Did you know that TCEA has been living it up in the Google Workspace since way back in 2010? One of the best things about working in the Google ecospace throughout those years has been exploring and using Add-ons. These third-party applications extend the functionality of your Google apps. Just know this blog is going to cover ONE WHOLE ADD-ON — Stickity – an add-on originally built for Google Slides.
What is an Add-on?
Google Add-ons are customized applications that extend the functionality of Google Workspace applications, allowing users to enhance their productivity and streamline workflows. These add-ons can be integrated into various Google Workspace apps, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Forms, Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.
Introducing the Creator
I am always excited to share stories about creators of handy tools for education. The creator of Stickity is Lauren Heil, a former graphic designer turned educator who developed an innovative add-on for Google. Lauren’s journey to creating Stickity began with a career shift from graphic design to education. After working as an art director and designer for high-profile clients, she sought a more fulfilling path. A move to Colorado led her to substitute teaching, igniting a passion for education that prompted her to become a full-time digital arts and computer science teacher.
In the classroom, Lauren applied her design skills to create visual aids that helped students, particularly multilingual learners and those with IEPs, understand complex concepts more easily. The effectiveness of these graphics sparked interest from other teachers, inspiring Lauren to develop Stickity during her participation in the Google Innovator Program’s Sweden 2019 cohort. Launched in March 2023, Stickity is now an accessibility-focused add-on for Google Docs and Slides, used in over 60 countries. Lauren manages all aspects of Stickity herself, driven by her passion for enhancing classroom experiences globally.
Not Just a Pretty Sticker
According to Lauren, “The main job of these graphics were to aid in accessibility, to make it easy for any student to navigate classwork and understand what they needed to do. I based each sticker design on the most common IEP accommodations, mandatory ELL supports, UDL standards, and WCAG 2.0 guidelines. Each sticker is inserted with alt text for anyone using a screen reader. The colors all meet appropriate contrast ratio so that they’re visible to anyone with low vision. The white outline is what makes it look like a “sticker”, but it’s actually very intentional — so that they remain visible on any background color.
Stickers “show and tell” by animating or depicting the meaning of the sticker in addition to whatever the text says, a huge support for MLL and students with various disabilities. All this to say, this isn’t just a tool to “decorate” your slides/docs with. It’s meant to truly make the student learning experience something where they feel successful in what they’re trying to accomplish that day. It lightens the cognitive load of the “how” so that students can get straight to the “what” of class. It also saves teachers time in crafting that experience for their students.”
Stickity: Features and Benefits
The tool promises to:
- Remove learning barriers
- Enhance classroom communication
- Support differentiated instruction
By integrating digital stickers into commonly used platforms, Stickity aims to improve student comprehension and engagement. Heil’s creation reflects her commitment to leveraging technology and design to create more inclusive and effective learning experiences.
Availability and Pricing
Paid: Individual, School, and District plans
Availability: Stickity was first released as a Google Slides Add-on but is now available in Docs, Sheets, and Forms.
Organization: The digital stickers are organized into ten basic categories, usually with a bonus seasonal sticker category. These categories offer many free stickers, while Stickity Pro stickers are identified by an orange star emblem.
Pricing: Free of charge with paid features
Stickity showcases the power of combining design expertise with educational insight to create user-friendly, inclusive tools for the digital classroom. I want to personally thank Lauren for her innovative contribution to education, which helps teachers enhance their materials and support diverse student needs.