PGM Tech Tips: November 2017

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Want to add audio narration to your Google Slides (or students' Slides)?

Adding audio is pretty simple once you get the proper add-on. Unfortunately, Slides does not allow you to insert audio files, but with the Screencastify add-on, you can record a video, then shrink that video on the slide or hide it behind a text box, leaving the audio narration playing.

Here is a handout I shared with my students. It includes some simple how-to videos from another teacher who used Screencastify with her class. I'm happy to help if this is something you would like to use in your classes!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

How to Print a Poster from a PDF

Got a PDF you want to turn into a poster on the poster maker?? Here's how:

1. Open up the PDF file in Adobe Reader -- you can easily do this by double clicking on the download of the file. HOWEVER, you can't print this way from the preview of the file in the Internet.

2. Click File...Print...

3. In the preview of the print, notice how the page size is 8.5 x 11...

4. Click Properties at the top of the print window...

5. Click Page Setup...

6. In the drop-down beside Page Size, choose the size you want the PDF to print as...

7. Once you've chosen the size, put a checkmark in the box beside Enlarged/Reduced Printing...

8. Click OK...

9. Now notice that the preview shows your poster at the size you selected...Click OK to print.

Ambient Sounds

From Monica...

For those of you who hate absolute silence in your classroom, or just want to embrace your inner nerd a bit more, there is a fantastic website called ambient-mixer.com.

There, you can listen to the sounds of Gryffindor's Common Room or Bilbo Baggins' Home. You can also just listen to nature sounds and other ambient sounds. The best part is, you can create your own mixes!

How fun would it be to allow your students to create an ambient mix for tests and seat work? Or even for a book setting?

Oops! I Didn't Mean to Close That Tab!

This ever happen to YOU?? Close a tab by accident? Check out this Chrome shortcut:

Ctrl + Shift + t

Pinterest Boards

Using the ClearTouch Panel and TVs in STEM Lab

If you want to use the ClearTouch Panel in the STEM Lab and have the display on the ClearTouch display to each TV, here are directions for setting that up...

1. Turn on the power to the ClearTouch Panel with the power button at the bottom right and use one of the remotes to turn on both TVs.

2. Log in to the ClearTouch Panel with your computer login.

3. When the TVs come on, they will identify themselves as PGM1 or PGM2 and will have a unique four-digit code.

4. On the ClearTouch Panel, click and open the MirrorOp program.

5. The MirrorOp software will open up and at the bottom where it says "Input hostname or IP"...

6. Type PGM1 (it's not case sensitive) and click CONNECT.

7. You will then be prompted to type in the four-digit code that is displayed on the TV designated as PGM1. (Note...a new code is generated each time you use these devices.)

8. Now, at the bottom where it says "Input hostname or IP" type in PGM2 to connect to the second TV in the STEM Lab.

9. You will then be prompted to enter the four-digit code that is displayed on the TV designated as PGM 2.

10. You will be asked whether you want multiple displays (the ClearTouch displays on BOTH TVs) or switch to this display (instead of displaying on PGM1, you'll now display on PGM2). Choose Multiple.

11. MirrorOp will identify that it's ready for Multiple Displays...Click the play button to send the ClearTouch display to both TVs.

12. The ClearTouch images will be farmed out to both TVs.