#13 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: Print Friendly

Dear Colleagues,

Today's tech tip is one I absolutely adore.  How many times have you been on a web page and wished you could print it out but get rid of all that pesky navigation or even ads?  For me, it happens daily.  Well, today's tip is perfect for this!  

If you are not using Chrome, this tool won't work for you.  I've switched to Chrome to take advantage of the interconnectivity of Google Gmail, and Google Drive.  I would recommend switching over to it if you haven't.   

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Print Friendly is an extension for Chrome.  This is essentially like an app that gets integrated into the Chrome browser.  A tiny green icon will appear up in your toolbar of Chrome.  Then, when you are ready to print it, a dialogue box will show up.  This is really where the 'magic' happens with this tool.  It will allow you to remove images, ads, navigations, change the text size and much more. 

Here is a link to the extension in Chrome.

I hope you find this useful.

Todd

This post idea came from an outstanding resource called Educational Technology and Mobile Technology

#12 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: Google Drive Short Cut Sheet

Dear Colleagues,

Today's tip is for the overachiever among you.  If you are using Google Drive now, and I KNOW that you are, these tools are awesome.  The first is an in depth listing of all sorts of 'short cuts' that you can use to navigate and utilize Google Drive.  It's a bit of overkill, but it's fun to see what is possible.  Even if you only choose one or two of them to commit to memory, it would probably be worth it.  This cheat sheet comes from Shake Up Learning.

Now, if that is too much, try out these quick and dirty short cuts:

So, give one of these a shot.  It might just help you speed up your work in Google Drive.  Do you have a favorite short cut?  Please feel free to share it with your colleagues in the comment section of the blog.

#11 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: Using Alexandria in Your Pajamas, and How to Preview the 175 New Books in the Collection!

Okay, so hopefully I got your attention with the Pajamas reference.  Seriously however, this week's tip will teach you how to access our library's resources from anywhere you have an internet connection.  

Yesterday we added over 175 new NONFICTION titles.  You can preview some of these HERE.  We didn't have time to give you a preview of them in the faculty meeting, but they are on display

It all starts with the Hubbard Woods Resource Center Page; your 'one stop shop.'  

See that stack of books on the bottom left side?  Click on that.

That will take you to our 'online catalog,' which is called Alexandria.

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Click on researcher and you now have access to all 27,000 titles in the Resource Center.  

Because I know that we added many new titles about the Pony Express, I used that as our search term.  

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From here, you can see what titles are available.  Many of the titles allow you to see the cover of the book and some even let you take a look inside.  See something you want to check out?  Let us know, we would be happy to help you get the resources you need for your classroom.

There are a plethora of phenomenal resources at your fingertips.  You can even discover them in your pajamas!

Sincerely,

Todd and the RC Crew

#10 For Teachers Who Just Got iPads...

This week I'm going simple.  All teachers in the district recently received an iPad.  Many teachers will, in the next couple of weeks, be getting iPads in their classrooms as well.  It can be pretty easy to be overwhelmed with the options and be paralyzed.  I found that the interactive poster below was a pretty simple way to begin thinking about how to use the iPad with your students.  Take a look at these nine tips.  I would skip #1 right now.  You don't need to set up the cloud just yet. 

Click HERE for the interactive PDF file:

If you feel pretty good with these nine tips, take a look at this website.  It is loaded with resources and tools to make integration of the tool a little simpler:  

http://ipad4schools.org/2014/09/20/the-first-5s-with-ipads/

My favorite post on the blog is what to do with the iPad in the first five hours, days and weeks.  It is a terrific 'next step' and I would highly recommend it.

What do you think?  How are these resources helpful for teachers with new iPads?  What resources do you recommend?  Feel free to leave them in the comments.

#9 How to Be a Better Google User

Richard Byrne, of Free Technology for Teachers, is one of my library/technology heroes.  Each week he highlights tools and tips for teachers.  This week, he mashed up an older post and added some new material that I had to share with you all.  If you would like to read his original post, you can read it HERE.  He shared a few strategies to make the time you spend searching with Google more efficient and beneficial.

Here is a screenshot of the PDF that you can print and keep in your computer area of your classroom or at your own desk.

In addition to this tool, he shared an infographic that he created about alternative ways to search using Google.  Click HERE to download the infographic.

If you've decided that this is pretty cool, feel free to check out the lesson plans that Google has created to help you and your students be better 'searchers.'  

I hope that this has inspired you to search a little more smartly the next time you decide or need to 'Google' something.

