One of the greatest Web 2.0 tools out there is the feed aggregator, also known as a RSS feed reader or simply as an aggregator. Now a the purpose of an aggregator is to reduce the needed to regularly check websites for updates or podcasts for updates. Instead of you going to the the information, the information comes to you. Once subscribed to a feed, an aggregator is able to check for new content at your discretion to retrieve the update. Now the tool I use to keep abreast on my favorite blogs or web sites is with a tool called FeedReader. FeedReader is a FREE aggregator that runs in the background and alerts me when an update has been made to one of the blogs or web sites that I read. So instead of mm having to remember to visit them on a daily basis, FeedReader does the work for me...kind of like a dog going out every morning to get the paper. So, never miss another episode or posting from the TechTeacher Network, get FeedReader today: [Click Here]

Get the TechTeacher Network RSS feed here: [Click Here]

In one of my very first podcasts I covered the MIT $100 laptop (One Laptop Per Child). Well, almost two years later and twice the original cost; the laptop is back in the news and days aways from hitting the market. Along with the change in price and even the original vision; there hae been some additional changes...but they are all good. For more about One Laptop Per Child, check out David Pogue's story: [Click Here]

As I prepare to take some time off from my current job to welcome our new baby into the world; I had to find a way to still manage my video network from home without being complicated and spending a lot of money. So I turned to my good old friend www.sourceforge.com and found an incredible tool called UltraVNC. UltraVNC is a simple and powerful  piece of software that can display the screen of another computer either over a network or through the Internet on your own screen. This program allows you to control the other PC remotely as if you were sitting directly in front of it. The other great thing about this tool is that is also allows you to transfer files between systems and do text chat with the other system, so if the is a user on the other end, you can communicate with them as you access their machine. Now of course to the other system is password protected. So if you provide computer support or manage a large number of computers, you can quickly access your customer's computers from anywhere in the world and resolve helpdesk issues remotely. Of course this tool will make my time off a little less stressful and also give those who I support a little piece of mind that they are still in good hands.

To download you FREE copy of this incredible software, go to: http://sourceforge.net/projects/ultravnc

Thank you for your continued support of the TechTeacher Network!

Brad

Alright...you have heard me talk about engaging learners and maybe have grown tired of it. I recently stumbled across this great interview with a 14 year old student done by Steve Hardagon that I think proves my point. Read, listen and enjoy!

http://www.infinitethinking.org/2007/10/14-year-old-talks-educational.html

Here is a fun little clip to play at your next inservice or training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRBIVRwvUeE

Audio books have been used in education starting with the use of records then moving to cassettes, CDs and have now moved to audio books in mp3 format. In the early days, many of these audio books were recorded for the seeing impaired. But now this industry has gown and there are hundreds of services that offer both abridged and unabridged versions of audio books that are compatible with just about any device. Not only do we see the art of traditional storytelling returning but there are additional benefits to this media. There is something unique or maybe even comforting about listening to a great book either being read live or in a recorded format. Audio books can provide the chance for educators who lead busy lives a chance to keep up with the latest literature and trends in education….while allowing them to continue on with activities. These tools also continue to offer their traditional benefits to those with special needs or as a way for educators to meet the different leanings styles of their students. Educators at all levels are using differentiated instruction to help meet the needs of the learners in their classroom. This strategy is growing in popularity to help support student learning. Educators are finding that it is easier for both struggling students to tune in to audio versions of books and stories. The use of audio books in allows students including ESL students, to have spoken language modeled for them, which essential for building vocabulary and help with literacy and language skills. By allowing children listen to the story on a portable media device, it gives each student the ability to move at their own pace, moving forward or back and giving the ability to repeat sections over again. On top of this, audio books can expose students to the joy and pleasure of reading which they not have seen in the past.

CREATING CLASSROOM MP3 KITS
So let's take a little detour here and take about MP3 kits. It really does not take much to arm your classroom with a kit of mp3 players. For the busy educator, simpler is better….and that is with both the use and management. When it comes to the mp3 players…I prefer the Apple shuffle or nano. The shuffle is more affordable at only $79.00 each and a classroom set may not be too far out of reach. The only down side to the shuffle is that it does not have a display, so navigation of audio books can be cumbersome at times. On the other hand…the Nano gives you a few more features….like a display, but starting at $149, a classroom set may be harder to reach. But, with the new iPod Nano, with the display, students can navigate the content easier and also get the benefits of reading accompanying text.

Shuffle
$79.00
1 gig
No Display
Can be custom engraved
1 year warranty
Replace the ear buds with more sanitary headphones

 Nano
$149
4 gig
Display for easy navigation
Can be custom engraved
1 year warranty
Again, replace the Apple ear buds with more sanitary headphones

In this kit you will also want to have some usb chargers to keep you ipods batteries topped off. I usually suggest one charger per ipod…. and to also shop around at your local superstores for these items…they can be picked up for under $10.00.  Finally, I would encourage numbering each iPod…now this can be done with the free Apple engraving or can be done with some simple labels. These numbers help with the management.

