Vermont E-Cycles Electronic Recycling Program

click to locate a Vermont E-Cycles collection location Vermont’s new electronic waste law bans the disposal of certain electronic devices and provides for convenient collection of computers, monitors, printers, computer peripherals, and televisions for consumers, charities, school districts, and small businesses that employ 10 or fewer individuals. The FREE Vermont E-Cycles electronic recycling program established collection locations that are located statewide and operate year-round. All computers, monitors, printers, computer peripherals and TVs - regardless of brand, age, or condition - are accepted for FREE recycling. Other electronic devices are also accepted at these locations, however, there may be a fee to dispose of those items.

iPad followup workshop; January 9, 2013 (afterschool)

Do you have questions about using your iPad?  Would you like to learn how to both read and create Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on your iPad...or how about about printing directly from your iPad?  Additionally, I'll have handouts for all of the curricular areas with over 1300 free, vetted iPad apps.  No question or concern is too basic.  Everyone is invited.  This workshop will be held at the Weathersfield computer lab.  If you plan to attend, please download and install the following apps...DropBox, CloudOn and Breezy. If you can't attend, or need help installing, send me an email and I'll pay you a visit at your school.  

(Dropbox should be installed on your smartphone, iPad and computer.  Breezy will require you to install the app on your iPad and the Breezy Connector on your work and or home computer.)

Links in a Google Spreadsheet????

If you'd like to include a link to a URL in your Google spreadsheet, simply enter the URL in the cell. Whenever this cell is selected, a small pop-up dialog appears. Click the URL from the dialog. If you want a cell to include a URL without a hyperlink, click Remove in the window that appears when you point your mouse to the link. If you want to add the hyperlink again, right-click the cell and select Show hyperlinks.

If you'd like to include a link to a specific URL, but you want this link to be indicated by text (for example, instead of "https://helpdesk.wsesu.net/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk" appearing in your cell, you want the viewer to be able to link to the phrase WSeSU HelpDesk ), enter this hyperlink formula into the cell:

=hyperlink("www.xxxx.com";"search the web")

Replace "www.xxxx.com" with the URL of your choice, and "search the web" with the text of your choice. After you've done this, only the text linking to that URL appears in the cell. Click the text to open the pop-up dialog again with the URL.  

This is what would be entered into the cell.
=hyperlink("https://helpdesk.wsesu.net/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk";"WSeSU HelpDesk")

Little Bird Tales

I just received this email from Julie Burchstead: ...Just found out  about this very cool resource via the new VTED group Larry shared. It is called Little Bird tales and allows teachers and students to create virtual books with voice recordings to read aloud the text. Maybe you already knew about it...but I will be sharing it with staff here.

If you like Little Bird Tales, visit my handout entitled Web Sites for Younger Children...there are five pages of sites keyed to curricular areas.

Introducing the Google's Save to Drive extension, plus enhancements to images

The new Save to Drive Chrome extension gives you a few new ways to capture content from anywhere on the web and store it neatly in Drive. After you install the extension, you can click on the Drive extension icon to save:

·         an image of an entire page or an image of the visible page
·         the HTML source code 
·         a Web archive (.mht) 

Or you can right-click on images or links to files and save them directly to Drive.

After you save using the extension, you’ll see options to immediately open the file in Drive, rename it, or view it in your Drive list, where you can do things like add it to a folder or share it with others.

There are also a few new ways to work with images you’re already storing in Drive. You can now zoom by scrolling or using the new ‘fit to page’ and 100% buttons. And if you have something to say about a specific part of an image, you can select a region and add a comment to it.

How about a Chromebook for $99?

Read the handout...Through 12/21, Google is providing an exclusive opportunity through DonorsChoose.org for public school teachers to request the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook for the heavily discounted price of $99 each, including hardware, management and support.

CloudOn App - Microsoft Office 2010 on your iPad!

This is for real and it's free!  [There are a number of Youtube videos that will introduce you to CloudOn.]  You can create and edit documents and save them to either your Dropbox or Google Drive.  Download the app from the Apple app store...there's also an app for an Android.

Google Hangout Tour; Friday, Dec 7th @ 9:30 A.M.

...message from our favorite Google educator...

I have had  email request to do another Google Hangout Tour.

Can't do a whole day like last time, but I can do a half hour tour on Friday December 7  at 9:30  with tech check at 9:15

RSVP  below if you want to join us.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGpuZUZyNmNPY01DakxzZW8yVXRlUGc6MQ

You will need to create a Google Plus profile to participate. Please do this ahead of time. If your school does not yet offer this option, you should sign up with your public Google Account. Also, please bring a pair of earphones or earbuds. I will turn on the Hangout 15 minutes early for those who want to do a tech check ahead of time. You may need to download updates if you have never used the video chat feature of your Google Account.

Lucie deLaBruere
www.LearningWithLucie.com
http://twitter.com/techsavvygirl

Gmail's new Compose and Reply Experience

Try it out! Once you click the Compose button, click the "new compose experience" link right next to the Labels button at the top of the message. Until the change is fully launched, you'll be able to choose whether you use the new or current experience. It's optional for now but you may actually like it...

