Yosemite and iTunes 12.8.1 update breaks Safari

If you are still running Yosemite and suddenly your Safari no longer works, there is an iTunes updare that breaks Safari. 

After updating to iTunes 12.8.1, some users have encountered the following error message when opening Safari on OS X Yosemite:Safari cannot be opened because of a problem.

Come see me to get it fixed.

Changes to the Google sign-in

Starting November 27th, 2018, Google will make some small changes to the appearance of the Google sign-in page. Specifically, you might notice outlines around some entry fields, and changes to the spacing and styling of other text on both the web and mobile screens. The changes will start to take effect on November 27th and may take up to two weeks to reach all users. 

Groupwise on your iPhone

I saw a student today and the directions below did not exactly work so we modified them a bit, I am not sure if this was because of a newer iOS.  See the highlighted area for the change.


Go to your Settings
Go to Mail, Contacts, calendars
Choose add an account
Other
Select Exchange/Microsoft Exchange
In the appropriate boxes, enter your Groupwise email address, username, and password
For the server address, enter mobilesync.sayreschool.org
Leave domain empty
Enter your username as your first initial last name
If available, or if prompted, select to use SSL
For the rest of the settings, the default should be used
You should only select to have the mail and calendar items synced.  Don't choose contacts, as this will attempt to sync the whole Groupwise address book

Google Classroom Tip number one

I was working in Google Classroom this morning and read about a tip I wanted to share.  When you add a comment to student work it is stored in a comment bank, to access this all you need to do is type a # in the comment field and it will pull up all the comments you have written, allowing you to reuse comments you already wrote.

Google Cast for education

Google Cast for education is a free app that allows teachers and students to turn their devices into wireless projectors or receivers.  You an use Cast similarly to how you would use an Apple TV except no hardware needed!  

• First launch your Chrome Browser signed in with your G Suite for Education account, jdoe@sayreschool.org.
• Click the three-dot menu in the top right-hand corner of your browser and select “cast” from the drop down list.
• On your SMART Board go to the kapp module input and swipe up to access the menu, select “screen share” select the chrome icon.
• Your SMART Board should now appear on your cast to list.
  • If it does not appear, make sure that your device and your board are connected to the same wifi
  • Restart your chrome browser or your computer.

How to Remove an Apple ID from a Mac

Here is a valuable re-post from OSX Daily Have you unintentionally used an Apple ID or logged into an Apple ID on a Mac that isn’t yours, or perhaps that you don’t want iCloud access on? If so, you may wish to remove that Apple ID and iCloud account from that Mac. Similarly, you may want to delete an Apple ID from a ... Read More

KySTE Fall Digital Conference

 
The KySTE organization is excited to announce an upcoming Fall “Digital” Conference on October 25th, 2018, https://sites.google.com/fayette.kyschools.us/kystefallevent/home! This one day opportunity aims to connect leaders, educators, and technical staff from across the state while providing informative topics and countless resources all without leaving your district! The Fall Conference will be offering multiple sessions categorized under three primary strands, #KySTELead, #KySTETeach, and #KySTETech, where we hope to provide something for everyone regardless if you are a new or seasoned part of your district.

Click here to see the sessions offered:

https://sites.google.com/fayette.kyschools.us/kystefallevent/sessions


 

Adding the PLP Printer

Log onto to Sparta

Go to Student

UPPER -> Utilities -> Printers-> Konica-> Konica bizhub3-> Mac

Drag the bizhub_42_10-6 folder to the desktop

Double click the package

Choose continue to install the driver

Choose continue when prompted again

Choose continue for the user agreement

Choose install

Select Close

Go the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of your mac

Select System Preferences

Select Printers and Scanners

Choose the + in the lower left hand corner

Select IP in the upper left hand corner

Put 10.0.0.233 in the address field

Choose HP Jetdirect – Socket for the protocol

Put Tech_Copier in the name field

Press the drop down arrow to the right of the Use field

Choose select software

Select the Konica Minolta bizhub 36PPD

Choose OK

Press the Add button

Click OK

Apple TV directions

I have set up an Apple TV in your room; if you do not want to use it simply unhook the VGA cable and plug the VGA cable back into the white dongle.  The Apple TV will allow you to connect your laptop so you can move about freely or more importantly have students project up to the screen.  If you want to do have me show you we can set up a time and we can go over how.  If you want to go on by yourself I have written the basics down for you so you can get started.


1. To use it simply plug the VGA or the HDMI cable into the black box converter and then into the back of the Apple TV
2. Make sure the Apple TV is plugged into a power source and that the Apple TV has a light ( should already be)
3. Turn on projector
4. On your laptop, in the upper right hand corner select the airplay icon (to the left of your wireless icon) and the appropriate Apple TV ( ie. Apple TV US 005) the number is your room number
5. Once connected it will ask for the password which is your room number with a 0 at the end (ie 0050)
6. It should now mirror your screen
7. Students can do the same using the directions above

Using your phone as a remote for Google Slides

I posted a week or so ago about how to use your remote to page through Powerpoints or documents you are projecting with your new Epson.  I have not been able to get it to function as the directions say but even more important you can not use your pens with your interactive board at the same time as using your remote as a mouse.  You need to go into settings and the extended menu to make these changes.  That does not seem like a viable option so I am getting presenters for those of you who need them.  However, for those of you using Google slides I have found a great Chrome extension that lets you use your phone as a remote.  Here is the link to your Chrome extension and here is the URL that you need to go to on your phone, https://slides.limhenry.xyz/
If you need more information here is the article I found that gave me the idea, https://thenextweb.com/apps/2017/12/04/turn-your-phone-into-a-google-slides-remote-control-with-this-chrome-extension/.

