Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of the North Star Technology Newsletter.  Our goal is to share ideas, updates, and general information about technology that will hopefully have an impact on your classroom.  If you have anything you would like to see included in the next issue of this newsletter please email Tara Glunz-Fries, tglunzf@lps.org or Drew Ramaekers, drama@lps.org

Helpful Websites

Inaugural Factfile

Media coverage, famous addresses, inaugural trivia, and life after the presidency.

The FactMonster site has good information on many topics!

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/inaug1.html

The Truth About Food Discovery Health Channel Companion site to the food-science show features a trivia slideshow, maps, and searchable lists relating to food and healthy eating. http://health.discovery.com/convergence/truth/truth.html

Merriam Webster Visual Dictionary Online

This dictionary is organized by themes (e.g., astronomy, earth, human body, transport & machinery) and the typical index. There are really good graphics that could be used for presentations.

http://visual.merriam-webster.com/index.php

TeacherTube The YouTube for teachers.  Allows you to search for and post great educational videos to use in your classroom.  Unlike YouTube, the information found here is appropriate and accessible at school. http://www.teachertube.com/

Remote Desktop Tip

Problem: When students attempt to open Internet applications in a computer lab the icon is a generic ‘A’ icon, and students cannot access the Internet.  

Solution: Use Remote Desktop to Unblock Internet

1. Launch Remote Desktop. 
2. Click “Scanner” on the left side of the application, and wait for the spinning icon in the top right to finish. 
3. Click “Unblock Internet” found on the left side of the application.
4. Click the play button in the upper right corner of the screen.

Download a full handout on Remote Desktop at: http://docushare.lps.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-139422/ard_lns_teachers.pdf

Database Spotlight

PowerMediaPlus:

PowerMediaPlus is a great place to look if you are searching for video, audio, images, or podcasts to enhance your lesson plan.  PMP allows you to search for clips by subject, grade level, state standards, and tags.  You will also find lesson plans and proposed assignments that go along with some of the files. PMP is located under the database section of the North Star Media Center page.  Logins have already been created for staff members so stop by the media center if you have any questions. 

DocuShare Tip – View as HTML

Problem: Your students have all handed in their work to a DocuShare Collection and you want to look at their documents without downloading each one to your computer individually just to see them.  Solution: View as HTML

To use this feature:

1. Click the triangle at the far right end of a document’s row in a collection listing. 
2. From the resulting drop down menu, choose “View in HTML”
3. The document will open within the Firefox window. 
4. When you are done viewing the document, click the back button in the Firefox window to return to the collection listing.