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windows laptop showing system update status message
Microsoft Tips and TricksTechnical Support

Windows 10 Tips and Tricks

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Ready to learn a variety of tips, tricks, and ideas to get more from your Windows 10 computer? In this blog entry, we will explore a few exciting ways that you can augment your Windows computer. Let’s get started and answer some important questions that can help your staff and students’ personal Windows devices be safe and protected.

1. Are you running the latest Windows 10 Creators’ Update?

windowsThe latest version of Windows 10, the Creator’s Update, comes replete with awesome updates. Let’s quickly review some of those:

  • Add 3D abilities to the Edge browser and PowerPoint.
  • Place 3D objects within a PowerPoint slide and other apps.
  • On Microsoft Edge, 3D can work with HoloLens to allow true 3D browsing.
  • Upgraded version of Paint 3D that allows users to draw a 3D sketch on one device, then view it on another Windows 10 device (e.g. mobile, HoloLens) as a hologram
  • Paint 3D also integrates with Minecraft (watch this video). Users can move their creations from the game into the app. From there, the creations can be edited and then 3D printed.

If you can’t wait for Microsoft to roll out the Creator’s Update, then use the Microsoft Update Assistant to start the process.

2. Are you protecting your Windows 10 device?

While some believe that anti-malware tools are seldom needed (and they may be right) with Windows Defender on guard, add more armor to your protective suite. Keep your Windows computer up to date with Windows Update. Keep your other programs updated with Patch My PC.

You can also lower your hacking risk in another way. Set up another user account on your computer that does not have administrator rights to install software. When you need to install software, switch to the admin mode user. Otherwise, just use a regular Windows user account.

Here are a few more pieces of armor to protect your Windows 10 installation:

  • Anti-Malware
    • Malware Bytes– Great to use when you think your computer has been infected with malware/spyware and you need your computer “cleaned out.”
    • AntiRansomware – Although still in beta, Malware Bytes’ solution to ransomware offers real-time protection against this huge problem, catching it before it can encrypt your files.
    • Spyware Blaster– An easy-to-use “inoculation” program against spyware/malware.
    • Spybot Search and Destroy – The best part of Spybot is the TeaTimer which protects your computer’s registry against contamination and immunizes your browsers (IE, Firefox) against malware.
  • AntiVirus
    • BitDefender Free – This free-for-home-use antivirus program works great and does not drive you crazy with advertisements. OR
    • Sophos Home Antivirus – This is another protection free for home use.

Remember, before you go any further, protect your Windows 10 computer so you can prevent malware from taking over your device as you surf the web or add programs.

3. Are you protecting your confidential data?

Whether it’s school records, health information, or financial data, it all is sensitive data that should be encrypted while at rest or in motion (on a USB flash drive). As a result, take advantage of one of these free solutions. Protect work sensitive data and you will be protected under Texas Safe Harbor law, which means no embarrassing reporting of lost/stolen data for your organization and possible termination for you.

Try these file and/or folder encryption tools. If you need text encryption solutions, whether for email or SMS/text messages, one of these should work well for you.

You may also want to get a copy of File Shredder for Windows to securely delete information from your Windows computer.

4. Are you protecting your logins and passwords when using public WiFi at coffee shops and airports?

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to protect your data while it’s on your device. If you take advantage of public WiFi, or even WiFi that’s “trusted,” you are exposing your usernames and passwords to various web-based services. That’s because any data flowing over WiFi can be snatched out of thin air using special tools. (Yes, I have tested it myself in my home neighborhood using easy, free tools available to anyone, and it is frightening.) That’s why I use a virtual private network (VPN) to protect data.

“Virtual Private Networks provide an important element of privacy protection for users,” Electronic Frontiers Association says. . .VPNs [are] one of the most effective tools for protecting privacy when using the Internet, due to the degree of anonymity they provide when accessing online services.

