Embedding a Calendar in Google sites - required step is sharing calendar first

If you're going to embed a calendar in your Google Site, you have to make it public.  You can do this by following these directions:

Click "Calendar" in the black bar at the top after you've signed into Google Sites or your e-mail

Find the calendar you're wanting to embed (or that you've already embedded), and hover your mouse to the right of the calendar's name.  A small triangle will show up, click it once to access a drop down menu

On the drop down menu, click "Calendar Settings"

On the page that shows up, click Share this calendar, near the top under the name of the calendar

On the sharing tab, check the box for "Share this Calendar with others"

Also check the box for "Make this calendar public" and choose "see event details" from the drop down menu to the right

Click Save to save this change.

For a step-by-step guide to embedding the calendar, click here:

http://support.google.com/sites/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=157219

Stop Mac 10.7 from re-opening all the windows in an application after you re-open it

For those who are annoyed by the helpful feature of the new Macs running 10.7


The new Mac computer has a "feature" that's meant to be handy.  When you quit a program (Command + Q) or File/Quit, it is going to re-open any files that are currently open the next time you open that same application.

This can be handy for starting up in the morning when you want to carry on where you left off, but if that's not what you want, it can be annoying!

To prevent this, there's a couple things you can do

Instead of hitting command + q  you can do command + option + q to have it not re-open those windows

OR

You can do Command + w to close each of the open windows, and then Command + q

OR

you can choose to disable this system wide:
Go into System Preferences, then General, and uncheck the "Restore windows when quitting and re-opening apps." option.

Excel formula to generate a date + a certain number of years

You can "add" a number of days using a formula in Excel to calculate a date plus x number of years.

The syntax works like this:

Put the date in Cell A1

In Cell B1, put in a formula that says =A1+(365.25*20) and then format the result as a date (Format menu, format cells, click date and MM/DD/YY)

The attached spreadsheet has the formulas for 20, 25, and 30 years, as well as a Years to date which uses the "today" function to subtract the current date from the date in A1, and then calculates it into years. 

You need to do 365.25 to account for Leap years (although the date creeping back by 10 days over the course of 40 years probably doesn't matter)

Tech eNews May 22, 2012

1. Welcome to Justin Gilson, our New Tech Support Assistant!
2. Thanks for Feedback on Survey to Improve the Tech PD Classes
3. Getting Your Computers Ready for Summer
4. Google Sites Step by Step
5. WSD Tech Funds - What, where, when?
6. Surplus that old unwanted/unused equipment!
7. LCD Projector Bulb Replacement
8. Creating a Vacation Message


1. Welcome to Justin Gilson, our New Tech Support Assistant

Please welcome Justin Gilson as the new Tech Support Assistant for Cape Horn-Skye, Canyon Creek, and Washougal High School.  Justin comes to us from Havre School District in Montana, where he worked doing Tech Support for several years.  He is a graduate of Camas High School, and recently relocated back to the area, and is excited to be working in schools again.  Some people may recognize Justin from the Camas Talent Show, where he performed magic tricks for the audience.  Justin enjoys geocaching, an activity using GPS coordinates to locate hidden containers, let him know if you know of any interesting 'caches' in the area.  Justin is replacing Anthony Collver, who has taken a position with ESD 112.

WHS Staff can reach Justin at ext. 3206, and Cape/CCMS staff can reach him at ext. 3513 or via e-mail at justin.gilson@washougalsd.org

2. Thanks for Feedback on Survey to Improve the Tech PD Classes
Thank you to the 30 staff people who completed the paper and digital versions of the survey on making the Technology Professional Development classes better work for you.  We'll analyze the data collected, and use it to make adjustments to the schedule, the course topics, and try to make the classes useful for you.  The schedule should come together soon, and we'll have a survey of interest on topics and themes for the classes, as well as some suggestions for alternate times/days.

3. Getting Your Computers Ready for Summer
In the past, some WSD staff have placed garbage bags over computers to keep dust out.  None of our tech staff have noted a problem with excess dust settling into computer equipment when it is off, so this isn’t necessary.  Please save yourself the trouble, and leave the bags for the garbage cans.

