Terry's Tech Tips

cloud com·put·ing noun the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer You have been using Cloud computing for a long time!  Every time you access a native Google app (Docs, Sheets, Forms) through a web browser, you are using a cloud computing service.  The file actually resides in Google servers across the world, not on your computer, tablet, or phone.  (Storing data across multiple servers in multiple locations ensures your data is safe and recoverable in the event of almost any disaster.) Google Drive App    The Google Drive app was designed to improve your experience when working with Non-Native files stored in Google Drive (like Word or Inspire files).  It allows you to store non-Google files locally and open them with a single click.  Your desktop copy syncs with the version stored on Google servers so al...

Prepping for Conference Night next Thursday?  You may want to print student assignment grades for the Quarter so they are readily available for discussion.  Here's how: While logged into  Aspen>Staff View>GradeBook tab,  select a specific class.  Click on the Scores Side Tab .  You should see the student roster with assignments & grades.  Click on Reports, and select Progress Reports. Complete  Step 1 preferences and click Next : Choose the default  Step 2  preferences and click Next : Step 3 preferences offer a lot of options. If you want all assignment grades for a specific quarter, select the appropriate term, and all categories.  Obviously, this report gives you additional options if you want to highlight grades in a specific assignment category: At this point, I would click  Finish! If desired, click Next .  Step 4:   enter any message you would like to disp...

You may have noticed your Google Calendar changed last week!  Google refreshed the calendar app to look and feel more like their mobile app.  It looks more modern, and Google simplified the way you get the information you need! Below are a few changes I really like: Google has improved Invitations to Calendar Events: Google Calendar Invitees If you are invited to a Google Calendar Event, not only will you receive an email, the event will show on your calendar based on how you've responded to the invitation: If you’re attending an event , the event will be all one color.   If you’ve answered maybe to an even t, you’ll see diagonal lines across it . If you haven’t replied yet , you’ll just see the event’s outline. If you said no , you’ll only see the outline and the event will be crossed out. You have the choice of responding to the email, or clicking on the event itself.  All event information will be displayed, along with the opti...

As Q1 grading kicks into high gear, it is a great idea to ensure your scroll bars are always available.  They really help you easily access current assignments by letting you quickly bypass the older ones! Go to Apple>SystemPreferences>General  and make sure that your scroll bars are always set to show!

Current educational trends focus on developing critical thinking and problem solving skills in students, along with  promoting student voice and choice to enhance engagement. Elaine Picard & Kevin Pennucci designed a brilliant project for their AP Physics course that accomplishes both of these goals! Like all AP courses, the curriculum is focused and fast leading up to the AP test.  After the test in May,  AP courses offer a few days to plan enriching and engaging projects.  Elaine & Kevin purchased some Arduino  circuit boards for use in the project.  (Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software.) Students were placed in teams and asked to create a project of their choice.  The only stipulation was they needed to use the Arduino hardware and embedded software. Watch the video of one teams' project presentation: You can tell from the video that students were engaged and exci...

Do you want the convenience of using your cell phone to take attendance? Do you want to reserve your laptop or classroom desktop for displaying class information or the daily agenda?  This tip is for you! (Disclaimer - the Aspen Mobile interface is really just a front end for using the website with your phone.  As such, you will need to increase/decrease the page size in order to navigate to Attendance.  Once there, it is a reasonable interface!) iPhone Step 1:  Using a browser, type in the address: https://ma-concord.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do Because this is so painful to hand type each time, you will want to bookmark this site.  To do that, tap the ‘ Share button ’, and select ‘ Add Bookmark ’.  (Note: I used Chrome on my phone, where I am logged into my Google Chrome account using my @concordcarlisle.org credentials. I automatically had access to the Aspen bookmark I had created on my laptop. A ccess to bookmarks across devices i...

Moving your hands from the keyboard to your mouse or trackpad and clicking takes time.  Research done by  the Key Cuts Blog  found you can save over 10 minutes per day using keyboard shortcuts, adding up to over  40 hours per year time savings!  Personally, I am a big fan of keyboard shortcuts.  Interested in starting to use more keyboard shortcuts?  The best way to learn them is a few at a time! The Basics - Use everywhere! Everyone should know and use these next four shortcuts.  The time they save really adds up!  They are Mac shortcuts, so they work everywhere.   Command + C = Copy Command + V = Paste                   Command + X = Cut Command + A = Select All I routinely use all of the commands above.  If you don't use any keyboard shortcuts, this is where you should start!  Place a sticky note on your computer with these shortcuts, and star...