Sue Waters Blog – Welcome to my personal blog where I share my random thoughts and passions

June 22, 2017Sue Waters No Comments

How To Create A Sceencast of Your iPad’s Screen using A Windows Computer

Occasionally I create screencasts of my iPad’s screen to show others how I use an app on my iPad.

Options for recording iPads screencasts are:

Use software on a Mac computer or Windows computer.
Record using a digital camera mounted above your iPad.
Take a series of screenshots of each step on your iPad by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button at the same time as the Home Button then using an app like Explain Everything or IPEVO Whiteboard app to create the video.

Below’s an example of a screencast recorded using my Window computer:

It shows how I follow the ISTE hashtags in Flipboard to curate and share the content using a Flipboard magazine.

And here is how I do it!

Mirror from iPad

I have Airserver installed on my computer and Airserver Connect app on my iPad which I use to mirror my iPad to my computer as follows:

1. Open Airserver on my computer.

2. Click on Show QR Code.

Click on QR Code

3. This launches a QR code which I scan with the AirServer Connect app on my iPad (makes connecting easier).

Airserver connect

4. Once connected swipe from bottom of screen, above home button, then tap on AirPlay > Sue-PC Connect and turn on Mirroring.

Connect To PC

5. Open the app I want to record and change to landscape so that I can record at a screen size of 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels high.

Below is the Flipboard app mirrored from my iPad onto my computer. I’ve used a Google Document in landscape mode to create a black background behind the mirrored iPad since the iPad is smaller than 1280 pixels wide when set to 720 high.

App mirrored on computer

Record on Computer

I use SnagIT to create the screencast and connect to my Snowball microphone. The snowball microphone isn’t necessary but produces better audio than headset microphone.

With SnagIT I can record and edit the screencast. It isn’t as good as Camtasia but is all I need since I don’t create screencasts often.

Main tips when using SnagIt are:

Use the region option to set the record size to 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels high.
Make sure that the correct microphone is selected and is set to record audio.

April 5, 2017Sue Waters 2 Comments

Trials and Tribulations of Digitizing a Publication From 1929

This one’s driven me crazy!

My challenge had been deciding how to digitize a publication from 1929 so that others can easily read it. Isn’t as simple as it sounds!

You can view larger versions of any image in this post by clicking on the image — once enlarged clicking on the image zooms it in closer.

Background

I have a copy of “The Western Mail” Centenary Number publication which was published in July, 1929 to commemorate the 100 years of the founding of Perth and the establishment of the Swan River Colony, the first permanent European settlement in Western Australia.

The 80 page publication highlights development and history of Western Australia from 1828 to 1929 in Perth and country towns. It includes photos from 1800’s to 1929 comparing changes in the city, towns, Parliament, transport, sport, fashions, primary production. The publication was sold for 1/6 in July, 1929.

It’s packed full of content that could be used with students and will be helpful for those interested in history.

Below are some sample pages from the publication!

You can view larger versions of these images by clicking on the image — once enlarged clicking on the image zooms closer.

Photographic representation of how train travel developed from page 31. Rail transport was important during 1828 to 1929.

Ideas for using with students:

You could ask students to share their thoughts of the following photo of the artist’s vision of what the future might look like in 2029 from page 39 of the Western Mail Centenary Number publication.

Perth in 2029. Click on the image to view the larger version of the image.

Key points:

Size , shape and number of planes as well as a helicopter looking plane.
Airship – Hindenburg disaster occurred in 1937
Narrows bridge – built opened 1959.

Below is what Perth looked like to the artist when he drew his vision of Perth in 2029:

Perth, 1929. Click on image to view larger version of image.

And this is what Perth now looks like:

Advertisements could also be used for class discussions.

Cars — A 1929 advertisement for cars from page 37.

Viewing the publication

I’ve uploaded my copy of the “The Western Mail” Centenary Number publication to a shared Google Photo.

Click on the image or link below to view my copy on Google Photos.

Western Mail Centenary Number 1929

63 new photos · Album by Sue Waters

My mother inherited two copies of the publication from my grandparents (or great grandparents). Her complete publication was stolen when she lent it to a friend for an event. The copy I photographed is missing some pages from the front and back (pages 1-8 and pages 71 to 80).