Please make sure you turn all of your computers off before you leave.  If you have a laptop that won’t be used over the summer, you should charge the battery fully, and then take it out of the computer for storage.  If possible, store the battery in a refrigerator that’s turned on. If you have an iPad or other device with an internal battery, you should fully charge the battery, and then turn the device completely off before you leave.  Leaving a device in "sleep" for an extended period of time can damage the batteries.

As much as is possible, please leave your computer’s cables all plugged in.  We are aware that the custodians will move much of the equipment to clean carpets, but doing this will cut down on the time it takes to get everyone back up and running in the fall. 

4. Google Sites Step-by-Step Guide
If you missed one of the Google sites classes, but are still interested in setting up a webpage for your classroom or department, you can use the excellent step-by-step guide created by class facilitator Rochelle Aiton to guide you through this process.  You can download the guide here.  Once you have a webpage set up, send the link to your new page to Les Brown, and he can link it to the appropriate school/department page.

5. WSD Tech Funds - what, where, when?
WSD Tech funds. What are they? Where do they come from? What do they pay for?
Voters approved a new Technology levy on February 9, 2010, which collect $250,000 each year for four years, starting in 2011. This year the Tech funds have been used to pay for new Teacher computers for all teachers at Washougal High School, and a current project to replace all teacher computers in grades K-8. Tech funds pay for “standard” software, including Microsoft Office, Inspiration, and Sophos Anti-virus. They also pay for Network infrastructure that allows network accounts for all staff, including the web server and home-folder servers.

6. Surplus that old unwanted/unused equipmentDo you have old, unwanted, or unused equipment in your classroom that you don’t want to keep? Mark it as “surplus” on your year-end inventory, and let your building administrator know you want to get rid of it. The deadline for identifying items as surplus is June 8.

7. LCD Projector and Bulb Replacement
Let Sean or Justin know if your projector’s image is darker than it used to be, has changed color, or is showing spots or dots in the image. In some cases, a new bulb is all that’s needed, and for most classrooms, the Tech staff has an extra bulb. If your projector’s problem can’t be fixed with a new bulb, we’ll put it on the list to get replaced.

8. Creating a Vacation Message
If you are going to be out of the office for an extended period of time, you can create a vacation message which automatically responds to your e-mail, letting folks know you’re gone.

- Log into your district e-mail.  http://mail.washougalsd.org/
- Log in as yourself (first.last) with your e-mail password.
- Click the Sprocket in the upper left, then choose Mail Settings
- On the General tab, scroll down to the Vacation Responder section
- Click the Radio button for "Vacation responder on"
- Enter the text you want to have sent to people who send you email in the box
- Set an end date if appropriate (recommended)
(Note: You can opt to have the message sent to anyone, or just people inside the district.)
- Make sure you scroll down or up to click the save button! 

If you didn't sent an end date, when you get back, follow the same directions, and set the responder to "off" to remove the message.

Tech eNews 5-1-2012

Topics for this Tech eNews 5-1-2012

1. Farewell to Anthony

2. Have a suggestion for a Tech Class in 2012-2013?

3. Filtering data in Excel

4. Prep for End of Year Surplus

5. Finding a message you deleted in e-mail

6. Google Sites Handout/Follow up steps

1. Farewell to Anthony

Tech Support Assistant Anthony Collver is taking a new job at ESD 112, as a Network Support Specialist, which is an amazing opportunity for him.  Anthony has worked in the Tech department at Washougal Schools for almost 6 years, and has grown considerably as a professional.  His contributions to the schools will be missed. Anthony will still be in the area, working for Kalama school district and several smaller districts as a contracted employee. Anthony’s last day will be Friday, May 11.  Please wish him well in his new journey when you see him!

2. Have a Suggestion for a Tech Class for 2012-2013?

We will be collecting teacher feedback about tech class ideas for the 2012-13 school year, and want to know what you’re interested in.  If you have a suggestion on a class or technology topic you’d like to see offered, e-mail Les Brown to let him know, and he’ll include it in the list that goes out to teachers.  If you’re interested in co-facilitating or co-teaching a class, let him know that as well!

