Make Web Pages Easier to Read with Mercury Reader Chrome Extension

When you or your students are reading online for information, a typical web page can look a lot like this:

Reading online can be complicated by all of the
extraneous elements we find on web pages.

There is a tool that can help make reading for information online a less distracting task. It is called Mercury Reader, and it is an extension that can be used in your Chrome web browser.

When you install Mercury Reader, you can click on it to remove all of the extraneous information from a web page you are trying to read. Here is a side-by-side comparison of what an article on CNN.com looks like without Using Mercury Reader, and what it looks like when the extension is being used.

Benefits of Mercury Reader

• Easy to toggle on and off.
• Takes away extraneous and possibly distracting information such as ads or links to content which might not be related to the content being read.
• Allows the reader to adjust font size and style for easier reading.
• Allows reader to choose a theme which puts white print on a dark background. 
• Can aid dyslexic or visually impaired readers who are reading content on the web.

How to Use Mercury Reader

Below is a 4 1/2 minute tutorial I recorded which shows how helpful Mercury Reader can be while still being very simple to use. I hope this tool will be of benefit to you and your students. Please take time to comment on this post if you decide to try Mercury Reader or if you have other tips for making reading on the web easier.

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All original work in this post by Sandy Kendell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). Please see specifics on my re-use policy before re-posting/re-using any of my blog content.

Shortcut for Adding Hyperlinks to Google Docs & Slides (Sheets & Drawings, Too!)

Have you ever discovered that something you usually do with a tech tool in multiple steps can be done far more easily/efficiently in fewer steps? It happens to me all the time! Sometimes, it's just not knowing there's always been another way, and sometimes, a new feature is added to tool and we are just so used to doing things one way we never notice the improvement.

A recent example for me: I discovered while helping facilitate a session on G Suite Basics earlier this summer that adding hyperlinks in Google Docs and Slides (and Sheets and Drawings) has been massively streamlined. Now, if this is old news to you and it's been around for years, please don't tell me. I don't want to know how long I've been missing out on this shortcut!

Up until recently, I've been adding links to Google Docs and Slides the same way I always have:

1. With doc/slideshow open in one Chrome tab, open another Chrome tab.
2. Search for site I want to link to in new Chrome tab.
3. Click on site to open it.
4. Copy URL from browser address bar.
5. Go back to doc/slideshow.
6. Highlight words I want to make into a link.
7. Right-click on words I want to make into a link.
8. Select Link from the menu that pops up.
9. Paste URL into link box and apply.

So, that's nine steps. Not a big deal or burdensome until you realize you could do it in far fewer steps in many cases! I finally noticed it this summer when watching multiple people add links to docs and slides during a professional learning session. 

Here is the new shortcut method I discovered:

1. Highlight the words I want to link in the doc or slide.
2. Right-click the highlighted words and choose Link from the menu that pops up.
3. NOTICE the opportunity to pick from a couple of sites Google nicely found for me. Or search from right within the link dialog for the site I want if the suggestions aren't quite right.
4. Preview the suggested sites if needed. See my quick tutorial video below for a demo of this.
5. Click on the link I want to use.
6. Click Apply. DONE!

That's three to four fewer steps, and a whole lot less clicking and tab switching!!!!

NOTE: It's still best practice to search ahead of time for quality online resources to link to, as this shortcut method only gives two results to choose from. The shortcut method works well if you are fairly certain of what you're looking for.

SECOND NOTE: This shortcut process works in Sheets and Drawings, too!

Because it often helps me to see a demo of a new-to-me skill, I made a short tutorial video on how the process works. You can view it below. I hope you find as much benefit from this shortcut as I have!

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All original work in this post by Sandy Kendell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). Please see specifics on my re-use policy before re-posting/re-using any of my blog content.

Best Practices for Integrating Chromebooks into Your Classroom - #TCEA17

Best Practices for Integrating Chromebooks into Your Classroom
Miguel Guhlin
Director of Professional Development
TCEA

Resources:

• www.tceamg.org
• ly.tcea.org/tcea17 - All of Miguel's TCEA 2017 Presentations
• https://mix.office.com/watch/1y1t3ub284e79 - Slide deck from presentation with great ideas!

Tip 1: Have a Plan for Managing Chromebooks in the Classroom

• Ex: How will students get their devices? What are your rules for handling the devices?
• See the slide deck link above for great details!

Tip 2: Find ways to share your Chromebook screen

• Nearpod
• Chrome Cast

Tip 3: Digital Portfolios

• Seesaw is the bomb! (Free for up to to 100 students per teacher)

Tip 4: Easy Interactivity

• Kahoot
• Quizz

Tip 5: Easy Video Assessment

• Need to check out Flipgrid!!!! - Students can respond to prompts via video
• Learners process visuals 60,000 times faster than text!