#8 How to Save Anything as a PDF

How many times have you wished you could print out a copy of web paqe, internet receipt or something else?  Well, you can do this very simply.  All you have to do is choose the print command:  Command P or go to the File menu and select print.  Then, instead of choosing print, click the PDF pop-up menu and choose Save as PDF.

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On some web browsers like Chrome, you can actually add the functionality to do it right from the File menu.  Click HERE to download the add on if you use Chrome.

There you go!

Got something you want to learn?  Let me know and I'll be glad to make a tip just for you!

Also, don't forget, you can visit the Todd's Tuesday Tech Tips website where you can view the tips for the past several years.  The link is HERE.

#7 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: The Hubbard Woods Resource Center Web Site

Dear Colleagues,

This tip is a bit of a remix from one a couple of years ago. Hopefully many of you know of the Hubbard Woods Resource Center's Website.  If not, you should be!  The site is a 'one stop shop' for you, your students and their parents.  

The first thing I want to point out are the three tabs on the left hand side.  Here you can find a drop down menu for all three groups of visitors.

Next, below that you will see the links below the welcome for WGST, Book Trailers and other events happening in the RC.  Below that you will see our Online Resources, including sites that we have licenses and memberships for teachers/students to use.

Finally, below that is a link to the Winnetka Public Library and the Winnetka Public School's site.

Lastly, there is a link to our Online Catalog.  Here you can search our catalog from anywhere you have an internet connection.

Now, let's look at the Teachers' Tab.

Here you will find new books in the RC as well as specific book lists for your teaching units.  On the left hand side, you'll see all the Book Room Resources and the links to the various lists.  There are also links to the Todd's Tuesday Technology Tip Blog where you can read the tips for the past four (+) years!

Below these resources specific sites and tools that will help you support your classroom instruction.  There are links to specific writing tools and in depth links to objectives.  Don't see something you are looking for?  Let me know and I'll add it for you and the others.  

I hope that you will bookmark this site so that you can use it frequently.   I know it is my 'home page' on every computer I use.  It might be yours soon too!

#6 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: How to Print a Poster

Dear Colleagues,

Most of you know that we have a beautiful poster printer.  However, many of you have not used it.  So, today's tip is a quick tutorial on how to create and print a poster using this tool.  A PDF of this tutorial is located just above the poster printer in the RC for your reference.

Here we go:

• Begin by designing your poster; Pages is recommended, but it can be done in any program.  If you are wanting to convert a PDF into a poster, you’ll need to first open a blank document in Pages.  

• The poster printer prints images that are 24” wide.  They can be as long as you desire, but the width is fixed.  

• You can start by opening pages and choosing a blank document.

• Go to the File Menu and select Page Set Up.  Click on the Paper Size and then go to Manage Custom Sizes.

• You will need to change your document’s size from regular to 24” by the length; usually 24” by 36” is a perfect size.

 If you have a PDF or an image that you want to insert into your poster, you can simply drag it to the document once it has been resized.  If you go to View and then Zoom you can choose Fit Page and the entire poster will be visible.  This lets you get a sense of its size and the layout that you are creating. 

• Resize the image/PDF as needed. 

•  When you are done, you will need to select the poster printer from the available printers and you are done!

Now that you know how easy it is, I hope more of you will try this fantastic resource!

#5 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: You Now Have a Scanner In Your Pocket/Bag

This week's Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip is an app review.  Some of you may not know that when Apple upgraded to Mavericks over a year ago, we lost support for desktop scanners.  That means our HP Scanner up in the RC will no longer work on the desktop iMacs.  Bummer right?  Well, maybe not.  


Last year I did a tip on how to scan and email from the Xerox machine.    That's pretty awesome, but did you know that you can scan and even fax from your phone or iPad?  You can.  For the past two years, I have used the free version of an outstanding app called Doc Scan.  

Now, before I go on, I have to tell you that there is a paid and a free version.  I've used the free version successfully and haven't needed the do-dads that are included in the paid version.  Just last week I received a purchase order that I had to sign and return to one of the library vendors.  I printed the document, signed it, scanned it with the app and attached it as a PDF in an email.

 Moments later, I got a confirmation email from the vendor and it was done.  I really like that the app will consolidate multiple scans into one PDF document.  

For a fee, you can even fax documents.  Is this as good as a desktop scanner?  Probably not on an iPhone, but from an iPad it beats it completely.  If you're like me, you are continually amazed at what that little computer in your pocket or bag can do for you.  I hope that you will give this app a try!

#4 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: How to Use Common Sense Media's Tools to Make Your Life Easier

I've written about Common Sense Media in a prior post.  It is a terrific resource for parents and teachers.  The video below will give you an overview of one of their newest and most valuable resources: Graphite.