I’ve embedded a complete copy of the publication uploaded to Flickr by Whereisshelly below:

You also find “The Western Mail” Centenary Number publication on Trove.

Sharing Options

Below is a summary of what I considered when sharing the publication for those facing similar challenges.

My key priority is to share the publication so others to easily read it. The text in the article is fairly small. The sharing option needs to include the ability for readers to easily zoom into read text and photos closer.

The following options were considered after taking a photo of each page using my digital camera:

Option	Pros	Cons
Flickr slideshow	Can create a Flickr slideshow that can be embedded into a post. Readers can flip through slideshow directly in a post or page.	Zooming functionality requires readers to view the photos directly on Flickr. Flickr has advertisements on slideshows of free users. Change to Flickr ownership could impact Flickr usage.
Upload photos to blog	All images hosted on my site which enables readers to view them directly on my blog.	Zooming functionality harder to set up and isn’t as good as Google Photos or Flickr.
Shared Google photos album.	Easy to create a shared album and can add text within the album to provide context to the photos. Very easy for readers to zoom in on any photo using any device.	Isn’t possible to embed a Google Photos Album or Google Photos Slideshow directly in another website. Can embed a card using Embed Code Generator or link to a shared album.

All photos uploaded to this post have been set up so when you click on the image you view the larger version of the image and when you click on the enlarged version you can zoom into the image.

I’ve achieved it using the Lightbox for Images plugin with script for zooming the image once it loads with in the lightbox added using the Advanced Settings plugin.

Test how zooming works on the following photo by clicking on it!

Once loaded in the lightbox you’ll see a zoom icon when you hover your mouse over the image.
Holding the left mouse after zooming allows you to drag the image to view specific parts.

What else?

Leave a comment below if you have other ideas of how I could have shared the publication or if you have any other questions.

This post was written in response to Give it Away Now! – #EdublogsClub Prompt 14.

February 23, 2017Sue Waters 2 Comments

Google’s PhotoScan App: An Easy Way To Digitize Glossy Photos

I’ve been busy digitizing family photos. It’s been a quick process with the older photos. Place the photos on a table outside where there is good light with minimal glare and take pictures of the photos using my digital camera.

But this technique won’t work for the newer glossy photos due to glare issues.

Here’s what happens:

Digital camera — Taken with digital camera

The solution is to use the new PhotoScan app by Google.

The PhotoScan app works the same as an image scanner but is easier and means you can do it using your smartphone.

Here’s the same photo taken with the PhotoScan app:

After launching the app, position the photo within the frame then tap the shutter button. Four dots will appear and you hover your phone over each dot and hold in position until the dot is filled.

Once completed the PhotoScan stitches together a single image from several overlapped photos eliminating any glare and evening out exposure.

Here’s a video to show how easy PhotoScan is to use.

You can check out my progress digitizing my family history here!

Some more comparisons using glossy black and white photos.

This post was written in response to Challenging Situations: #EdublogsClub prompt 6.

February 16, 2017Sue Waters No Comments

3 Ideas For Making Your Blog More Engaging

Blogging isn’t publishing text!

And if your blogging program only involves students publishing posts with text or images — you’re implying to your students blogging is about writing when it isn’t.

It’s about sharing your learning and engaging with readers.

Blogging should include a media rich environment to engage readers, create opportunities for interaction, and should encourage students to express their creativity.

With maybe the occasional cat/dog joke?

.

Here’s how you can do it:

Technology Task Challenges For Teachers

Stuck for ideas? Check out Ron Burke‘s Technology Task Challenges for teachers courtesy of Laura Moore.

I’ve embedded Ron’s Technology Task Challenges for teachers Thinglink below. Each image on the Thinglink links to a different Technology task PDF.

Click on the Image or hover your mouse over the image then click Read More to access the PDF.

I’ve embedded Ron Burke‘s Padlet Challenge below so you can see what his Technology Task Challenges look like.

Web tools For Posts

The Thinglink, the Cat joke and the Padlet PDF are all examples of media from other websites being embedded into a post.

These are just simple examples. There are a gazillion online tools that you can use to create slides, videos, comic strips, quizzes, polls and more which you can embed into posts and pages.

