Technical Education

Is it Monday already? Welcome to the latest edition of Monday Productivity Pointers. Last week I talked about Google Hangouts. This week I’m creating presentations on the iPad using Keynote, Apple’s presentation software. This weeks first video will cover the actual creation of a presentation on the iPad.

Not only can you create gorgeous presentations quickly on your Apple computer, you can also create them on the road with your iPad. I’ll show you how to create a presentation based on an existing template, and how to add content to it.

Here’s a neat feature of Keynote for the iPad: if you have two photos on a slide that aren’t the same size, you can easily make them match. Tap and drag in the bottom corner of the mismatched photo on a slide. While you are dragging, use another finger to tap and hold the photo you are trying to match the size of. Instantly, the photo you are dragging will become the same size as the other photo, and you can let go with both fingers. Ta-da!

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By Erin Richards of the Journal Sentinel March 28, 2013

A Racine farm equipment company donated two tractors and a utility vehicle to Vincent High School on Thursday to help the high school restart an agriculture program on Milwaukee’s far northwest side.

The donation from Case IH included a Farmall 40-horsepower tractor with a front-loader, a Farmall 75-horsepower tractor and a Scout XL utility vehicle – a total of about $80,000 worth of equipment.

The donation boosts efforts to revitalize the long-struggling Vincent with an academic track built around food and urban agriculture. In addition to offering more career-focused classes, the program aims to attract new students to Vincent and lift perennially low test scores in core subjects like math and science.

Among 10th-grade students at the school who took the Wisconsin achievement test in the fall of 2011, only 11% scored proficient in math; a mere 9% were proficient in science, according to the most recent results from the Department of Public Instruction.

Vincent’s previous ag science program fizzled about 15 years ago.

This year the school added an agriculture science teacher who is leading classes such as animal science, biotechnology and biofuels, and horticulture.

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Spring is in the air and with spring means one exciting thing for : Spring Break!

Their parents are thinking: Lots of time to apply for college scholarships!

College scholarship season is in high gear at this time of year, with hundreds of applications due in the next few months. How does a parent get their teen to see the importance of taking advantage of spring break to apply for college when they see possible money for college and their student is blinded by images of fun in the sun?

Listen to my radio interview with College Prep Expert, Ashley Hill, entitled “Take Advantage of Spring Break” and get tips and ideas to encourage your own student to use their time off wisely and strategically. Click here to listen:

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — As a child, Steve Davis dreamed of playing for Oklahoma and even tucked away a picture of the Sooners’ quarterback he idolized in his dresser drawer.

Decades later, he is among the standard-bearers for the position at one of college football’s most storied programs. Davis, who started every game during Barry Switzer’s first three seasons as head coach and won national championships in 1974 and 1975, died Sunday in a plane crash in South Bend, Ind. He was 60.

Davis compiled a remarkable 32-1-1 record in three years as the Sooners’ starter. The Sooners went 11-0 in 1974, then won the national title again the following year after going 11-1.

It was a storybook career for Davis, who finished with one of the best records for a starting quarterback in the sport’s history after a humble beginning at Oklahoma.

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Public School Insights (PSI): Before we discuss your school in particular, I want to ask a couple overarching questions. You were recently named one of NASSP’s 2013 Digital Principals. What exactly is a “digital principal”?

Imbriale: Well, a digital principal is actually real – it’s not some sort of virtual person.  That’s been the running joke at my school since my staff found out I won the award.  The award is designed to recognize principals who exhibit bold, creative leadership with new technologies.

PSI: In general, what is the role of a school leader in digital learning?

Imbriale: The school leader must be willing to fostering an environment of innovation, exploration, experimentation, and trial and error.  When a school’s culture is student-centered and driven by a collaborative spirit it’s really amazing what can be accomplished.  But I will also say that the leader must also be a user.  It’s impossible to get buy-in if you are not modeling effective use.  I try hard to continually model my own personal and professional use of technology, whether it’s social media or flipping professional development.

PSI: Now tell me about your school. What is your vision for i

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