1) The full Adobe suite is on all student machines. If you wish to have it added to your machine please make an appointment in the IT Office. The process takes about 30 minutes.
2) Set your default PDF reader to Adobe
HowTo
End of Year Wrap Up
StandardMoodle and Classwork Changes
Last week’s Moodle upgrade and Classwork changes mark the end of the changes in our Upper School digital ecosystem for this school year. Next year sessions will be run to support the changes in Moodle, however just like your Yoga, it’s a good idea to “play” before you have to use it.
*If you wish to access the old Moodle you may do so until the end of September here.
Reminder x220 Tablet Return
Friday (this week!) is the deadline for x220 return.
Review of Innovative Learning Forum
Sign into the Faculty/Staff MY ZIS Portal to access the latest info shared on the forum.
Tips Shared:
-How to add your schedule as your desktop background (thanks Michelle H).
-Creating an eraser on the end of the stylus (thanks Ali C).
-Outlook weather forecast in Celsius (thanks Esther d).
-Do we need a Microsoft account? Answered:) (thanks Diya and Mark D.)
-Accents (thanks Esther d and Elizabeth K)
-Password request on wake up (thanks Will S and Alison W)
Outstanding questions…please reply if you have found a solution:
-Pen pressure sensitivity
Adding a Screencast to Your Portfolio
StandardWhat is a screencast?
A screencast is a visual usually accompanied with audio that captures whatever is displayed on a computer screen.
Example tools you can use to make a screencast
- Screencast-O-Matic
- Jing (make sure you have a screencast.com account)
- Google Chrome app Screener
- ScreenCastle
- many more
Before you make a screencast it is important to have a few things already done:
- Make sure you can capture sound well……have you set up your microphone?
- Plan exactly what you want to say and show
- Have all the screens you would like to capture open and adjusted to the exact spot you want to capture
How to embed a screencast into your blog with Screencast-O-Matic step by step:
- Go to Screencast-O-Matic and click start recording
- Selected area on your screen you would like to record
- Start recording
- choose an option to public
Publish and copy embed code
Open your blog, add a post and switch to html
Click publish
#whatisit #hashtag #notwhatwillsloopcallsthenumbersign
StandardHashtags are invaluable ways to connect to ideas and topics quickly. Using hashtags when searching is a fast way to bring together the latest information on a topic because of the way search engine algorithms work. For example, ASBUnplugged is happening this week and for those of use not able to attend in person following the hashtag #asbunplugged is a great way to follow what is happening at the conference.
If you have not followed or contributed to hashtags before check out some of the ones below.
#edchat – Education, worldwide
#lrnchat – Learning chat
#GlobalEd – Education with a global dimension
#edtech – a very wide range of tweets relating to the use of technology in education.
#mlearning – the use of mobile technologies in education, also #mobilelearning though this is less used
#gbl – games based learning
#pblchat- project based learning
Subject Specific
#langchat- literacy and language
#mathchat – mathematics
#scichat – science
#engchat – English
#artsed – the arts in education
#musedchat – music
#eltchat – english language teachers
#STEM – widely used for posts and resources in STEM education
#SSChat – social studies chat
#HistoryTeacher – history
#GeographyTeacher – geography
#PhysicsEd – Physics
#esl – English as a second language, this seemed to have more relevant tweets than #EFL
#Bullying – bullying resources or help and support if bullying is an issue though it is not confined to school bullying
#cpchat – connected principals discussion
#spedchat – special educational needs. Live chat every Tuesday night at 8:30 EST for special education related topics
#TLChat – Librarians’ discussions/resources
#ESDGC – Education for sustainability and global citizenship
Send Your Comments in Google via Email
StandardWhen commenting on a Google doc/spreadsheet/presentation try adding @username (e.g. @ewargo@zis.ch) and the comment will be directly emailed to an individual w/i ZIS (including students).
Making Google Work Better for You
StandardBelow are a few resources to help you get the most out of Google searching:
- Custom search (you add the sites you want them to search)
- Safe search (filters explicit results)
- Search Tips and Tricks (showing how to search in specific ways ….this is not about content it’s about method)
- Search operators (more about input operations to get desired results)
- Advanced search options explained (Basics of the general advanced search including copyright, size, source, etc.)
- Power Searching w/ Google online course
Learn More About Chrome
StandardMany of you have experienced the following error 
There are few simple tricks to help speed up your web browsing:
Learn more about how Google Chrome works
If you are still experiencing long page wait times try switching browsers.
Navigating the Digital Side of Life
StandardAs the semester quickly comes to an end it’s time to reflect on all the Upper School experiences that have enhanced our level of digital citizenship. Thanks for your attention and efforts towards improving your digital knowledge and skills!
 UbU: Digital identity and privacy including dips into the following topics:
Cyberbullying Digital footprint and reputation Internet safety Privacy and security |
 GYST: Digital organization and information management
Setting up your browser and Google drive Google school 101
Zoodle organization including a digital homework “agenda”
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Digital scavenger
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Next semester we will focus on activities to get us ready for our next device.
Simply Dealing w/ Video Assignments
StandardPlease avoid classwork at all costs when dealing with video files. Below are two recommended ways to share/submit videos that allow for instant play w/o downloading.
- Via a direct link (eg an .avi file in Google drive, or a link to the video on Youtube)
How to make and turn in a video via Google drive - Embedded as a post in their digital portfolio
How to embed a video into a portfolio post
3 Cool Ways to Visualize Data For Enhanced Understanding
StandardBelow are three examples that are included in the Social Studies Data site that we will play with today and Thursday during Google school (rm 110 12:20-40)
Lots of fantastic ideas about data for learning have come from Warren Apel to dig deeper check out his Super Charting site.
Tech Tuesday 