Declutter Documents with Print Friendly

If you’re like me you are always printing articles and handouts for your student’s. One website that I wanted to share is called Print Friendly. Print Friendly is exactly as it sounds, it takes any website and creates a nice document without any of the clutter of the world wide web. You can cut and paste any website into Print Friendly site and then remove Screen Shot 2014-01-15 at 5.29.29 PMimages, text, and print only the information you want for your students.

 

You can either print the website without the clutter or get a PDF document. You can even get the browser extension so within one click you have a print friendly document.  Happy Printing!

 

Shorten Primary Documents with Text Compactor

Text Compactor is an online summarizing tool that was created for busy teachers who have struggling readings. Teaching using primary documents is wonderful but also challenging with students who can’t comprehend the document. Text compactor was designed to help struggling readers who get overwhelmed with Screen Shot 2014-01-12 at 8.57.42 PMlots of information.

 

How it works? 

You can copy any text and place them into the text compactor, which calculates the frequency of each word in the passage. Then the website figures out the frequency associated with the words and then pulls the most important sentences with the highest word count.  Text Compactor is not recommended for use with fiction (i.e., stories about imaginary people, places, events).

 

Here is an abridged version of the Declaration of Independence:

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

 

IPad Tips and Websites in the Classroom

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning has compiled a great list of how teachers can use iPads in their classroom. Some of the websites are written by a great list for teachers who teach using iPads, which are important for your to  read, digest, and implement with your students. Once you read the sample websites you will learn about how some wonderful teachers have used iPads and applications in the classroom.

Citation: Haselton, Todd. “TechnoBuffalo.” TechnoBuffalo. N.p., 3 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. .

 

I personally believe we need to teach our students the skills needed to be successful with iPads. For most student’s using apps and technology comes naturally but teachers need to model and hold clear expectations. I find when assigning a new app or project it is very helpful to have a rubric or clear expectations on how the app will be used. Clear guidelines and expectations will help you with behavior management and core content.

 

Tips When Using the iPad 

1. Remember the Multitasking Gestures:

  • Four finger swipe to return to Home screen
  • Four finger swipe up to reveal multitasking bar
  • Four finger swipe left or right to switch between open apps

2. Bookmark Favorite Websites to Home Screen: While in Safari, load up your favorite websites and tap on the box with an arrow in it, alongside the URL Bar. Select “Add to Home Screen” and give each site a short name so it doesn’t abbreviate itself. Make a whole folder full of your favorite websites bookmarks.

 

3. Take Screen Shots: Hold down the Home button and tap the Power button briefly, you’ll hear the familiar screenshot sound and the screen flashes white. Screen shots are stored within the Photos library, and can be   messaged, emailed, or just preserved for posterity. 

 

Useful Websites 

1- Top 7 Guides on how to Use iPad in Classroom

2- How to Set Up Class iPad Touch Devices

3- iPad in The Classroom Transforms The Learning Process

4- A Day in The Life of The iPad Classroom

5- 5 Ways Readers are Using iPad in The Classroom

6- Ushering iPad into The Classroom

7- The iTouch and iPad in The Classroom

8- 14 Smart Tips for Using iPads in The Class

9- The 1 iPad Classroom (PDF )

10- Schooled on My iPad 

11. 80 Apps to Use in the Classroom 

How teachers Can Leverage More Time?

As a social studies teacher I feel strongly that students need to acquire facts, but we want our students to move beyond routine memorization to analyze and make connections with the new information. With the new demands of Common Core standards teachers will be faced with an educational decision to teach content that leads to a deeper understanding, comprehension, and application.

Incorporating technology into daily instruction is one way in which teachers can leverage more time, restructure learning activities so they become more meaningful, and provide opportunities for more rigorous  instruction. Digital tools can be seamlessly integrated into the curriculum to save teachers time and enhance learning time. Some teachers have a hard time envisioning how digital products can be enhanced into classroom instruction. Here are a few ways I integrate technology into my classroom:

 

Assessment

I use a program called Infuse learning as a formative assessment with my students. Students can electronically through their cell phones, tablets, or laptops send responses immediately to an electronic spreadsheet that can allow me assess whole-group or individual feedback.

