Episode 31: Brian's Summer Soapbox: Working with your IT Department

Episode 33: Brian's Summer Soapbox: How to Choose What to Learn

It's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the new technology coming out each year and many of us spend most of our time learning (or trying to learn) those new tools. In Brian's last summer soapbox, he argues for a different approach on choosing what to learn. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 0:50 TPACK Framework [http://tpack.org/] * Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge 2:00 Visualize the Venn diagram * How does technology influence pedagogy? * How does your pedagogy change based on the content you're teaching? * What technology do you have to support your content? 2:40 Your technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge 3:00 Identify your "small circles" * Seek out information to help you grow in small circles * Find resources to help you balance out your knowledge domains 4:05 Use TPACK to decide what you need to work on this year * Stop chasing "stuff" * Look for people, videos, podcasts, or books which can help you grow your smallest circle 6:05 The team is back soon!

Episode 32: Brian's Summer Soapbox: Become a Google Chrome Power User

The Chrome browser has 65% market share in terms of usage. In other words, six out of 10 people use it every day as their only tool for the web. If you're a Chrome user, Brian has some power tips for you to become a true wizard. Links Four ways to be a Chrome power user [https://blog.elkhart.k12.in.us/2022/01/four-ways-to-be-a-chrome-power-user/] The super shortcut cheat sheet [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qZjEr18icGzkAxX76koqPQdcjFFWOTfF_lHac-iXX1A/edit?usp=sharing] Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:44 What is Google Chrome? * Also, Brian was wrong about the usage stats in the audio * Vivaldi browser [https://vivaldi.com] if you want to check out a cool alternative 2:27 Tip 1: Bookmarks * Add a bookmark [https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/188842?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop] 3:13 Tip 2: Re-open closed tabs * Control + Shift + T (Windows) * Command + Shift + T (Mac) * Related: Reopen a closed window with all of its tabs [https://blog.google/products/chrome/restore-browser-tabs/] 4:13 Tip 3: Search your open and recent tabs * Control + Shift + A (Windows) * Command + Shift + A (Mac) * How to search open tabs in Chrome [https://www.howtogeek.com/704212/how-to-search-open-tabs-on-google-chrome/] 5:12 Tip 4: Using Chrome Profiles * Set up profiles in Chrome [https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2364824?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop] 6:25 Tip 5: Name your Chrome windows * Organize Chrome with named windows [https://chromeunboxed.com/chrome-browser-window-naming/] 7:22 Tip 5: Open the search in a sidebar * Using Chrome's new search sidebar [https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/13156494?hl=en] * Related: What are Chrome Journeys and why should you use them? [https://9to5google.com/2022/05/04/what-are-chrome-journeys/]

Episode 31: Brian's Summer Soapbox: Working with your IT Department

Have you ever felt frustrated with another department, in particular, your IT department? That relationship can cause friction, especially if you're in edtech and running into roadblocks. Today, Brian shares some ideas on how to work better with your IT department. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 2:13 Tip 1: Get to know your technicians 3:25 Tip 2: Ask follow up questions * Use non-confrontational language: "Please help me understand...", "Can you explain why...?" 4:28 Tip 3: Be as specific and detailed as possible when asking for help * Never send "No subject" emails! * Explain what you've tried * Include screenshots or error messages * Taking screenshots on Windows [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-snipping-tool-and-take-a-screenshot-a35ac9ff-4a58-24c9-3253-f12bac9f9d44] * Taking screenshots on Mac [https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201361]

Episode 30: Brian's Summer Soapbox: The Best Productivity Tool

Brian is all alone this summer and needed to keep the podcast recording moving. In this episode, Brian talks about the best productivity tool for anyone trying to be efficient in their work. Links The BEST Productivity Tool for your Team [https://blog.elkhart.k12.in.us/2023/06/the-best-productivity-tool-for-your-team/] Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:02 The best tool is the calendar 1:35 Don't use email to coordinate meetings 1:55 Share free/busy time on your calendar * How to change your calendar settings [https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/34580?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop] 2:45 Attach documents to your calendar events 4:10 Use Find a Time to schedule large groups * See calendars side by side to find a time to meet [https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/6294878?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop] 5:30 What tips do you have?

Episode 29: Tips for Translating on the Fly

Beth and Holly get together to talk about how to use translation tools to make text more accessible to your students. Brian also makes an appearance. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:10 Snap & Read * Optical Character Recognition (OCR) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_character_recognition] * Take a photo of text to have it read aloud * Translate text found using OCR * Text-to-speech, translation, and text-replacement in Safari 5:05 Google Translate * Use the camera to translate print text live 5:55 Conversation mode in Google Translate * One on one translating between two people * Fast & easy to open * Can be slow to translate 7:12 Microsoft Translator * Conversation mode with multiple devices * English is shown along with translated text * Multiple languages available in the same session * Open a session on your phone so you can move around 10:30 Immersive Reader in Canvas (and other places) * Images included for words (hover to show) * Does not display images! 12:00 First contact should be text, images should support the text 12:35 Anyone remember "app smashing?" Anyone? 13:20 AI tools can be used to do quick translation