Screencasting Options

Greetings again, today I thought I would list some options for those who are looking into some options for "Screen Casting".

First off, what does it mean to 'Screen Cast'?

Screencasting is a valuable tool when you are presenting "How To" do things in an online environment.

Here are a few options that I am familiar with:

1. One Note 2016  -This One is Often Forgotten... but you can do Video and Audio recordings of yourself using One Note.  Which is installed on everyone's computers.
NOTE:  ... you aren't recording your screen... but you can record yourself...talking and explaining.  Either through Video... or Just Audio.  

-You can take screen clippings as well.

Some of the things you can do in One Note.

2. Screencastify - Screencastify is a Google Extension.  It will work in Google Chrome only.
It is free, and is well liked, and I know several schools have staff who use this.  There is a limit to the size of the videos.  Find Screentastify here:  https://www.screencastify.com/

3. Screencast-O-Matic is a "web based" screencaster...NOTHING to install!  AND, it is also free.  It runs in your web browser.  As a free tool, this also has a time limit.  https://screencast-o-matic.com/

4. Loom - I just heard of this one... it was going around on the Tech Director Listserv.  Seems like people are really liking Loom.  https://www.loom.com/ 

There is a free version, which has shorter videos, and a Professional version. 

Also, during the Covid-19 Outbreak, they are making Loom Professional free for Educators.
For more information Go HERE

Lastly... here is a link to an article I found the other day, that has some other options on there.  Screencast-O-Matic is one of the options on there.  Some of them are web based, some of them are programs that need to be installed. But this article is a good resource for you to look at.
https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-screen-recorder

Reminder... if you NEED something installed... you will likely need to have me do this for you.  I can walk you through this...or I can do this for you on Monday when we get together.

I think the main thing to remember here, is that "everyone will have different needs and ideas"... what will work for one class, may NOT work for another.  So be creative, and think of different things you can try.  Don't think you are WRONG, if you are doing something different from someone else.

Using Google Classroom

As we prepare for the possibility of moving to some sort of 'online learning' for a week, or a couple weeks, or more... (who knows?)

I thought I would share a quick post on Using Google Classroom.  I know that we have a few staff members who already use Google Classroom (Mr. Mitchell is one that immediately comes to mind.

All Elkton Teaching Staff have a Google Account that comes with your K12 account that is provided to you from the K12 Data Center.  That Google Account gives you the opportunity to create and use a Google Classroom.

I have been using Google Classroom with my Computer Applications class for the last several years.  In fact, we use it to do ALL of our assignments.  I like it for a number of reasons, including:

1. It organizes all your assignments...they are right there.  There is no "losing" one, or searching through folders to find an assignment.  The Google Classroom automatically puts the submissions from each into a separate Google Drive folder.  You can access them directly from the Classroom itself...or you can go into your Google Classroom folders on Google Drive.
2. It is accessible online from anywhere.  You don't need to be at school to Grade assignments, you can do it from anywhere with an internet connection.  THIS is also a positive for the students, as they can turn in assignments from anywhere, at any time.
3. YOU can include all kinds of materials to your students via Google Classroom, including papers, notes, worksheets, etc.
4. You can include links to anything you would want the student to do.  You can even do your tests on Google Classroom using "Google Forms".
5. Although there isn't a "video" portion to record yourself... you can include links to videos, including Youtube, but you can also make a brief video of yourself using your computer webcam, and simply upload it to google drive, where you can include a link to it in a post.
6. Audio - you can do similar with Audio files.  Record yourself, either on your computer, or even on your phone, if you like... then upload the file into a Google Drive folder and share it...and anyone with the link can listen to it.

My last 4 Semesters of classes on Google Classroom

Over the past few years, I have had the students do all types of assignments and upload them to the Google Classroom... some of them have been online work, where they have to post the link.  Some of them have been work on Microsoft Office Products where they upload the actual file that they created, and some of them have been Google Products that they created right in the Google Classroom (there is an option that says 'create' when they look at the assignment)
-I even have the students upload Microsoft Publisher files into Google Classroom... there is no Google equivalent for 'Publisher' on the web, but the files are there, and I can access them by downloading them on my computer and opening them in Publisher. (they appear like BLANK files in Google Drive)

A Google Classroom is a very simple and effective way to get information and assignments to students, AND gives them the opportunity to submit things back to you.
-You DO need to have an internet connection to access Google Classroom.

If you have further questions regarding Google Classroom, or would like help setting one up, please let me know. 

Podcasts as a Classroom Resource

I Love Podcasts.

