Windows 7 vs Windows XP: Say Goodbye to Windows XP

By Chris Bybee

            From the 4 weeks that I have been in the Tech Support class, I have been making runs around the school to pick up old windows XP machines. I would like to talk about the advantages of the windows 7 operating system in our school computers!

            Teachers have really had a problem with the windows XP operating systems because they are so outdated that they cannot ever keep up with the programs the teachers are using! The windows 7 operating systems is what the school should be using because of how easy the interface is and how up to date it really is! Windows 7 or windows 8 will easily be able to keep up and run at a fast pace with what the teachers need to do for everyday life in their classroom to teach their kids!

            To primary grade teachers, a windows 7 or 8 based operating system will help them because the windows XP operating system restricts you from using the latest version of Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome. Windows XP will not allow some of the features on websites that lower grade teachers require to run effectively in their classroom! Some of these features are needed by younger kids because the interactives and animations help them learn concepts on these websites. Using windows 7 or 8 has tons of advantages over windows XP because it is just up to date and it can keep up with all the new programs and technologies that we are bringing into the school to help the learning experiences of all ages of students. Last April, Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP and releasing updates for it.

Screenshots are also a part of windows 7 or 8 and if teachers or students need website that has some questions for homework and they don’t have wifi at home than they can simply pull up the screenshot and have all of the problems that they need to get their work done!

Anatomy of a computer!

By Bryce Ory 

     A computer is a revolutionary and incredible machine that is working its way into every corner of the world and it’s not going to stop now. As people have always said, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Well, that’s not even close to a true statement and it won’t ever change in the minds of some, but older and newer generations are both being integrated into the new technology.

     For most schools and businesses, computers and electronics are almost essential and are needed to make both of them run at top efficiency, but in order for someone to use a machine they must first understand it and try to understand that it is near perfect but is affected by human input and can be broken and harmed from its original state as it is worked on, programs are installed, and the software ages.

     The fact of the matter is, most people  do not really realize what makes a computer tick, nor do they care. That’s a pro and con because that is causing opportunity for the computer repair and maintenance industry but it also effects the efficiency of a business that might just rely on computers.

     There are many different sources that you can use to try and understand your computer. In these links, people spend time to try and teach how to take care of your computers and make people understand how to perform maintenance.

Some links are supplied below to further your understanding with the anatomy of a computer:

Computer Technician- http://www.mbcurl.me/QV23

The Simplest Computer Tutorial, How Computers Work- http://www.mbcurl.me/QV25 

GoNoodle, iTutoring and Tech Support- Tons of great info to share!

By Kris Walsh

Hello and welcome back. For my first edition of Techy Tuesday I have several things that I am going to share so please read through the whole post so you don’t miss any of the super awesome things that I am sharing today.

GoNoodle.com

First I want to share some information about GoNoodle.com. This tool may seem elementary at first, but I first heard about it from some Indianapolis middle and high school teachers over lunch at a training I attended this summer. They enjoy using this with older students, so I think that anyone will be able to find this tool useful.

Many of us have heard the research behind allowing students to have brain breaks and step away from their work and even move around a bit before getting back down to business with more focus than they had before the break. This site does a good job of making that process more formal and structured and has some activities that students enjoy.

GoNoodle.com is a free site that teachers can use to present different types of brain breaks of their choosing to their class. The breaks are broken down into categories: calm, energize and focus. You can select which category meets your needs and an appropriate break. These videos illustrate this better than I could describe with words. Please check out this short video to see how GoNoodle works. As with any tool that we share, please let any of us know if you need any support getting things started and we will be glad to get you started.

iTutoring.com

While I was writing today’s issue of Techy Tuesday, Bob Linne dropped by and shared a new tool that we have access to. itutoring.com is a site that both teachers and students can use to access quality math videos and lessons for a variety of topics in math that range from Algebra 1 through Pre-Calculus. When you log in to the site (scroll down to enter the username and password for the corporation) you can then click on a course and then see the breakdown of topics that are offered. In addition to the course specific tutoring, there are resources that can be used for SAT prep as well. This site does require a username and password. I cannot share that info on the blog, but I included that info with the email. You can also request the info from Mr. Linne or me. This will prove to be a great resource for students when they work independently. (the picture below is not a video, I could not get one to post. Don't click play, it won't do anything :) )

Student Tech Support

Many of you have already had one of our student tech support interns come to your class and assist you or your students with a minor tech issue. This is a new creditied class that students can take to learn more about technology and how to assist others who need help. In working with the students, my main goal for them is that they are professional in their demeanor with you and provide the best support that they can to staff and students. Since they are students, they may not have the answer, but Mr. Wright and I have talked with them about referring more advanced issues to him or to the eLearning team. Students are stationed in the high school library if they do not have any tasks assigned to them.

