Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tech Tip Tuesday: Stream Media

There are lots of tools out there that allow you to do more with your TV.  As the prices for large  LED/LCD Televisions keeps coming down they are becoming a potential option for the classroom.  they require less complex installations than projectors and also generally have a longer life.  For those who don't have a projector a large TV might work.

One of the things that you can do with these devices is stream media.  There are several different devices out there including

  • Apple TV

  • Roku 2 (XS or HD)

  • A variety of Blu-Ray Players

  • Gaming Devices like: Xbox 360, Sony Playstation, Nintendo Wii


These devices allow you to connect to a Wi-Fi network  and stream a variety of services: The most common are Hulu, Netflix and Pandora.  The first two are video resources and the third is Audio. These devices can also sometimes be configured to play media from your computer.  These types of devices then can be used to stream media you use in the classroom.

You can see CNET's review of some media players here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20025670-1/which-streaming-media-device-is-right-for-you/

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Wednesday Web of the Week: WorldWide Telescope

Web Address: http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx

Sometimes you learn about something, here about it a few times and then it falls out of your line of vision and your forget about it, at least that happens to me.  The WorldWide Telescopes is just such a project.  This tool allows users to experience everything from the very simplest and most basic interaction with the night sky to rich immersive planetarium events.  There is a Windows Desktop Client and a rich Web client that allow you to experience and author tours of objects in space.

Through an Ambassadors program the WWT can become even more rich and useful in the classroom. You can find tours,  find out how to get started and get Classroom Resources.

So take a peek at the night sky right from your computer!

Thour

Wednesday Web of the Week: WorldWide Telescope

Web Address: http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx

Sometimes you learn about something, here about it a few times and then it falls out of your line of vision and your forget about it, at least that happens to me.  The WorldWide Telescopes is just such a project.  This tool allows users to experience everything from the very simplest and most basic interaction with the night sky to rich immersive planetarium events.  There is a Windows Desktop Client and a rich Web client that allow you to experience and author tours of objects in space.

Through an Ambassadors program the WWT can become even more rich and useful in the classroom. You can find tours,  find out how to get started and get Classroom Resources.

So take a peek at the night sky right from your computer!

Thour

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Web of the Week Wednesday: www.tarpits.org

Web Address: http://www.tarpits.org/


Looking for a really good source of information about Ice Age fossils and creatures.  The Page Museum is the official Museum associated with the Rancho La Brea Tarpits and you can find all kinds of useful and amazing things.  One of the really great features is the Timeline.

Web of the Week Wednesday: www.tarpits.org

Web Address: http://www.tarpits.org/


Looking for a really good source of information about Ice Age fossils and creatures.  The Page Museum is the official Museum associated with the Rancho La Brea Tarpits and you can find all kinds of useful and amazing things.  One of the really great features is the Timeline.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tech Tip Tuesday: Use your iPod as a Mouse

There are lots of Apps out there that allow you to control your computer with your iPod, but one of my favorites comes from one of the best builders of mice on the planet.  Logitech has long been a premier manufacturer of all kinds of computer pointing devices.  The Touch Mouse App allows you to control your nearby computer through WiFi as long as you also install a small application on the computer.

Find out more about it here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-mouse/id338237450?mt=8

Tech Tip Tuesday: Use your iPod as a Mouse

There are lots of Apps out there that allow you to control your computer with your iPod, but one of my favorites comes from one of the best builders of mice on the planet.  Logitech has long been a premier manufacturer of all kinds of computer pointing devices.  The Touch Mouse App allows you to control your nearby computer through WiFi as long as you also install a small application on the computer.

Find out more about it here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-mouse/id338237450?mt=8

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Web of the Week Wednesday: UETS

Web Address: http://www.uen.org/k12educator/uets/


If you haven't seen it or heard about it.  There has been some work going on behind the scenes.  Recently the Utah Effective Teaching Standards.  This list encompasses what is defined as effective teaching for teachers in Utah.  The standards include three major aspects: The Learner and Learning, Instructional Practice, and Professional Responsibility.

Take a look at this list and see if there are some ideas for you for this year.

Standards are also available for Principals and other Leaders here: http://www.uen.org/k12educator/uels/index.shtml

Web of the Week Wednesday: UETS

Web Address: http://www.uen.org/k12educator/uets/


If you haven't seen it or heard about it.  There has been some work going on behind the scenes.  Recently the Utah Effective Teaching Standards.  This list encompasses what is defined as effective teaching for teachers in Utah.  The standards include three major aspects: The Learner and Learning, Instructional Practice, and Professional Responsibility.

Take a look at this list and see if there are some ideas for you for this year.

Standards are also available for Principals and other Leaders here: http://www.uen.org/k12educator/uels/index.shtml

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Tech Tip Tuesday: Top Tech Skills

A while back I ran across a post about 20 Technology Skills that Every Teacher should Have It got me thinking?  What are the top skills Utah teachers need and is it different.  I think it is.  Here's my list

UTIPS

my.uen (at least as portal to OnTrack and the UEN tools)

UEN's Lesson Plan Tool

Curriculum Search

email filtering, sorting and rapid handling

A blog tool

Pioneer Library Searching

What do you think are the essential Technology Skills for a Utah Teacher?

Tech Tip Tuesday: Top Tech Skills

A while back I ran across a post about 20 Technology Skills that Every Teacher should Have It got me thinking?  What are the top skills Utah teachers need and is it different.  I think it is.  Here's my list

UTIPS

my.uen (at least as portal to OnTrack and the UEN tools)

UEN's Lesson Plan Tool

Curriculum Search

email filtering, sorting and rapid handling

A blog tool

Pioneer Library Searching

What do you think are the essential Technology Skills for a Utah Teacher?

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2012 - A great new year

For the start of this year I thought I would kick things off with a great tool I have been using now for a few months.  Google Tasks.  It originally appeared in GoogleLabs as an add on to Gmail and then was added to Google



calendar and now it's a full fledged feature.  it is still attached to Gmail and Calendar, but you can also access it on Android phones, easily as a Web App on the Chrome store and in the Android Market place.  If you are signed in to your Google account you can find your tasks in Gmail by clicking on the Mail Button in the upper left corner and then choosing Task.

It is also available as a calendar and when you turn it on in calendars it opens a pane on the right handside of your calendar and lets you schedule tasks to take place at a certain time.  It has become my



replacement

for sticky notes and since it works on my Android phone it is literally everywhere with me.

Additionally you can access Tasks in any Browser including Safari on iOS devices by going to http://mail.google.com/tasks/ig

So plan your day, your week, your year.  What's your tech or educational New Year's Resolution.  Let us know in the comments.

Welcome to Jorgie Learning

I really am learning and this blog is maintained both as a record of some of what I am doing as well as a place for me to train and teach others about creating an online presence. So please don't mind the dust. We aren't remodeling we are learning!

Visit some of my other blogs or the other blogs I find mildly entertaining for a more polished feel.

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