Chanatown

Quick access to ALLCAPS and lowercase, as well as Title Case now available in Google Docs: Admins also have the ability to assign Calendar Privileges, specifically managing Calendar Resources and/or the Calendar app settings in general.   For more thoughts on Teaching and Learning Technology,  please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or through email . Facebook fans - get the latest posts, thoughts, musings, and giveaways. Give us a "Like" today.

Long time, no blog.  Yep, now that that's out of the way, let's dig into why I chose to write after a nearly two year hiatus. I pride myself on being responsive via email. My colleagues probably get sick of me talking about Inbox Zero, and my family probably despise me for keeping a mobile device nearby too often, but it's how I work. Until recently, my workflow has pretty much involved GMail, GCal, GTasks, and GDrive. I have given workshops and presentations on "Striving Towards Inbox Zero", and I haven't had much reason to change. However, Google's increasing attention to Reminders and their lack of love for GTasks have gotten me thinking about alternatives and not holding my breath that they will magically merge the two applications. Add to that the resurrecting buzz that Google Keep is generating in the edtech circles, and you've got a perfect time and opportunity for a change. That and it's spring break, which also explains my back ...

For more thoughts on Teaching and Learning Technology,  please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or through email . Facebook fans - get the latest posts, thoughts, musings, and giveaways. Give us a "Like" today.

For more thoughts on Teaching and Learning Technology,  please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or through email . Facebook fans - get the latest posts, thoughts, musings, and giveaways. Give us a "Like" today.

For more thoughts on Teaching and Learning Technology,  please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or through email . Facebook fans - get the latest posts, thoughts, musings, and giveaways. Give us a "Like" today.

Fantasy sports in general have certainly evolved in the last few years. During the early stages, people had to play fantasy football and fantasy basketball by keeping their own score or sending selections in through the mail through some sort of prehistoric league. These days, it is certainly much easier to get a fantasy sports fix. There are numerous websites that offer standard season-long leagues, but FanDuel offers shorter, one day leagues for those who want to play fast, quick games on a nightly basis. The FanDuel App makes it easier than ever to get everything set up and ready to go. Since players are signing up for just one day leagues, time is always limited. There are times in which people can’t get to a computer in order to set a roster full of players in time for the games to start. That is why the mobile app has been developed to allow a person to make all the changes they need. A person can sign up for a league and set the roster in a matter of minutes from any smart ph...

This one's been eagerly anticipated.  It's nowhere near perfect, but it's definitely a step in the right direction and takes far fewer steps than recording a Google Hangout just to capture a simple screencast. Below is an embedded video made using the free Google Extension "Screencastify". For more thoughts on Teaching and Learning Technology,  please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or through email . Facebook fans - get the latest posts, thoughts, musings, and giveaways. Give us a "Like" today.

During a Google Sites project earlier today, a student asked whether it was possible to use just a portion of a YouTube video.  I recalled being able to do this through other web applications, but only where you would be able to start at a certain point ( http://youtubetime.com /) or by manually modifying the link ( http://google.about.com/od/googleblogging/f/Time_YouTube.htm ).  A quick Google search revealed a tool that's actually been out for awhile (where have I been?), but I'm happy to have found it today. Challenge : Show a snippet of a YouTube Video Solution : TubeChop TubeChop is extremely easy to use.  Simply paste the URL or even search directly from the website. Use the sliders to designate start/stop points for the video, and chop it.  You'll get a dedicated URL for the chopped video, as well as a link and even an embed code.  This was a perfect match for the website design projects, as the students now have a way of showing just a specific p...

