Getting Started with Animoto

One of the great opportunities provided educators with the cornucopia of technology tools available today is more easily moving from students as consumers of knowledge products such as worksheets, videos, lectures from their teachers and others, to producers of their own knowledge by creating videos, animations, concept maps and more.  This is an important 21st Century Learning Skill and enables students to become more active participants in their own learning.

Animoto is a useful tool for students and teachers to create videos that demonstrate their understanding of a concept and communicate their ideas from pictures and/or video clips.  What we would like to do here is help you get started using this awesome site.  When you first set up your account you will have a free account that only allows you to create web quality videos up to 30 seconds long and have access to a limited number of video styles and 300 music tracks to choose from.  As an educator you can have access to an Animoto Pro account for 6 months and for up to 50 students.  Below are the steps to get signed up and create your first video.

1.  Sign up for Animoto

2.  Click on the Education link at the bottom of the page.

3.  Click on the Learn More button where it asks if you are a teacher.

4. Select the Apply Now button and fill out the form.

5.  While it says it may take weeks to get you a code, we have found that you get it automatically.  This is the code that the students need to also get a pro account.  One suggestion, since it is a long code, either create a google doc with the code on it as well as the directions for signing up that you share with them, share it on your LMS like Edmodo or Schoology,  or simply email the code and directions to them.   You may use this sample directions Google Doc for sharing with your students on how to get set up and get started.  Simply past your promo code on the line.  Here is an example of a confirmation page with the code:

Here are the steps in none other than an Animoto Video:

If you want to learn more, attend Christine's Workshop on Tuesday February 18th.  Find out more and sign up on MyLearningPlan.Com

Hiding Apps on iOS devices

As shared staff members, we often find that the teachers we work with have technology questions we never thought to ask. Many of these questions are things we didn't know needed answering until they put them in our path. These same questions often come from classroom experiences, but more often come from teachers who are also parents. This recently happened in a faculty lounge at the Elementary level.


During a discussion regarding Social Media in the classroom, it came to my attention that children/students have found a way to hide information on both personal and school issued devices, specifically apps. That being said, and with a multitude of devices in classrooms, it's important to know how to access all apps, at all times, to keep students on the right track.  It might actually be helpful to hide apps as the teacher if you don't wish for your students to be distracted by outside sources while using the required apps for a lesson.


Here are the steps to hide apps, as well as how to search for them once hidden on the device.

• Fill up your home screen with apps. Keep one folder on the home screen.
• Place all the apps you want to hide away in a folder in the dock.
• Tap and hold that folder while double-pressing the home button to open up the app switcher.
• Switch back the home screen.
• Tap the folder on the home screen (the one you don't want to hide).
• Back out to the home screen again. Press the home button.

All of those apps are hidden away, and you can still find them by searching through the Spotlight. Unfortunately, if you reboot your device, the apps you've hidden will reappear.
http://lifehacker.com/hide-apps-in-ios-7-with-this-trick-1349955784

Tech Tip - Adding Languages to Your Chrome(book) Keyboard

Choose keyboard input methods for Chrome

If there’s more than one standard way to type in your language, you’ll want to make sure you choose the keyboard input method that works best for you. By adjusting your keyboard input method, you can also add accent marks, insert currency symbols, and use other special characters. You'll also be able to specify multiple language preferences in order to type in multiple languages. Once you’ve set your preferences, you can easily switch between languages for your keyboard via the status area.
Set your keyboard input methods
1. If you haven’t already, sign in to your Chromebook or into chrome (on another computer).
2. On your chromebook, click the status area in the lower-right corner, where your account picture appears.  On your computer, click on the Chrome menu icon 
   
3. Select Settings.
4. Click the Show advanced settings... link.
5. In the “Languages” section, click Language and input settings.
6. If the language you want to use isn't already listed, click Add and select the language you want to use.
   
7. Select the checkboxes next to the input methods you want to use.
8. Click OK.
To quickly see the list of input methods you’ve enabled, click the status area in the lower-right corner and select the keyboard language from the menu that appears.
Switch between input methods
1. Click the status area in the lower-right corner of the screen.
2. Select the keyboard language from the menu that appears.
3. Choose the input method you want to use from the list that appears.
If you have more than one input method enabled, then the keyboard language you’re using will appear in the status area. That way, you can always tell which language you’re using.
Tip: Use the following keyboard shortcuts to quickly switch between different input methods:

• Press Alt+Shift to switch between different input methods.
• Press Ctrl and space to switch to your previous input method.