Welcome back teachers and staff. I will be updating this blog on Sunday of each week. I may have other updates if they are critical or of I have time to send them.

Good idea's and reading study. Click on link below

Getting Smart on Teachers as Collaborative Curriculum Designers

If this look familiar please let me know so I can try and get in replaced or fixed. Most of your teacher desktops are SIX year old. 

I am in the process now to identifying and prioritizing computers that need to be replaced. Please fill out the form below to so I can know what is going on with you teacher PC. 

Computer Use Survey 

It only takes one sweet note from someone you taught or coached to make your day. I recently was the recipient of one of those notes. It was hand written,  in cursive and most importantly it was from the heart. 

You simply can't beat that :) 

Per Pupil Spending in American and how it's killing student achievement

This is sad and folks it's time we take a stand and do something about this.

Per Pupil Spending

Top Smartphone Apps for Education 

Click here for a link to some great Ideas

Some reminders about using Gmail, Google Apps

I know most of our staff here at Cleveland High is aware of many of the issues in this blog post, so this is just a friendly remind of some things about using Google products and using Microsoft Internet Explorer.

All Google Products work best when using Google Chrome. Why you might ask. Well it's very simple, Google has a vested interest in their products working with their browser. And Microsoft for obvious reasons does not have an interest.

Don't forget to Celebrate Earth Day next 

Friday April 22, 2016

See helpful tips on Integrating Earth Day activities into your curriculum for that day. 

Education World 

Scholastic 

Edutopia 

New Substitute login's AD and Google

The generic substitute log in will be deactivated on Monday, April 11th at 4:00.

All substitutes will use their Active Directory account that is now being provisioned for them.

Username: firstlast

Password: jcswelcome

Password Strength Checker

If you ever want make sure you are using a safe password, use this Password Checker and see where how you passwords stand up to the hackers.

Password Strength Checker

Employee Password Expiration for NCEdCloud

Make sure you read the JCS Tech Blog for important information regarding your
NCEDCloud IAM

password expiration. Click here for the link 

Further questions, please see the FAQ section including password complexity rules

Also make sure you pay close attention to the password complexity rules. Below is a few helpful hints that may help you remember your password. One thing you can do is create an inconspicuous folder in your Google Docs and store your current password in a spreadsheet.

Tips for creating strong hard to hack passwords

Click here for helpful hints

A word about Inventory

If it belongs to the school, it should have an asset tag on it. If you have equipment in your room that doesn't appear to have a blue asset tag anywhere on it, please let us know. We won't judge you :)

I am in the process of actually counting what we have in the building. If you have a school issues laptop that you take home please make sure it is brought back to school in the next week so I can inventory it. I don't need you to check it in until the school year is finished but we have to have inventory done before June 10, so I can wait until then to inventory your laptop or other equipment that may be checked out to you.

See you in the hallways!! :)

Laptop cart management begins with your cooperation

Please help our with managing our laptops. This week, I have been getting carts returned after 2:40, some not returned at all and others with computers not plugged into power cords. After the carts come back it takes up to 40 minutes before I can leave the property due to charging issues. To make sure the carts are properly charged for the next day I have to stay behind and flip the switch on some of the carts. If a full Dell laptop is left on and running it will "pop" the breaker and none of the computers will get charged.

Annie and I manage over 250 laptops daily. Imagine if you had to plug in 250 laptops and track down 8 or 9 carts everyday? Needless to say you might get frustrated. So if you can please help us out by doing a few things more consistently.

1. Make sure that all of the computers on the cart are plugged into at least a nearby power cord.

2. Please make your best effort to return the cart by 2:30 or 2:40 at the latest. Please return carts even if you are scheduled to get them again the next day. If you check with me you may be able to keep the cart. Sometimes depending on an individual teachers needs they may request the Dell Fullsize laptops or Chromebooks. I do my best to get you what you request but sometimes this is not possible.

3.

Creating Safe passwords that are easy to remember to nearly impossible to crack

Learn how to create virtually unhackable passwords.

Nearly everyone struggles with remembering passwords. I have in excess of 50 various login's and passwords. So how do I keep up with everything...that's a good question. I can honestly say I don't know how I do it.

The following YouTube video will introduce you to some ways you can create a nearly unhackable password. Really there is no such thing as an "unhackable" password, but if you make it hard enough no one will spend the time it takes to crack your code.

Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYyWgPXfx9U

Job Interview question that students or adults may not be aware they need to answer.

I found this short brief article from Forbes about interview questions. If you need a conversation starter for class this might be helpful.

Three Interview Questions you need to be able to answer

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career-management/three-interview-questions-you-need-to-be-ready-to-answer/?tag=nl.e099&s_cid=e099&ttag=e099&ftag=TREd8c0fa8

Technology update: May 5, 2015

CTE is getting some new carts to help with testing. Of course as soon as we get those we are informed by DPI that all online testing has been discontinued for CTE for the rest of the year. The CTE exams will be the traditional pencil and paper type.

The demand for computer resources is going to be extremely high due to teachers getting students ready for those online EOC's and NCFE's. Virtually all of our state exams are online now.

Fortunately, at Cleveland we are positioned pretty well for this due to our purchasing of chromebooks over the last three years. These are by far the most cost effective way to get students online and provide them access for research. Please keep in mind that we have to be diligent in taking care of these delicate machines.

Accidents do happen but...

By modeling proper use of the laptops and chromebooks we can send a positive signal to our students that they can follow and help extend the life of the Chromebooks in particular.

Prom 2015

Prom Night 2015

The 2015 Cleveland Prom will be at 

One Eleven Place

111 Realtors Way, Cary, NC 27513

Near the Embassy Suites off of Harrison Ave

Tech Update Week of April 13-17

Cleveland Tech Update
Tuesday April 14, 2015

Good Morning Followers, 
Believe it or not we have about six weeks of school remaining. 

• Room 209 OkiData Printer is out of order. It needs a roller in the top output. If we are lucky we can use the OkiData Printer in room 210 that is being used for parts to fix it. Otherwise we are done with that printer. 

• Please remember to be diligent with taking care of our computers especially the one's that go out everyday on the carts. These are critical elements to our testing success at this school. 

• We are experimenting with the chromebox concept in the media center. A chromebox for those of you that don't know is the a media box that uses chrome OS to connect to the internet. This functions similar to a chromebook but connects to a regular monitor, keyboard and mouse. 

• These are located near the back glass door heading out to the Media Center Courtyard if you want to check them out. 

• Lastly, I have created a feedback from for when you call us for Tech Support. You will get a an email after I come to your room for a service. Please fill this out and if you have any suggestions on how we can improve please, please, please let us know on the form.  

Thanks and have a great week!!

Teacher Morale isn't something that can be measured..that's the point

6 ways to improve teacher morale. This is an interesting read. What do you think?

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/proposals-for-improving-teacher-morale-terry-heick