The challenge : Finding an easy way for students to use the Chromebooks to annotate PDF files. The solution: Crocodoc Recently, I attended a conference presentation on Subtext, which looked awesome on the iPad, but sadly, the web version is still in its infancy.  I just gave it another go, and couldn't find an easy way to upload and start inking on a PDF.  I had demo'ed PDFescape during a recent presentation on Chromebooks and Accessibility, and the web application gets the job done, but it does so with an abundance of ads, as well as some clunky behaviors. So, in preparation for a meeting with a teacher who is interested in having her students annotate on the Chromebooks, I stumbled upon Crocodoc and I must say that I am impressed. Right from the initial first use, the interface for Crocodoc is very clean, minimalist, and easy on the eyes. The feature set is extensive for a web app. You can write comments on the margins, add pointers, box or highlight text. Free h...

Despite the NFL being by far the most popular sport in United States, the league is feeling a bit of pressure when it comes to technology and their fans. Just about everyone is connected to the internet or television throughout the weekend, which means that the NFL has to come up with new ways to get people off the couch and into the stadium. With new information regarding Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, will the 49ers usher in a new era? A person can be a rabid fan of the NFL who enjoys watching as many games as possible every Sunday. With that being said, in order to watch a lot of games and stay connected, a person needs to be at home or at a bar with a lot of televisions. Levi’s Stadium looks to change that thought process by allowing fans to actually stay connected while watching live football. The plan is to have wireless internet across the stadium, free of charge. Many seats will also have upgrades such as tablet orders on seats, television options and in-house video that pr...

Hard to believe that it's been a few months since the last post. During a recent offline plane ride, I took the opportunity to jot down a quick catch-up on my edtech life. Year of the Chromebook What started as an initial idea and prototype piece of hardware has now developed into one of the fastest growing contributors to the edtech world. Just as quickly as the iPad was annointed as a potential game-changer, the Chromebook has swooped in with its no frills, browser-based, low maintenance and easily managed iterations (the most popular being the budget friendly Samsung Series 3). It is hard to argue with the Chromebook as it manages to accomplish much of what is requested both from the IT department and classroom teachers. The devices are easy to deploy and manage, and they reduce the time needed to get students up and running. Could this be the machine that pushes more schools into the 1:1 playground and gets computers into the hands of all of our students? For our sc...

Prezi just keeps getting better and better.  I remember first using the web based presentation tool in its early stages .  Sure, there were some ups and downs, (or zoom ins and outs if you will), but overall, the tool has proven its worth and enabled students to engage in collaboration (live editing works really well) and build more engaging presentations (always a plus). Yesterday, the company added a feature that was so often requested: sound . Check out the Intro Prezi after the jump, and get ready to spice up those presentations. This takes Prezi one step closer to a true digital storytelling tool, as it resembles more a moviemaker (web based as opposed to a favorite in client based Windows Photo Story 3) and with sound, the app offers a more continuous flow as opposed a silent, static presentation.

When I taught in the classroom, I would use an old fashioned egg timer, or keep an eye on my stopwatch.  Nowadays, teachers can post an electronic timer on their projector screen, set multiple timers, and even make class a bit more interactive through a fun and engaging countdown.  Here are seven options - feel free to leave a comment if you have more suggestions. Classic :  http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/  - does have ads, but they become minimal when in full screen mode. Egg Timer:     http://e.ggtimer.com/  - simple, clean, text based, and some cute extras if you're interested. Really, an egg timer: http://timerrr.com/  - nice look/feel, reminds me of the old egg timer... Online Timer:     http://www.timeanddate.com/timer/  - different look/feel, plus a nice interface if you want multiple timers. ClassTools :   http://www.classtools.net/education-games-php/timer  - silly/fun music to accomp...

The planning began one year ago, but the pacing has picked up during the last week. I've been co-chairing the 2013 NICE Mini Conference (now called "MiniCon") for the past year, and it's been a fun and exciting experience. Getting to work with an outstanding team in the NICE Board, sifting through an amazing system of notes, project plans, and details from our predecessors, and receiving creative freedom to modify, tweak, and add to 18 years of Mini-Conferences will culminate in tomorrow's big event.  If you haven't registered for the "Best $5 Conference in the World", fear not.  We'll be taking walk-ins, and you can join the 300+ other educators interested in sharing, learning, and networking on technology in the classroom.  See you at the MiniCon (www.niceminicon.org). For more thoughts on Teaching and Learning Technology,  please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or through email . Facebook fans - get the latest posts, thoughts, musin...