 

I can then use this information to guide my teaching and instruction. For example, students may answer a critical thinking question from the previous night’s homework. If the spreadsheet or graph reveals a majority of students did not comprehend a concept the assignment I can then reteach or review a particular concept or question. Students send immediate responses to my teacher account which can place responses into an electronic spreadsheet, which allows me assess the whole class or give individual feedback. Through infuse learning, I can send my class a multiple-choice question. The website instantly graphs my students responses, which reveals if my students did not comprehend a concept

 

For example, students may answer a critical comprehension question applying a historical topic to modern day. Another way I have my student’s use this program is with the draw feature. In pairs they are assigned four vocabulary words. They then need to draw the vocabulary words. They then send the words to the board and as a class we guess the word and review the definition.  This makes for a particularly useful review activity in any class (yes even AP).

Image by: Krista Moroder http://www.edtechcoaching.org/2012/12/cant-afford-student-clickers-hate.html

 

Google Forms for Data Collection

I simplified my life with Google Forms.  Google forms can help you plan an event, send a survey, give a quiz, or collect information in an easy way. Through Google Forms responses are automatically collected in a spreadsheet. Responses can be shown in a graph or sorted by spreadsheet column.

 

I use Google Forms on the first day of school to collect student information, back to school night data, rubrics for projects, and so much more. My students even asked me to make a Google form for a debate evaluation so that no one knew their handwriting with the evaluation.


Evernote for Lesson Plans, Notes, or Assignments 

Evernote is an easy-to-use, free application or website that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Evernote lets your take notes, sync files across your devices, save webpages, capture inspiration, and share your ideas with friends and colleagues.  There are so many wonderful ways to use Evernote for file sharing, lesson plans, digital portfolios writing submission. The ideas are endless! Here is a great Livebinder created by Justin Stallings on all the wonderful features of Evernote.

 

 

Online Discussions

Back channeling during class can encourage your students to make comments, ask questions, and provide feedback.  I have used Today’s Meet, Twitter, or My Big Campus as a back channel during class such as with a debate, video, or resource sharing session when I do not want “verbal” discussion. My students enjoy back channeling during videos. My students ask questions, answer questions, and share links/quotes about the topic of the video. I find I can have a more engaging discussion after the video because all of the initial questions were already answered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creath’s Class- Creative Ideas for the 21st Century Teacher


I learned about  a pretty amazing social studies teacher, Mrs. Creath at the National Social Studies Conference in St. Louis, Missouri this past November. Mrs.Creath led a poster presentation on “Getting Your Students to THINK!” She presented some interesting ideas and tons of resources to encourage students think beyond routine memorization. All of her resources were directed at Bloom’s Taxonomy Levels and Social Justice Issues. If you teach you should check out her resources, many  of them could be applied to any subject or grade!

I particularly liked her “Think Dots” lesson. Leslie has her students roll the dice as they research, read, or investigate new information. She also changes the stems in each box to be adapted for a specific question. According to Dr. Dheeraj Mehrotra, “A Teacher, who is now a facilitator in this generation, encapsulates a new order of delivery with extension of a knowledge society and not a content delivery or an interpretation of book knowledge in real life” (Mehrotra). The 21st century of teaching and learning will not be limited to physical space but learning that is open-minded, inquiry-based, and full of authentic learning experiences.

 

Screen Shot 2014-01-01 at 2.36.22 PM

 

Citation: I got permission to reference Leslie Creath and her website. 

 

 

The Role of Technology in Early Childhood Development Programs

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If you’re studying early childhood development at a school like Kendall College, and are planning to go into teaching, you may already be thinking about how you can implement technology in your classroom. These days, with many high schools purchasing iPads for their students—not to mention video series like Baby Einstein targeting our youngest learners—it’s almost impossible to find an educational program without some kind of technology element. But when you’re working with pre-kindergarten kids, is technology always appropriate? How much does a 3-year-old actually get out of sitting in front of an educational video?

Forest Lake Elementary takes advantage of technology to personalize the classroom. Photo credit: www.edutopia.org

There are times when technology can be used effectively to help teach young children, but the key is to make sure it’s age-appropriate and that it’s enhancing other activities, rather than being the sole focus. Read on for some tips to keep in mind when you’re preparing to teach at the preschool level.

