Saturday, March 8, 2008

HIGH TECH - HIGH TOUCH - HIGH TEACH

7-15-08 MORE MAC-BYTES!

Additional Web Sites To Visit:

Computing with Accents, Symbols, and Foreign Scripts
http://tlt.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codemac.html#math

Thinkfinity
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/home.aspx

Andrew’s Mac Tips
http://www.andrewburke.orconhosting.net.nz/mac/

Think Mac – Visual Guide
http://www.thinkmac.net/visualguides

Shortcut Guide
http://www.silentway.com/tips/mac/shortcuts.html

Labels
http://www.iworkcommunity.com/?category=4

http://www.avery.com/

Printable Calendars
http://www.eprintablecalendars.com/


Shortcut Keys To Success:
F1: Makes your screen darker
F2: Makes your screen brighter
F3: Mutes the volume
F4: Lowers the volume
F5: Raises the volume
F7: Allows you to project using your LCD projector. You will need to use your dongle to connect your LCD projector and your Mac.
F9-F12: You can set these to do what you want by clicking on your apple, going to System Preferences and selecting Dashboard and Expose.
F9: Shows you all of the windows you have open.
F10: Shows your application windows.
F11: Clears your desktop so all of your open windows go away. Just click it again to make them reappear.
F12: Pulls up your dashboard with your widgets.
F3: Mutes the volume
F4: Lowers the volume


What Does that FONT Look Like?
Pages does not allow one to see samples of the fonts. All the names of the fonts look the same. We have a program on our Macs that will display all fonts in the ABC's with numbers.Follow the steps below:
1. Open the Macintosh HD on the desktop.
2. Open the Applications Folder.
3. Open the Font Book icon.When you click on a font it will show it in the right window.


This is not as convenient as having the fonts displayed in the program but it's the next best thing!

You've Got Mail...E-Mail MAC-Bytes!
Making a Distribution List
Making a distribution list using your MacBook, has a different look than what you do with your IBM. A Distribution List makes it a easier to send out e-mails to your grade level, the faculty, or other groups.
Try following the steps below:

*Open your email. On the top of your screen where it reads "New", there is a drop down box. *Click on this drop down box, and select "Distribution List".
*Next to List Name, write the name of the list you wish to create. For example, if it is for your grade level team, you can title it "Third Grade ELA Teachers".
*To add DCPS faculty members, click on the "Find Names" button.
*When the pop-up screen appears, enter the person's last name and first name in the appropriate boxes.
*Check the box of the name you wish to add, and find "Add recipient to" and click on "Distribution List". The pop-up box will not disappear, but just look at your main screen to make sure it has added your recipient.
*You can continue to search for and add names to this distribution list using the same pop-up screen.

WOW!
You have just created a distribution list using your Mac!
*To access, send e-mails or make changes to this list, click on "Contacts" on the left side of your web mail screen.
* Click on the distribution list you wish to send an email to, and click on the third button from the left that looks like an open piece of mail. This will allow you to send an e-mail to this list.
*To make changes, simply open the list and select "Find Names".


Oops! I Really Didn't Mean To Delete! How do I recover deleted items?
*
First, click on “Options” on the left side of your e-mail window. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. There is a heading for recovering deleted items.Underneath this, there is a button that says “View items”. This will allow you to view recently deleted items and choose the e-mail you wish to recover.
Create a folder to store e-mails:
* Click on “Folders” on the left side of the e-mail window. At the top of your window, there should be the word “New” with a drop down box that reads “Message”. Click on the down arrow of the box and choose “Folder”. It will then ask you to title your new folders. One way that I use folders on my e-mail is to save any e-mails from teachers or perhaps training sessions in a special folder. If this is a major form of communication for you, you can even go as far as to make a folder for each individual.
Adding e-mails to my folders:
*Check the e-mails you wish to move to a particular folder. Click on the icon that looks like a sheet of paper with an arrow pointing to a folder. These icons are very small, so it is the first icon after the drop-down box that says “Message”. After you click on this, your folders will appear. Choose the folder you wish to move them to, and click on “Apply”.

A very special thank you to each Apple Core Lead. Each member gives true meaning to TEAM
Together Everyone Achieves More!
Blog....Blog...Blog...Blog!

Take a moment to view the video Shift Happens. To access the video just click on the underlined words...Shift Happens located on the left of the main blog page under Web Sites to visit. This video takes you on a journey that literally focuses on the shift that is presently occurring in our world. You will be exposed to amazing statistics, facts about Globalization, and the Information Age.
Now Alimacani Family...Are you ready to Shift
HIGH TECH!
HIGH TOUCH!
HIGH TEACH!