One of my favorite features on Graphite is the App Flow.  This is designed to help teachers think about how different tools fit into the process of planning and delivering a lesson.  What app would be terrific to help teachers 'hook' their learners?  Which one would be perfect for reviewing or expanding on basic concepts?  App Flow helps teachers do this.  Check out the overview:

As we are being asked to do even more in our classrooms, I think these tools make it easier for us to do them smartly.  

What do you think?  Will you try these tools?  Where do you look for inspiration and guidance on using new technologies in your classroom?

#3 Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip: How to Set an Email Signature

Have you ever gotten an email from someone and you know you know them, but you aren't quite sure how?  Well, put yourself in the shoes of someone who works with every single person in the district, namely our new Tech Director Maureen Miller.  She gets hundreds of emails with requests and try as she may, she can't always remember where someone works and what they do.  So, she's asked that we all take three minutes and set up an email signature.

What is an email signature? It is simply a 'return address.'  Think of it as the return address on a letter, except for email.

How do you set up an email signature?  I'm glad you asked.  It is simple.  Just follow these five easy steps:

Click on the little gear up in the top right corner of your email window.

 

When you click on the gear, a drop down menu will show itself:

 Here you need to click on the settings tab.

 

You will need to scroll down to the signature section of the settings.  

Here is where you'll enter your contact and job information. 

When you are done, make sure you click on Save Changes.  

There you go.  Now, whenever you send email from your school mail account, there will be a signature with all your contact information at the bottom of the email.  I am sure Maureen and others will appreciate this small gesture!

#2 Great Back To School Tips From Common Sense Media

Dear Colleagues,

This week my tip is less a tip and more talking points.  By now I hope you've had the chance to explore Common Sense Media's website.  If you haven't stop what you are doing and do it now!

This week they have an outstanding article entitled:  "18 Questions to Ask at Back to School Night."  As I read the questions, my mind spiraled from the diversity of my son's seventh grade expectations and that of my high school junior's.  Much of what happens in the classroom is reinforced with web based content and resources.  It is a given that the students will be proficient in navigating a myriad of online tools

Most of us either have a student of our own at home, or have nephews and nieces that we care an awful lot about.  This article is for all of us.  What I really like about it is that it is broken into several 'bite size' chunks.  For instance, it has questions based on:  "Have five, ten, fifteen minutes with the teacher..."  It also has some questions to ask an administrator if you have time to speak with them.

I'm a big believer in being prepared for all situations, it must be my Boy Scout training.  As you are preparing your Go To School Night presentations, you might want to take some of these questions into consideration.  If you end up with a question you don't feel ready to answer, feel free to send them to me!  These questions are great to take with you to your own child's "Back to School Night" too!

I hope that both the Common Sense Media site and this particular article are helpful for you!

#1 Using Quotescover.com for Inspriation!

Welcome to a new school year!

Today's T3 or Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip is one for those of you who enjoy being inspired by the words of others.  

I often see quotes used in presentations, for interior decorating and in many unexpected places as little pots of happiness.  Today's tip takes ordinary quotations and turns them into works of art in a very simple way.

The first thing you need to do is go to www.quotescover.com

Once you get there you will be brought to a home screen that shows off some of the possibilities of using this new tool.  It is billed as allowing you to make prints, posters, Facebook and other social media posts.  As an educator, I could imagine making these with quotes from students.  Formalizing their words in such a stunning way could show them how important their words are.

One of the things I really like about the site is that if you don't have a quote in mind, you can search their database right from the site.  Once you have a quote set, you can begin the simple process of turning it into a new creation.

 

I found this quote by Bill Gates about technology that I thought was especially appropriate given the hiccups we experience at the beginning of every school year with new tech.

"Technology is just a tool.  In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important."

Bill Gates 

Once you have the quote ready, just enter it into the box and click.

 

You are then presented with multiple options for the final output.  For this example I just chose a square e-card format.

 

Now the fun begins.  I can start clicking through the various fonts, and colors until I find one that I like.  If you go past one that you like, you can go backwards with both color and font.

 

Find the right combination for your use and then when you are done, click save to your desktop.

   

I really like the color combination above.  If you want to, you can access even more tools on the left hand side to draw and paint your own image.  Or, you can add a background image as well using the tools on the right hand side.  

 

Here is the final result.  I think it looks pretty spectacular! 

What do you think?  How might you use this in your instruction?  

Todd's Tuesday Tech Tips #21: How to set up Google reminders in Calendar