Adding URL to Printed Web Pages in Firefox Web Browser

I recently had a teacher ask me about adding the URL (web address) to printed web pages from Firefox for citation purposes.

Here is the demo I sent him.  You will notice there are a few other options you can choose for data when setting up your Header and/or Footer.

I thought I would share.

The Best Firefox Addons

Your Firefox web browser can do more than just browsing.  You can turn your web browser into a powerful machine and make it work for you.  There are thousands of Add-ons that you can easily add to your Firefox web browser.  Though, as mentioned, there are many to choose from, do not fret.  MakeUseOf curates what they feel are the best Firefox Add-ons our there and organizes them in categories for easy finding.  MakeUseOf is one of the Tech News giants that feature many different features out there that be very helpful for you to "MakeUseOf".

Here is their list of approved Firefox Add-ons.

Happy browsing.

Finding Legally "Reusable" Media Online

I've worked with many teachers who have their students use imagery online for their reports or podcasts.  However, they want pics that do not need permission from the owner to reuse or modify, and to teach their students this good practice.

One great way to do this is to use Creative Commons.  Creative Commons is an organization that works with image creators, video creators, audio creators, etc and provides the public with copyright license to reuse and modify the creators' work; and as with anything, with "some rights reserved" which will be subject to the creator of the product.

Students can utilize Creative Commons for gathering imagery, video, music and more that is legally allowable for reuse.  This is a great way to teach your students about piracy.


Where do students start?  This easy:


Students can search for Creative Commons material right in their Firefox web browser.  All of our MLTI Macbook devices come with a Creative Commons Search Bar.  In their current Firefox search bar, select the down-arrow.

Let's say we are studying rain forest animals and I want to find images of a jaguar.  I would select the Creative Commons Search and type jaguar in my search bar.  Creative Commons automatically directs you to their customized search site and offers several other sites that offer reusable media - like Fotopedia, Flickr and Google Images.  You can do the same with video as well.  You may find some of these resources blocked, however if it is something that you would like to use and would be approved by Administration, ask for use of the site.

 There is a bit of digging required depending on how uncommon your search is, however could result in some valuable material; and legal.



Here are a couple of other sites that offer reusable imagery:

• Ookaboo
• Pics4learning
• Ken Thomas

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?

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.

Firefox Add-on Feature - Readability

Readability.com is a powerful tool that pulls online news articles and cleans them up.  In other words, gets rid of any other content on that web page - i.e. advertisements, other headlines, comment posts, or links - and displays a "clean" article with any images that pertain to it.  Readability.com, also, allows you to print, share on social networks, and customize appearance.  You, now, have the ability to save your chosen articles as PDF, add annotations for your students; or have your students add annotations.  The document below covers more detail.

This Add-on tool will be embedded right into your Firefox browser for easy use.  No Admin needed.

The document is very easy to read and user-friendly.  I have the web link in the document, however simply go to readability.com

Open publication - Free publishing - More add-on