ActivInspire - Creating Containers

At the training on Monday, I asked the presenter to provide us with details about creating containers in the new ActivInspire. I want to share my notes with you.
Step 1: Create the container shapes. You can use premade designs or use the shape tool to draw your own container shapes.
Step 2: Select the shape (container). Open your Properties Browser window. Scroll down on the browser window until you see Containers. Make sure you choose: Can Contain and change this to keywords. Type in your keyword in the Contains Word field. Don't use phrases, stick with one word as you keyword choice. Choose completely contain for the Contain Rule. This should be all you need to select for the container shape.
Step 3: Create the words or add the pictures that will be put into the containers.
Step 4: Select each word or picture and again go to the Properties Browser window. You need to set up the following properties for each word or picture you want to go into your container.

• Keywords-type in the same word (exactly) that you used for the container
• Make sure to change Return if not Contained to the True option

If you have issues, check the following things:

1. The words or pictures when selected(includes the selection dots) must be a size that will completely fit into the container. If not these items will not work correctly.
2. Check your layers. If all the items are on the same layer, you have to make sure the container is at the bottom of all the other items in the list. If they are on separate layers make sure the container is in a layer beneath the words or pictures.

I hope this helps! If you need one-0n-one instruction, let me know! Have Fun creating containers!

RSS

What is RSS?

RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication. RSS makes it possible for readers to "subscribe" to the content that is created on a particular Weblog so they no longer have to visit the blog itself to get it. Here is an excerpt from the book, "Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms" by Will Richardson. (From page 71) You can access book excerpts at this site:
http://books.google.com/books?id=6PFjF9BQe2AC&printsec=titlepage&dq=blogs+wikis+podcasts+and+other+powerful+web+tools+for+classrooms&psp=1&source=gbs_toc_s&cad=1#PPA36,M1
"For instance, say you're a political science teacher and you've found twenty or thirty Weblog and media sites on the Internet that are consistently publishing interesting and relevant information for you and your students. Finding the time to click through to those sites and keep abreast of any new information on a regular basis would be nearly impossible. but what if you only had to go to one place to read all of the new content on all of those sites? Wouldn't be so difficult, would it? Well, that's exactly what RSS feeds allow you to do by using a type of software called an "aggregator" or fee collector. The aggregator checks the feeds you subscribe to, usually every hour, and it collects all the new content from those sites you are subscribed to. Then, when you're ready, you open up your aggregator to read the individual stories, file them for later use, click through to the site itself, or delete them if they're not relevant. In other words, you check one site instead of thirty . . . not a bad tradeoff for a typically harried teacher."

Look at this website for more detailed training on RSS and some good examples!

http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/RSS

This link provides information on how to use RSS in education.

http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-and-education.htm

ActivExpressions

Happy Friday!
The ActivExpression voter set has been configured and is ready for classroom usage. Please do not rename the devices as I have numbered them on the back and these numbers correspond to how they are registered on the Activhub.

If you would like to use the ActivExpressions in your classroom, let me know. I will reserve them for you and help you with the presentation. I would be glad to work with you at anytime.

The ActivExpressions are a little more quirky than the ActiVotes.

Karns City Wikispaces

As most of you now know, we have created our own personal wikispace domain for Karns City High School. I wanted to clarify the steps you need to take to transfer your existing wiki or to become a member and create your own wiki on our KC domain. I also want to let you know how to get your students joined as members to your wiki when you are ready.

Step 1: Joining our Domain
You need to access the site at http://www.karnscity.wikispaces.net/. Once you are on the main page, look in the top right corner to see the link titled JOIN. Click on this link to create a log-in name and password for your membership to our wikispaces domain. You may use the same information you already use for the general wikispaces site. Once you submit this request, I will receive an email to which I will give you approval as a member. You will then receive an email telling you that you have been approved. I will also make you an organizer in your permissions. This will allow you to create and manage wiki's on the KC domain.

Step 2: If you already have a wiki on the main wikispaces site (Out in the real world!)
You need to send me the address for your wikispace. I will then inform the company that we need this wikispace transferred to the Karns City Domain. When this is completed I will make you the organizer for this wikispace so you have all rights to work with the wiki.

Step 3: Adding students as members
If you would like to add your students as members of your wiki, I can use the User Creator feature to upload a file with multiple student information. Please don't have your students request membership! I get an email for everyone that asks permission. It is much easier for me to upload the students as a whole group. Currently we have all the seniors and juniors added to the our wikispace domain. Right now the seniors are members of Mr. McFarland's wikispace and the juniors are members of Mrs. Bell's wikispace.

Step 4: Permissions for students
Depending on what you want your students to do on the wiki site we can vary their permissions. Talk to me about what kind of access you want your students to have.