Podcast Review

If you haven't had a chance to get back on iTunes to look for podcasts, try to do so before you forget how!

Here is a copy of the Podcast Workshop Directions and below are some additional tips that did not appear in the directions.

Remember, visit the iTunes Store to look for new podcasts. Only after you download or subscribe to one, will it appear in the Podcast Library.



If you want to burn podcasts to a CD-ROM, you will need to create a new playlist first (the + button in the bottom left corner of iTunes).

Then drag the podcasts from the Podcast Library to that playlist.

To burn a disc with full quality audio files that can play in any CD player, simply click the BURN button in the lower right corner of iTunes.

To burn an MP3 disc (can store more files and be transferred to different computers) or to burn a disc with video podcasts, you will need to open up the iTunes Preferences (iTunes > Preferences), then (Advanced > Burning).



If you have any questions or need help, please don't hesitate to ask me. If you have found a great podcast you want to share, or have another podcasting tip, you can let others know by clicking the comment button below this post and posting it in a comment for others to read. You can post anonymously or include your name.

Make Your Mouse Work For You

I was asked how to slide from one window to the next without having to use the function keys. An easy way to do that is to program your Mighty Mouse.

You may not realize that the mouse that is attached to your iMac has FOUR buttons on it that can each be programmed for a different function. Some are already programmed. Have you tried SQUEEZING your mouse to see what happens? That may already be programmed for Exposé, which displays all open windows.

To program it, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu (or the gears icon on your dock). From the 2nd row, choose Keyboard and Mouse. Select Mouse from the top row in that window.

You will see a diagram of your mouse showing the different buttons that can be set to control a number of different functions. You can also see that the top of the mouse is actually divided into 2 sides that can be programmed differently. The mouse KNOWS which finger you click with! You can also click the scroll button besides just using it to scroll, and you can squeeze the sides of the mouse.



You can pull down each menu and choose what you want each button to control.

Here's what the different functions mean:
•Primary Button = regular mouse click.
•Secondary Button = right-click (brings up menu choices)
•Exposé - All Windows = shows all windows open in all applications. Click a window to bring it to the front.
•Exposé - App Windows = shows just the windows open in the current application
•Exposé - Desktop = hides all windows
•Dashboard = the widget program
•Application Switcher = shows all the programs that are open and lets you choose which one to go to.
•Spotlight = search all of your files
•Spaces = switch between multiple desktops

The picture above shows how I have mine set, but you can set yours to your liking.

Saving Files That Anyone Can View

You typed a document and now you want to e-mail it to someone. But how do you know if they will be able to read it or not?

We have access to several different word processors, and someone who is using a Windows computer will have NONE of those programs on their computer! Here are 2 different methods of saving a file in a way that someone else will be able to read it no matter what computer or programs they have.

1) Save as a PDF. A Portable Document Format is technically a file made for Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free program that is on most computers), however it can also be opened by several other programs including Preview on the Mac and some web browsers also.

When you are ready to save, save a copy for yourself as you normally would. Then choose File > Print. Then from the Print window, instead of choosing Print, choose Preview. That will open the file up in the Preview program.

From Preview, you can choose File > Save As... and then name it and save it where you want. E-mail THAT file instead of the original document. Almost everyone should be able to open a PDF file.


2) Save as an older version of Microsoft Word. Microsoft releases the first version of a new program for Windows users only (like Word 2007), and then the updated version a year later for the Mac (Word 2008). Therefore you can't save a file with the newer program and expect to open it with the older program.

Solution: Using the newer program (Word 2008 for Mac), save the file as an older version (Word 2004).

When you go to save, bring up the save window and change the format to Word 97 - 2004 Document (.doc)


Send that file and anyone who has any version of Word since 2004 should be able to open it. Good Luck. Feel free to comment on this entry below, and let me know if you have any questions.

Printing a Skyward Grade Sheet

You want to print a copy of your grades so you can see all the students in a class and all of their assignments, but when you print, it either gets cut off or the grades don't line up with the student names. How can you fix that?

Solution: from the "Secondary Gradebook" window, choose File > Print. It's the window where you can see all the students and all the assignment's but can't enter any grades. You also need to make sure the window is open wide enough to show all your assignments. It looks like this:

Then choose File > Print. From the Print window, you'll need to view the print settings. If you can't see then, click the blue box next to the printer name.

Then you'll see the printer setting, which will show you that it is set to print in portrait orientation. You need to hit the landscape button right next to the portrait button.

That should cause the names to line up correctly with the grades on your printout.