Tech Tricks to Try

10 Tech Tricks to Try Part 1: #1-5

Disclaimer: We all have our special tips and tricks. These are submitted in my humble opinion (imho) and in no particular order.

#1: Use Favorites more efficiently. This first trick sounds so easy but sometimes the easiest ideas are the best! Rename the titles of your Favorites and place your username and password right in your Favorites listing for easy retrieval (a “techie” word for memory). Of course, if you share your machine with gobs of people, this is not optimal, but if that is the case, set up your own profile and then do it.

#2: Use Flash Games. Flash Games are fun for kids and can present content for review, warm-up, or closing conclusion. Use the free download called “Fling-the-Teacher” available from Content Generator to make fun games. After you create the first game, ask students, working alone, in pairs, or small groups to compose additional questions in a MS Word document (with answers!) to send to you for your review/checking. Then all you have to do is check their work, copy and paste the content into the game form fields. (WARNING: Do NOT give student access to the game template).

You can run the game from your harddrive with no internet needed or upload your game to your website or blog.

Examples: Energy Game: http://www.oops.bizland.com/energy.swf
Percents/Decimals/Fractions Game: http://www.oops.bizland.com/PDF.swf
Tuck Everlasting Game: http://www.oops.bizland.com/tuck.swf
Name That Musical Term: http://www.oops.bizland.com/music.swf

Teacher Amber in NM assigns students 2-3 questions to compose while in their Literature Circle role (”timeliner,” “character-izer,” “foreshadowing forecaster,” and “quotable quoter.” Great, innovative thinking!

#3: Use Moderated Chat Chat rooms offer students a valuable experience in “Just-in-Time” collaboration and brainstorming. Advantages, though, can be outweighed by the negatives of unwelcomed posts, intrusion of uninvited participants, and the potential for cyber-bullying. The answer? Use moderated chat. The Eboard website, http://www.eboard.com/ offers such a moderated chat feature. You can decide which messages to approve and make available for final posting. See samples at http://www.eboard.com/ Enter “oops” in the white rectangle name box on the left.

#4: Capture Your Instructions with Screencast Screencast-O-Matic, http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/ is the free and easy way to create a video recording of your screen (aka screencast) all from your browser with no install! (Windows and Mac) You can upload your screen recording screen cast for free hosting. You can export your video as a QuickTime movie (.mov) as well.Here is a sample: http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cjVvYoVVuPossible uses:
1. record directions to everyday digital activities (file open/file save/file print)
2. record procedures for website activities
3. record student animation or iMovie instead of uploading to a website (or in case you do not have or do not prefer to use a website upload.)
4. record how to access intranet files: http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/watch/ci11ItIJ

#5 Use Pop-Ups in Excel This tip does not require the internet to complete and adds interactivity that will dazzle students and parents alike.Most of us are reluctant to use Excel for student products or our own class content delivery because of “The Excel Factor” that fear of the unknown software application.Remember, though that FEAR is just “False Evidence Appearing Real.” Try this activity to demystify and delight.Use the Insert/Comment feature in MS Excel to add interactivity to workbooks. Students can add their personalized comments, dialogue, explanations, research content tidbits, quotes, factoids, etc, etc, etc…Here is a sample: http://www.oops.bizland.com/pop-ups.xls
Try it and see how fun it can be! Post how you used this tip in the Comments section below!