With all the security scares in the news, people are scrambling to change their passwords. So, here's my take on the subject. In fact, this is what I did/do in my own life. First, separate all your logins into three categories: the critical ones, the important ones and everything else. The distinction between these categories is the amount of aggravation and losses you would suffer if a malicious person were to steal your login and completely take over your account.
Oct 21, 2013
Sep 25, 2013
Chromebook101
If you want to read up on Chromebook capabilities and setup, try support.google.com/chromebook/
Apps
If you have been trying out Chromebooks and need to do a task for which on your Windows/Mac laptop you have specific software -- despair not. The site, aboutchromebook.com, provides information on Chromebook apps or online apps to accomplish those tasks. It's a good place to start, but do not be surprised if you hit inaccurate entries. A very good place to check for online apps (for any computer, not just Chromebook) is TechSupportAlert.com
Printing
To enable printing, you need to setup Google's Cloud Print. To do this (one-time) setup, use the Chrome browser on a PC/Mac that can access the desired printer. Follow the instructions enable the Google Cloud Print connector. How do you print? See Print a page or the how-to video at youtu.be/8fPR5A2pg3k. Reference for cloud-printing info: support.google.com/cloudprint
Microsoft Word
If you need to edit Word documents, read Office Document Editor for Chromebooks
Sep 13, 2013
Finding answers to tech support questions
I made a custom Google search that looks only in recommended technology support sites. So, if you have a technical question, try it out. I've also put it in the "Search Tools" page on this blog.
If you want to know what these sites are, here's the list:
| Search good techsupport sites |
If you want to know what these sites are, here's the list:
| Tech Support Guy 5-Star Support Protonic | AskMeHelpDesk
Techie 7 Help.com Suggest A Fix | About Guide on PC Support
Virtual Dr Computing.net Bleeping Computer |
Jul 26, 2013
Jul 24, 2013
Authoring your own electronic textbook for you class
Many teachers use their own collection of materials for their classes, rather than a single textbook. In this day and age, creating an electronic version of such materials should be painless. In this post, we find out otherwise.
The first step in our process is to choose a format for our electronic end product. We want a widely-used multimedia-enabled ebook format that the students can view and annotate/highlight on any platform, including mobile devices. Apple's iBook format is proprietary and only works on Apple devices. Adobe's PDF format can be viewed and annotated on all platforms, but it is still a proprietary format. The only viable remaining choice is the EPUB format (short for electronic publication). There are many apps on all platform that can view and annotate EPUB files, and the most recent version of this format, EPUB3, allows embedding of audio and video files.
Requirements
The first step in our process is to choose a format for our electronic end product. We want a widely-used multimedia-enabled ebook format that the students can view and annotate/highlight on any platform, including mobile devices. Apple's iBook format is proprietary and only works on Apple devices. Adobe's PDF format can be viewed and annotated on all platforms, but it is still a proprietary format. The only viable remaining choice is the EPUB format (short for electronic publication). There are many apps on all platform that can view and annotate EPUB files, and the most recent version of this format, EPUB3, allows embedding of audio and video files.
- Easy to use ... a teacher should not need to be a techie to create an EPUB book
- Imports standard documents ... a teacher needs the ability to include their existing documents, such as Word files, PDF files, HTML (web pages), etc
- Incorporates multimedia ... a teacher should be able to include multimedia materials, such as images, audio, video, links, and these materials should be embedded within the ebook so that they "play" within the ebook app
- Update-able end product ... a teacher must be able to make changes and distribute the updated version to students
Requirement 3 needs clarification. Many authoring platforms incorporate audio and video multimedia by putting a link to the multimedia file, rather than embedding it within the ebook. It seems a minor point, but the continuity of the "reading" experience for the user is compromised if, in order to play every media clip, the user must switch between the ebook app and a different app capable of playing the media. The user may have to download this other app, it may have a completely different user interface, and on many mobile devices, there is no simple way to return back to the previous app (i.e. the ebook). This makes the in-app playing of media files a "must" for the authoring platform output.
