web tools Archives - Jonathan Wylie

3 Alternatives to Google Chrome

Google Chrome may well be the browser of choice for the majority of internet users, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t without its problems. Privacy concerns and performance issues are most often at the top of that list. Google will happily collect your personal information to sell you personalized ads, and it does it with a browser that is known for being a resource hog. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can get the same Chrome experience from Chromium-based browsers like Brave, Edge, or Vivaldi. They give you better battery life and more control over your privacy without sacrificing the Chrome features you love.

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Introducing CommonLit 360: Free Curriculum for English Language Arts

Someone writing with a pen on paper. There is a notebook and a coffee cup on the table they are writing on.

CommonLit and ReadWorks are two of my go-to resources for teachers who are looking for digital reading materials for their classrooms. Both are completely free to use and both are designed to help elevate reading skills in students of all ages. Recently, CommonLit got even more compelling when it launched CommonLit 360, a comprehensive and free curriculum for secondary English Language Arts teachers. If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s what you are missing out on.

7 Canva Templates You Might Not Know About

colorful pop art style graphics painted on a wall — Photo by Gensa Hub on Unsplash

One of the biggest things that keep people coming back to Canva is the templates. They have templates for every occasion. However, as more and more templates are added to the collection, it can be hard to uncover the gems that are really going to make your day. In this post, I am going to round up some of the best Canva templates that you might not have heard of before. As a Canva for Education customer, they are free and easy to personalize so that you can make them your own.

7 Free Premium Accounts for Teachers

an ipad sitting on top of a pile of books next to an apple, a google home mini and an apple pencil — Photo by Thomas Kolnowski on Unsplash

With education budgets being stretched further than ever, the pressure on schools to provide the necessary resources for teachers and students is never ending. Thankfully, there are a number of benevolent edtech companies that have created free premium plans for schools. These plans frequently include features that their business customers have to pay for. To help draw attention to these generous companies, I decided to write about seven of the best free education accounts that you can sign up for. Some of these services are just for teachers, but others include student accounts too, so make sure you read the fine print and see what you qualify for.

It’s Time to Convert Your Old Google Sites

A calendar sitting on a shelf displaying the month of September

In November, 2016, Google launched a brand new version of Google Sites. It featured a simple drag and drop interface and responsive designs that were better suited for the modern web. Today, almost five years later, some of those classic Google Sites still exist. They have still to be converted to the “new” versions of Google Sites, and sometimes with good reason. If you find yourself in that boat, your time is almost up. Google has extended the deadline more than once, but when September 1, 2021 rolls around, your classic Google Site will cease to exist. Here’s what you need to know.

Your Tabs Are Not Your To Do List

nine post-it notes stuck to a fridge door arranged in a 3 by 3 grid

We all have our pet peeves. Things that we wish were different, but things that are unlikely to change any time soon. Towards the top of my list are tabs, or more specifically, those who use tabs as a to do list. Don’t get me wrong, I like tabs as much as the next person. I will often have 8-10 tabs open at one time as I navigate my way between multiple sites for the projects I am working on. However, my tabs are not my to-do list. They might be related to things I need to get done, but I close all my open tabs at the end of the day, and you can too. Here’s how.

How (and Why) to Use OBS.Ninja On Your Next Zoom or Meet Video Call

Laptop on a desk next to an iPad. There is a Zoom call running on the laptop screen. — Photo by Gabriel Benois on Unsplash

I had been doing some research recently around the idea of using an iPad as a document camera on a Zoom or Google Meet call. It can be a great option for showing books, manipulatives, worksheets, or other learning materials during a video call with students. Zoom has built-in functionality to help facilitate that process. Google Meet does not, but you can make it work if you join the call for a second time on your iPad. However, if you want an easy way to show a mobile device on Zoom or Google Meet call, you should take a look at OBS.Ninja.

How to Use mmhmm to Engage Students in Online Learning

A blue fence with a yellow desktop computer spray painted onto the fence. The computer has the words Stay Connected displayed on the monitor. — *Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash*

The global pandemic of 2020 forced many classrooms into online or hybrid learning environments. For educators that had to teach like this, it was not familiar territory. They had to adapt quickly and learn new ways to engage and motivate students who were not physically present any more. Technology helped teachers navigate many of these scenarios, and it continues to have a profound effect. That’s why apps like mmhmm are quickly becoming a popular addition to a teacher’s toolkit. Here’s why.

New Zoom Backgrounds from Canva

Create Customizable Zoom Backgrounds for Canva.

Have you seen the new Zoom backgrounds in Canva? These customizable templates can be a great way to add some visual prompts in a remote learning environment, but they can also be a simple way to inject some fun into an online classroom. In this post I will show you where to get them, how to add them to Zoom, and an easy way to combine multiple backgrounds so that you can quickly change between them when you need to. Here’s what you need to know!

Loom for Education: Free for Schools

Loom for Education is a free premium tool for teachers and students at K-12 schools, universities, or educational institutions. It can be used for screencasting or video messaging and is an increasingly popular alternative to Screencastify or Screencast-o-matic. Loom is available as a desktop app, Chrome extension, and a mobile app for iPhone and iPad. Here’s why you might want to take a look at this great free screencasting tool.