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Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Quick Assist: A Free Remote Support Tool for Windows

by Demosesneeds Punchard October 13, 2021

written by Demosesneeds Punchard

If one of your jobs is to provide regular computer support to end users, you have probably experienced this scenario before. You find a product to help you with a problem only to think, “Man, this is garbage!” You later take a second look and see that someone has rebuilt it, polished it, and put it on display and it now makes you scream, “WOW! Where can I get one of these?!” This is how I felt when I saw Quick Assist, formerly Windows Remote Assistance (pre-Windows 10). The theme of the application is the same, but with the improvements, it now shines. And it’s a fantastic tool to use with your district staff (or even if you are called upon to help your parents better use their computers!).

What Is Quick Assist?

Quick Assist is a tool that will allow you to access another Windows computer over a network or using the internet. With the user’s permission, you can control or view their machine to assist them with a problem or issue. I am a practical admin and absolutely love it when things just work. When helping a user, I strive first to work quickly and second to assist them to the best of my ability. Quick Assist is my motto. This tool delivers on its namesake with its quick functionality and ability to assist.

To quickly assist someone without having to jump through hoops and reinvent the wheel is, as you know, priceless– which brings me to my next point. Quick Assist is free for both personal and commercial use since it is native to all Windows 10 operating systems. Other tools are available for free personal use, but they incur a small fee for commercial use. Not the case with Quick Assist.

How to Use Quick Assist

The more I use this tool, the more I love its simplicity. The Quick Assist Windows application can be easily launched by searching for quick assistance utilizing the search function in Windows. Once you start Quick Assist, you will be presented with two options: “Get assistance” or “Give assistance.”

If you want to provide assistance, you will select “Assist another person,” which will generate a unique security code. As the person assisting, you will need to give this code to the user who requires assistance. Instructions are provided for how you can do this if you click “Provide instructions.”

Note: This tool is seamless for users that have Azure or Office 365 organization login credentials. The user receiving assistance is not required to authenticate. They will just need the code that is given by the support person. This provides more of a single sign-on (SSO) experience when launching the tool. If you are doing this from a stand-alone computer, no need to worry; it just takes a little more brainpower to remember your Microsoft credentials. If you do not have Microsoft credentials, you are in luck! You can sign up via the login page for free.

Once logged in, you will be presented with two options for providing assistance: “Take full control” and “View screen.” Once you make your selection, the user being helped will still need to allow you to take control on their end.

After this step has been completed, the remote session is up and running. But wait! I want to dive just a little deeper and discuss some of the noticeable support tools in the menu.

Quick Assist Menu

The menu has some really great, simple tools. We can easily use it as a training tool with some of the annotation features. Easy come, easy go with a click of the black “End” square on the right side of the menu.

Select Monitor – Shows all available monitors being used by the user you are helping, and you can target specific ones
Annotate – Provides you with annotation tools such as pens, etc.
Actual Size – This will show in the remote res, but will not enlarge on your screen
Toggle Instruction Channel – Offers a simple chat feature
Reconnect – Give the option to re-establish the connection
Task Manager – Allows you to troubleshoot currently running applications
Pause – Pauses the session
End – Ends the session

It’s just that easy. I really love things that work. No figuring out IP addresses or searching for computer names is needed! Just on-demand, remote support near and far with no configuration necessary.

Here are some great how-to resources, and here is an excellent Quick Assist video for you.

October 13, 2021 7 comments

Time Scheduling Tools

by Lori Gracey May 14, 2021

written by Lori Gracey

Trying to set up a time to meet with another individual or a group of people can be difficult and, ironically, time consuming. You can send countless emails back and forth about when people are available. Luckily, there are some great tech resources to help with time scheduling and they all can, wait for it, save you time!

Find a Time in Google Calendar

If you’re a Google Workspace for Education person, then you are probably already familiar with Find a Time in the Calendar. You create an event in the calendar and add some guests. Then you can check out the Find a Time tab to see when everyone is available. It’s quick and painless. The only problem with this is that you must have access to your attendees’ calendars, which may not always be true.

Time Scheduling with Microsoft Outlook

FindTime is a free add-in for Microsoft Outlook and is very easy to use. You set up the parameters of the meeting and then an email is sent out to the participants to choose the best times. The participants do not have to be Outlook users; they just need any email address.

time scheduling

Doodle Poll

Doodle Poll is a great, free way to find when different people can meet. You create the poll (quick and easy process) and then it gets emailed out automatically to the participants. They reply via the poll when they are available. You can create Doodle polls for more than just meetings and scheduling; you can also use them for surveys, questionnaires, or to book appointments. No registration is required. But if you create a free account, then you can synch your calendar up to Doodle for the future. There is also a paid, premium version that offers a few more features.

time scheduling

YouCanBook.me

Another great way to schedule meetings and happenings is with YouCanBook.me. This works great when you want to schedule individual appointments, like helping teachers with tech integration. You set up times when you are available and then share that with your participants. They can select a time that fits with their schedule quickly and easily. To get all the features, you would pay $10/month. But they also have a “forever free” plan, which gets you a powerful booking page with all the basic features. All they ask in return is that your booking page and notification emails will carry their “Powered for free” button.

time scheduling

Time Scheduling with Calendly

Calendly is another great program for individuals to use to sign up for time with you. The free version includes an unlimited number of 1:1 meetings, automatic email notifications for participants, and integrations with calendar and conferencing apps like Google Calendar, Outlook, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. The premium version ($8/month) offers the ability to schedule meetings with multiple participants and some other features. I found Calendly to be a little harder to use than YouCanBook.me, but still a very nice solution.

time scheduling

A Slightly Different Take on Time Scheduling

If you wanted to completely overhaul the use of electronic calendars, you might end up with Calendar. Calendar uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help you manage your valuable time and provides a ton of great features, including analytics. You can also set up individual appointments or group meetings. The interface is gorgeous and it has both an Android and iOS app. The free version only allows you to share with five other people; the Pro version offers many more features and users and is $8/month.