Tip 6: Use Google Tone Extension to Share Weblinks via a Sound

Tip 7: Check Out Google Tools for Students With Special Needs

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n4BWpDIDtjdWT5-vdVF0w5wsR6CitJxQeCnjlsFQl9s/mobilebasic

Tip 8: Screencasts

• Use Screencastify or Nimbus Screenshot & Screencast
• Teacher can make tutorials
• Students can create projects

Tip 9: Projects!

• Older students research things younger students like using Google Form surveys. Then create a product and video advertisement for the younger students. Then use a Google Hangout to get feedback from the younger students!
• Connect your classroom for a cause. Ex: High school English students in Texas and Virginia connected. Formed groups with students from both schools and did research on human trafficking

Ok, I lost wireless at this point in the session, but I've embedded the slide deck above. Be sure to look through it. It has tons of great resources!!!!

**************************************************************************************** All original work in this post by Sandy Kendell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Please see specifics on my re-use policy in the right-hand column of my blog before re-posting/re-using any of my blog content.

Student-Led Broadcasts with GSuite (GAFE) - #TCEA17

Student-Led Broadcasts with GSuite (GAFE)

Kate Hebert & Brian Prewitt
Richardson ISD

Presentation Resources: https://sites.google.com/g.risd.org/mstmagnettechnology/student-led-broadcasts-using-gsuite
Google Slides Presentation: https://sites.google.com/g.risd.org/mstmagnettechnology/student-led-broadcasts-using-gsuite/presentation

Why do Student Led Live Broadcasts?

• Informative
• Educates Students
• Project Based Learning
• Multiple job learning
• Public Speaking
• Bring in guests for interviews
• Can add last minute details if needed
• Can share with small or large groups, or everywhere
• It makes announcements more interesting
• Puts a face to the announcements
• It's fun!!!

Why use YouTube On Air/Live Events?

• Easy to create each morning
• EAsy to share
• It's free
• Automatically creates a recorded version so it can be viewed at different times
• Simple Studio functions like switching cameras or to a slide show
• Add ins
• Hats and spectacles (limited time only; it's going away)
• Ability to restrict inside of District
• It's fun!!

Warning

Broadcasts that violate Copyright Law will be removed from YouTube

Equipment

• Computer w/ internet access
• iPad and stand for script (book holder)
• Camera (webcam or video camera that connects with the computer--might need firewire
• Microphone - we use a USB mic for better sound quality
• If you don't have any of this, you can use a computer with a built-in webcam
• 
  

Production

• Training your students--students trained for all roles
• Camera person--runs the camera and moves camera as necessary
• Production manager--runs the actual Live Events On-Air and includes screen sharing
• Anchors--on screen talent
• Sound-runs any audio input (changes)

Creating the Broadcast - Students to this!

• Students meet twice a week
• Everything planned for the next week
• All scripts written
• Meeet during specials rotation time twice a week
• Previously met Mondays form 3:15-4:45 most weeks
• Rehearse scripts
• Production Manager rehearses show timing
• Pre-broadcast run through - students rehearse the broadcast just prior to broadcast

Broadcasting

• Run through just prior to broadcast
• Anchors must look at camera & speak clearly with a strong voice
• Person running the show on the computer must be awary of script and slides--must be very attentive
• If camera needs to be turned, should be turned between shots
• Production manager checks camera and microphone choices
• Production Manager prepares slides for screen sharing by choosing to "Present in New Window."

How to Set Up Your Broadcast
See Video Tutorials Here:
https://sites.google.com/g.risd.org/mstmagnettechnology/student-led-broadcasts-using-gsuite/video-tutorials

1. How to create your YouTube Live Event for the First Time
1. Dedicated GSuite Account (not your own account), YouTube, and Live Events
2. YouTube - Verification
3. Bookmarks
2. How to Create Your Love Event on Air Each Time
1. Use your bookmark
2. Going Live
3. Restrictions
4. Settings
5. Starting and Ending the Broadcast
3. How to Share Your Broadcast - Google Sites
1. Links and the Bookmarks Toolbar
2. Be logged in

This was an awesome session! Be sure to check out the resources on their website!
https://sites.google.com/g.risd.org/mstmagnettechnology/student-led-broadcasts-using-gsuite


**************************************************************************************** All original work in this post by Sandy Kendell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Please see specifics on my re-use policy in the right-hand column of my blog before re-posting/re-using any of my blog content.