Google Chrome

Google ChromeGet it Here

IF you are not using Google Chrome you should check it out.  It is the only browser that I use, whether I am using MacBook or PC iPad or Android.  Chrome works best on desktops/laptops, although not all features are avalable on mobile devices I still prefer it over other browsers.  The top reasons why I love Google Chrome

1.  It won't crash (at least as much) when using Google and Google based stuff
2. Google and Google based stuff are awesome and prolific
3. Once you are signed into Google you are signed into YouTube, Gmail, Drive, and Google Classrooms
4. Google Chrome has great extensions and apps. (see below for examples)
5. I know where things are when they download.  Other browsers seem to hide my files but with Chrome the download is right their at the bottom of the screen and in my downloads file. 
6. I love the bookmark bar at the top.  Right there under the address bar are my top 10 or so bookmarks.  I can change and adjust these as needed. 

Today I want to tell you about my three favorite Google Apps/Extensions for Art Teacher. 


1. Google Art Project Chrome App and Website
Get The App Here or go to
https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/home 

This is by far the coolest thing I have found on the web in a long time.  If you haven't discovered and explored this website do so, like right now!  There are many features and it is hard to know where to start. My personal favorite feature is the Museum View.  If you have every wanted to explore the great museums of the world but your teacher salary makes this a distant dream, this site is for you.  Click on Collection and then on Museum View and scroll through the hundreds of virtual museums.  Or type in the museum you want to visit like Musée d’Orsay and experience the beauty of Paris' great impressionist museum. 

Another feature is the Wonders of the World where you can walk through places like the Palace of Versailles, the Taj Mahal or the Banks of the Seine River in Paris.  Whether your students have their own devices, or there is only one computer with projector in the classroom, this is a great way to have a virtual field trip.

The best thing about this site is the Art.  Thousands of works of art have been digitally archived at 7,000 Megapixals!  This means you can zoom in like never before.  Discover details you've never noticed and enjoy it as if you were truly there.  Click on the video to see how to use Google Art Project.

2. QuickMark Extension
Get it Here

This is an extension that will sit at the top of your browser to the right of you address bar.  What it allows you to do is, when you right-click on any website it makes an option to encode the website with a QR code.  You can then save this as an image and have a QR code for any website. I have used QR codes is to encode every students Artsonia page and then save the code as an image with the students name as the file name.  After I use is the Google Chrome Extension "QuickMark QR Code Extension" I can then print off a "contact sheet" of these jpeg files which includes the file name.  So essentially it is a name tag and a QR code.  Then these name tags are used for the artwork displayed at Open House and for the District Art Show.  Friends and family viewing the artwork can scan the QR code and see all the artwork the child has ever done in art, leave a positive comment, and become an Fan Club member of that artist.  For those of you whose student each have a device like a iPad this is a great quick way to direct them to any website (so much easier than trying to type in a URL). Click on the video to learn more about Artsonia.com

3.  Pin It
Get it Here

This is an extension will also will sit at the top of your browser to the right of you address bar.  When you come across a great website that you want to pin onto your Pintrest account click the P extension and create a pop-up that allows you to Pin the webpage onto the Pintrest board of your choice.
What is Pintrest?  Click on the video.