April 2013

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Apps and Social Media in the Classroom

Posted by Unknown Selasa, 30 April 2013 0 komentar

It is springtime at New Milford High School and new ideas are flourishing. Teachers are consistently empowered and given the autonomy to take calculated risks without the fear of failure to enhance the teaching and learning process. The end result is that our students benefit from lessons that combine sound pedagogy with the effective integration of technology. Below are two highlights from the month of April.

In support of the school’s BYOD initiative, Mrs. Chellani has recently discovered and integrated a new app called Socrative, a free, online polling tool. This app allows students to respond to questions the teacher asks in class via their smart phone, providing an alternate means for students to participate in class. The results are displayed on the SMART Board through the Socrative website to facilitate discussion. Additionally, this app serves as another way for Mrs. Chellani to formally assess her students in a differentiated and technologically advanced fashion.

Students in Mr. Devereaux's AP Biology class are creating social media accounts for the immune system. Using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Tumblr, the students need to narrate a day in the life of the immune system. They have been finding creating ways of using hash tags, mentions, pictures, videos, and various other ways to infuse their projects with relevant, accurate, and interactive content illustrating how the immune system works. Check out Mr. Devereaux's website by the end of the week to see some student examples.

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How to Swipe from one message thread to the next

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Gmail for Android swipe between threads Gmail for Android tip: Swipe from one message thread to the next

Unlike the Mail app for iPhone, the official Gmail app for Android phones lacks an obvious way (like, say, a pair of arrow keys on the actual message screen) for navigating from one email directly to the next.
Given that, I’m guessing plenty of Android users—hey, myself included—have been repeatedly tapping their way back to the inbox whenever they’re done with one message and want to skip to a new one.
Well, guess what: there’s a much easier way (as I belatedly discovered) to jump directly from one message thread (or “conversation,” as they’re called in Gmail) to the next.
Just swipe.
Specifically, you can swipe from left to right to skip to a more recent thread, or from right to left for an older one.
Pretty clever—so clever, in fact, that I’d completely missed it until now.

Add tip

Want to jump automatically to the next message after deleting or archiving the current one?
Tap the three-dot menu button in the bottom-right corner of the Gmail interface, tap Settings, General Settings, then “Auto-advance.”
You can then choose what happens when you delete or archive a message: you can advance to a newer message, go back to an older one, or return to the inbox.
Tips from http://heresthethingblog.com/2013/04/29/gmail-android-tip-swipe-message
How to Swipe from one message thread to the next

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How to customize the buttons in program toolbars in Mac

Posted by Unknown Jumat, 26 April 2013 0 komentar

How to customize Mac toolbars Mac tip: How to customize the buttons in program toolbars

Ever wish there were a Print button next to the Reply and Forward buttons in the Mac’s Mail app, or a pair of Zoom buttons on the top of every Safari browser window?
Well, here’s the thing: you can add, remove, and rearrange the buttons in the “toolbar” of several familiar Mac programs.
Not every Mac application has a toolbar of buttons that you can customize, but many of them do, including Safari, Mail, Firefox, and even garden-variety desktop folders.

Mac customize toolbar option Mac tip: How to customize the buttons in program toolbars

Just click View, Customize Toolbar to rearrange the toolbar buttons in your various Mac apps.

For example, say you wanted to add a Print button to the Mail app’s toolbar. To do so, just…

Open Mail, click View at the top of the screen, then select “Customize Toolbar.” When you do, a menu with more than two-dozen available buttons will slide into view.
Find the Print button, then click and drag it into the Mail toolbar.
When the Print button is right where you want it (nearby buttons will scoot out of the way), release the mouse button.
All set? Click the Done button.

You can also follow the same steps to add Zoom buttons in Safari, a Label button to the folder toolbar, and more.
And while you’re at it, you can drag unwanted buttons out of the toolbar, add more space between buttons, or even add or remove a Search box (assuming Search is an available option).

Bonus tip

Want to hide a toolbar? Just click View, then Hide Toolbar, or use the OPTION + COMMAND + T keyboard shortcut.
Source: http://heresthethingblog.com
How to customize the buttons in program toolbars in Mac

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How to Add Your Favorite Folder or Program to (My) Computer in Windows 7 and 8

Posted by Unknown Kamis, 25 April 2013 0 komentar

Would you like to have that favorite folder or program that you use all the time listed in Computer along with all your drives so it is really easy to access? Computer is not a regular folder so you can’t just drop a shortcut there the usual way. But there is a quick way to get a shortcut listed in Computer and here’s how.

Windows 7

Open the Start search box
Enter: %appdata%
The hidden folder “Roaming” will open
Navigate to the subfolder \Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
Place a shortcut there to the desired folder or program

Windows 8

Open the Run box with the keyboard shortcut Winkey+R
Enter: %appdata%
The hidden folder “Roaming” will open
Navigate to the subfolder \Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
Place a shortcut there to the desired folder or program

That’s it. Open Computer and you will see your shortcut listed as a Network Location.
source gizmo
How to Add Your Favorite Folder or Program to (My) Computer in Windows 7 and 8

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How to “mute” an endless email thread in gmail

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Ever found yourself CC’d in an email thread that just keeps going, and going … and going? Make it stop!
If you’re a Gmail user, there’s an easy way to silence—or “mute,” as the feature is called in Gmail—any email conversation that you’d rather not be a part of.
Once you’ve muted a conversation, new messages in the thread will skip your inbox and head straight to your All Mail archive.

