Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip #4: Cable Identification

Full disclosure:  I got this tip from my friends over at 180 Tips.com They have lots and lots of tech tips that you can sign up for and they'll send you one every day of the school year.  My overall feeling about them is that too many of them are outdated or have to do with PC; since we are an all Mac school, they will not have as many tips that will work for you.  However, today's tip I thought was a really good one.  It's all about the different cables you can find connected to your computer.

 

Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip #3: Google Searches by Grade Level

Happy Tuesday!

This week we are peeling back the layers of Google just a little to make it more friendly for our young users; heck, it's good for all users!

Here is a common Google search in the Resource Center:  Dolphins

Yep, that's right:  almost 19 million results!

Now, let's open Google's hood:

At the very bottom of the Google page, you will see the advanced search tab.

 

Click on the Advanced search tab:

Scroll down the page a bit (by the way, there are a multitude of tools on the way down the page that would greatly help your search, but this tip is just on how to find the reading level...)

When you get to the reading level, you have several choices:

If you choose 'show only basic results' you will then have a much more appropriate search for young students.  For example:

 
So, now you can see that 56% of the results are listed at the Basic reading level.  



How do you think you might use this tool to help your students?  As always, remember that all of these tips are archived on the Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip Blog.  You can browse these and use them when you need them.

Please remember; I'd love to hear your suggestions for a Tech Tip.  Got an idea?  Got a need to fill technologically, let me know and I'll try to find a way to help!

Sincerely,
Todd

Thanks,
Todd
 

Todd's Tech Tip #2: How to Add and DELETE Printers

Dear Colleagues,

I promised a Tech Tip regarding printers and I am ready to share.

First, good news!   We now have a brand new color printer in the RC.  Why is this so great?  It means that if our dinosaur printer (which has been going strong since 2004) ever gives up the ghost, we have a replacement printer ready to go.  You can use either of the printers once you have successfully set them up on your computer.

Second, bad news:  It's a lot of steps to see visually.  I hope the pictures don't discourage you. 

Here is how to do that (on your desktop) *I apologize in advance if there are too many steps, I was trying to make it as easy as possible and frankly,  there just is no easier way...

Step One: Go to System Preferences (click on the black apple up in the left corner.)

 

Step Two:  Click on the Print and Scan Icon

Looks like this: 

Step Three:  When you click on it, you will see a plethora of printing possibilities... Don't let this overwhelm you.   You are going to DELETE all the ones you don't want to be able to see or use!

Step Three Continued:  Click all of the printers you do not want.  To start, remove anything that does not start with HW...so, all of the CW, etc printers are not for you.  Once you've selected them, hit the (-) button.  This will remove them from your view. 

Step Four:  After removing most of the printers, make sure you have the following printers in your list:

What are these? 

HW-Color-Printer is the 2004 Dinosaur in the RC (Does a great job!)

HW-Front-XRX is the Xerox machine in the front hall

HW-Office-Color is the color printer in Lois' office (DO NOT USE UNLESS AN EMERGENCY or if you are printing IEP or other related sensitive documents.)

HW-RC-Color-New is the brand new HP Color Printer in the RC.

The Workcentre 5330 is the copy machine at the top of the stairs near Phyllis' room.

Step Five:  Don't worry if you are missing any of these.  All you have to do is click on the (+) sign and then the monstrous list will re-appear.  Click on the one that you need to add again..


So, is this tip helpful?  I'd love to hear what you think of these weekly tips.  I'd also like to know if there is something you would like to learn and/or if there is a tip you think would be great to share with our community.  Please feel free to e-mail me with your suggestions or ideas.  

Don't forget that all of the tips are available for you to review at any point on the Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip Blog.

Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip #1: Remind 101

Dear Colleagues,

I know I promised a Tuesday Tech Tip last week about printers.  We are still waiting to get our new printer installed.  As soon as it is, I will do a comprehensive tip about selecting, deselecting adding and removing printers.

For this week, I thought I would share with you something that might be incredibly helpful for you all to keep in touch with your families it is called Remind 101.

I talked about this last year, but I've experienced it and it is a revolutionary way to communicate.

Texting has become even more 'immediate' than sending an e-mail.  If you have a field trip tomorrow and you need to communicate with your families to remind them to bring a lunch, pick up at a new place, leave at a different time, etc. this app might be just what you need.

Texting usually means sending a message in which both parties see and know the other person's phone number.  This app helps you communicate without having to give your phone number.

Here's how it works:

Sign up.

Have your parents subscribe (they don't know your number, and you don't know theirs.)

Start sending messages.

The best part, in my opinion, is that they cannot write back to you at this number!!  It's simple, one way communication.

Here is a quick video that shows how it works...

Do you think you might use this tool? 

Do you have an idea for a tip?  I would love to share it (giving you full credit!)  Please send me an e-mail with your tip idea!

Feel free to visit all of the tips from last year as well at our Todd's Tuesday Tech Tip Blog

Respectfully,
Todd Burleson

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