This is a graded class for these students, and in addition to getting graded on the quality of their work and their professionalism when performing their tasks, students in this class are also going to be responsible for writing one blog entry per quarter. We will be featuring these blog entries in Techy Tuesday starting next week. This will bring a student’s perspective to our blog and hopefully prove to be a positive for us. Don’t get too upset, Phil, Jamie and I will still be taking our turns with the blog as well. :)

Sorry for the book today, too many cool things to share.

Happy Tuesday,

Kris

Our Best Resources...May Be One Door Down

By: Phil Zellers 

Since this is a "techy" blog,  you are probably assuming this is going to be about tech resources such as My Big Campus, Twitter, or a number of other helpful websites.  Many of us have been to some great conferences over the summer and learned about some awesome and cool new tech tools to make our classes better.  I know I learned about some new tools I’m incorporating this year.  Those are all resources that can add tremendous value to our classes and are very useful but that’s not the direction I’m going with this one.  Sometimes, it can be easy to get lost in those resources and forget about some of the best resources available to us…each other. 

Last year, when we started doing instructional rounds, I sat in on one of Dave Reese’s classes.  I had Dave for a teacher when I was in school and had worked with him in the Social Studies department for several years but had never sat in on one of his classes since becoming a teacher.  I learned so much in one class period about connecting with students.  Sean Risse and I worked as team developing content for our social studies classes last year.  From that collaboration, I got some great, new ideas to incorporate in my content for that class.  A couple of years ago, I co-taught a class with Amy Rasche.  From her, I learned a lot about how to get students to look for deeper meaning when reading texts and how to help them make connections.  A lot of ideas from that experience were applied to all my other classes. 

This year already, I have learned from Josh Wilson how to conduct a great activity with students, based on them taking a personality test.  He let me come in a couple of class periods last week to watch him conduct it and even came down to help me get it going in my class.  Now I have a new activity to help students learn more about themselves, make connections, and build relationships…perfect for my passion based learning class, STEAM.  I worked with Gary Hanan, over the summer, to have him teach me the computer aided drafting program, Inventor, and went into his classroom this year to see how he teaches it.  This is a tool I will be needing for one of my new classes.  These are just a few examples of how other teachers have made me a better teacher and there are many more.  I am thankful for these learning opportunities.  Fortunately for all of us, Perry Central is full of great people willing to share ideas.     

The point I'm trying to make is this, continue finding great websites to increase engagement, connecting through Twitter, and using My Big Campus as a platform to deliver content and assessments. Those are all wonderful tools that have transformed my classes and tools that I use on a regular basis.  They are valuable and necessary in today’s classroom but also keep in mind how much we can learn through brainstorming, conversations and watching others in action, even those outside our content areas or grade levels.  In keeping with the theme for the year, “be brave.”  Try something new and then start asking around because the resource you need might just be one door down the hallway from you (or several doors down, or in a different building, you get the point...somewhere on our campus!).  I know, for me, that has been the case.  If you think the eLearning team can be that resource, please let us know.  As always, we are more than happy to help in any way we can. 

Time Saving Messages

By Jamie Guillaume

Timesavers!  Being educators, parents, spouses and attempting to have any sort of life outside of these school walls makes all of us extremely busy!  Anything that can make tasks I already complete more efficient and just as effective, I will gladly accept. 

Prior to school beginning, I participated in a Skyward training with the purpose of being able to help train teachers and answer questions that arise.  A feature that particularly stood out to me was the Message Center.  Within the message center, teachers can send mass messages to their students’ parents and/or send messages to particular parents.  Many teachers create newsletters, notes home, and have announcements they want to get to parents on a regular basis.  This features allows teachers to send a message to parents effectively and efficiently through Skyward, an already implemented program.

 

To send a message through Message Center you simply open a gradebook, go to “Other Access” and click on “Message Center.”  Here you will be able to follow the buttons on the right-hand side.  To add a new message, simply follow the prompts to add specific students or send the message to all student parents.  Through this feature, you are able to type a message as well as add attachments-what a great way to send a newsletter or parent letter!  The Message Center even allows you to set the date and time you want the message to be distributed because let’s face it, the timeframe you have to create the newsletter and the timeframe you want the newsletter delivered are never going to coincide. 

This feature particularly appealed to me because at our Summer of eLearning conference, PowerED Up, teachers really seemed to like the Remind program that sends text messages to parents.  I also like this program.  However I also believe we as educators need another login or program to work through like we need a hole in the head!  I typically prefer to use the features of programs we already have in place versus adding more.  

