Category Archives: Technology

healthy happy computers

Your computer is starting to drag, and it’s only six months old. Sound familiar? It happens to us all – but there are simple FREE solutions! Here is useful list of important tasks that will keep your computer running smoothly:

  • Delete unused programs, folders, and files.  An external hard drive is perfect for storage and/or backup if you have lots of music, pictures, video and other large files. Using ccleaner (see below) to delete unwanted programs or turn off startup programs can be very helpful!
  • Create backup disks. Backup any files that you use on a regular basis or files that are updated frequently. In the unfortunate event of a hard drive crash, you won’t panic about lost work. Drag your entire My Documents folder to your external hard drive once a week, and store the drive in a safe place!
  • Create system restore points regularly. Do this at least once a week. If weaker viruses are accidentally downloaded, the restore point will ensure that your data is recoverable. Most computers will ask you to create a system restore point before a new download, but creating your own occasionally is a great idea.
  • I can’t stress this enough: DO NOT USE LIMEWIRE, MP3ROCKET, FROSTWIRE, BIT TORRENT OR ANY SIMILAR PROGRAMS! They not only allow illegal sharing of files, which is pirating, but they also allow viruses and spyware to slip past your firewall.
  • Use anti-spyware software. These programs can rid your computer of unwanted spyware, greyware, and malware. I recommend CCleaner and Advanced System Care Free!
  • Utilize anti-virus protection. If you can’t afford an anti-virus program, I recommend AVAST Free.
  • Defragment. Defragmenting your computer will guarantee that your files are organized and your computer is running at optimal speeds. This should be done at least once a month. I highly suggest using SmartDefrag or Defraggler in place of Windows Defrag.
  • Find a reputable computer shop! Just as you need a trustworthy auto mechanic, a trustworthy computer repairperson can save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repairs or upgrades. Don’t spend a lot of money on an older computer – it’s just not worth it. Save up and buy a brand new netbook or laptop instead.
  • Have at least two browsers on your computer! I recommend Google Chrome as your default browser.
  • It’s imperative that you have more than one admin account on your computer. This way, should one become corrupt, you won’t lose access to your computer. Go to the control panel, then Users, and create a new backup account. Be sure it has administrator privileges.

pixlr and sumo paint

PIXLR

Pixlr is an open-source online photo editor, which is able to perform much of the same functions as Photoshop free of charge. Best of all? No downloads – it works on the web!  Here are some great Pixlr resources:

Pixlr Blog - great tutorials, info and more.

Squidoo’s Pixlr Page - great stuff!

How to Make a Banner with PIXLR – YouTube Video

Visit Dawn’s Site

SUMO PAINT

Another great free tool is Sumo Paint.

Sumo Paint Help – Videos and help on every feature!

Most favorited images.

eduTecher’s intro to Sumo Paint.

Here is a great site with tons of Sumo Paint videos.

The Official YouTube Sumo Paint Channel.

How to edit photos in Sumo Paint.

Mark Brumley discusses Sumo Paint and other free editors.

Let Your Students’ Creativity Flourish

Fun with Sumo Paint in the Classroom

Ideas for the Classroom for PIXLR and Sumo Paint:

  • Let students retell their favorite story in digital form.
  • Have students illustrate their own stories or essays to create a digital storybook.
  • Have students take a picture, upload, then add layers to make it amazing.
  • Upload or create a graphic organizer, then help the students create and drag layers to where they belong on the organizer.
  • Use as an alternative to Noteshare for SmartBoard presentations!
  • Wonderful for step-by-step teaching, such as an algebra problem (layering).
  • Spatial relationships (3D effects).

facebook 101

Here are some simple and useful tips, tricks and resources for those new to Facebook, or not quite onboard yet:

More advanced users might enjoy some of these links:

openoffice tips and tricks

OpenOffice is a amazing opensource office package that allows the user to create, edit and share documents in many formats, including MSOffice formats. It has a lot of great features that make it THE option over MSOffice, which can be quite costly. Here are some great sites that I’ve found regarding OpenOffice:

The OpenOffice.org Wiki

OpenOffice Writer Tutorial - printable, but over 500 pages. Use online or print a few pages as needed.

InPics OpenOffice Writer Tutorial - awesome tutorial using pictures for visual learners.

OpenOffice Calc Chart Tutorial - printable!

OpenOffice Calc Guide – this is printable, but it’s over 400 pages – I’d use it online for reference.

how to revert to old facebook chat

Do you hate the new Facebook chat as much as the rest of us? Did you (like me) fall for the “try it now”, only to discover there was no going back? Well, there actually is a way to go back in time – sort of. Depending on your browser, you can install free, safe script that will bring back your old-type chat. I just installed a free plug-in for Chrome, and I am happy to announce that I can now display ONLY my online friends, or a handful of other options. I will continue to check out plug-ins for Safari and IE:

To revert to old facebook chat in Google Chrome: Install FB Chat Sidebar Disabler free from the Google Chrome Store. Click on Friends List and Options at the top of the chat window to make changes to your view.

To revert to old facebook chat in Mozilla Firefox: Install FB Chat Sidebar Disabler free from Firefox Add-Ons.

wordpress how-to’s

Years ago, Dreamweaver and FrontPage were THE products to use for web design. These days, most bloggers and developers like to use web-based products, with WordPress seeming to be the favorite. I’ve been using WordPress for about three years now, and I love it. I had to rely completely on tutorials and other free online resources to build my first sites. To make it easier on any of you that happen along, I have pulled together a number of WordPress tutorials to make your first or next website amazing. I’ll keep adding, so check back often. If you have any awesome resources, please share!

Beginner WordPress Tutorial Video by NuuVidea

Step by Step Video on How to Blog with WordPress (It’s a long one!)

UPDATED Step by Step Video on WordPress.com (A bit longer, but worth it!)

Wikiversity’s Web Design Portal

WordPress Tips – a cool portal with links to other blogs about wordpress.com

Matt’s Tips on WordPress.com

10 WordPress Tips to Make Your Blog Look Like a Website (For Beginners)