The 8-Bit Instructor: Making the Most of Google Chrome (EP028)

Download the episode here.

Episode 28

In this week’s episode, I go through a lot of tips and tricks I’ve learned to make full use of Google Chrome. Plus, news and updates from Microsoft, Google, and Wakelet; this week’s treasure chest; and, of course, your question of the week.

News & Updates

• Microsoft Teams Reflect app for student well-being
• Youtube is the first service to receive MRC brand safety accreditation
• Email aliases now included in Gmail search results
• Wakelet now had reactions for collections

Treasure Chest: Mote for easy feedback

• Mote extension for Chrome allows you to record voice comments for students
• transcribes into several languages (good for ELLs)
• STEM mode allows you to transcribe formulas and scientific notation
• Works in Docs, Slides, Sheets, Classroom

Boss Battle: Make the Most of Google Chrome

Google Chrome has a lot of great features you may or may not know about

• Multiple profiles
  • Click the profile icon to the left of the three dots menu
  • Add person
  • Sign in and sync your account
  • Why I like it
    • saves any customization from your account
    • bookmarks, passwords, extensions, Chrome themes
• Tabs
  • Group tabs, label, and color code them
    • Collapse groups
  • Pin tabs
    • Keeps them at the front
    • Prevents you from accidentally clicking the “x” and closing out the tab
    • Don’t worry, Ctrl(Cmd)+Shift+T will open the last closed tab
  • Right click on a tab to see other options
    • Open new tab to the right
    • Move tab to another window
    • Close other tabs
    • Close tabs to the right
  • New update allows you to search tabs
    • Keyboard shortcut – Ctrl(Cmd)+Shift+A
• Omnibox
  • good for URLs and search
  • open recent Google documents
    • just type the title in the omnibox
  • Create QR codes
    • Click in the omnibox and click on the QR icon to the right
    • Download the QR code if you need to
  • Send a web page to another device
    • Click in the omnibar and look for the computer icon on the right
    • Choose which device you want to send it to
• Extensions
  • Visit the chrome store
  • Expands the capabilities of Chrome
  • Check out my blog post on my favorite extensions
• Bookmarks bar tips
  • Use emojis for folder names to save space
  • For websites that have favicons, edit the name of the bookmark and erase the name to just have the favicon in the bookmark bar
• Incognito Window
  • Keyboard Shortcut – Ctrl(Cmd)+Shift+N
  • Opens a window without being signed in to a Google account
  • Useful for checking links you send to students, especially Google documents to double check share settings
• Super helpful keyboard shortcuts
  • Ctrl(Cmd)+T – Open new tab
  • Ctrl(Cmd)+Shift+T – Open recently closed tab
  • Ctrl(Cmd)+W – Close tab
  • Ctrl(Cmd)+Q – Close Chrome
  • Ctrl(Cmd)+# key – go directly to that tab (9 goes to the very last tab)
  • Ctrl(Cmd)+R – refresh page
  • Ctrl(Cmd)+L – select omnibar
  • Ctrl+Tab (Cmd+Opt+right arrow for Mac and Chrome OS) – cycle forward through tabs
  • Ctrl+Shift+Tab (Cmd+Opt+left arrow for Mac and Chrome OS) – cycle backward through tabs

Crew Members’ Board (#8BitCrew)

QOTW: What Chrome tips do you have? How have you utilized Google Chrome?

Use #8BitCrew on Twitter, tag me @comicsocks, or post longer stories in the comments section here.

Get connected

• Twitter: @comicsocks & #8BitCrew
• Web site
• Youtube 
• Email: 8bit.instructor@gmail.com
• Support the show on Patreon.

Check out my Google Classroom Udemy course.

Credits

Music by David Fesliyan (https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/)

• Intro/Outro: “Retro Platforming”
• Boss Battle: “Boss Battle Rock”
• Crew Member’s Board: “Pirate Dance”
• Wrap up: “Game Over” by Patrick de Arteaga

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