Jacqui Murray's Blog (17)

What are Common Core keyboarding standards?

Dear Otto is an occasional column I write where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. Here’s a great question I got from Lani :

I am trying to set up my curriculum map for 2013-14, for preK-8. This is the first year I will be actually using the lab f/t…I hope, along with library skills. I purchased several of the structured learning books & your…

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Added by Jacqui Murray on July 23, 2013 at 8:45am — No Comments

Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part III

If you liked the last Humor that Inspires (Part 1 and Part 2), here are more to kick-start your day:

"A man can't be too careful in the choice of his enemies."

- Oscar…

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Added by Jacqui Murray on July 23, 2013 at 8:41am — No Comments

Weekend Website #13: MS Office--03 to 07

This is a two-fer, for those who are upgrading from Office 2003 to 2007. Here are the sites that will show you where all your favorite commands have gone in that pesky, confusing ribbon at the top of the

screen.…

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Added by Jacqui Murray on June 25, 2010 at 7:55pm — No Comments

642 Hours to Complete Race to the Top Application

Wow. Is this normal? Anyone know?

Education Week: Heavy Lifting Ahead for ‘Race to Top’ Applications

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 20, 2009 at 11:29am — No Comments

US Navy Hospital Ship Provides Humanitarian Assistance

I have to share this blog. I posted it yesterday on my blog Sizzle in Science, and it is the most-visited site of any I have ever posted. I don't understand why. Read it and let me know if you have any ideas why?

The United States military has a program called ‘Humanitarian Assistance’ whose objective is not war. It encourages peace by strengthening the health and welfare of people throughout the world through the use of American know-how. This includes all active and reserve… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 17, 2009 at 10:51am — No Comments

5 Clues You’ve been Hacked and 8 Keys to Lock Down Your Computer

How do you know if your computer has been breached, hacked, cracked or otherwise compromised? If it won’t boot up or vomits up the Blue Screen of Death, it’s pretty obvious, but what if your intruder is more devious. Doesn’t want you to know he’s been there, so leaves none of the obvious signs?

Here are some clues:

* Applications… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 15, 2009 at 1:55pm — No Comments

Cost of Government Day

Yesterday was 'Cost of Government Day'. That's how many days the average workers works to pay off the total costs of federal, state and local government. Last year it was July 19th. In 2007, it was July 11. This year, it's 25 days later. Last year it was only 6 days later. I can't wait to see next year, with bailouts and more bailouts. What happens when it takes more than 365… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 12, 2009 at 12:46pm — No Comments

Top Ten Free Apps

This is a question I always get from parents of my tech students. My fellow-blogger, Dustin, has a good start, although I’ll add a few more tomorrow.
For now, read on--they're all Free (and critical)

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 10, 2009 at 1:26pm — No Comments

There are few programs that say 'competence' more than Adobe Photoshop. If a student can accomplish this photo editor, he becomes the go-to guy for technology. He develops a confidence that carries o…

There are few programs that say 'competence' more than Adobe Photoshop. If a student can accomplish this photo editor, he becomes the go-to guy for technology. He develops a confidence that carries over into so many other skills s/he'll want to use with computers. On my blog, Ask a Tech Teacher, I've itemized some of the favorites among my students, the easiest for a fifth grader to use when they're putting themselves into that… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 9, 2009 at 8:02pm — No Comments

Star Trek Wins Again–Fiction Becomes Reality

So often, StarTrek science predated reality. Here's another story of their amazing vision:

Transparent metal hints at nature of planets’ cores

Transparent aluminum, a sci-fi material brought to 20th century Earth by the crew of The Enterprise in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, turns out to exist after all – if… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 7, 2009 at 11:28am — No Comments

Teachers Without Borders

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and will never be.

Thomas Jefferson recognized the relationship between education and freedom hundreds of years ago, so why do we still expect nations to do the glorious mountain building required of their future without the bedrock of teachers? We ask the world to ‘cut carbon emissions’ without teaching them science. We ask them to… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 5, 2009 at 12:13pm — No Comments

Five Best Ways to Use Your Economic Stimulus Payment

this is funny. Take it as the all-American approach to spreading humor about difficult situations...

Some time this year, we taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus payment. This is a very exciting new program. I will explain it using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on July 31, 2009 at 1:33pm — No Comments

Education Week: ‘Race to Top’ Guidelines Stress Use of Test Data

Accepted wisdom rejects the idea that teachers ‘teach to the test’. But, President Obama wants to judge teachers on scores. Hmmm… Education Week: ‘Race to Top’ Guidelines Stress Use of Test Data

I suppose this will sort itself in the end.

See more on… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on July 30, 2009 at 11:41am — No Comments

How to Crack a Lost Windows Password

(From my blog, Ask a Tech Teacher. Hacking is always a popular post.

For all you out there who have forgotten your password (I see a slew of hands), read this. I know I’m a tech teacher and supposed to be able to rattle off the solution to every problem in the geekosphere, but my buddy,… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on July 25, 2009 at 4:40pm — No Comments

Blogging for Education

I have a chance to win $500 for the cause of my choice (you could, too. Just click my blog for the link). I have so many, I want your input. What do you think I should talk about? Here are the details. Read them and then post a comment. Thanks, friends!

tnk_educationSummer Fun: What Happens When You Mix an Intern, $500, and a Non-Profit for Education?

The story: One of our… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on July 23, 2009 at 11:24am — No Comments

Costco Pairs With Gazelle for Old Tech Trade-Ins

I hadn’t heard this yet. What a great idea. Not in small part because it’s difficult to get rid of old computer monitors and CPUs. Thanks, Costco.

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

Last week, Costco quietly rolled out a new partnership with Web site Gazelle to encourage its legions of discount shoppers to trade in their old… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on July 20, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Survivor's Guilt and Teaching--Why Me?

Being laid off is one of the top five stressors, along with:

* Death of a family member or friend

* Economic hardship

* Marrying or divorcing

* Having a child

The American Psychologic Association says this about stress:

* 62% of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels. (APA Survey 2004)

* 52% of workers are more stressed because of work than home. (APA Survey 2004)

* 54% of… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on July 16, 2009 at 4:46pm — No Comments