As you can see, all of these different tools can save you time and help to get more people to attend your meet-ups and meetings. Which one is your favorite?

May 14, 2021 0 comment

Good Teaching Microsoft Tips and Tricks

How 2020 Gave Us A Chance to Re-invent Learning

by Afton Francis, Guest Author and Ben Tan, Guest Author April 14, 2021

written by Afton Francis, Guest Author and Ben Tan, Guest Author

The events of 2020 disrupted education like never before. According to the World Bank, COVID-19 created the worst crisis to education and learning in a century.

As the US slowly emerges from lockdown, research indicates that the majority of schools in the US are now offering “hybrid” learning formats where 25-50% of instruction, assignments, and discussion take place online. Students study course materials outside of class, and then utilize classroom time to reinforce learning, ask questions, and interact with their teachers.

So with hybrid learning set to stay, at least in some capacity, we’re in a situation where we have the opportunity to re-think and re-invent modern education. In fact, with the right approach, technology, and learning solutions, we can even start to overcome some of the challenges that have troubled the education sector for decades.

Also, don’t forget that, right now, there’s also the option of ESSER funding for new technology in the state of Texas. Read more about this here.

What Does Effective Hybrid Learning Look Like?

For hybrid learning to work effectively, both teachers and students need to have reliable, high-performing devices and solutions at their fingertips — whether they’re together in the classroom or working/learning remotely. Effective hybrid learning means:

Easy-to-Run Remote Classes

In a quality hybrid learning environment, students need to have a reliable way of engaging with the teacher and their peers, even when learning remotely. The Surface Hub 2 is an ideal innovation in this regard, as it has a large touchscreen, is portable (it can be moved about on wheels), and has in-built, high quality cameras and microphones. A teacher using a Surface Hub 2 to run remote classes can see more of their students on screen, quickly identify those who are disengaged, run interactive digital sessions, and easily share content that everyone can see.

Tools to Keep Students Engaged

One of the major challenges with hybrid learning is keeping students engaged when they’re not in the classroom. During the pandemic, 42% of students indicated that staying motivated was a major problem for them when it came to completing coursework online.

When students connect via a Surface device, however, they can get natural experiences that feel like they’re in the classroom. Thanks to quality audio and video, they can get a firm grasp of what the teacher is saying and/or showing. They can also leverage Microsoft Teams to brainstorm with classmates, see the teacher’s mark ups and notes, and more. Surface devices also come in a range of generous screen sizes, which research indicates is important for students’ comprehension.

Easy, Efficient Access to Information

To run efficiently, hybrid learning requires both students and teachers having the information they need at their fingertips. With Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams on Surface devices, everything is in one central, secure location. Classes can share notes, store images, or manage documents via OneNote. With Teams, teachers can also set up digital classrooms the way they want to teach with the ability to create channels for certain subjects and tools to help them manage behavior, such as the “mute” function, and student lobby feature.

Support for STEM Learning

The latest Intel® processors also give Surface devices the power to support bandwidth-intensive, STEM-focused applications, which stimulate students’ learning and keep them interested. This includes things like Minecraft Education Edition, MakeCode apps, and video games that help kids co-author and be collaboratively creative. There are also 680,000 apps in the Microsoft store, including tools for both content consumption and creation, to enhance students’ learning.

Everyone Can Write and Think Naturally

The Surface Pen accessory is another great tool for both students and teachers. Students can write onto their devices naturally using digital ink and the Surface Pen, which helps with conceptualizing, prototyping, sketching, brainstorming, memorizing, and knowledge construction. Teachers can also mark up materials easily, plan lessons using familiar Microsoft Office programs, or share materials with colleagues.

Trusted Security and Ease of Management

Of course, Surface devices also come with Microsoft’s rigorous security for absolute peace of mind. With Windows Autopilot, IT teams can deploy, reset, and repurpose new devices with an experience that is zero-touch for IT.

Learning for All Abilities and Levels

Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft solutions come equipped with inclusive tools that help students of all abilities and backgrounds engage and participate. Microsoft 365 offers accommodations for neuro-diverse populations and those with visual or auditory impairments, as well as tools to aid English-language learners.

The Surface family of devices offers you the ultimate in versatility and flexibility, so you can equip classrooms with devices and accessories that meet everyone’s needs. Whether you want a laptop, touchscreen, pen-enabled device, or even a two-in-one, the Surface family has something for every type of learner and teacher without ever scrimping on performance or power.

Want to Find Out More?

To get started with the Surface, visit Education – Surface.

April 14, 2021 0 comment

Google Tips and Tricks Microsoft Tips and Tricks Technology Applications Web 2.0 Tool

Five Free Video Converters

by Miguel Guhlin January 27, 2021

written by Miguel Guhlin

Given how much you work online recording screencasts and presentations, you may have a need for video conversion tools. A web search often will pull up expensive video editors and converters, but who wants to pay for that on a teacher’s income? In this blog entry, you will get a chance to explore my favorite video converters. You will also get access to an infographic and a video tutorial.