Muted label in Gmail Gmail tip: How to mute an endless email thread

“Muted” Gmail conversations will skip your inbox and go directly to your All Mail archive.

Of course, there’s a downside to muting a conversation: namely, that you’ll miss a direct question from someone—like, say, your boss—in the message thread.
That’s why it’s probably best to only mute conversations along the lines of “What a cute baby!” or “Congrats on the new gig!,” and not those of the “Mission-critical project” variety.
That said, keep in mind that Gmail will automatically send a muted thread back into your inbox if you’re the only person in the “To:” line of the conversation.
So, ready for some peace and quiet?

Gmail mute conversation option Gmail tip: How to mute an endless email thread

Just select “Mute” from the “More” menu to keep a Gmail thread from bothering you again.

Let’s get started…

To mute a conversation, select it in your Gmail inbox, click the More button near the top of the page, then select Mute. If you have Gmail keyboard shortcuts enabled, you can also check the box next to a conversation and tap the “m” key.
Want to “unmute” a conversation? Search for it in the Gmail search box, select the muted message, then click the “Move to Inbox” button. The message should be automatically unmuted once it returns to your inbox, but you can double-check by opening the thread and making sure there’s no “Muted” label near the top of the latest message.
Last but not least, you can see all your muted Gmail conversations by typing “is:muted” into the Gmail search box and clicking the Search button.

Additional Tips

You can also mute a Gmail conversation directly from your Android phone. Just open the Gmail app, select the message thread you want to silence, tap the three-dot Menu button in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then select Mute.
How to “mute” an endless email thread in gmail

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Leading With No Regrets

Posted by Unknown Rabu, 24 April 2013 0 komentar

Yesterday I had a conversation with one of my teachers who has future aspirations to become an administrator. The two of us had set some time aside for her to discuss my many roles as a principal. During the conversation she asked me if I regretted any of the decisions I had made. I paused, thought about this for a minute, and responded that I did not. This is not to say that I was happy with some of the decisions I have made during my nine years as an administrator. It is how we react once a decision is made that truly defines one’s ability to lead.

Image credit: http://www.magforliving.com/how-to-live-life-with-no-regrets/

I think anyone in leadership second-guesses many of the decisions that are made. However, I am of the opinion that if we were to regret decisions we have made in the past then that will hinder our ability to make the extremely tough ones in the future. Leadership is about making decisions that are in the best interests of all stakeholders, living with the outcomes, and learning from the resulting experiences. By following these simple, straightforward tenets, leaders develop the capacity to be confident when decisions are made, even if the outcome is not what they anticipated. Regret will ultimately leave a sense of doubt or hesitation when decisions need to be made. We must learn from decisions that fail, or do not live up to expectations, and use this acquired knowledge the next time.

This conversation really got me thinking. Over time I have a learned a great deal from the outcomes of decisions I have made and how I went about the process of making them. Here are a few key points that I have identified that not only allow me to make sound decisions, but to also be at peace with the end result:

Communicate clearly why a decision is being made. Making decisions that have no rhyme or reason or come out of nowhere are a recipe for disaster. With the many ways leaders have to communicate and clearly articulate their reasons for making a decision there is no excuse not to follow through. Decisions made without proper communication build resentment, animosity, and a desire to undermine the desired changes.
Elicit input from an array of stakeholders. Sometimes decisions have to be made at the drop of a dime, but most do not. For the big decisions that will dramatically alter school culture (i.e. grading, hiring, new policies, evaluation etc.) it is imperative that all stakeholders be represented at the table and be allowed to offer input and/or suggestions. Shared-decision making and consensus are two of the most important elements of effective leadership. A committee ends up being a leader’s best friend when it comes to making these types of decisions. This should go without saying, but students should be a part of this process every time, if appropriate.
Take time to research and reflect. I have found that connecting research and pertinent examples that support why a decision will or has been made greatly assists with embracement by stakeholders. It is also important to reflect upon the potential outcomes of the decision in order to best respond to concerns and complaints.
Cooler heads prevail. Never make a decision solely based on emotions, as these tend to be the worst possible decisions a leader can ever make.
Develop a circle of trust. We all need honest feedback on decisions we are about to make. The problem is that we might not receive this prior to each time a big decision is made. Determine whom you trust the most and who will not hesitate to push back on your ideas before making a decision. Over time this group will evolve into one of your best assets when it comes to making the best decisions.
The buck stops with you. Ultimately it is up to you as a leader to make the final decision even if you follow all of the suggestions above. You must be confident with every decision you make. After all, you are in this position because others cannot handle or do not want this responsibility.

