Tammy Worcester’s Tech Tip of the Week

Tip 49 - JamStudio

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:07:47 -0500

As educators, we are constantly struggling to find copyright friendly resources (including music) for students to use in their multimedia presentations. This week’s tip features a tool that will allow students to create their own music!

Jam Studio http://www.jamstudio.com

See / listen to an example: I apologize for the sound quality, but hopefully it is good enough to get the idea...
 
 

Tip 48 - Outside the Classroom

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:29:43 -0500

Since some of you are enjoying a summer break from school, this week’s tip includes a couple of my favorite non-educational websites. Yes - it is OK to have a life outside the classroom!

Site #1: That Home Site! Forums http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/

This site contains some extremely active forums in a variety of categories including my favorites: Home Decorating, Kitchens, Organizing the Home, Cooking, & Entertaining.

You can be a lurker and just read and learn from others’ posts -- or you can create an account (http://members.gardenweb.com/members/#new) and post questions (or answers) of your own.
 

Site #2: The Pioneer Woman http://thepioneerwoman.com/

I must give the credit for finding this site to Rita Betts, tech specialist at Newton, KS. Rita shared it with our technology integration group a month or so ago, and I became immediately hooked.

The Pioneer Woman, Ree, had aspirations of leaving her childhood home in Oklahoma to become a business executive in a large city. However, as she was packing for her move to Chicago, she met and fell in love with a local cattle rancher. So, instead of big-city life, Ree now lives on a cattle ranch and has four children who are home-schooled.

Her blog entries include: amusing anecdotes about her “punks” and pets; accounts of her love story with “Marlboro Man”; fabulous recipes (with step-by-step pictures); amazing photos with some Photoshop tips; and more.

Ree usually posts daily, so be sure to check back often (or use an RSS reader to keep up)!

Tip 47 - Wordle

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:48:49 -0500

This week’s tip features a web tool that will create word clouds from text you provide. The more frequently a word appears in your source text, the larger it will be in the cloud. With this clever tool you can even change fonts, layouts, and color schemes.  I’m anxious to hear about creative ways to use this with students. Please post your ideas by clicking the “Add a Comment” button at the bottom of this post.

Wordle http://wordle.net/

Here’s one I created using the text from my bio:

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to: http://wordle.net/
Click the Create button at the top of the page.   
Enter some text. (You can either type it here or paste it in.)   
Click Go. (This will generate your word cloud.)
Use the buttons at the top of the screen to customize the layout and colors:   
6. Use the buttons at the bottom of the screen to print your cloud and / or save it to the gallery.

Tip 46 - Magic Pen

Tue, 20 May 2008 09:49:13 -0500

This week’s tip features the coolest online game I’ve ever seen -- no kidding! Not only is it fun, but it also teaches geometry, physics, problem solving, and sometimes patience:-)

Magic Pen:
http://magic.pen.fizzlebot.com/

The goal is to get the red ball to the flag(s). To do this, the user draws shapes to design bridges and drops shapes from the sky to get the ball rolling. Clever users can create hinged pendulums and catapults to assist their efforts.

Getting started!
Go to http://magic.pen.fizzlebot.com/
Important - Ignore the links to other games and the advertisements on the page.
Click the Play button between the two snowmen: (It may take a few seconds before the Play button appears.)

5. Click the Play button on the next screen:

After going through the tutorial, begin with Level 1 and work your way up.   Good luck!

Tip 45 - Step 6 - Use Technology to Save TIme

Wed, 7 May 2008 11:31:50 -0500

I recently presented a keynote speech entitled: Keeping Your Head Above Water in a Sea of Information
Here’s the description: Drowning in a sea of information? Having difficulty keeping up with wave after wave of tools and resources? In this session, Tammy will provide a 6-step strategy that will help you to stay afloat.

For my Tip of the Week for the next 6 weeks, I will present my 6-step plan. Here’s Step 6:

Idea 1 - Use / Evaluate Time-Saving Tools:
Try some of the resources / ideas we’ve already covered to save you valuable time: delicious bookmarks, organizing and consolidating email; iGoogle, RSS Readers, etc.
After giving the tool a fair shot, evaluate it. If it is taking more time than it is saving, give it up. 

Idea 2 - Take Advantage of Google Tips & Tricks: www.google.com

Google Searches: In regular search window: 
Calculator Type a calculation (2 + 3 * 4 - 1 / 3) and press Enter 
Conversion Tool Be sure to use the word “in” 1 mile in feet 1 cup in tablespoons 100 dollars in euros 180 c in f 
Dictionary Define: your word 
Weather weather Wichita 

Google Advanced Search: Click the Advanced Search Link

Search for PowerPoint Presentations  
Search for Jeopardy Games 

Google Maps: www.maps.google.com  
Satellite View
Find Business
Get Directions

 Idea 3 - Learn and Use Shortcuts Here are some of Tammy’s favorites: 
Microsoft Office Shortcuts www.google.com

Complete list: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011407361033.aspx

Tammy’s favorites:  - Control (Option) drag to duplicate - Control (Command) + Shift + > to increase text size - Control (Command) + Shift + < to decrease text size - Control (Command) + E to center text - Control (Command) + R to right-align text - Control (Command) + L to left-align text

Firefox Shortcuts http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Complete list: http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/keyboard  
Tammy’s favorites:  - Control (Command) + + to increase text size - Control (Command) + - to decrease text size - Control (Command) + T for new tab - Double click in blank area for new tab - Control (Command) + L to select location bar - Control (Command) + Click on link to open in new tab 
Bookmark keyword shortcuts 1. View bookmarks 2. Right click bookmark - choose properties 3. Enter keyword Now you can use the keyword instead of typing the address in the location window.  Smart Keywords 

Mac OSX Shortcuts

Complete list: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459

Tammy’s favorites: - Two fingers on track pad to scroll - Control + Click = Right Click - Two finger click = Right Click - Control + two fingers to zoom