Tech Help 3

This is part 3 of an on-going series of sessions designed to help those who seek assistance in the Noosaville Library.

Google search

Here's a reminder of some simple tips. There is extensive help available from Google on the Inside Search site.

1. "exact phrase" enclose your words to refine your search
2. Use the - minus sign to exclude an unwanted term
3. Use the Search Tools drop down to refine by date, time and more, investigate all the options
4. time place | London time
5. weather town | Noosa weather
6. author books | Alex Miller books
7. flight number | QF6
8. set timer | set timer 3 minutes
9. define word | define verisimilitude Notice the icon for speaker, gives pronunciation
10. aud to euro | gives you today's conversion value

View the slideshow below to see examples and for a short (3.41) video An introduction to blogging.

It is very tempting but do you want wet feet?

There has been a lot of hype around the Getty announcement re using its images on blogs and websites for noncommercial purposes, but Judy G. Russell at The Legal Genealogist advises us to read the Terms of Service first. You may well be surprised at the issues she uncovers. I recommend you read her comprehensive post Getty images: not quite free to use .

Quick access to your favourite website

Create an icon/app shortcut on your home screen or desktop

Easy to do when you know how! A friend asked me how she could have quick, one tap access to a frequently used website on a Samsung tablet and I realised there were probably other folks who would like to do this too. So here's some screenshots annotated with Skitch to show you how to create a shortcut to a website on your tablet and on your computer.

On an Android

You may need to update your Chrome app to make the Add to homescreen option appear in your drop down menu. If this method does not work on your Android device here's another way to do it courtesy of AndroidPIT. 

On an iPad

On older iPads that cannot update to the latest iOS, the option is found in the Send to menu where the choices are bookmark, email or add to homescreen.

On your computer

If you are looking for some other tools to create and annotate the screenshots like the ones above there's a great summary of useful tools here on Free Technology for Teachers.

On the iPad I have a shortcut to my local library, to my blogs and the TV guide. What are your favourite shortcuts?