I am blown away by how many apps, add-ons and extensions there are in the world! I never knew! I found this assignment to be very time consuming because I played around with a ton of "toys!"
I had fun with the app called, "befunky", which is a photo editor and collage maker. This was a really fun way to edit photos and I think the collage maker will be a fun tool to use with kids. Check out my new "about me photo" on the sidebar of this blog. It was created with the "befunky" app!
The add-on I installed was "Openclipart" which I know I will use all the time. The clip art images are so much better than I have been able to access in the past AND the images are extremely easy to import into the document. I made a practice document using this clip art.
Clip Art Practice
An extension I installed is "Pocket." When you see something as you are browsing that you want to save for later, you just add it to pocket which is conveniently located on the upper right side of your address bar. I know I will use this as a way to save ideas I have found, but do not have time to fully investigate until later. You can even read material off-line later on your phone or tablet.
I tried to install "Quizlet" and "Newsela", but because I was using my laptop instead of my chromebook, I had some trouble getting these to work. I have some experience using "Quizlet." I made quizlets for my students to practice math vocabulary last year. I have just given students the log-in information to access my saved quizlets in the past and this worked well.
So I have successfully investigated apps, add-ons, and extensions, but I am still unsure of how they are different from each other. I definitely have more tools to use with kids on their chromebooks, so maybe it does not matter that I am still confused about what exactly I am doing.
Lisa, I think I am going to have to try the openclipart and pocket add-ons/extensions. From your descriptions, they look like I could use them. I, too, had problems with Newsela and Quizlet. I went to the Wednesday session, and somehow they came up then. -- Not sure what I did differently. You are not the only one with some confusion issues. I'm counting on having the fog lift as I use more of the apps/addons/extensions.
ReplyDeleteI also added the Pocket app and am excited to use it. I foresee it being very useful so that I won't have to e-mail links to myself anymore! You may want to check out the Pickpocket extension as it works hand-in-hand with the Pocket extension to organize and help you read what you've saved using Pocket (at least that's what I understood about it!).
ReplyDeleteAlso, I *think* the difference between apps and extensions and add-ons is that with an app, it leads you to a different site in order to use/view it (ex. the Pear Deck app will lead you to the Pear Deck website, and the IXL app will lead you to that website). An extension will be opened WITHIN the Chrome page you're on and will not lead you elsewhere. An add-on is something you can add on to be used within a Google spreadsheet, document, etc. (ex. the Thesaurus add-on can be used within a google document, etc., but will not be used on a website).
At least that is my understanding of the difference..... Hope that helps!
lol I love the "befunky" add on and great pic! I was also amazed/overwhelmed with the amount of add ons, buttons,and extensions out there. I did not do the open clip art one but it sounds great. I will have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with this one. I am right there with you on the investigating for way to long. I start looking at some of these things and suddenly it is the next day (not quite that bad).
ReplyDeleteA quick how they are different: App - basically a different webpage. Extension - actually changes how Chrome operates, like pocket allows Chrome to copy and article to your phone or a screencasting extension turning your browser into a video recorder. Add-on is an extension for a specific tool like Google Docs. It changes how Google Docs works. Open Clip art changes the way you insert clipart and it adds to the amount of clipart you have access to.
That is a great picture! So fun! You are right that there is so much out there! I too spent a lot of time just looking around and seeing what is available.
ReplyDeleteI like that you found totally different ones than me. The pocket one reminds me of snag it. Which is also one I really liked but did not blog about. It will help me to take pictures of online articles and use them as part of the I do, we do part of my lesson.
ReplyDeleteI love your Befunky creation! It looks and sounds like so much fun! I am definitely going to have to incorporate that app into student projects throughout the year! So fun!
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