20 "I Didn't Know You Could Do That!" Tricks In 10 Minutes

To bring the Lunch N' Learn sessions to a close for another school year on June 3, 2014, twenty cool computer and internet tricks will be provided.  These are worth your time as they can make you more efficient and, more importantly, have your "cool meter" go way up!

View The Presentation

Toggling Through Running Windows Programs...In 20 Seconds

We truly have amazing, innovative teachers at Pulaski High School.  One of those teachers, Mr. Gosse, found a great way to toggle through all of the programs that are open on our Windows 7 machines.  Thank you, Mr. Gosse, for sharing this great technology tip that can make teachers more efficient!



No time to read?  Like written directions?

Alt + Tab = rectangular boxes for all open windows programs

Windows + Tab = scrollable windows

The Windows button is below...

Try It!




Photo Credits

Lunch N' Learn End Of Year 12-13

Lunch N' Learn became a reality in the 2012-2013 because staff continued to show interest in learning new technology tools and tricks that could help them be more efficient in their personal and professional lives.  The tools also provided staff with new and engaging ideas for technology tools that could be implemented into their content area.  I huge thank you to all staff who attended, wanted to attend, or asked for the links of each tool because they could not attend.

The first semester brought 14 Tuesdays filled with new technology tools and tricks.  The second semester provided eighteen additional opportunities to share ideas for implementing technology tools.

May 28 Cleaning Your Google Drive

May 21 Gmail - Inbox Zero

May 14 Meograph - Four Dimensional Storytelling

May 7 Edcanvas

April 30 Quizdini - Quiz/Review Tool With Explanation Feature
              Movenote - Add Video To A Google Drive Creation

April 23 VideoNot.es For Syncing Google Notes With Video

April 16 Google: 3 Calendar 2 Docs & 1 Mail Tool U Need

April 9 Chrome's Three Little Lines

April 2 Thinglink - Make Any Image Interactive

March 26 MentorMob - Organizing Made Easy

March 19 Social Media Apps Students Are Using & Teachers Need To Know

March 12 SQWORL - Cluster Multiple URL into One URL

March 5 CloudClip Clipboard App For iPad

February 26 Text2Mindmap

February 19 Intro Designer iPad Movie App

February 12 Six iPad Apps For Creating

February 5 Research Tools: Some Google, Some Not!

January 29 Google: Access? Activity! Takeout

See you during the next school year as we continue Lunch N' Learns!

VINE Embed Options For Quick Tech Tool Tip

Vine just became a GREATER tool for me to help explain technology resources to teachers! As of late march, embedding options are provided.  I have created a number of "...In 20 Second" tech tool tips. Vine will be another option for creating quick, helpful tech tool tips!  Read Vine Educational Values

Options include different sizes with a simple click of a button and a

Simple Version (see below)


Or a Postcard Version (see below)


Either method will provide a quick video and audio resource for teaching teachers or students about new technology resources!

Vine Flip Books Created From VINEs.
Vine Flip

Lunch N' Learn End Of First Semester 12-13

In cased you missed any one of the Lunch N' Learn's since October 2, an entire list with links can be found below.  If you haven't been to a Lunch N' Learn, consider attending next Tuesday.  We'll NEVER treat you like this:


Thank you for a GREAT first semester.  I look forward to another great semester implementing technology with you and your students.

January 22: YouTube Educator Channels

January 15: iPad Picture Apps

January 8: Promote Yourself, Promote Your Content

December 11: IFTTT - If This Then That

December 4: Why Should I Use Evernote?

November 27: Chrome Extensions

November 20: Twitter

November 13: Everything YouTube

November 6:  Google Documents Features For Students

October 30: Three Ring Digital Portfolio

October 23: Google Calendar For Lesson Plans

October 16: Change That Password

October 9: Google Drive on Computer & iPad

October 2: Gmail Filters

ThreeRing

ThreeRing is bringing a great concept to the web by allowing teachers/students/parents to upload images of work completed.  On top of that, the items can be tagged and searched for easily.

Uploading names of students is easy.  Simply download a copy of your classroom roster in an excel file or word file and place the list of names into ThreeRing.

This will be a great tool for assessing students by standards.  Sharing them with parents and students is also easy.

Pictures can be taken with their iPhone/iPod, iPad, or Android apps.

