Comments on: Data Projectors for Dummies

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:18:19 +0000

Thanks Rob. Yes I used to make software tutorials too… it’s a big job! A few years back I created a CD ROM that had several hours worth of screen tutorials designed expressly to meet the requirements of the NSW CSA10 exams… each short movie file was specifically aimed at explaining the key indicators of the Computing Skills list published by the BOS. Lots of work, and when I look now at what you get with Atomic Learning, it really makes me wonder why we keep reinventing the wheel all the time!
It always frustrates me when I hear teachers refusing to fully engage with the use of ICT in their teaching because it’s not “their thing”. I often point out that doing playground duty on cold winters days is not “my thing” either, but it’s part of the job we have to do, so get over it. (Except I try to say it a little more tactfully!)
And the Pencils article you read may have been this one? http://ictpd.net/bj/publish/pencils.htm by Bryn Jones from WA.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:49:15 +0000

Chris, as a technology coordinator in my school, I’m not at all surprised there are staff that still don’t know how to do this. This is a good, simple tutorial. Fortunately, I don’t have to do many for software myself anymore, as our Diocesan Catholic Education Office (Parramatta, NSW) has subscribed the entire system of 75+ schools to Atomic Learning.

It’s funny how many teachers are still seeing technology tools as “someone else’s job” or as foreign objects in their classrooms. Similar to how you suggested in your post, and I once read/heard somewhere before, we never had “pencil technicians.”

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:59:29 +0000

Thanks Suzanne. Are you the same Suzanne Magerko that works at Lewis-Palmer? Just Googled your name…
I’m happy to send you a copy of the actual video file if that’s of any use to you… though you’ll be stuck with the Australian accent…
Let me know if you want a copy.

By: Suzanne Magerko

Suzanne Magerko — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:17:58 +0000

Thank you, Chris. Nicely done. I wish I could just use your video and pass it around to the teachers in my school, but our filters block YouTube. As a result, I think I will have to create my own little video like yours. At least I now have a good example to follow!

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 23:20:10 +0000

I’m horrified that some teachers still don’t know how to set up a data projector. How long have they been around?

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:06:46 +0000

You’re welcome Silvia. To be honest, this is the first one I’ve made, so I guess this is our most popular topic so far. hehe. I was thinking of doing some more though for some of the specific things that happen within our school, maybe like setting up the mobile SmartBoard, how to check your school web-based email from home, how to add stuff to the school intranet Sharepoint server… that sort of thing.
The how-to type of thing for learning about software apps is already pretty well covered by things like Atomic Learning, so I would probably avoid reinventing the wheel for that stuff.
I think a video on “How do I place a call to Helpdesk?” would be useful.

By: Langwitches

Langwitches — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:49:55 +0000

Thank you Chris for sharing this video. We are planning on creating a series of “How to…?” screencasts as well for our faculty. What topics have you found to be the most in demand?