Free VPNs for Your Browser

    1. Opera browser has a built-in VPN that works well.
    2. DotVPN Chrome add-on works with your Chrome browser.

VPNs that Protect All Internet Traffic from Your Windows Computer

    1. Private Internet Access (PIA) (approx <$40 annually or $6.95 per month)
    2. Express VPN
    3. NordVPN

Mobile VPN for Android and/or iOS

    1. All VPNs above have mobile versions.
    2. Windscribe VPN works great.

5. Want to save money and not buy expensive Windows software?

When home-schooled twins in their wood cabin in a Tennessee mountain home created a YouTube video series based on my daughter’s ebook, Alone in the Middle, they did it with free software. That is, Paint and MovieMaker. It made me ask in 2010, “Why aren’t public school students using these free tools to make their own YouTube videos and animations?” If you missed it, there are tons of free, open source software you can use.

windowsHere is a short list:

  • Ninite.com: Install and update all your programs at once. Scroll down to see all the available apps. Get my favorite Ninite picks (this will actually get you a copy of my favorites).
  • Open Source Windows
  • Compression Software (e.g. zip): 7-zip or PeaZIP
  • File Copying/Moving or Management: TeraCopy and FreeCommander
  • Text Editors: Notepad++, ConText
  • Free Adobe Alternatives
    • Scribus: Create great-looking, print-ready posters, newsletters, and magazines.
    • GIMP: Refine your photos or create your own artwork from scratch, with support for Photoshop plugins.
    • LightZone: A digital darkroom for converting, editing, and managing photos in batches or individually.
    • Inkscape: A versatile, open source vector editor that’s ideal for hobbyist illustrators and web designers.
    • Unsplash: Professional-quality stock photos in the public domain – totally free to download and use.

Although this blog entry has gotten long, there’s more to share. Check out this list of Microsoft apps for your surface book/tablet as well as other great Win10 programs.

Update: This blog entry was updated with fresh links for the VPN on 4/23/2018.

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SketchUp Pro
Special NeedsSTEM/STEAM

Redesign That: SketchUp in Schools

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“We’re going to redesign our Spot’s dog house this holiday break!”
“What do you have so far?” I asked. My colleague held out a legal pad, crude drawings marring the perfect yellow pages. If you’re going to be re-arranging a dog house or your living room to fit a Christmas tree, take a look at SketchUp Make and SketchUp Pro, available for free to K-12 public schools.

Get SketchUp

With a Google account, you can do the interior design work using the newly-released My.SketchUp.com. And if you want the full power of SketchUp Pro (a $695 value), fill out a short form through TCEA. Private schools can obtain SketchUp Pro EDU licenses for as low as $15 per seat per year.

Use SketchUp on Chromebooks, Windows, and Mac

Available for Mac and Windows computers, SketchUp Pro now comes as a web version usable on Chromebooks. What’s more, SketchUp Mobile Viewer ($13.99) allows SketchUp models to be viewed on the iPad.

As my colleague put it, “Google SketchUp is 3D modeling software that lets you create anything you can imagine. It’s powerful enough to build complex projects, yet is easy to learn and use.” Their work appears in SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse, which houses millions of models. Simple enough to use that grade 3 through adult learners rely on SketchUp for a variety of tasks. SketchUp can be integrated into different classes.

Make Creative TEKS Connections

Classes such as, art, science, history, geography, and math are just some of the perfect venues for learning with this free software. Some ideas of how you might want to use it in your classroom are available at TCEA’s SketchUp Resources. Curriculum projects can align to the Technology Applications:TEKS in Grade 6, such as defined below:

Creativity and Innovation: The student uses creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge, generate new ideas, and create products. The student is expected to…
(C) explore complex systems or issues using models, simulations, and new technologies to make predictions, modify input, and review results

You can find teacher guides that provide specific models.

Explore More Features

For children with autism, Project Spectrum shares powerful examples of student creativity made possible. SketchUp Pro can also be used for 3D modeling and printing. Students can create designs in SketchUp, then save them as OBJ files. These can then be opened in your 3D printer’s software (e.g. Makerbot) and printed. Talk about authentic learning!

SketchUp Pro also supports design templates for 3D printing, making it a simple matter to create to scale. You can also export designs in 3D Warehouse to STL file format for 3D printing. Doing so helps clean up your design before beginning to print. Another neat feature involves interacting with holograms. Visualize design data and collaborate with others using SketchUp Pro with Microsoft Hololens.

Conclusion

SketchUp makes creating models for sharing, and printing. Prepare your children for the future and introduce them to it today!

Special thanks to Taylor and Brian Wright for sharing their use of SketchUp to create real structures via their blog.

 

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open source
Educational TrendsFundingLeadership

Filling the Gap with Open Source Software

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

This blog was updated on October 19, 2016 with additional resources.

According to a webinar provided by BlackDuck, 78% of companies use open source software to some extent, and an increasing number are considering open source software. While they don’t reference school districts, many districts do incorporate open source software to help meet the demands of teachers and students while staying within limited budgets.

