Hot Tech Tip: Reset your PRAM!
Do you find yourself unable to connect to the projector via Airplay? If so, you may need to reset your PRAM. Here’s how:
1. Restart your Mac.
2. As soon as the screen turns black, hold down:
3. Wait until you hear the startup chime a second time (could take ~30 seconds) and then release the keys.
4. If your Mac does not boot to the normal startup screen, just click the apple in the top left of the screen and select “restart.”
More detailed info at: Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac
Hot Tech Tip: OneTab
Overwhelmed by all your open tabs? OneTab is here to help! Just click this link and click “Add OneTab Now” to install to Chrome: https://www.one-tab.com
Hot Tech Tip: iPad Multitasking
Need a refresher on multitasking? Below are some animations of the things we covered in faculty meeting. For more detailed step-by-step instructions, just follow this link from the official Apple support website: Use Multitasking on your iPad
Open a second app with Slide Over
Use two apps at the same time with Split View
Use apps while you watch a video with Picture in Picture
Drag and drop between apps
Hot Tech Tip: How to use your Magic Trackpad
They don’t call it a “Magic Trackpad” for nothing!
Apple’s trackpad allows Multi-Touch gestures to make navigating around Mac OS simple, intuitive, and super efficient.
For example, let’s say you want to scroll down on a webpage. Rather than moving the cursor all the way over to the side of the window to click and drag the scroll bar, you can just place two fingers on the trackpad and scroll just as you do on your iOS devices. Sure, each scroll saves just a little bit of time compared to the old method, but if you add all those moments up, we are talking about a significant chunk of your day no longer spent redundantly mousing.
And that’s just one example! Check out the Apple support document,
“Use Multi-Touch gestures on your Mac,” for a comprehensive guide to all the gestures you can imagine.
Adapting your workflow to the multi-touch capabilities offered by Apple’s Magic Trackpad will allow you to reclaim precious time in your day so you can have more time and energy for what matters most – working with your students.
Appy Hour recap
Thanks to all who attended our first Appy Hour–you all had so much to share that we ran out of time before we could get to everyone! We’ll pick up where we left off at our next gathering. In the meantime, here are the links to the various apps we discussed:
John Gadoa – EdPuzzle
Morgan Harris – VideoAnt
Casey Kelsey – Vittle
Joe Scanio – Bluetooth sensors, E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth
Georges Chahwan – Explain Everything, Quizlet Live
Angela Weston – Kahoot
Deron Chang – Split Screen on iPad
If you want to further discuss how you might implement these in your classroom, Joel, Morgan, and Deron are standing by ready to help!
TimeGlass
We all know how time can fly in the classroom. Planning for multiple activities can necessitate a strict adherence to the clock, but we don’t want our limited mental resources diverted away from our engagement with the students.
This week I started using TimeGlass (free; optional $2.99 premium upgrade) to keep my Expository Writing class on track and my head clear. What’s so special about this app vs. the built-in Apple timer? Automated interval timing.
As I plan for class, I set up my timer with each of the activities. Then when I arrive for F block, I simply hit play, and I get an alert at each of the specified intervals dictating our next activity. No checking the clock every minute, no fiddling with timers in the middle of class, just a gentle nudge when it’s time to shift gears.
Have you used TimeGlass or other tools to help with classroom management?