I’ve listed popular tools used by educators by activity type to help get you started here. Each tool has been embedded into the post so you can see how the tools works.

I’ve added my section on Padlet from the post below so you can see the type of information shared for each tool.

Padlet

Padlet, originally known as Wallwisher, is an online notice board creator. Padlet’s popularity is how fast and easy it is to create engaging activities to use with students.

You can read more about using Padlet with students here.

Widgets For Your Sidebar

You can also engage readers using Widgets in your sidebar.

I’ve assembled a list of popular and most useful widgets used on class blogs, student blogs and personal educator blogs which you can check out here.

Many of the widgets have been embedded in the post to show how they work.

Below is a small sample of my section on clocks and calendars so you can see the type of information shared for each widget.

Clocks and Calendars

Clocks are great for displaying the time in your location which helps when you are trying to develop connections with classes in other countries. They also help younger students learn about time and time zones

Clock Link – 100’s of different and unique clocks of all types.

What Else?

Not all online tools are designed to be viewed on mobile devices. Compare my Cool Tools to Embed post and my 40+ Popular widgets for your blog post in the web browser on your computer with how these posts look on a phone or tablet.

Subscribe to Laura Moore blog! Laura provides great tips and trick for using technology with students.

Leave a comment below if I’ve missed your favourite tool in my Cool Tools to Embed post.

This post was written in response to Free Web Tools: #EdublogsClub Prompt 5.

January 30, 2017Sue Waters 4 Comments

Digitizing My Family History

A picture isn’t worth a thousand words if you don’t have the context for interpreting the story behind the picture.

And you’re left with 100’s of family photos like I was when my grandfather died aged 98 in 2006.

Many were taken in 1920’s, some from late 1800’s and no one’s left that remembers all their stories.

Fortunately my grandfather was interested in the family ancestry since the 1930’s which left numerous documents and mementos as breadcrumbs!

I’ve embedded a Google photo of the Ockerby ancestry compiled by Rev Thomas Ockerby Hurst (my great-grandfather) in 1939 below so you can zoom in on the information easily.

And Hurst ancestry which I believe was compiled by my grandfather Charles Hurst.

Ockerby letter — Letter by my great-grandfather from 1908 announcing the birth of my grandfather.

The photos

I’ve started digitizing the photos to enable my relatives and others who are interested easy access.

You’ll find the photo’s digitized so far using the following links:

The Family History

I’ve also been researching and documenting my ancestry to piece together the stories behind the photos — to bring the stories back to life!

You’ll find Hill Family, Day Family and their Bridgetown, Western Australian history documented here. I’m currently working on my Ockerby and Hurst family history.

I think I may also be luckier than most?

Hill and Day ancestors – notable settlers in Bridgetown and other parts of Western Australia.
Ockerby ancestors – notable settlers in Tasmania and some were prominent people in the early 1900’s in Western Australia.

They’ve featured in numerous historic newspaper articles which I’ve sourced via Trove (thanks to guidance from Sue Wyatt) and books:

Featherstone and Mary Ockerby – Tasmanian Pioneers written by Kathy Wright (2004) – incredible work!
Bridgetown the early years. Book two, People of the Warren Blackwood District from 1950’s by Fran Taylor (2015) – includes a Chapter on the Hill family.
Bridgetown the early years Book One by Fran Taylor (2014). Doesn’t include the Hill family but provides invaluable insight into what life was like in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s.

And my mother, Janne, has been helping me identify as many people as she can while sharing the stories she can remember.

And Yet I Ponder

Will I be able to identify the story behind each picture? Probably not! But maybe by sharing them all online others will eventually help?

Maybe someone will see this photo online and one day tell me if these are Day or Hill relatives?

Or someone from South Australia will tell me about Bentley House?

Bentley House, Mt Gambier South Australia 1924

Or someone could tell me if this document is really from 1862 and if I should be doing something more to preserve it?

The journey, and questions, continues….

This post was written in response to Photos – #EdublogsClub Prompt 4.

January 24, 2017Sue Waters 6 Comments

Dealing with Change

I really struggled writing this post. I’m not sure why? Perhaps because normally during the writing process I’ll do a lot of research?

This post I just wanted to provide a couple of tips that have helped me over the year when implementing change.