WHERE TO GET AUDIO BOOKS
Now the final step is to get the audio books for your classroom or for your professional growth and development. Sometime ago…I was introduced to Audible.com and its many genres offered. They are the leading provider of spoken audio entertainment, information, and educational programming. This service offers audible books, stories, newspapers and magazines. Content from Audible is downloaded and can be played back on your computer, put on CDs, or can be listened on
hundreds of portable media devices.Some other great features that I like about Audible.com is that they offer quality of the recordings and the narrators

HOW TO GET A FREE AUDIO BOOK
Now audilbe.com is offering all of my listeners a FREE Audiobook download of your choice. Just go to www.audiblepodcast.com/techteacher or go to the techteacher web site and look for the audible link in the right hand column. This is an exclusive offer just for my techteacher listeners only that is not available on from this website.

SUGGESTED AUDIO BOOKS
Now I have been listening to tow great books while I drive to work and walk on my treadmill….the first book I highly suggest is The Google Story This is a fascinating detailed history of a idea started by two Stanford University students…Larry Page and Sergey Brin which has grown into an Internet empire. The other great listen is iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It - This is a book from Steve Wozniak one of the founders of Apple computer. This too is a fascinating listen and at will be interesting no matter if you are new to technology or was there at the birth of the personal computer. Not only is this book entertaining but it also gives you a historical perspective of Apple computers.  My daughter would like to suggest the Fancy Nancy by Jane O Conner. This story is about a girl named Nancy who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. From the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy. And we can"t forget about my son’s top picks….the Boxcar Children series. These classics, which were created by Gertrude Chandler Warner in the 1940s… still hold the attention and inspire the imagination of children even today.

So if you are ready to either jump in with both feet or just experiment with audio books…go to www.audiblepodcast.com/techteacher   to get your free audiobook.

Thank you again for listening to the the techteacher podcast network and don’t forget to visit my web site for more great tip, tricks and technology integration ideas.

With the birth the birth of web 2.0, came the confusion and difficulty of finding these incredibly cool tools. In 2006 the web community got a helping hand from the web 2.0directory service called Go2Web20.net. This is a directory of over 1600 web 2.0 applications and services. On top of that, if offers and attractive and engaging interface that will truly suck you in and become one of your top favorites. Check out this tool today: http://www.go2web20.net/

Back for a second year, the K-12 Online Conference invites participation from educators around the world interested in innovative ways Web 2.0 tools and technologies can be used to improve learning. This FREE conference run by volunteers and open to everyone. The 2007 conference theme is "Playing with Boundaries�. This year's conference begins with a pre-conference keynote the week of October 8, 2007. The following two weeks, October 15-19 and October 22-26, forty presentations will be posted online to the conference blog (this website) for participants to download and view. Live Events in the form of three “Fireside Chats� and a culminating “When Night Falls� event will be announced. Everyone is encouraged to participate in both live events during the conference as well as asynchronous conversations.

http://k12onlineconference.org

Have you ever wanted to know what is taking up all that room on  your hard drive or if you have any multiple copies of images of files? Have I got the tool for you. I was turned on to this tool about three years ago and would never compute without it. SpaceMonger is a scanning/data management and visualization tool that gives you a visual image of files and directory sizes on your hard drive or on other external data storage  drives.  SpaceMonger uses something called Tree Maps to create a color coded visual representation of the contents of the selected drive; this shows at a glance which files and folders are using the most storage space. It also reveals if you have any multiple copies of media files. It is easy enough to use and will truly make your computer just a little lesS cluttered. If you would like to download a FREE copy, please go to: http://www.sixty-five.cc/sm/v1x.php

Many of us remember the early days of the Internet….when little things like chat rooms, streaming music and videos from web sites excited us. Even today, the web continues to evolve from its original intentions of simple text information to one of services like YouTube, Flickr, and Wikiopedia. This retooling of the Internet is not only exciting but is also a great resource for us all.  As educators, we should not only be thrilled about this new web, but we should also take advantage and always looked for the educational values in these tools. Today I will be sharing a new evolution to the web…streaming Television…and it is called Joosst. It is not available to the public yet….but a public release is set for the end of the year.  I have been lucky enough to have access to it for a while because I am a beta tester for them.

Now when I originally heard about this product I was a little skeptical. But after doing a little research, I found that the creators of Joost -Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis who were also the minds  behind Skype…which is a phone service that allows you to use your computer and the Internet to make phone calls and Kazaa which is a peer-to-peer file sharing service…are also the minds behind Joost. Now Joost originally began back in 2006 under the code name "The Venice Projectâ€?…sounds like a covert operation…but it was actually real project in they used teams of programmers from around the world  to help develop this unique piece of software which would allow users to watch television over the Internet. This really peek my interest so I sign up to help test…. and all I can say is that these two great minds have done it once again.

