Companies hiring in July

<br /><div style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="" class="media-image" height="200" src="http://artstg.icbdr.com/sites/all/files/styles/large/public/Need%20a%20job_0.jpg" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 3px;" typeof="foaf:Image" width="200" />As of May, <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.a.htm" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">5.4 million people were experiencing long-term unemployment</a>*. If you were to ask any one of them to describe the job market, they probably wouldn't have many positive things to say.</div><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -30px; text-align: left;"><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #000066; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">By Debra Auerbach, CareerBuilder Writer</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Yet a <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=6%2f27%2f2012&sc_cmp1=cb_pr705_&siteid=cbpr&id=pr705&ed=12%2f31%2f2012" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">new CareerBuilder Talent Crunch survey</a> found that 38 percent of employers currently have open positions for which they can't find qualified candidates. Why the discrepancy? Yes, jobs are available, but many of those jobs are in highly skilled fields, and there aren't enough workers with the right credentials to fill those roles.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">It's not like job seekers aren't trying; 77 percent of job seekers surveyed said they'd be willing to take a job in a different field than the one in which they currently work, and 64 percent knowingly apply for positions for which they don't possess the required skills.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Luckily, many companies are taking measures to close the skills gap. According to the study, half of employers of all sizes are planning to hire workers who don't have experience in their particular field or industry and train them. Forty-one percent of companies reported that they currently have programs in place to help alleviate the skills gap, including on-the-job training, mentoring, sending employees back to school and other efforts.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">"Prolonged vacancies can result in lower-quality work, lower sales and morale and can cause a delay in creating other related positions within the organization," says Matt Ferguson, CEO of<a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">CareerBuilder</a>. "Fortunately, we see more companies taking matters into their own hands and putting programs in place to retrain and transition workers into their industries or fields."</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">If you're a job seeker who is willing to change fields, or even if you're not, the 15 companies listed below have jobs available today. The companies cover a variety of industries, and the positions vary by level, type and experience. Openings are available across the country, so if you're one of the 54 percent from the survey who would be willing to relocate to a new city or state for a job, you have a lot of options.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Here are 15 companies hiring in July:</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>1. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/aarons/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Aaron's</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry:</strong> Furniture<br /><strong>Sample job titles:</strong> Customer service, manager in training<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Nationwide</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>2. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/aerojet/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Aerojet</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Aerospace and engineering<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Senior project engineering, manager, estimating and pricing, reliability and safety engineer<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Sacramento; Redmond, Wash.; Huntsville, Ala.; Camden, Ark.; Washington, D.C.; Socorro, N.M.; Clearfield, Utah; Gainesville, Va.; Culpeper, Va.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>3. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/bloomin+brands/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Bloomin' Brands</strong></a> (operates Outback Steakhouse, Flemings, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba's and Roy's)<br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Hospitality/restaurant<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Hourly front of the house, hourly back of the house, restaurant manager<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Nationwide</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>4. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/captech+consulting/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>CapTech Consulting</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Information technology<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Java developer, IT project manager, business systems analyst, data warehouse architect, business objects architect, ETL database developer<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Nationwide</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>5. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/cynergies+solutions+group/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Cynergies Solutions Group</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Information technology staffing<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Project manager, business analyst, application developer, database administrator, system administrator/engineer, quality assurance analyst, data warehousing consultant<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Cleveland; Columbus; Cincinnati; Pittsburgh; Chicago; Minneapolis; Atlanta; Colorado Springs; Dayton, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Raleigh, N.C.; Louisville, Ky.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>6. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/devereux+foundation/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Devereux Foundation</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Behavioral health<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Development director, direct support professional, teacher's assistant, residential counselor<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Arizona, Colorado</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>7. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/farmers+insurance/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Farmers Insurance</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry:</strong> Insurance<br /><strong>Sample job titles:</strong> Insurance sales agent, retail agency program<br /><strong>Location:</strong> New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>8. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/global+technology+associates/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>GTA Professional Staffing</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Engineering staffing firm<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Design release engineer, engineering manager, Catia V5 designer<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Detroit metro area</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>9. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/mv+transportation/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>MV Transportation Inc.</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Passenger transportation contracting<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Safety manager, safety trainer, fleet maintenance manager, general manager, mechanic, fleet technician, driver<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Nationwide</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>10. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/one+touch+direct/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>One Touch Direct</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Professional services/call center<br /><strong>Sample job title: </strong>Inside sales representative<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Tampa</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>11. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/onewest+bank/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Onewest Bank</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Finance<br /><strong>Sample job titles:</strong> Manager, analyst, auditor, teller<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Nationwide</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>12. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/pacific+pulmonary+services/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Pacific Pulmonary Services</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Respiratory services, customer service<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Outside sales representative, field customer service representative, driver -- medical equipment, respiratory therapist/sales assistant, district sales manager -- health care<br /><strong>Location: </strong>California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>13. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/riverside+research/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Riverside research</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Government defense<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Linux kernel developer, IT specialist, subcontract administrator, materials physicist<br /><strong>Location: </strong>New York City; Washington, D.C.; Dayton, Ohio; Boston; Champaign, Ill.; Rosslyn, Va.; Augusta, Ga.; Springfield, Va.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>14. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/suddenlink/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Suddenlink</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Telecommunications<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Direct sales, broadband technician, customer service representative, engineer, information technology professional<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Arkansas, Arizona, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><strong>15. </strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/WMS/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><strong>WMS</strong></a><br /><strong>Industry: </strong>Gaming<br /><strong>Sample job titles: </strong>Game developer, artist<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Chicago</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><em>*Unemployed for 27 weeks or more</em></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><em>Debra Auerbach is a writer and blogger for </em><a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/msn/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><em>CareerBuilder.com</em></a><em> and its job blog, </em><a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>The Work Buzz</em></a><em>. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.</em></div>

