 |
Issue 34,
Volume 5
May 5, 2005
|
| |
Thought for the Week
"Decide whether or not the goal is
worth the risks involved. If it is, stop worrying." --
Amelia Earhart |
|
|
Thank You Teachers!!!
|
|
THANK YOU! CPSB
Teachers...for all the work you do each and every day with
the students in the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools.
We appreciate you - Happy Teacher Appreciation Week from the
CPSB Technology Department! |
OfficeScan Change
|
 You
may notice that the OfficeScan stats have changed and it
looks like there are a lot more viruses on CPSB computers
than in the past. The increased numbers are a result of a
new anti-spyware feature implemented in the latest
OfficeScan upgrade which has been automatically installed on
all the current OfficeScan clients. Your OfficeScan program
now scans your computer for and removes the spyware / adware
placed on computers. This spyware and adware gets placed on
computers when you download many so-called “free” programs
like screensavers, time keepers and weather trackers. These
programs can get on your computer if you go to a website
that insists that you must install a program or control in
order to see their content. Because OfficeScan now
scans for spyware / adware, it will count these as viruses
and that explains the larger numbers you will see in the
weekly reports. For those people who may have downloaded and
installed anti-spyware packages, you will not need these on
your computer as OfficeScan will now protect your computer
from these threats as well. If you should have any questions
about the OfficeScan client upgrade, email the CPSB Help
Desk at tech.help@cpsb.org. |
“Mapping the Past (Quest 2)”
|
 The
Louisiana Department of Education, through the Louisiana
Center for Educational Technology, has prepared a project
aligned with state curriculum standards called “Mapping the
Past (Quest 2).” The activity, sponsored by Region V TLTC
and Calcasieu Parish Technology Department, is designed to
provide the state's children with a sense of appreciation,
pride, and stewardship for Louisiana's historic locations.
Students researched historical and cultural treasures such
as a cemeteries, battlefields, or monuments and participated
in lesson activities that instilled in them the importance
of the need to care and preserve our heritage. Teachers who
successfully completed the project were given a GPS unit.
Complete project results and information is available at
http://www.questwithgis.com. Participating teachers were
Paula Michalko, Chad Grissom, Wade Haymark, Rene Marsh
(Barbe High School), Michael Stevens, Cindy Leonards, Gina
Murphy, Carolyn Ettinger, and Sue Gulley (Bell City High
School), Jolene Broxson (Dequincy Middle), Kathie Istre,
Angie Ardoin, Trudy Phelps, Tita Roberson, and Michelle
Johns (Dolby Elementary School), Carolyn Bell, and Terri
Simpson (D.S Perkins Elementary), Sonia Miller, Connie
Guillory, Nicholle Guillory, Diane Taylor, and Felicia
Sonnier (Fairview Elementary), Phyllis Arndt and Melanie
Pruett (Kennedy Elementary, Marianne Wallace, Amy Dennis,
and Donna Little (Gillis Elementary), Beverly Mixon (Moss
Bluff Elementary), Denise Nealy (Maplewood Middle), Mike
Juneau and Janet Simmons (Nelson Elementary), Kathy Walsh
(W.W. Lewis Middle School), JoAnn Winfrey (Westwood
Elementary), Lisa Murphy, Shawn Evans, Angela Debarge, Libby
Ford, and Tony Mccardle (Vincent Settlement), ), Scott Miano
(Oberlin High School, Allen Parish), Mark Anger (Allen
Parish Alternative School), Robert Friday (Allen Parish),
and Travis Armond (Oberlin Elementary, Allen Parish). |
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Reminder
|
 Have
you installed SP2 on all of your Windows XP machines yet? To
check to see if you have installed this service pack, click
on "Start" then "Control Panel" and look for "Security
Center". If you do not have this you need to install this
from the CD that your Tech Contact has. Note this is to only
be installed on Windows XP machines, NOT
Windows 2000. NOTE: Once you start the installation,
do not shut the computer down for any reason and if you use
a laptop make sure the external power is plugged in before
starting. If you have any other questions please email
tech.help@cpsb.org. |
Using USB Drives (a.k.a. Pen Drives, Jump Drives, Flash
Drives, etc.)
|
  Many
teachers have started using the USB drives and have had
questions about this message they receive from Windows XP
machines. All this message is telling you is that you
are putting a USB 1.1 device into a USB 2.0 port. (A
USB 2.0 port is capable of transferring data faster than a
USB 1.1 port.) This is NOT an error message.
Your USB drive will function properly in the Windows XP
machine only at a slower rate. |
JASON Expedition: Mysteries of Earth and Mars™
|
 Dr.
Robert Ballard and a team of scientists will take
middle-grade students and teachers on the trip of a lifetime
-- to Mars! Working with renowned partner organizations such
as NASA, as well as research and academic institutions
around the world, students will conduct investigations and
make discoveries that will help unravel the Mysteries of
Earth and Mars. To learn more about the 2005-2006 project go
to:
http://www.jason.org/jason_science/expeditions/learnMore.htm |
Adding a Drop-down List in Excel
|
 It's
easy to add drop-down lists in an Excel workbook. Simply
follow these steps:
- Select a cell or a group
of cells (ex: A1:A12).