Each helped in different ways including:

Handle my emotions better when a student expresses their frustrations at changes after spending hours planning sessions.
Accept that when delivering professional development that constraints that I have no control will impact — and change takes time.

And if the tips don’t help — I’ve gone with Plan B!

A couple of funny videos (maybe I should have gone with cat videos?).

Response To Change

We each respond differently to change!

While we can’t control how others will respond to being asked to change we can control how we react to their responses.

Whenever we ask someone to do something differently we are asking them to change, to let go of the familiar, to trust you in where you are taking them and what you are doing. The people you are asking to change are used to doing it one way, now you are saying lets try it another way!

GUESS WHAT?

Not everyone wants to change! Familiar is known, comfortable and secure.

Change is uncharted water; many people’s natural and rational response is resistance. Emotionally change can simultaneously bring joy and sorrow, gain and loss, satisfaction and disappointment.

There will always be a small number of people whose automatic response to any form of change will be to complain.

Understanding the impact change can have on others helped me:

Accept that there will always be some that will complain or get upset.
Taught me not to take it personally.
Helped me handle my emotions better.
Manage resistance better.
Appreciate the need to discuss their feelings.

Time Taken To Effect Change

Implementing change takes time; change is not something that happens overnight.

For example, implementing a small change within an organisation can take 3-5 years compared to a large change that can take 5 – 10 year.

Often when we implement change we don’t allow adequate time for the change to occur. Our focus should be on long term strategies.

What Else?

This post is part of the ongoing #EdublogsClub series. This week’s writing prompt was to write a post that discusses leadership, peer coaching, and/or effecting change.

My other tips? Research information on change management. It helped me even if I couldn’t express my ideas well.

Feel free to leave your own tips (or links to funnier videos).

January 17, 2017Sue Waters 6 Comments

A Glimpse into My Work Life!

People I meet in person often find what I do unusual because I’m a remote worker who works very flexible hours. And those who know me online often assume I’m based in their time zone, USA time zone, or I’m a bot!

So I thought sharing a glimpse of my work life would provide an insight into what life is like as a remote worker.

Background

I’m the Support Manager for Edublogs and CampusPress — part of Incsub which is also behind WPMU DEV.

Inscub Is a specialist WordPress company with over 60 employees. We’re spread across different countries and time zones; most are remote workers like myself.

My Computer

Much of my day is spent testing, supporting people using our blogging platforms, or working with our support team, developers and sysadmins.

I’m a notorious multi-tasker and can be working on several tasks at the same time.

I have a reasonably large desk with x3 24″ monitors. I would have a fourth monitor if it would fit on my desk!

How does anyone get any work done with one monitor?

I run Windows because most of our users are Windows users. My computer is housed in a noise reducing case — hate excessive computer noise!

Bonus tip:

Photos from my phone automatically upload to Google photos when I connect to wifi.

Search in Google photos is incredible! It’s very accurate. Rather than take a photo I quickly searched my computer to find the latest photos of my set up.

Google photo search — Searching Google photos

Company Communication

We use Slack for most company communications — with different slack channels for different teams or work tasks.

Slack provides real-time messaging, asynchronous messaging, enables us to send direct messages to each other, and lets us search for previous discussions on a topic and supports voice calls.

Our slack conversations are generally very work focused. However, we also use it for the occasional personal chatter, as highlighted above, like you have in an office.

Other Work Tools

Here’s a quick summary of some of the other work tools we use:

Helpscout is used for all email communications. It enables multiple staff to access at the same time and for emails to be assigned to different people with notes.

We use Google Docs and Google Spreadsheets because both enable us to work collaboratively and add comments for feedback.

We use Asana for managing tasks and projects.

And off course Twitter! I have TweetDeck set up on my computer set up logged in @suewaters and @edublogs so I can quickly provide assistance by Twitter as needed.

Any time Any Where

I don’t work standard hours. My work hours are flexible to fit in with when I need to work with other team members and to support our users. And my phone is my portable work office for when I need to deal with something quickly if I’m away from my computer.

After all the articles written on why we shouldn’t take our mobile devices to bed, you would have thought that I would have learned by now?

I haven’t!

The After Midnight Google Hangout

Even after accidentally answering Google Hangout after midnight when I turned over the device.

