5 Awesome Google+ Chrome Extensions To Optimize Google+

Google+ is one of the biggest social media networks, and no doubt it offers great features to connect and share with your friends. If you are an avid Google+ user, then you must be looking to get more from Google+. If so, then you should try some Chrome extensions that are specifically made for Google+ to get the best experience.

To help you get more from Google+, we have created a list of 5 best Chrome extensions for Google+ that will surely enhance your Google+ experience.

1. Surplus

An easy to use Chrome extension for Google+ that allows you to use most of Google+ important features right from the extension button. Surplus lets you post content on your Google+ profile right from its popup menu and you can also respond to other people from here. You can use multiple Google accounts at the same time, and Surplus will let you switch between them with a single click.

Furthermore, it also packs a punch by offering desktop notifications and custom notifications sounds to keep you updated without needing to check Google+ every few minutes.

2. Replies and more for Google+

This extension adds few handy features to your Google+ account to optimize your experience. It enables you to directly reply to the author of the posts and also easily mention other users. Some of its other tweaks include, ability to see unread messages, easily mute posts, get additional share buttons and control over desktop notifications.

3. Helper for Google+

Another Google+ Chrome extension that adds multiple extra features to enrich your experience. Helper for Google+ adds additional share buttons to share your posts over twitter and Facebook right from the Google+ interface. Furthermore, it comes with a separate Google+ bookmark manager to save and manage posts you like.

Other things you can do include the ability to translate posts (using Google Translator), custom notifications, combine all public +1 posts in one place, add hashtags and more.

4. CircleCount

This is an astonishingly helpful extension if you want to get complete stats of a Google+ user in one place. Just visit any Google+ user’s profile and click on the CircleCount button. It will search and show all important stats, including total +1s, follower history over a chart and total comments and reshares. Additionally, CircleCount also offers features to control comments, such as sort comments using different factors or highlight your name in comments.

5. Do Share

A must have extension if you share and post a lot. Do Share offers amazing features to make it easier to post, including ability to schedule posts, put posts in draft, a built-in text editor with minimal distractions and ability to share posts right from notifications and stream. It also comes with ability to autocomplete hashtags and share posts with communities, circles, mentions and more with a single click.

Wrap Up

These extensions should help enrich your Google+ experience and make it easier to connect with your friends and followers. You should give Surplus and Helper for Google+ a try as they add some handy features to Google+ that you will surely love. And CircleCount is perfect for you if you depend on research.

The post 5 Awesome Google+ Chrome Extensions To Optimize Google+ appeared first on Google Tricks Blog.

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The power of Hour of Code with Google CS First

Editor’s Note: Next week kicks off #CSEdWeek, the 8th annual celebration of Computer Science Education. Today we’re looking back at an inspiring story from last year’s CSEdWeek — a Los Angeles school that kickstarted a movement to bring computer science education to students after participating in a CSFirst activity. Stay tuned to hear more #CSEdWeek announcements next week. And if you have a great story to share with us about CS First in your district or school, we’d love to hear! Please share with us on Twitter or in our CS First Google+ Community.

Lynwood Unified School District is south of Los Angeles, nestled among Watts, Compton and Downey. William Gideon, LUSD’s director of research and evaluation and a former engineer, has been working towards bringing more educational resources to the district. He recognized the need for more computer science (CS) resources in the school system, yet wanted to be strategic about the programs he brought to Lynwood.

Last year, while Mr. Gideon attended the California STEM Symposium, he discovered Google CS First, a program that provides free CS curriculum for classroom and after-school programs. Looking back on that time, he said:  “I was immediately skeptical because there have been many times before when I’ve heard corporate America claim to support education, but they really didn't. It was all talk, no action or true support.”

Despite his misgivings, Mr. Gideon spoke with the Google team and found out more information about the resources for students as well as teachers. They also told him more about Hour of Code, a one-hour coding tutorial designed for all ages. In the end, he was persuaded to try Hour of Code with LUSD’s elementary and middle schools.

LUSD had never participated in Hour of Code or CSEdweek before, so LUSD’s Technology Services jumped into action to ensure teachers had what they needed to do the activity in their classrooms. The district also tried to get local university students to help out, but when that proved impossible due to college exam schedules, they forged ahead. Says Mr. Gideon: “We were on our own. However, we didn’t let that stop us.”

Despite these challenges, the effort was a success. In fact, teachers, students and staff were so inspired and excited that the district leadership decided to implement the full CS First program for all schools in Lynwood. Within a few weeks, 18 teachers were up and running after learning the tool, resulting in 200 students participating in CS First in the spring of 2016.

Lynwood Unified School District’s success with Google CS First and Hour of Code helped kickstart more efforts to get students and teachers engaged with computer science, like digital learning coaches and summer clubs. This fall, they’ve added additional CS-focused resources for K-8 students, with programs like Tynker, Code.org, Osmo, Dash and Dot, and of course, CS First.

With technology support for students, no one stays behind. Shirley Giacoman LUSD Teacher

One year later, LUSD elementary/middle school students and teachers are excited and optimistic about STEM and CS. More than 1,200 LUSD students have coded for a total of 9,735 hours in 76 CS First Clubs. Students have access to 8,000 computers to share via Chromebook carts — up from zero just a year ago. And LUSD staff is getting ready for this year’s CSEdweek and the newest Hour of Code activity, Gumball’s Coding Adventure.

Lynwood has made huge strides in its CS education offerings… and it all started with just one Hour of Code. This CSEdWeek, we hope you’ll see for yourself what an Hour of Code can do. Learn more about Google’s CSEdWeek offerings on our website.

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Programming is Skill and not so hard to learn.

Clash of Clans Live Attack and War

Have a holly jolly time in Santa’s Village — now open

Santa’s elves are back at the North Pole working to make sure old Kris Kringle is ready for his journey around the world on December 24 — and that means Santa’s Village is now officially open. Each day until the sleigh takes off, we’ll unlock a new experience that’ll get even the biggest grinch into the holiday spirit.   

                                        

From sliding penguins to dancing elves, the residents of the North Pole are having the time of their lives, and now you can join in the merriment. This year you’ll find several new games in Santa’s Village, including four new ones only available on the Android app — including Present Quest, where you try your hand at recovering Santa’s misplaced gifts out in the real world.

                                     

Just in time for CSEdWeek this December 5 through 11, we’ll unwrap three coding games to help kids of all ages learn the basics of coding. In Code Boogie, for example, you can help Santa’s elves learn dance moves by combining patterns and creating sequences.

                                      

Within the gates of Santa’s Village, the new educator resource page is filled with lesson plans and educational games spanning subjects from computer science to geography. Teachers and parents can sort by category to easily find and download lesson plans for use in the classroom or at home.

                                    

Be on the lookout for more holiday cheer throughout the month, and don’t forget to return on December 23-24 (depending on your time zone) to track Santa’s journey around the world as he brings gifts and joy to people worldwide. Until then, make merry with the residents of the North Pole on web (desktop and mobile Android/iOS), Android app, Google Maps (desktop and mobile), Android TV and Chrome.  

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