Now, Joost technology uses peer to peer technology to broadcast television shows over the Internet…and that is as deep as I will go on that. The installation of the software was very simple and I think was easier than setting up my current television. It has been written for both the Mac and the PC platform…sorry Linusx users. It has a very simple user interface that looks much like most DVD player programs. And unlike my TV, the shows can even be streamed wirelessly and does it in great quality. It is television so it does have ads and commercials. Unlike typical television viewing, the user can select , subscribe and control the content, getting what they want ,when the want ...the media  trend of 21^st century. Not only do you have the ability to go to a  high-quality full-screen picture, it also offers hundreds of full-length shows. It offers everything from music, sports, travel, adventure, wildlife, sci-fi and animation from some of the world's best-known TV channels. Just click a channel from the list to choose from the list of featured content and kick back. Or you can search for your favorite content or show. The best thing is you still get the joy of flipping channels….you got to love that. Joost also offers some additional no cost features- a built in search tool, instant messaging so you can communicate while watching your favorite shows.

Now, that I have briefly covered the feature of Joost, let's get to the educational value of this program… it is the content. Now currently the educational content is limited…but it continues to grow as the Joost team negotiates with tv networks.  But the current networks that I have found are Discovery, The Best of National Geographic, National Geographic History and Exploration, National Geographic Wild, Wall to Wall Documentary,  Terra - Nature of Out World, Chat Planet and much more. These channels could be used for all grade levels for enrichment and like real televsion; there are channels that are not appropriate for children, but customization of channels can help control this. So if there is content that hold little or no educational value…it can be taken off.  Again, as the popularity of Joost grows, so will the content that they provide.

Now I do have a few invites to give away to my listeners so you can try it in advance…because right now, it is not available to the public. If you would like an invite…send me an e-mail with your first and last name and e-mail address….this is required by Joost for the invites…and I would love some feedback on my podcast.

Also, don't forget to visit the TechTeacher Network website at: http://thetechteacher.libsyn.com/

PODCAST UPDATE: Joost is now open for Public Download.

 

The TechTeacher Network is still alive and well. But, between work and  preparing for our new addition to our family, my podcast production has slowed way down. To help keep the information flowing, I will continue to post content on this site and promise to at least produce one podcast per month. Hopefully by the new year, things can pick up again and the TechTeacher Network will be back to normal.

Also, please continue to send your comments and suggestions to: niessen@cox.net  I really enjoy hearing from you all!

Brad

Many of us have heard of or even used SMART Technologies SMART Board and Airliner. These devices have revolutionized instruction in many classrooms all over the world. These tools engage the 21st Century learner and have brought excitement back to the classroom. Well, SMART Technologies is doing it again with another new tool, the Senteo interactive response systems. The Senteo system is in response to educators who wanted interactive response systems to compliment their other SMART systems. Now what makes the Senteo stand out from  traditional response system is the ease of use and integration into the SMART Board products. Teachers who are comfortable with their SMART Board can now assess student learning right from their SMART Board without having to start another application. Now that's SMART! On top of that, the learning curve for the system is small and it offers a variety of product features, some exclusive to SMART.

The Senteo system can be purchased in packs of 24 or 32 pack of radio frequency (RF) remotes, a central receiver, and SMART Board Notebook software. It also ships with Senteo assessment software, which shows and tallies student responses, records attendance, posts test results and provides individual feedback. On top of that, the software also comes with a virtual remote that looks just like the device that the students would use, that appears on the teachers computer, so teacher can see what their questions will look like on the students devices. This system is also flexible enough that students no longer have to be assigned specific remotes; students can use any remote and enter their own personal code.

For more information about this incredible product, visit SMART Technologies site at: http://smarttech.com/

Are you ready to get Joost? I have had the joy of being a beta tester for this new and exciting way  of watching TV on the Internet. Joost gives you all of the things you love about watching traditional TV, but on your computer. Keep watching and listening this month as I release "Get Joost".

 

I am excited to announce a new technology podcast for the general public called techwave21. This podcast will cover anything that has to do with technology. Please visit the techwave21 site at: http://techwave21.libsyn.com/

Please let me know what you would like to hear!

The Internet has not only revolutionized the way we work, shop, communicate and research, but it has also revolutionized learningâ?¦making virtual classrooms and e-learning a reality. Traditional classroom are being replaced with virtual classrooms and those dusty old chalkboards are being replaced with computer screens with virtual whiteboards.  Many school districts and learning centers are venturing into these synchronous classrooms for online conferencing, online learning and online collaboration.  Not only are these tools great for helping educate students of all ages and in all circumstances, but they are also great tools for us as educators to build learning communities. Now in the past, the art of collaboration or building learning communities hasn't been the easiest strategy for educators to do or maybe the most comfortable. As I said, not only is it difficult and sometimes uncomfortable, but I also believe they may not always been the most convenient task to pull of, due to lack of time, scheduling, and possibly distance. Many would agree though, these are important strategies for educators, so that they can build those important relationships with other educators and colleagues. Not only are important for educators, but they are also vital concepts for our students to experience so they can learn and practice these 21^st Century skills,  so that in the future, they will be prepared to be productive members of society.

I once heard it said that, "If you are connected to a group, you will do better in everything you do.â?? So let"s get connect.

