Back! (finally)
Quite a few things have changed since the last entry. The school now truly is 1:1 in grades 5-11, with 12th graders having access to windows laptops. We have worked through a number of small problems and (for the most part) things are running smoothly.
There have been two presentations to the school board, one with students, one with just me, and both were well received.
Lots of communication with staff members, just waiting for them to "pull the trigger" and move some projects to digital.
Tip: Purchases an "iRig" microphone adapter to use with the iPad. It works great with a studio microphone that I borrow from the music department. Filters out almost all outside noise when recording.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
September 20
Another week gone as the school year progresses. Lots of things in the works right now.
The 5th graders have a temporary cart of Chromebooks and are learning a lot. I've been in there once with students so far to help set up Google classroom and go guardian. It's fun to watch instructors "discover" all the things they can do with the Chromebooks.
Continuing to work on the projects in 1st and 2nd grade and exploring more with connecting them to seesaw. It is a very powerful tool and I think worth the money we spent to get it.
Next week the project with PE begins, video of proper weight lifting techniques. Already exploring the options of a locked down touch screen kiosk to make these videos available to all (including community members) who use the weight room. Very excited about this.
Presented to the school board last night. Shared what has been happening with the position and some of the successes in working with staff and students.
Tips:
I found two google sheets addons: Choice eliminator 2 and Lab scheduler and they are amazing. Lots of uses for both of them and very easy to use.
The 5th graders have a temporary cart of Chromebooks and are learning a lot. I've been in there once with students so far to help set up Google classroom and go guardian. It's fun to watch instructors "discover" all the things they can do with the Chromebooks.
Continuing to work on the projects in 1st and 2nd grade and exploring more with connecting them to seesaw. It is a very powerful tool and I think worth the money we spent to get it.
Next week the project with PE begins, video of proper weight lifting techniques. Already exploring the options of a locked down touch screen kiosk to make these videos available to all (including community members) who use the weight room. Very excited about this.
Presented to the school board last night. Shared what has been happening with the position and some of the successes in working with staff and students.
Tips:
I found two google sheets addons: Choice eliminator 2 and Lab scheduler and they are amazing. Lots of uses for both of them and very easy to use.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
September 13
I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I've posted! It's been a busy two weeks with some major issues to deal with but we got through them.
The server has been virtualized and is working great. It's nice to have the peace of mind to know we are being backed up and now have more modern software. As a wise tech person once told me, "you never know how good your backup is until you have to use it". Hopefully we never have to use it!
Right after that there was an issue with the phones. I didn't do much to help solve that problem, just lots of running around to check to see if they were working. Took the better part of a day and even spilled over into the next morning.
Just finished the adobe spark video project in 2nd grade and it went great. Starting a new project with the same app in 1st grade today.
Spent a lot of time with the band teacher starting to develop a way to review instrument fingering with his beginning band students using google forms. It will be great when it is completed.
In the next couple of weeks I will be working with the PE teacher to video tape appropriate lifting techniques in the weight room to develop an on demand video library for kids to watch to help them learn to lift correctly.
That's a lot for one post so I will quit here. I'll keep you "posted"!
The server has been virtualized and is working great. It's nice to have the peace of mind to know we are being backed up and now have more modern software. As a wise tech person once told me, "you never know how good your backup is until you have to use it". Hopefully we never have to use it!
Right after that there was an issue with the phones. I didn't do much to help solve that problem, just lots of running around to check to see if they were working. Took the better part of a day and even spilled over into the next morning.
Just finished the adobe spark video project in 2nd grade and it went great. Starting a new project with the same app in 1st grade today.
Spent a lot of time with the band teacher starting to develop a way to review instrument fingering with his beginning band students using google forms. It will be great when it is completed.
In the next couple of weeks I will be working with the PE teacher to video tape appropriate lifting techniques in the weight room to develop an on demand video library for kids to watch to help them learn to lift correctly.
That's a lot for one post so I will quit here. I'll keep you "posted"!
Friday, September 2, 2016
September 1
Labor Day is almost here!
Today was a mostly troubleshooting day. Worked on a computer trying to figure out why an adobe addon was not showing up. Still don't have the answer there. It was day two of the 2nd grade projects, they are going to be great!
Finished wiring and setting up chromebooks in the new cart, going to hand out today.
Spent a little time at the end of the day watching how to set up striv tv.
Lastly helped with a gradebook setup for a new teacher. Had to learn a little to help her, but it worked out OK.
Today's tip (site) : postermywall (thanks Lew) it looks very cool and usable for many staff members.
Today was a mostly troubleshooting day. Worked on a computer trying to figure out why an adobe addon was not showing up. Still don't have the answer there. It was day two of the 2nd grade projects, they are going to be great!
