Technology Tip Number 70 Calculate it Online
The internet has been interactive for a while now.  Just watch a kid play an online game and you'll see just how interactive it has become.  Today's technology tip is a list of websites that have online calculators on them.  Calculators like these could become a part of your next lesson plan, or even help you personally.   Check some of them out today:      ArcyTech.org/Java    Some online educational programs for the elementary grades    http://arcytech.org/java/    MiddleSchool.net    A list of calculators for middle school students    http://www.middleschool.net/MainFeatures/caculate.htm    DrCalculator.com    A list of easy to use financial calculators    http://www.drcalculator.com    Jeacle.ie/mortgage    Every try explaining a mortgage to someone?  This website can    really help.    http://www.jeacle.ie/mortgage/    StevensCreek.com/goodies    Here's a calculator that will tell you how many calories you burn    in an ordinary day.    http://www.stevenscreek.com/goodies/jcalories.shtml    Arachnoid.com    This website has a unit converter for just about everything.    http://www.arachnoid.com/lutusp/conversions.html    Math.com    OK, maybe it's an obvious one, but they have calculators on    their website.    http://www.math.com/students/calculators/calculators.html     CalculateForFree.com    Great website with a whole list of online calculators    http://www.calculateforfree.com/       National Center for Educational Statistics    Yep, they have a free online graphing website for kids    http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx    JavaBoutique.internet.com    Here's an online graphing calculator    http://javaboutique.internet.com/graphcalc/ This is truly just the tip of the iceberg as far as dynamic online calculators go.  There are many more out there.  Many of them use what's called JAVA code to do the calculations and create the dynamic aspects of the calculators.  Knowing that they use JAVA code can help you search for the exact calculator that you might need.
PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Try using a few of the online calculators listed above.  See if you can find just one that you could use personally. TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  To find more calculators on the internet try searching for: Java Calculators Online trigonometry calculators in Java Online dynamic calculators

Technology Tip Number 69 Coming to a Computer Near You
When it comes to computers there's always something new coming out.  Here are a few acronyms you may have heard and some definitions of them: V.O.I.P. - Voice Over Internet Protocol, this is what's making internet telephone possible.  Here is a more detailed explanation of how it works:  http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ip-telephony.htmBasically, just as email and instant messaging is used to send a text message, VOIP is used to send your voice over the internet in a phone conversation.  Some examples of VOIP services that could replace your current phone service at home are:  Vonage, Comcast Digital Voice, and for those of you who prefer to not pay for your computer phone service there's Skype (which also offers free video chatting) or you could just do a Google search for "free VOIP": H.D.T.V. - High Definition Television is the next big thing in TV technology.  Here is a more detailed explanation of how it works at: http://howstuffworks.com  "HDTV is high-resolution digital television (DTV) combined withDolby Digital surround sound(AC-3)."  It is a form of DTV or Digital Television.  In the U.S. all TV stations have switched over to transmitting a digital only signal since 2009.  In places like Great Britain the changeover has been underway for a while and in Australia the transition will be done gradually in 2013.  You can learn more about the world-wide progress of the digital transition here. WiFi - stands for Wireless Fidelity and it is a form of wireless internet.  For a more detailed definition go here: http://www.techterms.com/definition/wifi  You may have noticed that WiFi is being offered for free in more and more places.  For example, if you have a handheld or laptop computer with WiFi you can access the internet for free at most Starbucks coffee shops and in many airports.  Here's a website that lists free WiFi locations all across the country:  WiFiFreeSpot.com
PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Try using one of these acronyms in a sentence today. TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  If you'd like to learn some more about these new technologies try searching the internet for: V.O.I.P. H.D.T.V. WiFi Hotspots

Technology Tip Number 68 PowerPoint me Through This
Here's some tips to help you the next time you're showing a PowerPoint Slide Show: 3 Ways to Start a Slide Show: Go to "Slide Show" on the menu bar and select "View Show" Or, click the little graphic of a projector screen in the bottom left corner: Or, just press "F5" on the keyboard   12 Ways to Move Through a PowerPoint: TO GO FORWARD:  Space Bar, Right Arrow, Down Arrow, Enter, Left Click, Right Click and select "Next" from the menu TO GO BACKWARDS:  Left Arrow, Up Arrow, Backspace, Right Click and select "Previous" from the menu 2 Ways to Blank the Screen: During a presentation your audience will naturally focus on the screen rather than the presenter.  To get the audiences attention back on the presenter you could blank the screen during the presentation.  Here's how to do it:       Type the letter "B" and the screen will go black     Type the letter "W" and the screen will go white 1 Way to draw on the screen     Right click on the screen and select "Pointer Options" and then "Pen" 2 Ways to bring up an Index of the Slides: Right Click on the screen and select "Go" then choose "Slide Navigator"  then select the slide you want from the list Right Click on the screen and select "Go" then choose "By Title"  then select the slide you want from the list 2 Ways to end a PowerPoint Slide Show: Right Click and select "End Show" from the list or just press "Esc" on the keyboard Featured YouTube Video - PowerPoint 2010 Navigation Features
PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Try using some of these techniques in a PowerPoint slide show today TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  If you'd like to learn some more about running a slide show try searching the internet for: PowerPoint tips and tricks Running a PowerPoint slide show PowerPoint tutorials

