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By @SylviaDuckworth

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25 Hidden Chrome Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

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25 Hidden Chrome Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

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By Evan Dashevsky via pcmag.com

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Chrome has a ton of hidden little tricks that you may not know about.

PCMag reviews products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions from buying links on this page. Terms of use.

Browsers have evolved far beyond their original mission of providing one-way windows into the internet. Indeed, as more services migrate to the cloud, browsers only reinforce their role as multi-function boxes of digital magic.

All the important internet things are available in browser form-from communication tools to productivity suites to disposable escapist entertainment. It's almost like the browser has become an OS in and of itself. In fact, you could say that's exactly where things are headed.

While there is plenty of debate out there as to which browser is best, for my money it's the sleek, minimalist package known as Google Chrome. And the data shows that most users agree: According to the latest numbers from W3Schools, 76.3 percent of people are using Chrome, more than double the next highest, Firefox (13.3 percent), with IE/Edge (4.6 percent) and Safari (3.3 percent) far behind.

These numbers are based on visitors to W3's site, so they aren't a definitive representation of the greater population; Net Applications gave Chrome about 59.49 percent of the global browser market share in June, for example. But no matter what the final tally may be, Chrome is undeniably a popular browser, and if you're not using it, you should at least consider checking it out.

One of the reasons for Chrome's popularity is its clean, polished UI and its versatility. While Chrome's abilities multiply greatly when you consider the near-bottomless library of extensions, there's a bounty of stock functionality embedded all throughout Chrome's guts that you may not even know about.

Check out the list below for 30 hidden tricks hidden inside Chrome that you really need to be using.

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29 Hidden Chrome Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

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Chrome has a ton of hidden little tricks that you may not know about. PCMag reviews products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions from buying links on this page. Terms of use. Browsers have evolved far beyond their original mission of providing one-way windows into the internet.

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By Joey-Elijah Sneddon (OMG! CHROME!

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I've been using Chromebooks for several years, but I'm still learning handy new tips and saving tricks that speed up my workflow.
Below I run down 15 handy, lesser-known Chromebooks tricks, tips and keyboard shortcuts.

Not just for aficionados, the following tips may even make switching to Chrome OS a little easier for newcomers.

Before we go on

All of the tips and tweaks listed below work in Chrome OS, the operating system that comes loaded on your Chromebook.

Because of a shared codebase the majority of the tips below (excluding keyboard shortcuts) also with the Chrome browser on Windows, Mac and Linux.

1. Use The Chrome App Launcher as a Calculator

Not being the best with numbers I often resort to double-checking my sums using a calculator. In Chrome you can subtract the hassle of opening an app, launching a website or reaching for your phone by using the Chrome App Launcher to perform simple sums instead.

Just like Google (the search engine) basic sums can be calculated quickly, and it supports semi-advanced features like brackets, tan, cos and sine.

2. Use Chrome App Launcher as a Unit Convertor

Are the sums you're making of the measurable variety? If so, you can perform on-the-fly conversions in the launcher too.

Just express your query as "{num} {original unit} in {needed unit}" and the result will appear .

Supported/example conversations include grams to kilograms, millilitres to tablespoon, miles to km, meters, cm, mm, inches ... and so on.

3. Use Chrome App Launcher to Open Apps By Voice

Google's Launcher also has built-in voice search capabilities (which can even be set to "always listening" in the latest developer builds).

Aside from barking random search terms at your device you can also launch apps installed on your Chromebook by saying their name:

So, for example, saying "Ok, Google - Wunderlist" will launch Wunderlist (assuming it is installed).

For what it's worth you don't even need to say the entire word. For example "cal" would launch any shortcut, website or app result that matches.
Ok Google - that's neat!
4. Close Tabs Quickly and Open Links in Background

If you have a mouse with a clickable middle button, or a Chromebook with a gesture-enabled touchpad, you can speed up two common activities: opening links in background tabs and closing tabs that are already open.

If you open links using Right-Click > Open Link in Background Tab, you should stop. It's far faster to just "click" on the link in question with a three finger tap on your trackpad or by clicking the scroll-wheel on your mouse.

Same goes for closing tabs. Just hover over the tab you wish to close and tap with three fingers or click with your mouses' third button and... vamoose!

