FMS Tech

My iBackup was stalling in the middle of backing up so I emailed the designer of the program and he showed me a different route for backing up my crucial stuff. If you open iBackup you can make these changes pretty easily and things should go a lot faster. (Warning! Technical Jargon Follows) His thought was that there were certain things in my Library that were giving me permissions errors and that was slowing things down, and sometimes causing things to not get backed up. This might be why some teachers had their stuff backed up to a certain date and then it stopped. Anyway, on to the directions:

1. Open iBackup (Applications > Backup)
2. Click on the words directly to the right of the little house (it should say FMS or Foothills Middle School, mine says 'birksray' in the image below). Don't click on the checkbox because that will select everything inside that folder.
3. Inside that folder uncheck Documents, Desktop, and Library.
4. Go back to the left side of the main box and put a check in the boxes next to Documents and Desktop to back them up.
5. Click on the words 'System Settings' (not the check box, because we don't want to back up everything inside that folder either)
6. Put a check in the box next to Address Book, iCal, iWeb, Keychains, Mail, Printers, and System Preferences

Now when your auto-backup takes place or you manually click on 'Backup Now' it should go a lot faster.

Did you know that your search bar is more powerful than you thought? You can use it as a calculator and a dictionary. Many times in class a student asks for help on their math or we are reading something and we come across a word we don't know. Since opening the calculator in the Applications file and getting a dictionary off the shelf are WAY too slow (tongue in cheek) you can use the search bar to perform these tasks. Give it a try. Press the search bar shortcut (Command + Space Bar) and type 3+4 and the answer will appear just below it. Type in a word, like rambunctious, and the definition and part of speech will appear. Pretty cool. A great party trick!

Also, to quickly exit the search bar press 'Esc'.

Easy Grade Pro may not be the most intuitive program we work with but it can do some powerful things to help you sort and view your students. One of the great features is filters. They can be used to weed out things that you don't want to see so you're left with only the information you want. For example, if you want to just see your D's and F's for Fun Friday you can use (or create) a filter to show you that. Instead of typing out new instructions I'm just going to refer you to Easy Grade Pro's website for their instructions.

Many times when I see someone's Desktop it's littered with downloaded applications simply because people don't know if it's okay to delete them. If there is an application that you've downloaded usually it's in a .dmg format (which stands for disk image), a .zip file (which is a compressed or zipped file) or a .sit (Stuff-It file).

When you download something it usually ends up in one of two places, on your Desktop or in your Downloads folder. Find the file and double-click on it to open it. It will usually unpack the application and most likely open another folder or an installer, if the application is more complicated. From there you usually drag the application into your Applications folder and you're done installing. But now you're left with the downloaded file and disc image or installer on your computer. Just drag those to the Trash to get rid of them and you're done.

One final step would be to drag the icon from the Applications file into your dock if you're going to use the app frequently.

I seem to be on a backup and safety kick. Here's more.

Got a lot of passwords? Want a secure way to keep track of them? You could buy one called 1Password for $40 or you can use a utility on your Mac called Keychain. Your Keychain (inside your Utilities folder, which is Applications folder) already keeps track of many of your system passwords but it also has a feature called Secure Notes where you can type something (like a password) and then password protect it.

You could put all of your vital passwords on a secure note and then keep it safe with your master password Not a bad use for the utility. If you haven't taken a look at Keychain open it up and take a look.

Another tip: You can add Keychain to your Task Bar by opening Keychain's Preferences. Inside check the box that says "Show Status in Menu Bar". Now it's even easier to get your passwords.

Update: If you want to see your current passwords that you have saved in Firefox then go to Firefox > Preferences. Click on the Security tab and then the 'Saved Passwords' button. In Safari they are stored in Keychain. Applications > Utilities > Keychain.

Got a file you don't want prying eyes to see? You can password protect a Pages or Word document (and Excel, Numbers, etc) pretty easily. In Pages open up the Inspector and on the document tab, on the bottom, you'll see 'Require password to open'. Click the little check box and you're set. Pretty simple. In Microsoft Word go to Tools > Protect document and enter your password there. Just as easy.

When you're all done with an application and don't want it on your computer anymore (maybe you're trying to save space or get rid of trial versions of software) you can drag the file in your Apps folder to the trash. But there are other files associated with the app that still linger on your computer, like support files and preferences.

To make sure you get rid of all of the files you can buy a program like App Zapper for $12.95 or you can get one for free. The one I use is AppCleaner. Download it into your Applications file and when you want to delete an app just drop that apps icon onto the icon for AppCleaner and it will do the rest. Nice and neat!