See the web version of Three Ring

Using these apps allows for you to capture a still image, video, or audio recording.

Google Calendars

Embed Google Calendar Into Google Sites

Embed Google Calendar Into Google Blogger

Tech Coach Check In...In 20 Seconds

Every other week, our team of learning support teachers checks in with our staff via email.  To enhance the content of that email, I incorporated a tech tool tip called ...In 20 Seconds.  While my email states if I can help in any way, it now provides a helpful tip that doesn't take much time to learn.

...In 20 Seconds refers to a tech concept that can be learned in 20 seconds.  So many teachers are so bogged down by so many things that time is of the essence.  20 seconds actually does provide enough time to provide a helpful tip. I use Screencast-o-matic or Reflection app to produce the video. I use the Skitch app and iMovie to place it togther.  A great fun idea I have started to incorporate is interesting sounds at the beginning of the 20 seconds.  (Chad's idea, see below)

Today, marks creation of #10.  Can't believe it! View List Here
I received the idea from @chadkafka !  Thanks, Chad.  

Feel free to use any of them or better yet, start creating your own and let me know what you created!

Now...go learn something in 20 Seconds and share it with the rest of the world.

Change That Password & Google Access

To Change Password on school computer,

• Press [ctrl] and [alt] and [delete] at the same time.
• This will provide a screen with four choices.
• The third choice will be "change a password".

Or Watch The Video


4 Tips To Really Secure Password
View REASONS to CHANGE Password!


LastPass
1Password

Strong Passwords Aren't Enough

Check Google Account Settings
Official Google Blogs 4 Keys

Additional Password Info

Multiurl.com To Group Multiple Links

On the weekends, I send our administration examples of integration of technology from the previous week.  I firmly believe that we need to share the great teaching and learning moments that occur in our district.  I recently found the site Multiurl.com  which allows shortening of multiple links into one link.  Customization of the shortened link is also possible.

My example this week:

• With Toolbar
• Browse List
• With Summary

I believe this site (service) could be a great way for teachers who may not have a digital presence (i.e. blog or site) to send multiple links that students should use.

While you can create an account, no account is needed.

Check out Multiurl.com

Google Drive on Computer and iPad

Google Drive Resources on Laptop:


Google Drive Resources on iPad:

Big Thanks to Anthony Dilaura creating and sharing the iPad video.

Get Google Drive App For iPad

Lunch N' Learn

Starting next Tuesday, staff will be given an opportunity to learn during their lunch.  It will be 10 minutes of tech tool tips.  I chose 10 minutes because it is long enough to teach one tech tool tip, but short enough to respect the teacher's time. There will be one tip each week with discussion to be included.  We have created a comfortable environment that teachers will be able to eat and learn.  On Tuesday, an email will be sent out to staff indicating the tech tool tip that will be taught.  This way each day, teachers will decide if they want to join Lunch N' Learn.

See the trailer that will be sent to teachers today!

YouTube Annotations and Google Drive

Google Annotations Saved Me Time Today!



Today, I am providing support for teachers who would like new or refreshed information about Google Drive.  One very cool thing that just happened was the fact that I used an annotation tool in YouTube to add an update to an already created tutorial.  At 20 seconds, the video stated how to create a collection.  Since the video was created, Google has changed the word collection to folder.  Instead of taking time to create a new video, I simply added an annotation which became a note on the screen informing viewers of the change.

This is how you do it:



Google Drive Overview

Google Drive Information From Google

Embed Google Calendar Into Google Sites

Blended Learning Leadership Strand Lessons Learned

Even though I was presenting today at the 2012 Technology Institute presented by the La Crosse School District and UW-Lacrosse, I was able to attend 3.5 hours worth of Professional Development Planning.  The entire presentation was on the premise of "Supporting a World Class Education: Teaching and Learning With The Use of Technology"  Kim McMonagle, Educational Technology Director, Douglas County School District, Colorado was our facilitator.  All the resources are owned by her.

It was intended for administrators of which I am not, but turned out to be very valuable as I will be providing professional development throughout the year to teachers in our district.  Some valuable lessons I learned are that professional development by school districts to support a blended learning educational environment must have a number of items in mind.

