Applications of Technology- The Exosuit

By Nick Etienne

Carrying 100 pounds of stuff on your back is hard for a human, but for a robot? Not so much. Bearing this in mind, researchers at Harvard University are developing a robotic suit that makes carrying heavy loads easier for soldiers, who sometimes have to lug around more than 100 pounds of gear and equipment when on patrol. The robotic exosuit could also be modified to assist people with physical disabilities. The programmable suit acts in parallel with the body's muscles and tendons, mimicking the way these body parts move, according to Conor Walsh, an assistant professor at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. By mimicking muscle movements, the robotic suit serves to make the walking process even more efficient. Made from smart textile materials and sensors, the suit gives the wearer the extra support needed to carry heavy loads for extended periods of time.

          "While the idea of a wearable robot is not new, our design approach certainly is," Walsh said in a statement. Traditional exoskeleton systems are plagued by problems, such as power-hungry battery packs and rigid parts that interfered with natural joint movement, he added. In contrast, the Soft Exosuit is simply worn like a regular pair of pants under a soldier's uniform and gear. The current prototype of the suit is a web of straps that are positioned around the wearer's lower body. The straps feature a network of sensors that serve as the exosuit's "brain" or "nervous system," and are controlled by a low-power microprocessor. The suit's sensors continuously monitor the wearer's movements, communicating information about the amount of tension on certain parts of the leg and what position the wearer is. These details dictate how much force is needed in a particular joint area, as well as when exactly that force is most needed.

 Walsh and his colleagues are developing the exosuit for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, or DARPA, which hopes to adapt the technology for its Warrior Web program. The goal of Warrior Web is to create technologies that will prevent and reduce musculoskeletal injuries in solders. The increased weight a soldier must bear when lugging around heavy equipment makes their joint areas, such as the ankles and knees, more susceptible to injury. In addition to its work with DARPA, the Harvard team is also working with partners in the medical industry to develop a version of the exosuit that could one day be used to help civilians. In particular, the researchers said the exosuit could help stroke patients regain the ability to walk.

Google Drive

By Lain Knieriem

Google Drive is a revolutionary document creator and database that will change your way of thinking about the classroom. Most compare it to its competitor, Microsoft Office, because both programs look and respond the same way, though Google docs has a lot more features.  Google Drive can seem confusing, but if you know how to use Microsoft Office, then you already know how to use Google Drive too!

Here at Perry Central, all of our students have a Google email, which is already linked to their personal Google Drive. The email and drive correspond to each other; one couldn’t work without the other. All of your saving, creating, and sharing is all internet based, and easy to do.

The five default apps that Google Drive has to offer are Documents, Presentation, Spreadsheet, Forms, and Drawing (You can get many more apps for free). The word document, presentation, and spreadsheet are just like Microsoft Office’s versions known as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Docs are more modern and easier to use. The Form is for making tests, or surveys, and the drawing is a design creator, that allows you to create sketches.

On Google docs you can share your work. This is not just emailing a copy to a friend, via google email, students or teachers can work on a document at the same time on their own computer. This can be very helpful and collaborative for group work in classes or meetings. All that you have to do is just use the share tab in Google Drive, type in the friend's email address, and you’re on your way. Along with making and sharing the documents, you have to save your work in Microsoft Office, but in Google Docs, it saves every word that you type to your drive, so when you are finished, just close the window. 

Another part of Google that is sometimes forgotten by the world is Google Calendar. This calendar by Google can make the experience in and out of the classroom at Perry central so much easier, more organized, and more fun. The calendar would make it to where the corporation could create a schedule of the sports games to which people can subscribe, and be alerted to when there is a basketball, or football game. Also teachers can subscribe to a created calendar, which would indicate who has parking lot duty or lunch and recess duty, and so on. Students could subscribe to the teacher's class calendar to see assignments and due dates.

          So with Google Drive already being used in the High School by some and by few in the elementary, we need to put the program back on the map. Also if you would need any help with this just email me at knierieml@pccommodores.org, and watch this video that explains the basics of drive. 

Introduction to Google Drive- 6 minutes long

More in-depth information about Drive- 17 minutes long

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.