Companies hiring in July

As of May,  5.4 million people were experiencing long-term unemployment *. If you were to ask any one of them to describe the job market, th...

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Live From Indianapolis II

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">We got down to business this morning with a 3 hour meeting of the Structure Committee followed by what was supposed to be a 2 hour hearing in the afternoon but it turned out to be another 2 hours of meeting instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">I am markedly impressed with the Structure Committee. It has a number of folks who are real players in the national church, including our deputy chair, Gay Jennings, who is a contender for the next President of House of Deputies. I am just getting to know her, but am so far very favorably inclined toward her leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">In the morning we did the basic work of setting the ground rules for our process and had a good general conversation about how to make structure serve mission. I have been a bit perplexed by the level of discomfort with this year’s reform proposal because there is no substantive change even on the table. The proposal is just to appoint a task force to study the possibility of structural reform and make a recommendation in the future – a recommendation we might like or not, enact or not – and would probably like and enact only in part, one of these days. So why the panic? I came away from today’s discussion with a better understanding. We had at least three different committees each of whom understood structure to be in their bailiwick. Now we have a proposal to create a new ad hoc task force with the clear mandate to make something happen. Even before a specific change is recommended, several groups feel displaced from their jobs. So dealing with the relationship side of this process is delicate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">We had a room full of witnesses at the “hearing” this afternoon; but it turned out only one of them wanted to speak to one of our resolutions; and it was not a hot button resolution. Since we had the time, we took on a number of resolutions which were mostly house-keeping. Even though they were of the most minor nature, we were meticulous with the wording and so managed to devote considerable time and energy to fine tuning the canons. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">What we did needed doing; but I wondered if a smaller group might not have handled it better. I also did not grow personally, make deeper connections, or feel inspired. It is not the nature of the legislative process to grow the soul. Yet, I truly believe that this was a room full of people worth knowing, that if we could come together on a deeper level, the Holy Spirit might move among us. The conventioneers who were not stuck in hearings were at a baseball game. The chance of something spiritually edifying happening is far better at a baseball game than in a legislative hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 408.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Coming out of the Structure Committee “hearing,” I encountered Karen Johanns, formerly of Trinity, Reno and had a great time hearing about her gritty inner city ministry in Pontiac, MI and updating her on the movings and shakings of the Silver State. <o:p></o:p></span></div>

Live From Indianapolis II

We got down to business this morning with a 3 hour meeting of the Structure Committee followed by what was supposed to be a 2 hour hearing i...

