April 25, 2014 - 'Add-On' to Your Google Know How

Happy Sunny Friday everyone!!

This week I would like to share a new Google tool which is meant to be used in conjunction with Google Docs and Sheets on the UGCloud.  You may have noticed the ‘Add-Ons’ in the tool bar within the Google Docs page and wondered about its use (see image).

Similar to Google Extensions (Read&Write, Google Dictionary, etc.), Add-Ons improve ease of use and increase the possibilities linked to the documents you (and your students) can create.  Some ideal add-ons to begin with include:

Openclipart- access to over 50 000 clip art images while working in a Google Doc

Easybib – have a bibliography created for you in APA, MLA or Chicago style by pasting in a book ISBN, title or web address into the search box

Table of contents – creates a table of contents right in your document for you

Thesaurus - an in-document thesaurus to aid in word choice and selection

To download an add-on, click on "Add-ons" in the top menu bar and select "Get add-ons."

A pop-up window will open with a variety of add-ons to choose from. You can search out the preferred add-on by typing in the search box or simply browse for something that catches your eye.

 Once you find the one you wish to install, you can either hover over it and then click on ‘free’ or click on it for more information, and then tap ‘free’ to download it to your account.  A final window will appear asking for permission to access your information; simply click ‘Accept’ and the add-on will be available to you immediately in your document or spreadsheet.

To access your add-ons while working within the document, simply click on the ‘add-ons’ drop down in the tool bar and select the add-on you wish to use.  The add-on will open a communication box on the right and side of your document where you can utilize its capabilities and resources.   

Add-ons you no longer feel as desired can be removed by clicking on the add-on drop down menu and selecting ‘manage add-ons’.  Then click on the ‘manage’ box linked to the add-on you wish to have removed and when the drop down menu appears selecting the ‘remove’ option.

I have found many of these tools to be extremely useful (especially Easybib!) and hope that you too can benefit from them.  Please give them a try and let me know if you have found any others that need to be shared 

Have a great weekend!

Stace