Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:55
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Technology Tip Number 70
Calculate it Online
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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:
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.
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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
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:55
Technology Tip Number 69
Coming to a Computer Near You
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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
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:54
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Technology Tip Number 68
PowerPoint me Through This
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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
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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
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:53
Technology Tip Number 67
Table That
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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"
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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
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:53
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Technology Tip Number 66
Try Picturing the News
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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.
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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
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:52
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Technology Tip Number 65
Feeling Old Yet?
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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:
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
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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
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:52
Technology Tip Number 64
Follow-up On That Email
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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.
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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
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:51
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Technology Tip Number 63
Maximize Your Windows
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Today’s technology tip goes back to the basics. It's all about using the windows on your desktop more effectively.
For example, the buttons in the top right hand corner of the screen:
Maximize (full screen)
Minimize (Make a movable window)
Close (end a program by closing the window it's in)
To resize a window go to the bottom right hand corner, grab it by left clicking and holding the button. Then drag to make the window larger or smaller:
All windows have a title bar across the top and some windows, depending on the program that's running in them, might also have a menu bar and tool bar. Here's and example from Microsoft Word:
Featured YouTube Video - XP Tutorial:
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Try adjusting your windows today. The windows on your computer that is.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: If you'd like to learn some more about windows try searching the internet for:
History of windows
Minimizing and Maximizing
Using windows
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:50
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Technology Tip Number 62
Email it Forward
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Ever get an email that has to do with something that isn’t going to happen for a few days. Like a message about a meeting next week or when a fire drill is taking place. You know its important but you forget to put it in your plan book or add it to your calendar. As a result the email just sits there in your Inbox and it’s forgotten. Wouldn’t it be great if that email would just automatically jump back to the top of your Inbox list on the day it was actually relevant? Well here’s how to get it to do just that. Here's how to forward an email to yourself in Microsoft Outlook:
1) Right click on the email you want to forward in your Inbox and select “Forward” from the list:
2) Type your email address in the “TO:” line
3) Click on  in the tool bar
4) Set the time when you want the email to be delivered to you:
5) Click 
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: If you use Microsoft Outlook try forwarding an important email to yourself today. If you don't have Outlook try searching through the email system that you use for a similar option.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: If you'd like to learn some more about timing emails try searching the internet for:
Schedule an email
Outlook tutorials
Forwarding an email
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:49
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Technology Tip Number 61
Keeping Kids Safe Online
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Adults have a responsibility to help children learn about, interpret and understand their world. It's a pretty basic concept, but how do we as adults help kids understand their world when we aren't completely aware of the threats and benefits of things like the internet? Today's technology tip is all about helping adults educate themselves about the internet so they can help kids stay safe online.
Like any new technology the internet is full of potentially good outcomes but it comes with plenty of potentially negative outcomes. This has always been true of any new technology. Try to remember that the technology itself isn't good or bad, its how we choose to use it that's good or bad.
First, some of the good stuff we can get from the internet:
- Improved communications via email, instant messaging, texting, cell phones and video chat
- Data storage and sharing across the world
- The potential of networking ideas and knowledge without boundaries
- The democratization of information
Then some of the bad stuff:
- Internet crime such as online scams
- Misuse of information for negative results
- Character attacks and "cyber-bullying"
- Exploitation of children and child predators
So how do you educate yourself on the bad stuff so you can help kids avoid it? It should be no surprise that there is a whole bunch of websites out there that can help you:
OnGuardOnline.gov
This site provides some practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help people guard against online fraud and protect personal information.
SafeKids.com
They seek to promote "digital citizenship, online safety and civility." A trip to their home page will give you plenty of current events on the topic of online safety to think about. Additionally, they have plenty of good Safety Advice & Tools for you to check out.
Today's featured YouTube video is an oldie but a goodie:
Think Before You Post - PSA |
PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Check out one of the links above and see if you can learn at least three of new terms.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: Try searching the internet for more information. Just as the internet changes the nature of the threats posed to children also changes.
