► Tech Tips:
1.
Changing Passwords.
It is sometimes a good idea to periodically change your network
password. Passwords are sometimes
misused. We tend to jot them down on sticky
notes, share them freely with others, and post them in obvious places. We also often choose passwords that are
obvious and easily guessed. Anyone
interested in changing their network password should follow these steps:
1. Log onto the school district network as
usual.
2. Hit Control-Alt-Delete.
3. Choose the Change Password option.
4. Type in your old password, the new password
and confirm the new password.
Remember, passwords should be at least 6
characters long. They should not be
personal or family names. They should
not be information easily obtained about you.
Combining alpha and numeric characters is OK. Also, remember that this network password
will also change your school e-mail password.
It will not, however, change your HelpDesk
password. The HelpDesk
password can be changed within the HelpDesk system.
2. Expand Your Options with Right-Clicking. Using the right mouse button on your computer mouse brings
up a list of interesting options. Click once with the right button and you get
a menu called a contextual menu because the items in that menu will be
different depending on the particular item you click (the context of the
click). Right-clicking on a program or your wallpaper produces different
results than if you right-click on My Computer.
Right-clicking also comes in handy when moving or copying items. If you
right-click and drag a file, for instance, Windows will give you three options
when you release the mouse button: Move Here, Copy Here and Create Shortcuts
Here. Give it a try!
► Technology
Update: BMRSD
The Tech Staff
(currently
Other projects so
far this year include the Dept. of Educations SIMS data submittal involving 52
elements of data on every student, scheduling and report cards at the HMS and
HS, DOE on-line reporting for Curriculum, District Office, Technology Plan,
Staffing/Licensure and Special Education Reporting, software installation,
workstation re-configuration due to many teachers moving their assigned
classroom within and between schools, and the volunteer work of three student
webmasters (Cory Bevilacqua, Mitchell Foley and
Steven Lindstrom) who will work on updating some of the District webpages.
► From Sue Bergeron, AFM/JFK: My daughter, Beth, is working for a company that
designs science and math curriculums for schools and she forwarded this website
that her company, TERC, developed in partnership with NASA. The site enables you to explore the panoramas
of Mars and see new images within moments of their arrival on Earth. It also includes interactive learning
activities. www.marsquestonline.org
► Featured Websites:
1. A Web of Online Dictionaries
http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/rbeard/diction.html
Source: Duck Soup, a free E-newsletter from Web Feet
2. The IDEAS website is a collection of
selected, high quality, teacher-tested resources for PreK-12 Educators. It is aligned with the Wisconsin Academic
Standards, and is organized according to grade level, subject area and model academic
standards. If you are looking for a way
to integrate technology into your teaching, then you might consult this site
for links to specific, topical ideas on how to accomplish just that.
http://www.ideas.wisconsin.edu/
3. From “Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators
on
http://www.archive.org
includes the Wayback Machine, which
allows you to type in a URL and, hopefully, get a hit on an old page. If a page
with content that you use disappears, try putting the URL into the Wayback Machine, to see if you can come up with the
content. Oftentimes, the pictures are not there, and some links don't work, but
many times you can get the information you need. (http://discoveryschool.com/schrockguide/)
4. From BlueWeb’n:
Atoms Family (Miami
Museum of Science) http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/
The Atoms Family exhibit is
currently on display at The Miami Museum of Science. This resource contains
lessons and activities relating to different forms of energy. Each is presented
by a famous gothic horror character. The
Mummy's Tomb: Learn about energy conservation, kinetic, and potential energy.
Phantom's Portrait Parlor: principles of atoms and matter. Dracula's Library:
properties of light, waves, and particles. Wolf Man's Ghostly Graveyard: fuel
conservation and energy transfer. Frankenstein's Lightning Laboratory:
different forms of electricity and electrical safety. Something for all grades,
K-12!
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Content Area: Education (Alternatives), Science (Physics)
[Dewey #530]
Application type: Unit & Lesson Plans, Web Based Activities
5. It's My Life (PBS Kids) http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/
It's My Life is organized across five topic "channels":
Friends, Family, School, Body, and Emotions. Printable activities include
journal pages, discussion questions, worksheets, and word puzzles. Lesson Plans
on Bullies , Home Alone , Smoking, Eating Disorders,
and Drug Abuse are included. Comments from a staff member's 13 year old
daughter indicate "it's great."
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School
Content Area: Community Interest (Leisure), Health &
Physical Education
(Family Living), Health &
Physical Education (Health), Health & Physical Education (Safety) [Dewey
#790]