Today I am going to share with you a tool that could possibly change they way you and your students communicate, collaborate, interact, and learn This tool will also change the way you a your colleagues communicate and collaborate. This tool is Elluminate LIVE! So what is so special about Elluminate?

For a start Elluminate is an awesome desktop conferencing  tool that will not only support those learning communities for educators, but also help support those communities for students.

So what makes Elluminate Live unique?

Elluminte is a desktop video conferencing tool that offers a variety of features, including integrated audio, video, and some special tools to make your real-time eLearning and web conferencing, working to effectively engage groups of all sizes in interactive online sessions far from typical. Unlike typical e-learningâ?¦Elluminate give the instructor and the students all of the features needed to create a social presence, allowing them to forget that they may be hundreds of miles apart. This desktop video conferencing tool is truly designed for education and lives up to the companiesâ?? philosophy to make the users experience a positive one, no matter what the skill level, operating system or the internet connection.

For more information about this great tool or to get a FREE VRoom, please go to: http://www.elluminate.com/vroom//?s=PCBL0001

 

You know, I am lucky to get 6 months out of the lights bulbs in my house, but there is a light bulb that has been burning for 106 years. I discovered this interesting fact on Myth Busters and just had to look it up myself. If you visit : http://www.centennialbulb.org/photos.htm you will see a live image of the 106 year old light glowing just as bright as the day it was installed back in 1901. The bulb is located in Fire Station in Livermore, California. Of course, I have always found live web cams to be great tools to engage learners of all ages; this is a prime example. How do you see something as simple as a live web cam on a 106 year light bulb be used in the classroom? I have some ideas, but I would like to hear what you think.

In this day and age, having a web presence is very important, but many of our 21^st century learners expect it. They want access to learning materials and they also want the ability to collaborate, communicate and publish their work to an authentic audience.

In the past, building a classroom web site required an understanding of html code and some skill in design. It also required the use of special software to create and edit your site. Not only did it require a knowledge and understanding, but it also required a lot of time, that most educators can't afford to give. Recently I came across a slick solution that takes care of all of these issues and will help launch you classroom into the 21^st century the tool is EZClassSites.com.

 

Here is another Web 2.0 tool that I have been using for a long time, Meebo. Meebo is a unique Web 2.0 chat tool that can be easily added to any blog, wiki, or web page. The great thing about the Meebo chat tool is that is allows you, the page owner,  to chat with visitors that stop by your page. After you have added this tool to your page, all it requires you to do is log on to Meebo, and you will then automatically see any user or users that stop by your page. If you are logged in, the site visitors will see a green light on the Meebo chat tool showing that you are available to chat. I will be sharing more about this tool and other Web 2.0 tools in a future podcast, and like always, I will share some ways that this tool can be integrated into your classroom.

If you want to try it out, my Meebo chat tool is located in the lower right hand column of this page.

Saving, editing and sharing has just gotten easier! Putting your videos up on Motionbox is simple and takes just a few minutes. One very important thing about Motionbox is that you can make your videos public and share them with the world, or keep them private and share them with just a select few.

Click here to see a sample:
http://www.motionbox.com/video/player/359cd9b7181bbe/5bf8092eba721d4a

Here is a great video on YouTube defining Web 2.0. Click and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsa5ZTRJQ5w

 

In an upcoming podcast, I will be sharing some of my favorite Web 2.0 tools. These are free web tools that have shifted the web from a tool of reference to one of collaboration. They are tools that offer both students and teachers with some rich opportunities for e-learning. As I begin the production of this podcast, I would love to hear from you; what are your favorite web 2.0 tools? Just click on the comment link below this post and share.

The biggest motivation to podcasting is not only sharing a topic or topic that you love, but it is also getting know a little about those who listen. One way of doing that is by joining the TechTeacher Frappr. Please feel free to plot your location, post a picture, and tell a little about yourself.

Click here to join: http://www.frappr.com/thetechteacher

Brad

This is vidcast is a listener request. This is how to actually covert files with Zamzar.

Have you ever wanted to convert a music file , video file, image file or a document file into different format? Now sometimes this conversion can be as easy changing the file type when saving, but more often than not, it may require using an additional conversion software. Wouldn't it be convenient if this could all be done with wither one program or a one stop solution. Well, ZAMZAR is that one stop solution. ZAMZAR can convert most of the popular file types either from a web site or from your computer. This can all be done with four easy steps.
STEP 1- Type in the link of the online file you want to convert or browse for it on your computer.
STEP 2- Select the file type that you would like to convert it to.
STEP 3- Enter your e-mail address- ZAMZAR sends the converted file to your e-mail account.
STEP 4 - Click convert and wait!

No only is ZAMZAR easy, it is also FREE! So check it out at: http://www.zamzar.com

In the last episode of BiTT, I shared some maintenance tips for laptops. As I had mentioned more and more schools are rapidly deploying one-to-one student laptop initiatives across the nation. As schools move forward into the implementation there are a few things that they must think about. The first is sustainability; once they have found the funding for their laptops, they plan for the continued funding of professional development, maintenance, and continual upgrade. The second is management; how will the district teach the staff and students to manage the laptops (charging, distribution, transportation, and daily integration).  And finally, thereâ??s the protecting of the investment.  Many times this is either overlooked or bargain cases are purchased for distribution. But to be honest, protecting your investment, requires not only making sure that laptop cases are purchased, but making sure that the case purchase can with stand the day to day abuse that they will receive.