Apr 22, 2013
Disallow download of a Google Drive file
There is no "fullproof" way to do this. The best that you can do is deter a novice.
Access your file's directory in a browser. Check the box next to your file, click More and choose "Prevent viewers from downloading":
Access your file's directory in a browser. Check the box next to your file, click More and choose "Prevent viewers from downloading":
Feb 24, 2013
Royalty-free images you can use
Some great sites for getting images legally that you can use for non-commercial use:
~ Wikimedia Commons
~ Getty Images that are royalty free
~ Google Image search box restricted to images that are "free to use or share"
If you want the "mega" listing: public domain image collections ordered by size.
~ Wikimedia Commons
~ Getty Images that are royalty free
~ Google Image search box restricted to images that are "free to use or share"
If you want the "mega" listing: public domain image collections ordered by size.
Dec 12, 2012
Slides from my TABS-2012 workshop "Collaborative Classroom"
I gave a talk about iPads in Education. Here are the slides. Unfortunately, I cannot find any way for the slides to play the animations automatically. So, if it looks like the slideshow stopped, click anywhere within the slideshow window.
Nov 12, 2012
Nov 8, 2012
Oct 29, 2012
60 in 60: Inspiring Apps (and site) for teachers by Hansen and Birks
Very good presentation by Aaron Hansen and Ray Birks of Wenatchee School District from 10/2012.
http://waetag.tk/
Their presentation includes websites and iPad apps, for K-12. Here are some free ones that I thought especially useful for high school and that people may not have heard about.
Sites
PollEverywhere -- polls taken via phone, web and Twitter -- use it as a clicker response system
FlockDraw -- draw collaboratively -- on the same page at the same time
Scale of the Universe
Speak Pipe -- record a voice message and email it (up to 10 minutes)
Sound Cloud -- record audio files and share
Soundation -- site for creating music (aka free Garageband)
iPad apps
History: Maps of the World
3D Cell Simulations
Coaster Physics
Science 360
Woices -- geolocalized audioguides done by users around the world - record one or explore others'
http://waetag.tk/
Their presentation includes websites and iPad apps, for K-12. Here are some free ones that I thought especially useful for high school and that people may not have heard about.
Sites
PollEverywhere -- polls taken via phone, web and Twitter -- use it as a clicker response system
FlockDraw -- draw collaboratively -- on the same page at the same time
Scale of the Universe
Speak Pipe -- record a voice message and email it (up to 10 minutes)
Sound Cloud -- record audio files and share
Soundation -- site for creating music (aka free Garageband)
iPad apps
History: Maps of the World
3D Cell Simulations
Coaster Physics
Science 360
Woices -- geolocalized audioguides done by users around the world - record one or explore others'
Oct 15, 2012
Talk about "iPads in Education" at NJAIS 2012
I gave a talk about iPads in Education. Here are the slides. Unfortunately, I cannot find any way for the slides to play the animations automatically. So, if it looks like the slideshow stopped, click anywhere within the slideshow window.
Oct 3, 2012
Googling more effectively
Google has always had various modifiers, or "operators", you could include in the search box to make your search more effective. This Google support page describes these operators in detail. If you like infographics, this giant one is geared at students doing online research (note that the timerange operator is incorrect). Here is my remix of this infographic to highlight the ones I think are the most useful:
Sep 5, 2012
Encrypting files, in Dropbox and elsewhere
Online/cloud storage -- i.e. keeping your files with an online storage company that allows you to access them from anywhere -- is here to stay. The best known example is Dropbox. The newer kid on the block is Google Drive, which has similar functionality. If you already have your entire world set up with Dropbox, there is no overwhelming reason to switch. However, if you are just starting with online/cloud storage and you have a Google or Gmail account anyway for your other needs, Google Drive is great because it is integrated with all Google apps.