Tips for Incorporating Technology into Preschool Classrooms

  •  Keep your students active. Young children are most engaged when they’re able to directly interact with the world around them, picking up objects and exploring new spaces. They’re also notoriously bad at sitting still for an extended period of time. Therefore, lessons are much more likely to stick with young children when they involve hands-on activities. If you do want to use technology in your classroom, try computer games or apps that teach kids about things like colors and shapes rather than just putting on a video.
  • Enhance understanding of symbolic representation. Children under the age of 3 are typically within Piaget’s preoperational stage, meaning that they’re beginning to understand how various signs and symbols—such as speech, drawings, and writing—can be used to communicate. Find computer games that allow students to draw pictures, repeat back words that they hear, or match the names of objects to pictures. Touch screen activities may be particularly effective with this age group—as long as you make sure you monitor them closely so that you don’t end up with a lot of broken tablets on your hands!
  • Incorporate eBooks into story time. These days, you don’t need to have shelves of books to have a wide range of stories available to you; an eReader like the Kindle or iPad allows you to easily share stories with your students. Just make sure there are plenty of pictures you can share, and give students the opportunity to “turn the page” on the eReader so that they get the same interactive experience they would have with a physical book.
  • Use technology to enhance play. Letting your students take a break to get some of their energy out? Try using a laptop or iPad to play kid-appropriate songs from Spotify or your iTunes library so that your students can dance.
  • Mix in activities that aren’t tech-based. As big a role as technology plays in our adult lives, early childhood educators need to understand that young learners need a wide variety of activity types to fully engage with the world around them. Make sure that you set a timer when you’re using any kind of technology with your students, and follow computer games up with an activity that gets them moving, like playing a game outside.

How Early Childhood Teachers Can Use Technology

Technology doesn’t just have to be for the students—tech-savvy early childhood teachers have the opportunity to use plenty of tools to help them get better organized and keep their lessons on track.

  • Use online calendars. Online programs like Google calendars can be a great way to track things like parent-teacher conferences or staff meetings. You can color code different types of activities, set recurring events each month, and schedule reminders.
  • Get inspired by Pinterest. Pinterest, the popular online pin board that allows users to share images, can be a great resource for pre-K teachers. You can use this social media platform to come up with ideas for your classroom layout, decorations, and even crafts for young children. You don’t even have to look particularly far—just search “preschool” and you’ll find all sorts of boards specifically dedicated to the topic.
  • Download and print eBooks and coloring pages. Search for free preschool teacher resources online, like beginning reader eBooks or coloring pages—it’s a smart way to save a bit of money on class supplies.
  • Save your teaching files in the cloud. Sign up to use a free cloud provider like Dropbox, which allows you to access your files from any computer, provided you have an Internet connection. This will save you from having to remember to bring a flash drive if you’re working on a lesson plan or activity at home and need to have it on your computer at school.

Juliana Weiss-Roessler writes about early childhood education with her husband Josh. Follow her on TwitterGoogle+, and Facebook.

 

Why is #sschat valuable to you? Join Today!

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How you can join #sschat?

1. Join the Live #sschat Discussions on Twitter Every Monday Night from 7-8 PM EST (see calendar on the main screen)
2. Join our Facebook Group
3. Join in 24/7 Discussions on Social Studies related topics on twitter follow the hashtag #sschat
4. Visit this #sschat ning website, which has discussion boards, groups, and archived chats of previous twitter discussions.