View the PDF with clickable links or get a copy of the infographic for your own use.

Tool #1: VLC Media Player

Underestimated and forgotten, VLC Media Player offers many powerful features in the world of video converters. If you could only pick one tool to keep from this list, it should be the one. It works on all computer platforms (e.g. Mac/Windows), as well as on Android. Its feature set is quite comprehensive, but you don’t need to know everything. Let’s say that VLC Media Player supports most video and audio codecs available, making it a multimedia Swiss Army knife.

Get it online.

Tool #2: HandBrake

An oldy but goody, HandBrake offers a rich feature set. Not only can you convert videos from any format, but you can convert to a multitude of device-specific settings. This means that, if your video is intended to play on a Playstation or FireTV, HandBrake has the optimal settings you can use. HandBrake works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

One powerful aspect of HandBrake is how it can shrink videos. When you record a screencast, then save it on your computer, it’s possible to end up with video file sizes.

In the example below, you can see that the original video appears as 384 megabytes. After running that video through HandBrake, the TargetVideo appears as approximately 23 megabytes.

This is a significant size savings, especially if you’re uploading them to the Canvas LMS or some other storage space (e.g. Google Drive) where saving space is important. You would think you would see a loss in video quality, but that’s not the case. Although displayed in two separate video players, you can see the video quality for the Original Video and the Target Video is not noticeable:

From this, you may take away a simple bit of advice: “Use HandBrake to shrink your videos without loss of quality.”

Wondering about what settings to use on Handbrake? Here are two that get me great savings with minimal impact to quality:

Get it online.

Tool #3: Online Video Converter

This is a popular video converter that works in your browser. Not only can you convert from and to popular video and audio formatted files on your computer, you can select them from Google Drive or Dropbox. This makes it the perfect tool for short videos on Chromebooks in the classroom.

Try it online.

Tool #4: Shotcut

In the spotlight as a powerful, no-cost video editor that works on Mac, Windows, and GNU/Linux computers, Shotcut also converts. You can convert to many different video and audio formats with Shotcut. Although its powerful interface may put you off at first, take your time and learn how you can do so much more with Shotcut.

Give it a spin.

Tool #5: ATube Catcher

The bad boy in this toolkit, ATube Catcher makes grabbing videos from online sources easy. Not only that, you can use this Windows-only program to clip/trim, as well as convert videos to audio or any variety of video formats. All without watermarks.

Like HandBrake, you can convert videos to fit a wide variety of devices. ATube Catcher also comes with screen and audio recorders, making it a one-stop shop for these services on Windows computers.

This collection of tools is quite impressive, including its ability to convert video to MP3 audio format (as well as a plethora of other video formats WITHOUT watermarks of any kind). Be careful, though, when you install ATube Catcher. You will want to decline its enticements to install additional software. While not malware, the software offered may be more than you want (e.g. McAfee’s antivirus software). So pay attention during the install.

Embrace the dark side.

Video Tutorial

This twenty-minute video tutorial walks you through each of the tools listed above. Feel free to skip ahead to your favorite tool. I convert some fifteen- to twenty-year-old digital stories from WMV and MOV formats to MP4 and MP3 using each set of tools.
View video via Dropbox

Bonus: FlexClip Free Video Converter

screenshot — FlexClip How to Convert a Video

From the makers of FlexClip:

FlexClip Video Converter is an intuitive online tool that allows users to effortlessly convert videos into various formats without any hassle. With a user-friendly interface, it supports a wide range of file types, ensuring compatibility for all your video needs.
Whether you’re looking to convert videos for social media, presentations, or personal use, FlexClip Video Converter makes the process quick and efficient, all while maintaining high-quality output. Plus, being free to use, it’s an excellent choice for anyone needing a reliable video conversion solution.

Feature Image Source

Photo by Matthew Kwong on Unsplash

January 27, 2021 0 comment

Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Remembering Microsoft Internet Explorer (1995–2021)

by Andrew Roush September 7, 2020

written by Andrew Roush

Last month, Microsoft announced that it would no longer support the Internet Explorer browser beginning in 2021. Once the dominant way to access the web, IE has been a vital part of the Information Age, and has seen a dramatic rise and fall in popularity.

Editor’s note: Random-Access Memories is a periodic series highlighting the ways in which major historical events have influenced and can be explored through ed tech. Got an idea for a future edition of R-AM? Drop us a line.

If your first experience browsing the internet occurred between 1995 and 2005, it’s likely that you used Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser to access the burgeoning corners of the now-ubiquitous web. Starting next year, however, even IE diehards will have to move to a new browser.

In an announcement last month, Microsoft revealed that they would no longer support the once-standard browser beginning on August 17, 2021. Instead, users who wish to navigate the web in a Microsoft-made browser will have to use Microsoft’s Edge product.

…on August 17th, 2021, Internet Explorer 11 will no longer be supported for Microsoft’s online services like Office 365, OneDrive, Outlook, and more. Microsoft is also ending support for Internet Explorer 11 with the Microsoft Teams web app later this year, with support ending on November 30th.
“Microsoft will bid farewell to Internet Explorer and legacy Edge in 2021,” Tom Warren. The Verge.

The Verge does note, however, that “Microsoft is hoping that the new Internet Explorer legacy mode in the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser will help” IE fans who wish to enjoy an Explorer-like interface.

