Add-ons & Extentions

There are thousands of apps for the Chrome browser and it might seem difficult to know which ones to add and which ones to avoid. This page will contain apps/extensions/add-ons for Chrome. Some of these were highlighted HERE, so be sure to watch that video. I will give a quick description of what each app does and why it could be beneficial to you the teacher.

Just a quick note on the differences between an app, an add-on, and an extension.

Apps: Apps are basically shortcuts to websites or web based applications. For example, you can go to Google Drive by clicking on the app or just going to the address drive.google.com.

• Pixlr - Image editing tool.
• Desmos Graphing Calculator - Online graphing calculator for graphing basic linear equations to more complex functions.
• Geogebra - Similar to Desmos. Added benefit is the online collection of pre-made resources by teachers.
• Socrative - student - Direct log in for students to Socractive.
• Socrative - teacher - Direct log in for teachers to Socrative.
• WeVideo - Video editor/creator. Students can upload video files to WeVideo and make movies.
• gLinks - gives you the ability to save links in your Google Drive

Add-ons: Add-ons are small programs (scripts) that run inside Google Apps. Add-ons exist for Docs, Sheets, Slides, and most recently Forms. They are accessed and installed via the app itself versus the web app store. An example of an add-on would be like Consistency Check for Google Docs. Once an add-on is added to the app, there is no need to reinstall it.

• Kaizena - Digital feedback tool. Add-on that allows the teacher to give verbal feedback embedded with a Google Doc. Can also link a resource to the doc or write in a comment.
• Choice Eliminator - add-on for Forms. Great for appointments. Will automatically eliminate a choice when it is selected once.
• Consistency Check - add-on for Docs. Checks for consistency in verb usage and grammar.
• Office Editing for Docs & Slides - allows you to edit Word & PowerPoint in Google Drive. Talked about HERE.

Extensions: Extensions are like add-ons, but are only for Chrome. Most extensions will have a small icon that is in the top right corner of the browser. An example of an extension would be Save to Google Drive. It gives Chrome new functions and it has an icon to use it I'm the browser.

• Save as PDF - Saves any webpage you are visiting as a pdf.
• Equatio - a nice new extension similar to the old Math Type. Difference is now you can hand write in equations and speak them as well. Paid version works with Forms & Slides. And the paid version is now free for teachers as well.
• Save to Google Drive - Saves any page as a pdf directly to your Google Drive. Added benefit is that you can save files types from Google searches directly to your Google Drive as well, without ever opening the file.
• Screencastify - Records video from your computer. Can record just certain tabs or the entire desktop.
• Home - New Tab Page - Homepage for Chrome. Lists all of your apps, upcoming calendar appointments, and has a to do list.
• Capture Webpage Screenshot - Fireshot - Allows you to capture just parts of your screen. Useful when trying to take snapshots of pdf files.
• Outlook Web App Notifier - Notifies you when new email comes in from Outlook email
• Clipboard History - Saves everything you copied and puts in on its own tab to view and reuse.
• Window Resizer
• Auto Text Expander

This video will look at some of the basics of the Chromebook and some apps you might want to install or have your students install on their student log ins. The benefit of this is that once it is installed on their log in, those same apps/addons will appear on any Chromebook they log into.