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Two Days Without Sugar

I'm so grateful  to Missy for writing the post she did.  This 'no sugar' thing is really shaking things up from what I'm used to and I love it!<br /><br />Monday went really well.  I had no real cravings and I was able to make it through the day with no problem.<br /><br />Yesterday, however, was a different story.  We drove from Virginia to Pennsylvania for 4th of July and I found myself multiple times wanting a sweet on the long drive.  I'm sure I only wanted one because of boredom/minor stress of the drive. <br /><br />As the day wore on, I wanted sweets more and more.  It's funny how often my mind wondered to having a sweet.  As a result, I've been eating a lot of berries.  Right now, the sweetness of the berries isn't quite satisfying the yearning for chocolate, but I suspect it will eventually.<br /><br />I have to confess, I did have a slight mess up this morning at breakfast.  I'm at my sister's and my brother-in-law made pancakes.  So, I did consume some pancake syrup this morning.   My original thought was if I made pancakes on my own, I would make a fruit compote or something like that to put over them.  Still, it's not a huge deal.  I was mindful of it and put only as much on it as I needed. <br /><br />Here's to making it through the 4th of July without any sweets...... ohhhhh the s'mores I want soooo badly!

No Sugar Challenge Two Days Without Sugar

I'm so grateful  to Missy for writing the post she did.  This 'no sugar' thing is really shaking things up from what I'm use...

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Saudi Arabia and China

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 class="s1mainStoryHeadline" style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Saudis are buying nuclear-capable missiles from China</span></h1><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="articleDescription">via DEBKA<em>file</em></span></span> <span class="articleDescription red italic"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y1aDOSo82Bs?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><span class="articleBody"></span><br /> <span class="debka"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="debka">debka</span><span class="file">file</span>’s military sources report that Saudi Arabia has set its feet on the path to a nuclear weapon capability and is negotiating in Beijng the purchase of Chinese nuclear-capable Dong-Fen 21 ((NATO-codenamed CSS-5) ballistic missile.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"> China, which has agreed to the transaction in principle, would also build a base of operations near Riyadh for the new Saudi purchases. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> As we reported last year, Saudi Arabia has struck a deal with Pakistan for the availability on demand of a nuclear warhead from Islamabad’s arsenal for fitting onto a ballistic missile.<br /> Riyadh owns a direct interest in the two most active Middle East issues: Iran and Syria.<br /> Iran’s nuclear weapons program has been advancing for two decades regardless of countless attempts at restraint by every diplomatic tool under the sun and a rising scale of sanctions – to no avail.<br /> Tehran marches on regardless of impediments. In Istanbul, Tuesday, July 3, the six powers and Iran failed the fourth attempt to reach an accommodation on Iran’s nuclear program.<br /> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The Syrian ruler Bashar <a href="http://www.debka.com/article/22151">Assad </a>remains equally undeterred by international condemnation. Saturday, June 30, the US and Russia again failed to agree on a joint plan of action in Syria.<br /> Saudi forces have been poised for action in Syria on the Jordanian and Iraqi borders since US Secretary of State Leon Panetta visited Riyadh in late June.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"> On July 1, they redoubled their military preparedness when the European Union clamped down an oil embargo on Iran. <a href="http://www.debka.com/article">The Saudis, the US Fifth Fleet and the entire Gulf region </a>are since braced for Iranian reprisals which could come in the form of closure by Tehran of the vital Straits of Hormuz to shipping or strikes against the Gulf emirates’ oil exporting facilities.<br /> Tension shot up again when Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched a three-day missile drill against simulated enemy bases in the region – expanding its threats to include US forces and bases in the region, Israel and Turkey.</span><br />

Saudi Arabia and China

Saudis are buying nuclear-capable missiles from China via DEBKA file   debka file ’s military sources report that Saudi Arabia ha...

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30 days of Web Tools: #2: Google Chrome extensions that are useful for students