Why is #sschat valuable to you?
  • #sschat has helped to make me into a more dedicated, engaged, and connected teacher. It has helped me to create a positive learning environment for my students but also a professional learning community that I actually want to be apart of. Melissa Seideman @mseideman
  • #sschat allows me to instantly link with fellow social studies teachers around the globe, in real-time, from the comfort of my sofa.  It’s crowdsourcing professional development (how cool is that?), and it’s the most inspiring and resource-rich professional development I’ve ever participated in.  Joe Sangillo @joesangillo
  • I began watching the collaboration in #sschat as a lurker and thought “I want to belong to this!” The sharing and the organic co -developing of lessons has helped me develop as a newer teacher. -Michael Milton
  • #sschat has given me a countless number of lesson ideas and resources.  Just hearing what other teachers around the world are doing with their classes gets the creative ideas flowing.  It is also inspiring to collaborate with others.  It makes me a better teacher. Mike Nash @mackiefloyd
  • As an education professor, #sschat helps keep me connected with classroom teachers – their interests, successes, and challenges – on a daily basis. – Dan Krutka @dankrutka
  • I am the only Social Studies teacher in my middle school so #sschat IS my Professional Development!  Passionate educators keep me excited and eager to collaborate – John Padula @PadulaJohn
  • #sschat keeps me connected, invigorated and enthusiastic.  Learning from so many innovative educators is an experience that frees me from my office and classroom walls! @antfitz
  • #sschat is a great place to bounce ideas about lessons off others.  You don’t need to always reinvent the wheel. @sbdavidso
  • As a new SS coordinator, #sschat helped me expand my professional network nationwide and worldwide!  In some ways it is like having a SS Fairy Godmother – when I have a question or need a resource,  I tweet it out to #sschat and within minutes I have many great ideas or answers! @MapM8ker
  • #sschat is a great place to know what other people in the world are doing and a place to share good ideas and resources that we may not all have time to keep up with @praisesifa
  • #sschat is a community of passionate and knowledgeable educators dedicated to helping each other grow professionally.  Everyday I learn something new and always come away inspired.  The real winner in all of this… our students.  @RoanHoward
  • #sschat allows for continuous PD and it provides an outlet to share ideas and get feedback by teachers in the your discipline. In addition, it allows us to stay up to date with teaching trends, ideas, technology, and websites.  @philpuzz
  • Without #sschat,  EDSITEment would not be connecting to the most tech savvy teachers in America. We’d be in our “ivory tower” and they would probably not be aware of how much NEH has to offer them.
  • #ssschat has enriched the teaching in our department.   I often share the resources that I have found with teachers in social studies.  They have had great success with students using these resources.  I especially appreciate the support that I have seen provided for teachers new to the profession or teaching a course for the first time.
  • I don’t usually make the live #sschat and when I do it goes too fast for me, but I do enjoy the benefits of using the hashtag to ask questions or to search the archives later. I often share resources that I find here with the teachers in my department.  My participation has made ALL of us better. @jenslish
  • I have not taken part in many #sschat conversations, but I do look through the posts that are tagged #sschat. I have received many great ideas from other social studies teachers. Thank you to all. Monte DeArmoun @nksocialstudies
  • I am inspired by the creativity and dedication of the teachers on #sschat.   In the current test-driven climate, I am so impressed by the ways in which social studies teachers incorporate technology, current events, and interactive methods in their teaching, and refuse to “teach to the tests.” @dutchermann
  • The great people that use #sschat are ALWAYS willing to help with a link or advice to possible teaching topics.  It is instant professional development and probably the best PD tool in use today.  @jeifling
  • #sschat provides me with colleagues who are a resource, support, and inspiration. I just have to ask and there are so many in my PLN who respond immediately. It definitely makes me a better educator. I also connect with educators who are as passionate about student learning as I am and are willing to connect their classrooms worldwide. @kconners09
  • #sschat brings me in contact with new colleagues with new ideas. Collaboration is important to me as I do not have the opportunity at school to do so. There’s always lots of support, too. @geojo22
  • #sschat brings together passionate history teachers to connect, learn and share with one another.  It is a forum for getting help, support and great ideas to improve the teaching of Social Studies. @cybraryman1

PicCollage

How do you use #sschat?
  • 24/7 or during synchronous, moderated chat on Mondays at 7pm EST
  • I tune in most Monday’s to see what’s up.  I always find something useful.  I will also post resources to #sschat throughout the week and look there when I am trying to find something.  I also occasionally post questions.
  • I ALWAYS come away from #sschat with a new site, article, or connection for my PLN – EVERY TIME.  That’s the kind of people who keep me coming back!
  • I used to come across resources that I wanted to share out and thought no one cares, why bother sharing.  Then I discovered #sschat and now I just tweet a resource with #sschat and I instantly have a whole slew of like minded social studies teacher excited about the resource too.
  • I use #sschat to connect live and collaborate or I can go back and check the archives and find great ideas that are perfect for my lessons.  Every little bit helps in keeping education fresh!
  • Having a network of people who always willing to help/share is refreshing!  Also makes me feel great when I can offer help or a resource – validates what we all believe in as educators, despite high stakes testing and local politics
  • When I come across something useful that helped shaped the way I plan what I’m teaching or some interesting ideas, I like to share it out to others on #sschat
  • EDSITEment staff views #sschat as our window on the world of K-12 social studies and history teachers. We find out so much every day about where they are and what they need.
  • I use #sschat throughout the week rather than come to the chat. I use the archives and follow the hashtag.
  • I generally have classes on Monday evenings so I refer to the archives and follow the hashtag. The archives have provided an abundance of resource and ideas for use in the classroom.  @MaribethWestlun
  • Looking for new ideas and classroom resources.
  • I introduce my preservice teachers to it so that they can have a digital learning community.  I gain energy and enthusiasm from the teachers, even though I can’t regularly join the synchronous chat.  I love to share ideas with other teachers, and to get their suggestions of classroom projects, especially to see their student work.
  • When historical current events take place (death of bin Laden, Japan earthquake, etc) #sschat is the best place to gather information.  It is collaboration at the best.