5. Favicon Bookmarks Bar

My super-minimal, very colorful favicon-only bookmarks bar often attracts a lot of questions, typically "what extension do you use to do that?"

No extensions, but a really easy "hack" - one that even pre-dates Chrome!

More than just look good. By reducing links to my favorite sites to their website icons I can have more of them on show and at hand.

To make the Chrome Bookmarks Bar show only website icons:

Right-click on a bookmark bar item

Select 'edit'

Delete the text in the 'name' box

Hit 'save'

It's that simple. No extensions or add-ons needed. Repeat the process until all of the sites/services you want to minify are.

6. Search Gmail from Omnibar

Chrome's omnibar is far more powerful and extensible than most realise. By adding a custom search engine for a specific site, you can quickly drill down to what you need from URL bar - no need to visit the site first.

One of the most useful 'custom search engines' to set up Gmail. With a simple phrase and a tap of the Tab key you can quickly find what you need, cutting out a step or two in the process.
To set Gmail as a custom search engine in Chrome:

Right click on the Chrome Omni-bar

Select 'Edit Search Engines'

Scroll to the bottom of the window that appears

Enter the following info:

Name: Gmail

Keyword: gms

URL: https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/#search/%s.

You can pick any 'keyword' you like. The one above is simply an example.

When you're happy you can hit 'done'. To use, head to the address bar, enter 'gms', hit the Tab key and query away!
(You can also use the Chrome App Launcher to perform searches using voice commands. In this example you would say "gms" followed by your query, e.g., "gms amazon".)
Keyboard Shortcuts

In our post "10 Shortcuts Every Chromebook Owner Should Know " last year we highlighted the basic key combos for enabling caps lock, taking a screenshot, and so on. It was, naturally, far from being exhaustive.

Here are a few additional ones.

7. Snap Windows like a Pro

Chrome OS and Windows 8 Mode: you can snap Chrome windows and applications to the left and right sides of the screen like a ninja using the following keys combinations.

To snap a window/app to left-hand side of the screen:

To snap a window/app to right-hand side of the screen:

8. Dock Windows Like a Pro

Chrome OS and Windows 8 Mode: You can also shunt select app windows to the "dock" area in a similar way, this time double-tapping the "[" or "]" key.

To dock window/app to the left-hand side:

To dock window/app to the right-hand side:

9. Append and Go

Typing the name of a website, e.g., 'eBay,' in the omnibar and hit the following key combo to automatically add ' www' and '.com ' and head to the site.

10. Access 'Delete'

Chrome keyboards don't come with a traditional delete key. To delete files or text 'the wrong way' without using your mouse just position your mouse at the right point in your document/click the file you wish to ditch and hit:

11. Paste Text Without Formatting

Pasting text from a word document, web page into an email often carries over text formatting, e.g., different fonts, text sizes, etc. To paste text without formatting press:

12. Skip/Select Words in a Document

Don't wear your back-arrow key out trying to move to a specific part of a document letter by letter. Instead use the following modifier to jump back/forwards by word.

To select/highlight words as you jump tap:

13. Open Chrome OS Notification Center using the Keyboard

You don't need to take your hands off the keyboard to check any pending notifications in the Chrome OS Notification Center by pressing this key combo:

14. Hard Reboot

While you may never need to, on the forcibly reboot It's not the ideal way to reboot but can be vital if you're in a boot loop or sat facing a frozen screen.

Just be aware that any unsaved work, data, etc will be lost when using this method.

Note: this is a not a power wash or a factory reset.

15. Access More Google Drive Options

Developer and beta channel builds of Chrome OS now show an extended set of Drive options in the File Manager menu.

Stable you don't have to wait; press Alt then Click the cog icon in the File Manager to choose whether mobile data is used for syncing, and whether Google Docs files show up.

Bonus: Slow Down Chrome OS Window Animations

Finally, a largely pointless trick, but fun to play with from time to time. When clicking on an app icon in the app shelf to maximize or minimize it, hold down the 'Shift' key to watch the animation take place sup...er... sll....oo...w...lll...y.

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15 Useful Chromebook Tips & Tricks - OMG! Chrome!

