While we don’t know why the Word clipart was not coming up, the more important issue is that you and your students have access to a MUCH BETTER clipart collection [...]]]> I was walking by a classroom today when the teacher grabbed me to help figure out why the kids couldn’t access the clipart in Microsoft Word.

While we don’t know why the Word clipart was not coming up, the more important issue is that you and your students have access to a MUCH BETTER clipart collection at http://schools.clipart.com!

Our district subscribes to this service, and when you are at school, there is no need to sign in.  If you need to use it at home, just get the username and password by going to First Class > District Conferences > K-6 Technology > Websites for Chatham Teachers.  That document has our subscriptions and username/passwords.

I’ve even got a video about how to use it!  From within the district, you can see something on the NJN server here.  You can also see a video on my YouTube channel (see below).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Microsoft Reader is a free download that you can use with any Windows-based device, so even if you have a little PDA running Windows CE, you can add this reader software!

Of course, if you are [...]]]> Not quite ready for the iPad?  Don’t want to spend money on a Kindle?  How about downloading Microsoft’s FREE ebook reader?

Microsoft Reader is a free download that you can use with any Windows-based device, so even if you have a little PDA running Windows CE, you can add this reader software!

Of course, if you are an Amazon.com fan, you may want to take advantage of all the Kindle-friendly books but not want to carry around another device.  If that’s the case, then you might want do download a FREE virtual Kindle from Amazon.com.

The Kindle for PC software is free from Amazon since they are happy to sell you as many ebooks as you can store on your hard drive.  Get ready for summer reading in line at the airport security check, flying across the country, or sitting in traffic at the shore!

From websites, to [...]]]> Remember the technology survey you took a short time ago?  At a meeting on Tuesday, Anne Dudley mentioned that after reviewing the results, she and our Director of Technology, John Abdelmalak, were ecstatic about the improvement in our technology use compared to the survey from three years ago–so CONGRATULATIONS to all of you!

From websites, to blogs, wikis, podcasts, moodle pages, and PowerPoint use, you and your students are doing a lot with technology!  You all deserve a pat on the back for your energy and enthusiasm as you have embraced technology.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the teachers with whom I work because I have been to a few workshops lately, and, while interest in using technology at the K-6 level is there, you are really putting it to good use.  I am always proud to share your Teacher Triumphs with the instructors and colleagues at these workshops, so thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and willingness to try new things.

Well, times have changed, and I was in a school yesterday whose library didn’t even have [...]]]> Remember that logo?  For many of us, research began in the library with a trip to the reference section’s gleaming World Book Encyclopedia.  It’s many volumes glistening with gold leaf and promising all the knowledge we needed at our fingertips.

Well, times have changed, and I was in a school yesterday whose library didn’t even have an encyclopedia!  What’s a kid to do when it comes time to write that report (or make that Power Point slide) about African Elephants?  Google just isn’t reliable, and sometimes even NetTrekker doesn’t provide a student with the right websites for the job.

Fortunately, World Book Online is here for students to use.  Lafayette School and middle school students are able to log in (see your teacher for the password) to see not only the core content of the famous World Book encyclopedia but also videos, timelines, research folders, and monthly updates to all sorts of entries.

One of the neatest features is the “My Research” area.  After signing in, students are able to create a space for them to store bibliographic information, notes, and entire World Book articles.

So no more looking at volumes S-Sn and So-Sz!  Log onto WorldBook.com today and try searching for the quality information you need and can trust.

The [...]]]> You probably use our Clipart.com for Schools subscription to add great clipart, photos, and sounds to your lessons, or maybe you use the still images collection at Discovery Education’s United Streaming site, but it’s hard to beat the quality of National Geographic photography, and now you can use some of their unparalleled photos in class.

The Kids collection at the National Geographic website has a limited collection of terrific photos aimed at elementary students, but for a fantastic selection of all sorts of photos, try their Photography area.

