Educational Theories

Question: Why is teaching that relies solely on conventional didactic instructional strategies considered ineffective teaching? I was taught that way and achieved a Masters degree and consider myself to be at a somewhat higher than at an intermediate level of technological expertise.

Exactly what are we searching for? I wonder if is there is no there, there. Just seems as though every paradigm, theory and model proposed between then and now has had little if any positive influence on learning.

Change Management and Technology

Two environments: 1) organization leadership is satisfied with the technology status quo; 2) organization leadership desires to update technology.

In the former environment, there is little the technology manager can do other than to promote the need for updating by relating the advances the competition is making and demonstrating the advantages of updating. In the later environment, senior management, having made the decision to update, often gives the tech manager very little time to execute and "incremental" is seldom not part of the discussion. The tech manager can alleviate the time crunch issue over time by continual planning (strategic and tactical) and frequently collaborating, communicating and presenting. Salesmanship is definitely a plus. In any case, you can be sure that there will be end user resistance and that some degree of change management will be required to implement the update(s).

As we all know, changes in technology tend to reverberate throughout entire organizations. Most, if not all, departmental processes are affected. Many policies and procedures may need to be rewritten. Of course, training to some or more extent will be required. Technology changes are seldom silent and invisible. New or significantly updated technologies tend to create fear. Okay, maybe mostly just apprehension but some will literally be scared. Change is stressful especially when it has the potential of affecting livelihoods. Leadership early on must do it best belay the fears and apprehension. Will I lose my job? Will my position be downgraded with less pay? Will my hours be reduced? Will I be able to learn to use the technology? The IT manager gives guidance to leadership and encouragement to employees as possible during this phase.

The IT manager has his/her own apprehensions revolving around whether the new technology will work and whether she/he can pull off a smooth implementation. It is best to follow a change management process of your choosing, one that fits your leadership style and organizational culture. There are many available. I am a proponent of the eight-step change process developed by John P. Kotter, the Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School. Here is a general outline of the process. More and deeper information can be found at the Kotter International website.

1. ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF URGENCY
   
   
   
   • Top leaders must describe an opportunity that will appeal to individuals’ heads and hearts and use this statement to raise a large, urgent army of volunteers.
   
   
   
   


2. CREATING THE GUIDING COALITION
   
   
   
   • Putting together a group with enough power to lead the change. A volunteer army needs a coalition of effective people — coming from its own ranks — to guide it, coordinate it and communicate its activities.
   
   
   
   


3. FORM A STRATEGIC VISION AND INITIATIVES
   
   
   
   • Creating a vision to help direct the change effort and developing strategies for achieving that vision. Dr. Kotter defines strategic initiatives as targeted and coordinated "activities that, if designed and executed fast enough and well enough, will make your vision a reality."
   
   
   
   


4. ENLIST A VOLUNTEER ARMY
   
   
   
   • Using every vehicle possible to constantly communicate the new vision and strategies. Having the guiding coalition role model the behavior expected of employees. Large-scale change can only occur when very significant numbers
     of employees amass under a common opportunity and drive in the same direction.
   
   
   
   


5. ENABLE ACTION BY REMOVING BARRIERS (empowering people to effect change) By removing barriers such as inefficient processes or hierarchies, leaders provide the freedom necessary for employees to work across boundaries.
   
   
   
   
   • Getting rid of obstacles (training, training, training)
   
   
   • Changing systems or structures that undermine the change vision
   
   
   • Encouraging risk taking and non-traditional ideas, activities & actions
   
   
   • Engage employees as partners
   
   
   • Provide people with the opportunity to plan for and take action
   
   
   
   


6. GENERATING SHORT-TERM WINS - Wins are the molecules of results. They must be collected, categorized,
   and communicated — early and often — to track progress and energize your volunteers to drive change.
   
   
   
   • Planning for visible improvements in performance, or “wins”
   
   
   • Creating those wins
   
   
   • Visibly recognizing and rewarding people who made wins possible
   
   
   
   


7. SUSTAIN ACCELERATION
   
   
   
   • Change leaders must adapt quickly in order to maintain their speed. Whether it's a new way of finding talent or removing misaligned processes, they must determine what can be done — every day — to stay the course towards the vision.
   
   
   • Using increased credibility to change systems, structures, and policies that don’t fit together and don’t fit the vision
   
   
   • Hiring, promoting and developing people who can implement the change vision
   
   
   • Develop people and projects to carry on the change vision throughout the organization
   
   
   
   


8. INSTITUTE CHANGE
   
   
   
   • To ensure new behaviors are repeated over the long-term, it's important that you define and communicate the connections between these behaviors and the organization's success.
   
   
   • Creating better performance through customer- and productivity-oriented behavior, more and better leadership, & more effective leadership.
   
   
   • Articulating the connections between new behaviors and organizational success.
   
   
   • Developing means to ensure leadership development and succession.
   
   
   
   

Of course, before initiating these steps the tech manager has to have performed her/his due diligence: selecting the right technology (maybe more than one initially); networking with other users in similar organizations; and, her/his due diligence: selecting the right technology (maybe more than one initially); networking with other users in similar organizations; and, probably most important, collaborating with key employees; key operational supervisors, senior management, maintenance personnel, and cross-departmental staff.

Integrating Technology and Empowering Students

Chris Aviles on edSurge offers a truly brilliant grading system using Google Forms, Google Sheets and his self-developed student tracking system. I had a similar experience as Chris when I taught high school, however, my solution was not nearly as innovative and I suspect, effective as Chris'.

If you teach, please, please read his article and study his forms. Adapt and adopt as necessary to your situation. Students can sometimes learn as much, maybe more, from the education process than from instruction per se. Peer grading with anonymity and without competition has been shown to be a valuable learning tool.

No More Teachers' Dirty Looks

An Edsurge blog asks, "Can Blended Learning Solve the U.S. Teacher Drought?" Basically, the issue is more about technology replacing people, in this case fully qualified teachers. As a technologist, I fully support the integration of technology in curriculum and lessons, when deemed appropriate by the teacher. Taking it a step further, the blended level is a decision that would be made at the school or district level and consequently dictated to the teachers.

There are obvious advantages to a blended learning model, most having to do with reduced cost or technology filling vacant teacher positions. Neither of these advantages, on the surface that I can see, would have a positive effect on student achievement. Another advantage, that of facilitating differentiated learning, has the potential of going some way toward increasing achievement, at least of certain students. One disadvantage--the need for a larger support staff. Supposedly, the number of support staff would diminish over time as faculty were trained, curricula rewritten, and elearning courses prepared. Reducing face time with experienced teachers, at least at this stage in our technology, can only drive down achievement overall. That is a major disadvantage. One master teacher with one "apprentice" teacher (read less expensive) in a blended learning environment could theoretically teach manage a class of 50 or 60 students. I believe that to be neutral, until I see results.

Will we always need teachers in the classroom? The inroads technology has made into education, in spite of the fact that studies are inclusive regarding value, indicate that technology will, at some point, be the definition of education. Virtual intelligence is already on the cusp of replicating many humanistic characteristics. How far away is it away from becoming a high-quality teacher? A quote from the article: "For example, a computer cannot, as of yet, teach deeper learning and critical thinking." [Emphasis added.]

Data, Data Everywhere

In The Seventy-Four Conor Williams opines that we need data and lots of it. Why? Well, to prevent an assault on accountability; to correct all education problems (he uses John Dewey to claim that without more data we can't even define those problems); to provide research statistics for policymakers; and to help establish a basis for arguing education. His target--Senator Vitter's, R-LA, bill, the Student Privacy Protection Act which would allow families more control over what student data can be released to the federal government and third parties.

Dr. Williams assumes his readers agree that the "policymakers" best equipped to dictate education policy are the politicians and their appointed educationalists at the state and federal level with the assistance of third parties such as his own New America's Education Policy Program. While he doesn't say so directly, I suspect he blames the nation's inability to achieve true reform over the last 20 years to our failure to collect and share enough data. He laments: "Want to study American students’ reading abilities in grades K–2? There’s essentially no comprehensive national data for you—even though third-grade reading proficiency is a key priority for many policymakers."

And there shouldn't be "comprehensive national data". More and more data in the hands of those least qualified to use it effectively only adds another unnecessary burden on school level administrators and teachers while providing more fodder for state and federal agencies to influence, manipulate and coerce schools toward failed reform efforts mostly involving privatization. Look at what we have already created and guess who is benefited the most: standardized, high-stakes testing; charter schools; teacher mills; Common Core State Standards; and vouchers, to name a few.

Chrome Apps for this School Year

Originally posted @ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning.

August 20, 2015
You probably are already working on your digital toolkit making it ready for the start of a new school year. Part of your preparation will definitely consist of making [a] decision on the kind of web applications and mobil[e] apps you will be incorporating in your teaching. This means that you need to have a fairly decent knowledge of educational web tools out there and the potentialities they can offer to your instruction. To this end and to help you make informed decisions about the technology to use in your class,  we went ahead and did some digging into our archive and curated this collection   comprising some of the best educational Chrome apps out there.  We hope you will find it useful. Enjoy

1- Chrome Apps for Math Teachers

• GeoGebra


• Desmos Graphing Calculator


• Math Arcade Games


• Graph.tk


•  Buzz Math


• MathBoard Addition


•  Monster Math Flash Card


• Popular math

2- Chrome Apps for Recording and Editing Audio

• SoundCloud


•  Voice Recorder


• Vocaroo


• Twisted Wave

3- Chrome Apps for Annotating and Editing PDFs

•  DocHub


•  Notable PDF


• PDF Compressor


• Merge PDF

4- Chrome Apps for Bookmarking and Curating Content

• Padlet


• Diigo


• Scoop.it


• Pin It Button

5- Chrome Apps to Enhance Students Reading Experiences

• Readability


• Clearly


• Read Mode


•  Easy Reader

6- Chrome Apps to Enhance Teachers Productivity

• Session Buddy


• OneTab


• Session Manager


• TabCloud

7- Chrome Apps for Creating 3D Models

•  3DTin


• Design Something


• 3DView

8- QR Generator Apps for Chrome

 

• The QR Code Generator


• QRCode Monkey


• QR Code Generator by Unitag

9- Chrome Apps for Research Students

 

• Citelighter


• Mendeley


• Evernote Web Clipper


• EasyBib

10- Chrome Apps for Notetaking

 

• Evernote Web


• Google Keep


• Note Anywhere


• Quick Note

11- Chrome Apps for Screen Capture

• Screencastify


• TechSmith Snagit


• Lighshot


• Screen Capture

12-  Chrome Apps for Sketching and Doodling

• Google Draw


• Inspiration- Sketch & Draw


• Sketch Toy


• Sketchboard

13-  Chrome Task Management Apps

• Any.do


•  Wunderlist


•  Trello


•  Remember the Milk

 

Free Text Books

200 Free Textbooks: A Meta Collection

Free textbooks (aka open textbooks) written by knowledgable scholars are a relatively new phenomenon. Below, find a meta list of 200 Free Textbooks, and check back often for new additions. Also see our online collection, 1150 Free Online Courses from Top Universities.

