Customised Technology Part II - Your Browser

I wrote a post last week on some web-based tools to help you tie a digital learning environment together and provide some structure and continuity to the things you can do in your classroom with technology.

Today we're going to look at getting the web browser on your computer set up so that it works like your digital butler, not like a fast-food drive-thru attendant.
By that, I mean your browser should remember the things you like, where you like to store things, and how to get you where you need to go, rather than being there simply to serve you in quick grabs.  Continuity, personalisation.

To get yourself started, I'd recommend picking a browser, and sticking with it.  If you're using Windows, Firefox or Chrome are both fast, reliable, secure, and have active collections of extensions to give you some extra tricks.  If you're using a Mac, Safari's an option for that list too.  I've missed Internet Explorer from that list because it simply doesn't measure up.

Personalise It!

Bookmarks & Shortcuts
Use the Bookmarks or Favourites Toolbar at the top of the browser!  If you've got it always visible, it can be a simple quick launch to the things you might need to visit regularly.  Things like your DoE Portal, YouTube, your online account spaces (if you're using something like Padlet, Canva, or an online bookmarking site like Bitly, Diigo, Delicious, or Annotary) all belong here, because you want to access them instantly and easily.  They're your online spaces.  Carve yourself a shortcut to them.

Buttons
Sometimes those shortcuts and links on your bookmarks toolbar can serve a functional purpose as well.  The online bookmarking tools all have toolbar buttons to help you add websites to your collection with one click.

An incredibly useful one is Viewpure's "Purify" button.  Drag it from Viewpure to your toolbar, open a video on YouTube then click the button.  It'll show your video without ads or related videos.

Leave it OPEN

Always Online.  A new tab is like clean window on the world, and you don't lose where you've been.

Ultimately, your tech should work for you, rather than the other way around.  Taking control & customising it helps you to really take the reins, turning it into a powerful digital assistant.