TarHeelReader.org - new features

Just a quick post, here's a short screen share showing off some of the new features of the new TarHeelReader.org.

Patrick

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Do-It-Yourself Document Camera Solutions #edtech #spedtech #assistivetech

How to Create Your Own Document Camera from A Mercer on Vimeo.

Using an iPad as a Document Camera by Lainie Rowell

-  Jeremy

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Childproofing Your Mac #edtech #spedtech #spedchat #assistivetech #parents

This weekend, Mac|Life published a 3-page illustrated, step-by-step tutorial for parents on how to childproof the Mac.  The article explains how to create different user accounts, customize Parental Controls for MacOS/iTunes/etc., use several third-party utilities to further protect your children, and also keep your data safe using Time Machine.

The suggestions presented in this article would not only be helpful to parents for childproofing a Mac at home but also for educators to consider when setting up Macs for use in the classroom.

Another resource on this topic that I would suggest is Childproof Your Mac, with Mac OS Lion by Scott McNulty.

-  Jeremy

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Cheap, DIY options for iPad Stands #iPadEd #mlearning #edtech #assistivetech

Continuing on with the Do-it-Yourself theme, below are several interesting options that people have shared on YouTube for creating cheap, do-it-yourself iPad stands.  I personally have not yet tried any of these suggestions myself.  However, with the cost of commercial iPad stands ranging from $15 - $80, I would definitely consider such options!

Option 1:  Using the lid from a spindle of blank CD/DVDs.

Option 2:  Using a DVD case.

Option 3:  Using stratacore (corrugated plastic).

-  Jeremy
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iOS Stylus for $.10 #iPadEd

Have a student or adult who needs a stylus?  Need it to be cheap?  Need it to be fast?  Here's a great instructable for making a stylus for less than $.10 from a cheap disposable pen, some wire, and...yellow sponges...don't believe me, check it out here -

iLearn Technology - Cheap iOS Stylus

Patrick


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Twelve Essentials for Technology Integration

Richard Bryne over at Free Technology for Teachers has done it again! He's created an amazing resource for getting teachers started using Web2.0 Tools. Twelve Essentials for Technology Integration is a great resource for introducing Web2.0 to new teachers. Each website is listed with what it is, as well as ways to use it. Check it out today, and share it with someone new!

Patrick

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RSS Readers

I know I've done a post on this, but it bears repeating. If you are reading this blog by checking it everyday, you are losing valuable time. RSS readers allow you to see all the different news and blogs you like to read on a daily basis in one place. Karen Jankowski of EdTech Solutions has posted a great set of links that explain RSS in plain english as well as provide tutorials on how to set it up:

RSS Readers

RSS readers bring in content from news sources (CNN, Newspapers, Drudge Report...), blogs, even photo sites like flickr. It's a great way to keep up on all your important reading!

How did you know how to do that?

So, one question I get repeatedly is "How did you know how to do that?", and I never have an answer for them.  I guess being a self-admitted techie (pronounced geek) I just do.  But there are several things I can suggest to help a person get to the point that they can do things themselves.




1. Play - lots of time I just learn to do things by trying to do it.  That may sound weird, but that's the truth.  Usually all I do is sit down the program and try and do something.  Set a small goal of something you've never done, and just look around the menus until you find out how to do it.


2. Use Help - OK, so as I admitted in #1, I don't know how to do everything, but the help file does.  Most help files are extremely useful, and are easily searchable.


3. Use the Internet - There are a million and one groups on the internet, and most of them are helpful. Find a group (there are lots at Yahoo Groups) and subscribe.  Depending on the group you will get 1-25 e-mails per day on a topic.  You will have the opportunity ask questions, and read all other questions that are asked.


4. Save your information - So you've joined a list, but don't know what to do with all the e-mails.  One great option is Gmail.  Gmail is a webmail client, where you never have to delete an single e-mail.   You can sort your mail, label the mail, and archive for as long as you want.  Then when you need an e-mail you can search for it very easily.


5. Bookmark/tag everything - I never have time to fully read each website I find information on. 




Sometimes I get 5 - 10 websites as part of the groups I belong too, and being busy I never have enough time to really read each website, so I use Del.icio.us (see my previous post) and bookmark/tag those sites then when I have a topic I need help with I'll go there and search for sites to use.  This way, I don't feel like I miss anything when I get a website from a group, I can always find it later.


These are just a few little things.  Doing some little things like this can really help you answer that question for you "How did you know how to do that?"  Keep watching for a few more!




-  Patrick