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>submitted by Fiona Beal</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Which browser do you use? Have you tried Google Chrome? I have three browsers installed on my computer (Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox) and I must say that Google Chrome is fast become my firm favourite. Recently I have been exploring free Chrome extensions and have been amazed at what is on offer. These could be very useful for the students we teach. </span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is a Chrome extension?</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chrome extensions are extra features and functionality that you can choose to add to your browser from the Chrome Web Store. Generally I don’t go to the web store to choose as it is quite overwhelming – I go for recommended ones by other teachers. All the ones I have added to date are free and by recommendation . The extensions generally sit in the top corner of your browser and you click on one when you want to add it.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvAL6L6nqO8GDnjno0GwZMZKuG9-f5SG-AZvudyfJxDmUjF1MB9_XWuuSdRB2aOzcvIHG44OxlbhDqW2EZW5r4NJIo9P7QlMRbDN3KgL85Ft1Vogfxa52ERQ4ATsGrAXd9B0gFJJCq6M/s1600-h/image3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiXDWFlssP-5tmq8HYN7VekX1v3VKQxBcNveH9-PESzKTHG6Mv2uhxgoU_tCtYK2l0EWCVnccHAj8Wbp3vyZ1WIeTMIyN0THXrfopdZMv4U9DQNdTIyxML6icHLh3x3Pb3hWFBVZ70lU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extensions on the top right corner of  my browser</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Dictionary extension</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you ask Google for ‘Google Dictionary’ it will take you straight to the Chrome web store add-on page.  <b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjbhQ28Hbvu6cWhFCqSresmRT5nqy_KqzpHMISrOJzyN0I7HvxXZ6mJxyp4RnamPvBF_4OYV0fJKMsLdadWy4TpAtMJQLMdEFhdYYYFwEQJR2vLjydvQuaV1ofobV0KGElu2q4qHuHWw/s1600-h/image7.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VuFLgImF-9MtlQLCNJ53-12KL4CKk0mv7g9CNCmNhyphenhyphenc7Z5Z846saaW6v0g57zUm3jz-opfmxB7QhIU9ToXYGM2SrzHSkpXH3Aa3y3w3X7DYdTACcBhlnKRiKjjls3TDmUUwQeUO7gg0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what it looks like in the Chrome Web Store</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This tool can be so useful when students are researching as whenever they double click on a word the meaning is displayed as shown below.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAof4YIkGyzzFaPV9mVS39KZ8es-LATjzyEOUwg7Uo4zpfK5Ocz1G08kH-770AwFEzrjUBCMgyv-UT1HWHf8ajaoiKdW3sajYc_oq_Nz1Srz6_urZc-OqOmNbpkesVnoB_r7z7lhrDiD4/s1600-h/image13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbamKckH0-8TYj9l-kSwENPb7UXzyirtyfzNoATwmaS6EkR7gMSlijzPcUxrfliDZGWU8YuSbJyNi7Z-CsnTIoxzgtVhVVRdGg_OokJ4P2NUiD1ttWrnEoUi-WUYYMs6bsUA9vXLrUMs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Speakit! (Text to Speech)</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW66CGrA-AbE-ooQyvbqvDfd6-fUYT4WeJb-99958D7mZ1_0w-k1bkP93sj7_YIKIeC0N6YK8CjTxjC_S7J6a3RfXmqQ2m8NNIA0xLLMqlyQoFmxoI6oD2-RlBV5tKZwhJaOnGTrxS3GY/s1600-h/image46.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAGwJ2-b8vMcixOBP1tOkR2L0MPjEnkwx9DlN4Yv0AgQETruqwNmpmYOEt3LQ_BvWBr-hl928oCzhoSB0GKj7YG0L6xIshq9hNvNLThLxJsIfOOyPRlI3efvTMqcMd-KwIeSLcLR03Wk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="43" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a great extension that converts text to speech. All that you do once it is installed is highlight the text that you wish to have read to you, press the <i>Speakit icon</i> and listen. This is also useful for students when they are reading more difficult passages for example. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4ILEzEghlZluCBxzw1vEgXba1sK8DgErVgi6dtOwDzSfW6oEVqFhayswEJWpLYDi70ynam-xYAF_tOoQoT84E_tUPuxSwbgLKbiDUVe8dliqBTG9T96gN4SZCXEI9dT9ud7itKbXhU4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what it looks like in the Chrome Web Store</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Speech to text</span></b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgib5ZTUWBX-fhdEsFcrG-tDibzTjWd26pHvwB2UgkVrvDdNihiAA6ohb-ZtiGKElz8YEz2FvBMCw4SkYuOSTidNdcyoWif_X663rQKeEwoZFvHJJ22_lKc2hB0MunfW6yPDEeeelBZ20Q/s1600-h/image45.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlfOb8MprflU56QIPKjuPU95ZkGYFLr5RsdzrCFi9s-9m7sAY6QADw3PYtga3HzrgkWdAsryESQk6ZsvSJm9HPjWex3n4BP3WOKgXfp_XGHNYzc_0am7MnNmuHNMVuTDPbPe6flxKDrY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="55" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is an extension which allows you to click on a microphone and speak. The application types the words that are spoken. This extension could be useful for students who struggle with writing, although it does require editing as no punctuation is supplied.