As little or as much as you need - check out these good Google Apps links for the latest info, tips and tricks. Be a ninja in NO time!
http://learn.googleapps.com
http://whatsnew.googleapps.com/
http://googleforwork.blogspot.ie/2014/09/increasing-security-and-productivity.html
https://www.google.com/work/apps/business/products/admin/
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
LearnPads on HOLD... no new orders!
NOTE TO ALL: As of this very MOMENT - LearnPads are on hold!... until and IF we can get resolution for 4 schools on various issues that have taken forever to resolve. While the interface and usability benefits of the LP were quite impressive - a product cannot live and thrive without reliable product quality and after sales support of the devices and associated products (aka apps). More detail soon... share your LP experiences with the group!
TED Talks Thread - Great vids on great topics!
awesome reource that could be used in the classroom - great videos on some very interesting and unlikely topics! https://www.ted.com/watch/ted-ed
Let's post our favorite TED Talks sessions here with notes for others!
Let's post our favorite TED Talks sessions here with notes for others!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Lobby Media Screens at YOUR School
Using a media screen in your lobby area is a great way to market and inform your parents, students, staff and visitors and it provides a bit of 'wow factor' as well. These type installs can be less than you would imagine, but you definitely want to consider these guidelines:
Make SURE you size this properly. Typically you will want to install a 60" - 65" LCD. Trust me... it's a whole lot easier to view from a distance and it gives you enough real estate to split screen in to sections for a video, Powerpoint presentation or slideshow and maybe a bottom ticker detailing upcoming events, the current weather conditions or the daily lunch menu, etc.
Cost for an install of this sort requires the LCD, a mounting kit, perhaps running power to the source (licensed electrician) and a means to 'cast' content to the LCD... either a Chromecast, Miracast or other wifi enabled device... so yes - you would want to ensure your wifi coverage was adequate in the space that the media content will be displayed.
The cost for all of this is typically just under $2,000... less if you have an electrician in the parish, etc that might do the work gratis. All you need is power... nothing else - as the rest of the connectivity is done over wifi that typically plugs into the HDMI port of the LCD. Some LCD TVs are actually fully 'internet ready' with wifi capability built-in.
Please contact us directly for some discussion on how your school may be able to employ this type install. We'll come by and review your space and other requirements to develop the best plan possible for you!
dobs@diobpt.org
Make SURE you size this properly. Typically you will want to install a 60" - 65" LCD. Trust me... it's a whole lot easier to view from a distance and it gives you enough real estate to split screen in to sections for a video, Powerpoint presentation or slideshow and maybe a bottom ticker detailing upcoming events, the current weather conditions or the daily lunch menu, etc.
Cost for an install of this sort requires the LCD, a mounting kit, perhaps running power to the source (licensed electrician) and a means to 'cast' content to the LCD... either a Chromecast, Miracast or other wifi enabled device... so yes - you would want to ensure your wifi coverage was adequate in the space that the media content will be displayed.
The cost for all of this is typically just under $2,000... less if you have an electrician in the parish, etc that might do the work gratis. All you need is power... nothing else - as the rest of the connectivity is done over wifi that typically plugs into the HDMI port of the LCD. Some LCD TVs are actually fully 'internet ready' with wifi capability built-in.
Please contact us directly for some discussion on how your school may be able to employ this type install. We'll come by and review your space and other requirements to develop the best plan possible for you!
dobs@diobpt.org
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
LearnPad Related Dialogue
This is most recent from jamie Debicella at St catherine of Siena School in Trumbull, CT:
MA American Studies, Fairfield University
Hi all,
I just wanted to let you know that I
have made some serious headway with pressuring LearnPad to implement more
content to their US software portal. Specifically, we are up 4,000 applications
since November. I feel that this is a common complaint that is being voiced by
institutions across the country that bought into the "hype," and
LearnPad UK is slowly getting the point.
I have been pushing Lisa Van Weide, a
head Director/Manager at LP USA, to live up to the company slogan
"Designed for the classroom, not adapted to it" by offering a more
streamlined way for educators to purchase the full access versions of apps that
they want via the LearnPad content store.
With many initial reservations, I
went along with Lisa's request to act as the liaison between software developer
Intellijoy and LearnPad in facilitating the purchase of Intellijoy's
educational applications. Lane and I picked out certain apps that we found
particularly suitable for pre-k, I enticed Intellijoy with a potential sale,
and then backed out due to confusion and thin communication as to how exactly
our purchased software would be loaded onto the devices. Basically, I was told
as the end-user, I would have to sit here myself and install each file on each
device separately. I am hoping that my expressed concerns and reservations
about this process will prompt developer Intellijoy to put some pressure on
device manufacturer LearnPad to make good on their end to make more content
available via their streamlined content portal.
That being said, I still think these
LearnPads are valuable tools for classroom differentiation. We are going to
totally get rid of the system of enrollment that Lisa tried to implement on
November 4th and go with a system I have developed to try and simplify things.
I really think teachers are "afraid" to take out the tablets for fear
of "messing something up," when in fact, the devices are for all
of us to use.
I am going to also try and work out an
after school day of PD hosted by myself and offered to SCSS teachers who choose
to take advantage of the tablets and chromebooks once those are procured and
implemented.
I just wanted to give an update as to
where we stand with LearnPad. I am also waiting on the return process to be authorized
for our (13) defective units. Stay tuned.
Thanks everyone!