 

I have found what I think is the perfect laptop case. The Higher Ground Shuttle really has an affordable price and has an intelligent design.Higher Ground has created a laptop case that truly meets the needs of the 21st century school and 21st century learner.For more information about the shuttle or to see some images, please visit the following page: http://techteacherhigherground.blogspot.com/ 

 

Inspiration Software is celebrating 25 years of inspiring excellence with visual learning! As part of this celebration, they have created two great opportunities for you! They have recently created free lesson plans for  Inspiration, InspireData and Kidspiration that are avialable on CD.

These lesson plans offer the following:

• Ideas and instructions on how to achieve key standards with visual learning, plus suggestions for assessment and adaptation
• A student template complementing the lesson plan

These lesson plans are available for a limited time on a complimentary commemorative 25th anniversary Evaluation CD. You can get this CD when you request materials for your upcoming training sessions. Along with these valuable lesson plans, the Evaluation CD also provides your teachers with access to complete 30-day trials of our software, plus extra resources to help them get started with visual learning.

Just remember to request 25th anniversary Evaluation CDs for your training sessions.

Inspiration is also offering you a chance to Inspire others with your creative ideas. Join and participate in the Inspired Learning Community for free and help to build thier leanring community dedicated to exploring and advancing visual learning in education.

In doing so and by uploading 3 or more templates or examples you will recieve a 25th anniversary Inspiration coffee mug.

Check these out at:
http://www.inspiredlearningcommunity.com/whats-new/news

Getting a new projector for your classroom? Maybe you already have one, but just need some maintenance tips? Found some funding to hang one in your classroom? Check out: http://projectortips.blogspot.com/

Creating loops for podcasts is free and easy if you own a Mac; but what about those who use a PC? One option could be to use pod safe music found on the web; but sometimes these sites are block by districts or may even contain content that isn't always appropiate for your classroom. Well, Sony has created Super Duper Music Looper software which is an afforadable and easy way for you and your students to create the basics music recordings for podcasts. Super Duper Music Looper software is packed with over 700 studio-quality sounds and instruments, including drums, keyboards, guitars, horns, percussion and more. You can even plug in a microphone and record your vocals and sounds. Once your loops have been created, they can be exported as WAV or WMA files. This is nice because these files can then be easily dropped into your favorite podcast recording software. For more information and pricing, please go to: http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/showproduct.asp?pid=535&spid=352

I would love to know what you think about the podcasts on The TechTeacher Podcast Network. Just scroll down the page and click on the SurveyMonkey icon on the right side of this page. It only takes a minute and who knows, you could win a prize.

In this podcast I will be sharing 10 laptop important laptop maintenance tips; and please feel free to post any additional tips on my blog. I would also love to get some tips from my Mac users. 

Please don't forget to visit this episode's sponsor:
K12Computers:
factory-refurbished DELL computers at 30 - 50% off of list price.
K12Computers can help you maximize your technology budget, with
confidence that you are getting top-of-the-line computer equipment at
the best possible prices.  For schools, libraries, non-profits,
families, and friends.  Whether you are buying 100 identical PCs or a
single laptop, you can count on fast, reliable, and friendly service.
http://www.k12computers.com on the web, or toll-free at +888-512-5877.

Additional Love Your Laptop Tips

Dust Bad - Air Good
Depending on your work environment, there could be a good chance that you laptop may have dust build up. Now too much dust can cause a notebook to run warmer than normal or even overheat. Carefully use a can of compressed air to blow dust and crumbs away from ports and the keyboard.

Give Me Air-
Once again, be careful where you put and use a running laptop. Placing your laptop on soft surfaces could block off air vents and reduce the air flow and cause your laptop to overheat.

General Maintenance Tips- (WINDOWS ONLY) Make sure that you check your hard drive space. A computer may start to slow down, or you may encounter errors if the hard drive gets to full. On a Windows machine you can check the hard drive space by going to START- MY COMPUTER-right mouse clicking on you hard drive- and click on PROPERTIES.

Take out the Trash
This goes for both Mac and Windows machines, don't forget to empty your Trash or Recycle bins.

Defragment your hard drive
If your system starts to slow down, it may be time to defragment hard drive. To start this process go to START- MY COMPUTER-right mouse clicking on you hard drive- and click on PROPERTIES- click on the TOOLS tab- then click on defragment now. Taking the time to defragment will allow your programs to run more quickly and make better use of the space on your hard drive.

Operating System Updates
Remember to allow your operating system to check for critical updates; it will keep your system safe.