I listen to them all the time.  I have a podcast app on my phone (Podcast Addict), and I have "subscriptions" to about 20 different shows.  Most of them are weekly, some of them only run for 10 episode "seasons" and then they disappear for a year.

But they are all FREE.  I don't pay a dime, and I have hours and hours of free entertainment and education that I download straight to my phone, and push straight to my ears.

Many of the podcasts I listen to are for entertainment (I really enjoy Sports and True Crime Stories), so I listen to those a lot, but there are also some that are very educational (if not entirely FOR Education).

So, I thought I would share a blog post with some ideas for Podcasts that would/could be helpful or beneficial for teachers.  Because, if I was just starting out in the world of podcasts, and didn't know what I was doing... It would definitely be overwhelming.

There are so many to choose from, where to start?

I just went to "PodcastOne.com" and clicked on podcasts, and took this screen shot.

There are currently 294 podcasts listed on Podcast One.

And just for clarification... Podcast One, is perhaps the largest Podcast network, but it's not the ONLY one.  There are several.  So How Many Podcasts Are There?  Thousands.  Thousands and Thousands.

If you would like to do your own investigating, here is a list of The 51 Best Education Podcasts. I cannot verify the list, but there are some good ones on there, for sure.

You can also do some searches by subject matter.  Here are a few lists I found:

• Education World:  Podcasts for Science
• Education World: Podcasts for English/Language Arts
• 18 Best Podcasts for Elementary, Middle, and High School

HERE are some suggestions of some podcasts that I am familiar with.

Cross-Curriculum - These Podcasts really cover just about any subject matter, it just depends on the week.  It could be history, it could be science, it could deal with the Arts, it just depends on the subject...but some excellent shows. I'm just going to copy and paste the descriptions from the show's webpage.

1.  Radiolab - Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.
2. This American Life - There's a theme to each episode of This American Life, and a variety of stories on that theme. Most of the stories are journalism, with an occasional comedy routine or essay. There's lots more to the show, but it's sort of hard to describe.

Social Studies has a lot of really good ones.
Revisionist History - really interesting and well done by Malcolm Gladwell.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History - this is a phenomenal podcast, but only for true History junkies.  And the episodes are REALLY LONG.
Stuff You Missed in History Class
Freakonomics Radio - interesting and fun show on economics.


Science 
Science Vs - This one is one of my personal favorites.  Just great stuff.
How Stuff Works
Star Talk Radio - hosted by Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Language Arts? - I am putting down here a few "fictional  podcasts", that use story telling.
-You can think of these as like Old Time Radio Programs.
Welcome to Nightvale - Very well done, and really creative.
The Black Tapes  - Kind of like an "X-files" sort of mystery and supernatural podcast.
Homecoming -self described as a "Psychological Thriller"
The Truth -describes itself as "movies for your ears".

Podcasts for Educators - here is a list of podcasts that are "Education based" by and for Educators.

And just for fun, because I love them, here is a list of some excellent "True Crime" Podcasts.
(these are just really good stories, that I have listened to.  Not sure how they could be used in an educational setting at all... I just like them.  More for personal enjoyment.)

Serial - Season One,  which focused on the murder of a High School girl in 1999, is amazing.
In The Dark - this podcast focused on the Jacob Wetterling case. 
Phoebe's Fall - An investigative podcast in the death of a young Australian woman.
Up and Vanished - a podcast that explores the unexplained disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a young teacher in a small town in Georgia.

There are podcasts for everything you can think of:  Gardening, Religion, Politics, Music, Health/Fitness, you name it...

There is just SO MUCH free content out there that can be used either as a resource, or as something that can be assigned... (like, listen to this podcast and write a reaction paper?) or things of that nature.

A quick warning.  As podcasts are simply audio files that are uploaded to the internet, they are NOT monitored by the FCC.  This will require you to listen to it, and verify that they are appropriate for use in the classroom.  I just don't want someone to attempt to play a podcast, and then have inappropriate language or something like that to pop up, out of the blue.  (Some of them are "radio friendly" some are not)

Tuesday Technology Tips - Download Youtube videos

Greetings, I hope everyone had a great labor day weekend vacation.

Today's "Tuesday Technology Tips" is a helpful one, if you are a person who likes to show classroom videos from YouTube to your class!

One problem that happens occasionally, is that perhaps wireless signal is not working well, or perhaps the network is slow because of high traffic within the building.

However, you can eliminate all the "need" and/or "worry" about showing YouTube videos, by downloading them to your computer.

There are several free websites that can help you do this, and they all work basically the same.

Follow these steps:
1.  Go to the YouTube video you want to show and COPY the URL (Web address) of the video.

