ITS Happening

What's going on in the world of Instructional Technology

ITS Happening

Basic Photo Tasks: Resize and Crop

March 22nd, 2010 · 3 Comments · Uncategorized

Today, I’m going to help you learn to do the most basic tasks with photo editing using Irfanview, a free download available from Irfanview’s website.  You will learn to resize and crop a photo.  Resizing is especially useful because if you would like to upload your photo to many web2.0 sites, sometimes the file size is too big and the site does not convert them for you.  Teacherweb, specifically, is one site that does not always resize your images for you and they just won’t upload.  Email also doesn’t always like large photos- sometimes they may even bounce back to your account.  If you’ve ever opened a photo and you had to scroll to see the whole picture, you were sent a large file.  Risizing would fix that problem.  So watch the video below and try cropping and resizing a photo yourself!

Homework:
1. Resize a photo in Irfanview.
2. Crop a photo in Irfanview.
3.  Optional: email or upload your edited photo to your Teacherweb page.
4.  Comment back on the blog letting me know you did it.

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Embeding in Teacherweb

March 2nd, 2010 · 6 Comments · Uncategorized

Now that you know what Web 2.0 is, I will show you how to make it accessible for your students and parents by embedding it on your TeacherWeb page.  For today’s lesson, you will learn how to embed a YouTube video, but the tutorial is relatively the same for many other Web 2.0 tools.

First, watch this tutorial:

Now, here is your homework:
1.  Make sure you have an enhanced text, blog, or All Purpose page available on your TeacherWeb page.  If not, add one. (Don’t know how, check this out)
2.  Find a video from YouTube, TeacherTube or SchoolTube that you could use with your students.
3.  Embed it!
4.  Comment back on my blog letting me know you have done it.  Include a link to the page you embedded.

You did it!

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What is Web 2.0?

March 2nd, 2010 · 4 Comments · Uncategorized

OK, I bet you thought I gave up on the blog.  No!  Since I’ve been back from the TCEA Convention, I’m inspired by all the Web2.0 tools out there.  I’ll highlight a few that I particularly like in upcoming lessons, but first you need to have an understanding of what the term Web 2.0 really means.  Like any good teacher, I’m not going to tell you, but I will give you some tools to help you construct some meaning for yourself:

Wikipedia’s Definition

Go to Google.  Type in define: web 2.0

Web 2.0 Tools for Young Leaners

YouTube Video (my apologies for the very end :)

Here is your homework:
1.  Comment back on the blog with your understanding of what Web 2.0 is/means.
2.  Within your comment, either raise a question you have or comment on the relevance of web 2.0 in education.
3. (optional, but encouraged)  Check back on this blog and read the other comments.  Make a reflective comment about someone else’s comment.

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Archiving In Lotus Notes

December 7th, 2009 · 6 Comments · Uncategorized

Although most of my posts will be video posts, today’s will just include some written directions.  (I’m recovering from laryngitis and I think you would want the written directions anyway) Archiving in Lotus Notes is a handy thing to know how to do.  When you archive, you are saving a copy of important emails to the hard drive (C:) of your computer. This way, when the district does it’s periodic deletion, those particular emails will be safe.  Remember, saving to your hard drive means you can only access them from that particular computer.

Archive Email Directions

Homework:  Follow the directions carefully and create an archive.    Archive at least one email message.  Comment back on the blog, letting me know you have done it AND answer this question: Why should you NOT archive every email message? Good luck!

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Lotus Notes Basics

November 11th, 2009 · 10 Comments · Uncategorized

Here are some of the basic options in Lotus Notes.

Here is your homework:
-make sure you set your email to automatically check for spelling and create a signature that attaches to your email
-comment back on the blog about something you learned, or something you’d like to know how to do

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Saving 101

October 21st, 2009 · 10 Comments · Uncategorized

Today’s blog lesson will give you the ins and outs of saving.  There are 2 videos for a total of about 14 minutes.  Watch the videos below, then check out the homework.


Homework Assignment: Spend some time making sure you know where you save your documents.  Make sure everything you need to keep safe is saved on your H drive/network folder.  Visit the shared drive.  Find some of the things you have saved there in the past.  Clean up/delete what you can.  Comment on the blog.

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Welcome!

October 21st, 2009 · 11 Comments · Uncategorized

Welcome to my new blog! 
I hope to teach you some things that makes your understanding of Instructional Technology grow- on your own time!!!  Here is the deal: 
1.  Watch the video
2.  Do the homework assignment
3.  Comment back on the blog that you have done the assginment.  Ask questions, add helpful tips, etc! (To comment, look under the post for that day- there is a comment link.  Leave your name, email and message)
4.  If you are one the teachers at either of my schools, after 5 completed homework assignments, you get a reward!  (A leave @ 3 pass, a jean day, or at PSE 50 extra copies added to your account)

It’s easy!  I welcome your feedback.  If you have ideas for future lessons, please let me know.  Enjoy!

Here is your first video- how to leave a comment.

Your first Homework Assignment:  Leave a comment.  Make it constructive:  a suggestion, an idea for a future lesson, etc.

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