Google Keep

What do you notice about all three pictures below? Well, let me tell you. In each picture, you will see the Google Keep logo. If you haven't already been using Google Keep, I strongly encourage you to check it out. It is a dream for staying organized and being able to work across devices. In my life, I use 4 devices: An iMac, two laptops, and my iPhone. Each serves a purpose so I spend my time going between devices. Google Keep allows me to keep track of ideas, questions, tasks, to-do lists, etc all without having to write them down or email them to myself. I have installed Google Keep on all my devices, so for example, lets say I am driving in my truck and think of an idea. Instead of having to write it down or just try to remember for when I get home, I can quickly take out my iPhone (after pulling over of course) and open the Google Keep app and write down my idea. Then, when I get home and get to my iMac or laptop, the idea is already there waiting for me to explore further. Below you can see Google Keep on all devices. The top picture is my Windows laptop, which I have pinned Google Keep to the task bar. The second picture is my Mac, which also has the Google Keep app pinned to the desktop. Third, is my iPhone, which you can easily see the Google Keep app there as well. Use your Google account to log in and help keep track of all your wondrous thoughts a lot more efficiently!  Find Google Keep in the Chrome web store and the Apple iTunes app store. It's free! 

Chrome Browser Extensions

Chrome Extensions I use

So why choose Google Chrome? I use Chrome exclusively because of the speed of browsing and because of some very helpful "extensions" provided. Here is a few of the Chrome extensions that I use and have found to be very helpful. This are located in the Chrome webstore.  Once added to Chrome, they appear as little icons in the top right area of the Chrome Browser. To get these extensions, which are free by the way, search the following:

"Sticky Notes-just Popped Up"-this is a virtual sticky note that you can use on your computer. Great for jotting down ideas while you are browsing. If you add a message to your virtual sticky note and close it, you will not lose the content of that sticky note.

"Split Screen": This extensions allows you to split your screen so you can see two screens at once. This is a helpful extensions if you are getting sick of switching back and forth between two things. This also allows you to take notes in one half, while browsing in the other half. 

"Awesome Screen Shot": This extension allows you to take a screen shot of what is on your screen, either the whole screen or just a region of it. It also allows you to make marks on it, such as arrows, blocks, circles, and text. Helpful if you are trying to explain how to do something on your computer or internet. 

"Symbaloo": If you are using symbaloo for your bookmarking needs, then you definitely need to get the Symbaloo extension for Chrome. This allows you to quickly and efficiently add websites to your symbaloo account. 

Organizing Techno.ED

Over the weekend, I organized Techno.ED to hopefully provide you with a better resource and to allow you to get more out of this site. When I post tech tools/ideas, they are on the site for a few days but as I keep posting new things, the old posts keep getting bumped down until they are no longer showing on the home page. There is a "label cloud" that you can use to find old posts, but I wanted to make it even easier to find posts from the past. I have organized all the posts on Techno.ED into various categories. I then made a new "page" for each category. The pages are at the top of this site, right below the title. My goal was to make it easier for you to find tech tools/ideas. Check out the pages and browse through to get a better feel for what is there. As always, let me know if you have any questions. 

April and May are great months to try some new tech tools. Click on the "create" page above and pick one tech tool to try before the school year is over. Make it your goal to try at least one. If it doesn't work? No big deal. Just move on and try something else. 

Keep track of ideas with Google Keep

If you are like me, ideas come to you at times when its NOT convenient to write them down. Seldom do ideas come to me when I am sitting at my desk with a piece of paper in front of me that says "ideas" at the top. Also, if you are like me, you think of an idea and then forget it when you actually have a chance to write it down. Luckily, I have found a tool that will help with this problem. It's called Google Keep and it allows you to quickly and easily make "to-do" lists, idea lists, lesson plan ideas, etc. It's basic design and function allows you to easily keep track of everything swirling in your head. With Google Keep, you can get your ideas down quickly so you won't forget them. For me, I always have a tab in my Chrome browser with Google Keep open. I also have it up on my phone at all times because my phone is usually with me, so if I do have an idea, I can easily insert it into my Google Keep list. Can add text and images to your lists. 
Applications for Education: Great way to organize and list ideas that come to you throughout the day. Once our school district gets more computers, students could actively use their Google Keep account as a way to keep track of the things they need to be doing.