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I've been using Chromebooks for several years, but I'm still learning handy new tips and saving tricks that speed up my workflow. Below I run down 15 handy, lesser-known Chromebooks tricks, tips and keyboard shortcuts. Not just for aficionados, the following tips may even make switching to Chrome OS a little easier for newcomers.

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By @MsDrasby

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When Math Manipulatives are created with Google for Education APPS (GAFE) it helps leveling the playing field for children of all learning styles. The below video tutorials would not exist if Alice Keeler didn't tweet for help and Kellie Konrad inquire about the methods used for creating with Google Draw and Slides. Thank you Ladies!

Teachers can model on an Interactive Whiteboard.

Provides all students with the perfect seat.

Students are accountable for practice.

Slides save a revision history.

The revision history helps Teacher to assess the student's abilities.

Students can practice using the manipulative from home.

Provides opportunities for students to study together from separate locations.

A Chrome browser text to read APP can support low readers with using the manipulative independently.

Provides the students with independent learning opportunities.

HELPS BUILD ESTEEM and MOTIVATES the STUDENTS to LEARN

First step was using Google Drawing to make the background and the clipart which was used in the Google Slide.

Using Google Drawing for the Background

Creating Math Manipulatives using Google Slides

The draggable content should be created in Google Draw and saved as png then insert as image to Google Slide.
This lessens frustration for students when dragging an answer across the slide.
Example: Letters won't separate from grouped background shape when dragged.

Create background in Google Draw, Download as png then insert image as Google Slide background.
The background is set and won't move when students drag the unifix cubes or answers.

It is easiest to use a table when working with multiple squares and rectangles such as making the 100's block.

Here is the Template for the 100's Place Value Math Manipulative Created for the Tutorial

Teachers please feel free to copy all templates to your Google Drive

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015

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Creating Math Manipulatives using GAFE by @MsDrasby - Teacher Tech

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When Math Manipulatives are created with Google for Education APPS (GAFE) it helps leveling the playing field for children of all learning styles. The below video tutorials would not exist if Alice Keeler didn't tweet for help and Kellie Konrad inquire about the methods used for creating with Google Draw and Slides.

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8 Characteristics of the Innovator's Mindest

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8 Characteristics of the Innovator's Mindest

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By @GeorgeCouros bitly.com/8mindset

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5 Ways to Help Students Become Better Questioners

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5 Ways to Help Students Become Better Questioners

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via Edutopia

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Learners Should Be Developing Their Own Essential Questions

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Having essential questions drive curriculum and learning has become core to many educators' instructional practices. Grant Wiggins, in his work on Understanding By Design, describes an essential question as: A meaning of "essential" involves important questions that recur throughout one's life. Such questions are broad in scope and timeless by nature.

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By @ShakeUpLearning

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Gamify Your Classroom With Digital Badges! Adding game mechanics to your classroom doesn't have to be complicated. Digital badges are a great way to get started with gamification. Recognize learning achievements in your classroom with badges to motivate and challenge students to reach the next level. (Tip: Badges are also very motivating for teachers!)

There are several different approached to using badges in the classroom. Some websites and apps are strictly for creating and awarding badges, and some, more robust systems offer badges within their system. The following resources are just a start for those that are new to gamification, and all are iPad-friendly. I've included links and related resources as well.

Credly allows teachers to create badges, upload their own designs, and give credit through their platform. This easy-to-use application is available as a web version, iOS app, and has an open API to allow integration with other platforms as well. Below is a great tutorial for using Credly by Molly Schroeder.

Mozilla Open Badges
Mozilla Open Badges are NOT proprietary like most systems. This means that any teacher can create and issue badges that do not have to be tied to a certain platform. Ready to see how it works? Take the Badges 101 Quiz to earn your first badge.

For All Badges is an iOS app that works in conjunction with For All Rubrics to align your rubrics with badges. For All Badges also integrates with Mozilla's Open Badges platform, and allows students to save badges to their "backpack."

Edmodo
Edmodo is a full, social learning platform with over 35 million users. With so many teachers and students already on board, it is worth mentioning that badges are integrated into this platform. After logging in to your Edmodo dashboard, go to the top toolbar>progress>student badges to check it out.