Exploring Explorer

When it launched with Microsoft’s Windows 95 operating system, most people weren’t using IE, preferring to stay with the then-popular Netscape and smaller browsers like Mosaic, Lynx, and Opera. In 1995, Netscape held 90% of the browser market.

Less than a decade later, thanks in large part to the prevalence of computers running Microsoft operating systems, Explorer had a 95% share of web browsing. But that same year, 2004, a new upstart emerged: Mozilla Firefox. And Google subsequently launched their Chrome browser in 2008. Today, as browsers are increasingly used on mobile devices, Apple’s Safari has also gained ground, and IE’s share of the browser market as of August 2020 was only 1.2%.

The history of Internet Explorer is so integral to the history of the internet that the topic has its own Wikipedia page. A retrospective on the browser from Version Museum, an online tech museum, reads like the history of a political dynasty, rather than a piece of software:

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser has a compelling life story and was a principal combatant in both major browser wars. Of course, IE won the first war against Netscape, but lost the second to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.
“Design History of Internet Explorer,” Version Museum

While Microsoft retired the Internet Explorer name in 2015, the move to discontinue online support for IE and introduce a totally new browser engine marks the “final nail in the … coffin” for the once-dominant software.

A New Edge

Microsoft’s new browser is called Edge, and while IE-lovers can enjoy an Explorer legacy mode within the Edge, it is its own browser.

In a move that might make the previous decades’ “browser wars” seem quaint, the new cross-platform Edge browser (available on most devices and operating systems) is based on the open-source Chromium project, which forms the skeleton of Google’s Chrome browser. The goal, according to company executives, was to make Edge as accessible as possible.

Will you be using Microsoft Edge? Have fond memories of Internet Explorer or other thoughts on web browsers? Let us know in the comments!

Spuken / CC BY-SA

September 7, 2020 0 comment

Microsoft Tips and Tricks STEM/STEAM

Video Editing Tools for Remote Teachers

by Miguel Guhlin August 17, 2020

written by Miguel Guhlin

Educators have begun screen recording and screencasting with a serious need. Preparing content for instructional purposes can drive one to distraction. When I assembled the Screencasting for Educators course, I decided on no-cost tools, video editing tools that got the job done without all the expense. May I share what I found with you?

Update 6/7/2022: Have a Google Chromebook? Then you will definitely want to explore the new Google Screencast tool that comes with Google Chromebooks.

Five Amazing Video Editing Tools

Need video editing tools available for free? If you are on Windows 10, it can be challenging. Some entry-level solutions provide you with simple video assembly tools. That is, the ability to trim, split, and join video.

Here are my top five tools that make video editing easy at no cost to you.

Tool #1: Google’s Screencast

Did you miss the announcement in June, 2022? If you did, you’re not alone. While there is an abundance of recording and editing tools for video, few of them work on the Chromebook for free. In this blog entry, I feature two you can start with, including the amazing Screencast from Google. Not only does it give you screencasting, automatic transcription of everything said in the recording, it allows easy marking of the screen. You can quickly draw or make annotations.

Visual Walkthrough

Here’s a quick view of what you’ll see when you get into Google’s new Screencast tool for Chromebook:

Notice Screencast comes with easy-to-use video tutorials

When you first start out with Screencast, you’ll be able to edit your settings for that specific recording, as well as record the whole screen or only a portion:

What’s more, you can also use the built-in annotation tool, or “Marker,” to make notes on your screencast as you make it:

This makes the tool quite friendly and easy to use. Simply two-finger tap (or click) on the touchpad to activate the color choices for the Marker. You may also notice the red circle with red square in the middle. This is how you STOP recording. Once you are done recording, you can get a transcript. The Transcript tool is also what you use to adjust the contents of the video:

Excise portions of screencast with the Transcript->Skip section tool.

Want to know more? Here’s some more information on the tool:

Screencast: Screencast without having to add an extension to your Chrome browser. Look no further than this newest addition.
- Anyone with a Chromebook can create and select part of the recordings to skip (via the transcription editor)
- All recordings are automatically transcribed.
- Make sure you update to Chrome OS M103 before jumping in.
Cast Moderator: This tool makes it easy to wirelessly present your Chromebook screen. Cast Moderator enables teachers to:
- Create an access code that, when given to students, enables access for them
- Fill out this form to get notified about availability

Watch this video for a walkthrough:

Tool #2: RecordCast.com

There are plenty of desktop, browser-based video recorders available to us today. So why would you need one more? What if, instead of a video recorder, you also had a browser-based video editor? And what if I told you it’s easy to add images and audio to it and overlay text on that video? Most people would say, “That’s WeVideo or Screencastify.” But those solutions come with a price.

RecordCast.com offers a free, browser-based solution you can use.

RecordCast brings the functionality of Screencastify and Loom Pro. No browser add-ons or downloads are required. That’s right, RecordCast works its magic without a special browser add-on or extension. That, and its “FREE” label make it an amazing find. But that’s not all.

RecordCast enjoys a thirty-minute time limit for recordings. RecordCast brings the functionality of Screencastify and Loom Pro. No browser add-ons or downloads are required. That’s right, RecordCast works its magic without a special browser add-on or extension. That, and its “FREE” label make it an amazing find. But that’s not all. RecordCast enjoys a thirty-minute time limit for recordings. This makes it a perfect tool for instructional screencasts. It combines the ease of use with two important factors: a timeline that allows you to add audio tracks and overlay text. You can also record your screen, screen plus webcam, or webcam only. Be aware that, in order to use the program, you will need to create an account, as well as verify your email. You will also be limited to seven projects at a time.