Two amazing keys for your web browser!  While there are so many keyboard shortcuts to discuss, these two keys are great to discuss when thinking about web browsers.  The F5 key will refresh the page you are viewing.  This is handy when you are making changes to your teacher web page.  After making and saving [...]]]>

Two amazing keys for your web browser!  While there are so many keyboard shortcuts to discuss, these two keys are great to discuss when thinking about web browsers.  The F5 key will refresh the page you are viewing.  This is handy when you are making changes to your teacher web page.  After making and saving a change in Schoolwires’ Centricity Site Manager, you can go to your website, hit the F5 key and see the changes you made.

When you are trying to share a website with your class, the F11 key is really handy because it toggles the full-screen view of the web browser.  If you roll your mouse near the top edge of the screen after hitting F11, you’ll see the toolbar reappear.

These are just two of the many neat features hidden in your web browser!  Check every Tuesday for more tech tips like these!

You might be familiar with the clock in the lower-right corner of your screen, but did you know that area is officially called the “Windows Notification Area”?  There isn’t much to look at down there, but if you see the SMART Tools icon (the white circle looks like a peppermint LifeSaver), then you are [...]]]>

You might be familiar with the clock in the lower-right corner of your screen, but did you know that area is officially called the “Windows Notification Area”?  There isn’t much to look at down there, but if you see the SMART Tools icon (the white circle looks like a peppermint LifeSaver), then you are only a few clicks away from some fabulous presentation tools you can use any time.

Let’s start with the Screen Shade: This puts a shade over your entire screen, so you can selectively reveal whatever you like.  Using the handles, pull the shade from the top, bottom, left, or right.  Close it with the white and red X button.

Next is the Spotlight.  Imagine that you are showing your class a website, and you want to highlight only a certain area of the page.  Select Spotlight and you can use a circle/ellipse, rectangle/square, or star shape to highlight a certain area of the screen.  Use the spotlight icon itself to move the bright area, and use the dropdown (to the right of the spotlight) menu to change the transparency and shape.  Click and hold on the blue frame to adjust the shape and size.

The Magnifier is a big help when you are trying to enlarge the web address for a site you are demonstrating, but it also allows you to enlarge any area of the screen to show details.  Be careful of the amount of magnification you use–too much, and you only see big pixels.  I like the button with the red rectangle in it.  That button allows you to easily see the area being magnified.

Calculator is just a link to the Windows calculator (nothing too fancy); Pointer is a relatively unimpressive arrow, and Screen Capture Toolbar is the same toolbar you have in Notebook.  If you capture something using this toolbar, Notebook automatically opens and the image is pasted on a blank page.  From there you’ll have to copy to another program if you wish.

Our district subscribes to a number of high-quality research [...]]]> With the rain we’re having today, I guess the best site of the day is Chatham’s weather at NOAA (as a pilot and weather watcher, I love NOAA’s site), but really we’re here to look at the website of one of our colleagues: Ginny Connolly at CMS.

Our district subscribes to a number of high-quality research databases, and some of them are listed at the CMS Library Media Center website on the Library Hints page.  Because we pay for the use of these websites, access to the page is password protected.  You’ll simply need your network credentials to log in when prompted (that’s the username and password you type every time you want to use a computer in the district).

One of the many teacher helpers is something [...]]]> I know I’ve mentioned this site before, but it bears repeating: Thinkfinity is probably your best one-stop website for academic content.  Regular users will be familiar with the many lesson plans, activities, games, and content available for FREE, but new users may be interested in the Thinkfinity Tour.

One of the many teacher helpers is something called “Dynamic Paper.”  Dynamic paper allows you to create resource or activity sheets for use in your classroom, BUT the best part of this tool is the ability to save or export what you create as a JPEG (digital image) or PDF (document anyone can see) on the fly!  That means you can add the sheet to your teacher website or include it in a presentation, document, or blog.