My thoughts are not meant to be a checklist for other leaders to follow, but points of emphasis when the time comes to make a decision, big or small. Life and professional experiences teach us a great deal and in the leadership world this can be priceless. Never regret any decision you make. Use each as a learning experience to become better at what you do.

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How to take a screenshot in Android

Posted by Unknown Kamis, 18 April 2013 0 komentar

How to take a screenshot on your Android phone Android tip: How to take a screenshot

Ever wish you could snap a quick photo of whatever’s on the screen of your Android phone—say, a “screenshot” of an interesting app, or of an eyebrow-raising message thread?
Well, taking a picture (or a “screen capture,” as it’s called in tech circles) of your Android phone’s display is a fairly easy process, so long as you’re using a relatively recent Android device.

Android screenshot in notification pane 295x300 Android tip: How to take a screenshot

You can jump to a recently taken screenshot by opening your phone’s notification pane; just swipe down from the top of the screen.

Specifically, your phone must be running on version 4.0 of the Android operating system to use the “native” Android screenshot feature.
To find out which version of Android is loaded on your phone, tap Settings, “About phone,” and then check the number listed under the “Android version” heading.
So, ready to start snapping screenshots?
Here’s how…

See something interesting on your Android phone’s screen you want to save for posterity? Try this: at the same time, press and hold both the Power button and the volume-down button.

Android screenshot sharing options 300x276 Android tip: How to take a screenshot

Tap the Share button to see all the sharing options for your new screenshot.

After about a second, a virtual snapshot of your screen will appear and then slide into the corner of the screen. You should also see a “Saving screenshot…” message in the notification bar along the top of your phone’s display.
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open your Android phone’s notification pane, then tap the “Screenshot captured” entry to jump to your new screenshot. You can also access the image from the “Screenshots” folder in the Gallery app.
Want to share your screenshot? Tap it, tap the Share icon at the top of the screen (it’s the one with two lines connected by three dots), then tap a sharing option—anything from Google Drive and Gmail to Messages and Google+.
To edit or delete your screenshot, tap the three-dot menu button and then pick an option from the drop-down menu.

Bonus tip

Specific makes and models of Android phones may have their own custom screenshot features.
For example, certain HTC and Samsung phones will let you take a screenshot by pressing and holding the Power and Home keys.
The Samsung Galaxy Note, meanwhile, lets you take a screenshot using the “S Pen” stylus—just press and hold the S Pen button, then press and hold the display with the tip of the pen.
How to take a screenshot in Android

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10 time-saving Google searches you need to try

Posted by Unknown Rabu, 17 April 2013 0 komentar

10 time saving Google searches you need to try 10 time saving Google searches you need to try

Need to track a package, get the status of a flight, do a little math, or find out if the ground really was just shaking beneath your feet?
Believe it or not, you can do all that and more straight from the Google search box—and in most cases, you’ll get the details you need the instant you tap the Search button.

Read on for 10 clever, time-saving Google searches, from converting currency and units of measurement to looking up definitions and—no kidding—tracking the latest earthquakes.

1. Track a package

Expecting a package? If it’s being shipped by FedEx, UPS, or the U.S. Postal Service, you can just plug the tracking number into the Google Search box.
When you click the Search button, you’ll get a link that’ll take directly to tracking results on the shipper’s web site.

Google search currency 300x205 10 time saving Google searches you need to try

Need to know the current value of the Japanese yen? Just ask Google.

2. Convert currency

So, how many Japanese yen to a U.S. dollar today? Easy.
Just type “1 USD in yen” (or something similar) into the Google Search box to get an instant conversion, including a history of the currency’s relative strength and a form for performing new conversions on the fly.

3. Get local movie showtimes

Want to go to the movies? Find out what’s playing—and when—by typing “movies” and a ZIP code into the Google search box.
Have a specific movie in mind? Type its name into the Google box and (again) add a ZIP code.
Hint: If you skip the ZIP code when looking up local movie times, Google will make a rough guestimate of your location.

4. Look up a definition

Ah, “vagary.” Cool word. What does it mean, again?
Type “define vagary” into the Google search box and you’ll get the full definition, a phonetic spelling, and synonyms. You can even hear the word spoken by clicking the speaker icon.

Google flight search 300x201 10 time saving Google searches you need to try

You can get the status of just about any flight with a simple Google query.

5. Track a flight

Need to know whether your flight’s delayed—or when another flight is slated to land?
Type the airline and flight number into the search box (“united 458″) and you’ll get a status report, a terminal and a gate number.

6. Convert units of measurement

How many kilometers in a mile … didn’t we learn that in high school?
If you’re still not sure, just type “1 mile to km” or “how many kilometers in a mile?” into the search box, and the answer will appear in a measurement converter.

7. Get the weather

Find out how beautiful the weather is in, say, Hawaii by typing “weather maui” or “weather honolulu” into the Google search box.
You’ll get the current temperature, a 7-day forecast, and even hourly details on rain and wind.

Google web calculator 300x269 10 time saving Google searches you need to try

Six times seven? Forty-two—or so Google tells me.

