What are Firefox Add-ons?

Firefox add-ons are tools that can be embedded right in to the toolbar of your Firefox web browser for quick and easy use.  These tools offer various types of help.  There are over 5000 add-on available from Firefox's Add-on site.  But do not fear or worry that you will have to search them all to find the right one.

Here's an example:

I often find valuable videos on line; either as tutorials or for my own personal enjoyment.  But I would like to store them off-line on my computer, so that I can access them with out needing a wireless network connection.  Because the Firefox Add-on website categorizes all of their add-ons, I can simply look under the Download Management category and browse for something that I like.  I can also search for something specific in the search bar a the top.





I found an add-on called DownloadHelper that easily downloads video from internet sources like YouTube.

There are many more add-ons that become very useful and practical tools for you; organize your tasks with ReminderFox; spot light video to keep students from getting distracted with Turn Off the Lights; add any image online quickly to your Picasa account with AddToPicasa; jot down a few notes with QuickFox Notes; just to name a few.  Check out all of the add-ons at Firefox Add-on.

ReminderFox - Fire Fox Add-on

This is a great little gadget easily accessed right in your browser toolbar; and loaded with features.

• Have an instant calendar available with one click
• Add a task or reminder with one click from the icon in your browser toolbar 
  
• Set reminders for exact times that pop up while you're browsing
• A quick alarm for timed sessions
• List all your tasks and Todos in ReminderFox
• Organize your tasks with multiple folders and categories
• ReminderFox allows syncing your tasks with Google Maps for locations and linking your tasks to websites.

There are more options available to this Add-on.  This is a great feature to your Firefox browser for quick and easy access.  The quick alarm is great in the classroom if you are timing your students with a quiz.  For instructions and description on how to apply Add-ons to your Firefox Web browser and what they are, please see What Are Firefox Add-ons?

How to Use Twitter to Grow Your PLN | Edutopia

Here's a great article from edutopia.org that explains Twitter and how it can be a powerful tool in your Personal Learning Network toolbox. Click link below.

How to Use Twitter to Grow Your PLN | Edutopia

Manage Several Search Engines in Firefox Search

Here's a way to make the most of web searching through your Firefox browser.
 
Your search box at the top of your Firefox browser's navigation bar, offers a few alternative search engines with a click of the drop down menu.  As much as Google does a great job at web search, it is always wise to check other sources; especially since Google uses filter bubbles that cater and personalize your searches, which can be limiting.


Many sites that feature their own search, support this feature.  Anytime you visit a web site that supports this feature, the drop-down arrow in the search bar will be highlighted. Click on the drop down menu and select "Add       (name of search)     ".  Keep in mind, not every site that offers their own search will support this feature in Firefox, but check anyway.  I have about 16 useful search engines in my Firefox search bar.


A couple of sources that do support this is Answers.com, Creative Commons, Wikipedia, Sweetsearch, Wolfram/Alpha (Science/Math), KidRex (Children), Firefox Add-ons; just to name a few.


Practical Application:  Not only will this allow you to get more, varied results in your search, but it is easily accessed right in your browser.  Instead of going to the website, search it in your browser's search bar.

Why Leaders Don't Learn from Success.

Why Leaders Don't Learn from Success  is a great article by Francesca Gino and Gary P. Pisano from the Harvard Business Review Blog.  Though the article's main focus is on business leadership, the same message can be directed to our classrooms; especially with the "third implement" mentioned here - the failure-to-ask-why-syndrome.

I love the final remarks

"But with each success the team focused more on winning and less on learning, and it ended up analyzing little of the data it collected. As one team member commented, “You look at the data when you want to understand what’s going wrong. You do not look at the data because you want to understand why you’re performing well.” " - HBR

To add a disclaimer:  this article is not intended to present an idea or philosophy that generalizes learning, however it was intended on looking at learning at a different angle.

How to follow Twitter hashtags through Google's Realtime

You don't have to have a Twitter account to follow educators and colleagues in your field or to see what is going on instantly during major events - sports, major political speeches, catastrophes, etc.


Simply find a Twitter hashtag that you would like to search - i.e. #edchat.  Type the hashtag into the search and instantly you can follow conversations and chat about your particular search. 

Practical Use:  This is a great feature for searching new ideas, lesson plans, or classroom activities from other professionals from around the world in your related field without the need of a Twitter account; or when you want to follow a major event and see comments or links to other web pages from around the world.  This will also serve as a great means for collecting Twitter names to follow on your own Twitter account.



What is Twitter and how does it benefit me?

What is a Twitter hashtag and how does it work?

What is Google Realtime?