3. Filtering Data in Excel

The auto-filter tool in Excel is a really handy way to find specific sets of data when you’re working with a large list.  To use it, click the Select all option from the Edit menu, then click the Data menu, then Auto-Filter.  This will turn the top row of your spreadsheet, which should contain your column headings, into drop down menus.  On each of them, you’ll see sort options, a listing of the entries in that particular column, and an option to match criterion either using a range or a specific value you’re looking for. 

One easy use of this would be to find students who have scores below a certain value, for example. 

An example of how to use this feature can be found here:

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-AutoFilter-in-MS-Excel

4. Prep for End of Year Surplus 

If you have old, unwanted equipment in your classroom that you no longer have a use for, you can use the surplus process to get rid of it.  Your building’s inventory designee (Deana Degrande at CCMS, Deborah Mansfield at Cape, Marlene Leifsen at Gause, Kathy Stanton at Hathaway, Debbie Leifsen at Jemtegaard, and Misty Young at WHS) can help you process paperwork to dispose of the item appropriately, and remove it from your classroom’s inventory.  There will be a surplus run in June, near the end of school, so work with your inventory person now to get rid of items before summer.

You can read more about the inventory and surplus process here, including finding forms to dispose of equipment.

5. Finding an E-mail You’ve Deleted or Archived

Deleting an e-mail sends it to the Trash folder in the new web-based e-mail system. Messages are kept in there for around 30 days before they are automatically purged.  If you want to look at the deleted messages, hover your mouse above the e-mail folder list in the left sidebar, then click “more” at the bottom.  The Trash folder will be listed toward the bottom of the list.

The same process will reveal the “All mail” folder, where items go when you archive them.  Archived messages are kept indefinitely, and can be found by searching, as well.

6. Google Sites Handout

Several teachers who took the Google Sites class asked about a handout to help with getting back in and updating the webpages that were created.  WHS Teacher Rochelle Aiton, who taught several of the sections of the class, created a handout that will help you remember what you learned, so you can keep your page up-to-date!  Click here to download the guide.

http://www.washougal.k12.wa.us/teach_learn/googlesites/google-sites-handout.pdf

As a reminder, when your page is ready, you need to do a couple things to make it easy for people to find.  First, set your website to a “public” page using these directions:

- Go to your website by clicking Sites in the black bar at the top of your e-mail

- On your main page, click the More button

- Choose Sharing and Permissions

- In the "who has access" section, click the Change button, and set it so anyone on the Internet can find and view the page. 

- Click the radio button next to “Public on the web”

- Click the green “Save” button to save the changes

Next, click on your main page, copy the page address from the URL, and e-mail it to Les Brown.  In your e-mail, ask him to add a link to your school’s department page for your grade level or subject area.  Make sure you let him know which building, and which grade/subject area your page belongs on!

Tech eNews 4-13-2012

Topics for this Tech eNews 4-13-2012

1. Google Sites Advanced Class 4/18/2012 4:00-7:00 PM

2. Thanks to Teachers Helping with Tech Classes

3. Increased Bandwidth Coming Soon

4. Inventory Starting at WHS

5. Spilled Water on a Keyboard? You Might Have a Chance to Save It!

6. Changing Your E-mail Password

7. K-5 Teachers –Play Audio From a Movie using the Lightspeed System

8. Making Your Google Site Public

1. Google Sites ADVANCED Class 4-18-2012 from 4-7 PM, EHS Lab

You asked, and we’ve planned it! Teachers who have attended any of the Google sites classes this year can come to a 3 hour class with Jay Bennett to learn about additional features you can use with your website. We will explore integrating items like Google Calendars, picture slideshows, and attaching documents from Google Docs.

Please e-mail Les Brown to register, so we can plan for snacks. 3 Clock Hours are Approved through ESD 112. Teachers may pay themselves to attend this class, if it aligns with their professional development goal, they have PD funds available, and their principal signs off on it.