Article first published as iPad Accessory Review: The Indy Bag on Blogcritics. When you think of Indiana Jones , a few iconic images immediately come to mind. The rolling stone ball from Raiders’; the cheesy map transitions when traveling, and of course the accessories. Indy’s hat, whip, and satchel were all prominently featured throughout the movie series, and all were vital in ensuring that evil doers were thwarted while precious historical artifacts were returned to where they naturally belonged (in a museum, of course). With another round of iPads recently announced, and another surely on the way, it’s time to pause and reflect on accessories and some of the best ways to tote your prized portable tablet in style. In this review, we take a look at the Indy Bag by WaterField Designs.

Day two at IETC - picked up several new ideas and always enjoy Jon Orech on presentation tips. Additional notes below - side note: had a wonderful meal at American Harvest on Thursday night.  Highly recommend for future visits to Springfield. Non-iPad Apps Presentation handout Google Tablet apps - no screencasting app?  Best - AirDroid and record screen on computer One of the questions I got during my presentation was support for Android tablets and Chromebooks.  Unfortunately, while most apps for personal devices have made their way to Android phones, education apps and other enterprise apps are planting seeds in the Apple Store, and waiting it out to see if Google makes significant headway with their devices. Jon Orech - Presentation Zen Appeals: Logos, Ethos, Pathos Tools: Finding images: Google, Life Photo Archives , Flickr Storm , Behold , CC, Photopin Creative Commons - opposite of copyright - here's what you can use Pixlr - online image editing Movies...

I'm currently at the Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC). I'll be presenting today on Screencasting later in the day, but first I enjoyed some moments from Dr. Gary Stager's keynote presentation. I've been a fan of Dr. Stager since I first heard him present - he's passionate, engaging, and a bit over the top (in a good way). For a detailed notes and tutorial site for my Screencasting session, click here . For my notes of some highlighted sessions, hit the jump.

I chose to go with a Pecha Kucha style of presentation for my Google+ Hangout, as part of Google's EducationOnAir series.  In my broadcast, I reviewed 10 Google Sites tips in 20 minutes.  That's a cool tip every 2 minutes!  Check out the replay and if you know the tip already, fast forward 2 minutes.  Fast, relevant, and useful PD.   Join me again on 12/10 at 4pm CST for another Google Sites preso, this time focusing on how to use the new Sites Layout and navigation features. For more thoughts on Teaching and Learning Technology,  please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or through email . Facebook fans - get the latest posts, thoughts, musings, and giveaways. Give us a "Like" today.

I was able to spend much of the morning working with an iPad app called Nearpod . Honestly, I was impressed with many of the capabilities, and I saw real potential to do great things with the shared iPad carts.  Essentially, Nearpod is an all-in-one presentation/polling application that allows users to deliver presentations to a group set of iPads. The interactive features include some traditional ones such as polling Q&A, self-paced student quizzes, and free response questioning.  However, the Draw It feature is easily worth the efforts of downloading and installing Nearpod alone. Students can ink on blank canvases or preset background images and submit their drawings to the teacher for review and potential sharing. Here are just a few examples that came to mind when I demo'ed the app to our teachers: annotation of text showing steps for math problems balancing chemical equations labeling maps translating sentences illustrating concept maps graphic organizers ...

Day two from the Google Midwest Summit .  No snow in the forecast today - it's sunny, blue skies and a crisp 42 degrees in the Dells.   Day one was a great experience both as a presenter and a learner.  I'm eager for another day of learning, and I'll be touching base with a few attendees from yesterday's session on Google Sites . Read on for more notes, links, and goodies picked up from day two.