- Jamie
--
Jamie Debicella
MA American Studies, Fairfield University
Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta Chapter Member
Monday, February 2, 2015
MSP - 2015 - Discussion Forum
Feel free to chime in and share your experiences and challenges with our SIS product/portal.
As technologists out in the field... we've heard both good and bad things regarding the product,,, most notably - the lack of technical support - when you need it most.
Note that when you post here in numbers - we can then collectively 'bring this' to MSP as more of a 'class action' request for support - especially if there is a particular issue of a serious nature. The idea isn't to beat up on the vendor- but rather... move them forward sooner than later... to operating within a standard that serves the very best interests of all our schools! NOEL
Post away!...
As technologists out in the field... we've heard both good and bad things regarding the product,,, most notably - the lack of technical support - when you need it most.
Note that when you post here in numbers - we can then collectively 'bring this' to MSP as more of a 'class action' request for support - especially if there is a particular issue of a serious nature. The idea isn't to beat up on the vendor- but rather... move them forward sooner than later... to operating within a standard that serves the very best interests of all our schools! NOEL
Post away!...
St Andrew, Bpt - Library / Lab - Chromebook 'makeover'
St Andrew has limited space and was looking to get rid of their 10 - 12 year old WinXP machines and replace them with... you guessed it!... Chromebooks! The difference is amazing when you rip out this old stuff, rearrange your space a bit and then overlay it with 30 Chromebooks - all within the Library - while preserving precious space for library purposes in the process too. Here's a look at the before:
So... notice how we even grouped the chairs to provide a nice uniform look in the space. A small detail - but one that makes a visual difference when you compare. We brought the tables together in the middle of the room to create more of a workgroup feel to the space - while reclaiming some space around the outside areas. The Chromebooks are stored to the right of the far brick wall in a closet that can be locked. The Chromebooks are put away at the end of the day to secure them and charge them if they need it.
Inside the closet - stacked on a single shelf and connected to to TrippLite PDUs (power distribution units) that I hung on the wall to keep them out of the way - with all power cables tie wrapped and easy to manage when applying power to the Chromebooks. Entire breakdown or setup of the 30 Chromebooks takes about 8 minutes.
So... notice how we even grouped the chairs to provide a nice uniform look in the space. A small detail - but one that makes a visual difference when you compare. We brought the tables together in the middle of the room to create more of a workgroup feel to the space - while reclaiming some space around the outside areas. The Chromebooks are stored to the right of the far brick wall in a closet that can be locked. The Chromebooks are put away at the end of the day to secure them and charge them if they need it.
Another view as you walk into the library from the hallway. Storage closet straight ahead.
Hey there Mary Jo!
Inside the closet - stacked on a single shelf and connected to to TrippLite PDUs (power distribution units) that I hung on the wall to keep them out of the way - with all power cables tie wrapped and easy to manage when applying power to the Chromebooks. Entire breakdown or setup of the 30 Chromebooks takes about 8 minutes.
Our Lady of the Assumption - Lab makeover with Chromebooks
Previously an 'under the desk' install of 'black boxes' (which could really WRECK your knees... student OR adults like me... we had all that stuff removed and laid out the computer tables around the outside edge of the room for better oversight and a more open and clean feel. No more students tripping over one another between rows of chairs, etc. Principal Gerrie Desio was right in there with us, cleaning, rearranging, managing - throughout the entire process and we think it came out great!
So... before is shown here - with the usual compliment of keyboards, mice, LCDs, computers, headphones... all tangled into macrame with one another. This made for a very HOT and uncomfortable room much of the time with all those PCs generating heat - and noise. Notice the countertop to the right in the picture - which is the back of the lab. We had to tear that out to place the nice computer desks in its place and we moved the cabinet and shelving in back as well.
Okay... so here we have the end result. A nice quiet, clean and spacious lab with Chromebooks! Each student keeps their own earbuds in a basket in the lab - so no more bulky germ magnet coily cord messes that were previously in use. No mice... kids are fine with touchpads - especially on the Chromebooks and so this leaves nothing but the Chromebook and the small power cable that is hidden in the back of each desk. You can't get much cleaner than that! That's my granddaughter Audrey in the foreground. She came with me to the open house on Jan-25-2015 and demonstrated ABCMouse on the Chromebook for a few of the parents that came through. She had just turned 3 years old... and she uses the Chromebook at home all the time... and the tablets and phones. What-EVer!... they're kids... they're sponges! It's the teachers we need to get up to speed! ;-)
So... before is shown here - with the usual compliment of keyboards, mice, LCDs, computers, headphones... all tangled into macrame with one another. This made for a very HOT and uncomfortable room much of the time with all those PCs generating heat - and noise. Notice the countertop to the right in the picture - which is the back of the lab. We had to tear that out to place the nice computer desks in its place and we moved the cabinet and shelving in back as well.
Okay... so here we have the end result. A nice quiet, clean and spacious lab with Chromebooks! Each student keeps their own earbuds in a basket in the lab - so no more bulky germ magnet coily cord messes that were previously in use. No mice... kids are fine with touchpads - especially on the Chromebooks and so this leaves nothing but the Chromebook and the small power cable that is hidden in the back of each desk. You can't get much cleaner than that! That's my granddaughter Audrey in the foreground. She came with me to the open house on Jan-25-2015 and demonstrated ABCMouse on the Chromebook for a few of the parents that came through. She had just turned 3 years old... and she uses the Chromebook at home all the time... and the tablets and phones. What-EVer!... they're kids... they're sponges! It's the teachers we need to get up to speed! ;-)
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