Skills Set Update D: Screencasts

Welcome back!  I had to re-arrange my skills update goals, this week I will be exploring screencast software. I decided to check out two well-known tools Jing and Screencast-o-Matic.  I have some previous experience with Jing, so I refreshed my skills there first! It is easy to download and easy to use! You can have it so the icon sits on the edge of the screen where ever you prefer, ready for use. You can take screenshots and video recordings to share with others.  Screencast-o-matic is another great tool.  However, I was sad to find out that you can get one month free trail only if you sign up for a monthly agreement.  Therefore, I stuck with Jing…it’s totally free!  Although the uploading to Blogger is something I may need to do more research on, the video saves to screencast.com then after logging in, I was provided a share link and embedding code.  Until I figure out to embed a code, I will stick with a hyperlink!

Why screencasts you ask? Because it is a great tool to use when you need to teach a group of people and don't have the time to sit down with each of them.  You can also give those you worked with a place to refer to if they forget a step in the process! It is great for visual learners, like myself and many of my colleagues! So sit back and enjoy learning a little bit about Google Drive using the screencast software, Jing. click here!

I hope you learned something new and enjoyed the beautiful desktop image of my boys! :)

Next week will be my last Skills Set Update.  I have accomplished most of my goals and then some. I look forward to exploring IntelliKeys and other computer accessible software as well as alternative iPad access since those are all the rave!

Talk to you soon,

21st Century SLP

Skills Update C: Google Applications Exploration

This week I completed Goal #4: I will increase my skills within Google applications to create and utilize professional documents.

-   Explore Google applications including Google sheets, forms, and docs to increase team communication and collaboration.  

-   Create a Google Form to collect input on current technology utilization and training needs.

-   Explore Google for Education options.

I am happy to say that I accomplished the goal!  To support my goal to utilize this blog as a hub for information for my fellow early childhood interventionists, I created a Google Form to survey my colleagues on areas of need.  

What Shall I Post

It was fairly easy to create this document and I am looking forward to any chances to create another one!

Over this last week, I attended one of the school committee meetings, here we found out that our staff continues to make mistakes on IFSP/IEP documentations regardless of procedures set in place to edit and correct mistakes. One of the problems that continues to re-occur is that co-workers cannot work on an online tool for a particular student at the same time.  If they do, they get kicked out, or all their hard work disappears.  One of the solutions brought to the table was having staff warn each other that they will be working on the document.  There is currently no instant messaging in place.  However, Google offers Google Hangouts, this can be utilized on any computer (or phone) any time, any where, and on any network.  So if Mrs. K has to work on the report and she is at a conference, she can send a Hangout message to Mr. L to tell him she will be working on it!  

This makes me think that I may want to re-do my survey, instead of asking about training for solutions, we can review the problems, and then troubleshoot the technology solutions.

This is what Hangouts looks like when you just had a realization and need to tell your husband!

As far as Google for Education goes,it is pretty amazing.  Without diving too far deep into it, I found out that they have come up with some great opportunities for educators.  They have created an online education portal that teachers can use for courses.  They also provide training and offer certifications.  There is Expedition, which is a virtual field trip portal. Although eLearning may not be for all learners and educators, it is definitely an option for those who could thrive in it.  

Since my Skill Set Checklist is complete, I did not post it again. Next week I will be diving into Goal #5, IntelliKeys and other alternative computer access software and programs!

Talk to you soon, 

21st Century SLP

Skills Update B: Graphics & Database

This week my goal was to work on mastering the world of graphics.  How did I get this far in my career without knowing or looking into how to create a shaped text box… this has seriously changed my life. No, I am not being sarcastic, I am truly excited.  I am also excited about being able to draw within Microsoft Word.  I used to always go into ‘paint’ if I had to draw something, who knew the squiggly line represented a drawing tool! I did not give myself enough credit for knowing how to group and layer objects.  This came to me rather easily.  I decided to create a graphic organizer for families and colleagues when working on early sound patterns: 

Due to the fact that the graphics did not take long to conquer, I decided to  to change up my Skill Set plan a little bit.  I was able to explore Microsoft Access.  I created a document that I could utilize with my current caseload (all the students receiving special ed services in my county under 3 years old)…With this document I will be able to organize/sort students based on birth date, location, local district, diagnosis, and eligibility.  By accident I learned that the data base document does not save within the database automatically, it actually merges with excel by default.  Although I am not claiming to be a master of database, I believe that I am ready to do what I need with it and I intend to put it to good use!  I am excited to see if there will be any correlations between any of their demographic information. The following is not a finished product as it will take me a bit to input my students' information, and due to confidential information, it may not be a great idea to post a finished product! 

 You can sort the data from more than one area.

 You can create different forms through Access.

 My final product will be an Excel Document.

I was reluctant and a little overwhelmed preparing for Database information, but really, it was not as bad as I thought!  It is easy to search of items when the search of records using the binocular icon. Access documents can be merged with other document formats, as already mentioned with Excel, but also PDFs.  Now that I have become more comfortable with the basic skill sets, I am thinking I may need to dive a little deeper into some other tools. 

My Skills Checklist has been updated and I am pretty confident with about 96% of the skills. 

 I will continue with my plan of attack of skills, but will need to add to it. 

Goal #4: By February 14, 2016, using Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my skills within Google applications to create and utilize professional documents.

-          Explore Google applications including Google sheets, forms, and docs to increase team communication and collaboration.  

-      Create a Google Form to collect input on current technology utilization and training needs.

-          Explore Google for Education options.

Goal #5: By February 21, 2016, using Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my skills within IntelliKeys as well as other alternative computer access programs to be determined.

-      Create & utilize IntelliKeys Software to access page/keyboard to support writing lesson.

-          Explore alternative computer access programs for preschool students.

Goal #5: By March 6, 2016, using Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my understanding of Jing and other screencast software that can be utilized to create tutorials for an educational blog.  

-      Explore available screencast software.

-          Create at least 2 screencasts for future blog posts.