Best of 2020

A search in the COBUILD Dictionary undoubtedly will show no known collocations including the terms “best” adjacent to the numerical representation of this most challenging year.

This may have been a failed effort to use the new free Collins Cobuild Dictionary, but then again…

Nevertheless, we here at gnusle.com would like to bring you a few gems that sparkled in the darkness of 2020.

EDITOR’S PICKS BEST OF 2020

Trello

Whether you are working on a Kanban or a visual bulletin board with links, Trello is great for keeping shared projects and announcements in a visually accessible format.

Drive

The backbone of our infrastructure, Google’s free cloud storage is essential for sharing and collaborating on work. Free with your (also free) Gmail account, this cloud storage service comes stock with 15gb free. Filling Drive with Docs, Sheets, and Slides, you never have to press ctrl+s or worry that you sent the most updated file. These files are autosaved seconds after changes are made, can be edited simultaneously in live time, and have all the features used in Microsoft files. You can also do some surveys and beta testing to increase your free storage.

Discord

Discord is a breeze to use. Before Zoom allowed people to choose their own breakout rooms, Discord was letting you create a server and multiple channels for students to move freely. Used primarily as a gaming chat service, Discord is a great plan b and a better social channel for your staff than meeting more often than necessary (once a month should suffice eh?).

Stylus Pen

Stylus pens make writing on a virtual whiteboard online more like the classroom. And they’re fun! More and more tablet and 2-in-1 producers are including pens with specs approved by the Universal Stylus Initiative. This may reduce the need to buy one particular pen for each device in your arsenal.

Microsoft Whiteboard

The whiteboard in Zoom is great. Jam boards have some work to do yet. Microsoft has a snappy fix with great features like Auto-shape, to make class time more natural.

Foam Roller

When you have sat for too long simple foam roller and 5-30 minutes of groaning in agony can get you upright.

Ultrawide Monitor

Having an extra screen is great for sharing a screen while managing the next step in your class. With a smaller display, you may have to sacrifice the gallery view of your audience for a file or browser window.

With an ultrawide monitor, or even a third monitor, you can keep your audience and camera in front of you while sharing on a second display screen. You may even be able to enable the use dual monitor feature in Zoom if you have enough real estate.

Wireless Ear Buds

Wireless ear buds are great. They have no cords to hold you back. Some, like the Bose Quiet Comfort buds, cancel all the noises of the barrage of children at the door of your home office, or the untimely construction somehow surrounding you.

Having your mic at a constant distance from your mouth also stops the awkward volume disparity created when you have to stand up (which you should do often) or lean from your original position.

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