While many people think open source software is another term for “free,” open source software is code that is available for review and tweaking by the users. Allowing consumers to make edits and updates allows for the software to progress at much faster rates than common name-brand applications you and/or your district may purchase already. And, because there is buy-in by its users, updates and features that are most helpful are typically promoted and reinforced, leading to more quick developments and enhancements. Because there are different types of licenses that can accompany an open source software application, be sure to inspect the code to read the details, especially if you are interested in tweaking the code and redistributing it.

Popular open source titles for teachers and students include:

  • MoodleCloud – A hosted learning management service (LMS) provided by Moodle that allows teachers to create a virtual classroom for up to 50 students. If you are looking to move into blended learning and have no budget, this is a great way to start. For those with more students, consider using Moodle, which is comparable to Blackboard, Instructure Canvas, or Edmodo.
  • BigBlueButton – An open source webinar tool that allows you to connect up to 50 people (more if you host it on your server with upgraded hardware). While hosting your own webinars, you can annotate your presentation, see your students (if webcams are on their devices), chat with others, and record your session.
  • OwnCloud – A secure, cloud-based storage area for all your files. While many folks use Dropbox, Google Drive, or Office OneDrive, this open source application allows you to set up your own secure storage area and share as needed. You can even use Raspberry Pi to create your own storage area for your classroom as shown on Instructables.
  • RedNotebook – A modern journal that lets you format, tag, and search your entries. You can also add pictures, links, and customizable templates, spell check your notes, and export to plain text, HTML, Latex, or PDF.
  • Musescore – Allows you to create, play, and print beautiful sheet music! This may be a great alternative depending on your musical needs, especially if you cannot afford more robust and well-known notation software such as Sibelius.
  • Though not mentioned above, schools/districts can find open source software to help with scheduling, student information systems, and more. You can look through these search results to find specifics that might meet your needs.
  • This is an excellent list of OER resources divided by content area, along with guides and an explanation.

If you are interested in finding possible open source software alternatives to popular software applications, consider going to AlternativeTo and entering in the name of your application. Your search results will provide titles, reviews, and details, including the licensing of each application. This is a great way to search for new titles if you are needing to move away from a current subscription or cannot afford additional purchases and need to change course in what you are providing.

Because users are able to access/view the software application code, it’s a great way to help students get an inside look at how an application was designed and programmed. Since the expectation is that good coders comment their code (explain what they are doing within the code), you can inspect different sections and learn from their work. If you want to use open source software as a way get students more involved with coding, take a look at Nicole C. Engard’s presentation from our TCEA 2016 convention titled Teaching Students Open Source, opensource.com for several ideas, The Pencil Code Team, or the ebook titled Getting Youth Involved in Open Source.

Finally, as you look at different open source software applications to see which might best meet your needs, consider using one of the following rubrics to help you evaluate each application: TCEA App Evaluation Rubric, Albrecht & Dixon Software Evaluation Rubric, or the Academic Software Evaluation Rubric.

 

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Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Microsoft Offers a Full Day of Free Professional Learning at TCEA

by Alexis Cline
written by Alexis Cline

Finding the time and funding for hands-on professional learning is a challenge many educators know all too well. Microsoft, in partnership with TCEA, is hosting a free day of learning designed to give you the time you need to explore tools that are designed for your K-12 classroom. Join us at TCEA headquarters in Austin on March 23, 2016, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for this free Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Teacher Academy.

Since you won’t need to worry about cost (lunch is included), you can focus on learning about the best tools for your K-12 classroom. All you need to bring is your own Windows 8.1 or 10 device. Some of the day’s highlights will include:

Collaboration and Creativity
Discover new tools for encouraging collaboration and creativity like Office Mix, Sway, and OneNote. You can use these tools for projects like creating digital notebooks, which are a great way to showcase student learning and help students build a positive digital footprint.

Workflow
Since time is a teacher’s most valuable resource, you’ll also want to learn how cloud-based solutions like Office 365 can streamline your workflow and help minimize all those duplicate steps in your day.

Encourage Connections
In addition to the many ways cloud-based tools will enable connections and discussions between your students and you, learn about connecting your classroom to the world with Skype in the Classroom.

Attendees will also receive a Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) badge and certificate, plus complimentary certification vouchers for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) exams.

Space is limited. Learn more and register here.

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Content Areas

Texas High School Bookshare Member Prepares for Transition to College

by Alexis Cline
written by Alexis Cline

Guest Blog Post By Valerie Chernek, Bookshare Communications

“It is no longer difficult to find accessible books, and I will use Bookshare for a lifetime,” says Emeline Lakrout.