2. Thank You to Teachers Helping with Tech Classes

A big thank you to all of the incredible WSD teachers who have worked to plan and teach the Technology classes this year. We wouldn’t be able to offer as many classes or cover as many topics without your colleagues who have stepped up and lead these classes. A HUGE “Thank You” to Kim Dillon, Rochelle Aiton, James Bennett, Rebecca Woodings, Susan Nesmith, Scott Rainey, Chelsea Meats, Trudy Tkach, Heidi Kleser, Cheryl MacIntyre, and Philicia Weaver for the hard work they put into this year’s classes!

3. Increased Bandwidth Coming Soon

K20, the district’s Internet service provider, is working to establish a higher capacity Internet connection for our district. This new connection should be in place sometime in late April or early May, and will help alleviate some bottlenecks. However, district staff still need to supervise students using the computers to make sure their usage isn’t disruptive to other students or critical business systems. Unless it serves a curriculular purpose, students should not be streaming audio or video during the school day.

4. Inventory is Coming to WHS

Getting your classroom ready for the every-other-year district-wide inventory is simple and painless. Here are a couple things that will keep your classroom from getting blanketed in yellow slips:

- Make sure any personal equipment is marked as belonging to you and not the district. A sticker or note stuck to the equipment would be very helpful!

- Make sure any new WSD equipment in your classroom has a tag

- Have your equipment at work! You must get permission from your building administrator to check out any equipment. There is a short form they need to keep track of while you have the item away from the building.

- If you have equipment on loan to another staff person, you should have it written down somewhere in your room, or document it with your building’s inventory designee.

5. Spilled Water on a Keyboard? Quick Action May Help You Save It!

If you spill regular water on a keyboard, quick action may help you save it. Qucikly turning the keyboard over, and allowing water to drain out instead of into the keyboard, can keep it from ruining the electrical contacts inside the keyboard. Make sure you unplug the keyboard from the computer as quickly as you can, too, to prevent if from shorting out.

If you have this happen, leave the keyboard upside down for a day or two before you try to plug it back in, so it can dry completely. Sean or Anthony can get you a “loaner” keyboard while you wait.

If you spill coffee, tea, or other types of liquids, they are more likely to damage the keyboard, but you can still try the above steps. Just remember that quick action can save the keyboard.

6. Changing Your E-mail Password

If you want to change your E-mail password, you can follow these easy steps:

- Sign into your WSD e-mail account.

- Click on your e-mail address in the Black Bar in the upper right corner of the window

- Click Account

- On the page that opens up, click “Change Password” and follow the directions there.

7. K-5 Teachers, You Can Play Audio Using Your Lightspeed System

Nearly all elementary classrooms in the Washougal School District have classroom sound amplification systems. K-5 teachers can use a small cable to plug devices like a laptop, iPod, DVD player, or other audio source into their microphone, and have the ceiling mounted speaker provide the sound. This is often far louder than the small speakers your laptop can produce. If you don’t have the cable needed for this, just ask Sean or Anthony, and they’ll provide one for you, and can help you set it up the first time.

8. Making Your Google Website Public

If you took the Google Sites class and got your page up and running, you may still have one step left. If people are saying that they can't get to your Google site, or get a "password required" page, you may have your permissions set such that the public can't get to it. To change the site permissions, do this:

- Go to your website by clicking Sites in the black bar at the top of your e-mail

- On your main page, click the More button

- Choose Sharing and Permissions

- In the "who has access" section, click the Change button, and set it so anyone on the Internet can find and view the page.

- Click the radio button next to “Public on the web”

- Click the green “Save” button to save the changes

Sharing your Google Site

If people are saying that they can't get to your google site, or get a "password required" page, you

may have your permissions set such that the public can't get to it.

To change it, do this:

Go to your website by clicking Sites in the black bar at the top of your e-mail

On your main page, click the More button

Choose Sharing and Permissions

In the "who has access" section, click the Change button, and set it so anyone on the Internet can find and view the page.

Click the Green Save button.