Cybersafety
Online safety for kids
Cyber Bullying
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:48
Technology Tip Number 60
Excel in 1, 2, 3 Order
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The 60th technology tip! You have successfully completed 1/3rd of the total number of tips? That means that if you started at the beginning, and you've been reading every tech tip and doing every activity you have completed 5 hours of free computer training! Congratulations, but you're not done yet!
In celebration of the 1/3rd mark, today's technology tip will be a real easy one. Today we will simply show you how to automatically number a column in Excel.
Did you ever want to number a column but you didn't want to type all the  numbers in? Here's the easy way to do it:
Open up a blank Excel worksheet and type in the numbers 1 and 2 the cells where you want to start numbering a column. Next, highlight the cells with the numbers 1 and 2 in them and grab the bottom right hand corner of the highlighted box. When your pointer turns into a small black cross left  click and hold the button down while you drag the highlighted area down the column. Drag down until you have covered the area where you'd like the ordered numbers to appear then let go of the button. The numbers 1 and 2 established the pattern that you want the computer to follow down the row. When you let go you should see the pattern has been repeated through all the cells you have selected automatically: |
PRACTICE ACTIVITY: In the example above you established the pattern for the numbering in the column by putting numbers in the top two cells. Try using the same method to create these patterns in Excel:
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: To learn more shortcuts to common tasks in Excel try searching the internet for:
Excel tips and tricks
Creating Sequences in Excel
Numbering in Excel
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:47
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Technology Tip Number 59
Getting Lawyered up Online
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There used to be a TV commercial where a confident lawyer walked across the screen and stated “The Law’s for people too.”
Well anyone who has ever had any actual dealings with the law would probably tell you that it's not quite that simple. The law seems abstract, distant and scary to most people. And the days when a young Abraham Lincoln could read up for the bar exam while splitting logs are long over. But have no fear, the internet is here!The internet isn't making the law easier to understand but it is making it easier to access. For today’s technology current event we’d like to share with you some great resources for legal information:
FindLaw.com - Provides legal information, lawyer profiles and a community that can help you make the best legal decisions.
FindLaw.com for Legal Professionals - Resources a nd links for both state and federal codes in the United States.
School Law Archive - Compiled by the American School Board Journal as a reference for the latest legal codes that effect education.
U.S. Code - Available online at the Cornell University Law School.
Library of Congress THOMAS - A project that is intended to make it easier to search through pending legislation in the U.S. Congress.
And for entertainment purposes you can always check out some real dumb laws that are actually on the books: DumbLaws.com
None of this makes it any easier to understand the law, but at least you can access it a whole lot quicker now.
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Check out one of the links above and see if you can find a specific law or, try to find your own state's laws online.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: Any of the links above could keep you busy reading and trying to understand for months, but here are some phrases you could search for on the internet anyway:
Understanding the law
Common law
School Law
United States Code
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:47
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Technology Tip Number 58
Font Effects for the Masses?
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Ever wanted to make something look special in a word document? There is a whole list of “Font Effects” that are available that you might not even know about. To find them go to “Format” on the menu bar and select “Font” from the menu. Below is a screen shot of the Font window that will appear as well as samples of the Font Effects that are available in Word.
To view a larger version of this image just click on it: 
By the way, if you make a bunch of changes to your words that you don't like you can always click the "Default" button to remove all the formatting.
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Try using a unique font effect in your next Word document, just try not to over do it.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: To learn more try searching the internet for:
Word font effects
Font advice
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:46
Technology Tip Number 57
So what's Vishing & Smishing?
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Today's technology tip is a quick follow-up to Technology Tip No. 56 about phishing. You probably remember that phishing involves using email to direct you to a fake website where you unwittingly type in your personal information. In one version of phishing you receive an email that seems to be from your bank or another financial institution. In the email, they inform you that you have to go to a specific website and re-confirm your account information. Of course the link they provide is for a fake website and if you type into it you're just going to give them (the scam artists) the information they need to empty your accounts.