Don't Neglect Windows 10 Store for Education Apps

Microsoft fell far behind Google and Apple in the app race, especially in the education area. Things are changing for the better for education. The store is improving in organization and app quality. Check out the offerings. Many Most are free. Review carefully; many Microsoft apps were previously disappointing, even scams.

Education

• Books & reference


• Early learning


• Instructional tools


• Language


• Study guides

I've previously discussed how difficult it is for an individual teacher, no matter the platform, to select appropriate apps for integration. The process needs be a grade and content subject collaborative effort aligned with applicable standards. And educators should be quick to discard and replace while widely advertising their reviews, at least within their PLCs, which btw, should also be composed of like grade and content educators. Again, and this can't be emphasized enough, each teacher must select the apps that complement their individual pedagogy and peculiar student mix. Departments, schools, districts, and states would be badly remiss to dictate standard educational apps. Economies of scale don't come into play when the purchase price is free.

138 Practical Ed Tech Tip Videos

Originally posted at Free Sources for Everything That's Education:

Free Technology for Teachers organized a cumulative list of 138 fabulous, easy to follow videos aimed “at tools for flipping your classroom, videos on managing workflow, social media tips, search strategies, and media production.”  But one does not have to be a teacher to find some of these quite useful.

Many of the tools or videos are aimed at assisting anyone using Google docs or apps.  3 Helpful Google Drive Settings is just one of those videos.

This is a definite resource for everyone to bookmark!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLtx-qUNKJwDwazAWE7UaLATKaV0gcpNYv&hl=en_US]

OneDrive on Windows 10

Here are a few odds and ends about Microsoft's OneDrive that may not be immediately obvious that are derived from researching questions that I have. This is a lengthy post so I suggest browsing through the headings to determine what issues or questions you have about OneDrive that might be answered herein. A few are technologically mysterious.

How OneDrive Works on Windows 10 [mostly about how it syncs]

Briefly, if you log into Windows 10 using your Microsoft account, you will be automatically logged into your OneDrive account. If OneDrive launches per default, you’ll see a cloud icon in the notification area of your Taskbar. To change OneDrive options, right-click the cloud icon and select Settings.

In the Settings tab you can choose whether OneDrive should start automatically, fetch files from another computer, or collaborate on Office documents. Here you can also Unlink OneDrive and re-associate it with another Microsoft account.Auto save gives you the option to automatically save photos and videos from connected devices. Go to Choose folders to select which files to sync to your local drive. To improve upload speed, head to Performance and allow Onedrive to upload files in batches. Under About, you’ll find useful links to Help pages and the usual official agreements.

In Windows 10, only folders selected to sync to your local drive will be shown in File Explorer’s OneDrive folder. By default, that’s all of them.

A new feature introduced with Windows 10 is the sharing of OneDrive files and folders from the desktop. Right-click the file or folder you would like to share and select Share a OneDrive link and the URL will be saved to your Windows clipboard. Obviously, this only works for items stored on OneDrive.



When using OneDrive on the web or through the mobile app, users can now add shared folders to their OneDrive and sync them to their devices. The Shared Folder sync feature is available for Windows Vista through 10, with the exception of Windows 8.1, and Mac OSX.

How to View Unsynced Files and Folders

If you store more data on OneDrive than you could ever host locally, you have several options.

View OneDrive Online

Opening a browser window isn’t that different from viewing folders in File Explorer. Head to onedrive.live.com to see everything you’ve got. You won’t be able to change how files and folders are synced — that can only be done from your device — but you can see everything and download what you need. Unfortunately, the web client doesn’t support drag and drop to your computer, but you can drag and drop files into OneDrive.

Choose Folders in OneDrive Settings

In the Choose folders tab in OneDrive Settings you can actually view all the folders stored on OneDrive and their sizes. While you cannot see individual files, if your folders are well organized you’ll know where to find what you need. This way, you could deselect one folder and create space to sync another.

Add OneDrive as a Network Drive

YouTube user Sean Ong demonstrates a more convenient solution, previouslydescribed by Paul Thurrott. Using the link to individual folders from the OneDrive web client, he mapped them as network drives to File Explorer, where they appear like external storage devices. Since you have to log in with your OneDrive credentials, you could add a different account from the one synced to your device.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm1Of4eFDDY?feature=oembed]

Briefly, head to OneDrive, open any of your folders and copy the 16 or so characters between id= and %. Then head to This PC in your File Explorer. In theComputer tab, click Map network drive. Where it says Folder:, paste in the characters you just copied and preface them with this URL: https://d.docs.live.net/ The result should look like in the screenshot below. Make sure both Reconnect at sign in and Connect using different credentials are selected, then click Finish, and log in with your OneDrive username and password.