2. Go to your "preferred" YouTube download site.  (there are several)

• http://en.savefrom.net/1-how-to-download-youtube-video/
• https://www.onlinevideoconverter.com/
• http://keepvid.com/sites/download-youtube-video.html

(These are just a few)

3. PASTE the YouTube address in the appropriate Box on the site

4. Click on the "command" or "enter" or the button that is next to the Text-box... the site will then convert the YouTube video to a downloadable file.

5.  If you want to WATCH it as a video, you will want to select "MP4" format, and click "Download".

6. The file will download to your "download" folder...if you want to move somewhere else, you may do so, I would suggest placing them in your "Videos" folder, but that's me.  If you are just going to show it once, and then delete the file when you are done showing it... go ahead and place it on your desktop.

7. This will allow you to show the video in Windows Media Player or the Movies and TV App (if you have Windows 10).  Your video will run locally on your computer, and you won't have to rely on internet connection.  (This will also save on bandwidth while school is in session for other users)


There you go, that is all the steps you need.

Have a great Homecoming Week everyone!

Tuesday's Technology Tips - Shut down your computer!

Greetings, and I hope the new school is finding everyone well.

I am attempting to revive my "weekly" blog post, where I share some helpful technology tips and things of that nature.

Up first, a relatively simple thing to do:  Shut down your computer!

Is it actually necessary?  The answer is... sometimes?
https://www.howtogeek.com/131595/is-there-any-reason-to-actually-shut-down-your-computer/

-without reading this, just know that the more programs, and files and things you open... it starts different processes within the computer, and many of them keep running, even after you close the program.

So, it's just good practice to shut your computer down at the end of the work day.  Your computer will start "fresh" each day.

It is NOT necessary to shut it down and restart it several times a day.  
-Start it at the start of the day, shut it down at the end of the day.

A few other reasons to "shut down" your computers.

1.  Our computers our connected to the Internet by the "Fortigate" software firewall installed by the state.  If you are logged in overnight, there is a chance that the Fortigate itself restarted overnight, and it will no longer see you as an authenticated user.  It will recognize "old" users as "guests" and many times... that means you will be blocked from websites that are normally open to teaching staff.

*This is why, most of the time, when teachers tell me "YouTube is blocked" or something like that, my first suggestion is always "restart your computer".  When you do that... you log in to the network fresh again, and your credentials are restored.  (This works approximately 92% of the time).

2.  Windows Updates.  Microsoft releases updates to it's windows machines periodically (normally on Tuesday's... it's sometimes called "Patch Tuesday").  These updates are generally good for your computer, resolve problems that were unforeseen when the software was issued, and often times contain security patches, that keep your computer safe.
-Many times, your computer will need to "restart" to install and configure the updates.
*I know they can be long (depending on the size of the update), and kind of a pain to wait for, but shutting down your computer at the end of the day, so computers can complete updates is good for the health of your computer.

So, to sum up... it's good to "shut down" every day, at the end of the day!
-It helps your computer to run faster (eliminates unnecessary processes)
-It helps your network connection (by authenticating to the server each day)
-It helps with the installation of updates.

Have a great summer!

Today is the "official" last day of the 2016-2017 School Year for the teaching staff.

Take some time to relax!

Here's hoping that everyone has a great Summer Break, and is able to enjoy some time with family, and participate in some great warm weather opportunities.

I will be in and out of the school during June and July.
I do have DDN-IT training in Madison June 5-8, so I will definitely not be in the office on those days.
I will also be coaching Basketball with Mr. Erickson at a few team camps, as well as working at our "Youth BB Skills Camp".
And of course, I will be running Marcus and Miles to a few basketball camps, as well.

However, if you need me to help you with something and you aren't sure when I'm in the office, feel free to e-mail or call.

The best way to contact me in the Summer is through e-mail: mark.harming@k12.sd.us, however if I am out of the office on that day, you can contact me on my Cell 605-651-1447.

Have a safe and fun Summer, and come back re-charged for 2017-2018!

Privacy and Phones - podcast

One of my very favorite podcasts in the world is called Reply All.

It is ostensibly, a podcast "about the internet", but they get into many, many different subjects.

Anyway, for the sake of investigation... one of the two co-hosts allowed the other to put "spyware" on a android phone, and then use that phone... to see what the other person could see, and what could they access.

It was really interesting, and worth your while to listen to, particularly if you are interested in security, and knowing what type of data is at risk when using an "infected" device.

Here is a LINK to the show page on the Gimlet website.
-You can listen to it directly on the page, or you can download it from there, as well.

Also, typically Reply All posts their shows on Soundcloud, but this episode hadn't posted when I wrote this blog post.