Class Badges
Class Badges is one of the more popular badging platforms. Class Badges allow the teacher to easily award badges aligned with learning goals. The video below is a great introduction to get you started.
Be sure to check out these related posts:
Teacher's Guide to Badges in Education from Edudemic is a great resource for learning more about badges.

What are your favorite gamification resources? How have you used badges in the classroom or in professional development? Please feel free to share in the resources below.

© Shake Up Learning 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

18 Challenges for Teachers in 2018 FREE eBook!

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5 Awesome Resources for Badges in the Classroom

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Gamify Your Classroom With Digital Badges! Adding game mechanics to your classroom doesn't have to be complicated. Digital badges are a great way to get started with gamification. Recognize learning achievements in your classroom with badges to motivate and challenge students to reach the next level. (Tip: Badges are also very motivating for teachers!)

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App-Mazing Math Through Visible Thinking

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App-Mazing Math Through Visible Thinking

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Great resources here from Megan Zigmond (@ZigZagsTech)

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App-Mazing Math Through Visible Thinking

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By @iPadWells

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Moving from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership

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Moving from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership

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By @sylviaduckworth & JCasaTodd

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Lots of awesome ideas here!

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What is augmented reality? Movies have given us a sense of "alternative reality" for years. Augmented reality makes something come to life! It seems like magic.
Let's take a look at a few of our favorites:

AR Flashcards (free) - Animal/Alphabet Flashcards

1. Download and print in color the Alphabet Flashcard from arflashcards.com

2. Download the AR Flashcards App from the Apple or Google Play store.

3. Open the AR flashcards App and press Get Started.

4. Hover you device over a flashcard. Make sure your sound is turned on. Touch the image when it appears and and you will hear the name of the animal and the letter it begins with.

Ideas for using AR Flashcards from Karen's Technology Locker: -shuffle the flashcard and have students alphabetize them -shuffle the cards, lay a limited number out, have students build beginning or ending sounds -shuffle the cards, lay them out and have students spell their name (you may need two decks of cards) -print two sets of cards and play memory -identify the number of syllables in each animal word that is on the flashcard

Color Alive by Crayola (free, in-app purchases & book purchase) - These coloring pages will entertain and enchant youngsters as well as the oldsters! You'll love the selfie feature! You can purchase pages within the app or buy the coloring books from Toys R Us, Walgreens, Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics or Amazon. The coloring books (Enchanted Forest, Barbie, Mythical Creatures, Skylanders and Minions) come with 7 crayons including a special color. When the special color is used on the page and then scanned with the app, effects like ice blasts, fire and pixy dust appear. * Google Play Store
Dragon
Fairy
WashBuckler
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - An interactive narrative experience. The app is $4.99 and can be downloaded here. The book can be purchased from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Quiver Vision - The Dot
1. Download and print the Dot coloring pages from quivervision.com.

2. Download the Quiver Vision App from their website.

3. Have students color a picture related to your curriculum inside the Dot. Be careful not to color over the black outlines too much.

4. Open the Quiver Vision app and watch your picture come to life! Touch the purple circle to see more image.
Quiver Vision - Creative Writing
The Tortoise and the Hare

1. Download and print any of the coloring pages from the quivervision.com. Some of the sets of pages require you to make an in-app purchase.

2. Download the Quiver App from the Apple or Google Play store.

3. Have students color one of the pages. Be careful not to color over the black outlines too much.

4. Have the students write a creative story based on their pictures.

5. Open the Quiver app and watch your picture come to life!

Examples:

Tennis shoe - "When my tennis shoes came to life..."

Hot air balloon - "My hot air balloon took me to..."

Print the coloring pages, let the students color the two characters and then let them watch the fable come to life by using the The Tortoise and the Hare app on a device. There is an in-app purchase to unlock more levels of the story.

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What is augmented reality? Movies have given us a sense of "alternative reality" for years. Augmented reality makes something come to life! It seems like magic.Let's take a look at a few of our favorites: AR Flashcards (free) - Animal/Alphabet Flashcards 1. Download and print in color the Alphabet Flashcard from arflashcards.com 2.

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Personal Note: Google Cardboard is fun & can has so much potential for learning...breaking down the walls of the classroom/school.