In case you set up two-factor authentication for your Microsoft account, remember that you need an app password for this to work.

Use a Third Party Application

Instead of using the default OneDrive desktop client, you could use a tool likeOdrive for accessing OneDrive on your device. When you unsync files or folders on Odrive, a cloudfx placeholder remains, so you’ll always know what you’ve got. Odrive has the added advantage of not only supporting OneDrive, but a number of other cloud storage services, including Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, and others. Odrive is free and you can link an unlimited number of accounts.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/117538897

One Drive to Rule Them All

Placeholders were an ingenious solution to a common problem: not enough space. Unfortunately, we can’t have nice things when they are too complex for the majority to understand. Certainly, Microsoft is to blame for not offering a more intuitive design.

Files could have been available offline per default, with the option to replace them with placeholders. That’s exactly how Odrive handles syncing, making it the most sensible alternative to a OneDrive desktop client that isn’t serving power users.

Sharing folders in OneDrive

You can use OneDrive share files or folders with others, providing a chance to collaborate. However, it’s currently impossible to do this straight from the OneDrive folder in Windows 10.

Digital Trends

To share a folder, you must [go] up [to] the web interface at onedrive.live.com. Find what you want to share and right-click to, then hit Share in the context menu. You can provide view or edit privileges by typing in a recipients’ email address.

Once you share a folder or file, you can see it’s shared by the icon that appears in the lower right hand person, depicting two people just hanging out and enjoying some shared files. Cute, right? If things go south and you need to revoke the sharing privileges, just open the Share menu again.

Fetch files on your PC

If you have the OneDrive desktop app for Windows installed on a PC, you can use the Fetch files feature to access all your files on that PC from another computer by going to the OneDrive website. You can even access network locations if they're included in the PC's libraries or mapped as drives. When you browse a PC's files remotely, you can download copies of them to work on. You can also stream video and view photos in a slide show. To access files on your PC remotely, make sure the PC you want to access is turned on and connected to the Internet. OneDrive also needs to be running on that PC, and the Fetch files setting must be selected.

NOTE   You can use a PC running Windows 8.1 to fetch files that are on another PC, but you can't fetch files that are on a PC running Windows 8.1, even if you install the OneDrive desktop app on that PC.

Select the Fetch files setting

If you didn't select the Fetch files setting when you set up the OneDrive app, you can select it in Settings.

1. Go to the PC where OneDrive is installed.


2. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar. (You might need to click the Show hidden icons arrow next to the notification area to see the icon.) Then click Settings.


3. On the Settings tab, under General, select Let me use OneDrive to fetch any of my files on this PC, and then click OK.

Then, restart the OneDrive app to complete the process.

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar. (You might need to click the Show hidden icons arrow next to the notification area to see the icon.) Then click Settings.


2. Click Start, enter OneDrive in the search box, and then click MicrosoftOneDrive. This opens your OneDrive folder, and also starts the OneDrive service.

TIP   To make sure OneDrive always starts when you sign in to Windows, right-click the OneDrive icon in the notification area, and then click Settings. On the Settings tab, under General, select Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows, and then click OK.

How to Disable OneDrive and Remove It from File Explorer

Windows 10 includes OneDrive, and Microsoft’s official party line is that you can’t disable it. That’s not true — there are several ways to disable OneDrive and remove it from File Explorer on Windows 10.

Microsoft provides a group policy setting that can disable OneDrive on Professional editions of Windows 10. Windows 10 Home users can use the below registry hack to get rid of OneDrive instead.

For Windows 10 Home

This method is ideal for users of Windows 10 Home who want to get rid of OneDrive without stripping it completely out of the operating system. It’s completely reversible if you ever want to use OneDrive again.

To do this, first right-click the OneDrive icon in your notification area — it looks like a little white cloud — and select Settings. You might have to click the up arrow button to view all the system tray icons before you see the OneDrive icon.

Uncheck the “Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows” option and save your settings. OneDrive won’t load at startup anymore.

If you don’t plan on using OneDrive, you may also want to click or tap the “Unlink OneDrive” button here. This will stop OneDrive from syncing until you set it up again. It’ll be grayed out if you haven’t yet set up OneDrive.



You now just need to remove that “OneDrive” option located in the navigation pane of the FIle Explorer window. This requires a quick registry hack.

Download our Remove OneDrive From File Explorer registry hack. Open the .zip file and double-click the appropriate .reg file for for your version of Windows, depending on whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10. We’ve also included a .reg file that will restore the OneDrive entry if you ever decide you want it back.

OneDrive should vanish from File Explorer immediately after you add the information in the .reg file to your registry. If it doesn’t, try rebooting your PC and re-opening FIle Explorer.

(To check whether you’re using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10, open the Start menu and launch the Settings app. Navigate to System > About. Look at “System type” and see whether it says you’re using a “64-bit operating system” or “32-bit operating system.”)



(You could also do this by hand, of course. The above .reg files modify the System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD value under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}\ to 0, from its default of 1. On 64-bit editions of Windows, it also changes the System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD value under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6\. To undo the change, set the same settings back to the original value of 1.)