Attention #Sociology Teachers at #NCSS13

If you are attending #ncss13, the American Sociological Association is sponsoring a 4 part symposium of sessions.  Feel free to attend 1, 2, 3, or all 4 of them.  They are also participating in a panel discussion on Saturday.  For more information, see the following:

Law School Past and Present: How Resourceful Technologies Have Evolved For Law School Students

Warning: This is a paid advertisement! For a company promoting an idea. 

 

Technology has changed the way we do pretty much everything now. We use applications on our phones to hail cabs instead of just our hands in the air. We look at websites to find potential mates instead of heading to the bar. And we use computers and search engines from the comfort of our own homes to do research, instead of sifting through stacks of books and relying on the Dewey Decimal system in the library.

 

The practice of law, however, has largely stayed the same over the past law schoolcentury; even if the tools have changed. Cases are still argued in courts, by attorneys who have passed the bar, in front of esteemed judges or juries.  Criminal defendants are still considered innocent before being proven guilty.  Laws may have changed the substance of American law, but the basic principles behind them mostly have not changed substantially.

 

Legal research, however, has changed a lot in the past ten to fifteen years. Law schools still have physical libraries, of course, but most of the research that students do is online, using search platforms like LexisNexis, Westlaw and Bloomberg. In the past several years, another search engine has started to be widely used: Google Scholar allows users to search through past legal articles and court decisions – for free.

 

All of these tools make it increasingly easy for law students to find what they are looking for; it also makes it more likely that they may stumble upon helpful information that they were not seeking. By searching by keyword, by jurisdiction, or by legal principle, students can locate cases that are over a hundred years ago without even cracking a book. Whether a student is searching for a commonly read case or an obscure one, online search engines make them easy to find.

 

Finding old cases is one of the best features of using online search tools for legal research. A keyword search is infinitely easier to run than searching through piles of books in a library, especially when the topic is not a common one. For example, while it would be easy to find cases on criminal sentencing laws in a particular state, it would be significantly harder to find cases involving exposure to asbestos leading to mesothelioma.

 

Indeed, the more specific the information a law student is looking for, the more helpful these online search tools will be in locating them.  Using tools like LexisNexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg, or Google Scholar, however, requires learning how to maximize their offerings by understanding all the different ways the platforms can be used. While browsing through hornbooks can be the best way to acquaint oneself with a new topic, running specific keyword searches is better for locating particular cases.

 

Further, legal search engines often include non-legal resources as well. Students can search through periodicals as well, which can often be helpful for placing cases in historical context. A student researching mesothelioma cases, for example, may want to look through old newspapers and see when cases were first reported.

 

Some firms and interest groups offer online resources and educational information including Cooney and Conway in Chicago, who have specifically developed a Veterans Guide to Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma, and Lung Cancer. These types of guides are available for free online and offer a great resource to learn more about the type of case you’re studying.

 

No matter what the topic of research, however, one key to success is to be extremely thorough. Using online research tools makes it easier to be sure that your research does not have holes in it, that you have “scorched the earth” when necessary, and that your opponent will not surprise you by finding a case that disproves your legal theories and arguments. It’s important for students and practicing attorneys both to learn how to use online legal research tools to do complete research that has not missed older cases simply because they are not from the recent past.

 

Being able to do comprehensive research is an absolutely necessary skill for any law student hoping to become an effective, successful attorney. Even though legal search engines will turn up cases that turn out to be irrelevant, they can be much better equipped for helping students than their paper, bound antecedents. Students who prefer books, though, do not need to worry. They are still important tools, especially for students looking to get specific information on a topic or case. However, when it comes to finding a large number of information on a legal topic, nothing competes with online searches.

