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| Let's Go Lady Elks! |
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Let's Go Elks!
Since I posted on Tuesday, and we won...I've got to keep it rolling!
Tonight we face the DRSM Lady Cardinals. It will be a good matchup and I'm sure an entertaining game.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Let's Go Elks!
No real blog post today, I am miserable with a head cold.
However, tonight is the start of the District Tournament, and the Lady Elks host the O-R-R Raiders this evening at 7 pm.
However, tonight is the start of the District Tournament, and the Lady Elks host the O-R-R Raiders this evening at 7 pm.
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| Let's Go Elks! |
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Tuesday Teacher Tips: Free Technology for Teachers website
I posted about this site once last year, but I thought it would be a good idea to share it again.
Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Mr. Byrne is an educator/blogger/ and speaker. He was the "keynote" speaker at last year's TIE conference in Rapid City.
I would highly recommend following his blog, or if you are a twitter user...you can follow him on twitter, as he is constantly posting his links to his articles on free technology resources.
To be honest, I'm not actually sure how he gets it all done, as he is a teacher, and all his blog updates, and his speaking engagements.
It's a really excellent resource, complete with discussion of many, many different web applications, iPad apps, free guides and favorite resources.
Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
Mr. Byrne is an educator/blogger/ and speaker. He was the "keynote" speaker at last year's TIE conference in Rapid City.
I would highly recommend following his blog, or if you are a twitter user...you can follow him on twitter, as he is constantly posting his links to his articles on free technology resources.
To be honest, I'm not actually sure how he gets it all done, as he is a teacher, and all his blog updates, and his speaking engagements.
It's a really excellent resource, complete with discussion of many, many different web applications, iPad apps, free guides and favorite resources.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Happy Valentines Day!
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| Let's Go Elks! |
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Tests, Testing, and Testers.
With the move of standardized testing going "online" I have been busy installing the new "tester" on several machines.
What I have been installing is the Smarter Balance Secure Browser 6.3 The icon for this program looks like this:
Basically, what it is...is a "secure browser". It shuts down your ability to run any other programs on the machine while you are using it. (to prevent people from cheating). It connects directly to the smarter balance website, and asks the user to log in with their testing credentials. (username and password)
The program itself isn't difficult to load on the machines, but it takes a little time. And, I'm happy to say that all the machines in the North Lab, and the Windows 7 lab, have it installed on them. We have also enabled the SBAC tester on the chromebooks (which was much easier to do...I just authorized that app for all our chromebooks, and BOOM, it was done).
This also required me to take a trip out to Roland colony and make sure the newest browser was installed.
The HS Juniors all need this on their machines as well. A week or two ago, I did this on the great majority of them. If there is a Junior HS student who doesn't have this installed, they will need to come and see me, so I can install it on their machine.
Problems will probably arise...they always do with technology. But hopefully the move to online testing will go fairly smoothly, and it will certainly improve and get better with more experience in using it. (Both at the state and local level).
At the latest check the tester seems to be working (we had a slight hiccup last week, when the testing site was down for a few days...but that was on Smarter Balance's end of things), and hopefully we are prepared and ready to go when the testing begins.
In our weekly testing coordinators update, they did ask for people to begin "practicing" (See paste below)
"Secure browser installation – please try to get the secure browsers installed this week so you can have as many students as possible try the training test next week. "
What I have been installing is the Smarter Balance Secure Browser 6.3 The icon for this program looks like this:
Basically, what it is...is a "secure browser". It shuts down your ability to run any other programs on the machine while you are using it. (to prevent people from cheating). It connects directly to the smarter balance website, and asks the user to log in with their testing credentials. (username and password)
The program itself isn't difficult to load on the machines, but it takes a little time. And, I'm happy to say that all the machines in the North Lab, and the Windows 7 lab, have it installed on them. We have also enabled the SBAC tester on the chromebooks (which was much easier to do...I just authorized that app for all our chromebooks, and BOOM, it was done).
This also required me to take a trip out to Roland colony and make sure the newest browser was installed.
The HS Juniors all need this on their machines as well. A week or two ago, I did this on the great majority of them. If there is a Junior HS student who doesn't have this installed, they will need to come and see me, so I can install it on their machine.
Problems will probably arise...they always do with technology. But hopefully the move to online testing will go fairly smoothly, and it will certainly improve and get better with more experience in using it. (Both at the state and local level).
At the latest check the tester seems to be working (we had a slight hiccup last week, when the testing site was down for a few days...but that was on Smarter Balance's end of things), and hopefully we are prepared and ready to go when the testing begins.
In our weekly testing coordinators update, they did ask for people to begin "practicing" (See paste below)
"Secure browser installation – please try to get the secure browsers installed this week so you can have as many students as possible try the training test next week. "
We have the browser installed, so check with Ms. Bogue as to when you can begin a "practice" session.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tuesday Teacher Tips: Websites and return of the podcasts!
