A Great Blog

Welcome to your new MacBook

2012-01-29T23:53:00.000-08:00

Welcome to your new laptop. Please remember to treat it with care and respect at all times and use it in a way that reflects our Medbury values. Take it home in the sleeve, within your bag... do not leave it unattended (out in open view) inside your house, at school or in cars.

There are three important to-do's and a number of tips below as you start to use your new MacBookPro.

IMPORTANT

Register the Applecare warranty for your laptop under your parents name here. You can check that it is registered properly using this tip.
Check that insurance for the laptop is all setup with your parents.
Discuss with your parents Internet and game use at home so that you are great Digital Citizen who is Cyber-Safe and also balanced in your lifestyle. (We will be holding a session for parents this term on the use of K9 so that they can have Internet filtering on your laptop at home).

Other To-Dos

Label the STIM cover with a stitched label or a tag on the Zip
Decide if you would like a skin for your laptop (they can be purchased here, and on other sites) BUT you must have any with significant design/pattern or your own design on them approved first (i.e. these need approval) by your teacher or the ICT Director. Note that some types have cutouts for the Apple logo to shine through and others don't.

Becoming an Advanced User

Other Thoughts

You cannot create any other accounts on this computer as your account does not have administration rights. If you wish to do so take your laptop to ICT Support, knowing the names of the accounts you wish to create. DO NOT let anyone else know your password other than your parents.
You can become an administrator of your own computer by passing the I.C.T. Pupils Drivers Licence (see it here), but this will take a bit of time. Passing this can hep you achieve your Bronze ICT Achievement badge AND in joining the ICT Crew.

Cyber Safety at Home

2011-11-24T03:39:00.001-08:00

What is the parent's role in this fast moving world of digital media? Are you a guardian, operator, refugee or avoider? I think it is all wrapped up into taking children from a childhood to adulthood, through the teenage angst, taking your child from a more secure environment as you deliberately seek to teach them how to be a digital-citizen.
As a parent the worst things you can do is avoid getting involved, "I don't understand this stuff." If your children are good users then they should be able to teach you what you do need to know, when you need to know it and you can add other knowledge and skills (i.e. what they are not telling you) from some of the sites listed below.
What is most important is for your children to realise that using digital devices is a privilege (especially if adults purchased them) and that as a parent you have the right to monitor their use. For the parent, it is important to realise that you are taking your pupils on a journey from a more innocent and protected place to a point when you say goodbye and you know they have learned behaviours, values and skills that they can independently apply to their digital device use and that will enable them to be great digital citizens.
First Steps
Talk about and setup a family set of rules for use at home. Write out and all sign. Include items like reserving the right to check your child's Facebook page, laptop account, Internet history email and chat.
Install filter software if you feel it is required.
Next Steps
Check what is happening. Your children will see/hear inappropriate material from time to time and it is important to have lines of communication open so that you can chat to them and discuss issues. Have learning conversations like, "Show me the most interesting recent site you have visited from your Internet history." I expect history to be always tere, part of our school contract, missing means something has been hidden! So a simple question likes this engages you with your child in their learning but gives you a chance to quietly check.
Keep doors open. Do NOT punish the child who saw something inappropriate and told you, that is exactly what you want to encourage, so thank them and either block the site or change the method of searching.
Attend school Workshops or other meetings. If your school has given you oportunities to learn in this area then grab them with both hands. They will have a lot of experience and information to offer you and remember that what you don't quite get you can always follow up later on with your own children as you will at least know where to start. I.E. "I know you can have more than one Internet browser on our computer. How many do we have? Do we really need four? Let's choose the best two together?"

Other References
NZ Article on K9
Our Delicious Cyber-Digital Citizenship for Parents Stack.

Checking Browser History

2011-05-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Click to Enlarge

The ICT Agreement in our school states that all Internet history will be left intact, they should never be empty unless the browser has not been used, in which case a decision could be made to delete it from Applications.

A recent survey in the States suggest that only 10% of parents have interacted with their children's Internet use. I would suggest that as parents we need to be involved in learning and values discussions with our children, in helping them learn safety on the web.

These are our tips for boys to show their parents their history or for parents to discuss the latest learning sites used with their son.

Firstly, keep in mind that there can be multiple browsers on a laptop. The most common are: Safari, Firefox and Chrome. We would ask that boys do not install any others as they are not required. Also keep in mind that all new cellphones have Internet browsers.

Secondly, Each of these browsers has on the menu at the top of the screen a "History" Menu. Simply click to view and look through.

That's it 1,2 and you have had another great moment with your child! Some parents have mentioned to me, "How do I respect my child's privacy, or stop them saying you don't trust me.' I would like to reply from my own experience as a parent and youth pastor the your children DO NOT have the right to hide this from parents that care and that if you establish this as a routine then it will be matter of fact. I checked up on my son and daughter's history until they were 16-18, I reserved this right while I was letting them use technology I had purchased for them.

