Boost Student Engagement with InsertLearning for Firefox

How to Install and Use InsertLearning on FirefoxInsertLearning is a browser extension that lets teachers turn any webpage into an interactive lesson by adding questions, notes, highlights, and assignments directly onto web content. Though InsertLearning historically prioritized Chrome, you can still use it effectively with Firefox by installing the extension (if available), using the web-based teacher dashboard, or running InsertLearning through compatible methods. This guide explains step-by-step how to install InsertLearning on Firefox (including alternatives if the extension isn’t in the Firefox Add-ons store), set it up for classroom use, create interactive lessons, and manage student assignments.

Does InsertLearning work on Firefox?

Short answer: It depends on the extension version and InsertLearning’s current distribution. If InsertLearning is available in the Firefox Add-ons store, you can install it directly. If not, you can still use InsertLearning via its web dashboard or by running Chrome-compatible extensions using workarounds (less recommended for classroom stability).

Option A — Install InsertLearning from Firefox Add-ons (if available)

1. Open Firefox.
2. Go to the Firefox Add-ons page (about:addons or addons.mozilla.org).
3. Search for “InsertLearning.”
4. If an official InsertLearning add-on appears, click it, then click “Add to Firefox.”
5. Confirm permissions and click “Add.”
6. After installation, pin the InsertLearning icon to the toolbar for easy access.
7. Sign in with your teacher account (Google account or InsertLearning credentials) via the extension popup or the InsertLearning website.

Notes:

• If your school uses Google Workspace for Education, sign-in with Google is typically supported.
• Granting necessary permissions allows the extension to overlay lesson content on webpages.

Option B — Use InsertLearning’s Web Dashboard (recommended if extension is unavailable)

If the Firefox extension isn’t available or is unstable, the web dashboard remains fully functional and is the recommended, most stable approach.

1. Open Firefox and navigate to https://insertlearning.com (or the current InsertLearning dashboard URL).
2. Sign in with your teacher account (Google or InsertLearning account).
3. From the dashboard, click “Create Lesson” or “New Assignment.”
4. Paste the URL of the page you want to turn into a lesson and follow prompts to add notes, questions, and highlights.
5. Assign the lesson to classes or students via Google Classroom, LMS integration (Canvas, Schoology), or by sharing the lesson link.

How it works in Firefox:

• The dashboard creates a lesson link that students open; when they open it in a browser, InsertLearning overlays interactive elements. If students use Firefox, they’ll interact via the web-based lesson viewer. For the best experience, the teacher or students may be advised to install the extension if it’s available.

Option C — Workarounds (for advanced users)

If you must run the Chrome-only InsertLearning extension in Firefox, there are risky and unsupported methods:

• Use a Chrome compatibility layer or extension converter (often unreliable).
• Run a secondary Chrome/Chromium browser for lesson creation while using Firefox for other tasks.

These are not recommended for routine classroom use because of stability and security concerns.

Creating an InsertLearning Lesson (step-by-step)

1. Open the webpage you want to use as a lesson (either directly in Firefox or via the InsertLearning dashboard).
2. Activate InsertLearning (click the toolbar icon or use the dashboard “Open in InsertLearning” option).
3. Add interactive elements:
   • Highlights: Select text and choose “Highlight” to draw attention.
   • Sticky Notes: Add explanations, context, or instructions.
   • Questions: Insert multiple choice, short answer, or discussion prompts.
   • Discussions: Start a threaded discussion tied to a specific passage.
   • Media: Embed images or links to videos for richer content.
4. Place elements where they best support learning; preview the lesson to check flow and readability.
5. Set grading or feedback options if desired (points for responses, auto-grade for multiple choice, etc.).
6. Save the lesson.

Assigning Lessons and Collecting Responses

1. From the lesson dashboard, click “Assign.”
2. Choose an assignment method:
   • Google Classroom: Push directly to a class.
   • LMS: Use Canvas, Schoology, etc., if integrated.
   • Class code or shareable link: Paste into email, chat, or another platform.
3. Students open the lesson link in their browser. If they have the InsertLearning extension installed, it will overlay the interactive elements. If not, the lesson viewer should still present the activities (experience may vary).
4. Monitor student progress from the teacher dashboard: view responses, provide feedback, and export data for grading.

Tips for Teaching with InsertLearning on Firefox

• Test lessons in Firefox as a student to ensure interactive elements display correctly.
• Use clear, scaffolded questions—short-answer prompts for formative checks and multiple choice for quick checks.
• Embed short videos or images to break up dense text.
• Stagger deadlines and use class sections for differentiated assignments.
• Keep an alternate plan if students use browsers where the extension isn’t supported—share PDFs or Google Slides as fallback materials.

Troubleshooting

• Extension not appearing: Check Firefox version (keep it updated), restart browser, and verify the add-on is enabled in about:addons.
• Sign-in issues: Try an incognito/private window, clear cookies for insertlearning.com, or sign in via the dashboard.
• Interactive elements not loading for students: Confirm students are opening the lesson link (not the raw webpage), and that any school firewall isn’t blocking insertlearning.com.
• If performance is slow: Close other heavy tabs, disable other extensions that may conflict, or use the web dashboard on a stable connection.

Accessibility and Privacy Considerations

• InsertLearning supports many accessibility features, but you should preview lessons with screen readers or other assistive tech your students use.
• Respect student privacy and school policies when assigning web pages that may contain ads or external trackers; prefer reputable sources.

Summary

If InsertLearning is available in Firefox’s Add-ons store, install it directly and sign in. If not, use the InsertLearning web dashboard to create and assign interactive lessons; students can access lessons via links even without the extension. Test lessons in Firefox, use clear question design, and have a fallback for unsupported browsers.