Nothing like a live webinar from bed at 1 AM answering questions when you can barely think (and not dressed for the occasion).

FYI William Chamberlain in the above photo isn’t the person who rang me! He was one of the participants and probably wondered why I was making no sense.

Waking Up To Snakes

Or waking up to snake photos from my South African work colleague who was excited to share his latest photos; knowing I’m scared of snakes and I would be seeing the images as I wake up once he was asleep.

Google Hangout — Thoughtful work colleague 🙂

What Else?

This post is part of the ongoing #EdublogsClub series. Check it out and learn more here.

Hope you enjoyed the quick tour? Was there any thing else you would like to know about what I do?

January 4, 2017Sue Waters 9 Comments

My Blogging Story: Part II

Blogging has been both transformational and life-changing for me. As a result of blogging, I’ve changed how I learn, I’ve helped others make a difference in their life and changed my career.

So here’s my blogging story (Part II) which I’ve written as part of the weekly #EdublogsClub. You can join me and sign up for the #EdublogsClub here.

Evolution of a Blogger

2017 is my 10th Anniversary as blogger!

It took a year to understand why I should blog after being shown a blog (2006) to starting my own blog (2007). Prior to starting my own blog, I shared my learning via podcasts and wikis; it wasn’t until I reached the point where I wanted to reflect on my learning that I started blogging.

For me it was a combination of not understanding, 1) what is a blog, and 2) the importance of reflection, sharing, connected learning and learning as part of a community.

I’m passionate about blogging because it:

Helped me become a better writer — I passionately believe that if blogging can help someone like me who continues to struggle with language it can help others that are like myself.
Gave me a voice and mechanism to share my thoughts and help others.
Changed my life — blogging resulted in changing my career from an aquaculture lecturer to employment as the Support Manager for Edublogs and CampusPress. Many of my fellow edubloggers have had similar life changes as a result of their blogging.

Seth Godin and Tom Peters video summarizes the essence of what blogging is for me.

PS My Blogging Story (Part I) shows how my blogging has evolved 🙂

Blogging: Becoming a better writer

What’s even more incredible with my blogging journey is I’ve battled writing and processing language my entire life. While my English teacher and I would agree that my expression continues to be rather odd at times — blogging helped me become a better writer.

It’s not perfect — and continues to be a work in progress — but I can’t imagine any of my English teachers or I would ever thought that one day I would be paid to write.

Blogging Turning Point

Looking back on my blogging journey one of the key events that made me a better blogger was participating in Darren Rowse’s 31 Days Project in 2007.

It was a month long series of posts on ProBlogger designed to walk bloggers through 31 tasks that you can do to make your blog better.

We formed our own community and worked through Darren Rowse’s 31 Days Project as a group. It was an intense month — where we read each others posts and learnt together — and collectively improved our blogging skills. Commenting and reading each others posts was as important as writing our own posts.

Some Blogging Tips

Below is a few blogging tips. You’ll find more detailed tips on Why I blog (and how you can too).

My advice to those participating in the weekly #EdublogsClub is make it a goal to read and comment on as many of the posts as possible. You learn as much, if not more, by reading/commenting as writing your posts and it helps generate ideas for things to blog about.

Remember blogging isn’t about writing. It’s about connecting, reflecting and sharing. Mix it up with video, audio and embed cool tools into your posts.

Steve Wheeler says it better than me in 3 Things you should know about blogging!

And don’t forget — what is Obvious to you is amazing to others. Don’t assume others know what you know. There is always someone who will be grateful of what you shared — even if they don’t necessarily tell you.

What is your blogging story?

I would love to hear about your blogging story!

Join me by participating in the #EdublogsClub and writing a post on your own blog! You’ll find the blogging prompts for Week 1: My Blog story from the #EdublogsClub here!

Alternatively, leave a comment to share your story, provide advice for new bloggers, or tell me what you would like to know more about.

June 28, 2016Sue Waters 4 Comments

Embedding videos from Google Photo into posts

Google Photos is my favorite photo and video sharing/storage service but it can be frustrating when I want to embed my Google Photos videos into posts without uploading them to YouTube!

