Top 10 Chrome extensions every school communicator needs

As much time as I spend in front of my browser, I’m always on the lookout for extensions to help me customize my browsing. They save me time and make me more organized. You should look into using these extensions too, for these little gems can make you and your fellow school communicators more productive.

I recently wrote a blog article for SchneiderB Media detailing my take on the Best Google Chrome Extensions for Online Marketers. For the purposes of SchoolNow Academy blog, I’ve narrowed that list some, focusing on the top 10 Chrome free extensions that can make any school communicator’s life easier.

I focused on Google’s Chrome browser because it’s by far the most popular browser being used today, given Google’s dominance in all things web. It also allows you to grab as many extensions as you like, enabling you to tailor your browsing experience as much as you’d like. 

To add these or any extension, simply go to the Chrome Web Store store, search for the extension name, then click the ‘Add to Chrome’ button.

Here’s my top 10:

1. Awesome Screenshot

With Awesome Screenshot you can grab all or any part of a web page, add comments, annotations, blur out sensitive portions and upload the file with one click. It works for video as well.

2. Boomerang for Calendar

This is about the smartest calendar assistant going. In just one email, you can completely schedule meeting. Your meeting will be automatically added to all attendees’ calendars using one simple email.

3. Boomerang for Gmail

This email productivity tool is an extension that enables you to schedule your emails to send later, track responses, and use AI to improve your email writing. You can schedule email to be sent even when you’re not online, and set up reminders.

4. Check My Links

Check My Links is a link checker that examines all the links on your webpages and identifies the broken links. The more links you have embedded in your pages, the more you need this extension. This is a great tool for any webmaster or content manager.

5. Evernote

This extension helps you keep track of notes, documents, audio clips and images and access them from any of your devices. Like Pocket, you can clip content from the web, then make searchable notes and reminders.

6. Grammarly

Grammarly automatically checks spelling and grammar and makes suggested changes as you write all your online communications. Anything you type – documents, emails, presentations, messages, social media posts– will have to pass through the rigorous word warden that is Grammarly.

7. Lastpass

If you have the same frustration that I had in keeping track of your credentials for the many websites requiring a login, here’s how to eliminate it. No more need to remember your usernames and passwords. Save it Lastpass is secure password manager that remembers them all for you.

8. Pocket

Pocket lets you save a web page, video or article from any site or app. This extension formats the content into tidy reading lists that can be easily viewed later from any device. You can add tags to your articles and customize the viewing format, eliminating the need to add yet another bookmark to your menu.

9. The Great Suspender

If your computer desktop is anything like mine, you have multiple browsers and tabs open, hidden and some buried deep. This extension ‘suspends’ in the ones you haven’t used, freeing up memory and CPU.

10. WAVE

This free extension was developed by the authority on all things web (WebAIM.org) to evaluate website accessibility. All school websites need to be ADA compliance and barrier-free to people with disabilities. This tool helps you analyze where the issues are on your site.

So what are you waiting for? Head to the Chrome Web Store, grab these free extensions, and start being more productive.

Do you have any favorite extensions of your own?