Accessing your TurnItIn.com Class from an iPad

Did you know that you can access all of your TurnItIn.com submissions from the TurnItIn iPad app?

Due to the fact that we have TurnItIn.com integrated with myMitty, signing into the TurnItIn.com iPad app takes a few steps. But it is well worth the effort. Here are the directions (adapted from the TurnItIn.com support site):

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You will need a unique class access code in order to log in to your classes on Turnitin for iPad. To generate your unique class access code:

From your laptop:

1. Sign into myMitty
2. Open the document viewer for a TurnItIn assignment in the class
3. Click on the iPad access button in the lower left
4. Click “Generate code”
5. The unique class access code will be displayed. Copy this code - you will need to enter it on your iPad.

From your iPad:

1. Download the TurnItIn iPad app 
2. Tap the “Access Code” button on the Turnitin for iPad app login screen
3. Type in the class access code you have generated earlier
4. Tap “Add”

You can now access your TurnItIn class through the TurnItIn iPad app.

NOTE: Class access codes are one-time use only. If you log out or “Unlink iPad from Turnitin,” you will need to generate a new access code for the class by repeating the steps above.

Text Expansion: aText

aText Basics

Ways to use text expansion to make your daily computer use easier.

aText is an app for your computer that allows you to create shortcut or "snippets" for things you type all the time. Below are some different ways you can easily use aText in your daily computer use. If you are interested in downloading the app please contact the IT department.

Example of a snippet- ;hc = Thanks, Ms. H-C

Mymitty Grading:

• Online assignments: Create codes for things you find yourself saying over and over again. Positive feedback or suggestions.
• Moodle 2.0: with the new moodle you can write comments directly on PDF’s, so you will be able to add specific comments that you use often to specific parts of an essay or assignment.

Emails:

• Emails to students: about make up exams, missing homework, etc.
• Form emails like: parent emails, copy center request, and extracurricular emails (clubs, BC, sports, etc.)
• Email sign off: personal vs. professional
• Some emails have specific information that needs to be added based on who is receiving the email. You can create a “field” which allows you to leave an interactive blank where you need to import certain information. Then, it prompts you to enter the specific information into the field before it copies your text.

Parent Reports:

• When sending parent reports there are certain pieces of information that are standard. You can create a boilerplate report and then add in specifics about the particular student as you go.

Other ways to use aText:

• Observations
• Also works with the PDF pen- can add set text on PDF’s
• Kairos Cookies

Tips:

• When setting up your snippets think about what is easiest for you to make your codes unique. I use semi-colons, and some people use double letters. It is really up to you.
• You can easily search your codes or “snippets” using the aText search snippets. Just start typing in what you think the code includes and all the quotes with that keyword will appear. This is helpful when you are first starting out as it allows you quick access to all your codes.
• Example: If I type quote into the search box, all my snippets with the word quote in them will immediately pop up and I can see the shortcut.

Watching the Olympics

NBC (owned by Comcast) has restricted access to live viewing of the Olympics on the web. If you want to be able to view live coverage of the Olympics you will need to verify that you are an active CableTV subscriber.

If you are interested in watching the NBC Live Stream of the 2014 Winter Olympics please follow the directions below:

• Acquire your cable/pay tv providers username and password. If you don’t know the username and password for you contact your tv provider:
• Comcast: (800) 934-6489
• DirectTV: (800) 531-5000
• Dish: (855) 318-0572
• UVerse: (800) 288-2020
• Charter: (888) 438-2427
• Go to http://stream.nbcolympics.com/olympics/winter/14498/?ctx=citi
• Log in with your cable provider's username and password

click on the image to enlarge

• Enjoy

If anyone has any issues please contact the IT Help Desk (408-342-HELP or help@mitty.com)

Go Polina!

Design Thinking

I first came across the idea of "Design Thinking" last July when I attended the mid-summer IISME meeting at the Stanford "D" School. Design Thinking is presented as a collaborative process that begins with empathetic listening that evolves to defining issues and experimenting with solutions.

Design Thinking was presented in the classroom again last Friday when the World Languages Department spent the day at the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) in their Curriculum Planning class. My notes are below.

Here is a video, taken from the "Design Thinking for Educators" site:
http://vimeo.com/22570825