If you’re fortunate enough to have Chromebooks in the classroom, then you’ll appreciate these free apps and extensions to make them even more powerful. The list below covers a variety of subject areas and grade levels and even includes a few Chrome apps for teachers.
- Magic Actions for YouTube allows you to share YouTube videos with your class. It doesn’t automatically play until you want it to play, and it removes all ads, comments, and side suggestions.
- Project Naptha allows you to copy, translate, edit, and even erase the text inside any image you find on the web. This can be helpful when ESL students are using a website for research that includes text inside of images.
- TechSmith Snagit allows you to capture screenshots and then annotate them with arrows, shapes, and text. This is perfect for creating short, simple tutorials for students or staff.
- Presentme is an option if you are flipping your classroom. It allows you to record your voice alongside a slideshow so you can share information about the content.
- Biodigital Human offers 3D models of the human body and all body systems.
- Connected Mind allows you to draw memorable mind maps and store them in the cloud for free.
- Dictionary Instant is the world’s fastest online English dictionary. Correct spelling when looking up a word is not necessary as it has predictive text capabilities.
- 1-Click Timer is a simple timer for classroom management, especially good for students working in small groups or on individual projects. It also works offline.
- The Elementals is a fun periodic table where every element has its own unique personality.
- Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. It’s great for visual task management and perfect for PBL student group work.
- If you need a comic creator, try Pixton for Google Chromebooks. It allows you to click-and-drag characters, speech bubbles, backgrounds, photos, voice-overs, and more to create and share comics.
- GeoGebra is dynamic mathematics software for all levels of education that joins geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, graphing, statistics, and calculus. It also runs offline, perfect for 1:1 Chromebook use at home where Internet may not be available.
If you want more fantastic Chrome apps and extensions, check out TCEA’s recommended list (available to members only). Divided by subject area and then topic, the list includes all of the resources you could hope for related to Chromebooks.
This blog was updated with new information on February 1, 2017.