Having Screen Issues? Here is a great site to help you diagnose your problems.
Laptop Repair Help - www.laptoprepair101.com

 

I am sure many of you are preparing for the Spring Cleaning of your home, but how about your computer. Now, I am sure many of you take the time to scan your computer for spyware on a daily basis; and hopefully back up your system files; but when was the last time you took a good look at your virus software? Now virus protection software is much like a flu shot, it needs to be renewed once a year. (I have always set mine up to expire on my birthday much like a driver licence) It is also important to make sure that the software protection that you pick for your system not only does the job, but also does not slow it down while protecting you. Now I have used a lot of different virus protection software in the past, but today I actually decided to not to change and continued to use McAfee VirusScan® Plus 2007 for two reasons.

The first reason is that I  do not notice a slow down the old TechTeacher Podcasting laptop like I did with other virus protection software. For my podcasts, I use a "hand-me-down" HP Pavilion N5435. It is has a 930 MHz Celeron processor in it, along with 256 MB of Ram (As you can see, it isn't a spring chicken)

The second reason is that McAfee makes a multi-user version which allows me to purchase on piece of software and run it on 3 systems. Keeps both computers in our house protected, while at the same time saving us the cost of purchasing multiple copies. So, if you have just purchased and new computer or if your are like me, trying to hang on to the past; I highly suggest trying McAfee VirusScan® Plus 2007 for multiple users.

Here is an interesting site or service that a friend of mine shared with me, Woot! Woot.com is an online store/community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap. What makes Woot fun is the "Deal of the Day". They sell one item per day until it is sold out or until 11:59pm central time. Then they will replace this item with a new item for the next day. Most of the items offered are usually some type of home electronics. For a chance to get a bargin, go to: http://www.woot.com/

 

 

In the first few episodes of BiTT, I will be sharing some exciting tips that will help take PowerPoint to the next level and help you think outside the slide.
http://thetechteacher.libsyn.com/

 

The TechTeacher Network is excited to announce the launching of a new and exciting podcast coming in the not so distant future; the Bryte Idea Tech Tips Podcast. This podcast will be a mixture of both video and audio podcasts that give simple and useful cross platform tech tips for both hardware and software. Don't fear, The TechTeacher Network will continue to produce the The TechTeacher Podcast along with WoW- What's On the Web. Keep listening!

As we all know, technology is wonderful tool that engages our students and basically helps makes our lives as educators just a little easier. In fact, many of us rely heavily upon technology each day, whether it is doing grades, analyzing student data, creating lesson plans, dealing with time sensitive material, researching, communicating or even teaching an online class. Technology has truly become something that we can't live without. But what do you do when you experience a sudden, mysterious crash or software hiccup? We know that this can spoil the best-laid plans for delivering those great lessons or it  can prevents you from carrying on with your daily tasks that must be done. This is not only frustrating for you, but it is also annoying for your students who also rely on these same appliances to access the content and information. Maybe a few years ago, when our classrooms did not really on so much technology, this would not have been an issue. In fact, a teacher probably would have gone weeks, months, or maybe would have learned to live with the technical issues. But in this day and age, that is not an option, and educators need a safety net.

 So what do we do to help alleviate these frustrations?

I am sure most of your districts or universities have tech support and protocol in place to deal with such issues. But if you don"t; or if they just arenâ??t working, then you may be interest in the following tool. Today I am going to share a very affordable solution that I found called SchoolHelpDesk.net.

So first of all, what is SchoolHelpDesk.net?

SchoolHelpDesk is a web-based help desk application for managing your Informational Technologists (IT) workload. School Help Desk is a powerful web-based help desk that your district or university installs on the Windows server. There is an annual license fee allows an unlimited number of users in the district to access the help desk through their web browser. Included in this license fee are updates , applications enhancements that are created during the subscription period, as well as technical support and customizable features.

So how does it SchoolHelpDesk work?

Once SchoolHelpDesk is installed on the server, when a teacher has a problem, they submit an online trouble ticket alerting the IT department of the issue. The tech department can then sort through the received tickets and assign and schedule the required maintenance.  The application tracks the problem, logs the status, prioritizes and is also capable of creating multiple reports to help make the ITâ??s task just a little easier and the response time for you a little quicker.

A unique feature of School Help Desk is that it has an additional feature that allows IT departments to write self-help modules to cover the most frequent problems that arise.  This gives teachers and administrators the opportunity to access self help for common computer usage questions whenever they need it. This again can help  reduces the workload for the overworked IT staff and allows users to quickly fix those smaller less technical issues on their own.

What are some of advantage of School Help Desk?

1. It is economical and affordable- The cost for school districts,community colleges and universities is $500 dollars a year Business is $1000 per year and Hospitals $1500, but they will get some additional features. With this low annual fee, School Help Desk can pay for itself in no time.
2. It expedites workflows by improving communication and efficiency in regards to client and IT support. Since School Help Desk is Web-based, it can be accessed anywhere anytime and does not require any client software.
3. It is extremely easy to use. Staff can access the application from any computer on the network to submit a trouble ticket.
4. The service is scalable- It can meet the needs of any size district and can serve dozens to thousands of users. It can be customized to meet the needs of your district.
5. The system is knowledge based and Self-help- It is searchable and can be browsed. Again, with the self-help modules, users help themselves, which is better use of everyoneâ??s time. After you get your self help tailored to your users, School Help Desk says that you can expect 80% of tickets to be resolved by the user.
6. Here is one feature that is great for any district- User accounts can by synced to Active Directory or eDirctory making the creation of user account effortless.
7. School Help Desk also offers e-mail and paging features so IT staff can be reached anywhere.