If any local copies of your OneDrive files have synced to your PC, you may want to delete them to free up space. Navigate to the C:\Users\NAME\OneDrive folder, which contains your user’s downloaded OneDrive files. These won’t be automatically deleted when you unlink your account and stop syncing. Deleting them won’t delete them from OneDrive if your account is unlinked from OneDrive — they’ll just be deleted from your local device.

For Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise, and Education

Professional, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10 get access to the Group Policy Editor. This utility provides an advanced option that allows you to disable OneDrive system-wide, but Windows 10 Home users can’t use this.

To do this, press the Windows key to open the Start menu’s search box, type gpedit.msc into it, and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor. Navigate to the following folder:

Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\OneDrive

Double-click the “Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage” policy setting in the right pane, set it to “Enabled,” and click “OK.”

This completely disables access to OneDrive. OneDrive will be hidden from File Explorer and users won’t be allowed to launch it. You won’t be able to access OneDrive at all, not even from within Windows Store apps or use the camera roll upload feature. To undo this change, just head back to here and change the policy to “Not Configured” instead of “Enabled.”



There doesn’t seem to be an associated registry setting you can modify to get the same effect as the group policy setting on Windows 10. The “DisableFileSync” and “DisableFileSyncNGSC” registry settings that worked on Windows 8.1 no longer works on Windows 10.

Not Recommended: What About Uninstalling OneDrive?

There’s another tip going around — a method that uses the OneDrive installer lying in the Windows system folder to uninstall OneDrive from your system. We don’t recommend this option for several reasons. We aren’t sure how to get OneDrive back if you uninstall it like this, short of resetting your Windows 10 PC to its default state. Windows 10 could potentially run the built-in installer again to reenable OneDrive after an update in the future, but the tweaks above will disable it more cleanly.

If you’re really convinced you want to strip OneDrive out of your system — rather than just disabling it cleanly with the above methods — you can open a Command Prompt window as administrator and run the following command to ensure OneDrive isn’t running:

taskkill /f /im OneDrive.exe

After you do, run the following command to uninstall OneDrive on a 64-bit edition of Windows 10:

%SystemRoot%\System32\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

Or, run the following command to uninstall OneDrive on a 32-bit edition of Windows 10:

%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

 

Controversy in Florida: Teacher Bonuses Based on SAT Scores

From Education World based on an article in the Tampa Bay Times.

Would it make more sense to give every teacher in the state a lottery ticket from which 4,400 of the ticket holders would win $10,000?

Irresponsible governance having zero to do with education. Wouldn't it be something if every teacher in Florida opted out?

Discovering Cortana in Windows 10

Check out the following How-To Geek article to take advantage of Cortana’s many features:

15 Things You Can Do With Cortana on Windows 10

Cortana is one of Windows 10’s most visible new features. Microsoft’s virtual assistant makes the leap from Windows Phone to the desktop, and there’s a lot you can do with it. It isn’t just a voice assistant either — you can also type commands and questions

Open Cortana to see information it thinks you might care about. Cortana provides a lot of passive information, too, even notifying you when you need to leave to make an appointment on time.

If you can’t use Cortana yet in your country, there’s a way to enable Cortana anywhere in the world.

Highlights:

• Get a List of Commands/Help [type 'Cortana help']


• Set Reminders for Times, Places, and People


• Use Natural Language Search


• Identify a Song


• Search the Web With Google (or Another Search Engine) Instead of Bing


• Perform Calculations and Conversions


• Track Flights and Packages


• Find Facts


• Check the Weather


• Get Directions


• Set Alarms


• Launch Programs


• Send Email


• Create Calendar Events


• Just Chat

Top 10 Simple Things Every Computer User Should Know How to Do

Possibly with the exception of coding (value to be discussed at another time), we have progressed well beyond the time when technology (computers) was a separate content area. We have left the computer lab pretty much in the past. Today's students give every appearance of knowing how to use their various devices expertly and most have mastered keyboarding. They move comfortably between Windows and Mac without a hitch. Seemingly intuitively they become proficient with new apps without instruction or even guidance. And they often know how to access some esoteric feature, proudly demonstrating same to the savviest technologist. However, ask a few of them when they last backed up their data or what app they use to protect their devices against viruses or adware and the response will be similar to when they are asked when they last cleaned their room. Lifehacker provides a very basic list of 10 things every computer user should know how to do. Responsible computing is not just about digital citizenship. Maintaining hardware and apps, efficiency of use, safety and security are equally important. Here's the entire blog.

No matter how tech savvy you are, there are certain things every one of us has to deal with when using a computer—and we don’t always deal with them in the most efficient ways. Here are 10 things that everyone can (and should) learn to keep their computer fast, safe, and easy to use.

Here at Lifehacker, we take a lot of the simpler stuff for granted: how to avoid viruses, use keyboard shortcuts, or even keep your data backed up. Even if you’ve mastered all of these tricks (and there’s a good chance you haven’t), you may want to send this along to some of your less computer-savvy friends. After all, the more they know how to do, the less they’ll call you for help. If you’re looking for some more advanced tricks, we’ve got them for you here.