Watch this short video overview of RecordCast and read this blog entry that goes into more depth:

Tool #3: Shotcut

Although open source video editors abound, Shotcut makes video editing easy. In fact, I’ve coached my colleague Peggy Reimers on using Shotcut. Her computer of choice is a Mac and the experience has been uniform for both of us, even though I’m on Windows 10. Shotcut’s ease of use allows me to combine various elements, such as images, music clips, and video. It’s an easy matter to add tracks for each, then export the assembled creation as MP4 video. It has a wealth of online tutorials.

Here’s a quick video overview of Shotcut:

Tool #4: MiniTool MovieMaker Free

When Microsoft cut Moviemaker, I mourned with the rest of the world. For a while, I thought that the enhanced Photos app on Microsoft Windows 10 would get the job done. It did not. As a result, I found myself searching for an alternative.

While Shotcut was the first tool I found that worked well, I recently stumbled on a new one. That video editing tool is MiniTool MovieMaker Free. The interface is a welcome break from Shotcut’s busy one, as you can see below. That simplicity comes with a few sacrifices, as I’ll point out in the video walkthrough:

MiniTool MovieMaker Free, as you will see, has a lot to offer. Some of its features include:

Creating and editing videos in Windows
Smart movie templates
Ability to add text and transitions
Free (no cost) and no watermarks

In fact, some of its own advertising sells it as an iMovie-style editor. I don’t know if I would go that far, but the interface is simple and powerful for video editing newbies like me.

Here’s a quick video overview of MiniToo MovieMaker Free:

I have to admit that I found it a bit poky and slow on the uptake compared to Shotcut. One additional solution may be worth your time.

Tool #5: OpenShot Video Editor

Looking for an easy to use video editor that won’t cost you a dime? Give Openshot video editor a check. While it’s a bit less feature heavy than Shotcut, it will do the most important things. Watch this short video overview:

After playing with all five tools, on a Windows machine, I’m going to stick with the free, open source Shotcut. It makes it possible to achieve quick editing. If I need fancier features, I will have to learn them or maybe use OpenShot. OpenShot provides a nice entry point given its easy to use multi-track support, slicing and export features.

For Chromebook users, using Google’s built-in Screencast with automatic annotation and marking is a winner. Use RecordCast.com as a quick video editor, an inexpensive alternative to the more costly WeVideo.

Splitting and Joining Videos

Have a long video and need to split it into pieces? Or maybe you have multiple videos that you need to join together? Consider using one of these tools to get the job done. They are available at no cost and will make working with a large video (or a lot of small ones) easier.

Optimal video size is anywhere between six and eight minutes long. Trying to split video into small chunks can be time-consuming. Allow me to share an example.

For example, the 15 videos in this playlist were once joined together. That huge video file was about 1.2 gigabytes in size. Eighteen seconds after putting them into a video splitting tool, I had them ready to upload (put) into YouTube as a playlist.

Free video trimmer — FlexClip’s Free Video Trimmer

There are many solutions available to get the job done. Three that you can explore include:

MP4 Tools – This includes a splitter and joiner program that you can use on Windows and Mac.
Filmora’s Online Video Trimmer – This online tool works great for smaller videos that you need to split.
FlexClip Free Video Trimmer – Easily edit videos (leaves FlexClip watermark on exported videos)

Here’s a quick video overview of MP4Tools (edited with NCH’s VideoPad):

My pick for the best free video editing software? RecordCast for short videos (under 30 minutes), Shotcut for longer videos or videos that require cropping and other special filters. You can’t go wrong with its powerhouse features and, if you give yourself a little time, you’ll soon be a pro at using it for simple video edits. Not quite ready to jump into the deep-end? Try OpenShot Video Editor.

Finally, be sure to read my blog entry on Five Free Video Converters. They will make your life easier when shrinking videos or prepping them for viewing on specific devices.

August 17, 2020 7 comments

Educational Trends Google Tips and Tricks Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Creating Virtual Backgrounds for Zoom

by Dr. Bruce Ellis May 11, 2020

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

If you happen to be using a PC or Mac (not a Chromebook) to connect with Zoom, then you may have noticed that you have the ability to do virtual backgrounds (assuming it has been enabled in the settings). Other than using the background photos that Zoom provides, where can you find additional great choices that will set you apart in your next Zoom meeting? Continue reading to find out!

The Specs for Zoom Backgrounds

Before we jump in, we should clarify that photos for Zoom virtual backgrounds should be in 16:9 ratio with the ideal resolution of 1920 px by 1080 px. If you use a photo with a different ratio, then you can expect to have black bars appearing on the sides since Zoom will fit the photo in the 16:9 space. This will definitely identify you as a newbie.

GIF, JPG/JPEG, or 24-bit PNG images can be used. Be aware that, if you have a photo with any transparent pixels, these will show as white. Also, if you are planning to add a logo or text, don’t add them to the bottom of the background photo, as Zoom may superimpose your name over it while in the meeting.

Step 1: Find Good Photos

Having a great photo is the key. You don’t want something that is too busy or distracting and you do want something that is true to who you are. Be sure to check out the copyright to see what attribution is required.

Here are five websites to get you started with finding great photos.

Pixabay has so many great photos for you to choose from. Plus, they offer some fantastic ways of filtering through the photos so that you can find that perfect graphic quicker. After you search for the topic of background (i.e. wall, nature, sunrise, clouds, celebration, trail, etc.), set the orientation to horizontal and choose the most relevant category; I usually choose backgrounds/textures.

