Create custom backgrounds for Google Slides

Each content slide in the example below (from a classroom project) demonstrates a different background, a Wordart Title, the name of the program used to create it, a link to the program used to create it and a YouTube demo clip of how it was created.

Motivate students through Blog Stats

If you use a Blog, chances are there are some stats available which you might find surprising (and which you can use to motivate your students and to encourage them to consider the quality of their work). For example, here's how Blogger displays them, and I can tell my students that their example works posted on our classroom Blog are visible by a shocking number (to me anyway!) of guests from other countries (top image month view, bottom image all-time). 

Previous month:

All-time:

Add a map link to your Calendar Event

If you enter the coordinates of an event on your calendar in the ‘Where’ window, Google will automatically generate a map link for viewers to click on to get directions to the event

Use ColorZilla for custom color projects

 

• Link to ColorZilla extension: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/colorzilla/bhlhnicpbhignbdhedgjhgdocnmhomnp?hl=en-US
  
• Colorschemedesigner: http://colorschemedesigner.com/
  
• Watch the following video demo used in a recent classroom assignment: How2 select custom colors for any project (no audio) - YouTube

Expand short URLs before you click

Here’s the explanation from the extension install page:

LongURL replace shortened links using LongURL API.
LongURL improves speed, usability and security!
340 services supported (goo.gl, bit.ly, tinyurl.com, ...)

Tired of shortened URL ? Want to see twitter with real hypertext links ? Serious about your online security ? This script is for you !


How to use it ?
Simply browse web pages. When you visit a new web page, this script contact the LongURL API servers for shortened URL found in the page, and modify the links so that shortened url disappear. There is several options you can play with, n'joy.
Please notice the URL that appears in the task bar when you move your mouse over the link, or in the tooltip that appears.
This way you know where you'll get if you click the link ;)

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/longurl/oldnehmjgfcannmkgkojafngdkhfkdpd