Top 10 Computer Tricks Every Geek Should Know

We’ve talked before about the things every computer user should know how to do, but we geeks are…Read more

10. Set Up a Simple Backup System

We all know we should back up our computers, but it’s always one of those things that you’ll set up “one day”. Setting up a backup only takes minutes, though, so you can do it right now and forget about it until you need it—and when you do need it, you’ll be glad you set it up. If you’re just backing up to an external drive, you can just use the simple tools built in to your computer,like Windows Backup or Apple’s Time Machine. However, that’ll only keep you safe if your computer fails. If you lose your home in a fire, get all your gear stolen, or experience any other kind of disaster (God forbid), you’ll have lost all those important documents, family photos, and other files forever. So, we recommend using a service like CrashPlan to back up your computer online. That way, it can back up no matter where you are, and that data will be safe no matter what happens to your hardware.

There's No Excuse for Not Backing Up Your Computer. Do It Now.

At least once a month, some friend or family member asks me how to recover data from a failed hard…Read more

Set Up an Automated, Bulletproof File Back Up Solution

More and more, the fragments of your life exist as particles on a disk mounted inside your…Read more

9. Do Everything Faster with Shortcuts

The great thing about computers is that they can do a lot of things much faster than a human. Say you’re looking for a specific word on a web page. Instead of scanning it yourself, all you need to do is press Ctrl+F and type the word you’re looking for. There are mountains of shortcut like this, from pressing Ctrl+S to instantly save the file you’re working on, Ctrl+P to print it out, or Ctrl+T to open a new tab in your web browser. It may seem like more trouble than its worth at first, but after you use a shortcut one or two times, you’ll wonder why you ever did anything with the mouse. Check out our list of six shortcuts everyone should know, as well as our shortcut of the day series for even more tricks.

Six Keyboard Shortcuts Every Computer User Should Know

According to a statistic published in The Atlantic, 90% of computer users don't know what…Read more

8. Protect Yourself From Viruses

Windows users have long known the pain of viruses and other malware, but the good news is it’s pretty easy to avoid. First, we recommend learning the difference between viruses, trojans, and other kinds of attacks, as well as the myths surrounding them. Then, install some good,free antivirus software to protect yourself (Avast is our current favorite, but Bitdefender is a slightly less nerdy, equally secure option). You can even get antivirus for your Android phone, if you so choose. But in the end, the best way to avoid viruses is to use common sense: don’t open links that look suspicious, don’t install programs from untrusted sources, and if a window pops up saying your computer’s infected, make sure it’s actually your antivirus software saying that and not a fake web page.

How to Install Free, Effective Antivirus Software (for Beginners)

Anyone running a Windows computer knows how important it is to have good anti-virus software—but…Read more

7. Set Up Your Network (and Fix Wi-Fi Problems)

Understanding routers, modems, and the other things that make up your network can seem daunting, but there are a few basics that can fix most problems that come your way. Does your router constantly need resetting? Make sure it isn’t overheating or clogged with traffic. Is your Wi-Fi speed and range less than ideal? Use one of these tricks to give it a boost. If you experience more serious problems, you can probably fix them yourself too. Check out ourcomplete guide to knowing your network for more info—it’s got everything you need to know, from buying a router to setting up your network and more.

Know Your Network: The Complete Guide

We spent last week learning all about your home network, your routers, and all the cool things you…Read more

6. Keep Your PC Free of Crap

Ever wonder how that Yahoo toolbar got on your system, or why there’s so much junk installed on your brand new machine? Crapware is a huge problem in the world of Windows, but that doesn’t mean you have to take it lying down. With the right tools and a little know-how, you can avoid that crapware forevermore: just uninstall the stuff that came with your system, and learn the ways companies trick you into installing stuff you don’t want. You’ll keep that system nice and clean, and beat the scammers at their own game.

The Complete Guide to Avoiding (and Removing) Windows Crapware

Windows has a lot going for it, but it's also saddled with one of computing's biggest…Read more

5. Access Your Home Computer From Anywhere

Ever go out with your laptop and realize you left something important on your computer at home? One way to solve this problem is to use a service like Dropbox, so your files are with you everywhere you go. However, it’s also handy to know how to use your home computer from anywhere. With a simple app like TeamViewer, you can log into your home computer from another machine and use it as if you were sitting right at your desk—whether you just need to grab a quick file or access a program you don’t have elsewhere.

Use Your Computer From Anywhere: A Guide to Remote Controlling Your PC

Your home computer is the perfect machine. It's customized to your exact needs, runs all your…Read more

4. Keep Your Computer in Tip-Top Shape with Regular Maintenance

Computer maintenance has gotten really confusing over the years. Between defragging,cleaning up temporary files, and other tasks, it’s almost like trying to maintain a car. Luckily, it’s gotten a lot easier in recent years: you only really need to do one or two things to keep your computer running fast and smooth. Check out our guides to Windows maintenance and Mac maintenance for more info and keep your PC running like new. And if your phone’s feeling a little sluggish, we have guides for iOS and Android, too.

What Kind of Maintenance Do I Need to Do on My Windows PC?