8. Do the math

You don’t need a calculator on your desk if you’ve got Google in a browser tab.
Type in “6*7″ (or “what’s six times seven?”), “132/3,” or “square root 100″ and you’ll get an answer the moment you click the Search button, along with a web calculator for solving more equations.

9. Check the time

Can’t remember whether Chicago is in the Eastern or Central time zone?
Type “time chicago” in the Google Search box to get the current time in the Windy City, along with details on which time zone it’s in (Central, in case you’re wondering).

10. Confirm a quake

Whoa! Did you feel that? If you think you just felt an earthquake—or if you know you felt one—type “earthquake” into the Google search box.
The first listing will be for the US Geological Survey, and just beneath you’ll see a list of most recent temblors on the planet, complete with magnitudes and map links to the various epicenters.
10 time-saving Google searches you need to try

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The Best Keynote Ever

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I have been extremely blessed to be invited to speak and work with administrators all over the country. There is nothing more exhilarating than sharing the work of my students and teachers as it has radically changed how I lead. Especially during keynote presentations, I talk about the need for school leaders to take calculated risks to initiate meaningful change. However, I rarely demonstrate this in action.

Well, that all changed recently at the Leadership 3.0 Conference in Irvine, CA. As I was going through my slide deck one final time, a crazy thought crept into my head. As I looked at my slide on how the learner has changed, I felt that someone else could make a stronger point than I. During this part of my presentation I typically relay stories of how learners are extremely creative with technology outside of school. They construct their own knowledge, solve problems, and employ critical thinking skills through many of the games they play. Thus, the perfect person to make my point was my own son, Nicholas. He is currently a second grade student at PS 3 in Staten Island, NY.

Image credit: Elizabeth Calhoon http://instagram.com/p/YBGCTxhFb1/

I immediately texted my mother-in-law as I knew there was not much time to act. Nicholas was about to get picked up at the bus stop and I needed to know at that very minute if he would agree to Facetime with hundreds of strangers and answer a few simple questions. Once I received the go ahead from him, I tested out Facetime using his sister’s iPad mini as his iTouch was not working. During this test I told him that I was going to ask him a few questions about Minecraft and that it would be a piece of cake.

Now I am never nervous when I speak, but this time I was a wreck. In my mind Nick’s performance was going to be the highlight of my keynote. About ten minutes into my presentation it was time to call him. The first attempt failed and I had to actually call my wife on my cell phone to work out the small issue. The second attempt worked and I could not be prouder of my son. He told the audience that his favorite game was Minecraft and went on to explain all of the amazing things he has created on his own. He spoke about creating his own McDonald’s that serves food, a racetrack for his pigs, new buildings, and a pool with a slide.

His little words and cheerful demeanor conveyed a powerful message. Learning should be fun, creative, collaborative, and self-directed. Creativity is an essential skill that drives learning, especially that of our younger students. Schools must recognize this fact and work with students at all levels to implement outside experiences that authentically engage students in learning and construction of new knowledge. Everyone in the audience saw firsthand the profound impact games such as Minecraft are having on my son's learning. Thank you Nicholas Sheninger for being the best keynote speaker ever!

P.S. I plan on videoconferencing my son into future talks as long as his schedule permits it.

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How to jump back many web pages at a time

Posted by Unknown Selasa, 16 April 2013 0 komentar

Jump back several web pages on iPhone or iPad iPhone/iPad tip: How to jump back many web pages at a time

To get back to where you were five pages ago in a desktop browser, you can just glance at your web history or—better yet—click and hold the Back button.

iPhone tap and hold Back button in Safari 258x300 iPhone/iPad tip: How to jump back many web pages at a time

Just tap and hold the Back button, then tap the page you want to jump back to.

But what if you want to jump back several pages in a single bound with Safari for iPhone or iPad?
Believe it or not, you can do pretty much the same thing you’d do on a desktop browser: just tap and hold the Back button.
When you do, a pop-up will show more than two dozen of your previously viewed web pages for a given Safari tab.
Tap any page to jump back to it.
And yes—you can also tap and hold the Forward button, if you wish.

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How to add widgets to the lock screen

Posted by Unknown Jumat, 12 April 2013 0 komentar

Add a lock screen widget to your Android phone Android tip: How to add widgets to the lock screen

Wish you could browse the latest scores, glance at your inbox, check the weather, or even identify a song directly from your Android phone’s lock screen, no passcode required?
Well, you can, actually, thanks to the new lock-screen “widgets” in the latest version of Android.
Adding a widget to the lock screen on your Android phone is a snap, and dozens of lock screen-friendly widgets are available depending on the apps you have installed.

Google Now lock screen widget for Android 300x184 Android tip: How to add widgets to the lock screen

You can add lock-screen widgets for weather, sports, news, your latest email, calendar events, and more.

Of course, you may want to think twice before making, say, your email inbox or your calendar visible from your Android phone’s lock screen. Personally, I’d rather keep my inbox and other personal info safely secured with a password, but the choice is yours.
Also, keep in mind that your phone must be running on version 4.2 or better of Android to add widgets to the lock screen.
Let’s get started!

