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These Tools Can Help You Save Time on Routine Tasks

Throughout the course of the school year there are some tasks that we all have to do even if we don’t always enjoy doing them. If we can get those tasks done a bit more efficiently, we’ll have more time for the fun parts of teaching or just have more time for friends and family outside of school obligations. So as the new school year starts take a look at the following tools that can help you save time on routine tasks this year.

Efficiently reply to email

Auto Text Expander for Google Chrome is a convenient Chrome extension that enables you to create keyboard shortcuts for phrases that you frequently use in emails. As you can see in the video embedded below, you can set a keyword that when typed will fill the body of your email with programmed text. This is a convenient tool to use if you find yourself frequently replying to the same type of questions in your email.

Use your voice to comment on documents

Kaizena is a free tool that enables you to record voice comments on Google Documents instead of writing comments. But the part of Kaizena that really stands out is the option to link your comments to a lesson that you have stored in your Kaizena account. For example, you could highlight a misuse of “their” or “there” in a student’s document and then link that highlight to a lesson about homonyms.

Create and send videos from your inbox

If you’re the person who everyone emails for help with their tech problems, you need to try Loom. You can launch Loom’s screen recorder directly from your inbox. Not only can you launch it from your inbox you can also add your recording into any email that you are sending. As I explain and demonstrate in this video, Loom makes it easy to quickly send a screencast to a colleague who emails you to ask for tech help.

These were last week’s most popular posts on FreeTech4Teachers.com:
1. Free iPad Apps for Creating Animated Movies
2. 10 Overlooked Google Docs Features
3. Use Flipgrid to Publish Instructional Videos
4. 7 Ways to Make Animated GIFs
5. Scratch 3.0 and a New Creative Computing Curriculum Guide
6. A Short Guide to Getting Started With Google Drive
7. Try Using Icebreaker Tags and New Staff Orientation

Only Three Days Left!
I only have three days left in my 2018 workshop calendar. If you would like to have me lead a professional development day at your school in November or December, please get in touch ASAP. I can be reached at richardbyrne (at) freetech4teachers.com – more information is available here.