TV Channel Switching

Are you finding yourself asking your students what channel the news or the clock is on? Have you found your remote inside of your desk, but by the time that you get it out and find the right buttons to press, the news is already over? Then this tip is for you.

Did you know that there was a button on you your remote that will "swap" between 2 channels? Key in channel 10 and press enter. You should see the school clock. Now key in 7 and press enter. This is the news channel. Now, on the right side of your remote, about half way down, there is a button ... This button will switch back and forth between your two important channels. Feel free to mark that button with a permanent marker to make it easier to find.

Internet Shortcuts for Students

Don't you wish that the students had an easy way to get to that great website that you found? Where is that Novell window so that they could just click on the icon and be there?

This Internet Shortcuts training video will help you solve that problem. I'll show you how to put an internet shortcut into the proper folder so that it will show up on your student's desktop.

Computer Space Management

Do you feel that you need some more table space for the students? Have you been thinking that you would like another table to use, but there is no place for it.

Well, here is a nice solution. As I've went around from class to class, I noticed the way someone setup their computers that gave them some extra table space. The earphones were wrapped around the table (not the screen - too much pressure) and the keyboard was on the CPU. This is a really creative way to manage space and provide some more table space.

Standby Mode

Is your computer always running out of juice? Find an easy way to make your battery last longer and make you a more effective teacher.

Watch how on T3 Video - Standby Mode

Network Icons

Are you wondering what to do with those three network icons on the desktop of your school laptop? What is my "Home" directory and how should I use it? What am I sharing in the "Shared" directory? Or, How can I access my students work?

These questions are answered in the T3 Video - Network Icons.

Keyboard Shortcuts

You can save precious time by learning some basic shortcuts on your keyboard for things that you do often. The "Ctrl" button is a control button that basically hooks up with another key(s) and lets you do repeated tasks easily. Hold the Ctrl button down while pressing another letter and voila! For example...
Ctrl and P tells your computer to print.
Ctrl and S tells your computer to save.
Ctrl and X tells your computer to cut.
Ctrl and C tells your computer to copy.
Ctrl and V tells your computer to paste.

To see what a shortcut is, click on the drop down menu such as "Edit". Beside the item that you want to do, there is usually a shortcut to the right. Enjoy!

Computer Lab Schedule

To help the chaos of scheduling time for your class to come to the computer lab, I have posted the Banks Road Computer Lab schedule on our Blackboard site. You simply need to click on the technology link and then view the computer lab calendar. When you find a time that fits your schedule, send me an email at ptart@wcpss.net and I'll put you on. I'm also adding times that I will not be available for instruction since I am a track 5 ten month employee.
I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Patrick Tart