#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!