Thursday, February 8, 2018

PowerSchool, Outlook, and Skype

Power School Drop Down Menu

Please make sure that, when viewing your grades in the second quarter, that you have selected "2017-2018" school year in order to see your current students.  It is easy to miss when changing menus for grading purposes.

Desktop Outlook E-Mail

By far the best way to view your e-mail at Pennridge is through the Outlook desktop application, which can be found in the Start Menu.  A more exhaustive calendar, a word processor interface for writing e-mail, and task lists that help organize upcoming due dates are a few of the features available.  Perhaps the best part of all - you don't have to type your username and password.  Check out the 15 second tutorial on how to set it up and a basic overview of Outlook's features.

Presidents' Day Skype Opportunities

The Microsoft Educator Community offers some excellent opportunities for most any lesson idea, including President's Day.  These Skype opportunities can be done all week, so it is a great way to work President's Day into your Social Studies lessons sometime in early February. 



Save the Date!

May 29, 2018
6:30 to 8:30 P.M. 
Pennridge High School

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Snipping Tool, VPN, and Online stories and podcasts

1.  Snipping Tool- 

 The snipping tool has been a user favorite in the past 6 months!  Once you use this tool, you'll never remember what you did without it.  To snip/cut a part of your screen, simply select the Window button in the bottom left, and choose Snipping Tool.  Then hit create new and use your mouse to snip around what you need.  This is especially helpful for screenshots, tutorials, making presentations, and so much more!

2.  VPN directions

Here are the reminders for logging into the Pennridge Network from home.  There are many reasons why you may want to do this.  Please note:  It is also imperative that you are on the Pennridge Network for signing into OTS.
Teacher Issued Devices Directions

3.  K-8 Online Stories and Podcasts 

Many teachers have been using Storylineonline.net (they just added some new books),  EPIC! books, or similar sites for online libraries, but I wanted you to also know about this wonderful site for listening to online stories, podcasts, and more!  Please take a moment to look at Kid Lit TV.  

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Outlook Email, Voicemail with a Bonus tip, and Safety

Happy Short Week of School and hope everyone is staying healthy!  Special thanks this week to guest author Diane Miller, Director of Technology.  

1.  Outlook Email Signature-  

A reminder that it is best to use the Outlook App version of Outlook 2016, rather than the online version.  The functionalities are better, especially with calendars and contacts.  To be sure you're using the App version, simply go through the Windows button at the bottom left of your screen.  Search for Outlook 2016.  Once open, you can right click on it in the bottom dock of your computer to "Pin to Taskbar", which will allow a one-click process each time you check your email.  

All Users- please be sure to have your email signature updated.
 To accomplish this follow these instructions:

1.       Open a new mail message
2.       Choose the Insert Tab
3.       Choose Signatures
4.       Edit the Signature you are using with the updated information
5.       Save it

Teachers, please make sure your updated voicemail extension (222xxx) is in your signature as that is how people will leave messages for you. 

Also, as per direction from Dr. Rattigan, please make sure your signature has your position and your location in it.   Remember, you can internally call any other school with the 6-digit extension.    You do not have to dial the outside number any more.
Example:
Thomas Jones-3rd Grade Teacher
Grasse Elementary – 215-723-7501
In District Ext:  ######
Voicemail:  222123

2.  Voicemail/Email Relationship

Common Question: I get an email indicating I have a voicemail but when I go to check my messages, I do not have a new message.   What happened to it?
Answer:  Think of the voice message and the email as one and the same.   If you read the email (just open it or click on it; not necessarily listen to the message) it will no longer be a ‘new’ voicemail, but will be in your saved messages when you retrieve from the phone.   If you delete the email, it goes into your deleted messages on the phone.  It works inversely as well.  If you listen to a message on your phone that is ‘new’ and you save it, the email will be in a ‘read’ state in Outlook (no longer BOLD).  If you delete a message from your phone, the email will be moved to the Deleted folder in Outlook.
To change the status of the message from ‘saved’ to ‘new’ via your email,  mark the email as ‘read’ by right clicking on the email and choosing the option “Mark as Read”.   It will now be a ‘new’ message when you check it on your phone.

BONUS Phone TIP! – Did you know you could bypass any user’s message (hello, you have reached the desk of Joe Jones….) simply by pressing the # key.  

3.  Scams, Spams and Viruses-

If you receive an email about updating your software, a potential virus on your computer, an invoice that needs to be paid, or something similar that sounds suspect to you in any way, please close it immediately and contact the helpdesk at helpdesk@pennridge.org. Sending a screenshot of the suspect email is best.  Do not forward the email to someone else.  Do not open any attachments or click on any links from companies you are not familiar with. If you think you have opened a malicious attachment or clicked on a malicious link, immediately shut down your machine and contact Diane Miller directly at 122341. Remember, the FBI will never send you a message stating you have a virus!  Microsoft will never ask you to send your password to them!  And your bank will never ask for your account number!  In addition, never call any phone numbers that pop up on your screen or give out any credit card or school information without checking with the district technology department first.  Always best to be over-cautious when dealing with potential viruses or hackers!  



Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Microsoft Sway- An alternative to Powerpoint

Happy New Year!  Are you looking for a different way to have your students present their information?  Tired of Powerpoint?  Microsoft Sway is the way to go!  Sway makes it easy for professional use for presenting information, but is also very user-friendly for students to create great looking presentations quickly and efficiently.