First, put your phone to sleep, then click the power button to light up the lock screen.
Next, swipe from the left edge of the display to the right edge—and as you do, a secondary lock screen with a big “+” sign in the middle will slide into view.
Tap the “+” sign to see a list of available lock-screen widgets. If your phone is protected by a passcode, you’ll need to enter it first before you can browse your available widgets.
See a widget you like? Tap to add it to the lock screen. You can add up to five lock-screen widgets, with one widget per swipable screen.
Want to get rid of a lock-screen widget? Tap and hold it, then drag it up to the “Remove” icon.

Bonus tip

You can boost your selection of lock-screen widgets by downloading more apps from the Google Play Store. ESPN’s ScoreCenter app, for example, comes with its own lock-screen widget, as does Google’s Sound Search app.
source: http://heresthethingblog.com

How to add widgets to the lock screen

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How to create new collections for your iBooks

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How to create new collections in iBooks iPad/iPhone tip: How to create new collections for your iBooks

Is your digital library of iBooks getting a bit cluttered? If so, good news: there’s an easy way to tidy up the virtual bookshelves on your iPhone or iPad.
In just a few taps, you can create new folders—or “collections,” as Apple calls them—for your iBooks, perfect for rearranging your e-books in practically any way you wish.

iPad create new iBooks collection 300x210 iPad/iPhone tip: How to create new collections for your iBooks

You can reorganize the iBooks on your iPad or iPhone by creating new collections.

Here’s how…

Open the iBooks app, then tap either the Books button (on the iPhone, at the top of the screen) or the Collections button (on the iPad, in the top-left corner of the display). When you do, a pop-up will list all the iBook collections currently available on your device, including Books, Purchased Books, and PDFs.
Tap the New button, type in the name of a new collection—say, Classics—then tap the Done button.
Now, time to start organizing. Go back to your Books collection, tap the Edit button in the top-left (on the iPhone) or top-right (for iPad) corner of the screen, then tap the covers of the iBooks that you want to move to your new Classics collection.
Tap the Move button to bring up your list of iBooks collections, then tap Classics.
Whoosh! You’ve just stocked your Classics collection, and you’re now ready to create some new collections.

Bonus tip

Want to reorder your iBooks collections? Tap the collections button, tap Edit, then drag your collections up or down with the handles on the right.
You can also delete a collection (don’t worry—any books in a deleted collection will slide back into one of your remaining collections) by swiping it and tapping the Delete button.

source: http://heresthethingblog.com
How to create new collections for your iBooks

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The Runaway Train

Posted by Unknown Kamis, 11 April 2013 0 komentar

As the end of the school year draws near, the education reform rhetoric is heating up. This means states like New Jersey and New York are closer to implementing new teacher evaluation systems as a result of Race to the Top, NCLB waivers, and other mandates adopted through recent legislation. It seems like we are now at a crossroads between what the reformers think is best for elevating education in our country and the opinions of actual educators who work with students day in and day out. One thing is for certain, it is going to be extremely difficult to initiate meaningful change as the divide between these stakeholder groups continues to widen.

Image credit: http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/barack-obama-stop-runaway-train.html

I am all for meaningful change that will benefit our students, but I continue to scratch my head as I watch what is happening in the state I live in (NY) and the one where I work (NJ). The last time I checked both states have consistently been at the top in terms of student achievement and graduation rates. In both cases, the respective Department of Education is moving at a feverish pace to implement the Common Core State Standards, new teacher evaluation systems, and adopt standardized tests produced by PARCC. Can we do better? Of course we can, but the solution is not testing the living daylights out of children thereby destroying their love for learning, demoralizing teachers, or evaluating principals on how well they implement new teacher evaluation systems instead of actual leadership.

I live and work by one simple rule, do one thing exceptionally well as opposed the many things average. Unfortunately common sense has not, at the moment, prevailed in this case. What I see is a mad rush to the finish line and for what? To appease politicians and others so disconnected from classrooms and learning that reform deadlines are met no matter how ridiculous they appear to be? We are moving much too fast with all these initiatives and it has nothing to do with providing the best education for students. Instead, it seems like it has everything to do with money and lining the pockets of companies in the areas of testing, teacher evaluation, and Common Core alignment. If this runaway train is not stopped, I fear that the consequences will have a devastating impact on our education system for years to come.

The key to reform is not directives, mandates, and threats. It is consensually figuring out the best course of action to improve education by making what we do better. What I have learned during my tenure in education is that forcing people to do something builds resentment and animosity, especially if a body of research and valid field-testing does not back it. I often ask myself how we have gotten to this point in time. Education as a profession used to be revered; now no one in his or her right mind wants to pursue this career. This is what happens when success is reduced to a hollow standardized test score or rating that is influenced by so many factors beyond the control of teachers and administrators. Only people who have worked, or are working, in schools get this.