Dear Lifehacker, You guys recently talked about Mac Maintenance, but I'm frankly still a…Read more

3. Instantly Share a File Between Two Computers

So you’ve got some files you want to give to your friend sitting next to you, but your flash drive has mysteriously gone missing. Well guess what? You don’t need it! It’s very easy to transfer a file between two computers over your wireless (or wired) network, whether it’s between you and a friend or between multiple computers you own. Here are our favorite ways to share files with a nearby computer, but if you want to share them between multiple computers in your house,Windows’ Homegroup feature is a great option. Of course, this is where the aforementionedDropbox app can come in handy, too.

What's the Best Way to Share Files with a Nearby Computer?

Dear Lifehacker, Let's say I want to share a few files with someone sitting right beside me,…Read more

2. Easily Find Your Lost or Stolen Gadgets

You never know when you might misplace your phone, laptop, or other tech, so set up some safeguards now. iPhone users can enable Find My iPhone, and Android users should enable theAndroid Device Manager, which allows you to track your phone if you lose it. Of course, you can always get a more feature-rich app like Prey, which can track nearly any laptop or smartphone that’s gone missing, and even get a photo of who might be using it. If you’re missing a camera, the CameraTrace service can help you find it, too. Of course, the best solution is making sure it doesn’t get stolen in the first place, and making sure all your personal data is locked down. Which brings us to our last tip...

How to Track and (Potentially) Recover Your Stolen Laptop or Android with Prey

Laptops are lighter and more powerful than ever; they're also easier to steal. Luckily, a…Read more

1. Keep Your Personal Information Safe and Secure

Unfortunately, the internet isn’t always a safe place, which means everyone needs to make sure they’re keeping their personal information safe. Make sure you use strong passwords, remove personal information from photos and other files, and never use open public Wi-Fi networks without protection. Keeping your personal information safe is easier than it sounds, and if you aren’t sure what to do, check out our checklist for staying safe online. You’d be surprised how unsafe you were being before.

A Few Recent Articles about TPACK

The following are from Harris, J., & Rodriguez, K. (Eds.). (2015, August 13). TPACK newsletter issue #24: August 2015 [Electronic mailing list message]. Retrieved from http://www.matt-koehler.com/tpack/tpack-newsletters/

Almenara, J. C., Díaz, V. M., & Garrido, C. C. (2015). Validation of the application of TPACK framework to train teacher in the use of ICT. @tic: Revista D'Innovacio Educativa, 14 [online journal]. doi: 10.7203/attic.14.4001

Abstract: “Training teachers in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is now an undeniable necessity if we wish to incorporate ICT into teaching-learning processes in an educational and significant manner, and not merely use them as an additional element operating separately [my emphasis] from the other curricular variables (contents, strategies, methodologies, etc.). The incorporation of ICT in teachers’ professional development is affected by such peculiar elements as the teachers’ different types of knowledge. The design of the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) framework, which was fundamentally put forward by Koehler and Mishra (2007), has highlighted the link between the different types of knowledge and is forming the basis of a line of research, diagnosis and reflection on teacher training in ICT.”

Bakir, N. (2015). An exploration of contemporary realities of technology and teacher education: Lessons learned. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 31(3), 117–130. doi:10.1080/21532974.2015.1040930

Abstract: “In order to better prepare preservice teachers to teach with technology, this study examines the current practices and barriers in technology implementation in three teacher education programs. This multiple-case study relied upon site visits, observations, in-depth interviews with faculty, staff, and preservice teachers, and examinations of artifacts. Data analysis was performed both within case and across case. Findings showed that the lack of a systematic implementation in each program resulted in inconsistent technology integration across the programs. A variety of interrelated factors influenced or hindered technology implementation, including levels of integration, administrative support, faculty development, technology support, funding, and technology access. However, the most significant hindrance was the faculty attitudes and pedagogical beliefs at each program [my emphasis]. This research outlines recommendations for teacher training programs to support and strengthen their strategies and their integration of technology.”

Brueck, J. S., & Lenhart, L. A. (2015). E-books and TPACK. The Reading Teacher, 68(5), 373-376.

Abstract: “Today's tech savvy young learners are equipped with a variety of technological tools used as easily as pencils and paper. Many reach for the laptop first when it's time to write or look for an ebook when it's time to read. Ebooks are increasingly viewed as an appropriate source for literacy exposure to books and reading by parents and educators, as net sales revenue from ebooks surpassed hardcover books in the first quarter of 2012 (Boog, 2012). As educators consider adopting ebooks as instructional resources, we must consider how to effectively merge content, pedagogy and technology in the early literacy classroom. In this article we discuss the emerging role of ebook technology in early reading instruction, along with describing how the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework (Mishra & Koehler, 2006) can assist teachers in understanding the dynamic relationship between content, pedagogy and technology in the literacy classroom.”

Colvin, J.C., & Tomayko, M.C. (2015). Putting TPACK on the radar:  A visual quantitative model for tracking growth of essential teacher knowledge.Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 15(1), 68-84.  Retrieved from http://www.citejournal.org/vol15/iss1/currentpractice/article1.cfm

Abstract: “Since Mishra and Koehler’s (2006) description of technological pedagogical content knowledge (also known as TPACK), scholars have analyzed the various paths preservice and in-service teachers can take to develop their knowledge in each of the subdomains. However, the model of the overall framework can be confusing to teachers, as Venn diagrams are generally used for categorization. Furthermore, no representation of TPACK to date has presented a means to accurately reflect a teacher’s growth in knowledge over time. This paper proposes a visual and quantitative representation of TPACK that will help teachers better understand the TPACK framework and track their growth in the knowledge domains over time [my emphasis]. A pilot study was conducted with 24 preservice science and mathematics teachers. Quantitative evidence indicated that an explanation of TPACK using a radar diagram was at least as effective as an explanation using a Venn diagram in terms of these students’ understanding of TPACK. Furthermore, the qualitative evidence supported the assertion that teachers would benefit from a way to track their growth in the essential knowledge areas encompassed by the framework.”