 

About the author: Jessica McNeil is a Legal Assistant to James R. Hopkinson, one of the skilled attorneys at the leading Chicago law firm of Cooney & Conway.  You can find 

Learn about the Brain with this Interactive Brain Map

YOUR BRAIN MAP: 84 STRATEGIES FOR ACCELERATED LEARNING

Educational neuroscience bridges the gap between science and schools in a way that no other field can. Before the rise of this relatively new discipline, psychology and neuroscience occupied one realm of research and modern formal education occupied another. But the influence each can have on the other has becomeScreenshot 2013-11-15 21.37.26 increasingly clear in recent decades. Educational research creates new challenges for cognitive neuroscience to adapt to the real world practical requirements of educational learning, and findings in neuroscience create new challenges for education, providing important insights into the current state of the learner–including brain state, genetic state, and hormonal state–that could be relevant to learning and teaching.

Neuroscience has advanced to the point where it is time to think critically about the form in which research information is made available to educators. It must be interpreted appropriately for practice–identifying which research findings are ready for implementation and which are not–and employed with the best interests of the brain in mind. By providing new measures of the effects of learning and teaching, including brain structure and activity, researchers can now identify patterns between different types of learning methods and levels of attainment. The next education revolution is upon us–make sure you are a part of it.

Here is the link to the interactive website that can help your students learn about the brain.

 

Free Webinar- Google Apps & Tools to Engage Students

 

Free Online Event: The Best iPad Apps for Educators
Free Online Event: Improve Your Classroom with Google Apps and Tools
Harness the power of Google apps and tools with these 6 expert-led webinars! Learn the secrets to saving time and improving productivity in your classroom. Space is limited, so register now for this free event!
Free Registration – Click Here to Learn More
6 Free Google Webinars 
• Go Google for Presentations
• Productivity & Collaboration with Google Drive
• Save Time and Simplify Your Grading
• Going Google: The Quick Start Guide
• Using Google Docs Presentation Tools
• Improve Writing Skills Using Google Docs


Click Here to Register for this Event

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How to Retrieve Images from Old PDF Presentations and Teaching Materials

When it comes to teaching, preparing classroom activities and lessons is just as important as the actual process of teaching the material. Teachers put a lot of time and effort into these preparations, so it’s always nice to stumble upon a tool that can make the entire process faster and more convenient.

Many teachers use visual aids in their presentations. And instead of saving these pictures one by one in folders all over the place, it’s good to convert them into PDFs for convenient archiving. If a time comes when a teacher might want to reuse these images, then it would be really helpful to find a way to extract these old images from PDFs and restore them as image files so that they can be used conveniently in a class lesson once again.

One fantastic productivity tool that can help in such a process is Able2Extract PDF Converter . This software enables users to convert PDFs into editable formats such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many others that can be very useful for teachers in everyday situations. Among the many conversion options available, Able2Extract can also extract images from PDFs. As a matter of fact, Able2Extract comes in two versions: Standard and Professional, with the latter one using the latest OCR technology and enabling users to convert scanned PDFs.  It’s the best solution for working with PDFs and images that were scanned into an electronic format from paper.

Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you see how easy this software is to use when trying to pull images out of PDFs for reuse in the classroom. We are using the Professional version of Able2Extract in this how-to guide, but if you are working with native PDFs (created from an electronic source, not scanned), you can use any version of the Able2Extract PDF Converter.

Start up the software and then click on the “Open” button to locate the PDF from which you want the images extracted.

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If you want to extract all of the images found in the PDF, you can click on the “All” button.

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However, Able2Extract also gives you pinpoint conversion options to convert only the images that you need at the moment, which is an additional timesaver in the process. To do this, click “Area” and then select with your mouse the pictures you want to extract.

Now that the images are selected, click on “Image” to extract the pictures from the PDF.

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You will now have a number of options to select what image format you want to convert the pictures into. Able2Extract supports JPEG, TIFF, GIF, BMP and PNG image formats. You can make additional customizations to your output here as well.

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Once you have chosen your conversion options, click the “Convert” button. In a matter of moments, you will receive your new image file that has been extracted from your PDF.

The software’s ability to extract images can really come in handy in the classroom, but its other conversion options are just as useful for teachers. For example, you can use Able2Extract Professional 8 to convert old, archived tests from PDF into MS Word files to use again, convert multiplication tables from PDF into editable Excel spreadsheets, turn PDF presentations into reusable PowerPoint slides, and much more.