Most banks and financial institutions have gotten wise to this scam and they have policies to never contact you via email to ask you to "re-confirm" your account information. Con artists know this so they started doing what's called "vishing."
Here's how a vishing scam works: You receive an email that appears to be from your bank and it informs you that you need to call a specific phone number to re-confirm your account information. The number they provide is of course bogus and when you call them and give them your account information they simply use it to access your accounts illegally and take your money. So instead of using a fake website to "fish for information" they are using a fake phone number to fish for your voice. Thus: vishing.
Here is a video on the topic from Fox News in Los Angeles:
Then there's "Smishing" scams in which con artists once again try to contact you and try to trick you into giving them your personal information - but this time they initiate the contact using a text message on your phone. Originally text messages were know as "Short Message Service" or SMS and it's from that that we get the sm in smishing. Just one more scam to look out for.
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: No practice activity, just be aware that scams like these are out there and that they are evolving and changing.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: To learn more try searching the internet for:
vishing scams
smishing scams
email scams
Identity theft
Fake phone numbers
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:46
Technology Tip Number 56
Gone Phishing?
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Phishing is the slang term for using email to get people to divulge their personal information so it can be used to steal their idenitity. Con artists use phishing emails to literally "fish" for information that they can use to illegally access bank accounts and open credit card accounts. In the past this scam was condicted over the phone - that's where the "ph" in phishing comes from.
Here are two obvious phishing emails in my mailbox that I thought I’d share with you as examples of Phishing.
For some reason Best Buy decided to offer me not just a $500 gift card but also a $1000 gift card this morning. Here are the emails I found:
Look a little familiar? You’ve probably seen similar emails before. If you haven’t you’ll see them sooner or later. These emails were sent out by a scam artist who wants to get some of my personal information. Here’s what the email says:
It says I’m eligible for a “ FREE $1000 Best Buy gift card” so I better hurry up and click on the link to find out how to get it right?
If you click the link here’s what happens: You get redirected from the original link listed above to another site that looks like this:
In case you were wondering here’s what the real Best Buy Gift Card website looks like:
The first thing you should notice about the links in the email and the website is that the addresses are obviously not “Best Buy” websites.
The link in the email: http://cangetoffer.info:8080/track?m=2181132&l=0&.e=1duZ6mYb0JZzh94rzV
The link I was redirected to: http://www.myeliterewards.com/index.php?cmd=rotator&crid=109&iid=38&caid=443&subid1=3810
The actual Best Buy address: http://www.bestbuy.com/s ite/olspage.jsp?id=cat16188&type=category&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=25&loc=GIF
The first hint that this is a scam was the fact that “ It is too good to be true” The second hint is the web addresses are bizarre compared to the actual Best Buy address.
The fake Best Buy website can be convincing. For example, at the bottom of the page they have some pretty convincing links to a “Privacy Policy” and “Terms” but on these pages you can find a third hint that this is an illegitimate offer. At the bottom of the official looking “Privacy Policy” is this address:
A quick Google search for that address led me to a link to a website called http://www.flimflam.com, specifically: http://www.flimflam.com/scam9.htm You’ll find that according to http://www.flimflam.com/ the address for “MyEliteRewards” has been used in email scams since 1997.
So, just out of curiosity, what happens if I do type in my email address and “Click Here to Submit and Continue”
Then you'll be redirected to this site:
Looks legitimate but its not. The whole goal of email phishing is to get your personal information. This webpage is what everything else was about. If they can get you to share your address and phone number and other personal information they can start to collect the elements they need to steal your identity. Please note that this is not a Best Buy website and that their logo as well as the logo for FedEx were stolen to make this webpage. Everything you're seeing in the image above is fake.
By the way, students and teenagers are prime targets for this kind of stuff. Many of them can be easily tricked into revealing lots of personal information online with the promise of a free video game or a chance to win something. It was estimated that ½ a million children had their identities stolen last year. Here is more information about Child Identity Theft from OnGuardOnline.gov.