Google Doc templates for 1-5 paragraph essays

One – five paragraph assignment templates are available for your use.  I’ve placed them in the WSeSU template area of your Google Drive.  To use the template, download and rename it and then save the file to your Google Drive.   (If you need assistance…I have a number of handouts to remind you how to download and share Google files, or just send me an email and I’ll stop by.)

[Once you have one of the templates downloaded, enter text into one of the boxes.  You’ll notice that as text is entered the size of the box extends to the right of the page.  As soon as you click on another cell or hit return, the box resizes and will remain within the borders of the page.]

New Resources from Google

Watch four short videos...one is actually for real.  Gmail Motion,  Gmail Tap,  Google Fiber,  GoogleMaps Earth View.

Everything that you want to know about Google +

...can be found on one of these videos... [posted ny Larry on Google +]

Common Core State Standards and Library of Congress Teacher Resources: Find Lesson Plans (and More) That Meet Your CCSS Needs

The most recent issue of the Library of Congress TPS Journal focuses on the Common Core State Standards and the importance of incorporating primary sources to insure student success. 

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are on many teachers’ minds this school year, and the Library of Congress is ready to help. The Library’s teacher resources are a great fit for teachers trying to meet key CCSS goals, including critical thinking, analyzing informational texts, and working with primary sources. They’re all free, and finding them is as easy as going to www.loc.gov/teachers.

Change your desktop to look like an iPad, iPhone or Chromebook

This is a screen shot of my desktop.

Symbaloo allows you to make your desktop very user friendly.  You create buttons for places that you frequently go to.  I have buttons for my home and school email, my Google drive, and web sites that I frequent. 

Vermont Fest Resources

If you were not able to attend Vermont Fest, you can still have access to all of the handouts and presentation materials.  Look through the conference brochure for workshops that are germane to your grade level or curricular area.  Then look at the spreadsheet for links to all of the materials.

Prezi has updated its interface

Check out the YouTube video that highlights the new features.  (Yes, it's still free!) If you don't already have Prezi, sign up for a free license.

Embedding a slideshow into Blogger

It may not be as easy as moving a slideshow from iPhoto to iWeb but with a little effort, you'll be able to do this.  You will first need to go to Google's Picasa Web Albums.   (Use your wsesu.net username and password.)   This is where you will upload your pictures and make them into a slideshow.  The handout details some of the steps that you will need to take to embed your slideshow into either a POST or PAGE on your Blog (or Google site).

Here's a sample slideshow of pictures taken with USB microscopes. 

As always, send me an email when you are available and I'll walk you through the process.

Wonderful math activities using Google Earth

Real World Math is a collection of free math activities for Google Earth designed for students (grade 4 up) and educators.  the lesson topics include: estimation, line graphs, oil spill estimates, volume of solids, crop circles, tsunami warning and tessellations.  

Gmail's new compose and reply experience

this was posted to the Group area from Larry

I just wanted to point you to some information about the new compose window that is rolling out over the next few weeks or so.  It allows you to search past Emails as you compose your Email, compose two Emails at once, as well as minimize drafts for later.

The first time you click compose, or reply, you should see a window pop-up asking you if you would like to try the new compose window or try it later.  You can pick.  If you decide to go with the new one now, which will be rolling out to everyone automatically over time, here are some links to help you navigate the new features:

Introducing the new compose in Gmail

Gmail's new compose and reply experience

Sandy

Here are some Google Earth files; Sandy's actual track, Sandy's projected track with estimates for storm surge along with projected wind and water details.

Another interesting site provides the user with a Hurricane Crisis map that is time sensitive.  You type in a zip code and receive projected wind and rain information.


Special VT Weather Alert from the National Weather Service is updated every few hours

Time lapse video from NASA

When someone asks, what can do you with Google Docs...

Show them this video. (It's about 1.5 minutes)

You can now automatically correct Google Form assessments

Flubaroo is a free tool that allows you to automatically grade Google Form assessments.  Watch the video, then if you need help installing Flubaroo, please submit a helpdeskticket.  

If you need help using a Google Form, please let me know and I'll stop by.

Crib sheets for all things Google

Crib sheets for Picasa, Voice, Translate, Reader, Calendar, Blogger, SketchUp, etc.

Google has a wonderful new site...

If you’re looking for a free and useful tool to help bring history to life, Google has you covered. The search giant has been making big strides into education lately and classrooms around the world are benefiting. The Google Cultural Institute is an elegantly designed but elaborate resource that offers a glimpse into key happenings from years past.

The website uses a horizontal-scrolling timeline view to help create a sense of time passing. There’s multimedia, interaction, and a lot to learn. 

Thanks to JeanMarie Oakman for posting this onto her Google Group area!

Wonderful, Free Interactive PreK-12 math lessons

go to the site

October 16th @ 7:12 pm

Did you know that in the last month there were four earthquakes that effected New England? 

Did you feel the earthquake on Tuesday evening?  Although the washing machine and dryer were both spinning, I knew that the vibration had to come from some other source.  When I checked the Google Earth file from the USGS (it's a free download), I realized that there was a 4.5 magnitude quake in Maine.