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKXFNpMtCXgJKETQL-tOX7imLl0iejFTO24jA3RL2PMzwh5EYQ0hZrKt7g-RX8YL8h8dwEFaSmHAoNkQumzVnpnPxaPcp-Gq2jFS0xqcZvdlV-6dBspBMMor9fgilG8PEbnach3f7Ee0/s1600-h/image28.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBxRJfrAsyEzSTLMxmUXvcRAeC06lZjsDI1_ekYCYLLFK2QoocKUXgp6WMZcPqoJuxjbLrGi2PfUSxJYz5LrmNsmPBYsZu-qFvuUNyiPNCKtPVtwW0S6UXtc9izWdTqQpHUk4B_gv4hw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what it looks like in the Chrome Web Store</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Basically you click on the icon and a window appears. Click on the microphone in the right hand corner of the top bar and speak. The typed words appear. One then clicks  <i>Add to textbox</i> and the words are transferred to the main section below.  From here they can be edited and placed into paragraphs.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9DFVO10iRAsbti8AlGDvfCO-y0UAR71-Fsfe1R253C0cvZquNcgcspeoO-2kNcVYTKY0-n6EjNTJt720GbCfeKv-hSM6Nu0pM5LFueIMNY6M3TgH5cxWpgcrHSVCUEVBiSKURjVkZU8/s1600-h/image32.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fJ78uxIr5QFDw-Zb8suFSHPTJfSRQltc6ysCJyazF2hRvrL1VdQubAdl2pSA1_zpK3vFOvRFK6UVj1lBOh5hzE3Xwp1SWAeUH1kUhr1YPp7r6PJMlgo-FV2zUsP8s22QK-2A_tyXsg8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><pre></pre><pre> </pre><pre style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Scratchpad</span></b></pre><pre><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNI5TxHi11GgfNYe1HRkbhn78YI90oLxHYWNExfoayb0lUZb4oqFEU38HYgYRTzgXFH_85wt3tDHwEm8deT5rFdbuiibGgBHDi3KEIJ27HaATxoKN1RY5ADwVQDXSEPiSpHBovq4z8fk/s1600-h/image44.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13R6Tyos2jRScGUhK7FGYfVPteZOGn_FRh59a7sBS8KZKpl6CC5Z5aS8X3rgbhIUOlAWGrG34obyOpdGzWq0biP-qFNMU_R3mTNCL_9jmqHE7GEaTegHHp0B4DFX2WAhyVERk00pq8n0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="130" /></a></pre><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scratchpad is a simple note-taking app that works offline and online. It can be seamlessly integrated with Google Docs and keeps your notes up to date. There is no saving and no sending. It just works!</span></div><pre style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><pre> </pre><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHrbjo4of1yk_yNhPcKkoygVTF-xfb-OYPnjwDuCm0Svg98kYUyrAI9ftxL6Eu7gAF9fTdS-lNmZ1qYSNTIaqKVUjkTeRwQV-NRBRD3Q0O-eZ3hDIcYWwt2ImDSdjvWYpbg34lpUbkxw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Scratchpad in the Chrome Web store </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">As you are browsing, and you open <i>Scratchpad</i> extension a little box appears on the left for you to make notes. This saves automatically in Google Docs. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is very useful for students who are browsing for information as they don't have to open a separate document for their notes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><pre></pre><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczyUFWneYvuql4D6eh1hTAgdYSx-edNTzDBig57I98vrSr3B6UAuGfC29OxcR_tz88WHzbirSKkpXKx9sDNiUZw3JyLPU2z6SwMTLMd_CIBunOtRSg0OvsfQQWCAiDHVr1ai_uj87Cms/s1600-h/image40.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76Z1oEfPYqJP31oaGTDnKXA57gQSWcPZV3-eZThAXjK0-EZiacE_TXZdQ1EDsd3MJvSBB8GwH4TrEHUUAdVVUxBu7RzYLXzp2CKr6w6qUCKcQpFDrd2gbCdjleWXWoskQ0rj6wBa9UEc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how it sits on your web page.</td></tr></tbody></table><pre></pre><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">These are just four very useful extensions to get started on. Just give them a try. I honestly think the Google Chrome browser is amazing!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Further reading on even more useful extensions </span></b></span><br /><br /><a href="http://followmolly.blogspot.com/2012/01/life-after-internet-explorer-welcome-to.html" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://followmolly.blogspot.com/2012/01/life-after-internet-explorer-welcome-to.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/01/10-useful-chrome-web-apps-and.html" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/01/10-useful-chrome-web-apps-and.html</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></span></div>

Chrome extensions google 30 days of Web Tools: #2: Google Chrome extensions that are useful for students

submitted by Fiona Beal Which browser do you use? Have you tried Google Chrome? I have three browsers installed on my computer (Chrome, Inte...

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