“Just a few years ago, it was difficult to find accessible books,” says Emeline Lakrout, who has degenerative low vision. “I appreciate that my parents sought reading solutions for me starting at a young age. I have always been able to enjoy reading because of their efforts.”

Now 17, Emeline takes honors classes at Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas. She is an avid reader and technology user who is interested in all kinds of books and genres, from classics like The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck to historic accounts of the Cold War era, like Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety by Eric Schlosser.

In high school, she taps into the Bookshare online accessible library for textbooks, novels, and academic research, like test prep for the SAT, PSAT, ACT, and AP exams. She reads quickly and credits many of her teachers for providing required reading assignments at the beginning of each school semester, especially in English. “This helped me stay on track with my studies and classmates,” she says.

Emeline uses an iPad with Bookshare’s Read2Go app and a Lenovo Android tablet with Bookshare’s Go Read – a free, open source app. These technologies include accessibility features to enable a user to enlarge the font size or follow along as highlighted words are read aloud. You can change the rate of speed of a voice or place a bookmark on the last page you’ve read. “These features provide extra support for me,” says Emeline. “Now I get all my accessible books from Bookshare and plan to use it for a lifetime.”

Busy preparing college applications, Emeline intends to study social sciences and likes to explore the online library for titles about careers, business, leadership, politics, and pleasure reading.

“Bookshare is really convenient,” she says. “It has a category of popular books and recommended bestsellers. It is always fun to scan through these titles and download a few books for safe-keeping. I also read periodicals when I can, like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. It’s like having a reading backpack on the go. You don’t need another library resource – just an Individual Membership – and you’ll have all the titles you will want to read.”

Texas K-12 public and charter schools serving students with print disabilities can get free, customized Bookshare training and support through the TEA-funded Accessible Books for Texas (ABT) program. Contact your local ABT Outreach Coordinator to help more children who are blind, have low vision, a physical disability, or a learning disability, like dyslexia, improve their reading experience.

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Content AreasGood Teaching

Computational Thinking Course for Educators

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Computational Thinking for Educators is a new, free online course designed by Google that runs through December 20th to help teachers better understand how to reinforce computational thinking in their classroom. Before you say this isn’t for you since you are not the computer science teacher, know that Google has actually designed this course for humanities, math, and science teachers, as well as computer science teachers. The only prerequisite is that you have a Google account so that you can register for the course; no programming knowledge is required.

The goal of this course is to help educators learn about computational thinking, how it differs from computer science, and how it can be integrated into a variety of subject areas. Computational thinking is a process that generalizes a solution to open-ended problems. You will learn how to design lessons to help students analyze and logically organize data.  Students can then explore ways to model their data to better understand it, as well as create simulations to test out possible solutions that they’ve identified. Afterwards, students are tasked with generalizing and applying the computational thinking process to other problems for which their solutions may be helpful.

You can watch a quick introductory video to help describe the course here. Because the course is completely online and self-paced, you’ll enjoy the convenience of accessing it when it fits your schedule. Allow five to fifteen hours to go through the complete course, depending on your goals. The course consists of text lessons, supplemental videos, activities, and a hands-on final project. Complete the course prior to December 20th and you will be able to download a certificate of completion.

Find out more about this course by visiting their Google+ page. You can learn more and register for this course here.

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Announcements/Important Dates

Complimentary Student Membership with TCEA

by
written by

This year, TCEA is again offering undergraduate education majors who are in their senior year of university a complimentary one-year membership. This membership will give pre-service teachers exclusive access to unparalleled resources, including:

  • TCEA Social Community – an online community where students can network and build relationships with professionals in their field of study
  • Young Educators Group – a group within the TCEA Social Community dedicated completely to issues new teachers face and tips and tricks for true classroom success
  • TCEA Job Board – search job postings across Texas
  • Free iPad/iPhone Resources, such as apps and iBooks
  • Digital copy of the quarterly TechEdge magazine, helping all educators integrate technology
  • Access to more than 80 webinars on good teaching, technology tools, research, and more

It is the hope of TCEA to help future public education professionals understand the need for technology in the classroom and how TCEA can help them reach the 21st century students they will be working with.

If you qualify for a student membership, join here today! Should you have any questions regarding this, please contact Chance McKee, TCEA’s Director of Member Services, at cmckee@tcea.org.

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