Tech Tricks You Already Do

Disclaimer: We all have our special tips and tricks. These are submitted in my humble opinion.

1. You invite students to demonstrate concept mastery through creating a Digital Deliverable such as a: digital product. Need new ideas for products? Click here: http://www.oops.bizland.com/oopsproductpage.htm

2. For computer classroom or lab management, you assign students to specific computers, you begin each lesson with a Warmup activity which gives you time to troubleshoot tech challenges, and you use Learning Centers when you do not have 1:1 connectivity.
Need new ideas for Warm-ups? Click here: http://www.oops.bizland.com/100days.htm. Need more iformation on Learning Centers? Click here: http://www.oops.bizland.com/May07_LearningCenter.pdf and here: http://www.oops.bizland.com/centers.htm

3. For lessons, you are teaching students to use the Insert/Comment feature in Word for checking, revising, grading, peer editing. you are showing students how to hack down URL’s for 404 sites, and teaching students to save their original file and draft revisions with their initials and “draft 1” “draft 2” etc…

4. In case of internet outage you are saving internet content in offline form for easy retrieval and archiving. Need directions? Click here: http://www.oops.bizland.com/PlanB.htm

5. You are applying authentic assessment through Rubrics. Need some nifty websites to create online rubrics? Try David Warlick’s Landmark Project: http://landmark-project.com/ and Teach-nology: http://www.teach-nology.com/

6. You are utilizing a “Plan B” when technology goes down. “Plan B” means: archiving websites, saving online movies to your hard drive or flash drive, and having lesson options available in offline format. Need a sample “Plan B”? Click here: http://www.oops.bizland.com/PlanB.htm

7. You are keeping up with computer maintenance through player plug-in updates, virus software updates, weekly virus software scans, avoiding extra toolbars, screensaver, widget downloads, and performing monthly defrags.

8. You are using MS Office and/or Star Office modules as a lesson warm-up, as an application of content exercise, and as a method for students to create digital products.

9. You are finding what you need in internet searches, application files, and when teaching students to research by using: the Edit Menu/Find feature.

10. You have downloaded these Great Freebies while they are still free: MS PhotoStory, Microsoft Reader, and Google Earth.

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