UDL Share Space - How to be alerted when someone adds something of interest

If you would like an email notification when someone adds something to a folder that interests you on the UDL Share Space, you can set up an alert.  Just go to the folder of interest and click on Actions-->Alert Me.

MSWord Clip art for school projects and assignments

Want a source for graphics that you are allowed to use freely as an educator for instructional purposes?

MicroSoft Clip Art

The MSWord Clip art gallery can be used for "school assignments and projects" . There are thousands of pictures built into MSWord or online. In MS Word, just click on the "Insert" ribbon tab, then click on Clip Art. Search by typing in a word, even verbs. I typed in "worried" and got lots of good pics. Right click on the picture, copy and paste into a graphics folder in your My Documents folder. Here's a quote from their website.

"Clip Art
The Microsoft Clip Art Gallery provides a compilation of artwork for your personal use. The following guidelines apply to your personal use of clip art:

You may use clip art in your school assignments and projects"

Converting a page in the curriculum guide to Kurzweil

Now that the curriculum guides are in a digital form in the MCPS curriculum archives, it's easy to convert a page from the digital .pdf of the instructional guide to Kurzweil. Students can then use Kurzweil to read text selections from the instructional guide or fill in worksheet from the instructional guide. ( If you want to convert multiple pages, indicate the "print range" on the "print" window.)

Click on the link below to view the short video which demonstrates how to convert a page in the curriculum guide to Kurzweil.

video

SOLO passwords

Question: 
What are the passwords for SOLO?

Answer:
See this quick guide

New rules for passwords on Bookshare.org (Updated)

Bookshare no longer requires that you have a download password that is different from your account password.  You will no longer be asked for a password when unzipping a downloaded file.

If you are unable to unzip a file that you previously downloaded from Bookshare, then it might be because you downloaded that book at a time when the download password was required.  Download the book again  from the Bookshare website.

Using MS Word 2007 Smart Shapes to create prewriting graphic organizers

Often students need additional, customized support to help them organize their ideas prior to beginning a writing assignment.

Here's a video link that will step you through making prewriting graphic organizers using Smart Shapes in MSWord 2007.
Video


If you want a paper handout, here is a HIAT Quick Guide
QuickGuide

Adding students to Bookshare

Question:
I finallly registered teachers as sponsors in Bookshare. Do I add the members (students) or let the teachers add them?

Answer:
You can do this either way, but if the teachers are going to add them, then you have to explain to all the teachers how to add the kids online. That might take up the same amount of time as adding them yourself!

Another thing to consider is that you have to notify the ITSS of all the kids who are added so they can have access to the Copyrighted Text folder on your network. Decide on a way that works best logistically in your school. The ITSS needs the kids names, grades, and login ids.

How do you handle this at your school?