College Majors Prepare Students for Green Careers

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As businesses put more of an emphasis on going green and sustainable, and green construction becomes the norm, colleges and universities are stepping up by preparing students with skills applicable to green career paths. In fact, rwaccording to a 2009 report by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, there were over 100 majors and/or focuses in sustainability added to college programs of study, and that number has likely grown since.

 

Here are some popular college majors that help prepare students for environmentally friendly careers…

Construction Management – The green construction industry has been expanding and offers a multitude of career opportunities for college students. For instance, services like environmental remediation (which deals with the removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water) are offered from companies like RW Collins in Chicago. Managing a construction project from start to finish can be a lucrative skill, but being able to do so in a “green” way can help students in this field stand out from their peers.

Environmental ScienceThis green degree has a direct tie with not only environmental concerns, but also corporate responsibility and profits. As such, colleges and universities are working hard to meet this demand. One such school, Cornell University , offers a program of study that teaches students to “solve real-world environmental problems, manage social-ecological systems in a sustainable manner, and affect decisions involving environmental policy, resource management, and biodiversity conservation.”

Sustainability – Consider this: 72 percent of executives in a 2009 McGraw-Hill Construction survey  say sustainability efforts help lower their firm’s operating costs. In other words, as Columbia University’s Earth Institute  puts it: “It has never been more important to educate a new generation of students who are dedicated to the fundamental links among the natural sciences and the social practices and who understand the values and beliefs that influence decision making.”

Environmental Resource Management – Sometimes referred to as ERM, this major produces graduates who can solve environmental and resource management issues and conduct ecological research working for either government or private organizations. For anyone who’s interested in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources, this major will be the first step in contributing to a greener world.

Environmental Engineering – According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for environmental engineers is favorable through 2020, with an expected growth rate of 22 percent. Environmental engineering majors will learn how to find solutions to environmental problems utilizing scientific and engineering principles.

Renewable Energy – From solar to wind, the renewable energy industry needs skilled workers who understand green technologies, and can help discover and integrate alternative energy solutions.

Beyond these environmental-driven majors, there are many other areas of studies that could easily be given a green focus. For instance, horticulture majors who approach the field in an eco-friendly way can meet the demands of environmentally conscious clients. Marine biology is another example in which it’s vital to understand the effect of pollution on the ecosystem, and how marine life has adapted. Even urban planners and food scientists are well served if they enter the field with an eco-friendly perspective.

All in all, the green industry continues to grow, so taking on a green major in college can be a great way to ensure a long and fruitful career. For more information on green degrees and colleges that put an emphasis on environmental coursework, check out The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges.

About the author: Dawn Papandrea is a Staten Island, NY-based writer specializing in education, careers, parenting, and personal finance. Her work has appeared in publications including Family Circle, Parents, WomansDay.com, CreditCards.com, and more. She has a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications from New York University. Connect with her on Twitter and Google+.

The Kennedy Half Century, a free online course

I wanted to take a moment to let you know about The Kennedy Half Century, a free online course taught by Larry J. Sabato, the founder and director of the renowned Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. November marks the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. In this 4-week online course (open to all – at no cost) you will learn the compelling story of how JFK’s life, administration, and tragic death have influenced the general public, the media, and each of the nine U.S. presidents who followed over The Kennedy Half Century.

You may have heard of “The Kennedy Half Century” – Larry also has a book coming out this fall. It’s being released in conjunction with the online course and a PBS documentary!

Enrollment opens for Professor Sabato’s free online course “The Kennedy Half Century” (Charlottesville, Va.) — Enrollment is now open for Prof. Larry J. Sabato’s free online course about President John F. Kennedy’s life, administration and legacy.

The four-week, massive open online course (MOOC), “The Kennedy Half Century,” will begin on Oct. 21, with two hours of video instruction each week by Prof. Sabato. The course is available through Coursera, an educational website that partners with some of the world’s top universities, including the University of Virginia, to provide free online courses. Anyone can register for the course at www.coursera.org/course/kennedy.