- In the menu bar go to Data
> Validation, select "List" in the "Allow" text box and in
the "Source" text box submit a list of values separated by
commas (John, Mark, Joe, Peter) or a range of cells (ex:
=B1:B5).
- Click OK. Now when you
select any of the cells A1 to A12 a small arrow appears to
the right of the cell. Click on it and you are offered a
selection of the values that you have submitted or of the
values that you have entered in cells B1 to B5.
- Extra note: submit =B1:B50
even if you only have 5 names. When you add new names in B6
to B50 your drop-down list is automatically updated.
|
Internet Searching Tip
|
 If
you have ever searched the Internet for PowerPoint
presentations and found very few were available, then try
this. Go to www.google.com
and click the "ADVANCED SEARCH" link, type in your search
terms (science for example), and then go down to the use
"FILE FORMAT" drop-down box to choose "Microsoft PowerPoint
(.ppt)". Click "Google Search" and off you go. Other
file formats to search by include Word, Excel and PDF
documents. |
Outlook Tip
|
 If
you do not want to keep copies of your sent messages, on the
"Tools" menu, click "Options", click the "Email Options"
button, clear the "Save copies of messages in Sent Items
folder" check box, and click "OK". |
Montage-a-Google
|
 Montage-a-google
is a simple web-based app that uses Google's image search to
generate a large gridded montage of images based on keywords
(search terms) entered by the user. Not only an interesting
way of browsing the net, it can also be used to create
desktop pictures or even posters. Check out the website!
http://grant.robinson.name/projects/montage-a-google |
Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of
Congress
|
 Did
you ever wonder why a camel has a hump? If you can really
tell the weather by listening to the chirp of a cricket? Or
why our joints make popping sounds? These questions deal
with everyday phenomena that we often take for granted, but
each can be explained scientifically. Everyday Mysteries
will help you get the answers to these and many other of
life's most interesting questions through scientific
inquiry. In addition, we will introduce you to the Library
of Congress' rich collections in science and technology. All
of the questions presented on this Web site were asked by
researchers and answered by librarians from the Library's
Science Reference Services.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries |
USA Today Education
|
|
Through using USA TODAY, both
print and online resources, students will be able to develop
higher order thinking skills such as application of
concepts, analysis of information and synthesis to arrive at
new solutions. Current "real world" examples will reinforce
and motivate students to learn, apply and integrate concepts
from every curriculum area.
http://www.usatoday.com/educate/home.htm |
Top Ten Viruses Found on CPSB Computers
|
| Here are the
top ten viruses and spyware found on CPSB computers in the past 7 days.
The stats are based on 5847
infected computers out of a total of
10437 OfficeScan clients.
The
latest OfficeScan pattern as of 5-03-2005 is pattern
2.611.00. Please
check your pattern by placing your cursor over the
OfficeScan icon and viewing the pop-up window that appears.
If your pattern is significantly
LOWER than this
(A HIGHER PATTERN NUMBER IS OK), please
email tech.help@cpsb.org
regarding this or any other question you have regarding
OfficeScan.
 The
information shows the name of the virus, the number of
infected files found, and the percentage of the virus from
the total.
ALL school board employees need
to ensure that their Dell, Compaq, HP, IBM or other PC
classroom computers stay virus free. Go to the
following link to download the district copy of OfficeScan:
https://antivirus.cpsb.org/officescan and your computer
will automatically be updated daily to scan for the latest
viruses. You must install the software using Internet
Explorer 4.0 or later (Netscape will not work!!!!!) Please
answer "Yes" to all prompts as the software installs. If you
have any questions, please contact the CPSB Help Desk at
tech.help@cpsb.org.
|
|
Best on
the Net!! -- Visit this site for hundreds of websites
for teachers! We would love to hear from you about the best
educational sites you have found on the web. Please submit, via
email, the sites you feel merit inclusion. Send to
tech.connect@cpsb.org. Please include the URL and a short sentence
about the site.
Featured Sites: (These sites were
submitted by teachers in Calcasieu Parish)
OUTLINE MAPS:
http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps
Need a few outline maps for a quick geography lesson. These maps are
printable and make great student resources.
SPRING ACTIVITIES:
http://preschoolerstoday.com/resources/articles/springactivities.htm
Whether indoors or outside, here are some great suggestions for
spring activities for preschoolers. Try collecting milk jugs to make
scoop balls, then have your students make up their own list of rules
as you write them on the board. After the activity discuss how those
rules worked, and have a debate both on why rules are sometimes
necessary, and how they could improve their own set of created
rules. Find ideas for scavenger hunts, design, sand play, donut
birdfeeders, and more.
KinderGARDEN:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/kinder.htm
There are many opportunities available for children to become
involved with plants, gardens, or the outdoors in general. Some of
these opportunities include children's programs at school gardens,
botanic gardens or community gardens. This site contains ideas for
gardening with kids.
|
|
An official publication
of the CPSB Technology Department
If you have any questions or comments please e-mail the Webmaster.
For Technical Support:
tech.help@cpsb.org
Calcasieu Parish Homepage
Technology Department
Teacher Link
Best on
the Net
Tech Guides
Computer Purchasing Information
Tech Connect Archive |
|
|
|
|