Certain files on your hard drive (especially the program files) should remain in their original folders and not dragged to the desktop. The only icons that should appear on your computer desktop screen are aliases (indicated by italicized text). Aliases are shortcuts to files and folders on your hard drive and can be created by highlighting a file or folder and choosing "Make Alias" from the File menu. Program or application aliases (AppleWorks, Photoshop, etc.) can only be made if the Application is not in use.

* 9.0.4 upgrade / Virus update / Making the Grade Version 8.3

• Charlene and Sam demonstrated how to access the PowerRanger Shared folder on the Faculty Server. It is the quickest way to get the Virus Updater file for ’99 PowerRangers with Norton Anti-Virus Version 5.
• All Rangers: Be sure to install the newest Making the Grade program. It will fix the bug that deposits your grade files in odd places on your hard drive and will allow you to create web page grade reporting. Once the new version is on your laptop, please trash the older one.
• 2000 Rangers only: The 9.0.4 System updater and iMovie are also in the shared folder.

* Backing up files

If your files are important to you, please remember to "back them up." Several hard drives have crashed, thus losing ALL data.

* Software licensing

Sam explained the legal issues of installing software. Laptops are the school’s computers, and only software that is legally owned should be installed. If you have installed your own software and bring your laptop in for service, please let us know, or the software will be removed.

* Video connectivity update (USB device)

The "MyView" USB projection device was demonstrated. This device will work with the 2000 laptops and all iBooks on the MILKarts. See Charlene about checking out the device for testing in your classroom.

* Laptop care and feeding

More "casualties" seem to be occurring with the 2000 laptops. Please take extra care to protect your laptop from jarring and impacts. If the computer is dropped, knocked (even while in the case), or jarred, it may affect the screen or other important components.

Also, several battery packs have recently died. These are not repairable and have to be replaced at cost. Please use care when "winding" the cords. Repeated stress on a cord will cause the insulation to crack and expose or short out the wires.

* Listserv use

PowerRangers are encouraged to make more use of the listserv to share ideas, concerns and questions. A 100 minds are better than just one or two (Charlene and Sam).

* Specialized training options

• The second semester will have a variety of training opportunities. Several University of Stevenson courses will be taught by Charlene after school. Jeremiah Enright and Laura Brown will co-teach an Inspiration class.
• Online classes continue.
• Several all-day workshops will be offered for "teams" of teachers, not just PowerRangers, with funding available for substitutes. Details to follow.
• Charlene would like to get volunteers to assist in planning summer technology offerings, perhaps offering a Computer Camp. Anyone wishing to be a "camp counselor," please contact Charlene.
• Charlene will also be available to work with teachers on summer curriculum projects this year.

* End of semester report

Sam requested that by January 26, all rangers provide feedback of their experiences with the laptop this semester, via a web page submittal form. The web page form address will sent via PowerRanger email.

2000 Rangers, please include the date(s) you observed your mentor, so that Sam can cover the cost of subs.

* Upcoming Conferences:

• NICE Mini Conference:

http://www.iceberg.org/NICE/html/nice_news.html
at Niles West, January 27
Charlene is making several presentations. No pre-registration is required. Please see the web site for more information.

• Role of Technology:

http://www.roleoftech.org/reg/home.asp
at Pheasant Run in St. Charles
Pre-sessions on Tues. & Wed., February 20 & 21
See website for full details.
Conference is Thurs. & Fri. Feb. 22 & 23
Fee: $75.00 before February 5, 2001. $85.00 After February 5, 2001.

• Classroom Connect

http://www.classroom.com/conferences/info/overview.asp
at McCormick Place, March 28-30
Informational flyer in the Staff Development Lab

• NECC (National Educational Computing Conference)

http://www.neccsite.org/
at McCormick Place, June 25-27
Informational flyer in the Staff Development lab

* Sharing: Successes, Concerns

Concerns:
Some Rangers have experienced formatting issues when sharing documents between other teachers. Page settings and text flow does not appear the same on other faculty computers, however it does appear the same on the 2000 laptops.

This can be caused by several factors. The most common being a different set of system fonts between the computers. Helvetica font on System 9 may be slightly different that the Helvetica font on System 8. The other factor is the printer "driver" in use. LaserWriter 8, LaserWriter 8.3.3 and Deskjet Series all can affect the way a document prints as well as how it appears on the screen.

Some Rangers report that when copying and pasting between AppleWorks files, the formatting (Times font for example) is lost.

This is a known bug in AppleWorks when copying from older files, the pasted text always comes in as Helvetica.

Successes:
Sherlock is a great tool for finding not only files on your hard drive, but if you use the indexing feature, you can find words within your documents, similar to a web search engine.

Some Rangers reported using Sherlock to find files that have been created or modified from a certain date, and then only having to "back up" those files, rather that the hundreds of files on their hard drive.

Ilene Hamilton showed a keypad device she purchased for under $60 at CDW that makes grade entering a breeze and well worth the investment. Steve Ikenn found one for under $45. Contact these Rangers for more details and testimonials.