Projectors at Wawaloam and Metcalf

It seems that Metcalf and Wawaloam have a number of Epson Powerlite 95 projectors that can connect wirelessly to the Macbook laptops. Unfortunately, the projectors need a tweak to connect with a revamped EWG wireless network. We're getting to them as quickly as possible. If your projector has been reconfigured, you can connect to it with your laptop by following the steps outlined in the embedded presentation.



I think you'll like the ability to push your laptop's screen across the room to your projector. I'm not sure how old or new the Epson projectors are, but they sure project a bright, crisp image.

Cloud Printing Demo

The brief video demonstrating cloud printing at EWG might be helpful.

UPDATE, 9/4:  You can drag and drop most powerpoint and word files into a chrome browser tab and print directly from native word and powerpoint files without having to upload or convert the files. Watch the demo below.

Exam View Test Generator

Exam View Test Generator is available for your Macbook Air. Download and install it on your Macbook from http://goo.gl/8mFcwJ. You should be able to open previously created test packages on your Macbook using this tool once you have moved them from your old desktop/laptop/flashdrive. Let us know about your success (or problems ;-( ) by leaving a comment.



UPDATE, 8/26
If you have exam view test banks vintage 2001 - 2008 (not sure about the exact cutoff date), the test banks will not open with the new version of exam view. You can, however, open test files created with older versions. The test files can then be exported to test banks for remixing.

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!