NOTE: If you create a free account with Pixabay, you don’t have to identify that you are not a robot each time; logging in with your username/password allows you to skip that step.

Pexels is another great tool for finding images that you can use with hesitation. Be aware that there is an overlap between Pixabay and Pexels so you will find some commonality in the search results. But there is enough difference to check out each. Similar to Pixaby, just type in the topic of interest.

Though Pexels doesn’t provide as many filters, you can set the orientation of choice as horizontal. You can’t specify the ratio or the pixel width/height, but you can choose the size (small, medium, or large). I recommend choosing large and seeing if you are satisfied with the results. You can always trim down a photo, but you run the risk of pixelating the photo if you try to enlarge it to fit the Zoom ideal.

A few other sites to consider include Unsplash, Reshot, and RawPixel. Each has its own interface, so you’ll have to explore each one and learn how to best search and filter to find the photo that you want to use.

Step 2: Edit Your Photo

You can use a simple online photo editor such as Pixlr, BeFunky, Fotor, or Adobe Spark if you need to work in the cloud to edit your chosen image. Here is how I go about creating Zoom backgrounds in Photoshop, PowerPoint, or Google Slides. The main thing to remember is that the end result should be a photo that is preferably 1920 px by 1080 px, but at least fits the 16:9 ratio.

Editing in Photoshop

Begin by opening your photo and select the Rectangle Marquee Tool. For the sake of instructions, we’ll assume we don’t know what ratio the photo is. With the Rectangle Marquee Tool selected, choose Fixed Ratio from the dropdown and set the width to 16 and height to 9 (refer to the image below).

Video demonstration for cropping a photo to 16:9 ratio in Photoshop.

You are now able to click and drag a selection area of the photo. If the photo is already 16:9, you should be able to drag from one corner diagonally to the opposite corner and encompass the whole photo. If the photo is NOT 16:9, you’ll notice that the selected area doesn’t fit perfectly. That’s okay since we can move the selection around to choose the area we want to use. Once you have a 16:9 area selected to use, click on Image –> Crop. If this photo is now the finished product you want, click on File –> Export –> Quick Export PNG. If you would like to continue editing to add a logo or text, save your file now as a Photoshop (PSD) file; this will allow us to continue editing it with layers which we are about to add.

Now to add text to our image. This could be your district or school name or it could be some other information that better identifies you and/or connects you with other viewers in the Zoom meeting.

Let’s begin by clicking on the Horizontal Type Tool and then click on the photo where you would like to start typing – but don’t start typing just yet. On the screenshot below, you’ll notice what appears when you are using the Horizontal Type Tool. Select your font from the drop-down list and set the size. Click on the appropriate alignment option and confirm the color of your text (indicated by the color box just to the right of the alignment options). Once you have these set, it is now time to start typing. NOTE: We can start typing before setting these options, but I typically find that I have to select the text and go back and change the options afterwards when I’m in a hurry.

Video demonstration for adding text in Photoshop.

You may have noticed that a new layer appeared when you click on the photo. Though it looks like you are typing on the photo, you are really adding text over the photo in a transparent layer. If you realize that your text should be moved some, then click on the Move Tool and then click and drag the text to the new area; be sure that your mouse is over some of the text itself as it will assume you want to move whatever is under the cursor.

If you are looking for fonts to use, my go-to sites include dafonts, FontSpace, and 1001 Free Fonts. You’ll find plenty of fun, festive, and even professional-looking fonts to use on your background.

Video demonstration for adding a logo in Photoshop.

In our final step, let’s add a logo. This could be a school mascot, your bitmoji, or other image. Open the logo in Photoshop as you initially did the original photo. Click Select –> All to copy the logo to the clipboard. Now go to the Photoshop tab with your Zoom background photo. Click Edit –> Paste. If your image does not have a transparent background, you may need to remove it.

You may also need to resize the image. Click on the image to the right to view the brief tutorial showing how to insert, remove the background, and resize the logo.

Editing in PowerPoint

Video demonstration for creating a simple Zoom virtual background in PowerPoint.

You don’t have to have a high end photo editing tool to get great results. And you might find that using more simplistic tools (or actually re-purposing such tools) may make the process much faster.

I prefer to start with a blank slide in PowerPoint – that is, no text boxes for the title or anything. Click on the Design menu –> Slide Size –> Wide Screen (16:9). We now know that the ratio will match that of the Zoom background. Insert your photo and resize to perfectly fit the slide. If it doesn’t fit perfectly and you don’t want to stretch part of it, consider centering the photo on your slide and adding a border to hide the gap, similar to adding a mat over a photo that doesn’t fit a picture frame perfectly.

We’ll use the border of a transparent rectangle placed over the image for our border. Begin by inserting a rectangle. With the rectangle selected (and sized to fit the slide), set the shape fill to transparent (Shape Format menu –> Shape Fill –> No Fill); you should now be able to see the photo. Now make the border coordinate with the photo by clicking on Shape Format menu –> Shape Outline –> Eye Dropper. As you move the eye dropper around, you will notice that a small color square is indicating what color will be picked if you click at that location of the photo. Click somewhere to choose a color.

Now let’s make the border thick enough to cover those gaps. We don’t want to add a border directly to the photo because it will just highlight the fact that it is a different ratio; adding the border to the transparent rectangle on top retains the 16:9 ratio and hides the imperfection. With the rectangle still selected, click on the Shape Format menu –> Shape Outline –> Weight –> More Lines. Increase the width until all gaps are covered. Don’t be surprised if the number is large.