And, of course, there is a government website that you can go to for more information about online scams: OnGuardOnline.gov
Below is a video about Phishing Scams in case you'd like some more information:
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Try deleting all the phishing offers from your email inbox today. Don't even bother opening them. If you're in a school or business network you might want to ask your network administrator if they have a special address they'd like you to forward phishing emails to so they can block them.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: To learn more try searching the internet for:
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:45
Technology Tip Number 55
Leveraging Discipline Based Articulation
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Like any profession, education has developed a long list of terms and phrases that uniquely describe what teachers do and how they do it. This collection of educational jargon is loosely referred to as “Eduspeak” and understanding it can be very difficult for the public at large. Below I have listed some websites that purport to offer glossaries of "Eduspeak" terms to assist the public. Educators deal with the public and specifically parents. They need to remember that their language, like that of a lawyer or doctor, isn't always clear to outsiders. Glossaries like these can be beneficial for education professionals as well as the general public.(Please note that these glossaries have been compiled from a parent/tax payer’s perspective)
From School Wise Press in California: http://www.schoolwisepress.com/smart/dict/dict.html
Texas Education Consumers Association: http://www.nychold.com/hirsch-termin.html
IllinoisLoop.org has a list of additional resources that can help parents "learn the lingo" of education: http://www.illinoisloop.org/lingo.html
The practical teachers in the Bering Strait School District in Alaska offer thisEduspeak Jargon Generator on their wiki to help in the preparation of "reports, grant applications, program evaluations and other required documents."
And in case you were wondering, education is not the only field that you can find "jargon generators" for. Try out some of these:
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Try one of the online jargon generators listed above. Could you find a practical application for any of these?
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: To learn more try searching the internet for:
Jargon Generators
Free Online Generators
Office Jargon
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:45
Technology Tip Number 54
What did you call that?
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Today's technology tip is about those little buttons and icons that you see every day but may not know the name of. For example how many of these items can you point to on your desktop right now?
Maximize Minimize Close
The Start Menu Title Bar Menu Bar
Tool Bar Address Bar A Drop Down Menu
Were you able to locate all of them?
Move down the page to see the answers.
There is a whole vocabulary that goes with using a computer. Many of us take knowing basic computer vocabulary for granted but it can be very intimidating for new computer users. This goes for young children as well as adults. Take a look at the images above. How many of the names did you know?
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: At the end of the day today come back to this website and try pointing to everything again. Good Luck.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: To learn more try searching the internet for:
Windows vocabulary
Computer vocabulary
Computer Terms
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:44
Technology Tip Number 53
Why not Learn to Sign?
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Are you really a life-long learner?
Have you learned anything new lately?
Would you like to?
The internet is full of information and it's growing every day. Today's technology tip is just one example of what the internet can help you do.
Can't see YouTube at work? Here are some websites where you can learn American Sign Language:
If that's not enough for you, someone even created an online list of American Indian Sign Language:
http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/native/sign/
This is just one example of how you can use the internet to really be a life-long learner. You really do have access to more knowledge than previous generations could have ever imagined thanks to the internet.
Have you used it lately?
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Try learning at least one simple phrase or word in American Sign Language sometime today. Imagine what you could do if you learned just one thing like this every day.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: If you'd like to keep using the internet to become a life-long learner try doing this. Use a piece of scrap paper to make a list of 5-7 things you'd like to learn about this week. When you have a chance and a high speed internet connection just try researching one thing a day.
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:43
Technology Tip Number 52
Broadcasting to the World
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Some technology tips are informational pieces that help you use existing software. Others serve to highlight a specific feature on the internet. Still others are just designed to help the reader keep track of the rapid pace of technology. Today’s tip falls into that later category. It is a glimpse at the possibilities and the pitfalls of currently available technology.
