The following are instructions for Mx. Redding's students to use in setting up their digital tools on the classroom desktop computers.

If you've been sent here to complete this assignment during class then I’d like for you to complete this without conversation- this is a solo assignment.

In order to make sure we are all set-up with our course blogs please complete the following sections:

• Blogger
• Maximizing Google Apps
• Health and Wellness with Tech
• Mobile Apps & Equipment (for the course you are in now)

What you do not finish during class is homework.

• Google Apps. WIS is a Google Apps for Education (GAFE) school. With your WIS credentials you login into a suite of applications. your credentials are your username and password. When logged in you have access to your Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites and a host of others. (this website was created with the "New" google sites.) Consider downloading the individual apps on your mobile device to leverage these tools for your own productivity. Customization is essential. With the Drive, Docs, and Sheets apps you can mark some files to be accessible offline to read or work on when you do not have wifi access.
• Google Photos. In the PAF course your Smartphone is one of your cameras. Make sure your Smartphone has the space needed to be a useful tool in this course. Set up your Smartphone so all photos you select will backup to Google Photos. Using Google photos streamlines your workflow. Make sure to install the app on your mobile device (smartphone or iPad) and login with your WIS credentials. Configure your settings to automatically backup your images to Google Photos. Take your photos using whichever camera app you prefer. After you take the photo open the Google Photos app and your photos will upload in the background. Login to Blogger. To add your photo click the photo icon and choose "from your phone." {Many students also use iCloud for automatic backup. If you create a lot of media consider switching your backup to Google Photos, with your WIS credentials there is UNLIMITED STORAGE. Yep, unlimited.}

If you have been assigned to read this for PAF or Programming with Swift your first blog entry is a plan for how you will take care of your health and while working with a good deal of technology on a regular basis throughout high school.

Assignment: Go to your Dashboard in Blogger and create a new Post entitled "Health and Wellness with Tech." Read the section below, including some of the linked articles (yes, some, not all, you can choose which or how many). In your blog post in 1-2 paragraphs reflect on what you've read and discuss what strategies you already use and/or what may want to try from your reading for your time management, organization and school/life balance. Make sure to publish your post when done.

There has been much written and shared about how to balance the use of technology in your life. All of the people writing and sharing are just like you- we all encounter new technology at the same time.

Some tips and tricks will work for you, others won't.

While technology keeps changing and evolving at what sometimes seems an exponential rate, we humans do not. More specifically, our bodies are not able to adapt to keep up with our technological innovations so we are all always still learning how to take care of ourselves best while living with (insert newest tech here).

Here are my specific edtech tips for students, teachers and people who love to read, write, create and share using digital media technology- curated from my life as an early adopter of new technologies/former Director of Academic Technology and edtech maven. I hope this is helpful!

*device = desktop or laptop or tablet or smartphone or game system or e-reader or that new tech that has been invented since I last updated this page

• When sitting using a device, get up and take a break every 20-25 minutes. Set a timer to help with this habit.
• When sitting using a device, hydrate often and take care to avoid eye strain. [Web MD Harvard Mayo Clinic]
• Use keyboard shortcuts to reduce time spent using a mouse. This healthy practice reduces your risk or a repetitive stress injury like carpal tunnel.
• Whenever possible make sure your workstation or work area is ergonomically aligned for your body. Tables and chairs come in standard heights, people don't. Customization is essential. (the article has good advice for humans of all ages)
• We at WIS are a Google Apps for Education School (GAFE) which means we use Gmail for email and google Calendar for scheduling. You can maximize your productivity with both these tools.
• WIS uses OnCampus as our primary content management system for courses and student resources. Make sure you have watched the introduction video which is also posted in the Resources section of OnCampus.
• Did you know you can subscribe to your class schedule from OnCampus so your classes show up in your Google Calendar on your laptop/tablet/smartphone?
• Did you know that using an organizational system like [your planner + google calendar+ optimization of digital tools] can reduce your stress and anxiety and save you time?

Download the following apps on your Smartphone:

• Instagram. We may use this for our month-long photojournal project.
• Canon Remote. Yep, an app remote for the Canon 6D Camera.
• Google Photos. In the PAF course, you will use your smartphone as one of your cameras.