Finished wiring and setting up chromebooks in the new cart, going to hand out today.
Spent a little time at the end of the day watching how to set up striv tv.
Lastly helped with a gradebook setup for a new teacher. Had to learn a little to help her, but it worked out OK.
Today's tip (site) : postermywall (thanks Lew) it looks very cool and usable for many staff members.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
August 31
I've missed a few days. Not due to nothing to say, just very busy.
The end of last week and the first two days of this week were spent working on trying to get wireless to the portables. Did some experimenting with switches and configuration and finally got one to work. The bigger issue is with the one managed switch we can't get in to. We will be continuing to try options to get the correct signal out to the other main classroom portable.
Three new carts arrived yesterday and we got them unpacked and have actually started setting one up to try to ease some demand on lack of chromebook numbers.
I watched a chromebook be taken apart to switch the screen. We had a broken one from last year and found out it wasn't that difficult a repair. The new screen should be here tomorrow and we can put it back together.
I have met with a number of staff regarding various issues...found a web site that will allow students to write music and share it to their google drive. Will be starting a three day lesson with the 2nd graders using adobe spark video. Have assisted with MAP testing in the 1st grade classroom since this is the first time they have tested. Created some videos to show staff how to use google forms in the classroom.
Now actually to the 31st...
Continued helping out with MAP testing today. Assisted in getting students going and actually did some reading for students that have that accommodation. Spent a great deal of the morning helping (mostly watching) a mother board being replaced in a laptop.
I did find the solution to a problem that wouldn't let students set wallpaper on a chromebook, the only problem is it involves wiping the machine and that has to be done one at a time.
I will post tomorrow on how the spark video goes.
tip: starting using capturecast to make screen captures in chrome. it is an extension and seems to work great.
The end of last week and the first two days of this week were spent working on trying to get wireless to the portables. Did some experimenting with switches and configuration and finally got one to work. The bigger issue is with the one managed switch we can't get in to. We will be continuing to try options to get the correct signal out to the other main classroom portable.
Three new carts arrived yesterday and we got them unpacked and have actually started setting one up to try to ease some demand on lack of chromebook numbers.
I watched a chromebook be taken apart to switch the screen. We had a broken one from last year and found out it wasn't that difficult a repair. The new screen should be here tomorrow and we can put it back together.
I have met with a number of staff regarding various issues...found a web site that will allow students to write music and share it to their google drive. Will be starting a three day lesson with the 2nd graders using adobe spark video. Have assisted with MAP testing in the 1st grade classroom since this is the first time they have tested. Created some videos to show staff how to use google forms in the classroom.
Now actually to the 31st...
Continued helping out with MAP testing today. Assisted in getting students going and actually did some reading for students that have that accommodation. Spent a great deal of the morning helping (mostly watching) a mother board being replaced in a laptop.
I did find the solution to a problem that wouldn't let students set wallpaper on a chromebook, the only problem is it involves wiping the machine and that has to be done one at a time.
I will post tomorrow on how the spark video goes.
tip: starting using capturecast to make screen captures in chrome. it is an extension and seems to work great.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
August 24
Pearson is finally solved! After one more phone call we now have access to all of the licensed products we should. Beginning the next step of getting teachers to log on with individual email accounts, versus sharing an account between a pair (or more) of classroom teachers.
Explored and found a way to have students submit quizlet results via google classroom. There is a lot of interest in that. Will be trying it out live on Friday morning so I hope it works!
Tip of the day: Turning in quizlet results through google classroom.
https://goo.gl/XHTT82
Explored and found a way to have students submit quizlet results via google classroom. There is a lot of interest in that. Will be trying it out live on Friday morning so I hope it works!
Tip of the day: Turning in quizlet results through google classroom.
https://goo.gl/XHTT82
August 23
Today was the "pearson" day. Spent most of the day working on trying to get the correct pearson software to a staff member for her to use in her class. Just never could get it to work correctly.
Tried to update the server so we could get the correct software for NeSA testing. Worked great until the very end. The "tech guys" from Milford were here until 10:00 when we finally reverted and go it up and running for the next day. We will be getting a new CIPA device and sending in the server to be rebuilt and vitrualized over Labor Day weekend.
No tip today, didn't have much time for research last night.
Tried to update the server so we could get the correct software for NeSA testing. Worked great until the very end. The "tech guys" from Milford were here until 10:00 when we finally reverted and go it up and running for the next day. We will be getting a new CIPA device and sending in the server to be rebuilt and vitrualized over Labor Day weekend.
No tip today, didn't have much time for research last night.
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