Summertime Cleaning

My wife (a teacher) made the comment, as have other fellow educators, that summer is when we get things done around the house that are usually done in the spring. I'd have to agree with that sentiment! Summer is also a time when many educators "fill their cups" with inservice trainings, conventions, and by taking classes.

Summer is also a good time to give your computer a little TLC. A few suggestions below are offered, as well as a link to a handout that I received this week at a virtual ISTE conference in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It addresses the many features of Google Apps and how they can be employed to increase productivity and lead to more efficient learning.

First, let's give our computers a little "spring cleaning":

1. Dispose of non-essential files residing on your computer's hard drive. Two free programs do this chore very easily and quickly. One is called Hard Drive Powerwash. The other is named Disk Cleaner. Download and run both programs.  You'll be amazed at the amount of space reclaimed on your computer!
2. When you've sent all of the non-essential files to the Recycle Bin, empty it and run Smart Defrag. First run "defrag only", then run it in "Deep Optimize" mode.
3. After you've defragmented the hard drive, defragment your computer's registry using Free Registry Defrag.
4. I'd be remiss if I didn't put in a plug for checking the computer for malware, trojans, and viruses. Two excellent products to use: AntiMalware and SUPERAntispyware. Download and install both.  Update both.  Run a "full system scan" using both. Delete anything they detect.
5. It used to be that the most common way viruses were spread was via floppy disks. Times have changed and flash drives can now become carriers of viruses. To reduce the likelihood of contracting a virus using a flash drive, download and use USB Guardian.
6. Lastly, back up your files! If you suffer the misfortune of contracting a virus or other form of malware, a degree of "peace of mind" will be had by doing so. Would you like a free, quick program that makes a backup of your computer's drivers? Try  Double Driver.I've recently used it to reinstall drivers after reformatting a PC. It works very well! DriverMax is another free, easy-to-use application that backs up drivers. It's easy to learn, fast, and reliable.

When these chores have been completed, download the handout I received this week at a virtual conference. You'll be amazed at what all can be done with Google Apps! Dr. Howie DiBlasi did a superb job drafting this handout. We spent three uninterrupted hours reviewing this document and trying the various features Dr. H. prepared for us.  The time flew! Thanks, Doc!

This Just In,,,

Not long ago I had the privilege to collaborate with a staff member from West Virginia University. She was responsible for observing students in the Teacher Education program. To travel to each school location for purposes of observation would have been unproductive and inefficient. Surely there must be a solution to this dilemma.

There was. Using a web cam, laptop, and Internet connection, Oovoo was employed, This web service is similar to Skype and Go ToMeeting. Parties can use these programs to see and hear each other in real time. Additionally, the ability to chat is built in to these programs. Oovoo will record the interactive sessions for later recall, but a fee mist be paid to enable that feature.

Enter justin.tv. This program does the same as Oovoo and Skype. The big difference is that justin.tv records interactive sessions for later retrieval at no charge. I've seen justin.tv in action. It's every bit as good as the competition. The fact that it records and saves sessions for later retrieval adds value for pre-service teachers in that the videos can be saved and incorporated into a digital portfolio of their experiences.

Are there uses for the  classroom by teachers in the field? Absolutely! A few are bulleted below.

Record lessons for later playback:

• Homebound students
• Students at home with illnesses
• Students on vacation
• PLCs and PLNs
• Administrators to evaluate personnel
• Simulated "public speaking" experiences for students
• Schoolwide announcements, news, etc.

I'm sure that as new ideas for ways to use justin.tv come to mind, you'll come to appreciate the power of Web 2.0 applications. Give justin.tv a try. It's free, easy, and powerful.

Build Fences

"Don't build fences" is sage advice. When it comes to computer desktops, icons can quickly take over "screen real estate". Sometimes a point of diminishing returns occurs when there are so many icons on a desktop that considerable time is spent locating what you're seeking.

When the desktop becomes over-populated with icons and shortcuts, the very idea of placing items on the desktop for rapid retrieval becomes contradictory. Ever tried to herd cats? That's what I've experienced...at least until I discovered a nifty little application called Fences.

There are several ways to organize or "corral" all of those meandering icons. Fences is easily configured to produce a variety of layouts. Six fences reside along the bottom of my screen. They can be renamed, resized, and rearranged according to your preferences. Just "drag-n-drop! Aside from organizing and "de-cluttering" the desktop, Fences adds a degree of  "Windows 7" likeness to your computer.

Fences is free, small, and easy to learn. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed!