Cool Tools

At the URI Digital Literacy Summer Institute, participants have the opportunity to attend "Cool Tools" sessions each day. One of the standout sessions I attended today was a hands on activity using vialogues.com. Take a few minutes to practice with vialogues.com. Vialogues is not entirely unique, but it is free and add free. It's built by Teacher's College, Columbia University. Vialogues.com is an awesome tool for discussing and critiquing videos collaboratively with your students. It would be a solid resource for any media literacy class, critiquing sueded videos, or for engaging kids in current events. Actually, any time you want to empower kids to participate in media literacy and comment on or discuss a video, vialogues.com would be an awesome platform on which to build the experience.

Google Docs 101 Tips and Tricks

At this morning's Tech Tuesday workshop, I was asked for a Google Docs tips and tricks sheet. Here's a small list of resources you might find helpful.

Getting started with Google Docs (links to a comprehensive, text based tutorial)

Short video on sharing Google Docs

Publishing Google Docs

20 expert tips and tricks

An exhaustive list of Google Docs keyboard shortcuts

UPDATE:

A colleague also asked what the f5 and f6 keys do. f5 and f6 dim and brighten the keyboard backlight feature. The library was too bright to really see the keyboard backlight effect. Try it in a room that is not so brightly lit.

Pixlr.com

Earlier today, a colleague asked me to recommend a good paint program for his MacBook. One of my favorite photo editors, and the easiest to recommend, is pixlr. It works on any machine with a modern browser, and also has apps for Android and iOS. An added benefit is that the same version of pixlr that runs on a MacBook will also run on the Chrombooks many students will use in classrooms next year. Photoshop enthusiasts and image pros will probably scoff at pixlr, but for the vast majority of work that enthusiasts do, pixlr really shines. It supports layers, a bunch of effects, and the typical contrast, cropping, text tools, saving, and more that you might expect to see in software costing big money. Pixlr can be used without creating an account, but pixlr files and images are easily exported to the cloud if you sign in. A vibrant pixlr community has filled Youtube with hundreds of pixlr tutorials, and Mountain Heights Academy has a robust pixlr series to get anyone started. Pixlr is highly recommended.

Tech Tuesday, Episode I.

This morning, EWG's IT Department lead a Getting to Know Your MacBook workshop. It was attended by nearly twenty teachers who spent the morning setting up and exploring their MacBooks. I am delighted and proud to see the emphasis on professional development enjoying such a prominent place in the minds of EWG's leadership. Awesome!

It's not about what you know

Earlier today, I was asked if there are any tools a student might use to create a video game as part of a senior project. I am beginning to sense that the next year will be less about what's stored in my noggin, and more about listening, deciphering, and locating resources. Incidentally, the tool Sploder looks worthy of consideration.

 

It's not your old desktop

Admit it. You never thought about locking your school desktop. Neither did I. No one in their right mind would consider lifting it and running. It's too heavy, hard to conceal, and not worth the hassle. Widely coveted and easily whisked away, your shiny school issued MacBook Air on the other hand, could sprout wings and take flight in seconds. Here are some tips to keep it safe and secure.

• Keep it with you at all times.
• Since the former is not always possible, if you leave it, lock it.
• Do not leave your MacBook openly unattended during lunch, other breaks, or copy room excursions. Lock or conceal it in a desk or cabinet drawer.
• Take it with you on fire drills.
• Do not leave it unattended on your school desk overnight.
• Running an errand on the way home? Out of sight, out of mind. Store it in the trunk, or under the seat of a locked auto.
• Install and configure the Meraki management tool when you receive your MacBook during the June rollout. (You will be guided through this process.) Meraki might aid recovery efforts in the result of loss or theft.

Image credit: Berishafjolla [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

MacBook Air Deployment to Faculty Begins!

MacBook Airs are being deployed to faculty across the district, and the senior high distribution is imminent. For those who have never used Apple OSX (the Mac operating system), Apple has prepared in-depth resources to help familiarize yourself with OSX at http://www.apple.com/support/macbasics. At a minimum, please consider watching

 this six minute video (http://support.apple.com/kb/VI207?viewlocale=en_US) if you've never used a Mac before. Watching it will boost your comfort level and jump start your ability to become productive with your new Mac right away.