It is apparent that we have lost our way, but I would like to think that there is still hope. To begin, we must slow down this runaway train before it is too late and make sure that what is being implemented is actually better that what is to be replaced. If so, then we might be on to something. Instead of pumping money into testing and evaluation systems why not use those funds to elevate the profession by attracting the best and brightest? Another common sense approach in my book is that we must remove all of the red tape that prevents schools from easily removing ineffective teachers and administrators, not some algorithm that makes no sense or can’t be explained. Finally, we must look to the past in order to plan for the future. Our country’s education system has led the world in producing some of the greatest creative minds ever known yet we are still made to think and feel like we are failures. My hope is that we can slow down this train before it is too late.

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Autonomy Breeds Change

Posted by Unknown Senin, 08 April 2013 0 komentar

A year and a half ago I decided to implement a job-embedded growth model at the suggestion of some of my teacher leaders. They desperately sought time during the school day to engage in professional growth opportunities, learn how to integrate Web 2.0 tools, and develop their own Personal Learning Networks (PLN’s). After some thinking and looking at various options inherent in the current schedule, I decided to cut all non-instructional duties in half to create a Professional Growth Period (PGP). The inspiration for this idea came from Google’s 80/20 Innovation Model where engineers are encouraged to take 20 percent of their time to work on something company-related that interests them personally. Duties that we cut are now assumed by me and my administrative team.

Image credit: http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2010/02/thompson-autonomy-for-change.html

The PGP was launched in September 2011. It virtually gave every New Milford High School teacher two to three, forty eight minute periods a week, depending on the semester, to engage in growth opportunities of personal interest. The only catch was that each staff member had to create and present a learning portfolio at his/ her end of year evaluation conference. This learning portfolio clearly articulated how they integrated what was learned during this time into professional practice. They also had to keep a log detailing what was done during each PGP day throughout the year.

A great deal was learned after I reflected on year one of the PGP. For starters, I read Drive by Daniel Pink this past summer and made a few slight changes. In order to give each staff member a greater level of autonomy, I removed all top-down mandates such as keeping a log and watching a certain number of PD 360 videos. This year teachers had true freedom to learn anything and follow their passions as long as the time was spent to improve NMHS’s bottom line – student learning and achievement. Sample PGP activities include the following:

becoming a connected educator by developing and engaging in a Personal Learning Network (PLN)
researching best practices
developing innovative learning activities
creating interdisciplinary lessons
engaging in face-to-face professional development
learning to use new technologies
collaborating on projects with colleagues.

I also used last year as an opportunity to work with my teachers and better articulate how to compile their learning portfolios. Last week I began conducting end of year evaluation conferences with my teachers. I was extremely eager to see their respective learning portfolios and discover what they had been working on over the course of the year. Let me tell you this, I was not disappointed. As each staff member presented their learning portfolio they all shared how appreciative they were to have this time. Below is a sample from some of the portfolios:

Math teacher Kanchan Chellani has been using her PGP time to create engaging learning activities with Adobe Captivate to flip her classroom. She has also created her own website filled with resources for students.
English teachers Jessica Groff and Nanna Westbook used their PGP time to collaborate. Throughout the year they met to develop extensive binders to compile resources related to text complexity as outlined by the Common Core Standards. Jessica also used the time to develop the school’s digital newspaper, The Lance, from scratch.
Math teacher Jeff Fiscina learned how to create engaging learning activities using Educreations. He also developed his own blog and started a Twitter account for his classes.
English Teacher Sue Michels read numerous books, such as Drive by Daniel Pink and Fair Isn’t Always Equal by Rick Wormeli. She also re-wrote the entire Honors English 11 curriculum.
History teacher Joe Manzo learned how to use iMovie and created a project on the Vietnam War to engage his students in some of the essential concepts. He is now working on developing a student project where they will use iMovie to create artifacts of learning related to historical concepts later this year.
History teacher Rebecca Millan started her own blog and is now having her students blog as well in Sociology.
Math teacher April Millian has been exploring the flipped instructional approach and has begun to implement it on a routine basis with the use of Edmodo.
English Teacher Jerry Engstrom created several unit plans aligned to the common core and read How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster and Readicide by Kelly Gallagher. Jerry provided examples of how he has integrated specific concepts and insights learned from each book. He has begun to research how to implement student portfolios using Evernote for next year.

Similar to FedEx days discussed by Dan Pink in Drive, my teachers have been given the opportunity to follow their passions, unleash their creativity, and deliver a learning portfolio that illustrates professional growth to enhance teaching and learning. Based on the conversations I had with teachers after they presented their learning portfolios, they are already beginning to talk about innovative ideas to pursue next year. I am excited to see what some of my other teachers have been working on in the coming weeks and am proud that time during the school day is being used productively.

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How to change the default programs for your files [Mac]

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How to change default programs on a Mac Mac tip: How to change the default programs for your files

Annoyed that the Mac’s Preview app, and not Adobe Reader, always gets to open your PDF files, or that Safari has dibs on your HTML documents rather than your favorite text editor?
Well, one way to open your documents with the programs you want is to right-click the file in question and select “Open with…” from the pop-up menu.
But there’s also a way to permanently change the “default” program that opens a given type of document.

Mac default program get info Mac tip: How to change the default programs for your files

Right-click a file and select “Get Info” to pick a new default program for the document.

