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How to create new collections for your iBooks

Posted by Unknown Jumat, 12 April 2013 0 komentar

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]

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar

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

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…