Sunday, May 30, 2010

Memorial Day Tribute

"Hymn to the Fallen" was composed by John Williams and is part of the soundtrack from the movie "Saving Private Ryan." As a tribute to fallen soldiers everywhere is this rendition, performed by Katherine Jenkins.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Update on Troy University Workshops

Previous posts have describe the three workshops I am offering through the Troy University Inservice Center. Here is updated information about how to register:

Get Organized! The Five Keys to Organization and Time Management. Sign-up can now be done on STIPD. Previously, a message was being displayed that sign-up was not allowed. That has been corrected.

Get Organized With Outlook and A Day in the Life of a Digital Administrator. Sign-up is handled through a form found here.

Amazing Artistic Display

I was blown away by this display of artistry. Sand art designs are made effortlessly and the scenes continue to change throughout the demonstration.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Spend the Day With Me at AETC


If you want nut and bolts tools to make your life easier, spend anywhere from an hour to the whole day with me on June 10 at the Alabama Educational Technology Conference.

Here are the workshops I will be presenting:

Get Organized With Outlook    9:15
Whether you organize with a BlackBerry, Palm, or other smartphone, the common denominator is the ability to synchronize with Outlook. Learn strategies for using Outlook to access, store, and retrieve information easily. The aim is increased productivity in a complex world.

Get Organized With Your BlackBerry     10:30
The BlackBerry is a common tool, yet methodology for how to manage your life with it is sparse. This session provides the nuts and bolts strategies that will allow the handheld to hold a very complete calendar, prioritized to-do list, contacts, and a wealth of reference material.

Data That Matters     12:30
Are you drowning in data yet searching for meaning? Learn how to put all of your “data that matters” on a single spreadsheet, set goals, and tell at a glance whether you are on the right track. Participants will be able to download the “Data That Matters” tracking tool free.You can get away from having your data strewn through various folders and various filing cabinets. Get away from those piles of paper and gain clarity about your data that matters.

The End of Paper Forms     1:45
There is no reason to ever distribute a paper form again. Learn to use the “forms” function of Google Docs to collect and assemble your data effortless and with no paper. Whether you are giving a survey, composing a directory, and giving a test, the forms feature in GoogleDocs is huge time-saver. This one is almost too good to be true. Oh, did I mention it’s free?

All sessions are in North Hall Room A.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

"Managing Digital Data With Ease"

The final workshop being sponsored by the University of Montevallo Regional Inservice Center is "Managing Digital Data With Ease."

Today’s educator is flooded with an ever-increasing amount of information, and much of it comes in digital form. The result presents both opportunities and challenges.

  • After this session, you will be able to answer “yes” to all of these questions:
  • Do you have a logical system for organizing your computer?
  • Can you find data on your computer quickly?
  • If your hard drive failed do you have a complete backup of your data somewhere else?
  • Are you aware of the wide variety of capabilities Google offers?
  • Do you know how valuable iGoogle is as a homepage?
  • Can you get to your bookmarks from anywhere in the world through Del.icio.us?
  • Do you have a single document which links to all of the digital resources you will use throughout the year?
  • Are your e-mail practices time-savers and not time-wasters?
  • Is your e-mail Inbox empty at the end of every day?
The workshop will be held June 17 from 8:30 to 11:30. Registration is free and open to the entire state. Registration is done through STIPD. Search for PD title number UMINS10.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Montevallo Presents "Get Organized With Your BlackBerry"

