Tuesday Tech Tip--Recover a Closed Tab

Did you accidentally close a browser tab and want it back?  Ctrl-Shift-T  quickly brings back your last open tab.  No need to search again, type the URL or open your history.  Mac Users can do the same with Command-Shift-T.

Tuesday Tech Tip--Google Drive & Databases

Tuesday Tech Tip--Ctrl+F

Have you ever wanted to find a word or phrase on a page of text?  Searched for your own name in a results list?  CTRL+F can help you easily find what you are looking for by opening a Find box to locate the word(s) you want.  Watch the video Full-Screen to see the Ctrl-F search results.

Coding Course

Want to learn to Code?
 Try this Free Online Computer Science Course from Harvard University.
Challenge yourself this summer.

Monday Morning Book Review--The Shallows

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr is one of the Silicon Valley Reads selections for this year.  Carr realized he wasn't able to concentrate on reading a book like he once had, so he decided to find out why.  His book looks at technology and how it's changing our brains physiologically.  He doesn't limit himself to today's technology but actually looks back at the advent of the book, radio and television and those impacts upon our brains and behavior.  A thought provoking read.

Iphone and Ipod Touch Users

Our online database subscription Global Issues in Context and our ebook the Encyclopedia of Psychology are now Free Apps on your Iphone or Ipod Touch

Here's how it works:
1. Locate the AccessMyLibrary app at the App Store (it's the green one).
2. Install the free app.
3. select your state
4. select your school (play around we are there, I've done it with 2 students this afternoon!)
5. enter the remote access code (see Ms.M. for password)
6. access your databases and ebooks 24/7 wherever you are!

Tuesday's Tech Tip--Your "digital footprint"

Admit it, you've googled yourself to see what's out there, but have you truly explored your digital footprint?  When you've got time search yourself on these other sites and see what the web says about you.  If you can do this:  I can do it.  Mr. Schlaff can do it.  A college recruiter could do it.  A future employer could do it.  Your girlfriend/boyfriend's parents might do it.

http://www.123people.com/  This one searches for pictures, addresses, blogs, documents and more. 
http://www.pipl.com/  This one focuses on birtdates, locations and webpages.

Tuesday's Tech Tip--Opening documents on different computers

If your software isn't compatible with the school's software, you often cannot open a document that you've created.  So, how do you solve that problem?  There are different options that may work:

1.  Use "Save As" and choose the option Rich Text Format (.rtf)  this should open with any software program.
2.  Use Google docs and save your file there. 
3.  If you have the latest version of Microsoft office, save your file in the older version so that the file extension is .doc or .ppt  If its .docx or .pptx it won't open in the library lab.
4.  If you forget to do any of these, talk nicely to Ms. McCready in the library and she may still be able to open your file because she's downloaded the file converters.

Wednesday's Website--Using Google's Search Tools

Google has so much to offer for searching...images, books, scholar, translations and the list goes on. A Pennsylvania school librarian has a great webpage that links to and explains many of Google's great tools.

Monday Morning Book Review--The Numerati

The Numerati by Stephen Baker--"Everyday we leve behind a long trail of personal information...We click Web pages, flip channels, drive through automatic toll booths, shp with credit cards and make cell phone calls. Companies like Yahoo! and Google are harvesting an average of 2,500 details about each of us every month." What happens to that data? Baker explores the world of data for the worker, shopper, voter, blogger, terrorist, patient and lover and how we this influences the lives we lead. A fascinating look at the modern world and what each click of a computer key can say about us...

Tuesday Tip--Computer Logins

Yes, I missed the Monday Morning Book Review on the First Day of School but I will work on that. Welcome back to school and I hope you had a great summer break. I did (if you want to know more just ask)!

Today's tip is about your student logins on the computer...these are the same as in the past

Username: (your initials)(your id number). y(year of graduation)
Password: the same as middle school and/or last year

If you don't know your password, ask me--I have a file. If you are a new student to MHS, let any of your teachers or me know and we can request your account be activated.

Have a great year!

Tuesday Tip--Word Processing

Tuesdays I'm going to give out tips for success. These will cover a wide variety of topics from research tips, searching strategies, computer skills, or anything else I think may be useful.

Today's tip--when saving a word processed document and it needs to be opened on a different computer--try saving as a RTF document. Choose Save As...and for file type select Rich Text File. That way any computer and/or software can open the file.

Vista or Office 2007 Users on Library Computers

If you are trying to open a file with the latest version of Word or Powerpoint. Use the ST1 MSOConverter icon on the desktop before trying to open the file. Or you can see Ms. M at the circulation desk.

Attention Computer "Geeks"

I use the term "geek" with affection...Are you into programming or developing software? Do you believe in the open source movement? Google has announced a contest for high school students to develop Open Source Software. Details are available here: http://code.google.com/opensource/ghop/2007-8/