
Step-by-step directions.
1. Select Share in the upper-right hand corner.
2. Click on Advanced (bottom right).
3. The screen below will come up.
4. Select the two check boxes you see below.
5. Make sure to change who has access to your file.
Right now I am the only one who can see this file.
6. Depends on how you want to share - I chose Anyone with the link.
Good news - there's a way to make one permanently, but I don't think you will. Ok, maybe I'm way wrong - but check this out....
1. You know the little magnifying glass that is where the Caps lock button should be? Click on it. What do you see? That's right - a Google Search button comes up without opening up a new tab - pretty awesome right?
2. Ok, Brad - that's cool - but how do I make a Caps lock button?
All you need to do is click on ctrl and the search and it will automatically get you CAPS lock. To disable - just click ctrl search again.
Are you old school and just want the Caps lock to be where the Caps lock should be? No worries - go into:
SETTINGS (bottom right of screen) and look under the device settings.
You will see Keyboard Settings - click on that.
I think many of us have been asked by our kids or students if they can watch a certain TV show or movie. Many times, at least in my experience is, "Ummmm.... let me think about that." Then we Google it to see what they are talking about. Many times a search on Google would come up with either an IMDB page or a Wikipedia page and now we know more, but still may have some questions.
If you give Commonsensemedia a try it will immediately let you know the age appropriateness. If you then select the title it will further break down the show into What parents need to know, User reviews, What's the Story, Is it any good, and What Families can Talk About. An example of the "BFG" is below.
I have just started to use this site personally and really like the fact that they have an app available (free). Click here for the App Store and click here for Google Play.
We all would have been saying, "Happy July 2nd" and enjoyed picnics and fireworks 2 days ago if Ben Franklin had his way. Of course we would also have a turkey as our national symbol, but that is for another day.
I hope you all have a great day. When I taught the American Revolution I would always ask my students to take 2 minutes on July 4th to think about those that came before us. This post will give you a little bit of info to pass on to others. Plus, if you are into American History at all - Turn: Washington's Spies(ages 15+ according to Common Sense Media) is a great show on AMC. The first two seasons are on Netflix. It is great - check it out!
So today my wife, kids, and I went to my daughter's school to play on the playground. We played around for awhile and then found that they had a Chutes and Ladders type game drawn on their playground. The only problem - we did not have any dice! So, I took out my phone and found Random Number Generator. It worked perfectly!
The only thing I had to do was change the Max to 6 and then click on generate. What a great find and could be so useful for many situations in school and out of school.
Xtramath is a free* online math fact fluency program that helps students master addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These basic facts are essential as they are the basic building blocks for higher-level math. Their goal is to to develop effective, efficient, adaptive, and intrinsically rewarding supplemental math activities. *A paid app ($4.99) does exist on the App Store. However, users have access easily on the iPad or iPhone using Safari. My daughter does use the app and it is pretty easy to use on the iPad.
Xtramath does not have to be just used by teachers at school, it can be used by parents with their child(ren) at home. It takes only a few minutes each day (typically 5 minutes) to work on a session.
When a user logs on they will see the image below. On the left-hand side you will see links to videos dealing with an overview of the site, about the student activities, the progress reports, get-started for parents, get started for teachers, and xtramath in the classroom.
If you have any questions about the site, I recommend you either click here, or select the Help section on the Home screen. In the screenshot below you will see FAQs. Each question has a whole section to assist you.
When a user logs on they will be greeted by Mr. C (man above) welcoming them to the site and to answer the questions they are asked as accurately and quickly as they can. But to remember that they should not go too quickly.
The questions start out on the easier end and get a bit more difficult. The great thing about the site is it basically adjusts to the user. If it notices that the user is struggling with certain facts, it will make the questions easier and then progress from there. I personally think that it what makes Xtramath so spectacular. It is a teaching and learning tool. It does not just throw random facts at the user.
When the user has completed their session they will then be asked to work on their first progress quiz. This quiz is the one that really counts for the user's percentile on their chart. You will see a smiley face (question was answered correctly in under the amount of time), a check (answered under 10 seconds but not fast enough to be under the allowed time, a time clock (took too long to answer +10 seconds, and a red X - (incorrect). See below my 6 year old daughter's report from back in February.
When you are looking at your child or student's progress, you will see a calendar that will look to the one you see below along with a description of what each color means.
One last point to make about this site that I really think is amazing is that they allow the teacher or parent to adjust the time the child has to answer the question. The program starts everyone at 3 seconds, but it can be adjusted up or down. This feature really helped my six year old daughter with her addition facts as 3 seconds was too fast, but 6 seconds was just right. It can then be adjusted again after they have mastered that particular time. You can see the programs below.
Students really loved their certificate that they earn when they complete either addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Below is an example for you to see.
If you have any questions at all, remember to try the help section. It is a valuable tool!
If you would like to watch an instructional 4 minute video I created for the parents of my 4th grade students last year - watch the video embedded below.
In case it was difficult to see in the upper-right hand corner of my screen is the shortcut and it looks like this.