A growing number of people are opting for a cell phone which can do far more than make a phone call. The BlackBerry has the capability to be a total life organizer that fits neatly in your pocket. However, a lack of training exists on how to use its capabilities. Contents of the workshop include:
  • Enter it once and forget it—The magic of repeating appointments and repeating tasks.
  • When do I want to see this again?—Make that decision as you create a task. Watch it disappear and then re-appear on just the right day.
  • How convenient! —Program the two convenience keys to open your calendar and task list.
  • The one and only address book you will ever need—E-mail, address, phone number, birthday, and a wealth of personal information. “Contacts” will handle it all.
  • The “Fab Five”—Making sure what’s really important gets done.
  • Stress be gone—The crystal clear, organized task list.
  • A wealth of information at your fingertips—What to keep in “Notes.”
  • “In” to “empty” every day—Becoming the master of e-mail.
  • Taking your data anywhere—How to synchronize Outlook with a smartphone.
  • reQall here—From your voice to your e-mail on the fly.
  • The Devil is in the details—How to store and access all of the details related to an appointment, task or contact.
  • Find it fast—Take advantage of the tremendous search capabilities of the handheld.
  • Tricks and tips—Use these timesavers to make handheld experience more productive. 

The workshop will be held June 16 from 1:00 to 4:00. Registration is free and open to the entire state. Registration is done through STIPD. Search for PD title number UMINS10.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

University of Montevallo to Sponsor "Get Organized!"

As a part of their summer workshop offerings, the University of Montevallo is again sponsoring several workshop. The series will begin with a three-hour version of Get Organized! We will explore the five keys necessary for a complete personal and professional organizational system.

The workshop is free and open to the entire state. The UM Regional Inservice Center is providing a complimentary copy of Get Organized! Time Management for School Leaders to those who attend.

The workshop will be held June 16 from 8:30 to 11:30. Registration is free and open to the entire state. Registration is done through STIPD. Search for title UMINS10.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Troy University Offering "Get Organized! The Five Keys to Organization and Time Management"


The second day of Learning Fest '10 will feature this 4-hour workshop designed to give you a total system for organizing your surroundings and managing your time. This interactive workshop will help you create a comprehensive system for bringing order and control to your personal and and professional life. Your level of stress will diminish as your level or organization and time management increases.

TOPICS
• Handling the paper blizzard.
• Using a single “signature tool” to organize your life.
• Establishing a system for tasks which repeat.
• Mastering the flood of information.
• Handling multiple projects.

LEARN
• How to organize using digital or paper tools.
• How to document effortlessly.
• How to get your e-mail to empty every day.
• How to use the “Fab 5” to give focus to your day.
• How to reduce stress and increase the joy in your job.

The workshop will be held on June 15 from 9:00-2:30. Registration is free and open to the entire state. For who are within the Troy University Inservice Center region will receive a complimentary copy of my original book Get Organized!: Time Management for School Leaders. Registration is done through STIPD. Search for PD title number TU421.

Friday, May 21, 2010

A Day in the Life of a Digital Administrator

As a part of Troy University's Learning Fest '10, you will have the unique opportunity to experience what life is like for a "digital administrator."

A growing number of people are opting for a cell phone which can do far more than make a phone call. The BlackBerry has the capability to be a total life organizer that fits neatly in a pocket. However, a lack of training exists on how to use its capabilities. In this workshop, you will learn:

• How to enter an appointment once and have it appear on the calendar every week, every month, etc.
• How to create an “organized task list” which presents items clearly and in the order they need to be done.
• How to handle tasks that must be done every week, month, or year.
• How to use “Contacts” as the one and only address/phone list you will ever need.
• How to keep a wealth of reference information at your fingertips using “Notes.”
• How to use the search capabilities of the device to find any information quickly.
• How to get your e-mail Inbox empty every day.
• How to synchronize Outlook with a smartphone.

The workshop will be held June 14 from 1:30 to 3:30. Registration is open to the entire state. To register for complete and submit the form found here.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

"Get Organized With Outlook" to be Offered at Troy University

Troy Universityis sponsoring several of my workshops as a part of Learning Fest '10. Below is a description of what you will get from "Get Organized With Outlook"

Whether you organize with a Palm, a BlackBerry, or other smartphone, the common denominator is the ability to synchronize with Outlook. This workshop teaches strategies for using Outlook to access, store, and retrieve information easily. The aim is increased productivity in a complex world.

