In this week’s tech tip, we will learn about using Firefox add-ons. These add-ons help you stay organized by not losing your bookmarks when you are using a browser.
We will also look at Google Earth Voyager which allows you to take a virtual tour of the world. Plus, we’ll look at some tools that can be used in your classroom to connect Math and Science lessons to music.
Firefox Add-ons
Firefox is an excellent browser with tons of add-ons that allow you to customize the way it works. These include extensions, themes, plugins, dictionaries, search providers, language packs and more.
The best Firefox add-ons can save you time, increase your productivity and make browsing safer. They can help you block ads, convert videos and images, make note-taking easier, take screenshots and much more.
To find the best add-ons for Firefox, start by going to the official Mozilla website. Here you can browse by category to find a good match for your needs.
Next, check the latest version of your installed add-ons in the Firefox Add-on Manager. If you see a flag that says your add-ons are outdated, you can update them manually.
This will keep them compatible with Firefox, enabling you to take advantage of the new WebExtensions APIs and other changes to Firefox’s user interface features.
Another important tip to keep in mind with Firefox add-ons is that they must be signed by Mozilla. This is a process through which Firefox incorporates a digital signature into your add-on to confirm that it meets the specifications for use with Firefox.
The latest news on Firefox add-ons is that over the past two weeks, Mozilla has banned 197 add-ons that were caught executing malicious code or stealing user data. These add-ons were obfuscated to hide their source code and were downloaded and execected from remote servers.
Google Earth Voyager
One of the best things about Google Earth is that you can explore any place on the planet right from your PC’s screen. This is a great way to learn about the history of any place as well as the different terrains.
Google recently released a revamped version of its virtual globe with a new feature called Voyager that’s packed with interactive guided tours from partners like NASA, Sesame Street and Jane Goodall. If you click the ship’s wheel icon, for example, you can wind up in a Uros igloo on Lake Titicaca or see the Himalayan peaks home to snow leopards.
Another feature is known as Knowledge Cards, which provide factoids about the places you’re visiting. It’s also got a neat dice-like image down the left side that you can hover over to randomly generate new places to visit.
For teachers, this can be a fantastic tool to use with students as they learn about the different regions around the world. You can even have them click the die to randomize the location and get a “spin” on an exotic place!
It’s a fun way to learn about new places and maybe inspire them to book a vacation. Plus, there are tons of already made virtual field trips!
You can also calculate the distance between your hometown and Machu Picchu or figure out the nautical miles between Easter Island and Hawaii. You can even change the units of measurement and make it a challenge to find out how long it would take you to walk, swim, paddle or fly to your favorite location!
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud-based storage service that allows you to store files online and access them from anywhere. It also makes it easy for others to edit and collaborate on them.
The service is available for free, but you can upgrade to a paid version if you need more space or other features. There are also apps for iOS and Android that let you upload files to the cloud directly from your device.
One of the most useful features of Google Drive is its ability to synchronize your files across devices. This means that your files are always updated as you work on them.
It also supports offline mode, which lets you view and edit files even when you’re not connected to the internet. However, it does require you to install a Chrome browser extension and turn on offline access for all of your devices.
Another great feature of Google Drive is its powerful search capabilities. You can search for documents by name, type, and keywords. This helps you quickly find exactly what you need when you’re searching for a specific file.
You can also use Google Drive to backup your files, ensuring that they are secure no matter what happens to your computer. It also includes a handy version history feature that enables you to see who made changes to a file and when.
Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services on the market, and it has an excellent suite of features for teams and individuals alike. Its ease of use, convenience, and convenient AI technology make it a must-have for anyone looking to store important files.
Etherpads
Etherpads are online text editors that allow multiple people to collaborate on a single document in real time. This is similar to the way a wiki works, with multiple users able to write on the same document simultaneously.
While a wiki does have the advantage of being able to include images, videos, and audio, Etherpad is much more focused on rich-text editing. Its tools are also very similar to those of a typical text editor, making learning the software easy for those new to this type of collaborative writing.
Another useful feature of Etherpad is the ability to share documents with other people using the same etherpad. This can be really helpful for working on projects with other teams, especially when the project requires a lot of collaboration.
In a classroom, etherpads can be used for instantaneous communication between the teacher and students. This is important because of the fact that a classroom often has limited bandwidth and access to computers.
To use etherpads in your class, you can either create a pad yourself or you can use one that has already been created. Many of the pads that are available to the public come with a chatbox, so you can easily communicate with other participants in the pad.
This is important because it allows the other participants to communicate with each other during the editing process. In addition, the tool supports version control, which can be very helpful for writers and editors who need to work on multiple versions of a document at once.
Unlike some cloud-based services, Etherpad is open source and you can export your data even if the service disappears. This gives you a little more security over your data and lets you take some ownership of the tools that you use.
Google Keep
Whether you’re working on a project or simply looking for something to keep your thoughts organised, Google Keep can be a useful addition to your digital toolkit. It’s a free app that lets you record audio notes, add pictures and sticky notes and organize them in a simple way.
One of the main features that differentiates Google Keep from its competitors is its color coding feature, which helps you easily sort and separate the different types of notes that you have created. You can use up to 10 different colors to distinguish different types of notes and lists.
It’s also easy to share notes with others using the app, which can be helpful for collaboration purposes. To do this, simply select a note or list and click the collaborators icon.
When you share a note with someone, it sends a formatted copy of the note to their email address. They can then edit the note and add new items.
Another great feature of the app is that it saves your notes and lists to your Google Drive. This ensures that they’re always available on any device you have access to.
You can even integrate your Google Keep notes into Google Calendar, which will automatically set reminders for the dates and times you enter them in. This feature is a fantastic time saving tool and will make life easier for you when you’re constantly on the go.
If you’re a teacher and are looking for ways to incorporate technology into your classroom, Google Keep is a great option. It’s free and easy to use and it’s a great alternative to using pen and paper for class notes.