1.  Check out these Sway examples recently created by students in the district:
4th graders:
https://sway.com/IqlKt1NKmVEaRDvE

Professional Use of Sway:
https://sway.com/zG1FDUUzc2SMMQsi

2.  To get to Sway, simply click on Office 365 in your bookmarks, find it in any of the eLibrary sites, or click here!  You will use your Office 365 credentials to sign in, so for most people your log-in will look something like this:  E#####@psd.pennridge.org.  Your password is the same you use for your computer password.

3. Here is a 2 minute video of the basics of Sway, if you are interested.  And as always, I'd be happy to share more with you and/or your students at any time!

Have a great day!




Thursday, December 14, 2017

Skype for Business and Wireless Projection

1 and 2.  Skype for Business and Microsoft Educator Community-
All users in the Pennridge School District have Skype for Business accounts.  This allows all teachers to connect with all parts of the world.  If you have not yet Skyped (whether with someone inside or outside of the district), I encourage you to make an extra effort  to do so before the end of this school year!  To find wonderful presentations that have been "vetted" and are particularly good, please visit the Microsoft Educator Community.  You will use your Office 365 credentials to sign in.   On the left of the website you'll see Skype in the Classroom and you can choose from the items you see in this picture.


There are presenters and activities for all grades and all subject levels!  Don't forget to watch this 1.5 minute video to be sure your Microsoft Educator Community profile is set-up correctly to communicate with presenters!  As always, if you'd like help, or you'd like me to set up a presenter session for/with you, please email me at anytime!  To view the Pennridge Skype Site, click here!

So how Do I find my Skype Account?
  •  Click your start window at the bottom left of your screen.  
  • Go to All Apps and find Skype for Business  (if you do not see it, please contact Cara Gurysh or myself)
  • You will use your Office 365 credentials to sign-in.  This will most likely be your E#@psd.pennridge.org and your password is the same password you use to log-in to your computer each day.  Example:  E09456@psd.pennridge.org.  Note- there are a few cases that do not use the E#. If you need your account info, contact me!
  • Once into your account, follow these printable steps to make/take a call or watch the video tutorial Chris Brockman created here!
For users who have had a successful, recent Skype experience, please take a minute to fill in this Google table to share with other users who may benefit from the experience.  I will also add these to our Skype Success tab on the Pennridge Skype Site in the near future!

3.  Wireless Projection Systems- (Middle Schools and High School)
For teachers with wireless projection, please take note of the directions on how to connect to your wireless projection here.  Very Important- If you are in a shared classroom, you must be sure to disconnect your wireless projection before you leave, or the other teacher will NOT be able to use it.
If you have any wireless projection questions or you have tips/tricks that others could benefit from, please use this Padlet.
Happy Holidays!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Device Care

1.  It is very important that students close down apps and websites on the iPad when they are done using the iPads.  Most students are familiar with closing down apps by clicking the home button 2 times, and then swiping the app up and off the screen.  However, it's also important to close down any websites used, so student information, test scores, etc. is not shared.  To close down a website, you will click on the website and see 2 squares at the top right (see picture).  By clicking on them, it will show you all websites open and make it easy to "x" them out from there.


To review both techniques, click here to view this 30 second clip.

Please teach your students both techniques to "clean up" before the next class uses the iPads!

 In addition, if you are a teacher who uses iPads often, please be sure to take a look at iPad Management!  Attached here are iPad use posters you can easily print and display in your classroom!  (All of these links are also found on the Tech Integrator's website under Tutorials for Teachers).

2.  Please take a moment to review appropriate surface cleaning techniques for iPads and laptops, especially as we are in cold and flu season!

3.  This Saturday at 9:30 AM is our first ever Seesaw Social.  If you'd like to know more, please use this Evite to RSVP! Please share this with any local teacher friends, as it is open to area school districts, as well!  The "more the merrier"!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Thank You!

1.  Thank You!

Check out some of the many reasons why I am so thankful to be one of your technology integrators this year in this brief slideshow (you'll need to be signed-in to your Google account).  In addition, if you haven't heard, the board approved moving from 2 to 3 full-time tech integrators beginning in January.  I am grateful to have met so many new people in this role, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in the years to come.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

2.  Computer Science Education Week- December 4th through 10th

Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) is an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science.

Seesaw users- Check out these awesome Computer Science Projects  (How to Build an App?, Product Design 101, Jobs in Computer Science, Girls Who Code, and Preparing for a Career in Computer Science) coming up in the first week of December.  #SeesawCoders
Here is a 3rd grade example of one way Seesaw was used for this marking period's conferences.
A 2nd grader used ChatterKid to reflect on the 1st marking period to share with her parents at conferences.  
This 3rd grader used Seesaw to persuade Macy's to include his Beatle's inspired balloon design in the Thanksgiving Day Parade!  
* If you would like to get to know more about Seesaw or if you'd like to share and receive more ideas for using Seesaw in your classroom, please come to our first ever Seesaw Social at the high school on Saturday, December 2 from 9:30-10:30 AM.   Click here for the flyer and Evite.  Please remember that Seesaw can be used at ALL grade levels and all subject areas, and it can be used on both iPads and laptops!

3.  Voicemail:

 If you have not yet set up your new voicemail:  
1.       Dial 122373
2.       Enter your ID  followed by #– (ID is your voicemail extension)  
3.       Enter your PIN followed by # - (147369 when setting up)
4.       Follow the prompts to set up your messages and to set a new PIN
DO NOT HANG UP UNTIL ENROLLMENT IS COMPLETE.