You are now ready to save the slide out as an image. To do so, click on the File menu –> Save As and locate the folder where you want to save the Zoom background. For the file type, choose PNG Portable Network Graphics Format. When asked if you want to save All Slides or Just This One, choose Just This One. Your background is now ready to be used in Zoom.

Editing in Google Slides

Video demonstration for creating a simple Zoom virtual background in Google Slides.

Editing in Google Slides is very similar to the PowerPoint process. Begin by clicking on the Insert menu –> Image. You have several options as to where get your image (upload from the computer, search the web, Drive, Photos, by URL, or camera).

Once you’ve located your image and added it to your slide, resize the photo (making it larger or smaller) to cover the slide area. If you want a logo, locate that image and add to your photo noting that the ideal placement is most likely the top left or right corner but allowing a bit of a gap between it and the edge of the photo.

Since Zoom will have your name showing at the bottom (assuming that the host did not turn off showing names), any text that you add to your background should probably avoid the bottom third (where the name may appear) or the middle section (where you will appear). You may find it helpful to put contact information such as a phone number, email address, or social media identifier to encourage other users to connect with you outside of meeting times.

Knowing that these words may not be very legible if other participants are looking at a small stream of you, consider keeping the text to a few words at best. You don’t want the text to compete with you in the video stream, but you do want it to be readable.

Step 3: Enjoy

You are now ready to enjoy attending Zoom meetings with your fantastic virtual background. You may even find that other folks will ask you for a copy of your background or to create one for them. You don’t have to tell them how easy it was. That will be our secret.

So, what will you create? Will you use Photoshop, PowerPoint, Google Slides, or another tool to edit your image? The main thing to remember is to be creative without being distracting. We’d love to see what you create! Share your background via Twitter and use the hashtags #tcea and #zoombg.

May 11, 2020 0 comment

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Background Removal Tools for Photos and Videos

by Miguel Guhlin April 16, 2020

written by Miguel Guhlin

Have you ever taken the perfect photo until you looked at it later and found that the background wasn’t what you wanted? Would you like to add your own background scene, replacing an existing photo or video’s background? As we work with remote learners, knowing how to remove inconvenient backgrounds scenes is important. This blog entry provides a quick roundup of background removal tools that make this job easy for you.

Note: Do you need some free images/videos, like Smithsonian’s Open Access three million plus images, to work with? Checkout my Copyright-Free Media and Tools Wakelet collection.

Background Removal Tool #1: Remove.bg

My favorite tool in the pack, Remove.bg makes it easy to yank the background from an existing photo. Remove.bg works great on smartphones and tablets. Even easier is replacing the background with a provided image or your own picture.

background remover

As you can see from the clip above, the original picture appears featuring a character. Flames surround the character. With Remove.bg, you can remove the flames and then replace it. You can edit the image and replace the background using this interface:

background remover

This can result in some fascinating combinations:

background remover

And another example:

background remover

Unfortunately, the images are not layered. This means that you cannot move the new background or original image independent of each other.

Need an alternative? Give Removal.ai a shot as an alternative to Remove.bg. Removal.ai offers standard features (simple editing, background removal) for free. If you want hi-res access or editing, you will need to get an account and pay. Removal.ai also offers a Windows program you can use on your computer. You can add text, resize image to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest standard image sizes. It offers several other editing tools you won’t see in Remove.bg.

Once you have the image the way you want it, you can save it to your computer or device. Remove.bg doesn’t allow you to add text to photos. You can use Picfont to do that (provided you turn off Ad Block Plus):

Background Removal Tool #2: PhotoScissors

Need a way to pluck yourself out of a picture? PhotoScissors offers some ways to do this via their website. Like Remove.bg, it does a nice job of removing the background from a picture. It does have some limitations though. It limits high-quality results to for-pay options ($30 for Windows or Mac). You can see that it offers an almost bewildering set of tools.

background remover

It does allow you to reposition the character in the picture. You can then app smash these tools a bit to get different results. In the image below, I’ve taken the PhotoScissors image and dropped it back into Remove.bg.

The PhotoScissors website offers other tools you can take advantage of (at a slight cost):

Inpaint – Remove elements from photos
iResizer – Scale an image without changing other visual content
PhotoStitcher – Stitch photos together to panorama
FolderIco – Customize folder icons and color

Check these tools out.

Background Removal Tool #3: StickerMule’s Trace

Right from the get-go, you will need to create an account to use Trace. This may not be a problem since you can “Sign up with Google.” You can also create an account using a name and email combination. Once you have an account set up, you get access to Trace to remove photo backgrounds.

background remover

StickerMule’s Trace offers a nice interface that looks like the one below. Note that you can’t provide your own background; you must select one from the list. It does offer the option of replacing the background with standard colors.

background remover

One thing you can do is download (save) the transparent version of your image. Then you can load that picture into an online paint tool like Kleki. The advantage of that is that you can import your desired background. After you do that, import your transparent image from Trace as a layer.

background remover

A big advantage is that you can reposition your character anywhere in the new background, as you can see:

Isn’t that amazing? Even if you are a novice at paint programs, this will be easy to figure out. Kleki is NOT Adobe Photoshop (thank goodness).

