Weekly Tech Tips and News for November 23, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are well fed and well rested from the long weekend. I took advantage of the time to finally get those leaves off my lawn...and just in time for Winter storm that shut down the midwest. With the short week, the list of tips is also short this week, but there are some very helpful ones!

• How to Service Your Own Computer:  7 Easy Things Computer Repair Places Do
• EDU in 90:  The Latest, November 2018
• Can You Show Netflix in Class?  Copyright for Teachers Made Simple
• How to Access and Use the Blurring Tools in YouTube's Video Editor
• Real or Fake? Factitious is a Breakthrough Tool for Assessing Student Online Literacy
• The Origins of Ingredients in Thanksgiving Meals

How to Service Your Own Computer:  7 Easy Things Computer Repair Places Do

How to Service Your Own Computer:  7 Easy Things Computer Repair Places Do, from How-To Geek by Chris Hoffman
Save your money and feel empowered!

EDU in 90:  The Latest, November 2018

Can You Show Netflix in Class?  Copyright for Teachers Made Simple

Can You Show Netflix in Class?  Copyright for Teachers Made Simple, from EdSurge by Eva Harvell
As educators, it's important to not only teach students about copyright and fair use, it's imperative that we model it.

How to Access and Use the Blurring Tools in YouTube's Video Editor

How to Access and Use the Blurring Tools in YouTube's Video Editor, from Free Tech for Teachers by Richard Byrne
You've just taken a delightful video of your students, and wouldn't you know it, the child who doesn't have a media release is front and center. Should you scrap the whole video? No, just blur the little darling's face! I promise, it won't hurt a bit.

Real or Fake? Factitious is a Breakthrough Tool for Assessing Student Online Literacy

Real or Fake? Factitious is a Breakthrough Tool for Assessing Student Online Literacy, from Tech & Learning by Glenn Wiebe
It's hard enough for adults to discern trustworthy, unbiased news from untrustworthy and biased information. Here's a game to help students learn the difference.

The Origins of Ingredients in Thanksgiving Meals

Weekly Tech Tips and News for November 9, 2018

publicdomainpictures.net

Thank goodness the elections are finished, and the annoying political ads are in our rear view mirrors...until next time. The political season has passed, and apparently so has the Fall season. We seem to have surged straight to winter. There's snow on the ground, and I was caught with a yard full of leaves still on the grass. I can only hope for a thaw so I can take care of them before the next snowfall. We can also be caught unaware with our computers. Just because your computer still works, doesn't mean it is safe to use. The operating system (OS) on all computing devices (phones, tablets, iPads, PCs, laptops, etc.) has a finite life cycle. Just like the leaves under the snow are not healthy for my lawn, using a device with an operating system that is no longer supported is not safe for you. Please take the time to read all the details about what this means in the first article. Although the article is specific to Microsoft, it is true with all devices running any OS. Tip:  If your computer is running Windows 7, it will no longer be support in January 2020. How can you tell which version your device is running? When you first turn it on, it will display the OS version.

• What it Means when Microsoft Stops Supporting Your Version of Windows
• G Suite Updates:  Use the Paint Roller to Copy Formatting to More Than One Object in Slides
• Protect your Google Account with 2-Step Verification
• Chrome 70 has Picture-in-Picture Now, Here's How it Works
• EDU in 90:  Innovative With Google Slides
• Escape to Flippity.net
• ytCropper - Share a Section of a YouTube Video
• Full Bleed - Finding Balance Between Technology, Work and Life

What it Means when Microsoft Stops Supporting Your Version of Windows

What it Means when Microsoft Steps Supporting Your Version of Windows, from How-To Geek by Chris Hoffman
When your version of Windows is no longer receiving updates, it's seriously time to upgrade your computer. It will no longer be safe from harm online. Windows 7 users, your deadline is approaching in January 2020, at that point it's time to either upgrade to a new version of Windows, or replace your aging hardware.

G Suite Updates:  Use the Paint Format Tool to Copy Formatting to More Than One Object in Slides

If you have not discovered the joys of the Paint Format Tool, it is a huge time saver. Basically you format text and highlight it. To copy that formatting (not text) to another section of your slide, click the Paint Format Tool (looks like a paint roller), then just highlight the next section of text and the formatting will be applied. This has always been available, but you could only copy the formatting to one section at a time. The new change is that now you can format several different sections, not just one. Here are the full details.