Home video cameras have been around for decades and the internet has been around for almost two decades. These two elements are coming together to distribute some of the most amazing, interesting, humorous, educational and sometimes disturbing images to anyone on the planet with a computer. And as this online video explosion takes place there are companies like Google trying to organize it. Here are some video search engines to check out:
YouTube.com - The premier free video site which was bought by Google in 2006. Just one statistic to consider, while you take 5 minutes out of your day to read this technology tip YouTube estimates that 500 hours of video will be uploaded to their site. More amazing statistics here.
Hulu.com - Watch TV shows on the internet (commercials and all) for free at this website. This is just one of several websites out there that want to replace your over the air, cable or FiOS TV service with much less expensive streaming internet TV. Another popular internet streaming video service is NetFlix. These services are getting popular and there are several easy to use devices out there that connect to your TV so you don't have to watch TV exclusively on your computer screen. You can read more about some of these devices here.
Vineo.com - If you are interesting in some cool looking, cutting edge, artistic videography then you might want to check out this website. It was founded by filmmakers who wanted to share their creative work and they still want the website to inspire others. Check out the Staff Picks for some insight into what the next generation of filmmakers are up to.
TeacherTube.com - For the educators out there there are specific websites like this one that were founded to meet the needs of teachers to have a safe place to post and share videos. It is well worth a visit. In the U.K. Teacher TV offered thousands of hours of free tutorials. Though the original project has ended many of the videos can still be found online.
KhanAcademy.org - Probably the most famous recent development in educational videos was created by Salman Khan when he started posting tutorial videos on YouTube for his neice and soon found out that they were being watched by students all over the world who needed a little academic help. Eventually these videos developed into an entire non-profit operation that is being backed by none other than Bill Gates. You can browse the library of videos here and watch the video below to learn more about Salman Khan.
Many people are comparing this time period and the information revolution that we are living through to the time in Europe after the Gutenburg printing press made knowledge affordable and portable.
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Check out at least one of these video sites today. Try searching for a couple of things. The results might surprise you.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: If you'd like to learn more about online video try searching the internet for:
Online Video
MPEG files
YouTube
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Posted by bhoot hu mae
on
18:42
Technology Tip Number 51
Getting Through Windows
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Today’s Technology Tip will help you navigate your way through the various folders and windows on your Microsoft desktop.
Some common terminology you should be familiar with:
- DESKTOP: The opening screen when you turn on your computers. It probably looks something like this:
- ICONS: The little pictures that represent files or programs. Here are some sample icons:
Shortcut to Word:  Shortcut to GradeQuick:  A Word Document: 
- MY COMPUTER: The desktop icon from which you can navigate your way through the various drives, folders and files on your computer.
The “My Computer” Icon: 
- FOLDERS: The basic organizational structure in Microsoft Windows. Like a giant filing cabinet your computer uses folders to organize everything in it. Here are some sample folder Icons:
You might notice that your icons and folders might look different than the ones pictured above. When ever you open a folder (by double clicking the left mouse button) a new window opens to show you what is in that folder. You can change how the icons (files) are displayed. Here’s how:
1) Open a folder, any folder.
2) Every window has the following “Bars” at the top:
The Title Bar tells you the name of the folder you are in. In this example the title bar tells you that you are in a network drive called "X:"
Each word on the Menu Bar gives you a drop down menu of options.
The Tool Bar offers you shortcuts for common tasks
The Address Bar tells you which folder you are in and also offers you a way to access other folders. If you click the triangle on the Address Bar you can see a drop down list of other folders and pathways to them:
3) To change the view click on the word “View” on the menu bar and select a new view from that list. Each view has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, if you are looking at a folder full of pictures you might want to use the “Thumbnail” view so you can see what each picture looks like. If you are trying to clean out your C: drive you might want to use the “Details” view to find the largest files so you can delete them first. Here are some sample views of the same folder:
Thumbnail View
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Icon View
 | List View
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Details View
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PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Open up a folder on your computer today and try changing the view. Select a new one that you like.
TO KEEP ON LEARNING: If you'd like to learn some more about the desktop in Microsoft Windows try searching the internet for:
Microsoft Windows History
Using Windows
Windows Basics
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