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Virtual Roundtable

9 Ed Tech Trends To Watch in 2015

CT asked five IT leaders to identify the hottest trends in higher education technology today. From analytics to 3D printing, here's what should be on your radar this year.

Our Panelists

Josh Baron, senior academic technology officer, Marist College

Kyle Bowen, director of education technology, Penn State University

Bob Bramucci, vice chancellor of technology and learning services, South Orange County Community College District

Ed Chapel, senior vice president, NJEDge, and former VP for IT, Montclair State University

Pam McQuesten, vice president, information services and CIO, Southwestern University

The New Year is a time for both reflection and resolution. We've channeled a little bit of both with our annual look at the hottest tech trends in higher education: In the following virtual roundtable discussion, five IT leaders from around the country share their thoughts on everything from analytics and personalized learning to badges and gamification.

What trends would you add to the list? E-mail us!
1) Learning Spaces
Kyle Bowen: Traditional learning spaces are a classic example of efficiency through replication - as if there were a classroom machine that has been punching out the same room over and over for decades. A number of concepts have emerged for the design of new learning spaces: those that enable a specific form of teaching; those that enable teachers to teach how they want; and those that enable students to learn how they want. Technology is now a key component of this learning environment, enabling teaching and learning in ways not previously possible - moving beyond just a projector in the classroom, for instance, turning the projector into a community canvas that is shared by the entire room. This is an excellent time to explore a new generation of learning spaces that are as creative as the faculty who teach in them. At Penn State, we are increasing focus on research and experimentation around classroom design, providing a studio for faculty to experiment and a platform for research that will make it possible to scale new approaches without killing the magic that made them possible in the first place.

Josh Baron: In the last decade or more, there has been a tremendous amount of research on new learning space designs and examination of how they can transform the teaching and learning process. Although I think this work will continue into the future, I see a growing need for and interest in applying some of these design concepts to the online spaces that we in education are deploying on an increasingly regular basis. At Marist, we are actively exploring how we can use new open academic collaboration platforms to create, in an online environment, the type of ad hoc "academic commons" spaces that are now so prevalent on physical campuses. We have come to recognize that environments such as the learning management system, while great at supporting structured teaching and learning activities, are not ideal when supporting more informal forms of academic collaboration. So in parallel with the LMS, we are deploying the Open Academic Environment academic collaboration platform, which is designed to give control back to the user - similar to the way flexible learning spaces on the ground are designed.

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9 Ed Tech Trends To Watch in 2015 -- Campus Technology

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Virtual Roundtable CT asked five IT leaders to identify the hottest trends in higher education technology today. From analytics to 3D printing, here's what should be on your radar this year.

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By @SylviaDuckworth

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8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom

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8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom

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by George Couros

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Engage all learners: Make students think visually

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Engage all learners: Make students think visually

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One way to increase student engagement and facilitate deeper learning is to frequently check for student understanding throughout a lesson. Formative Assessment is one of John Hattie's top 10 instructional moves that has a big effect on student achievement.

Practitioners find many benefits in using frequent assessment techniques to simultaneously check all students' level of understanding.

My three favorite technology tools increase student engagement and quickly get students thinking visually so teachers can adjust and differentiate instruction on the spot. All three technology tools are free, teacher-friendly, and the student data can be saved and graphed to facilitate data charts.

Padlet.com

Padlet is an online bulletin board used to support collaboration, discussion, and checking for student understanding. Padlet is similar to a virtual wall in which students can answer questions, express their thoughts on a common topic and share feedback.

Just like Post-It notes, students answer or comment on content by sharing text, images, videos or documents. Students can share their content from any device. Padlet is a great resource for collecting student data before, during or after a lesson.

As a self-reflection tool, students can revisit peers post-it notes throughout a lesson to add or refine comments. Check out this six-minute tutorial on how Padlet can be used in your classroom.

Socrative.com

Senteos SMART Technology Clickers are helpful for collecting student data and providing students with instant feedback, but if you don't have many class sets or the funds to purchase more, Socrative is a great substitute.

Socrative lets teachers engage and assess their students on tablets, laptops and smartphones. Through the use of real-time questioning, instant result aggregation and visualization for all students, teachers can gauge the whole class' current level of understanding on any given concept.