Glowatz, M., & O’Brien, O. (2015). An exploration of the technological, pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework: Utilising a social networking site in Irish higher education.  Irish Journal of Academic Practice, 4(1). Retrieved from http://arrow.dit.ie/ijap/vol4/iss1/1

Abstract:  “Research into the use of social media for academic purposes is growing. Much of it suggests that social networking sites (SNSs) could be used as innovative tools for teaching (Duncan & Baryzck, 2013; Harris, 2012; O’Brien & Glowatz, 2013). This paper argues that research in this field has often neglected to take account of the pedagogy involved in successfully utilising a SNS for educational purposes. Koehler & Mishra (2009) have proposed the technological, pedagogical and content knowledge framework (TPACK) to explore the relationship of technology to teaching in order to build the basis for further research. We explore the suitability of the TPACK framework in the context of SNSs for academic engagement, and we review its relevance to the adoption of a SNS as a teaching tool. Our investigation so far suggests that the current TPACK framework overlooks some important elements that are relevant to the adoption of SNSs [my emphasis]. This paper outlines some of these overlooked elements and evaluates the use of the TPACK framework in the exploration of SNS usage in higher education to engage students with curriculum. Specifically, we address the key question, ‘Does the TPACK framework provide an insight into the knowledge base required to effectively deliver a module utilizing SNSs?’”

Jaipal-Jamani, K., & Figg, C. (2015). A case study of a TPACK-based approach to teacher professional development: Teaching science with blogs. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 15(2). Retrieved from http://www.citejournal.org/vol15/iss2/science/article2.cfm

Abstract: “This paper presents a case study of a technology professional development initiative and illustrates how a workshop approach based on technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge (TPACK) was adapted for professional learning at a school site. The case further documents how three middle school science teacher participants developed knowledge about how to teach with technology as they planned and implemented a blog activity in science over a 4-week period. The design of the professional development was informed by the underlying assumptions of the TPACK framework and characteristics for effective professional development for science and technology-enhanced teaching. To obtain insights into the particular experiences of teachers as they participated in the onsite professional development, a naturalistic case study design was used. Data collection procedures included researcher field notes during workshop sessions and lessons, videotaped classroom observations, audiotaped interviews, and teacher and student lesson artifacts. Data on teachers’ planning and lesson implementation of the blog activity to Grade 8 students were analyzed using content analysis. Overall, the results indicate that TPACK is developed through a combination of workshop experiences and immediate application of knowledge gained in the workshop into practice in the real-life teaching context [my emphasis].”

Messina, L., & Tabone, S. (2015). Technology proficiency, TPACK and beliefs about technology: A survey with primary school student teachers. Research on Education and Media, 5(1), 11-30. Retrieved from http://ojs.pensamultimedia.it/index.php/rem_en/article/view/1413

Abstract: “The present research aimed at investigating some features characterising the profile of 79 student teachers at the end of their pre-service training. Technology proficiency, TPACK and beliefs on the value of technology in teaching and learning were explored through a self-administered questionnaire. Data show the following: student teachers’ low proficiency with new or dedicated technology; some difficulties in integrating technology, pedagogy and disciplinary content, joined with the lack of modelling by Faculty; the prevalence of a functionalist/instrumental view of technology, associated with perceived benefits for teachers, and in contrast with a social/potentialistic view of technology. The results highlight the necessity to boost initial teacher training in the direction of specific/dedicated technology integration and to support Faculty in developing the integration of technology in teaching practices [my emphasis].”

Pearson All Set to Become the World's Superintendent of Education-Scary

Warning! The following content may contain elements that are not suitable for some audiences. Accordingly, viewer reader discretion is advised.

After Selling Stake in The Economist Group, Pearson Now Has Extra $2 Billion for Education Efforts

Aug 12, 2015

SHEDDING MORE WEIGHT FOR POUNDS: Pearson has sold its 50 percent stake in The Economist Group to existing shareholders for £469 million (approximately US $732 million). Exor, an Italian holding company that controls Fiat Chrysler, has agreed to pay £287 million to for 6.3 million ordinary shares and all of Pearon’s [sic] “B” shares, which will increase its stake in The Economist Group from 4.7 percent to 43.4 percent. The rest of Pearson’s ordinary shares will be purchased by The Economist Group for £182 million.

The deal comes three weeks after Pearson sold The Financial Times for £844 million (approximately US $1.3 billion), all of which CEO John Fallon says will be reinvested to the publisher’s digital education efforts. Following this most recent deal, he reaffirmed in a statement that the company “is now 100% focused on our global education strategy.”

Bloomberg says this deal “effectively effectively ends London-based Pearson’s role in news publishing after more than 50 years.” All eyes will now be on its education efforts, now boosted by an additional $2 billion in its war chest.