Those are three powerful tools for removing backgrounds in images. One bonus tool that makes it possible for you to remove backgrounds in videos is UnScreen.com. It makes it easy to remove video backgrounds, which can be handy in a busy environment (like a classroom).

April 16, 2020 9 comments

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Free, Open-Source LibreOffice Goes Mobile

by Miguel Guhlin March 24, 2020

written by Miguel Guhlin

The suite of productivity products called LibreOffice is a lot like other office suites. It includes tools like a word-processor, spreadsheets, drawings, and even databases. The big difference? LibreOffice is a free, open-source set of applications created by The Document Foundation. Because of that, LibreOffice is a great tool for educators or even families looking to keep up with digital learning.

While it retains amazing functionality as an office suite, LibreOffice has been missing something: the ability to work on the go via your mobile device. In this blog entry, we’ll explore a new development that makes LibreOffice smartphone or tablet friendly.

What LibreOffice Offers

LibreOffice, like OpenOffice, offers a free, open source alternative. Like G Suite EDU and Microsoft Office 365, you get several critical tools that include:

Writer (word processing)
Calc (spreadsheets)
Impress (presentations)
Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts)
Base (databases)
Math (formula editing)

The no-cost office suite is available for use on Windows, Mac, and GNU/Linux platforms. You can find a comparison of features between Microsoft Office 2016 and LibreOffice. One of the key missing features is Microsoft’s Immersive Reader.

Another challenge LibreOffice users have faced is accessing their documents on mobile devices. That is, smartphones and tablets.

LibreOffice in the Classroom or Out

Students often have access to tools like MS Office 365 or G Suite EDU for home use. Both suites come with their own set of online apps. That said, Libreoffice, while late to the mobile platform, does have some benefits. There are still many places where students lack connectivity at home. What connectivity is available for their smartphone is emergency phone use only.

Being able to work offline remains a valued option. LibreOffice offers a free, no-cost alternative to students and staff who need that option.

LibreOffice Goes Mobile

Until a short time ago, LibreOffice’s native format was hard to open and edit on mobile. Open Document Format (ODF) enjoyed a few select apps for viewing, but none for editing. This made embracing LibreOffice and cloud storage (e.g. Dropbox) tough. You would always need a laptop with LibreOffice.

A new app, available for Android and iOS (use links to get it for your device) removes this obstacle. You are now free to open, view, and edit ODF documents on your smartphone.

collabora

The New App: Collabra Office

Collabora Office allows you to open LibreOffice documents available via cloud storage. Not only that, but you can edit them and the app works offline. You can open and save file to ODF file format, but also as Microsoft friendly. This includes formats such as .DOC and .DOCx.

You can create the following new documents via Collabra Office:

Spreadsheet
Presentation
Text document

You can also open existing Microsoft documents in .DOCx, .DOC, .PPT, .PPTx, .XLS, and .XLSx formats.

Editing Text Documents and Inserting Items

Need to edit text documents? You are going to have access to the usual features. Those features include the ability to bold, italicize, underline, strikethrough, and shadow text. You can adjust fonts, size, and customize other paragraph styles you may need.

Need to insert an image, table, or comment? You can do that. You can add headers, footers, footnotes, and endnotes, as well as a page break, column break, hyperlink, or shapes. There’s no shortage of actions you can take with Collabora Office. This makes it a nice, full-blown offline document creation and editing tool.

Saving to the Cloud

When you have finished edits to a document, you may want to save it to cloud storage or to local device storage. You can also choose to export it in compatible formats to your cloud storage device of choice. I chose to export my document (which began as a DOCx file) as an ODT to Google Drive.

Given how smartphones are our new creation platforms, it’s nice to imagine that you can get work done on it. If you need an office suite on the go that affords you offline work opportunities, Collabora Office is the tool to use.

March 24, 2020 0 comment

Microsoft Tips and Tricks Technical Support

Microsoft Learn: Beef Up Your Technical Skills

by Miguel Guhlin March 10, 2020

written by Miguel Guhlin

Microsoft announced updates to their online professional learning and certification options recently, and you will want to explore these and use them to speed up your learning in 2020. Here’s a quick look at what’s now available:

Microsoft Learn website offers a new, fresh interface with available resources for you.
Learning path offers a guided tour through a variety of individual modules.
Get Microsoft certified and show your achievements through industry-recognized Microsoft certifications.
See documentation, tutorials, and code examples for a variety of stakeholders.

See this all via the Microsoft Learn website. Before you go visit them, here is what’s available that may interest you.

What’s Available in Microsoft Learn

As a K-12 educator focused on educational technology, I’m always looking for ways to learn the tech faster. Some of the tech learning paths and modules provided by Microsoft include:

Signing Up for Azure
Azure Fundamentals
Azure Architecture and Service Guarantees
Principles of Cloud Computing
Introduction to Microsoft 365 Core Services and Features
Get Started Building with Power BI

But wait, there’s a lot more!

Microsoft Docs Lessons

The Microsoft Docs area includes tutorials on PowerShell, Xamarin, Microsoft Graph, and more. For example, in PowerShell (a technician’s best friend), you will see sample scripts and a PowerShell Gallery. A cross-platform list of PowerShell tools is also available. This could be a gift to those beginning to learn PowerShell.

Free Microsoft Curriculum Resource Collection

If you want to learn more about Microsoft resources, be sure to check out our other blogs. Type “Microsoft” in the search box at the top of this page. And you may find even more free Microsoft curriculum options via this Wakelet collection.

Image Source

Feature image. Screenshot by author.

March 10, 2020 0 comment

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