Updates Happen! - Blog

Adobe Acrobat forms

10/21/2020

Caveat - Acrobat is a very powerful and there are other ways to create a form! I believe this to be the simplest way as teachers already have numerous documents / worksheets already created.

First of all - Why

Students cannot edit your form. They fill in the text boxes you "create". It can be best described as a digital worksheet. Why not just give students the Word or Google Document then? Watch the video to compare a student filling in a Word document vs. Filling in a pdf form.

Download Acrobat Pro DC

You will need Acrobat Pro to create a form. You have access to it with your @graniteschools.org account by logging in to Adobe Creative Cloud. It is simple but may ask you to log in the first time and run some updates.

How to create an easy table

You more than likely have some "worksheets" already made in Word or Google. Don't re-create anything. However it is best if you have "answer spots" for your students to write their answers in. Those become the fillable fields in the form.

As the user

Open the .pdf as any file.
Fill it out.
Save it
Send it.

A little more complex...

How I created the first form (worksheet) above in the first video.

Quick short summary

Download Adobe Acrobat DC
Create or open document with answer spots.
Save it as pdf.
Open it in Acrobat DC
Use the tools on the right and click on "Prepare form"
Yes you want to use the current document.
All your "Answer lines" should turn in to fillable boxes or lines.
Save it!
Send it to students via Canvas / Google.

Students:

Open the file you give them via Google or Canvas.
Fill out the form
Save it as any file. Perhaps have them type their name in the title too.
Turn in via file upload as we do in Canvas.

HEIC Image files

10/5/2020

Hey all...
I've been getting some reports of some students turning in photos that Canvas (or teachers) can't open. I am assuming they are HEIC photos from certain models of phones...

My video shows users how to change that setting on an iPhone. I do not know about 'droids.

I watched that video this AM and boy do I sound tired! Sorry but the content is still good.

If you are wanting to OPEN their photos this is a good website to use to convert them.
https://heictojpg.com/

Personally I would force THEM to do the work by allowing only .jpg (or .pdf) on your uploads in Canvas.

Oh, and I recorded this using the Loom App on my iPhone. Those instructions are here.

Zoom Recordings

9/24/2020

I am hearing quite a few teachers recording their zoom meetings and posting them online for DL students as content. While this seems like a good idea keep in mind that that is NOT the intent of that particular software. Read the quote below from my director.

"I spoke to UETN today and they said, once the license with Zoom is fully in place (they expect next week) there will be a 1.0 GB limit for cloud recordings. Those recordings are auto-deleted after 30 days."

Your 1Gb at Zoom will fill up fast. and you WILL lose those recordings after 30 days - as a few have already discovered!

It does NOT mean it wont work! The work-around is to record it and then download the movie file and save it to your google drive.

Even better is you should be using ScreenCastify or Loom to… (ready for this) Record your recording! 😉 I am not convinced you should be delivering CONTENT in Zoom. Content should be recorded in ScreenCastify/loom and saved appropriately in your G drive. Zoom is for meetings... I know there are fine lines in this but if you want to record you meetings... Still use the SC/Loom to record your screens. Please see the other posts for those instructions. screen-recordings.html

An updated side note. If you have Zoom meetings with a few students it would be a good idea to record it and keep it on your computer. Just in case you ever need to refer back to it. CYA, for good and bad.

Scan using Apple Notes

9/8/2020

I get a lot of "calls" asking to install or how to use our scanners. Scans are great to take a paper document to turn it in to a .pdf and post on your Canvas page. But did you know you might have one of the best scanners already in your hand?
Your iPhone! Using Notes and be sure you are logged in to Notes with your Apple ID. Watch the video to learn how.

Open Notes
Create a new note
Click the Camera button
Select Scan Document
Scan the document "paper" click the record or take picture button
Save it
Upload (Share to) to your Google Drive.
YOU MUST already be logged in to your Google Drive app on your phone.
I created a folder called Scans.
Go to your Google Drive on a computer. Find the scans folder and share it just as you would a normal document to link or embed on your Canvas page.

Much easier than using your PC or copier.
Why NOT a picture? Compare them yourself!
Below are non-edited Scan vs a Picture of the same document taken the same way.

A "Scan" looks for the image to "scan"
It saves as .pdf
Here is a Picture
Here is Scan

Screen Recordings

8/11/2020

The battle is on Loom or ScreenCastify

https://www.graniteschools.org/edtech/tip/blended-learning/screencasting/

ScreenCastify

Please see the posts here already.

Pros

Submit
Saves to Google Drive

Cons

NOT free
Click here and let me know if you want it!