School Help Desk really offers a lot of features without requiring a large price tagâ?¦.this really is powerful and personal efficient applicationâ?¦not only saving district money, but also keeping the technology running for those who need it. So I guess you could say efficiency for techs, teachers, and learners.

For more information about School Help Desk, please visit their site at www.schoolhelpdesk.net or visit my web site listed in the podcast description. And as always, thank you for listening to The TechTeacher Podcast.

 http://thetechteacher.libsyn.com/

 

How valuable is the data on your computer? You know those documents, presentation, photos, music and videos. Just how easy would it be for you to recover this information if your hard drive crashed or computer was stolen? If you are the type of person who on a regular basis, backs up this information to another source it probably would not be a serious of a problem, But if you are someone who does not back up their data. That is why I am going to share through this vidcast, a low cost solution for backing up your data and that is building your own portable external hard drive. Using the Trittan Warp 2.5" Hard Drive Enclosure, along with a old laptop hard drive; I was able to build an external hard drive for around $25.00. Of course, if you don't have a old laptop hard drive handy, they can be purchased for around $50 to $60 through any online electronics store. I found that TigerDirect had the best pricing for the Tritton Hard Drive enclosure and they also carry the 2.5 inch hard drives. See their link on the right side of this page.

 

I would like to make all of you aware of an awesome conference called MACE -Mid-America Association for Computers in Education. The 2007 MACE annual education technology conference will be held in Manhattan, Kansas on March 1 & 2, 2007 at the University of Kansas Alumni Center.

This conference will be offering a wonderful line-up of presentations and guest speakers. In fact, the key note this year will be Marco Antonio Torres who is 10-year high school teacher, media coach, and education technology director for San Fernando High School. MACE has also invited Wesley Fryer, a fellow podcaster, educator, author, digital storyteller and change agent, to share his ideas at this event.

Remember that this conference is not only terrific learning opportunity for educators, but it also helps with those ever important conversations with other educators.

If you can't make it to this exciting event, don't worry because I plan on podcasting form this event and also blogging events. Also, I will be presenting a session at this event, so please stop by and see me!

 

For more information or to register, please go to: http://www.mace-ks.org/

 

As educators, we understand that in order to raise student achievement, we need to provide our students with a solid foundation of basic skills, and we must motivate them to learn. Now, if you are listening to this podcast, I would assume that you are an educator who believes that not only does technology help by engaging students and igniting their imaginations, but it also stimulates their minds. Technology also gives them the skills for the 21^st Century so they succeed in college and in the workforce at large.

 

Today I am going to share with you some technology tools that can engage the digital native in your classroom. One of these tools I have mentioned in a previous podcast, the interactive whiteboards. Now these devices have grown in use over the last 5 years, but so have their counterparts, the interactive whiteboard pads. The companies who have brought us items like the SMARTBoard, InterWrite Board, have also come out with smaller devices that can work with the boards or by themselves.

 

So first of all, let me describe these items in more detail. Interactive pads are wireless interactive tablets for the PC or Mac about the size of a clipboard. These lightweight devices can be used to control or annotate projected software applications or they can be used with their own software that is included. These tablets can weigh anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds and are usually very durable. Again, these wireless device are small enough that they give the teacher the ability to teach from anywhere in the classroom and also allow students at any grade level to use them.

 

Benefits of the Interactive Pads

1. They are much cheaper than the larger interactive whiteboards- prices can range from 300 to 500 dollars
2. They works with any LCD projector , a normal projection screen (or wall)
3. The pads can accommodate different learning styles
4. No more turning your back to students. The teacher can be in the best position to communicate with students while still maintaining control over the lesson, presentation and classroom 
5.  Electronic pens provide full mouse capability
6. Students and teachers can interact with the applications or images from any location in the classroom
7. Most pads have robust software that allows students and teachers to annotate, edit, highlight and even interact with computer applications including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
8. Increased audience participation and attention
9. They either use Bluetooth wireless connectivity or another form of (RF) radio frequency
10. Some version allow up to 7 wireless pads to be connected to one computer so multiple device can be used  in one classroom
11. These device allow you to display dynamic lessons and presentations that will enhance students focus, attention, retention, and participation
12. Many come with long life rechargeable batteries
13. Some may even allow for multiple interaction with the larger boards
14. Many of the companies have great resources like lesson plans and template available online for free.