The MOOC is one of several initiatives the U.Va. Center for Politics is unveiling this fall in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. Prof. Sabato’s latest book, The Kennedy Half Century: The Presidency, Assassination and Lasting Legacy of John F. Kennedy, will be released in October as the class begins. Also in October, the Center will premiere a one-hournational PBS documentary on the same subject, which is being produced in partnership with Community Idea Stations. The Center for Politics and Community Idea Stations recently received an Emmy Award for their previous documentary, “Out of Order,” which is about political dysfunction in Washington.

A trailer for the “The Kennedy Half Century” class is available here.

“The University of Virginia Center for Politics has long been committed to providing accessible educational tools about American politics and government. This free online course about how JFK and his legacy have influenced the public, the media, and each of the nine U.S. presidents who followed President Kennedy is one way we can deliver high-quality instruction, at no charge, to a large audience,” Prof. Sabato said.

The course begins with the early legislative career of John F. Kennedy and progresses through the 50 years since Kennedy’s death, focusing on how each president, Lyndon Johnson through Barack Obama, has used JFK to craft their own political image. The class offers more than eight hours of video consisting of 40 lessons averaging 10-20 minutes each in length. Each week, there will be at least two new hours of content, including historical footage from each of the 10 presidential administrations of the last half-century. Prof. Sabato will focus four lessons around Kennedy’s assassination as the nation marks the 50th anniversary of 11/22/63.

New portions of the class will be posted to the Coursera page each week. Students who complete the course do not receive university credit, but they will receive a statement of accomplishment. More information about the course’s specifics, including a syllabus, is available at www.coursera.org/course/kennedy.

Online learning is not new to the U.Va. Center for Politics, which has provided online education tools through its Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) since 1998. YLI conducts regular mock elections for students, as well as an interactive legislative simulation called E-Congress.

“For the last 15 years YLI has developed and distributed free civics education lesson plans using the Internet,” noted Prof. Sabato. “Today YLI reaches more than 50,000 teachers and millions of students throughout the country and around the world.”

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Founded by political analyst and Professor Larry J. Sabato, the U.Va. Center for Politics (www.centerforpolitics.org) is a nonpartisan institute that seeks to promote the value of politics, improve civics education, and increase civic participation through comprehensive research, pragmatic analysis, and innovative educational programs.

Author Bio
Larry J. Sabato is the founder and director of the renowned Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. He has appeared on dozens of national television and radio programs, including 60 Minutes, Today, Hardball, and Nightline. He has coanchored the BBC’s coverage of U.S. presidential returns and inaugurations, and has authored or edited more than a dozen books on American politics, including the highly praised A More Perfect Constitution: Why the Constitution Must Be Revised — Ideas to Inspire a New Generation. His other books include Feeding Frenzy, about press coverage of politicians; The Rise of Political Consultants; and Barack Obama and the New America. Sabato runs the acclaimed Crystal Ball website, which has the most comprehensive and accurate record of election analysis in the country. In 2001, the University of Virginia gave him its highest honor, the Thomas Jefferson Award. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

For more information please visit http://www.thekennedyhalfcentury.com or http://www.centerforpolitics.org, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

Documentary Series: Gold Fever

I wanted to share the documentary mini-series Gold Fever, which makes its television premiere on the Discovery Channel this Friday, October 11 at 9 PM ET/PT. Please take note: The Gold Rush was a violent period in American History. Some images in Gold Fever are disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

 

“The California Gold Rush gave birth to the idea that still pervades in American society to this day— that you can get rich quick; that it’s always a possibility that you can get rich quickly without having to work for it,” noted Stephen David, Executive Producer of Gold Fever and the Emmy-winning The Men Who Built America.

 

The year is 1848: not long after the Revolutionary War. The country is still very young and dirt poor, a nation of farmers. And then, suddenly gold is discovered in California, and the new American dream is born. Over the course of a few years, Americans would discover the modern equivalent of $25 billion dollars — money that would give a jolt to the economy and make America the most powerful nation on Earth: the government could build an army and businesses had the capital they needed to create huge industrial empires unlike anything America (or the world) had ever seen.

 

The Gold Rush also created America’s get-rich-quick mentality. Early stories from the Gold Rush were of people literally picking million dollar fortunes straight off the ground. As the news spreads across the country, over 300,000 people— one out of every 90 Americans—drop everything and head west with the hopes of striking it rich. Violence, greed and chaos takes over as tens of thousands of miners battled each other over the same small fortune of buried treasure.