We've all run into those situations where a web app stops working. Maybe it's not responding to mouse clicks, or it's just "spinning" or in some other way not performing how it should.
I was just chatting with Nick in IT about this, and here's a set of steps we recommend taking. Do these in the order listed (i.e., start with #1). If you get to the end of the list (or to the point of frustration!), it's time to get help.
Image from terimakasih0 at pixabay.com
Exit (close) the app and then reopen it (note: if you've entered a big chunk of text that you're not sure saved, first copy it and paste it somewhere safe).
Have you checked out the new CVSD site for Digital Learning? We've combined resources for various education tech tools and resources. There is also a page specific for CVU. I will continue adding to that, but you can still search the blog in the meantime.
How can you play an audio file on Moodle, on a blog (such as Blogger) or on a web site (such as Google Sites)? Sites like SoundCloud will give you embed code (meaning code that you can paste into your web site to play media from an external source), but wouldn't it be nice to be able to play a sound file from Google Drive? Turns out you can. Here's a trick I found that does it nicely (tip of the hat to blogger Amit Agarwal).
In Drive, find the file and click on Share to get a shareable link. You should get a link that looks something like: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1234xyz/view?usp=sharing. The part in red is the id of your file.
In Google Sites, insert an Embed object. Or in Blogger or Moodle, switch to HTML mode.
Paste in this code: <iframe frameborder="0" width="400" height="200" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1234xyz/preview"> </iframe>
Replace the id in red with the id of your file (yours won't be 1234xyz).
Save.
To see how it works, you should be able to play the audio below. The file you're hearing is saved in my Drive.
As 9th graders are using Google Sites for their PLPs, you will notice that some of them are using the "old" editor and others are using the new editor. This is good time to update you on what's going on with Google Sites (which I posted about earlier here).
The new Sites has a fresh, modern look and allows for more precise placement of content. As of yet, it is still missing some important features, most notably the ability to copy a site from a template. I hope that this will be addressed soon.
You can continue to switch back and forth from old to new through 2017 (see below), however in 2018, Google plans to no longer support the old editor. Therefore, if you are creating a new site, it is best to use the new editor at this point.
There is not currently a tool to migrate content from old sites to new sites. This would be a manual copy and paste for now.
I will update if and when Google comes out with a migration tool.
Parallax scrolling is a technique in which different elements on a web page move at different rates as the user scrolls, creating a sense of depth. I first got interested in the technique thanks to Annie Bellerose, who was looking for a way for her students to amplify and transform their writing using digital tools.
So what are we talking about here?
The Boat is a story that uses parallax scrolling (and other techniques) to full effect. Check it out below. The New York Times story Snow Fall is another example.
How might students use parallax scrolling to tell their stories? Until recently, this involved a lot of coding that was beyond the reach of most high school students (unless they had coding experience). Now, Wix has parallax scrolling available for many of its background images and even videos. An internet search will also reveal many WordPress themes that use parallax scrolling, however this involves more work than simply creating a Wix site.
In my last post, I mentioned using the word "embed" to show a Google Map with less clutter. This is a workaround for a specific issue, what does embed actually mean?
It's easiest to explain by example. See the YouTube video playing here?
While you're watching the video inside this blog post, it's actually playing from YouTube. The video is embedded in the post.
Here's an embedded map, as another example. You can manipulate it just as if you were on the Google Maps site. Once again, the functionality of the map comes from Google Maps. This blog post just has a container (or "window") holding the content.
So how is it done?
First, check to see see if the content you want to put on your website, blog, etc, provides embed code. In addition to YouTube and Google Maps, you can find embed code from Prezi, LucidPress, SoundCloud, and many other presentation sites, Vimeo and other video sites, Twitter feeds, news sites and more.
Typical icons for embed code are< > or </>or < > HTML.
For example, here's how I found embed code for a video from the New York Times:
Copy the embed code provided. It will typically start with <iframe>, something like this:
Now, on the website or blog (for example, Weebly, Moodle, Google Sites, Blogger, etc.) where you want the content to play, click the icon to insert HTML or embed code. This is important, because you are inserting code, not "normal" text."
Paste in the embed code. You can adjust width and height and other settings by examining the code, if needed. Return to the normal editor, if necessary.
What's the best tool for making a web site? Weebly? Wix? DreamWeaver? WordPress? There are many options out there, but one of the easiest to use is Google Sites. Google Sites also makes it easy to embed content from other Google Apps, such as Docs, Maps, and YouTube videos.
One concern I've heard about Google Sites is that "they all look the same." In response to this, I've created a site that explains how to customize the look and feel of a Google Site.
Check it out here.
Here's a Google site that a CVU student made in Eleanor Marsh's class, as an example:
Did you know that there is an organization called the Internet Archive that has been backing up public web pages since 1996? It can be quite interesting to see what web pages looked like 5, 10, 15 and 20 year ago.
Here's the CVU home page over the years. Many of the links work, so you can read the daily announcements from 2001 or check out teacher web pages in 2003:
I've found myself giving out this tip several times recently. It's one of those little things that ends up being extremely useful if you hadn't thought of it previously. Suppose you have your Moodle course open and you want to return to your dashboard page-- but without closing your course. Simply right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) on the "My home" link, then choose "Open in new tab." Now you will have both your course and your dashboard open in two different tabs. This applies to any other link, as well, of course (many links automatically open in new tabs, so this tip is just for those that don't).
CVU senior Julien Vandal has created an excellent web site (using Weebly) to promote LED usage in Shelburne. He states, "I'm doing this project for a class Money, Energy, and Power, but I hope to continue my impact on the community after the class ends this semester. I'm really passionate about LEDs, and I have already installed some in my room and around the house." Thanks to Glenn Fay for sharing.
Check it out:
