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Showing posts from March, 2013

App review: Super Stretch

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After discussing his term in Physical Education with his teacher, Miss Early, we talked about what my son enjoyed in Class. The Yoga unit was one of his favourites, and living in a small apartment, can be done in a small space. But, I am not some yoga master. Miss Early suggested we look at an iPad app for Yoga for kids. My son is a first grader at KIS, where they use iPads from a cart in the classroom. Santa had brought him an iPad mini for Christmas, and we have already been using it for him to be more organized for school. He uses it for recreation, and a bit for school related tasks. I came across two apps, but Super Stretch became his favourite. It has pleasant animations, video clips of kids doing the poses, a reward system, and a code of ethics. My son decided that everyone in the house needed to do the Yoga, getting his little sister, Gran, Pop, Mom & Dad to join in. Here is the AppStore link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/super-stretch-yoga-hd/i

My Mac won't load the Users & Groups preference pane: Fix

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I had recently had a Mac on Lion unable to load the Users & Groups Preference Pane.   Like this: My IT support had suggested reimaging the computer.  Reinstalling the Operating System, reloading the applications, and transferring back the User information from Time Machine Backup. Well, after doing all of that, the problem reappeared immediately.  I scoured through Apple Support Communities and found this fix.  For some reason, some transparent users are showing up in your system.  They need to be deleted.  But since you cannot load Users & Groups... it becomes a problem. Here is the solution / procedure. Quit System Preferences.   Launch Terminal.  (Applications/Utilities/Terminal)   Copy & Paste these commands. sudo dscl . delete /Users/Guest press enter Terminal may ask for your Administrator Password, enter that. sudo dscl . delete /Users/Guest1 press enter Terminal may ask for your Administrator Password, enter that. Rel

Working with 3rd Graders and iPads

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At the Pangyo Elementary School, 3rd graders have been working in teams to create 'Mission Briefings' about Planets in our Solar System. Students needed to use traditional and Internet researching methods, team collaborative creativity, and the iPad to make their mission video. Teachers, like Annette Welpman, have invited Edtech Specialists to their class, to assist them with the technology.  But, as the students became accustomed to the technology, the creativity began to flow.  Students quickly adapted to the new technology, and were able to nearly independently, create their mission briefing. I assisted Annette and her students, for their first time using the iPads in a group project.  This was a rewarding experience for the students, the teacher, and myself. Ms. Welpman working, and photographing, her student. An example of one group's work on the Mission Briefing.

AirDrop Not Working? This fixed mine!

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AirDrop, Apple's somewhat unknown feature, works on most modern Macs.  What it does:  It allows you to drop a file to another Mac, over Wifi. Want to know more about it?  Look here:   http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/14/how-to-use-airdrop-in-mac-os-x/ But, you need to be able to see other users to use it.  For some reason, my Mac, running Mountain Lion, just stopped showing other users, I couldn't see them & they couldn't see me.  I was worried that I would have to reinstall my OS, which may not have fixed it.  Then, I found this script for Terminal.  Now, I am Not a Terminal expert, but this was just a cut / paste fix. To find Terminal on your Mac, go to Applications / Utilities / Terminal.  Cut / Paste this code and press Enter. defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser BrowseAllInterfaces 1 Launch Airdrop as normal, and you should be back up and running! Original Source for Terminal Script:  http://www.yourdailymac.net/2011/09/how-to-enable-os-x-lion-a

Siri Voice Commands

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Siri maybe an overlooked piece of technology on the iPad. She is quirky, and doesn't always understand you, but the more you use her, the better it gets. In my life, I've used Siri to help my seven year old to have limits with his iPad. This has also helped him manage his time, and to remind him to do his chores, and get organized for the next day. I use Siri to check the weather, schedule appointments, and do some dictation when I cannot be bothered tapping it out. But you may wish to know all of her voice controls. Why not just ask her? Open Siri (hold the home button for a second) and say, "Siri, what can you do?" And she will tell you. Sources: http://www.apple.com/au/ios/siri/siri-faq/ http://osxdaily.com/2013/02/05/list-siri-commands/

Graphic Novels on the iPad

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As an Edtech Specialist, my main role is iPad integration in the classroom.  I make many tutorials, but this is my first, of many, that I will be posting about the iPad.  This is a bit of a complicated one, but it is a unique one.  The YouTube Links below are embedded in the ebook, and the ebook follows. The iPad apps used are as follows:   Comic Life , ArtStudio , & Book Creator Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Dropbox link, best viewed on iPad with iBooks installed. Best of luck on your Graphic Novels!

My new blog!

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This is my new blog, to post my creations and thoughts about technology.  I am an Art Educator, Educational Technology specialist, parent, and husband.  I am an avid photographer, and trained radio broadcaster.  There are lots of places I would like this blog to take us, so follow along!