More Resources and Content

As I have mentioned in the right-hand column on this blog, I may not post as frequent on this blog as, perhaps, most bloggers, however, I want to encourage you to check my Google+ and Twitter profiles for much more content, resources, techy things, and just plain cool stuff for your classroom.  You do not have to have an account for either of these social networks.  Just go to my profile link for either network and view my tweets/posts for content and web links to content that you may find useful for your curriculum.

In being connected with my Personal Learning Networks on Twitter and Google+, I can find and share much more great stuff that is out there, new and old, that work very well for others in their curriculum plans.  I, also, share new things that I learn that are specific to our school district - Moodle, MLTI applications, Macbook, etc.

My Google+ Profile

My Twitter Profile

Tweets by @Ratkacher

Stay Tuned
I, also, have a Google+ Page, Ratkacher Station (separate from my Profile page), which I opened a while back, which I may begin next school year to direct viewers to for all Edu material.  Because I have more interests than EdTech (Edu Technology) content - i.e. coffee, formula 1 racing, leadership, etc - I like to share what I find in these areas as well.  So, to keep a strictly Edu-devoted stream, I would like to start directing viewers to this Google+ page of mine what will be solely for EdTech material.  That will not officially start until the beginning of the next school year.  However, you are more than welcome to view it, bookmark it, or whatever - Ratkacher Station.

The same will be done for my Twitter profile starting next school year.  My current Twitter profile has a collection of various interests other than EdTech.  I have opened a new Twitter account that will solely be devoted to EdTech - @benjaminnason.  Again, this will not officially start until the beginning of next school year, but you are welcome to save it.

Tweets by @benjaminnason

Twitter Follow Feature

Tweets by @hdiblasi

Tech Use Vs. Tech Integration

Thanks to +Educational Technology and Mobile Learning I found a very helpful table that explains the difference between teachers who "use" technology in their classroom and those teachers who "integrate" technology in their classroom.

There is a common misconception that if teachers are at least making an attempt to use technology in their classroom than that should be good enough.  When, in fact, if the technology is not enhancing the student learning, than it is an ineffective use and better if not used at all.

See where you stand.  I hope this will be helpful.

Read Educational Technology and Mobile Learning's article, as well as teachbytes' original article.

myHistro

I've mentioned myHistro before either through this blog or through twitter/google+.  It is a great product to use for any history or social studies topic.  You can customize a whole presentation using Google Maps in a Timeline sequence; adding your own content with text, images, web links, etc.

Here is a feature myHistro map created by a myHistro user pertaining to the 13 colonies.

The Myth Behind The iOS Multitasking Bar

Perhaps I was the last guy to figure this out, but my eyes were opened when I discovered that having to close out all of my recently used apps in the multitasking bar would greatly increase my iPad battery life was completely bogus.

For all of the faculty and staff that I, as well, proclaimed that it was necessary to close the multitasking bar apps, this is my apology and follow up.

In fact, the way iOS uses its multitasking bar is to display your "recently used apps" ONLY.  Not a "what is currently running in the background and taking up CPU and battery life" multitasking bar.  For most occasions, any of the apps you use get "suspended" when you hit your home button or go to another app.  Meaning, iOS will only allow them about 5 seconds to stay running, then shuts them down; still remembering where you left off.  iOS does the work for you.

Here are three articles that justly explain this misconception of the multitasking bar:

academiPad offers some great suggestions on how to improve speed on slow iPads.

Adding URL to Printed Web Pages in Firefox Web Browser

I recently had a teacher ask me about adding the URL (web address) to printed web pages from Firefox for citation purposes.

Here is the demo I sent him.  You will notice there are a few other options you can choose for data when setting up your Header and/or Footer.

I thought I would share.

Embedding Whole Documents in Your Site or Blog

Some times there may be occasions where you will need more out of your documents or your students documents than simply adding a link for others to access.  There are online services that will allow users to embed whole documents right on a web page or a blog post.  In other words, your chosen document will not only be accessible, but entirely visible and readable without a link or having to download it.

Let me show you.

Here is an example of one service that allows you to upload your documents to their site, then allows you to embed the document in your site.

FoxT.imovie Project 2012 by ratkacher

Those accessing your site or blog can then view and read entire, full-length documents simply because you uploaded documents to the host site and copied the embedding code (HTML) they provide.

("What is embedding code and how do I embed?")

Here are just three services that do this:

Google Drive

Embedding and HTML Code

Perhaps these are terms you have heard before and thought it was something only taught at MIT.  Well understanding it is much simpler than it sounds.

When embedding gadgets, documents, video, widgets or other digital content into a site or blog, the site or blog that hosts the digital content uses what is called HTML code.  Basically, it is a language in the form of text that websites use to display all of the content that is visible on the their site.

Let me, however, set your mind at ease.  You do not have to know anything about HTML code in order to use it to embed anything.  The only skill you will need is how to copy and paste.

When you find digital content that is sharable (like a Vimeo video, or Visual.ly infographics) you will usually find this symbol:  < / > or < >.

Some sites, like YouTube, will simply indicate "Embed" under the Share tab.

From there you will find a series of text and symbols; this is your HTML code.  Once you find this code simply copy the whole amount of text.  If you miss any portion of this code, it will not work.

Let's go to your site or blog that you would like to embed this into.  Your site or blog, in most occasions, will indicate options for embedding your copied HTML code.  I am going to demonstrate this with a Moodle course in this video below.

I hope this has been helpful.  If you have any questions concerning this, please contact me.

Classroom Management Infographic

I know what you're thinking.

"Infographics are a nice way to share data and information, but they are the Hallmark card of digital content"

They are, however, a great way to display data, visually; and that is very helpful for students who need visuals to make meaning of certain information.

There are several creators of quality infographics out there.  Here is one I stumbled on today  from An Ethical Island, while sorting through my old bookmarks:

(this is small in size for demonstration only)

By the way, because infographics are pretty hefty in size, they are designed to stay digital and be shared digitally; save the paper.  So, almost all infographics should have the ability for you to embed them right into your website or Moodle course.

If you have any questions about embedding, contact me.

Here are two other infographic-centered sites that you may find some very useful content for your students.