If you would like more information or an individual training on this feature in Skyward, do not hesitate to contact one of your friendly eLearning coaches.  

A Gamer, a History Buff and an Extreme Type A…Equals the PC eLearning Team?

By Jamie Guillaume

If I examined the faculty and staff of Perry Central to try to put together a team, I can honestly say that prior to this year, I would not have said, "Let’s put Phil, Kris and Jamie together. " However after working, learning, reading and attending conference upon conference with this team, I have discovered we actually make the perfect trio! 

Kris, our gamer, is fantastic at fixing any electronic device that is not working properly and could very easily be described as an Apple whisperer (the electronic, not the fruit). He has mastered video editing and has helped bring coding and app creation to life at Perry Central and these are only a few of his various projects. 

Phil, the history buff, is a My Big Campus (MBC) genius!  He understands the program and uses it in his social studies classroom as a content platform.  Project-Based Learning (PBL) is also one of Phil’s many strengths.  He has become a model for PBL classrooms and has coached other teachers into becoming proficient PBL and MBC users. 

Then there is me, the extreme type A personality.  A role of mine has been to sift through our learning and push out ideas and coach teachers on webtools and programs appropriate for their classrooms.  Another one of my contributions to our team has been keeping us focused on the goals of our grant we are working under, to ensure we are completing the tasks listed and keeping our schedules and agendas organized and fulfilled.

Although it would appear the three of us have nothing in common, the shear fact that we all love our jobs, have a passion for being a mover and a shaker in education and want to see Perry Central do what’s best for our students, has made us a compatible and effective team.

Earlier editions of Techy Tuesday have explained the new roles Kris and Phil will take as one school year ends and another begins.  I am excited to convey that I am going to have the opportunity to work with one of my closest friends whom I highly respect, Sarah, in a 5^th grade setting.  She and I will split the day in a 5th grade classroom blending our strengths and passions together to guide the learning of 5^th graders. 

The other portions of my day will be spent as an eLearning Coach and Media Specialist, residing in the High School Media Center.  I have big hopes and dreams of the Media Center transforming from a place that students use only when required to a place where students want to be. I envision a setting where resources are discovered and utilized in an environment equipped with the technological tools needed to work, study, learn and collaborate in a welcoming and comfortable space. 

As I reflect on this school year I am thankful for all I have learned. It has been the steepest learning curve of my career and I look forward to continuing that learning incline!

Year of eLearning/Start of LEAF
By: Phil Zellers

With this being my last Techy Tuesday post of the year, I want to take some time to reflect on my eLearning experiences from this year and talk about my excitement for next year.  It has been an exciting year full of learning.  Through conferences, book clubs, collaborating on projects, and working with other teachers and students, I have had the opportunity to learn about a variety of great technology tools to use in the classroom.  More importantly, I have learned about how to integrate technology into the classroom as a tool to enhance student engagment.  Along the way, I have been able to connect with a lot of other educators and have learned so much from them (follow #INeLearn on Twitter if you don't already).  Being a connected educator is so important.  It opens you up to a whole new world of seemingly endless resources.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to serve as an eLearning coach this year!

I'm very excited that I get to continue this work next year as an eLearning coach, keeping a similar schedule as this year's.  There are always new tools and ideas coming out about technology integration.  To me, this is one of the most exciting parts of our profession, that it is always evolving.
 
As a way to support passion based learning, we will be offering a new LEAF (Learning Experiences in Applied Fields) class next year that I will facilitate.  I really hesitate to call myself the "teacher" of that class because it will be mainly student driven.  I will be more of a facilitator and resource for them.  I had the pleasure of visiting the original LEAF group with Jody a couple of weeks ago at VUJC.  This group was completely organized by students.  They started because there were things they wanted to learn but couldn't in the regular school day.  They now meet several times a week to learn about topics they are interested in and share to their knowledge.  There are groups learning about architecture, computer programming and software, robotics, and other topics as well.  I had heard about this program from others but after meeting with this group, I came away completely inspired.  A group of our students went with us that day and are very excited about the opportunity as well.  

We want to offer our students a chance to do that learning during the traditional school day.  So, we are offering a LEAF class students can take as an elective.  There will also be a mini class for 7th graders that will operate similarly.  I think this is a great opportunity for our students and that they'll do some truly great things with it!  I can't wait to see what our students are passionate about.

I have truly enjoyed working with everyone this year in my role as an eLearning coach.  I always feel so fortunate to get to be a part of Perry Central.  Finally, I am grateful to have gotten to work as a team with Jamie and Kris.  We have attended a lot of conferences together, had many brainstorming sessions and I have learned so much from both of them.  I'm looking forward to another great year next year!