Google Classroom (Big Changes)

Some of you may have already noticed but Google Education has made some big changes to Google Classroom.  

Changes include:

• A materials section
• A classwork section
• Modifying the stream section
•  Improved setting pages
• Turned off notification

Take a look at the modified Google Classroom pages on Google’s site. Or read about it from an EdTech specialist.

Read&Write for Google™

Here is a resource I recommended to PLP, it is a Chrome extension called Read&Write for Google. The US kids love Chrome and this extension is designed to help those with learning issues. 

Read&Write for Google™

•         Hear passages with easy-to-follow color highlighting
•         See the meaning of words with text and pictures
•         Hear text translated into other languages
•         Predicts the next word as you type
•         Highlight text and collect it for use in other documents

Exporting your PCR calendar to your iCal

Here are the directions for exporting your PCR assignments that I covered in the Laptop Orientation. If you want to have your PCR assignment calendar on your phone simply press the blue iCal Export button on your assignment page to export to your iCal.  Make sure your phone has your iCal synced so that you can see your assignments on your phone. 

Using your remote as a wireless mouse

You can use the projector's remote control as a wireless mouse so you can control your computer presentation from a distance.

Note: This feature cannot be used at the same time as the interactive pens. If you want to use the remote control as a wireless mouse, you need to change the USB Type B setting in the projector's Extended menu.

1. Connect the projector to a computer using the projector's USB-B, Computer, or HDMI port to display video.
2. If you connected your computer to the Computer or HDMI port, also connect a USB cable to the projector's USB-B port and to a USB port on your computer (for wireless mouse support).
3. Start your presentation.
4. Use the following buttons on the remote control to control your presentation:
   • To move through slides or pages, press the up or down Page buttons.
     
     
   • To move the cursor on the screen, use the arrow buttons.
   • To left-click, press the button once (press it twice to double-click).
   • To right-click, press the Esc button.
   • To drag-and-drop, hold the button as you move the cursor with the arrow buttons, then release at the destination.

ISTE 2018

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that works with the global education community to accelerate the use of technology to solve tough problems and inspire innovation. The worldwide network believes in the potential technology holds to transform teaching and learning.

ISTE Conference & Expo registration includes year-round membership in ISTE where you'll find a global tribe of passionate educators and leaders who are committed to expanding the horizons of education technology. Attend ISTE 2018

Chicago

June 24–27, 2018
Chicago — McCormick Place West Building

Problems with downloading a batch file from Finalsite

A teacher was having trouble downloading her files from Finalsite, the zip file was turning into a cpgz file.   I have never seen this happen before!   When the .zip file is attempted to be unzipped, it extracts into a .cpgz file, which then can also be launched in Archive Utility, only to then turn back into a .zip file, which then turns into a .zip.cpgz file.   Ultimately, the archive gets stuck in an infinite loop as it’s being decompressed into one variation of the other, over and over again.  This could be that the download is corrupt, or it was not completely downloaded.  One suggestions is to use a different browser,  I will be curious to see if that resolves the issue.  Another suggestion is to use the command line tool.

• Launch Terminal, found in the /Applications/Utilities folder
• Find the .zip file in the Finder and have it easily accessible
• At the command line type “unzip ” followed by a space, then drag and drop the .cpgz or .zip file into the terminal window to automatically enter the full path to that file, then hit return

I am also curious as to whether or not this is a Finalsite issue as I know we had problems with Finalsite yesterday.

Saving iMovie files to external drives

Several students have recently asked me how to move iMovie files.  It is not very straightforward but luckily in version 11 all you need to do is to Command-drag the project.  Hold down the command key and drag the project you want to the desired external drive in iMovie. 

Files Types for music

For AP exams the kids were using GarageBand to record their music files, and the files saved as .M4a and the required AP format was to be .Mp3.  iTunes is suppose to be able to convert the files easily but I had no luck.  I was however able to use a VLC player to convert the files to an .Mp3.  Here is a I handy tool I found on the Dummies site:

File Type	Compressed?	What’s It Good For?
AIF	No	Audio CDs, iTunes, and archiving music in the file format that retains the most audio information. Can be used with iPod, but files are 5–10 times the size of compressed formats.
WAV	No	The equivalent of an uncompressed AIF file on a Mac, this format is used for sharing files with Windows users. File sizes are 5–10 times the size of MP3 files, which is the compressed file format of choice among Windows users.
Apple lossless	No	iTunes and archiving music in the file format that retains the most audio information. Can be used with iPod but files are 3–7 times the size of compressed formats.
MP3	Yes	iTunes, e-mail, the Web, and sharing with Windows users. Files are much smaller than either uncompressed format, making MP3s ideal for iPods.
AAC	Yes	Same as MP3 but is Mac-only. Slightly smaller files than MP3 and slightly better sound quality in those slightly smaller files. Most Windows users can’t use AAC files.

Setting up Groupwise on an Android

1.       First, add phone to wifi, depending on whether a student or faculty.

2.       Go into Settings->Accounts->Add account.

3.       Choose Exchange as the type.  May also be called Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. 

4.       Enter email address and password.

5.       Select manual setup. 

6.       Server address is mobilesync.sayreschool.org.

7.       Make sure that SSL encryption is checked.

8.       Continue using the defaults.

9.       Name the account.