Most people know Outlook as a program which can manage e-mail. The workshop shows how this powerful program can organize your life. In this session, you will learn:
• How to enter an appointment once and have it appear on the calendar every week, every month, etc.
• How to create an “organized task list” which presents items clearly and in the order they need to be done.
• How to handle tasks that must be done every week, month, or year.
• How to use “Contacts” as the one and only address/phone list you will ever need.
• How to keep a wealth of reference information at your fingertips using “Notes.”
• How to use the search capabilities of the software to find any information quickly.
• How to get your e-mail Inbox empty every day.
• How to synchronize Outlook with a smartphone.

Today’s world moves quickly. Outlook can keep the busy teacher or administrator on track.

This workshop is being offered June 14 from 10:00-12:00 at Troy University. Attendance is being opened to the entire state. To register, complete and submit the form found here.

Check back for information on other workshops being offered this summer.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Or Could This Be in Your Future?

Thanks to Dave Sherman for the comment he left on my past post. If you follow the link, it will take you to a post on Dave's blog where he had actually posted the same video. In that post, however, Dave also included a TED Talk video that takes things to a whole new level. I have included the TED Talk below.



If you would like to read Dave's commentary, go to the post on his blog.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

"Google Goggles" for Android Phones

Traditionally, we search for information by typing text into a search engine. The concept with Google Goggles is that you take a photograph and Google Goggles searches from there. Google Goggles is available for Android phones

Here is a short video which explains the concept:


Here is an example of an actual search:



Tuesday, May 11, 2010

More on Principal Blogs in Education World

Education World is featuring an excellent article on blogging for principals. A large portion of the article talks about the Raymond L. Young Elementary School blog. Pattie Thomas, the principal at Young and a close personal friend is the primary author of the blog. To read the article, click on the Education World logo below.

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Did You Know?

"Did You Know?" is perhaps the most thought-provoking video I have seen in terms of how our country fits into the global picture, what the future is likely to hold, and how technology fits into that picture. It's implications for education are huge.

Three years ago, Karl Fisch was asked by his principal to speak at one of the beginning-of-year faculty meetings. He put together a PowerPoint, and the rest is history. If you have seen a version of "Did You Know?" then perhaps you may wish to visit the author's blog where he explains the story behind this powerful message. That original post is found here.

Over the last three years, various versions have been produced and updates have been made. Here is latest version. What does it mean for our schools? What does it mean for you and me? What are we going to do about it?


Friday, May 07, 2010

A Short Answer to The Long URL

We have all been confronted with a long URL here or there. It's not so bad if we can simply click on the link. What if you or someone else needs to copy down that URL by hand? What if you need to insert that URL into a paper or article? In those cases, a long URL is a pain. Fortunately, there is an answer.

You have surely seen addresses that began "tinyurl.com." What you may not know is how easy it is for you to convert any URL into a shorter, or "tiny" URL.

Simply go to this address:
http://tinyurl.com

You will see a box which looks like this:

 Paste your long URL in the box and click the button that says, "Make TinyURL!" The next thing you will see is a screen with your "tiny URL" created. Is there a certain address you would like the tiny URL to be? Paste your long URL in the box and fill in the box below it with your choice. For example, you might choose your initials and the current date in the form MMDDYYYY. The site will either accept your preference or let you know the name is not available.

If for some reason you or those with whom you work are having to write URLs, Tiny URL can be a real time-saver. Check it out!

Leaving a Job? Prepare a List of Exit Tasks

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Changing jobs can be an overwhelming experience, but it does not have to be. The key is planning. I year ago, I was in the midst of planning my retirement. Many months before my last day, I was making notes about tasks large and small that would all need to happen within a fairly short time frame. When those final days came, it was early a matter of putting the plan into motion.

