Teacherszine

Technology Tips

Computers in the classroom should be utilized to enhance what has been learned in the classroom.  Computers should never be used to play online games with no educational value. There are so many websites with educational value which are fun for students.  Students can also practice keyboarding skills using online games such as "Bubbles Typing Game".

 Timez Attack is a stunning new video game exclusively for learning multiplication tables. It's as high-tech and entertaining as a top video game, yet as rigorous and effective as one-on-one training with a skilled teacher. Trust me--you've never seen an educational game like THIS before. 

 

*  There are many FREE audio or video podcasts which teach lessons to students.  Use the FREE iTunes program from Apple.  iTunes is available for Mac and PC at www.apple.com/itunes/download.  To get the free podcasts click on  iTunes Store> Podcasts> click on Audio Podcast > under Categories select the category  or go Under More Education select K-12.  These podcasts include everything from Teaching w/ Smartboards to Video Math Tutor:Algebra.

* There are many websites with ideas for technology projects which can enhance and extend a lesson. If you have the Inspiration program try their website for ideas. The TimeLiner program also has ideas on their website. You do not have to have  specific programs to create projects. A word processing program such as Microsoft Word, AppleWorks, or Pages in iWorks will work just as well.  Students can create bubbles for thinking maps using the drawing tool and text boxes to place text into the bubbles.

* Create a "Voki " for your class webpage FREE.  Add a message for your students or students' parents.

* Students can create graphs-- FREE. These make great technology projects. Click Here

* A GREAT website for images for student projects go to www.pics4learning.com!

* MP3  and WAV audio files can be found at www.findsounds.com. 
These are great for creating podcasts and PowerPoint presentations.

 

Creating "Student Guides" for different computer tasks helps students at the computer when you are not available. Here are a few of the student guides I have created for my students.

* Bar Graph Student Guide This guide will help your students create awesome bar graphs using the AppleWorks program.

* Slide Show Instructions for AppleWorks 6.

Here are a few samples of technology projects created by students:

* Technology project using the Inspiration program: Geometric Attributes

* Technology project using the AppleWorks program:Translations

* Technology project using the Inspiration program:Combinations

* Technology project using the Inspiration program:Prime Factors

* Technology project using the Inspiration program:Comparing Numbers (least to greatest and greatest to least)

 

Time Savers for Macintosh:

* Are your students removing the program icons off the Dock?  Use Deeper, which allows you to enable and disable the hidden functions of Finder, Dock, Dashboard, Exposé, Safari, Login window and many Apple's applications...  You can place the icons you want on the Dock and use Deeper to lock the dock. Click here for the FREE download.

*  If you need to hide the Hard Drive from students, here's a hint for you.  I always had the problem that students would get into programs I didn't want them to use or they moved programs or even worst trashed programs.  Here is the solution:  Click on the Finder menu > Preferences > move the check mark from hard disks box.  If your don't want the hard drive to appear in the sidebar of windows, click on the Sidebar tab and remove the checkmark from the Hard disks box.  When you need the hard drive back, just go back into Finder> Preferences and place the checkmark back on.

* To close all of windows on your desktop at once, press Option key and click on only one window's close box and watch them all close one after the other.

* Quick Shut down for Mac; press down the Control and the Eject keys at the same time.

* If you don't want a cluttered desktop try this trick as you open windows. Press the Option key and double-click on folder you want to open. The previous window will close itself as you go!

* Do you need a picture of the screen on your desktop for a lesson? No problem! Press the following three keys simultaneously: Command (apple) key, Shift and 3.  If you need a picture of only a specific window or area press the following three keys simultaneouly: Command(apple) key, Shift and 4, then click and drag over the item you want in your picture. You will hear a camera clicking sound. Look for the new file on your desktop  entitled Picture 1. Print, and you are ready for your lesson!

* If you use your computers daily use the Energy Saver feature to set up computers to turn on and shut down automatically at specific times on week days only. (The Energy Saver can be found in the "Control Panel")

If you have any technology ideas or lesson plans to share, please submit to: jresendez@teacherszine.com