It’s tricky as you can’t embed directly from Google Photos so I’ve written this post to show how you can do it via Google Drive!

Video Embedded via Google Drive

But first let me show you a video that’s been embedded directly from Google Drive!

The following video was created from a series of videos captured during my 7 AM early morning winter walk in Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia.

I created the video to help others learn more about my City. The videos were combined into one video using VivaVideo on my Android smartphone.

Why Google Drive? Simple!

I don’t always want to share my videos using YouTube and educators I work with often want an alternative option to YouTube so I need to be able to explain how it is done.

About Google Photos

Why Google Photos if I’m using Google Drive to embed?

Good question! I use Google Photos for most of the management of photo and video as Google Photos is great for sharing, editing and storing because:

It automatically backs up all my photos and videos taken on my Android smartphone to Google Photos.
Stores the images and videos as full HD and not compressed/low resolution copies like other services.
Automatically organizes my photos based on data, people, locations and is easily searched.
Makes it easily to edit and share photos to social networks.
It includes an Assistant which allows me to easily create Albumns, Shared Albumns, Collages, Animations and simple videos using the app on my phone or via my web browser.

Google Photos makes it quick and easy to do so many different tasks except embed videos directly into posts.

This is where Google Drive or another video hosting solution is needed if you don’t want to use YouTube.

Embed video via Google Drive

Here’s how to embed your Google Photos video via Google Drive:

1. Log into Google Drive in the web browser on your computer using the same gmail account you use for Google Photos.

2. Click on Google Photos folder in the left sidebar (images and photos are automatically added to Google Drive).

photos61

3. Click on the video or photo you want to embed and then click on the More icon and select Share.

Click on Share

Videos take some time to upload to Google Drive from Google Photos. If the video has only recently backed up to Google Photos it mightn’t appear for awhile in Google Drive.

4. Click on Advanced option in Share window.

Click on Advanced

5. Click on Change next to Private.

Click on Change

6. Click on On – Any one with a link or On – Public on the web and then click on Save.

Link Sharing

7. Click on Done to close the Share window.

8. Click on the More icon and then Open in new Window link. Click on Open in new window

9. Click on the More icons and then Embed Item link.

Click on Embed

10. Copy the embed code.

Copy the Embed code

11. Paste the embed code into your post using Insert Embed in the Add Media Window and then click Insert into Post.

The method you use will depend on the website or blog platform you use. This is how you do it on Edublogs and CampusPress networks.

Insert embed code

12. Once your post is published you’ll see your video embedded.

Your Tips or Questions?

Hope this information helped!

Please leave a comment below to provide tips on how you share your videos or let me know if you have any questions.

June 13, 2016Sue Waters 2 Comments

What do you want to know about blogging with students?

I’m facilitating a session of blogging with students for ECAWA 2016 State Conference with Brette Lockyer and Michael Graffin on Saturday June 25 and we would love your help!

Background

We will be inviting participants in our session to share what they would like to learn during the session so we can personalize it to their needs.

Before the conference I’m trying to crowd source what you would like to know about student blogging — if you were able to attend a session on student blogging — to help us prepare as many answers as we can!

I’ll be publishing follow-up posts after the conference to provide the information we shared in the session and to answer any questions readers left on this post.

How you can help

Please leave a comment below to answers any of the following questions!

If you are new to blogging with students, or never blogged with students, we would like to know the following:

What you would like to know about blogging with students?
What grade(s)/subjects do you teach?
Your class blog URL (optional).

For those experienced with blogging with students we would like to know:

What are your tips for blogging with students?
Your class blog URL (optional).

Thanks for your help!

Mirror from iPad

Record on Computer

Background

Viewing the publication

Sharing Options

What else?

Technology Task Challenges For Teachers

Web tools For Posts

Widgets For Your Sidebar

What Else?

The photos

The Family History

And Yet I Ponder

Response To Change

Time Taken To Effect Change

What Else?

Background

My Computer

Company Communication

Other Work Tools

Any time Any Where

What Else?

Evolution of a Blogger

Blogging: Becoming a better writer

Blogging Turning Point

Some Blogging Tips

What is your blogging story?

Video Embedded via Google Drive

About Google Photos

Embed video via Google Drive

Your Tips or Questions?

Background

How you can help

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