Thursday, February 27, 2014

Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts

The Google Chromebook has a keyboard shortcut overlay that can be very helpful if you're feeling like you are missing the capabilities to use Accessories you may previously have used on a desktop.  This was particularly helpful recently when we found something similar to the "Snipping Tool" that we used so often to create tutorials with screen images, but goes far beyond CTRL-V and CTRL-C for copy and paste.


Click CTL-ALT-? to open the keyboard overlay.



Hold down the CTRL key to view the first level of shortcuts.
Using the image below as an example, CTRL-d is "Bookmark current page".




Hold down CTRL-ALT for a view of more keyboard shortcuts.
Using the image below as another example, CTRL-ALT-t is "New Terminal"


Hold down CTRL- SHIFT to view the last of the keyboard shortcuts.
Using the image below as a final example, CTRL- SHIFT-w is "Close Window"


Friday, February 21, 2014

It's Your Turn to Change the World - Google Science Fair 2014

On February 12th Google along with Lego, Scientific American, Virgin Galactic and National Geographic launched their 4th annual international online science & technology competition for teens ages 13-18. Past winners have tackled some of today’s greatest challenges, like an anti-flu medicine, more effective ways to beat cancer, an exoskeletal glove, a battery-free flashlightbanana bioplastics and more efficient ways of farming.  What is your idea to change the world?


There are resources for parents and teachers to help kids get involved and ideas and guidance for students to get their creative juices flowing.  

If the desire to do great things doesn't motivate you perhaps the prizes will!  Scholarships of $25,000 and $50,000 plus trips to the Galapagos Islands, the Lego Factory and more...

Students have until May 12th to finalize their submissions.  But don't wait till then to start building your project site and get started.  Here is a short video overview of the submission process and and here is a link to the Google Science Fair site - Just click on the Get Started Icon at the bottom of the page.  Good Luck!



Thursday, February 6, 2014

Doodle For Google Art Contest 2014



If you are an avid Googler, you know that the giant search engine frequently surprises the world by doodling the Google logo based on famous birthdays, holidays or events. What you may not know is that Google launches an annual contest which invites k-12 students in the U.S. to use their artistic talents to redesign Google's logo. 

This year, the theme is "If I Could Invent One Thing to Make the World a Better Place...". The winning artist will see his or her own artwork on the Google homepage for 24 hours, win a $30,000 scholarship, a trip to San Francisco, and $50,000 technology grant for his or her own school.

All submissions must be received by Thursday, March 20, 2014. Visit the Doodle for Google homepage for contest details.

Details and Rules
• All submissions must be received by March 20, 2014.
• You can mail in applications or upload right on the website.
• Submissions must be accompanied by a completed Entry Form.
• Instructions, mailing addresses, official entry form, and official Contest Rules are all available at
www.google.com/doodle4google 

We highly encourage you to share this opportunity with teachers and students in your schools. We hope to share their doodles here on the Orange-Ulster BOCES Model Schools blog after the winner is announced. 

Happy Doodling!!