Search Google as a Timeline

2011-03-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

With topics that have time sensitivity or require you to search via periods of time then the Google Advanced search via timeline may be just the thing you need. Results are presented as a clickable timeline, Search results can be over time or focused on a certain time.
Better still perform the same search heaps faster by using Alfred as a quick way to launch searches on a Mac.

Google Search with Reading Ages

2011-03-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

Have you tried the advanced search where Google can now give you reading ages? Click on the advanced tab in Google search and go for it. Use the links by the reading ages at the top of the page to select the reading level. Some topics seem to respond better than others.
Better still, place this type of search in "Alfred" a mac search utility and supercharge (make easier) all the different websites (including Google Reading levels).

Top Educational Freeware for Your Mac

2011-02-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick overview of the Applications - Programs installed on the Apple MacOSX laptops in the school. They focus on learning and productivity. Of course, using Web2.0 documents are not covered in this entry, such as online mindmapping, GoogleApps, GoogleDocs, and delicious etc. So we will update you on our best web 2.0 picks very soon.

Have a look at the list and check out how you could use them. Also check out our top educational freeware/open source here.

Checking Applecare and Warranty Status

2011-02-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Click for larger view

Visit this site https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do with the serial of your machine. It gives you instructions on finding the serial and how to type it in to check the AppleCare and other status points of your laptop. Register your laptop first and this system becomes active. All the AppleCare have been processed and checked at our end for you, but if you would like to check please do so and get back to us if there seems to be any problems.

Traffic Lights for Online Responsibility

2011-02-12T00:20:00.000-08:00

This is our new online responsibility visual. Developed within the school we are promoting this as a quick overview of the responsibilities we all have in using social media and posting online information. It summarises some aspects of the ICT Code of Conduct which outlines further details.

Backing up your Laptop

2011-02-03T02:49:00.000-08:00

Apple laptops have a automatic backup system built in. If you connect a usb or firewire portable drive (external drive), the operating system will recognise it and ask if you want to use the drive as a TimeMachine backup drive. This video overviews the process. Tip: When you name your backup drive it is wise not to use spaces in the name i.e. "MyBackup" not "My Backup"

If your drive is not recognised try formatting the drive (see picture below). Feel free to talk to school technicians first, if things like this make you nervous- we love to help.

Only implement the following steps if you are feeling confident about what you are doing.

Creating Bookmarks and Folders in Safari

2011-02-02T17:02:00.000-08:00

A few visual tips on being organised with bookmarks/favourites/favorites. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

All Internet browsers (Firefox, Chrome etc.) allow you to do something similar.... so if you are using a different browser then use these ideas to figure out how your browser works with bookmarks.

Best Reference Sites

2011-02-02T00:10:00.000-08:00

Always look for 3 sites to cross-check information, especially if you do not use one of the commercial encyclopaedias. Be fair in your use (quote and reference your sources) and look for released information that you can use.

Creative Commons Search (Images and Information)
Te Ara NZ Encyclopaedia
Wikipedia (Check your information against other sites as it is a Wiki)
Britannica K8 Online Encyclopaedia (your teacher has passwords)
All other Epic Databases (your teacher has passwords)
Google Search choosing good key words

For those with a mac you can put searching in the fast lane by working out how to use Alfred (a freeware software search engine installed on your harddrive or downloadable here)

Cybersafety Pamphlet

2011-01-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

This is a copy of our cybersafety pamphlet (pdf version) for parents and pupils. Fuller information

First day - ICT Laptops Top Tips

2011-01-28T10:58:00.000-08:00

You have been trusted with an amazing tool! One of the best racing car tools in I.C.T. has just been given to a young driver. Why? Because we see incredible learning potential in your laptop, if you pick up your ict and learning skills and bring the Medbury values to your use of it.
Check out our top tips to get your racing car moving! Feel free to write your top tip in the comments section below.

Top Training Tips to get started on the FAST track

Use the trackpad correctly. This will mean you will be faster in use and free up your other hand to use hot (quick) keys.
If you are doing the same thing over and over ask, "Is there a quicker way?"
Learn the hot keys...
Setup your dock with your favourite programs.
Setup your finder window with your favourite folder shortcuts.
Figure out how to make folders, save bookmarks in folders... organise with power from day 1.
Treat your laptop to daily care, charge it for the school day (don't overcharge and allow it to drain) and BACKUP today (if your laptop fails or is stolen your backup is the only way to get your files back).
Set yourself a goal on your touch-typing BUT only do it if you are going to train yourself correctly "Fingers on home keys and eyes on screen only". (the TIPP10 program in Applications will help you).
Check out the "Laptop Pupil's Licence" in the "ICT Ladders for Badges" resource and decide today to head towards Expert GOLD in this.
Setup the security feature on your laptop - see the picture below(do not use filevault)
Have fun, ask questions, learn and help others to learn.