• Outcomes
• Begin with the end in mind.
• Align blended learning outcomes to organization's strategic plan
• Need to have leaders of K12, Higher Education, & Private Sector business collaborate
• Measures
• What are our targets?
• Do we focus on some type of standard, ISTE?
• Did the instructional design improve student learning, achievement, and growth?
• Set objectives for 5% increase on skills, attendance, behavior, PLUS the subjective growth as compared to the metrics
• Learning Activities
• Professional Learning Menu provided to teachers from 7-8 PM at night
• BIG TICKET: Provide a video webinar
• Provide collaboration through online conversation
• Archived & Chat is Participatory
• Teacher tells story while technology integration specialist provides support of the tech, helps with the chat among people participating.

The Learning Activity is THE SINGLE item I will implement from today's session.  This can all be done through a Google Hangout which all district employees have.  I like the fact that it is 7-8 PM and am considering 8-9 PM as this will be better with teachers who have small kids at home.  I can use a number of tools for the chatting such as Today's Meet or even the Google Chat feature.  

Overall, a great day of learning with multiple resources available.

• WTI Professional Learning Institute 2012
• Blended Learning Resource List
• Douglas County Educational Technology Site

edCampGB Final Thoughts

As my first edCamp got underway, I somewhat had an idea of what an edCamp is.  After experiencing it, I now know.

Educators.Relaxed.Collaborating.Learning.

Four fellow teachers joined me that really haven't been exposed to technology as much as maybe other people.  It was a thrill for them to become so excited about the format (relaxed) and the learning that they experienced.  We had a multiple hour conversation after the conference and really became excited about what can be incorporated. Awesome!

My personal experience was fantastic!  Meeting people from twitter was one of the best aspects,. but other aspects of the day rocked as well.

There are so many great options for the schedule, that it is always difficult to choose.

I decided to attend the Evernote, iTunes U, and Tech Coach Sessions.

Evernote: We discovered that we could make a class account and had many people using the account on iPads at one time.  Updating and adding to a note worked flawlessly.  We talked about the benefits of Evernote over other options, due to the ability to upload everything: words, pictures, videos, links, audio.

iTunesU:  This was really an introduction to what iTunes U is.  I enjoyed learning about the "Beyond Campus" and "K-12" section.  I added

• AP European History  (For introduction to our high school AP teacher)
• TED Education Creative Problem Solving
• Google Apps in the Classroom
• Apps for the Classroom
• On The Road To Implementation Common Core with Common Sense
• Common Sense Ending Cyberbullying and Online Cruelty

I will be share the iTunesU resource with our teachers some time during the year as a Tech Tool Tip.

Tech Coach:  Discussed strategies for teaching teachers technology.  We focused on

• ISTE standards
• How to move the non users in our district to users
• Offerings of teaching tech in our district, learning at different times (Learn @ Lunch)
• How we obtain our resources, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, ZITE app
• How we save the resources we find, Evernote, Google Docs, Diigo, all over the place :)

Overall, the day was fantastic and many resources were obtained!

Our tech director would like to incorporate this edCamp idea into a day of professional growth for our teachers in our district.

We can...more details to come!

Paper Form To Google Form

Our guidance counselor sent me a PBIS (Behavior Management Referral) form that has been on paper in recent years.  She asked, "How can I change this to a Google form?"  Ask and you shall receive.  A short tutorial on how to make a paper form changed to a Google form.

Creating a Google Form is Here!
Episode 21 Paper Form To Google Form

Episode 20 Google Handwrite

Episode 19 Blogger Tutorial and SITA

This will be the last tech tool tip of 2011-2012.  As many of you integrate technology into more and more lessons, you may consider creating a digital hub for your classroom.  A digital hub (see my classroom blog) can be a place for your students to easily access links that you want them to use and YouTube videos that can introduce or supplement your lessons.  It can also be a great place to showcase student work.

The video provides an unbelievable list of blogger tutorial.

Also, Amy U. sent out an email about a great, FREE technology educational opportunity this summer.  I have created a video tutorial that explains and provides visual links.  Consider attending, it will be a great learning opportunity.

APOLOGY:  The links don't actually work in the video, they are all found below the video.

This will be the last tech tool tip of 2011-2012.  Hopefully, they have been helpful.  Look for more in 2012-2013!

Blogger Tutorial Playlist
SITA
SITA Registration
SITA Session Lineup
SITA Individual Session Registration
edCampGB (Thursday, August 2)

Episode 18 Restoring Deleted App on iPad or iPhone