FCS Technology Times

After your grades are all entered and you are ready to print the cards, you need to “Verify” the grades you are giving.  (Basically, this means to make sure you agree with the letter grade that will be on the report card or override/change it if you don’t.)

** This is the last step you do after you are totally complete with everything, so make sure you are finished with everything before you do this process. **

How you do it depends on if you are a K-1 or Specials Teacher (No subject level letter grades) or a 3-5 Teacher. (Giving subject level letter grades)

Verify Gradebook for K-1 or Specials Teachers:

1.  Log into Gradespeed.

2.  Click the “Verify Gradebook” button.

3.  Check the box that says “All Classes”.

4.  Click the “Verify” button.

Verify Gradebook for 3-5 Teachers:

1.  Log into Gradespeed.

2.  Click the “Verify Gradebook” button.

3.  Pick a class from the “Class” drop down box.

4.  Here you will see the cycle and semester average for each student with a box next to it, this is the percent that will determine the child’s grade for this subject.

5. If you agree with it, do nothing and go to step 7. (This will be most of your kids…)

6. If you don’t agree with it and would like to override it, put the average you want it to be in the boxes (Put it in both boxes, because we don’t do “Semester” grades) and click the “Update” button.

7. Click the “Verify” button to verify grades for this class.

8. Select another class from the drop down menu and go through the same process.

The building principal will be able to check to see if everyone has verified their grade books before cards are printed.

Now that we have moved to “Positive Attendance” it is very important that we monitor attendance to ensure it has been taken every day.  The video tutorial below will explain how Administrators or Attendance Clerks can monitor attendance and send an e-mail to those who haven’t yet done so as a reminder.  Click on the link to view the video.

Gradespeed.net: Monitoring Attendance

Photo Gadget Picture Resizer is a free program you can use to reduce the file size of a picture without harming the quality.  This program is currently on all workstations in the district.  You can view the video tutorial by clicking the link or download the program for home use by clicking that link. 

The program is very user friendly, but two tips to keep in mind:
     1. Make sure the box that reads “Overwrite Original Picture”  is NOT checked so you can keep the original file as is.
     2. Make sure  the box that reads “Keep Aspect Ratio” IS checked so it looks the same as the original.

Those are default settings and should be set already, but this is just a “Heads-Up”

Photo Gadget Picture Resizer Video Tutorial

Photo Gadget Picture Resizer Download for Home Use

We discussed Google Docs in class today, here is a link to the video we watched on Youtube, ”Google Docs in Plain English”.
Enjoy!

Google Docs in Plain English 

As we are getting ready to begin another school year, I though it would be important to post a quick refresher about how to use the AESOP system.

Click Here to view a video refresher regarding the AESOP system.

 Also as a reminder, the only way to ensure you have the exact sub you want is to speak with that sub to make sure they are available, then go to your Supervisor and have them submit the absence request for you.  Otherwise, here are the cut off dates:

0-3 days until the absence - Directly to the Internet
4-30 days until the absence - Building preferred list, then to the Internet
More tham 30 days out - Your preferred list, the building preferred list, to the Internet.

As you are aware, we are implementing a new online gradebook, attendance, & parent viewing program.  In addition the the training you will receive throughout the year, these are a collection of video tutorials which can answer Frequently Asked Questions.

Gradespeed Video Tutorials

I had quite a few people ask about “Mr. G’s Creed” that Danielle Brink read in her closing at commencement. If you would like a copy of it, you can download it by clicking the link below. If you want to use, edit, tweak, or whatever, feel free!

If you would please leave me a comment if you download it, I would be interested to see how many people found it worth while (Not required, but it would be interesting to see…)

Have a Super Summer!

Mr. G’s Creed

I subscribe to an electronic newsletter from MACUL called the “Big Deal Book of Technology” and in the April 1, 2008 edition I noticed that Atomic Learning has created free video training sessions for Google Docs.  It will only be free through May, so don’t hesitate to check it out.  This quote is taken directly from the newsletter:
 
“Atomic Learning recently announced a free tutorial series on Google Docs, the free Web-based word-processing program that allows users to keep documents up to date and allows selected individuals to update files from their personal computers. The Atomic Learning series, titled “Google Docs—A Focus on Docs,” includes more that 60 short, show-and-tell movies that guide users through the creation, implementation and use of Google Docs. Topics include working with documents, organizing files, document options, sharing and publishing, working with collaboration, and utilizing the edit, insert and revision tab options. The series is being offered, free of charge, through May 1, 2008.”

View the Videos Here!

We have all used Youtube to check out funny videos, but have you ever thought of broadcasting yourself?  One never knows where that may lead, the new lead singer for the band Journey was selected because of his videos of his Journey cover band.  (Click Here to view the video that got him the gig.)

To upload a video to youtube, you do need to have an account, it’s free and painless to set-up.  Once that is done, follow these very easy steps:

1. Log into Youtube
2. Click the “Upload Video” button in the upper right hand corner
3. Give the video a title, a description, a category, and some tags so people can find it when they search
4. Click the ‘Upload a Video” button
5. Browse to the video you want to upload, click “Upload Video”
6. Enjoy your new found fame.  Who knows, perhaps we’ll see your version of the Evolution of Dance

 Here is a link to one I uploaded, not as interesting as the others I’ve provided, but shows that ANYONE can become a “YouTuber”

Using PrimoPDF

Well, if you were expecting food, you came to the wrong post…but if you are hungry to hear about the best online photo editing tool, you’ve come to the right place!

Picnik.com is a new website that allows you to edit any picture you care to upload.  It is VERY user friendly, so much so, that I’m not even going to give you a “How-To” handout, the site does it for me.  The best thing?  You don’t have to download any software and it easily interfaces with picasa web albums, myspace (There is even a plug-in for that), facebook, flikr and many other sites.  It’s well worth the test drive.

One caution though, if you are using dial up, it can be painfully slow since it’s all done on line.  However, if you have a broadband connection, you will be amazed!