Loom

Just as simple and works pretty much the same. Records video, screen, or both.

Pros -

iOS App
Free for life for educators
Desktop version
App Records Audio and Video

Cons -

Not as easy. some features are harder to find but still there.
No Submit plug in.
Does not save to Google Drive
iOS does have a screen record option but does not include audio nor does it save it to your Loom account. (I think this is a pro!)

Are there others?

I am sure there are. I am also sure there will be new ones coming out soon too! But pick one of these two and KISS!
Stream is Microsoft's product. It even transcribes the audio! https://web.microsoftstream.com/ Log in to your O365 account to find it.

No one is stopping you from using both either!

Updating your stuff

8/5/2020

PC's	Chromebooks (and Chrome)

Part A - Windows update

Click on the Windows icon (#1 below) and start typing u-p- d-a... (updates) "Check for Updates" should pop up.
Click on the "Check for updates" box
Restart when or if it tells you to.

Click the 3 dots by your name.
Click on "Help"
Click on "About Google Chrome"

It will then say what version of Chrome you are using and if there is an update. Different devices can only run certain versions of the software so I cannot tell you the latest version.

Part B - Update GSD "stuff"

Click the Windows Icon. Click All Apps.
Scroll Down to the I's and click "Ivanti Management"
Click “Security Scan”.
Lock your computer. (Windows key L)
Go home! ;) Or do something else while the updates run...

However it may be best to have us re-provision your computer.

Other software

Normally you can check for updates in any software under a "Help" or "About" tab (or menu). It all depends on which software you are using. Perhaps it is settings as well and when the software starts there is a message that tells you there is an update. You can turn that off (or on) by checking some box in settings (preferences) for that software.

OneDrive

8/3/2020

As you come back to school this year you may notice that no longer have an M:Drive. This was laid out to you earlier in the year via and e-mail from the district...
Double Click "This PC" and look ASAP.

If it is NOT there you can click here to download OneDrive and log in. It will know who you are work... Supposedly!

To access your files if NOT
no a school PC..
(personal computer or a Mac...)

Go to office.com and log in with your AD credentials. Then
1) click the waffle
2) Click the "OneDrvive" tile

More instructions / help for GSD IS...
https://web.microsoftstream.com/channel/7564ce54-b686-475d-a2d1-f06c4188e624
you might have to log in to view.

Flipped

7/28/2020

Students do what they can at home. PreRead, Read instructions. Watch a lecture. Do the pre-reqs - then come to the classroom for help, and ask questions of the professional teacher and work with classmates. In the classroom students do the "activity" depending on your topic or class. It has a name - The Flipped Classroom.

When I was in the science classroom students would come in with the "pre-lab" questions completed as homework. Then they could get started right away on the lab. If they did not have the pre-lab done they did not have time to do the lab (the fun part) during that class period.

Obviously some classes or lessons work much better than others but they say any classroom can be flipped. And yes there are variations of a flipped classroom. The age 0ld problem as always is getting kids to do their homework.

A few years ago I was involved in a conference called #FlippinUtah. Some of the links gathered at that time are still relevant and some are gone. But the Flipped classroom is still here and will be making a comeback during COVID-19.

Cameras

7/28/2020

I am getting asked a bunch about cameras and filming (recording teacher) lessons. So here are my thoughts....

You do not need a camera. Use your chrome book or laptop. If you need one please come see me.
Use ScreenCastify. Instructions are here on the blog somewhere! When opening it, chose "Camera Only" and it does not capture your screen.
When recording be sure to stay in the recording screen.
Have a helper watching to move or point the laptop (as you would a camera).
Edit it if you feel the need.

More thoughts!

I believe in making things simpler for classroom teachers. You already have a camera and software to make videos.
Don't use video editing software such as iMovie or Adobe's Premier. See above. KISS etc. Stick to YOUR content, you are not making professional videos - you're teaching math or other content!
Sure, go ahead make a few good ones to see that it can be complicated and time consuming.

If you did (do?) have a camera...

Where does the video save? Disk, "phone"
Do you need to get it to your computer?
Will you edit it?
How will you get the video to Canvas?

Yes, I have answers to all those questions but....

A laptop and screencastify is pretty much... 2 clicks!

Click the copy sharable link button in screencastify
paste it into Canvas.

Clearing the Cache

7/15/2020

Steps to go with pics!

Top right click the 3 dots
Click on Settings
Search for "Cache"
Click on "Cache"
Be sure the boxes are checked (feel free to click the advanced tab and see your other options)
Click the "Clear data" button.