If you are staying with Dropbox and you are worried about security breaches (honestly -- a security breach at this day and age is unforgivable), there are simple ways for you to keep sensitive files -- just encrypt them.
If you want the gold standard in file encryption and are not bothered by less-than-friendly user interface, use TrueCrypt (good how-to link).
If you want a simpler and friendlier program, there are two good choices:
1. Use encrypted zip file -- see link for details.
or
2. Use BoxCryptor -- see link for details.
If you are staying with Dropbox and you are worried about security breaches (honestly -- a security breach at this day and age is unforgivable), there are simple ways for you to keep sensitive files -- just encrypt them.
If you want the gold standard in file encryption and are not bothered by less-than-friendly user interface, use TrueCrypt (good how-to link).
If you want a simpler and friendlier program, there are two good choices:
1. Use encrypted zip file -- see link for details.
or
2. Use BoxCryptor -- see link for details.
Sep 1, 2012
Link directly to a specific time within a YouTube video, and other YouTube tricks
Start time
When providing a link to a YouTube video, there is a simple way to have the link open the video at a specific time within the video. Take the YouTube address (URL), e.g.
When providing a link to a YouTube video, there is a simple way to have the link open the video at a specific time within the video. Take the YouTube address (URL), e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxxHvWwQBw
and add the following to the end of this link, e.g.
&t=0m40s
Now, when you click on the link
&t=0m40s
Now, when you click on the link
the video starts at 0 minutes, 40 seconds, instead of at the beginning.
Next question -- how do you make it stop after playing a certain time? I do not know of a way to do that with a simple URL parameter such as &t.
Related videos
When a YouTube video finished, YouTube provides a number of videos it believes are related to yours. Unfortunately, you have no control over this list and it may very well include inappropriate content. To disable this screen, add &rel=0 to the end of the URL, e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxxHvWwQBw&rel=0
Fill entire browser window
If you want a YouTube video to fill the entire browser window, replace the /watch?v= part of the video's URL with /v/ e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/v/jJxxHvWwQBwNext question -- how do you make it stop after playing a certain time? I do not know of a way to do that with a simple URL parameter such as &t.
Related videos
When a YouTube video finished, YouTube provides a number of videos it believes are related to yours. Unfortunately, you have no control over this list and it may very well include inappropriate content. To disable this screen, add &rel=0 to the end of the URL, e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxxHvWwQBw&rel=0
Fill entire browser window
If you want a YouTube video to fill the entire browser window, replace the /watch?v= part of the video's URL with /v/ e.g.
Of course, you can combine all these tricks:
Aug 29, 2012
Where to store files?
Until this April, the answer was Dropbox, which provided 2GB of free storage, ways to share folders, and a good automatic sync between your various devices. If you want a short intro to Dropbox, you can find it here.
Google Drive, which came out this past April, can serve the same function as Dropbox in terms of online storage.
Should you switch? If you are using Google software for other things, e.g. Gmail, it is easiest to use Google Drive for storage. If you are not using Google for other stuff, staying with Dropbox or switching to Google Drive may be a tossup, depending on your needs. If you want to read more on the trade-offs between these two options, Lifehacker has a good article. If you want to read more on many more online storage options, Verge has a good article.
Google Drive, which came out this past April, can serve the same function as Dropbox in terms of online storage.
Should you switch? If you are using Google software for other things, e.g. Gmail, it is easiest to use Google Drive for storage. If you are not using Google for other stuff, staying with Dropbox or switching to Google Drive may be a tossup, depending on your needs. If you want to read more on the trade-offs between these two options, Lifehacker has a good article. If you want to read more on many more online storage options, Verge has a good article.
Aug 28, 2012
Grading with Voice on an iPad
Here is a good article by Doug Ward, a University of Kansas professor, who uses iAnnotate to provide verbal grading/feedback on student papers. iAnnotate is the Cadillac of PDF annotations and it syncs with Dropbox. The audio notes are saved with the file. iAnnotate is pricey ($10).
