Latest updates January 7, 2009
Posted by Mr. Collins in : KCS Tech, Tech News , add a comment- The Internet Firewall/Web Filtering/SPAM Filtering machine has been moved to a faster machine to increase reliability. Since the move (three weeks ago) there has only been approximately 10 minutes total of downtime.
- I’ve written some software to keep track of downtime of the various servers in the district and Internet connectivity. You can see the status of the network in the district at http://www.kentoncityschools.org/machinestatus.php. You can also get this information by following kcstech on Twitter (http://twitter.com/kcstech).
- I’ve been working on backup and disaster recovery.
- BuddyPress has been installed at http://kentoncityschools.org/. This adds a social networking component to the software that powers news.kentoncityschools.org, wall.kentoncityschools.org, info.kentoncityschools.org and any other blogs and websites. You will not show up as a member (even though you have an account) until you add some information to your personal profile.
- There will not be a Of Bits and Bytes published in January.
Help Desk Report for 8/1/08-01-6-09:
- 1,703 requests (Approximately 21 per school day)
- Average response time: 4 days (this includes weekends and breaks. For example, a Help Desk entered on Friday and completed on Monday would have taken 3 days to complete).
- Fifty three percent of requests are completed in 2 days or less.
Of Bits and Bytes first issue now available September 10, 2008
Posted by Mr. Collins in : Ed Tech, KCS Tech, Staff Development , add a comment
The first issue of what I will be offering as a monthly newsletter on educational technology issues is now available. Staff members will receive a paper copy in their mailbox, and everyone can download a copy here.
If you are interested in writing an article or are doing engaging and innovative work in your classroom with technology, please let me know!
Feedback for Of Bits and Bytes is welcome in email or you may leave a comment here.
New MyCatPage Coming September 9, 2008
Posted by tech in : Uncategorized , add a commentA new My Cat Page is coming this week. It organizes the links with icons plus text to make it easier for you to find the service you need. A screen shot is below:
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Maybe, finally, found the perfect blog editor April 22, 2008
Posted by Mr. Collins in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Although the built-in editor for Wordpress works pretty well, it still feels a little bit kludgy. If I’m on my MacBook I like to use Windows Live Writer or Textmate, but Windows Live Writer requires me to fire up VMware and Textmate seems to also be a little kludgy.
I’ve looked at the ScribeFire Firefox extension in the past, when it was Performancing, but the latest version seems to be almost perfect. What I’ve always wanted is to not only post drafts to my blog, but to also edit the drafts. The latest version of ScribeFire not only allows me to save my drafts, but I can then re-edit those drafts from ScribeFire or from Wordpress itself.
For pictures you can either select a picture on your computer and it will automatically upload it or you can do a Flickr search.
Declaration of Independence Video February 19, 2008
Posted by tech in : KCS Tech , add a comment
Sharing with Google Docs December 14, 2007
Posted by tech in : Staff Development , add a commentHere is a video from Google on using Google Documents to share.
Computer Troubleshooting October 30, 2007
Posted by tech in : KCS Tech , add a commentHere are a few troubleshooting tips that you can complete yourself when you are having computer issues:
1. Restart the computer. This does not mean holding in the power button until it turns off, it means to go to the Apple Menu and select Restart Computer. This simple process fixes a majority of problem. Please always restart your computer first.
2. Next, go to another room, restart the computer and log in. Remember, all your files and applications are on the network, not on any particular computer. You can log into any computer in your building and have full access to all your files. If the other room works, you can submit a Help Desk request to have your computer serviced.
3. If you are having printing issues, try printing to another printer. Every building except for Westview has multiple printers that you can use. Some printing help is here.
Additional help is available online.
If you do have a problem and are submitting a Help Desk request, be sure to fill out the form as completely as possible, including what steps you have taken to fix the problem and what steps I should take to recreate the problem. If a student is having an issue, I need to know the student’s name and what steps the student does to have the problem manifest itself.
The following examples are vague and will slow down getting the problem fixed.
“The computer gave me an error message and now nothing works.”
- What was the error message?
- What doesn’t work? Specific examples are required: “Microsoft Word won’t launch” or “I can’t find Firefox”
“Several students cannot work.”
- What are the student’s names?
- What application are they trying to use?
- Which computer in what room?
“I got a message and don’t know what it means.”
- What was the error message?
- What application were you using?
The Help Desk has had 939 requests since August 1st! I want to thank everyone for taking the time to use the Help Desk and for their patience in getting requests completed. Eight hundred and forty five requests have been completed.
“Students today depend upon these expensive fountain pens. They can no longer write with a straight pen and nib (not to mention sharpening their own quills). We parents must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning how to cope in the real business world, which is not so extravagant.”
PTA Gazette, 1941
Websites to create newsletters, brochures, albums, and cards September 21, 2007
Posted by tech in : Cool Site , add a commentFrom the NCS-Tech blog: Meet your “Maker†– Newsletters, Brochures, Albums and Postcards
Thanks to a tip from my friend and colleague Nancy Sharoff, I am pleased to tell you about these VERY cool and FREE of course services offering fast and easy creation of professional looking newsletters, brochures, photo albums and postcards Who needs Microsoft Publisher??
Online access to student grades January 3, 2007
Posted by tech in : KCS Tech , add a commentI’m installed a piece of software simply called Online Grades. It allows a teacher to post their gradebook directly from Easy Grade Pro to the web.
I’ll be adding a link for students off of their MyCatPage to log them automatically into Online Grades, so you do not have to worry about distributing the student’s grade book password. Once the bugs are ironed out, I’ll work on streamlining the process for parents.
If you are interested in trying it out, please let me know. It’s only in the testing phase right now. More information can be found here and here.
Google for Educators October 12, 2006
Posted by tech in : Cool Site , add a commentGoogle, at Google For Educators, is now offering educational resources for using Google products in the classroom:
Google recognizes the central role that teachers play in breaking down the barriers between people and information, and we support educators who work each day to empower their students and expand the frontiers of human knowledge. This website is one of the ways we’re working to bolster that support and explore how Google and educators can work together.As a start, we’re inviting you to share your best ideas for using technology to innovate in the classroom. To your left, you’ll find a teacher’s guide to 12 Google products, including basic information about each tool, examples of how educators are using them, and lesson ideas. You’ll also find lesson plans and videos from our partners at Discovery Education focusing on two of our most popular teaching tools: Google Earth and Google SketchUp.
When I first read it I was expecting a more general view of Internet resources that may be used in the classroom, but limiting it to Google products still gives teachers and students some very cool software they can use. Google Earth is talked about a lot, but I think a lot of people are missing out learning opportunities that can take place with Google SketchUp.
tech
Mr. Collins