Here’s how…

Let’s say you want Adobe Reader, and not Preview, to open your PDF files. The first step is to right-click a PDF on your desktop (any PDF will do) and select “Get Info” from the pop-up menu. When you do, a lengthy pane of information about the file will appear on your desktop.
In the middle of the information pane, you’ll find a section titled “Open with”—and there, you’ll see a pull-down menu with the current default program for PDFs (Preview, in this example) selected. Click the menu, then select Adobe Reader. Keep in mind that Adobe Reader, or whatever program you want as the default choice for PDFs, must be installed on your Mac for it to appear in the menu.
At this point, you’ve only designated Adobe Reader to be the default program for the single PDF file you’ve been tinkering with. To make Reader the default for all PDFs on your Mac, click the “Change All” button. Finally, click the “Continue” button on the “Are you sure…?” confirmation prompt.
That’s it! You should now see that the folder icons for all your PDF files have switched from Preview to Adobe Reader—and when you double-click your next PDF, it will open in Reader by default.

Original post in http://heresthethingblog.com/2013/04/04/mac-tip-change-default-programs
How to change the default programs for your files [Mac]

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How to Get the Start menu back with Classic Shell in Windows 8

Posted by Unknown Sabtu, 06 April 2013 0 komentar

Get the Start menu back in Windows 8 Windows 8 tip: Get the Start menu back with Classic Shell

Even though Windows 8 doesn’t have a Start menu anymore, I still find myself clicking in the corner of the screen to open programs, search my PC, or do anything else the Start menu used to do.
Of course, without an actual Start menu, I usually end up click the Internet Explorer shortcut that’s sitting in its place, meaning I have to sit back and wait as my PC laboriously launches an unneeded browser window.

Classic Shell menu style settings 300x203 Windows 8 tip: Get the Start menu back with Classic Shell

You can set the “style” of the Classic Shell Start menu to mimic Windows “Classic,” XP, Vista, or Windows 7.

Well, good news, fellow Windows 8 users: you can now revive the Start menu (or something close to it, anyway) with a minimum of fuss thanks to Classic Shell, a handy (and free) software download.
You can download Classic Shell right here, and once you install the program, you’ll get to choose the style for your Start menu: Windows “Classic” (think Windows 95-era PCs), Windows PC, or Windows Vista/7.
Just make your selection, click OK, and voilà—you should have a new Start menu waiting in the bottom corner of the Windows 8 desktop.
You can customize the Classic Shell Start menu by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Settings. An almost bewildering number of options is available, from changing the look of the Start button itself to tweaking the look and feel of the Start menu columns.

Classic Shell drag program shortcuts into menu 300x206 Windows 8 tip: Get the Start menu back with Classic Shell

Just drag and drop a program shortcut to add it to the Classic Shell Start menu.

Here’s a few more tips to help you get started…

No, you can’t add program icons to the Classic Shell Start menu with a right-click; instead, try dragging and dropping a program shortcut into the Start button or into the Start menu itself.
You can change the behavior of the Windows key (which opens the Start menu in previous versions of Windows or the Start screen in Windows 8) in the Settings menu. Select the Basic Settings tab (or the Controls tab if the “All Settings” radio button is enabled) and pick an option under the “Windows Key opens” section—anything from “Nothing” to “Start Menu in Desktop and Start Screen in Metro.”
By default, Classic Shell deactivates the “hot corner” for the Windows 8 Start screen (which usually sits in the same corner of the screen as the old Start menu). To turn the Start screen hot corner back on, click the “Windows 8 Settings” tab in the Settings menu and select “None” under “Disable active corners.”
Had enough of Classic Shell? You can turn it off temporarily by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Exit (just relaunch Classic Shell to get the Start menu back), or permanently by opening the Control Panel, clicking “Remove a program,” and then selecting Classic Shell.

tip

Ever wish you could skip the Start screen when booting Windows 8 and jump directly to the desktop? Open Classic Shell’s settings again, click the “Windows 8 Settings” tab, and check the box next to “Skip Metro screen.”
Originally posted in heresthethingblog.com
How to Get the Start menu back with Classic Shell in Windows 8

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Tracking Your Digital Footprint

Posted by Unknown Rabu, 03 April 2013 0 komentar

I was devastated to learn a few weeks back that Google Reader was getting the ax. I took solace knowing that many of the other Google tools that I have become quite attached to were still around. That was until I read a tweet about Google Alerts quietly being shutdown. I paused and then quickly realized that something was amiss, as I had not been regularly receiving my alerts. Now I was downright frustrated. This was the one solid solution I had at keeping abreast of my digital footprint as well as the latest news about New Milford High School. To say I was depressed, annoyed, and angry would be quite the understatement.

My emotions were quickly put in check as my Personal Learning Network (PLN) came through as it always does. In between cursing out loud and pounding my fists on my desk, well not really that dramatic, I saw a tweet from Vicki Davis about an alert site called Mention. I immediately downloaded it in an effort to see if it could hold a candle to Google Alerts. Well, I can say that not only is Mention a solid alternative to Google Alerts it is a million times better! It allows users to monitor any keywords related to you, your brands, your schools/districts, or anything else you want to monitor. The alert settings are much more robust than that of Google Reader. Not only can you set it up to monitor the Web (news, blogs, videos, forums, images), but you can also have it monitor mentions on Facebook and Twitter if you want.