Set up your laptop security today!

There are help videos that can be found here also.

Using Medbury Delicious

2011-01-21T12:43:00.000-08:00

We have created a bookmarked collection online of screened sites that will help pupils, parents and staff locate rated resources with comments. These have been screened. Here is a tip sheet on how to use it. [View]

Pupil and Parent ICT Licences

2011-01-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

To provide a benchmark and a positive start to your 1:1 experience, these will guide you to the basic skills that are important for success with your new device. They only focus on important skills and habit not on the learning and learning competencies that will also be part of the 1:1 implementation. Click on the files below to download.

You will be presented with a certificate when you have achieved these Expert or Ultra-Expert levels. There are Skills ladders for most of the programs we use. They help us learn to use the programs better, to pass bronze, silver or gold for the I.C.T. Crew and to set learning goals. Look at the full set of I.C.T. Rubrics here or below .

Pupils ICT Skills Ladder (Licence to drive a laptop) [View]
Parents ICT Skills Ladder (Licence to be "with it") [View ]
ICT Skills Ladder (Skills you can learn in all programs) [View]

Maintaining Your OS X Computer with Onyx

2011-01-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

Keep your computer running lickerty split and smooth.

'This requires administrator access to your computer. We will be using ONYX, freeware available from here, with the latest version also usually in our freeware network share at school, so you do not need to download it. Generally, you should optimise your computer every month or so, and especially before and after a large MacOSX system upgrade (always use the combo updaters for these System updates). Locate Onyx in Applications... Onyx and run it. As it starts up you get asked for an administrators password.... Open up the attachment below for a quick tipsheet (use the 'Help' in the program for more details. [View : Download]

Being Fair and Respecting others in Your Internet Use

2011-01-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

Here at Medbury we operate a values programme. The 12 values (our summary poster is here) lead us to placing importance on fair-use of others property on the web. Educationally we value thinking and the typical "copy 'n' paste and change a few words" is destructive to good learning.

We ask that pupils attribute all images, text, video and sound and other media files in the correct manner so they can "Share, Remix, and Reuse — Legally". "Creative Commons" is a way to obtain information and publish it in a way that allows easy sharing with others so they know how it can be used or re-used. Check out the pages you are using for their copyright.

This page helps you publish your work online by making choices on how you want to share it.

This page helps with understanding Creative Commons Licence Categories.

Hot Keys for Experts - MacOS X

2011-01-21T12:08:00.000-08:00

Download this file [View] for our take on the best hot keys to learn to get you going on using software and the OS X operating system (OS) at speeds that will make your friends envious... when you've learned some.. why not share the goodness with someone else.

Blazing fast web searching

2011-01-21T12:03:00.001-08:00

Monocole is a small freeware utility that we have found that can significantly help in webs searching. Monocle is found here and we suggest you add other search engines to it as we have listed below to take your information exploring to the ultra expert level. Check out our "how to Use" tips sheet below.

creativecommons.org
biblegateway.com
teara.govt.nz
www.k8.ebonline.co.nz/elementary (free subscription for NZ schools to Britannica online) Setup if needed via TKI EPIC Databases
teachertube.com
Oxford English Dictionary Online Setup if needed via TKI EPIC Databases

Do you have any search engines you think should be added to this list? Make a comment below.

For the Databases Via EPIC you will need to get the password allocated to Medbury for this year.

Manuals and How to Videos.

2011-01-21T02:48:00.001-08:00

In this posting we point you towards manuals and how to videos for a range of software and other tools. Don't forget that the online help, and "googling" a problem are also a god way to learn on the spot. Generally, if you find yourself doing the same thing over and over, and you think there must be a quicker way, then there probably is. Find and learn, save time and become an expert.

Apple Software and Mac OS X.

Apple manuals are found here: Mac OSX, iLife (iPhoto, Garageband, iDVD), iWorks (Pages, Keynote, Numbers)
You can search or enter Apple forums here.
MacBookPro Manual 2010 Model.
Video and Text Tutorials (Photos, Movies, Mac Basics, Web Music and more) and here from lookah
See Hot Keys for MacOS Experts [View : Download]

Other I.C.T. Gear

Taking Great Digital Camera photos tip [View ]
Shooting Video Tips (Storyboards, Shooting, Editing and more) [View PDF]

Third Party Software

ActivInspire Manual (PDF 6.9 MB)
ActivInspire Video ActivTips (Online Videos)
ActivInspire Promethean Planet (Promethean Planet Professional Development and online courses)
Scratch (Getting Started PDF, Videos and Getting Started from MIT, ScratchEd more in-depth information)
We will post more here as soon as we can.