Blackboard 7

I have had a couple of requests for help with Blackboard 7 in the last week. If you used Blackboard last year and requested that your classes be transferred over to BB7, then you should be set and ready to go.

If you are new to Blackboard, then the first step is to set up your classes. To get started, log onto the IUSD intranet from a school computer. Select "Information Technology" in the left hand column and then select Blackboard. There is a setup wizard that will walk you through how to set up your classes. Course and section numbers are required so have your class lists on hand. It takes a few days for the setup process.

Confused??? John Pendleton is the new Guru of Blackboard. Ask him for help!

By the way, I love my new iMac. It is fast, has a beautiful 20" screen and works the first time, every time.

New iMac?

Apple announced the new 20" and 24" iMac at a press conference this morning. They have dropped the 17" model and redesigned the case and keyboard. No more white plastic, the new look is brushed aluminum. With a teacher discount, you can get one for about $1100 and they throw in a free iPod nano. Now that is the way to start the new school year in style.

By the way, the new iMac comes with iLife '08 installed. MS Office is available or iWork '08 is fully compatible.

Come back in a few days for a more thorough review.....I am picking one up tomorrow.

Email in Paradise?

Going on vacation means getting away from the normal routines and hassles of life. For some people, email and technology are included in the hassle category. However, if you need to stay connected then keep reading.

If you own a laptop computer, many resorts and hotels have Internet access available in the rooms or in a central location. Access can be free or pay by the minute.
Wireless (Wi-Fi) access is also becoming more common. If your laptop has wireless capability, then it might be worth lugging it through the airport. Check ahead of time to see if your destination has on-site computers available. If so, leave the laptop at home.

Internet cafes can be found world wide. For a small fee, email is just a few clicks away. Public libraries in larger cities may also have free access.

My suggestion is to find a nice beach chair under a coconut tree and forget about your inbox for a few days. The spam will still be waiting when you get back home.

Shopping for a New Computer?

The end of summer is a good time to buy a new computer. Heck, anytime is a good time to buy a new computer!

If you are interested in an Apple computer, I would suggest waiting for the new iMac that is rumored to be coming out in late July to late August. The new desktop all-in-one iMac will be faster and slimmer than the current offerings.

Of course, Apple has a wide range of laptops as well. Do not forget that Apple also offers an Educator's discount. The discount is available at any Apple Store if you bring a union card or other identification. Discounts are usually in the $100 range for computers and they even have discounts on iPods.

If you are in the PC camp, then numerous options exist. The district has discounts through Dell. Gabriel S. or Kaye K. can provide the discount information.

Happy shopping!

Got iPhone?

I am posting this from the Apple store at Fashion Island. My family and I just played with the iPhone. It is more amazing than advertised. Remember how difficult it was to figure out how your current cell phone works? The iPhone is simple and every function is at your fingertips. My daughter said "Why didn't I ask for an iPhone for graduation!?!"

Good thing I did not have $500 in my pocket.

Many of our students will have iPhones in September. Check them out at your local Apple Store or on Apple's website.

Blackboard 7 is coming

At a tech meeting this morning, Steve Garretson announced that the official launch of Blackboard 7 is July 1, 2007. At the same time, Bb5 will be killed. If you have not moved your files over to Bb7, it is probably too late. You will need to reload your documents.
As with Bb5, teachers must request that their classes be set up. There is a "wizard" on the Intranet. The IUSD intranet can only be reached from a school computer.
John Pendleton will be the point person for answering Bb7 questions this fall. He will be taking over from David Fong.

Do we really need another blog?

Happy Summer Solstice and the end of another school year. You might wonder why I am starting a new blog about educational technology when I should be relaxing. The short answer is that Jerry Pournelle (Chaos Manor) has been writing about tech problems for over 25 years and has not run out of topics or problems to solve. He has built a career by describing problems installing software, upgrading computers, chasing lost "dll" files, and coexisting with less than perfect programs. The longer answer is that I am one many teachers at my high school who are interested in technology and its uses in the classroom. Over the past 15 years, I have been a technology mentor, advised a student computer networking club, served as a Digital High School Coordinator, and recently become a Google Certified Teacher. In all of those rolls, I have tried to help fellow teachers answer questions and solve problems. From casual chats at lunch to group emails, I have attempted to answer the never ending questions that arise when people use technology. Blogging will give me another tool which I can use to help my friends and colleagues.

Summer vacation is a good time to clear out your email inbox. I know a few people at school who have hundreds of emails sitting in their inbox. The "Cabinet" feature of Groupwise is a good place to store most of those valuable messages. The "Cabinet" can also contain folders so messages can be organized by topic. Most email programs have some way of organizing messages, it is a good idea to get in the habit of using those tools. In my district, we are moving to Outlook over the summer. I am sure the move will generate new topics for this space.

Feel free to comment on this blog and to send in suggestions or new questions.