With MacBooks In Reach Let's Get Ready To Take A Byte Out Of Our Apples! They Are No Longer Forbidden!

Alimacani is an Apple Core Team Member. We are well into our professional learning for our Primary MAC ATTACK TEAM. Next byte out of the Apple will occur after Spring Break with our Intermediate MAC ATTACK TEAM.
MAC-POWERED Time line for Alimacani's PreK-5 Train the Trainer Program: Mid-End of May 2008!

Before you take a glimpse at some of the professional learning our first wave of MAC ATTACK TEAM Members have participated in let's catch a glimpse at the opportunities that await all who embrace the MacBook journey.

Face it, our children are indeed the Digital Natives. Students come already programed so it is indeed time for us, the Digital Immigrants to set down roots, fertilize the soil, and gather a harvest of Apple...icious learners!

Take a moment and think back to my brief summary of the book A Whole New Mind. (The summary is located on the left side of the main blog page under Blog Archive...click the 2007 arrow and then click on October). Daniel Pink focuses a lens on left brain verses right brain. We have been learning in our Apple Core Training how to Engage, Empower, and Educate our students for this Brave New World...while engaging both sides of the brain.

Take a Quick Quiz and see if you are up to speed with some of our resident Digital Natives:
FYI:
BTWL:
FAQ:
TGIF:
LOL:
K:
L8R:
L2M:
POS:
TAW:(You Better Know This One)
AFAIK:
OTTOH:

Breakthrough by Michael Fullan, Peter Hill, and Carmel Crevola emphasizes the importance of students becoming independent learners so that when they are confronted with the new, they know what to do-(pg. 11). The book further illuminates the growth that will occur when the student follows the teacher, rather than the teacher following the students. In the end, the goal is to put the students in control of their learning process-(pg. 11).

The goal is to empower teachers so they in turn will infuse their zest for learning into the classroom setting. Imagine a classroom where teachers integrate technology into their daily instructional practices and students experience the Workshop Model in action as they create podcasts, explore Safari, Firefox, Flip Videos, Voice Threads, Garage Band, iMovies, and so much more! As with all technology explorations we will monitor safe and appropriate use so we will maintain a safe and civil school environment. Take a moment to read the article: Blogging with Elementary School Perspective.

I mentioned the term Voice Thread. I encourage you to go back to my blog and check in the month of December. You experienced your first Voice Thread with Voices in the Park, our December Book of the Month.

Flip Video Camcorder...Can I just say WOW! My mind is racing with the possibilities of a readers' theater, math conferencing, science inquiry, share chair, authors' chair, mini lessons, read alouds...the opportunities are endless! Stop by and see the videos I have captured of incredible teaching/learning taking place right here at Alimacani. A few of the video clips I have stored include: Small Group Conferencing During Reader's Workshop, Small Group Conferencing During Writer's Workshop, Creating a Teaching Learning Rubric-Assessment for Learning, Standards Based Bulletin Boards, Test Taking Genre, Skills Accountability, and so many more!





Ok...Now for a glimpse at some of the Apple...icious Professional Learning Alimacani's MAC ATTACK TEAM Is Exploring!



MAC BYTES!
*The Apple Store at the Town Center offers free workshops. They also offer one-on-one training at a reduced price for teacher. You can register on line.
*The MacBook uses Firefox and Safari instead of Internet Explorer. We will stick to using Firefox for now. Training. We will go on a Safari later...
*The Lexmark 450 and virtually any other compatible Macintosh printer works from the get go! Just plug the USB cable from the printer into the USB port on the left side of your MacBook and you are ready to print!
*MacBook uses Pages...The PC uses Microsoft Word
*MacBook uses Keynote...The PC uses PowerPoint
*MacBook uses Number...The PC uses Excel
*This is a learning journey that we will explorer together....Remember to have fun as you are charging to be MAC-Powered!
*Each grade level has (2) MacBook Powered Trainers...Please know that I am ready, willing, and somewhat able to help...I do not have all of the answers but I know that Together We Can Achieve More!


MAC-Byte Buzz!
We embarked on our MacBook training with two technology lead teachers from ESE, Resource, and K-2nd grade teachers. Their energy and zest was contagious. We embraced the opportunity to carry forth with additional training and sharing sessions. They now serve as Mac-Powered trainers and have charged ahead with training sessions for teachers on their grade level. We are eager to learn from one another as we explore Apple...icious treats!