This technology tool allows teachers to visually display and save class data as student enter their responses. I especially love the interactive space race battleship quizzes and the generic exit ticket options.

Plickers.com

Plickers is a powerful tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices. Many teachers project questions and answer choices on the board from the Live View tab of the website, give students a designated thinking time to problem-solve, and then countdown to a "show cards!" moment.

Live View will update with student results in real-time. Unique shapes on each Plickers card help protect students' privacy so they can answer your questions honestly without worrying about what their peers think of their answer. See a Plickers in action here.

About the Author

Savanna Flakes, EdS, has taught a variety of subjects, grades and learners in Washington D.C., Pittsburgh and Virginia. Savanna is an education consultant specializing in inclusion, literacy and special education. Her prior instructional leadership roles include Manager of Professional Learning, Master Educator, technology integration specialist and inclusion instructional specialist, coaching administrators and teachers on effective inclusive and instructional practices. Savanna has served as a professor in the American University School of Education and Health, and she presents nationally on topics such as differentiation, co-teaching, universal design for learning, and inclusion. Check out her TEDxTalk on " Inclusion and Fast Food."

As an education consultant, Savanna works with school communities to build teacher leaders and effective instructional practices for students with exceptionalities. For more information, visit Inclusion For a Better Future.

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MultiBrief: Engage all learners: Make students think visually

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One way to increase student engagement and facilitate deeper learning is to frequently check for student understanding throughout a lesson. Practitioners find many benefits in using frequent assessment techniques to simultaneously check all students' level of understanding. My three favorite technology tools increase student engagement and quickly get students thinking visually so teachers can adjust and differentiate instruction on the spot.

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How to Participate in ISTE 2015 Remotely!

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It's almost that time of year again when thousands of educators and ed tech folks gather at the International Society for Technology in Education conference.

Sadly, we won't be at ISTE 2015 and will be participating remotely like we did last year.

ISTE provides a range of virtual attendance options and you can read more about each option for 2015 here.

We're excited about #NotAtISTE15 and looking forward to sharing what we've learnt from attending a conference virtually for the past two years.

Here is how we are virtually attending ISTE 2015:

Using Flipboard

Last year we started off our virtual ISTE 2014 journey by curating the best information and content shared during the conference into our ISTE Insights Flipboard magazine. We flipped over 937 articles into the Magazine.

Flipboard Magazines is a good option for curating content from conferences. We've also curated content for EduTECH National Congress & Expo into a Magazine for the past 2 years.

However, ISTE is more challenging than most conferences because most articles are sourced from links shared on Twitter, ISTE is a trending hashtag and I have a 12 hour timezone difference. Last year Jeffrey See helped curate the magazine.

Based on last year's experience, I would need several contributors, in different time zones, to help with the ISTE Insights Flipboard magazine. Please leave a comment on this post if you're able to help curate the magazine.

This video explains how I use Flipboard to find, curate and share content.

You'll find a complete step by step guide to setting up Flipboard here.

Not AT...EdTechConference

Last year I participated in the NotAtISTE Google community. This was an amazing community set up and facilitated by Jen Wagner.

This year it's been moved to Not AT...EdTechConference Google Community so the community can be used for any conference.

Social networking is an important part of attending conferences and through the Google Community we were able to easily connect with each other, share our learning and tips, while having fun.

Last year Jen Wagner organize a wide range of activities to encourage networking including games such having your photo taken with someone at ISTE and #NOTAtISTE bingo.

This year the fun has already begin. The Not AT...EdTechConference Google Community has organized a name badge template and ribbons for participants to create their own name badges (thanks Jen Wagner. Vicky Sedgewick and Heidi Samuelson).

The community is also planning to host a few IGNITE sessions and Karaoke via Google Hangout.

Watch live via Periscope

This year I'm watching ISTE live using Periscope.

Periscope is a live streaming app for iOS and Android purchased by Twitter in March, 2015. Periscope allows users to transmit live to your Periscope and Twitter followers via a mobile device; and whoever is watching is able to comment and ask questions.

