{"id":11393,"date":"2017-01-03T09:34:43","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T13:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/?p=11393"},"modified":"2025-05-21T06:27:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T10:27:18","slug":"chrome-apps-and-extensions-for-differentiation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/chrome-apps-and-extensions-for-differentiation\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Google Chrome apps and extensions for learner support"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Support for visual, attention &amp; motor control challenges<\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-11398\" src=\"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/tool_tutorial.jpg\" alt=\"Chrome apps and extensions for differentiation\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/>Remember training Dragon Dictation to recognize your student&#8217;s\u00a0voice? That technology was pretty profound in 2004, but the options now to support differentiation for learners will blow your mind. What\u2019s better is that we don\u2019t have to offer these technologies to identified students. Any student (or adult!) can use these apps and extensions if they are helpful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s explore some FREE Google Chrome apps and extensions that support differentiation for a variety of learners. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3>5 Chrome apps and extension for learner support<\/h3>\n<h3>1. Speak It!<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180903034538\/https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/speakit\/pgeolalilifpodheeocdmbhehgnkkbak?hl=en-US\">SpeakIt! <\/a>reads selected text from a web browser:<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\">\n<div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_71057\"  width=\"525\" height=\"295\"  data-origwidth=\"525\" data-origheight=\"295\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GFj2XdZYrv8?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=1&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"YouTube player\"  src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/GFj2XdZYrv8\/maxresdefault.jpg\"  \/><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With language auto-detection for 50 languages.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>2. Grammarly<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/grammarly-for-chrome\/kbfnbcaeplbcioakkpcpgfkobkghlhen?hl=en\">Grammarly&#8217;s free writing app<\/a> provides support for improving grammar as you type. It checks basic grammar, such as article, tense and subject agreement. It also has a word choice mode, suggesting synonyms to help students improve their vocabulary. Adding the Grammarly extension to Chrome allows students to use the tool with Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Tumblr.\u00a0 No support for Google Drive and Docs, though&#8230; yet.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/grammarly-for-chrome\/kbfnbcaeplbcioakkpcpgfkobkghlhen?hl=en-UShttp:\/\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11402 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grammarly.jpg\" alt=\"Chrome apps and extensions for learner support\" width=\"644\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grammarly.jpg 644w, https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grammarly-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grammarly-619x384.jpg 619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Still, the app provides students with weekly emails tracking their performance and providing insights into areas of improvement. Great metrics to use to track student performance!<\/p>\n<h3>3. Google Type with your voice<\/h3>\n<p>Does what it says on the tin: this Chrome extension allows you to type and edit in Google Docs via voice command. Indispensible for students with motion-related or fine motor-control challenges.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I found that the hardest part of Google Type was just turning the mic on, so here&#8217;s a screencast of how to get started typing with your voice using Google Docs:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\">\n<div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_70511\"  width=\"525\" height=\"295\"  data-origwidth=\"525\" data-origheight=\"295\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jXipuk8990k?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=1&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"How to - Type with voice Google\"  src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/jXipuk8990k\/maxresdefault.jpg\"  \/><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>4. Announcify<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/category\/extensions?hl=en\">Announcify <\/a>reads out loud every website you want. It can also be a powerful tool in the arsenal of students who could use audio reinforcement as they read, or for students with visual challenges.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\">\n<div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_34967\"  width=\"525\" height=\"295\"  data-origwidth=\"525\" data-origheight=\"295\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VF5QENZ89MI?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=1&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"Announcify Your Web\"  src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/VF5QENZ89MI\/maxresdefault.jpg\"  \/><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>5. Calmly Writer <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For students struggling with attention and focusing challenges, <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/calmly-writer\/adhdlhedoenicbbncfckobjedmboleig?hl=en\">Calmly Writer can help remove distractions from a web interface<\/a> (such as a browser window) with a number of different options. It&#8217;s available in six languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Polish and Russian. Students can choose to have:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> nothing displayed except the title and text of what they&#8217;re working on;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li>a highlight area around one paragraph at a time, keeping them visually focused;<\/li>\n<li>white writing on a black background;<\/li>\n<li>or just a simplified set of formatting tools surrounding the text.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/calmly-writer\/adhdlhedoenicbbncfckobjedmboleig?hl=en\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11400 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/focus.jpg\" alt=\"chrome apps and extensions for learner support\" width=\"638\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/focus.jpg 638w, https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/focus-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/focus-619x391.jpg 619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Teachers or paraprofessionals can help guide students through choosing a setting to lock the app on, or making the settings customizable depending on the current classroom situation.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These quick apps and extensions should be in every teacher\u2019s toolbox to share with students.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What are some other Chrome extensions do you use to support students?<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Support for visual, attention &amp; motor control challenges Remember training Dragon Dictation to recognize your student&#8217;s\u00a0voice? That technology was pretty profound in 2004, but the options now to support differentiation for learners will blow your mind. What\u2019s better is that we don\u2019t have to offer these technologies to identified students. Any student (or adult!) can &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/chrome-apps-and-extensions-for-differentiation\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;5 Google Chrome apps and extensions for learner support&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[582,583,585,584,586],"class_list":["post-11393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-announcify","tag-calmly-writer","tag-google-type-with-your-voice","tag-grammarly","tag-speakit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11393"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31282,"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11393\/revisions\/31282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}