Embedded Files
Expose has to be one of my all time favourite Mac OSX tools, especially when I am running my MacBook over two screens with multiple applications open. Tap the Expose key (F3 on MB) and all your open windows can be viewed so you can locate what you want quickly. This link has more info on the Apple website. So no more minimizing or moving windows around on you screen...please! If you have Snow Leopard, Expose now has some additional features covered in this short video from Geekanoids.
Keynote/Kidpix : Teacher, Helen Rennie-Younger shares lots of learning on her wiki including how she has explored the importance of oral language to assist written language, specifically providing opportunities for students to return to an oral language activity having written a text.
Students record themselves and insert their recording into their e-book created in Keynote. These can also be uploaded to a blog/wiki
Step-by-step instructions can be viewed on Helen's wiki here. It is worth taking some time to explore Helen's wiki specifically her reflections on the process and acknowledging the work of Sara Taylor and Dorothy Burt that inspired her.
Text Edit/iTunes: I often use text edit to prepare/draft content before adding online, especially if contributing in an online forum or writing to post at a later date. Also when it comes time to cut and paste I don't end up with horrible bits of html code and there is nothing worse then having a piece of writing carefully crafted disappear into the ether because the web page froze. I also have a Text Edit file saved with some preset codes for formatting my wiki. I can cut and paste into the wiki and only have to worry about changing the text that will be viewed.
I have never been great at spelling, as a child it would limit my writing incredibly and also my willingness to contribute to collaborations in the real-time, so along with the dictionary/thesaurus in my dashboard I also find the spell suggest in Text Edit is handy. In Text Edit, start to write the word as a guess, hit the escape key and a list of options will appear. Also picked this up at ITSC earlier this year (needs Snow Leopard) - export what you have typed in Text Edit as a sound track to iTunes. Text Edit - Services - Add to iTunes as a spoken track*
*If this is not an option - Text Edit - Services- Services Preferences - Services -scroll down and tick - add to iTunes as a spoken track
If you know of any other Text Edit tips please add to the comments below, also lots more online.
Highly recommend exploring the plethora of resources in iTunesU...free educational podcasts and vodcasts
Someone posted this on Twitter recently, apologies can't remember who... was it you?Create an iTunes Account without a credit card
Someone posted this on Twitter recently, apologies can't remember who... was it you?Create an iTunes Account without a credit card
"iTunes Store offers a large variety of free content, but to download it you have to have an account. Usually you have to enter your credit card information to sign up, but here’s an easy way to get an iTunes account for free downloads without entering any payment info"
"iTunes Store offers a large variety of free content, but to download it you have to have an account. Usually you have to enter your credit card information to sign up, but here’s an easy way to get an iTunes account for free downloads without entering any payment info"
http://mactips.info/ Have just recently started following on Twitter and picking up some useful tips, however if you are not into Twitter check out the website and other alternatives for bringing the tips to you!
Instant Alpha: Nifty tool for removing the backgrounds of images in Keynote or Pages. Lots of opportunity to be creative with student CG art and digital image combinations. Useful blog with more tips for Pages
Mac Zoom Great for zooming in to parts of you screen when displayed on a projector or if, like me, eye sight starting to fail. This clip demonstrates using a keyboard and mouse. Can also be achieved on a laptop, hold down the control key, swipe your index and ring finger up and down the tackpad to zoom in and out.
I have been working with teachers and schools for a few years now as an e-learning facilitator.I am based in Auckland at Team Solutions, Faculty of Education. Read more about me and what I am up to here My blog VirtualNorth is here MacIntosh The power to CRUSH the other kids!
Page updated
Report abuse