Teach with Tech

Are your bookmarks a chaotic mess? Is your Bookmark Bar so cluttered that you struggle to find the links you need? Do you have a mountain of open tabs (okay, maybe just 20, but still...)? If so, this guide is for you! Let’s walk through how to organize your Bookmark Bar and explore some tips, tricks, and extensions to keep everything streamlined.

Prioritize Your Bookmarks

Start by identifying the websites and digital documents you access most often. These should be the ones that live on your Bookmark Bar for quick and easy access. Remove any links you rarely use to declutter the space (do this by right clicking and selecting delete to completely remove it or edit to change it's location).

To free up space, remove the text labels from your bookmarks—this allows you to fit more links while keeping a clean, organized look. Here’s how:

1. Right-click on a bookmark icon.
2. Select Edit from the menu.
3. Delete the text in the Name field.
4. Click Save—your bookmark will now appear as just an icon.
   
   

With this simple trick, you can fit more links on your Bookmark Bar while maintaining a neat and efficient workspace.

Organizing the Bookmark Bar is just the first step. There are several other ways to organize and tame your web browser. Below you will see two tools, a Chrome Extension (OneTab) and Chrome Tab Groups.

Utilize Tab Groups

You can organize your tabs in Chrome using Tab Groups, which automatically sync across devices. Right-click a tab, select "Add tab to group," and choose a new or existing group. Customize groups by naming them, changing colors, adding or removing tabs, or closing groups (which can be reopened from the bookmarks bar or menu). To manage settings, go to Appearance in Chrome settings to show or pin tab groups for easy access.

Add the OneTab Extension

OneTab is a Chrome Extension that takes all open tabs and puts them onto a dated list- that will then live pinned to the left of your open tabs until you choose to open or permanently close them. Once installed- using is easy, simply click on the extension puzzle icon on the right side of your address bar and select OneTab from the list.

Creating presentations can be time-consuming, and while AI can assist, choosing the right tool can be challenging. Most AI programs don’t generate fully designed slides but instead provide content outlines and image descriptions, leaving much of the work still in your hands. Understanding how different AI tools approach presentation creation can help you find the best fit for your needs. I've looked at three AI programs that do create the slides for you. To compare available tools, I tested them using a specific prompt designed for a fifth-grade science lesson.

AI Prompt:
Create a presentation for a fifth-grade science lesson on Earth's Systems (5.ESS2.1). The lesson should introduce the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, describing how they interact. The presentation should be structured for a 45-minute lesson and include clear explanations, engaging visuals, and age-appropriate language.

The Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network (OTREN,) in conjunction with an EdTech grant from the Oregon Department of Education, will be hosting two EdTech Huddle Events for regional educators. We hope you will join us for this engaging professional development event.

What: The day will include three sessions focused on practical application and classroom use of Canva, Google Suites, and generative AI. Lunch, sub, and mileage reimbursements are available to your district.

Why: Discover practical tools and strategies to enhance student engagement and streamline your teaching. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with peers, gain valuable resources, and bring innovative technology practices back to your classroom to make learning more impactful.

Who: The EdTech Huddle is for all educators in the OTREN region who want to expand their knowledge and use of educational technology. Especially those who use technology in the classroom, actively work to integrate technology into their lessons and curriculum, and are willing to share/model instructional tech to others in their schools and districts.

When: 10:00am to 2:00pm

• Secondary Educators: Tuesday, February 25
• Elementary Educators: Wednesday, February 26

Where: Pendleton IMESD Building, 2001 SW Nye Ave, Pendleton, OR 97801

Spots are limited- register today!

This is a monthly newsletter from the Instructional Services Department of the IMESD. It includes current issues and concerns of tech (within the realms of education), tips and tricks, resources, and suggestions.

If you would like more information EdTech tools, resources, or training, please contact:

Ayla Olson

Instructional Coach

Email: ayla.olson@imesd.k12.or.us

Phone: 541-966-4657

Website: sites.google.com/imesdapps.org/instructional-coaching