Ways to Use the Devices in Your Classroom

• Save lessons to present to students who were absent
• Create video files to teach a software application, a lesson, or as a review to be posted to the server or web. Example- How to create a graph in Excel or hoe to burn a projects to cds
• Use the built in maps to teach continents, oceans, countries, or states and capitals.
• Present presentations created by student or teacher
• Have students create e-folios including samples of their work and narration
• Digital storytelling
• Teach whole group computer or keyboarding skills
• Brainstorming
• Take notes directly into PowerPoint presentations
• Reinforce skills by using on-line interactive web sites
• Creating a project calendar
• Teach editing skills using editing marks
• Use in the 6 trait writing process
• Use highlighter tool to highlight nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
• Use it with Kidspiration or Inspiration
• Teaching students how to navigate the Internet
• Illustrate and write a book as a class. Use the record feature to narrate the text.
• Use the Interwrite software to create lessons in advance at home or at school. Then save them for future use or to be shared with other teachers
• Diagramming activities
• Teaching steps to a math problem.
• have students share projects during Parent/Teacher/Student conferences
• Graphics and charts with ESL learners and special ed students.
• Teaching vocabulary
• Electronic Word Wall
• End each day by having students write one thing that they learned

Comparison chart

	Interwrite SchoolPad	SMART Airliner	CPS Chalk Board
Estim. Cost	$489	$489	$350
Warranty	1 Year	2 Years	1 Year
Weight	1.75 lbs	2lbs	1lb
Battery Life	40 hours	25 hours	4 AA rechargeable 2 for pad and 2 for recharger
Recharge Time	6 hours	Unknown	Unknown
Communication Interface	Bluetooth- Connect up to 7 pads	Bluetooth- Connect up to 7 pads	2.5 GHz RF- Connect only 1 pad
Range	300 feet	164 feet	30 feet
Size	11.5 by 10.5 inches	11 by 10 inches	9.75 by 8.5 inches
Active Area	8 by 6 inches	7 by 6 inches	5 by 3.5
Resolution	4000 lpi	2032 lpi	1024 lpi
Software	Interwrite Software Easiteach Software	SMART Board Notebook SMART Tools	Mimio Studio but will be using EasiTeach with new version

For additional information about these items, please visit:
SMART Airliner
Interwrite SchoolPad
CPS Chalkboard

SMART Board/ Airliner Lesson Plans

 

Don't forget to take the TechTeacher podcast survey and have your name entered into my Winter drawing. the lucky winner will receiver a flash drive. Click here to enter!

For the longest time, I have been researching and trying out different microphones, trying to find something that would be perfect for classroom podcasters and I think I have found it. The microphone is The Snowball by Blue Microphones. It really has the ability to capture the human voice and make a professional recording a breeze. I am not only impressed with superior sound quality, but how universal this microphone is. With the flip of a switch, the snowball can either be an unidirectional or an omnidirectional microphone. So it really is two microphones in one.

The first thing I noticed about this microphone was the appearance. Blue not only makes some of the best microphones for the recording industry, but they also make them a work of art. I was just recently joking with someone, that when I am not using mine for recording, I may just display it on the mantle. The Snowball is also a USB microphone, which I really have needed. I have found it is possible to plug a professional high end microphone into a computer microphone jack, but remember that these phantom microphones are really designed additional power to record the human voice, so I have always needed an amplifier when using one. When doing so, I have experienced electrical interference or computer noise, which some of you may have noticed in some of my previous podcasts. Also, don't forget that the human voice can be very difficult to record, and that can really make podcasting with some microphones difficult. This is where the quality and sensitivity of the Snowball comes in. It really has the ability to capture the human voice and make a professional recording a breeze. I am not only impressed with superior sound quality, but how universal this microphone is. With the flip of a switch, the snowball can either be a unidirectional and omnidirectional microphone; it really is two microphones in one. You can choose between three settings on the mic via a switch on the rear of the Snowball. The three settings are cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni. The first two settings allow the Snowball to record only what sounds are directly in front of the mic, while the omni setting records sounds all around the mic.

Another great thing about the snowball is that it is cross platform. It works with both PCs and Macs. It is also plug and play- installing the Snowball was as easy as plugging in the USB cable to my computer. No software or drivers are required to operate the Snowball.

 If you want a Snowball for Christmas, now is the time. After doing some searching I have found that the Apple Online store is currently selling the Snowball for $99.95 with free shipping. This includes the USB cable, stand, and free shipping. This really is a bargain because the Snowball retail price is $139.00.

Overall, Blue Microphone's Snowball is an extraordinary USB microphone that is perfect for any podcaster. It can also  used to record anything from singing and instruments to spoken words for If you are in need to get better audio quality in your podcasts and video blogs, the Snowball is the tool you need. If you would like to purchase this microphone from Apple, please click on the link on the right side of the page and get the Snowball for $99.95 and free shipping.

The TechTeacher site is found at: http://thetechteacher.libsyn.com/ or visit Blue Microphones at: http://www.bluemic.com/

 

Today's episode is a very special episode because I will be playing some great technology integration tips from one of my listenersâ?¦..Jim Falbo of Gundy Area Vocational Center in Morris Illinois. Jim will be sharing with us how he is integrating podcasting and Picasa albums with his students. He will also share how he is using Gmail in the classroom. I have also posted the link to Jim's web site so you can follow along with his explanation

http://www.gavc-il.org/vnews/display.v/ART/43bac69846af9

Thank you Jim for sharing!