Below is a list of my exit tasks. Everyone’s situation is different, so my list will not work necessarily work for you, but it provides a start.

Letting your associates know where to find you:
  1. Look at your Outlook Contacts for who will need to know our new address, e-mail, and phone.
  2. Look at your pay stub for those who take payroll deductions and talk to your payroll department on how to make these transitions to your new employer.
  3. Think through journals, magazines, and other regular mailings which come to your business address which should now be mailed somewhere else.
  4. Determine how your old school or office will determine what mail addressed to you needs to be forwarded and how the process of getting your mail to you will be handled.
  5. Talk to the IT department to determine if mail coming to your business address can automatically be forwarded to your new e-mail address.
  6. Compose a single-mail containing new contact information and send to everyone who will need it.

Letting the world know where to find you:
Is there a web presence which should be updated with new contact information?
  1. Personal website or blog (including profile)
  2. Facebook page
  3. LinkedIn page
  4. Webpages from other companies which make reference to you

Who else might need to find you?:
List the online services for which you have accounts for which you will need to update contact information (especially new e-mail address)
  1. reQall
  2. Animoto
  3. Blogger
  4. Edulogs

Getting ready to move:
  1. Make a list of what you own personally.
  2. Are there personal belongings you want to leave behind? Prepare a letter stating what you are donating. Save for tax purposes.
  3. Has anyone borrowed something of yours? Work on getting that stuff back now.
  4. Do you have anything that belongs to the school or office that you have at home or in your car? Make plans to return.
  5. Have you borrowed anything from a co-worker? Make plans to return.
  6. What electronic documents do you need to copy and take with you? Copy them to a flash drive.
  7. Copy your Outlook pst file to a flash drive. If you archive your Outlook data, copy the archived pst file to a flash drive. Install them on your new computer now if possible just to be sure your data is secure.

Erasing your tracks from your phones:
  1. Delete speed dials programmed into land line and business-issued smart phone.
  2. Delete any other information programmed in your land line or smart phone.
  3. Change your greeting to provide your new location to callers. Do this on both your land line and smart phone.
  4. Reset mailbox password to the default on the land line.
  5. Research how to delete all information in mass from your model. When you turn it over, it should void of:
  • Speed dials
  • Contacts
  • Pictures
  • E-Mail messages
  • Calendar events
  • Tasks
  • Voice mails
Erasing your tracks from your computer:
  1. Identify what information will be needed by others, organize it, and provide copies to the appropriate people.
  2. As stated earlier, copy information you will need to a flash drive. Be sure to copy your Outlook pst file and outlook archives.
  3. Wipe the entire hard drive clean before leaving. Use a program which overwrites every sector, in effect filling the entire hard drive with bits of information.
Get ready for a hectic final couple of days. Invariably, people who have had a month or more to ask you questions will wait until the last day to ask you to "make a list" of one thing or another or want to know where they can go to find certain information. It's tough to handle what you need to do while filling those requests at the same time.

With a little luck and a lot of planning, the last day can be the stress-free, enjoyable experience that it should be.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Saving Word 2007 Documents as PDF

ImageChef.com - Custom comment codes for MySpace, Hi5, Friendster and more Would you like to be able to save your Word 2007 documents as pdf without purchasing a separate program to do this for you?

Click here, and it will take you a Microsoft download page where you can download a free tool which will allow this capability. To create your pdf, choose "Save As." Under "Save as type," choose "PDF."

Monday, May 03, 2010

Thank Someone Who Has Touched Your Life

When we think about those who have shaped our lives in a positive way, the name of at least one teacher generally comes to mind. But, are those who meant so much to us aware of the lasting impact they made? They won't know unless we tell them, as this video illustrates.



During "Teacher Appreciation Week," there is perhaps no better time to contact one of those special teachers to let him or her know that they made a different...a lasting difference, and how much it is appreciated.

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Technology in Education

Just a quick video on how far technology in education has come...