There is another app, PaperPort, that supports text dictation using Dragon speech-recognition software. PaperPort is not fast at importing a PDF document from Dropbox, and you need networking "on" in order to use the text dictation. The handwriting is pretty rough, but typing, dictation and support for PDF make it a good app. The free pricetag doesn't hurt either. Here's a good review.
There is another app, PaperPort, that supports text dictation using Dragon speech-recognition software. PaperPort is not fast at importing a PDF document from Dropbox, and you need networking "on" in order to use the text dictation. The handwriting is pretty rough, but typing, dictation and support for PDF make it a good app. The free pricetag doesn't hurt either. Here's a good review.
Aug 24, 2012
Nearpod for iPad
Nearpod is an interesting tool that, from the buzz the company has produced, seems to be the holy grail for education. On further testing, it proves to be useful but limited.
Here's how it works:
1. You, the teacher, create a lesson at nearpod.com ahead of time. Here is where you hit the first limitation -- the lesson cannot be created or edited on iPad. So, if you don't have a computer in your classroom, you cannot change anything mid-class. This also means that you and your students must all be connected to the Internet, since it is being run from nearpod.com and not from your iPad locally. Depending on your school's Internet speeds, this could be dicey.
A similar, but less restrictive and more feature-rich software is GoClass, but it is still in beta. It allows creation and editing of lesson elements on iPad, students can proceed at their own pace, and quizes/polls can be timed. Being in beta, the stability and buggyness of the app are unknown.
Other reviews of Nearpod:
Here's how it works:
1. You, the teacher, create a lesson at nearpod.com ahead of time. Here is where you hit the first limitation -- the lesson cannot be created or edited on iPad. So, if you don't have a computer in your classroom, you cannot change anything mid-class. This also means that you and your students must all be connected to the Internet, since it is being run from nearpod.com and not from your iPad locally. Depending on your school's Internet speeds, this could be dicey.
- A lesson is made up of slides
- A slide can be either a content slide or an interactive slide.
- A content slide can be a page from a PDF document or an image or a movie.
- An interactive slide can be a poll, a quiz, a Q&A or a drawing the students produce on a blank page or on an image (e.g. graph paper).
- You give students a pin and they each enter it into the student version of the nearpod app on their own iPads. As they join the lesson, you see their names pop
- You control exactly what is displayed on everyone's screen. Results of interactive slides (e.g. poll) show up in real time to you and you can choose to display them to everyone. Same with anything the students produce on their own drawing slides.
A similar, but less restrictive and more feature-rich software is GoClass, but it is still in beta. It allows creation and editing of lesson elements on iPad, students can proceed at their own pace, and quizes/polls can be timed. Being in beta, the stability and buggyness of the app are unknown.
Other reviews of Nearpod:
Aug 15, 2012
iPad and Flash
Although iPad does not fully support Adobe's Flash technology, a number of Web Browsers available for the iPad handle at least some Flash sites. The best of these is a free one called Puffin.
Here are pointers to further information about Flash and iPad:
… articles about different solutions for playing Flash: How to Get Flash on the iPad and Can I Play Flash on iPad? Yes!
… sample sites that “flash” browser should be able to handle: syfy.com/tinman, arome.fr, Monoface, Get The Glass
… sample sites that “flash” browser handle somewhat: friv
Other browsers with some Flash support are Skyfire ($5), Photon ($5), iSwifter ($5). I have tried all of these and prefer Puffin.
Here are pointers to further information about Flash and iPad:
… articles about different solutions for playing Flash: How to Get Flash on the iPad and Can I Play Flash on iPad? Yes!
… sample sites that “flash” browser should be able to handle: syfy.com/tinman, arome.fr, Monoface, Get The Glass
… sample sites that “flash” browser handle somewhat: friv
Other browsers with some Flash support are Skyfire ($5), Photon ($5), iSwifter ($5). I have tried all of these and prefer Puffin.
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