Chrome Extension Suggestions

Chrome extensions add valuable functionality for both students and staff. Here are a few excellent ones to explore.

Finding Extensions: Search the Chrome Web Store

• You will notice an option to search the ISD728 Chrome Web Store. Only Apps and Extensions located in this area can be downloaded by our students. Staff do not have this restriction.
• If you find an extension for your students that is not on the list, see your tech assistant.

Reading Help

• Read Aloud -- Text to Speech Tool: Highlight words and click the extension to hear it read to you.
• Visor -- Screen Dimmer and Highlighter: Help with eye strain as well as highlight one line of text at a time.
• Mercury Reader-- Remove Distractions: Removes ads and distractions from online material, leaving only text and images.
• Define -- Dictionary: Right click on any word to get a pop-up dictionary and definition.
• Reading Line -- Highlight one line at a time to help guide reading.
• VoiceNote II -- Speech to Text. This extension types what you dictate. You need to copy and paste the text from the tool to your document. Note: Google Docs has this built in as well.
• AlphaText -- Make ornate or hard to read online text simpler and more readable.
• Open Dyslexic -- Change the look of online fonts to assist readers with dyslexia.
• TLDR -- Too Long Didn't Read summarizes any online web article.

Classroom/Teacher Tools

• Stopwatch and Timer -- Just what it says, a quick stopwatch and timer for your screen.
• Goo.gl URL shortener -- Shorten long URL's to make it easier for people to type them in.
• Mail to: For Gmail -- Forces online email links to open in Gmail.
• Copy Folder -- Copy an entire Google Drive folder with all sub-content.
• Picto4Me -- A free program much like Board Maker.
• Nimbus Screenshot -- Capture and annotate screenshots, add arrows, blur areas, etc.

Productivity

• Kami -- Annotate PDF's. Also allows Read Aloud to work on PDF documents.
• DocHub -- Annotate and sign PDF's.
• Screencastify -- Screen recorder for Chromebooks or other computers.
• Pixlr -- A free, online photo editor similar to Photoshop.
• Flat -- Write music scores.
• Ziteboard -- Online whiteboard.
• Geogebra -- Geometry and online graphing tool.
• Scan QR -- Allows you to scan QR codes on a laptop or Chromebook.
• Soundtrap -- Audio recorder and music production studio.
• Print Friendly and PDF -- Turn any website into a PDF and delete elements you don't want included.
• Eye Dropper -- Use the eyedropper to sample and match any color on the internet.
• AudioTool -- Create music online with mixers, loops, drums, etc.
• Hypothesis -- Web and PDF annotation tool.
• Webcam Screenshot -- Take pictures quickly and easily with your web camera.

Finally, one of my favorite extensions is Extensity. This is an extension to help manage your extensions! Easily turn extensions on and off with this tool to keep your computer running smoothly and to avoid having too many extensions on your toolbar.

There are far too many to list here. Search, explore and share with others!