Google’s Chrome is rapidly becoming the most popular browser used worldwide, recently overtaking Firefoxin global market share. If you’re a Chrome user and a WordPress lover, we’ve got some goodies for you. Below you will find a collection of extensions that allow you integrate your browser with WordPress in unique ways. Add a few new ones to your browser for a quick productivity boost.

13 Chrome Extensions for WordPress Lovers.

On April 11th Google launched a new daily puzzle to help teachers and students learn how to search more effectively.

AGoogleADay.com presents an ever-changing search challenge that exercises your internet search skills, and if you get stumped, there’s a solution path just one click away to show you how to solve the problem.  In the first two weeks, AGoogleADay.com has had more than 300K visitors, all coming to learn what’s possible on Google, challenge their Google-Fu, and learn a bit more about what can be done to improve your search skills.  As the Official Google blog post points out, it’s the first game where using Google isn’t prohibited, but required! Try it out at: http://www.AGoogleADay.com

I’ve got Google Wave invites to give away to the first eight (8) educators who comment on this post! (Please include your school or how you are involved with education in your comment.)

What is Google Wave?  Watch below to get an idea:

Click here to view the embedded video.

While Wave is still very much beta and makes my head spin thinking about it, I am using it everyday and can see to potential for learning.  I am even including this in my PIP as a PLN.

Please be patient waiting for your invite.  As Goolge states, “Invitations will not be sent immediately. We have a lot of stamps to lick.”

Happy waving!

Just wanted to share a VERY brief “Intro to Google” class I presented at the public library last week.  Enjoy.

http://www.slideshare.net/mjelson/intro-to-google

[slideshare id=2511275&doc=introtogoogle-091116101340-phpapp02]

For students and teachers, the Google Docs collection provides a streamlined, collaborative solution to writing papers, organizing presentations and putting together spreadsheets and reports. But besides the basic features, there are lots of little tricks and hacks you can use to make your Google Docs experience even more productive. Here are 100 great tips for using the documents, presentations and spreadsheets in Google Docs.

100 Great Google Docs Tips for Students & Educators | AccreditedOnlineColleges.org.

Did you know that Google Earth Pro is *FREE* if you are an educator? Yep! Basically, all you have to do is download the PRO trial version at http://earth.google.com and then follow these instructions, direct from Google:

Our program involves outreach and distribution of Google Earth Pro to qualified educators affiliated with (employed by) lower, middle, and upper grade schools, accredited community and four year colleges, universities and graduate schools, selected vocational training programs, certain education oriented NGOs, public access museums, and academic libraries.

This wide distribution of Google Earth Pro is provided for one full year as a means to increase the use of Google Earth in core curricula.

In return, we ask for your yearly contribution to one of two forums facilitated by the Google Earth Community: http://groups.google.com/group/google-geo-education/topics (geared towards K-12) and/or http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php/Cat/0. There, you will be joined by other educators seeking collaborative opportunities with their peers for the benefit of students. Whether it be information in the form of a lesson plan, detailed testimony outlining your successes, or questions for fellow teachers, these contributions will foster incentives for creativity and innovation which that can ultimately evolve into Google Earth enhancements geared specifically toward curriculum development.

To apply, please return your updated application to GEEC@google.com. Should your organization qualify you will receive notification via email with detailed instructions on setting up your account and contact information for Google online tech support.

Information required:

1.Your name (key contact person)
2.Organization / Institution
3.A brief description of the Institution / Organization
4.Full mailing address
5.Telephone number
6.User name (complete email address that will be assigned to the license key)
7.Institution’s web address
8.Your Institution’s Tax ID (if applicable)
9.Your Institution’s 501©3 number (US only, if applicable)
10.A description of the intended application including grade level(s), discipline(s) or subject.
11.What features in Google Earth Pro are important to you and how do you wish to use them in your classroom.
12.Number of computers you are requesting to download this software on.
13.Prior license key information [if a renewal].
14.URL or description of contribution to Google Earth Community or Google for Educators message boards
We look forward to working with you to create a one-of-a-kind, global resource for educators.

Google Earth Education
http://www.google.com/educators/geo.html

Google Moderator makes it easy to gather and prioritize questions or opinions on any topic from a group of people.

Please take a moment to participate in the following: “What is your most pressing question about technology in our district?”

You need to have a Google Apps account to use this feature. You will need to sign in with your sapublicschools.com account after you click the above link.

If you are interested in an account, please fill out the form here.

Keeping group discussions or Q&A sessions focused on important topics can be difficult. Google Moderator will help keep things on track by allowing users to both suggest questions and vote on others’ questions.

Everyone has a chance to propose questions and the questions are collected in one place. Users can individually vote up or down on the questions they feel strongly about. Questions can then be addressed in popularity order, providing the best chance to answer the questions that the audience cares the most about.

It is flexible enough to be suitable for anything from a lecture to a team meeting or as a research tool to gather popularity-ranked feedback.

Google Moderator makes it easy to gather and prioritize questions or opinions on any topic from a group of people.

Please take a moment to participate in the following: “What is your most pressing question about technology in our district?”

You need to have a Google Apps account to use this feature. You will need to sign in with your sapublicschools.com account after you click the above link.

If you are interested in an account, please fill out the form here.

Keeping group discussions or Q&A sessions focused on important topics can be difficult. Google Moderator will help keep things on track by allowing users to both suggest questions and vote on others’ questions.

Everyone has a chance to propose questions and the questions are collected in one place. Users can individually vote up or down on the questions they feel strongly about. Questions can then be addressed in popularity order, providing the best chance to answer the questions that the audience cares the most about.

It is flexible enough to be suitable for anything from a lecture to a team meeting or as a research tool to gather popularity-ranked feedback.

On Tuesday, the company unveiled Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook. With it, users don’t have to switch from the familiar Microsoft Outlook interface for calendar, contacts, and e-mail functions. They can continue to use Outlook while connecting directly to Google’s servers. It eliminates the need for an Exchange mail server to be in the loop.

Google Unveils Potential Exchange Killer — Campus Technology.

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• Google tool targets Microsoft Outlook users (money.cnn.com)
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• Google plots Exchange escape with Outlook plug-in (news.cnet.com)
• Google Takes Another Swipe At Microsoft. Enterprise Apps Now Sync With Outlook. (techcrunch.com)

Google Squared