Technology Tip Number 67 Table That
Sometimes you just need to add a table to a Word document.  Here's how to add one: 1)  Go to "Table" on the menu bar and select "Insert" and then "Table" Note:  There are always multiple ways to do things in Word.  You could also make a table by clicking this button:   2)  Select how many Rows and Columns you want (rows go across and columns go up and down).  Then click "OK" 3)  Your Table will appear on your word document wherever your curser was last showing:   Other things you can do with a table: Merge Cells Together     Highlight the cells you want to merge and then right click on the selected area and choose "Merge Cells" from the menu that appears: Change the Line Color:     Highlight the entire table (all the cells) and then go to the "Table" Menu and select "Table Properties"     Choose "Borders and Shading" and make changes there: Add More Rows:     Click in the bottom right hand cell on the table (the last cell).  Press the "Tab" button on the keyboard and a new row will appear.  You can also add rows by going to the "Table" menu and select "Insert" and then "Rows Above" or "Rows Below"
PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Try making a table like this one in Word: TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  If you'd like to read more about tables in Microsoft Word try searching the internet for: Table format in Word Table borders and shading Making tables in Word

Technology Tip Number 66 Try Picturing the News
You've heard the old saying that a picture says a thousand words.  How many words can a picture from a current news story tell you?  Originally the internet was text driven but with higher speed connections and new technologies it is becoming more and more image driven.  For today's technology tip consider the power with which the following websites share information about current events using images: For decades the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has stood for honest news reporting. You'll find their multi-lingual website to be full of useful information.  They also have a section dedicated to what they call: "The Day in Pictures" where they collect powerful images from around the world.  You can check out their News in Pictures website here. The Associated Press also knows the value of a picture and anyone can browse their collection of news images here: APimages.com Reuters also has a website where you can view the news in pictures here. Many other online news sites also offer current events in pictures: The Telegraph in the U.K., NBC News in the U.S., Al Jazeera - In Pictures, Time Magazine - Pictures of the Week. If you are really enjoying seeing the world through these kinds of images you might want to go to NewsInPictures.com for a whole list of additional resounces. Having a little text withdrawl?  This is a website from Japan that takes the top news stories from Google News and turns them into a color coded mosaic: NewsMap.jp Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.
PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Check out some of the links above and consider how the availability of so many images is changing how our children interpret the world.  TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  Looking for more websites that feature current events images?  Try searching for: News Photos News slide shows Current events pictures Pictures of the news

Technology Tip Number 65 Feeling Old Yet?
Have you ever considered the number of "new" technologies that have become obsolete during your lifetime.  Have you ever considered how much differently you might see the world if you had never come into contact with items like vinyl records of rotary phones.  Let me introduce you to a hypothetical 8th grade student and tell you a few things about the world as he or she might perceive it.  You might want to brace yourself for this: They were probably born in this century (year 2000+) and are about 13 years old. Google was founded before they were born. The First Gulf War happened before they were born as did the Cold War and as far as they know, there has always been a large US military presence in the Middle East. They have only really known two US Presidents.  There has always been an internet. There have always been CD's and DVD's Cassette tapes are just as obsolete as vinyl records and they probably have no idea what an 8 track tape is. Answering machines, cordless phones and cell phones have always been around. Cars have always had airbags and car seats for babies and children have always been required. The Cosby Show had its last season long before they were born. TV's have always been in full color and they have always had remote controls. There have always been digital cameras with display screens on the back. The first Nintendo Games Boys are older than they are. The first portable MP3 players came out before they were in school and the first iPhone was released when they were learning how to read. They weren't in school when the Columbine school shooting happened. The original Star Wars movie was released over 2 decades BEFORE they were born. Stamps have never been cheaper than 32 cents. In their lifetime there was never a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics orApartheid in South Africa but there has always been a European Union.   Most have never even seen a rotary dial phone. Women have always outnumbered men on American college campuses. Keep in mind that this is just a partial list.  Consider how differently these kids might perceive the world with all the new technologies they are experiencing.  Consider the effects of MP3 players, hybrid cars, cell phones with cameras, and the internet.  Any one of these technologies can drastically change how you understand and view the world.  All music seems to be free online, new technology can solve any energy crisis and all pictures can be displayed instantly.  Immediate communication is almost always available.  And just about any question you can think up can be answered quickly online.  This doesn't necessarily mean the physical or psychological needs of human development have changed.  But this might mean that educators are challenged like never before to make their curriculum relevant to their students.  Something to think about. If you'd like to read more on this topic consider the following websites: Beloit College releases an annual "Mindsets List" to help their faculty better understand incoming freshman.  Here is a link to their most recent lists: http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/ Often times as adults we forget about the physical toll the use of technology takes on children.  This article from cnet.com looks at this issue in depth: http://news.com.com/Is+tech+injuring+children/2009-1041_3-6073730.html Featured YouTube Video: Understanding the Digital Generation - Ian Jukes
PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Check out one of the links above for more information about how technology is changing our kids. TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  If you'd like to read more on this topic try searching the internet for: Digital generation gap Children and technology Effects of technology on kids Benefits of technology integration

Technology Tip Number 64 Follow-up On That Email
Answering emails regularly is getting to be important.  Inevitably some emails are getting lost on the Inbox List.  Here's a way to mark an email for follow-up later: 1)  Right click on an important email 2)  Select "Follow Up" from the list that appears: 3)  In the next window choose "Follow Up" 4)  In "Due by:" select the date when you need to follow up, on the drop down menu next to that you can select a specific time when you need to follow up. 5)  Click "OK" On you Inbox list the email you have "flagged" will now have a little red flag next to it.  When the due by time arrives you'll be reminded of the email again.
PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  If you use Outlook for your email try setting an email for follow-up today.  If you use another system see if it has a similar feature. TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  If you'd like to learn some more about setting messages for follow-up in Outlook try searching the internet for: Outlook tips and tricks Setting a message for follow-up Using Outlook