K-2nd Grade Teachers Are Apple...iciously Deployed and Empowered! The schedule for deployment of MacBooks came after training sessions for technology lead teacher training. The technology leads will continue to help unfold the training for teachers on their grade level and beyond.


K: Wednesday, March 5, 2008
1st: Thursday, March 6, 2008 A.M.
2nd: Thursday, March 6, 2008 P.M.






























K-2nd Grade Professional Learning opportunties included deployment of MacBooks along with basic introductory steps that covered:
*Get To Know Your MacBook: parts, attachments and their place
*Basic Operation Practices
*Applications for everyday survival and exploration


Roll-Out for the intermediate grades will begin after Spring Break.
Get your taste buds ready for Apple....icous Mac-Bytes!

Resource Teachers: MacBook Roll-Out: March 14, 2008
They already act like Apple...ious pros!


FAQ
*How do I turn my computer on?
Open the lid and press the icon in the upper right corner of your MacBook.
*How do I turn my MacBook off?
Click on the Blue Apple in the upper right corner of your screen then click on Shut Down. Make certain that your screen goes black before you close the lid.
*I do I access the Internet?
On the bottom of your screen is a display referred to as the Dock. Move your mouse or touch pad over the Dock and it displays the name of each icon. Click on Firefox.
*What if Firefox does not display on The Dock?
Click on the icon on the right that says Macintosh HD. Open Applications and simply drag the Firefox Icon down to The Dock and let go. Now you will see the Firefox Icon's blue globe and orange fire around the southern hemisphere appear in your Docks. (This is totally unbiased...but I believe the universally accepeted colors are actually garnet and gold or perhaps red and black) Once you place an application icon on your Dock remember to keep it on Dock...move cursor or arrow gently on touch pad while thumb holds bar just below touch pad and highlight keep on dock.
*How do I create a shortcut for Webmail?
Open Firefox and click on gain access. Go to the Webmail page...before you click on here...take the globe beside the URL: https://webmail.duvalschools.org and drag it to your desktop.
*Where and how do I insert a CD or DVD?
The CD/DVD Drive is the opening on the right side of your MacBook. Simple insert a regular size CD/DVD into the slot and it will automatically take it into the drive.
(NEVER...EVER...EVER...USE A SMALL CD/DVD...YOU WILL RUIN YOUR MACBOOK)
*How do I eject a CD/DVD?
You can drag the CD/DVD icon to the trash or press the escape key
*Does the Mac come with a grade book program?
No, but there is a grade book program in Numbers that is easy to manuver. The district is looking into purchasing a grade book program for the MacBook. I will keep you posted. Remember to check with your MAC POWERED Trainers.
*Where is the backspace key?
There is no backspace key. You can use the delete key to backspace one key at a time.
*How do I Right Click?
There is no right click...you can use a mouse...or Apple + Click is the right click on the mouse. You can also go into system preferences located under the blue apple in the upper right corner of the screen. You will see an icon that says mouse)

ACCESSORIZE...ACCESSORIZE...ACCESSORIZE!
*Sleeves and Deco Soft Skins can be purchased from the Apple Store and online. Prices range from $15 -$40. Check out Amazon... and enter soft skin or computer sleeves as keywords.
*Marware is a removable hand rest that protects your MacBook from scratches. It also gives you a cushion for comfort. The keyboard cover protects the MacBook from oil and dirt build up and serves as a screen cleaner. The price is around $34. Check out the following sites for the best price: and
*Mighty Mouse is a wireless mouse. You can purchase it at the Apple Store and is a priced at $69. The Apple Store at the Town Center also sells the Mighty Mouse. (Your current mouse works just fine)
*Speaking of Accessorizing-We are styling as we carry our MacBooks in our new cases. Thank you Ms. Stalls.

Web Sites To Explore!

*Switching from PC to MAC*Switching 101
*Pages - Keynote - Numbers*Think Mac-Visual Guide
*Saving Documents in Pages: See Video At The Bottom Of This Page
*Shortcut Guide
*Movies
*Photos: Creating A Slide Show
Creating A Photo Book
*Music


Right about now might be a grand time to view the following Inspirational Video.

Remember to breathe! This is indeed an exciting time to be a learner! The book Breakthrough gives us a glimpse of what happens when we move an idea from an invention to an innovation. "When an idea moves from an invention to an innovation, diverse "component technologies" come together. Emerging from isolated developments in separate fields or research, these components gradually form an "ensemble" of technologies that are critical to each other's success...(pg. 13).

How exciting it is to be part of Alimacani's MAC ATTACK TEAM!

Now Go Forth...You Are Most Certainly On Your Way To Becoming...





MAC-POWERED!