In December, Mr. Erickson, Mrs. Neill, and I, were able to attend a workshop in Sioux Falls hosted by TIE which went over a number of devices and mobile apps that can be used on them.
While there...one of the instructors gave us a link to a google doc page where she had listed over 200 websites (and/or apps) that can be used on mobile devices.
The Link to that spreadsheet is HERE. My advice would be to look through the list when you are thinking of trying to do something new. There are many sites on there...some I have discussed here before, and many others that I haven't even heard of.
Secondly, I plan to begin recording some more podcasts in the coming weeks. The main reason that I stopped, is that the phone that I was using to record the interviews had died (it would no longer charge), and I had a replacement phone that did not have a voice recording option on it. I recently acquired a different phone that has a voice recorder...so we can pick up where we left off.
So, if you know someone with a coming event, or you have a team or organization that you would like to discuss on the podcast, please let me know. They are very simple to do, and it does not take a large amount of time.
If you want to listen to any of the previous episodes from this past fall, they are located on the "Podcast Central" page.
Thanks for reading, and check out that spreadsheet...there are alot of good resources on there!
While there...one of the instructors gave us a link to a google doc page where she had listed over 200 websites (and/or apps) that can be used on mobile devices.
The Link to that spreadsheet is HERE. My advice would be to look through the list when you are thinking of trying to do something new. There are many sites on there...some I have discussed here before, and many others that I haven't even heard of.
Secondly, I plan to begin recording some more podcasts in the coming weeks. The main reason that I stopped, is that the phone that I was using to record the interviews had died (it would no longer charge), and I had a replacement phone that did not have a voice recording option on it. I recently acquired a different phone that has a voice recorder...so we can pick up where we left off.
So, if you know someone with a coming event, or you have a team or organization that you would like to discuss on the podcast, please let me know. They are very simple to do, and it does not take a large amount of time.
If you want to listen to any of the previous episodes from this past fall, they are located on the "Podcast Central" page.
Thanks for reading, and check out that spreadsheet...there are alot of good resources on there!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Changing Wireless Access Points
I am changing the wireless access points for the school today.
Formerly the wireless network had been named "elktonschool" and all wireless devices should connect to that automatically.
The "NEW" Wireless network is called "GoBigBlue", and will have a new and different wireless access code.
THIS WILL REQUIRE ALL WIRELESS DEVICES TO CONNECT WITH THE NEW ACCESS CODE.
So, Monday the 6th, I will need to enter the NEW access code into all student and teacher machines that haven't gotten it, yet.
(I WILL DO THIS FOR ALL MACHINES IN THE BUILDING TODAY)
So, I will need to see all students on Monday to enter the code. Luckily, this will not take long...only about a minute to enter the new access code under "GoBigBlue". I may even go around and visit classrooms at the beginning of the day.
We are asking that only SCHOOL OWNED devices connect to the school's wireless. I know there are several staff members who connect their cell phones and ipads and other personal devices to the wireless networks currently. We will NOT connect personal devices to the school wireless from this point on.
One of the bandwidth issues we faced during the Standardized testing this fall, was that our wireless network was strained by the amount of machines accessing it. By limiting these 10, 20, 30? extraneous devices...we will lessen the load on our wireless system. (Also, there is a chance that some students had access on their phones, or ipads).
If it is a school owned iPad, or something like that...there is no problem.
Thank you for your patience and help!
Formerly the wireless network had been named "elktonschool" and all wireless devices should connect to that automatically.
The "NEW" Wireless network is called "GoBigBlue", and will have a new and different wireless access code.
THIS WILL REQUIRE ALL WIRELESS DEVICES TO CONNECT WITH THE NEW ACCESS CODE.
So, Monday the 6th, I will need to enter the NEW access code into all student and teacher machines that haven't gotten it, yet.
(I WILL DO THIS FOR ALL MACHINES IN THE BUILDING TODAY)
So, I will need to see all students on Monday to enter the code. Luckily, this will not take long...only about a minute to enter the new access code under "GoBigBlue". I may even go around and visit classrooms at the beginning of the day.
We are asking that only SCHOOL OWNED devices connect to the school's wireless. I know there are several staff members who connect their cell phones and ipads and other personal devices to the wireless networks currently. We will NOT connect personal devices to the school wireless from this point on.
One of the bandwidth issues we faced during the Standardized testing this fall, was that our wireless network was strained by the amount of machines accessing it. By limiting these 10, 20, 30? extraneous devices...we will lessen the load on our wireless system. (Also, there is a chance that some students had access on their phones, or ipads).
If it is a school owned iPad, or something like that...there is no problem.
Thank you for your patience and help!
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