What is even better about Mention is the variety of ways you can access and be notified of new alerts. Here is a quick list:

Website
Google Chrome Extension
Desktop Application
Apps for iOS and Android

Below is a listing of some of the main features taken from the Mention website:

Media and Social Monitoring: Monitor millions of sources in 42 languages and don’t miss anything published on social networks, news sites, forums, blogs or any web page.
Anti-Noise Technology: Remove the noise coming from homonyms and spam by using our in-house technology that learns from your behavior.
Team Work: Share your alerts with any user and assign tasks to your team members. Ask your community manager to reply to a tweet, comment on a blog article...
Live Alerts: Get alerted in real-time via email and push notifications of new mentions. Don’t waste any time. React quickly and efficiently.
All Devices: Access mention from anywhere. Use the webapp, Chrome app, desktop version for PC, Mac or Linux or mobile version with the iPhone or Android app.
Smart Actions: You can react to any mention the smart way. Retweet a mention, share positive mentions directly on your Facebook page....
Priority mentions: Most important mentions are flagged according to several criteria: influence and authority of the source and latest interactions you had with them.
Statistics & Data Export tool: Get an overview of your mentions by source, language, over selected period of time, generate PDF reports or export data in CSV format to analyze them your own way.

As far as I am concerned, this is a more than adequate replacement for Google Alerts and provides a great solution to monitor your digital footprint in real-time. With the potential demise of Google Alerts, adding Mention to your digital toolbox seems like the right move. Do you know of any other alert-based tools with similar functions? If so, please share as I am concerned that Mention might become a paid service after a free trial period.

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7 secret iPhone features you need

Posted by Unknown Selasa, 02 April 2013 0 komentar

7 secret iPhone features you need

How to turn the iPhone camera flash into an alert light 7 secret iPhone features you need to try

Did you know you could turn your iPhone’s camera flash into a blinking alert light, or that you can shake your iPhone to “undo” a typo? No? You’re not the only one.
Read on for seven clever iPhone features that you might not have known about, from how to take a screenshot to an easy way to baby-proof an iPhone app.

1. Turn the camera flash into a blinking alert light

Want to see rather than just hear that your iPhone is ringing? You can, with a little help from the iPhone’s camera flash.
In just a few taps, you can set the LED flash for the iPhone’s rear-facing camera to blink anytime a calls comes in, whenever a text pops into your message inbox, or for any other iPhone event that would normally set off an alert tone or vibration.
Read more…

iPhone shake to undo button 300x188 7 secret iPhone features you need to try

Typo in your text message? Just give your iPhone a shake.

2. Shake to “undo”

So, say you just typed a lengthy text message on your iPhone (or iPad, or iPod Touch), but you’ve had a change of heart and want to start over.
You could delete what you typed by tapping the backspace key a few dozen times, or you could select the text with your fingertip and tap “Cut.”
Or, you could try a third, well-hidden option: just give your iPhone a shake.
Read more…

3. Create custom keyboard shortcuts

Tired of repeatedly tapping your street address, your job title, or common phrases like “on my way” or “you there?” on your iPhone’s virtual keypad?
If so, good news. iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches (not to mention Android phones) will let you create your own, custom keyboard shortcuts for … well, just about anything.
Read more…

How to babyproof an iPhone app with Guided Access 300x190 7 secret iPhone features you need to try

You can turn your baby loose on your iPhone once you activate Guided Access mode.

4. Baby-proof an iPhone app

Worried that your iPhone-addicted little one might wipe your work email with an ill-timed swipe?
Never fear. You can temporarily “lock down” just about any iPhone app, freezing all the hardware buttons (including the “Home” button) and letting you draw zones on the screen that won’t react to taps or swipes.
Read more…

5. Take a screenshot

Ever wanted to take a quick snapshot of your iPhone’s display? Or have you taken a screenshot by accident, without quite knowing how you did it?
Well, taking a screenshot on the iPhone (or iPad, or iPod Touch) is a nifty, easy trick—so easy, in fact, that more than a few puzzled readers have written in, wondering how snapshots of their iPhone’s home page wound up in their mobile photo albums.
Read more…

Zooming the iPhone display 300x233 7 secret iPhone features you need to try

You can zoom the entire iPhone display with a tap and a swipe.

6. Zoom in on the display

Having a hard time reading the tiny type on your iPhone’s screen? Believe me, you’re not the only one.
Springing for a new pair of reading glasses is one solution, or you could always “pinch” to zoom, say, a web page in Safari.
But here’s another idea: by tweaking a key setting, you can zoom the entire display on your iPhone, no matter what app you’re using.
Read more…

7. Zip to the top of a web page

Dreading having to flick your way all the way back to the beginning of a web page on your iPhone? Here’s a quick and easy shortcut.
Read more…

7 secret iPhone features you need

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