Computer Chronicles
Version 8.5, Technology Marches On
Happy Birthday World Wide Web. Now what's next?
So, the World Wide Web turned 30 this week. Hard to believe it was so long ago that Sir Tim Berners-Lee developed HTML and the first web browser, the precursor to what you are reading this newsletter on right now.
So what's next?
Let's work on building a better web. The web as we know it has changed a lot in the past 30 years. In the words of Sir Tim, "The web has become a public square, a library, a doctor’s office, a shop, a school, a design studio, an office, a cinema, a bank, and so much more."
Because it is so many things to so many of us, it can tend towards misuse by certain individuals. As with any technology, there will be a dark side driven by scammers and people who want to spread fear and hatred. So lets work together to make the web an even better place.
Be sure to stop down by the "Stuff I Have Been Reading" section. There are two interesting articles about how student's are using Google Docs (probably in your classroom) and then visit the GoGuardian for Teachers link to see how you can monitor what is actually going on in your classroom.
Google's new right-click menu
Google recently rolled out some great new right-click context menus for Gmail! You can do so much more right from your inbox.
New additions are:
- Reply to, or forward, an email from the main page
- Search for emails by sender
- Search for emails by subject
- Open multiple emails in multiple new windows at the same time
- Quickly add a label or move an email
To get to this menu, simply right-click on a message in your inbox.
Basic computer tips everyone should know
Many tech issues can be avoided if users understand computer fundamentals and a few tricks of the trade. Over the next few issues I'll be giving you some tips from myself and other IT professionals that can help you avoid computer calamities.
Password problems? Check the caps lock and num lock keys.
If your password doesn't seem to work for some reason, no matter what you do, it might be because you're entering it in all capital letters, thanks to caps lock. And if you use the numbers in your password, make sure that num lock is on the correct setting.
DO NOT write your password down and stick it to the bottom of the keyboard!
Or worse, on your monitor. All someone would have to do to hack your machine is be able to read since you've given away the secret. Even if someone is not physically right in front of your computer, they might snap a photo of your exposed passwords.
GoGuardian for Teachers
GoGuardian for Teachers gives you a portal to direct students' attention to specific online resources and close off-topic tabs on one or more devices. The goal of GoGuardian for Teachers is to help keep students on-task and away from inappropriate content.
Key features of GoGuardian for Teachers include the following:
- Screen Viewer, which provides a live stream of students' screens in a single window;
- Activity Timeline, which includes real-time history of students' device activity;
- Tab Control, which allows teachers to open a site in a new tab on one or more student devices; and
- Attention Mode, which lets teachers close tabs, darken screens and lock devices to help direct students' attention.
Magni Momenti Notitia
- Please be sure you are turning off your classroom LCD projector when not in use. Let's extend the life of the lamps and the projector & be sure they are not on when they don't need to be.
- Accidentally close a tab in Chrome? Hit Ctrl+Shift+T to recover it.
- Visit the Information Technology page on the district website for the latest news.
- "Think before you click."
- Got a tech problem? Please submit a help desk ticket here: https://sapublicschools.freshdesk.com/helpdesk (Be sure to use the Google button to login.)
- How excited was the gardener about spring? So excited he wet his plants.
Stuff I have been reading:
"A man who cannot think is not an educated man however many college degrees he may have acquired."
Michael Elson
Book some time: https://melson.youcanbook.me/
Email: melson@sapublicschools.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/sapublicschools.com/tech-t-days/home
Phone: 732.387.3559
Twitter: @mjelson