EL/MS/INT: Istation Assignments - Activity Keeps Restarting 10/21/16

Scenario: Student clicks on the Assignment button in Istation to start a lesson that has been assigned by the teacher.  The student has to stop mid-way through the lesson.  When the student returns the next day, he/she is complaining that it starts the entire assignment over again from the beginning. 

Question: If the student logs out of the assignment before it is completed, does the student have to start over from the beginning?

Answer:  Assignments are like the ISIP test…they are generally divided into segments.

If the activity is divided into segments, once the student completes (for example) the first segment, he/she won’t repeat that one.  But if the student (for example) gets through 60% of the 2nd segment and has to leave, he/she will have to repeat that same 60% of the 2nd segment the next time log in occurs.

ALL: Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest (Deadline November 15) 10/21/16

Public school teachers nationwide can help their school win a share of $2M* in Samsung technology by entering the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. Developing projects that apply STEAM subjects to improve your local community, can empower your students to learn creative problem solving and critical thinking skills.

http://www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/home.html 

Deadline is November 15, 2016!!

ALL: Flipchart Fonts Fail on Tablets 10/21/16

Have you recently started using a Tablet in your classroom? Have you found that flipchart text is not always displaying correctly? Only half a line shows?

Here is the fix:

1. Close ActivInspire
2. Right-click on your ActivInspire icon on the desktop 
3. Click on Properties
4. Select the Compatibility tab
5. Select Disable display scaling on high DPI settings
6. Reopen ActivInspire

Done!

EL: Dreambox Picture Password Isn't Working 10/21/16

Problem:  
Students click their picture password in Dreambox, but it doesn't log them into the program.  What is the problem?

Consider the following:

• Use Chrome to access DreamBox
• Also, check that the Flash Player is up to date on the computer

You can install the Flash Player from this site (BUT BE CAREFUL) - UN-check the boxes for the Optional Offers BEFORE you click Install:

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?fpchrome 

ALL: Nepris - Connect With Industry Professionals! 10/21/16

Nepris - https://www.nepris.com/

  

Have Real World Experiences Delivered to the Classroom

Nepris connects teachers and students with the right industry experts without having to spend much planning time or leaving the classroom while providing an effective way for companies to extend education outreach and create equity of access.  Through virtual communication, Nepris makes it easy for teachers to invite industry professionals into the classroom to bring real world relevance to learning.

How Nepris Works - https://www.nepris.com/foreducators

Subscription Plans - https://www.nepris.com/subscription/plans

Upcoming Industry Chats - https://www.nepris.com/industry/talks

Session Topics You Can Reuse - https://www.nepris.com/sessions/topics

ALL: LanSchool - Clear Desktop Function Has Changed 10/14/16

A short time ago, LanSchool changed the way the Restrict --> Clear Desktop function works.

Previously, from the Teacher Console, you could choose Restrict-->Clear Desktop and have all the applications close.  This no longer works the same way.  Here's some updated information regarding this topic.

If the “Clear Desktop” function is being selected it will not close out any applications, but will minimize everything on the student machines to show the desktop.  If the students have applications running that are on the blocked applications list and the teacher turns on her application limiting function, this should close the applications.

If they are using the “Clear Desktop” function then nothing actually is closed.  It used to work that way but there was apparently an overwhelming request to change it due to massive data loss on student projects when applications were abruptly closed by the teachers.  

EL/MS/INT: ActivInspire - Creating Objects that Hide and Unhide 10/14/16

In ActivInspire, you can create an object that you acts as a "toggle" on and off to hide and unhide something.  Or you can make the object transparent and it acts like a "toggle" that highlights and un-highlights something over which it is layered.

Here's how to do it:

When you do this, you might consider clicking the Design Mode button at the top right.

• Blue is for viewing your flipchart
• Red is for designing and editing your flipchart

In these instructions, Step #1 assumes that you are creating an object that is a box (or square) that will cover text or another object behind it.  When done, if the user clicks the box, it will toggle on and off to hide and un-hide the item behind it.

1. Create your box using the Shape Tool (the yellow circle and red square icon)
2. Click the Select Tool (black arrow)
3. Click the box that you created to select it
4. If you want to make the box more transparent (like it is a highlighter), drag the Transparency Slider Tool (looks like the sun) to change the transparency
5. If you want to change the color of the object, click the Fill Tool (paint bucket) – change the object by clicking on it and/or the border
6. Click the Select Tool (black arrow) again
7. Click the object that you created to select it
8. From the Browser window on the left, click the Actions Browser button (looks like a red and blue top)
9. Drag the scroll bar down until you see Hidden
10. Click the three dots to the right of the Target box (near the bottom)
11. Choose the object you want to hide
12. Click OK
13. Click Apply changes at the bottom

Testing out your hidden object! - Make sure your Design Mode is back to Blue.  Click the object once or twice to see if it hides and unhides!

EL: Kindle Fires Underused? Check This Out! 10-14-16

Are your Kindle Fires underused at your school?  Looking for some good Apps to utilize with your students?  Check out these Apps:

Duck Duck Moose

Spelling City - a fun way to learn spelling and vocabulary words by playing engaging learning games using any word list.

Scratch Junior - an introductory programming language that enables young children (ages 5 and up) to create their own interactive stories and games.

Slice Fractions - problem solving while learning fractions.

50 US States - All 50 states! All 50 capital cities!

ALL: Promethean Planet has Merged with ClassFlow 10-14-16

When you visit http://www.prometheanplanet.com, you will see more than just a new look! ClassFlow has been integrated with ActivInspire for awhile, but now their resources are merged.

Upon first glance, it may appear that everything has gone ClassFlow. Actually, everything has just been moved. You can still search for flipcharts, resource packs, download ActivInspire, and get support for Promethean products.

You still log in with your Promethean Planet username and password. "Search Now" takes you to the Marketplace where you will find ClassFlow lessons mixed in with Flipcharts and Resource Packs.

FAQs for Promethean Planet users is found here. https://promethean.helpjuice.com/promethean-planet-users