Protect your Google Account with 2-Step Verification

Protect your Google Account with 2-Step Verification, from Control Alt Acheieve b y Eric Curts
Why should you use it? How do you use it? How do you set it up? It's important, read on!

Chrome 70 has Picture-in-Picture Now, Here's How it Works

Chrome 70 has Picture-in-Picture Now, Here's How it Works, from How-To Geek by Cameron Summerson
Chrome is in the process of updating to 70 now. You may already have it and not know it. With that update, you'll be able to use Picture in a Picture, just like on a TV. You can keep the video on top and still be working on something else.

EDU in 90:  Innovative With Google Slides

Escape to Flippity.net

Escape to Flippity.net from A Lever and a Place to Stand by Amy Roediger
Interested in creating your own breakout or escape game for your students, but thought it would be too complicated or expensive? It's Flippity to the rescue! You can easily create your own breakout game for free, without the expense of the box and locks.

ytCropper - Share a Section of a YouTube Video

ytCropper - Share a Section of a YouTube Video, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
If you only wish to share a portion of a YouTube video, this tool easily allows you to do that.

Full Bleed - Finding Balance Between Technology, Work and Life

Full Bleed - Finding Balance Between Technology, Work and Life, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
Do yourself a favor by reading these words of wisdom. We all need time to recharge our batteries.

Weekly Tech Tips and News for November 2, 2018

This weekend it's time to end Daylight Saving Time and move our clocks back one hour. Hooray, we get an extra hour on Sunday! It's time to make the big decision:  Do I pull out my car manual to change the time on its clock, or should I just let it be an hour off until March? Have you ever wondered about the history of DST, or why we change our clocks twice per year, or even why not everyone observes it? The last article in today's post provides two short videos explaining the whole mess. Other topics include what iPhone and iPad users can expect in the next update, more shortcuts to help you and your students become Chromebook power users, PDF editing in Word, G Suite tips for math teachers, ways to use Google Earth on Chromebooks, and other helpful tidbits. Enjoy your extra hour this weekend!

• Here's What's New in iOS 12.1
• EDU in 90:  More Chromebook Shortcuts
• How to Edit PDFs in Microsoft Word
• How to Create a Storyboard With Google Slides
• The "Secret Menu" for Google Slides, Docs, Drawings and More
• How to Insert Equations and Special Characters Into Google Documents
• 7 Tips for Google Earth
• It's Time to Change the Clocks

Here's What's New in iOS 12.1

Here's What's New in iOS 12.1, from How-To Geek by Cameron Summerson
Your iPad, iPhone or Mac computer may be receiving an update to iOS 12.1 soon. Here's what you can expect.

EDU in 90:  More Chromebook Shortcuts

How to Edit PDFs in Microsoft Word

How to Edit PDFs in Microsoft Word, from PC World by JD Sartain
Previously I've posted about how to edit PDFs in G Suite. If you have Microsoft Word, you can also edit PDFs there.

How to Create a Storyboard With Google Slides

This is a great way for your students to plan out their videos before creating them. 

The "Secret Menu" for Google Slides, Docs, Drawings and More

The "Secret Menu" for Google Slides, Docs, Drawings and More, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Learn how to copy formatting, watch your students collaborate real time in Google Slides, lock in your Slides backgrounds, skip through YouTube videos and more!

How to Insert Equations and Special Characters Into Google Documents

How to Insert Equations and Special Characters Into Google Documents from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
You can insert symbols for math equations, arrows, stars, emojis, and much more in a Google document without any add-ons, extensions or apps. Need that copyright symbol? No problem! Need to create a math test? Still no problem!

7 Tips for Google Earth

7 Tips for Google Earth, from Sustainable Teaching by Tom Mullaney
Google Earth has been completely overhauled and now works on Chromebooks. It's not just for Geography, my friends! There are practical applications for ELA, Science and Math as well.

It's Time to Change the Clocks

It's Time to Change the Clocks, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne

If you or your students wonder how Daylight Saving Time got started, why we use it, and why some states don't, here are two videos explaining it.