This is another reminder that hard drives fail, whether we take good care of our computers or not. My suggestion is that you learn how to manually backup your own computer so you can do it whenever you want. I do mine every morning to an external hard drive and it only takes about a minute. If you do it over the network to the student server it could take a bit longer, so start it in the AM or leave your computer working when you leave at night. The more you do it the faster it gets because it only uploads the new information or changes.

Manual iBackup Movie

Just a reminder to print your grades and attendance for 1st quarter now so you avoid the rush at the end of the year.

Video Tutorial for Printing Grades
Video Tutorial for Printing Attendance

This is a tip for advanced users or those who want to experiment with something cool. Using iMovie you can use a green screen effect to overlay your video onto a backgroud of your choosing (another picture or video). Impress your friends by sharing your next video while you're standing in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Check out this tutorial.
Here's a quick sample I made to test it

Ever want to be able to add stuff automatically at the end of your email address, like your phone number, address, or a link to your website? Email signatures allows you to do that.

In Apple Mail here are the steps:

1. Open Preferences (under the Mail menu)
2. Click on the 'Signatures' tab
3. Click on the little + sign at the bottom
4. Type what you want in the box on the right (name, address, title, phone number, web page)
5. To make a link to a web page type in the text you want, then press Apple + K and paste the URL (Internet address)
6. To make a link to your email type the address, the press Apple + K and then type 'mailto:(your email address)' (example mailto:birks.r@mail.wsd.wednet.edu)
7. Close the Preferences box
8. Open an email and you should see your new signature on the bottom

You can have more than one signature (or none) and choose which one you want using the drop-down menu on the right side of a new email.

In Entourage here are the steps:

1. Open Tools > Signatures...
2. Click on the green + icon on the top
3. Give your rule a name (like school, personal, etc.)
4. Type whatever you want in the box below
5. Close the box and choose 'Save' when prompted
6. Open a new email and check for your signature or a drop-down to allow you to choose which signature to use (or none)

We just completed a basic introductory workshop on iWeb and I wanted to put all of the resources I mentioned in one central location.

The Basics

• Start Making a Page with iWeb
• Basic iWeb Tutorials

Easy iWeb Publsher

• How to Download Easy iWeb Publisher and Install it on my Computer (video)
• Download Latest Version of Easy iWeb Publisher Here
• How to Format Easy iWeb Publisher and also - A Video Tutorial
• How to Publish Your Web Site with Easy iWeb Publisher and also - A Video Tutorial

Support for iWeb

• Apple's iWeb Page
• Apple's iWeb Forum
• Rowan Cottage's iWeb Support and Articles

iWeb FAQs (not associated with Apple)

• iWeb FAQ
• Another iWeb FAQ
• Apple Discussions iWeb FAQ

Extras

• How to Make an Online Photo Album with iPhoto and iWeb
• iWebSites - Allows you to Have Multple iWeb Sites on the Same Computer
• Adding Cool Google Gadgets to your iWeb

Any why should I care about them?

A podcast is a digital file that is released periodically that you can listen to on your computer, iPod, or mp3 player. There are podcasts on just about any subject you could imagine and they're really easy to download and listen to. For example, I like to listen to Mac Tech Tips so I subscribe to The The Mac Observer's Mac Geek podcast. Every week they release about an hour-long show that details a lot of great information about Macs.

I also like NPR's Live Concerts and also Wait, Wait, Do't Tell Me so I subsribe to them , download them, and listen to them whenever I want. They are great for long car rides.

The easiest way to subscribe to them is through iTunes. Open iTunes and click on the iTunes Store. Look for the tab or link for Podcasts within the iTunes store window and click on it. From here you can either search in the search bar up on the top right or just browse through all the offerings to find what you want. After you find something click on it and find the 'Subscribe' button. Once you subscribe not only do you get all of the future episodes but you can go back and download any of the old podcasts that are available.

Click on the iTunes link on the sidebar of iTunes and you'll see all of your podcasts along with the option to download as many as your heart desires. Plus, you too can make your own podcast and get it put on the iTunes page. Your kids will love making podcasts in Garage Band and making them available to the world!

Your friendly, neighborhood TRTs are available again this year for Tech Thursdays. Here is the tentative schedule:

• Rick - November 19th
• Ray - December 17th
• Rick - February 18th
• Ray - April 15th

Please click here for the sign-up page and details

Possible Topics
Using iWeb or iCal effectively	Creating a DVD using iDVD	Making a movie with iMovie
Using or transitioning from Entourage to Apple Mail	Effective Moodle Use and Class Creation	Organizing your computer files
Understanding Easy Grade Pro	Elmo/Avermedia (document camera) use	Using iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote)
Organizing pictures in iPhoto	Microsoft Office Sute (Word, Excel, Power Point)	Posting grades on the Internet
Emailing progress reports	Efficient Computer Use	Backing up your computer

The WSD has an educational account with Google that allows us to upload our students giving them access to Google Docs and a slew of other features that Google offers. What are the benefits? Your students can work on documents (on their own or collaboratively) and virtually turn them in to you (much the same as Moodle). They have their own, private login, they can access Google Docs from anywhere, and they can access and create calendars and web sites.