You can also watch Periscope broadcasts in your web browser, but can't comment, by clicking on a link to a broadcast. You can watch the broadcast recording for up to 24 hours after it is recorded if you miss the live broadcast.

Benefit of using Periscope for ISTE is if the live broadcast you are watching stops you can switch over to another Periscope. For example, I was able to watch Soledad O'Brian's keynote live at 7 AM in Australia by switching to a new periscope when I lost the live broadcast.

Read Tony Vincent's Live Periscope Broadcasts from ISTE 2015 to learn more about Periscope. Tony will be uploading his best broadcasts from ISTE 2015 to YouTube, and embedding them at the bottom of his post, as replays are only available for 24 hours after the live broadcast.

There are a range of ways you can find the latest Periscope broadcasts. Below are my tips:
Using Flipboard on my mobile devices
Following the twitter search for periscope #ISTE2015 in my Flipboard accounts allows me to quickly find the latest Periscope.

It's as simple as:

1. Search for periscope #iste2015

2. Tap on Social network results.

3. Tap on Tweets mentioning "periscope #iste2015"

4. Tap on Follow.

5. Clicking on a Periscope link opens the live or recorded broadcast in the Periscope app on my mobile device.
Using TweetDeck on my computer
Adding a search column for periscope #iste2015 in TweetDeck on a computer is as easy as:

1. Enter the search term periscope #iste2015 into the search field.

2. Click Add Column.

3. Clicking on a link to a Periscope launches it in my web browser where I can easily watch at my leisure.

Refer to this information if you're new to TweetDeck.

Shared Google Docs for sessions I want to learn more about

Last year I created a shared Google doc for sessions I wanted to attend and prepared my own notes by:

Reviewing the handouts and links provided by the presenters

Reviewing blog posts or articles on the sessions attended by people who were at ISTE 2014.

Adding any photos shared from the sessions

You can check out my shared Google Doc from ISTE 2014 here. Vicki Sedgewick used the same approach for the coding sessions.

I'm using a shared Google doc again this year and you can check out the progress here! Sessions I've chosen are based around blogging, twitter, digital writing etc.
Here is how I do it:

1. Work out which sessions I would have attended if I went to ISTE by searching the conference program by title and mark the ones I'm interested in as favorite.

2. Check each session page for links to the Presentation website, handouts etc and use these to notes about the session.

3. Add information about each session to my shared Google Docs with my own reflections and notes.

Check out this example
Scroll down the session page to look for any links to websites, handouts etc.

Jill Bergeron's Build your own Personal Learning Network Right Now! session page provides a link to the Google Presentation she has prepared for the session. I also click on the Presenters name to see if they have any help links on their bio page.

You can check out how I added my own reflections and notes for this session in my shared Google Doc for ISTE 2015 which I've embedded below.

Other ways of participating

Each year there are new tools and even more ways to participate at ISTE while being part of #NotAtISTE. This provides a great opportunity to explore a range of new tools to see how they can be used in a learning context. Last year many of us were introduced to Voxer. a text and audio synchronous and asynchronous app. Wonder what it will be this year?

Make sure you check out Linda Lindsay's (@mauilibrarian2) 22, no 26 Cool (and Free) Ways to Enjoy #ISTE2015 without being there [#NotAtISTE]. Linda's provided an amazing list of other ways to connect that I'm looking forward to researching.

Presenting at ISTE virtually

I'm facilitating a session with Tzvi Pittinsky on using Crowd sourcing in the Classroom at ISTE 2015. Our plan is to demonstrate how participants at ISTE 2014 worked with global participants #NOTatISTE while encouraging participants to reflect on all the different ways crowdsourcing can be used in classrooms.

I'll be participating in #NOTatISTE and will be presenting remotely from Australia with Tzvi who will be at ISTE 2015.

You can read more about our presentation here.

We would appreciate it if you can add a Slide to our presentation!

Anything else?

Have any more ideas, please leave them in the comments below!

PS: Don't forget to subscribe to our ISTE Insights Flipboard Magazine!

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#NotAtISTE? How to Participate in ISTE 2015 Remotely

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It's almost that time of year again when thousands of educators and ed tech folks gather at the International Society for Technology in Education conference. Sadly, we won't be at ISTE 2015 and will be participating remotely like we did last year.