Here is a great FAQ from Google

It might not sound like much right now but the future of documents and collaboration is online and our kids deserve to on the forefront of this technology. Contact a TRT for more information on getting you and your kids set up with an account. (Email Ray) or (Email Rick)

A great feature of most email programs is they have rules which allow you to filter an email to send it where you want it to go even before you read it. Maybe you have an LIT folder and every email that has LIT in the subject (agenda, minutes) you want to go to that folder and be automatically deposited there. You can also use rules to make an automatic reply, say for every time your significant other sends you an email you can have a reply automatically sent back to him/her saying, "Thanks for the email, Honey. I'll be sure to pick up milk on the way home." (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

You can also use rules to get rid of spam by looking for key words or the names of certain senders. Examples of rules that I use are:

• Moodle - I have a Moodle rule so that any assignment turned in by my kids via Moodle gets dropped into Moodle folder instead of cluttering up my Inbox.
• Viagra - Anytime an email comes in with Viagra in the subject it automatically gets deleted.
• Tech Support - Any Tech Support emails get dropped in a separate folder called Tech Support but a copy also goes into my inbox.

Here's how to do it (I will be demonstrating it in Apple Mail):

• In Mail open your Preferences (go up to Mail and then Preferences... or press Apple + , (comma) in any program
• In the tabs across the top click on Rules
• Click Add Rule
• Give it a name and then start adding the ways that you want Mail to move your messages around

Anytime you can quote Bob Uecker...well, I don't know what to write after that intro. But there is a great application on most new Macs that a lot of users don't even know about called Front Row. It's a multimedia viewer that allows you to play your movies and DVDs, listen to your iTunes, podcasts, or Cds, and look at your pictures (and more). To activate it simply press Apple (Command) + Esc. The screen will go black for a second or two and the navigation menu will open. Use the arrow keys to navigate around and press Enter to select something. To go back one screen press Esc and to get all the way out press Apple + Option + Esc. Try it out. Amaze your friends.

How about coming in and having your computer open up your favorite web sites for you (Skyward? fmspoints?). Here's how to do it:

1. Go to the website you want to open and look just left of the URL address (the http: thingy). There should be a little icon there.
2. Drag that to your Desktop and drop it there and you'll have a file for your website.
3. Now open iCal and create a new event (File > New Event).
4. Give it a name and make sure the 'All Day' box is checked.
5. Set the repeat for 'Every Day' or customize it to only open on weekdays by pressing 'Custom...'
6. Make the end of the repeat 'Never'.
7. Set the alarm to 'Open File' and navigate to the file you saved on your Desktop.
8. Set the time of the alarm for the time you want the website to open and you're done.

Most times that I move away from my computer at my desk I wonder about the prying eyes of my students. Here is a quick tip to keep them at bay. Put your computer to sleep instantly by pressing Option + Apple (Command) + Eject. When you get back press any key to wake it up.

For further security you can add a password to wake your computer from Sleep mode. Go to System Preferences and Security. Look for the 'Require Password' box and check it. The password should be your computer's admin password (ask your TRT if you don't know what it is).

Here's a few other shortcuts:

Quick Logut = Apple (Command) + Option + Shift + Q
Quick Shut Down = Control + Option + Apple (Comand) + Eject
Quick Restart = Control + Apple (Command) + Eject

There used to be a cool, free application called Jott that allowed you to send email using your cell phone simply by using your voice. It would transcribe your voice and send an email to whomever you wanted. I used it for reminders to myself (get milk, don't forget lunch) and also because I didn't have a phone with text messaging (but FINALLY I do...thanks Honey). But Jott decided they need to start making some money and started charging for their service so I dropped it. But today I got an email from them telling me about their amazing, new (not free) services and it made me think there might be an free alternative. Voila!

Dial2Do

If you go there and sent up a free account you can use your phone to send emails and text messages. You can also update your Twitter account, and listen to Internet content. All you do is call a number, tell it what you want to do (email, text, Twitter) and who you want to send it to, then speak into your phone and it transcribes it and sends it for you. I've tried the text and email feature a number of times and it didn't miss a word either time. This is a great feature if you use our phone in the car with a headset and still want to text message and email, hands free!

Give it a shot. You might find some good uses for it. They even have a movie to give you more information. Plus, you can upload your address book from a lot of different email programs so you don't have to type them in.