Western School Board Technology

Tech Tip #239: Guidelines to Make Your Presentations Easy on Your Audience

2012-06-11T08:24:00.004-03:00

I know that most teachers spend time during the summer tweaking and redeveloping resources for use in the classroom. As most of you know by now, I'll be returning to the classroom next year so I'm busy planning and prepping in anticipation. It's going to be an interesting year, as I'll be teaching a couple courses I haven't taught in about 10 years and some which I have never taught. When I last taught these courses I was using presentation software where possible, but this was before LCD projectors were common in the schools and I had to use one of those old PC to TV gadgets. Most of my work was computer generated and then photocopied onto overheads. So now I'm busy revamping and improving a lot of my work for use with presentation software and an interactive white board as well as employing some basic strategies when digitizing presentation materials. Here are the basic tips I'm following in order to make everything as readable for my audience (my students) as possible:

use dark type and light background or vice versa in order to make the print standout
avoid USING ALL CAPS because the normal use of upper/lowercase is easier to read
use colour to emphasize a word (underline or italic are not easily seen and make some characters difficult to read)
fonts are at least 24 points or larger -- this means fewer items on a slide too

a maximum of 5 lines per slide
use ARIAL font (as it was specifically designed for readability on screens)

Use only one form of animation for points and slide transitions
and provide students with either guided notes or a copy of the presentation handout for them to fill in with personal notes (see different note-taking methods here)

In short -- keep your slides simple and clean. Busy slides and those with multiple variations on animation are distracting. Your audience will focus on the bells and whistles and not your words.

Tech Tip #238: Social Media and the Print Screen Button

2012-06-04T08:56:00.003-03:00

I've been visiting grade 6 classrooms over the past few weeks to discuss considerations they should really think about as they begin to use social media. This includes issues around cyberbullying, privacy (of self and others), as well as, self-marketing concepts.

One of the most important messages I ensure I get out to students it that anything they post online - no matter the privacy controls they believe are protecting them - does not prevent other users from abusing their trust. This can either be through cyberbullying or via passing on information from their accounts (Facebook, Twitter, etc).

Early on in this blog, I posted Tech Tip 52: Screenshots for Creating Training Materials. This showed you how to take a screen shot. At the time (November 2007), it was early days for many of us using social media (hard to believe) and I had not considered at the time how it could be utilized against you but also to protect yourself.

Reporting Issues - should you see cyberbullying or someone is harassing you and you wish to bring it to someone for help, but either cannot print it or the someone does not have access to the issue online, you can use a screen shot to copy, print, save, the situation.

....HOWEVER, this can also be used AGAINST you. Anything you post online, can be "screen-shot", saved, even manipulated, and then passed on in any variety of ways.

Students -- everyone -- should realize that anything they post online should always present themselves in the best possible light.

Tech Tip #237: Enter phone numbers in your cell phone CAREFULLY!

2012-05-28T08:13:00.002-03:00

This past week I received a text which was from a number I didn't recognize and it really didn't make sense to me so I figured it wasn't from someone I knew. I have received several in the past as well which turned out to be wrong numbers. Sometimes people are apologetic that they dial a wrong number and sometimes they think you are feeding them a line.

It is extremely important that YOU ensure that you enter the correct number into your cell phone address book before sending a text. Especially if it is something you wish to be private and confidential.

Being a nice person and one with an unlimited text plan...I always ask who the sender is if I'm not sure from the content of the text. There are several reasons for this:

1. Some people change their cell numbers and even though my phone doesn't recognize the new number, it could actually be someone I know,

2. Sometimes people text me who I did not give my number to and they are not in my address book (a mutual friend has provided them with my number), and

3. The person may actually have the wrong number and it has been my experience that they will text you until you respond anyway (the ignoring the wrong number thing doesn't seem to work when people are convinced the person they are actually trying to contact is ignoring them!).

If it is someone I know, I will add them immediately to my contacts.

Here's the text exchange I had this past week:

The text came in from an unknown number (which I have blurred out here for their confidentiality) and I had no idea who it was from based on the content.

I asked who it was.

The daughter obviously rolled her eyes when she replied because she assumed she had the right number.

I figured the least I could do was let her know she wasn't my daughter. At the very least, I have no memory of having a child!

So what do I do to make sure that when I type in a new number to my contact list to ensure that it is right? I usually enter it and test it right away when the person gives it to me by sending them a text and seeing if they get it.. A quick and simple solution. I have no desire to accidentally send a confidential text to a stranger.

Tech Tip #236: Online Virtual Corkboards

2012-05-22T10:27:00.000-03:00

Online virtual corkboards have a lot of potential as a collaborative tool in the classroom. They are exactly what they sound like...an online corkboard where individuals can post notes, images, videos, links, etc. Students can use this method to share, brainstorm, plan, etc -- as can teachers! There are a wide variety available with services that range form free to subscription based. Most also have web based versions, but also versions for your smart phones and tablets. Some examples are listed below.

Examples of Use:

sharing

students contribute to a theme or topic based board - class discusses as a whole
showcase videos created by students (or submit their videos in this way)
create a photo board
create a wall of honour - eg. Remembrance Day, volunteers, students of the week, etc
create a board for your teaching team

resources
articles
links

questioning

create a board where students can ask questions (esp. if they are shy!)
create a board which asks a question around an upcoming topic (summarize what the group knows as a whole)
create a board for students to summarize what they know as an end of topic review

planning

students can create boards to plan projects, group tasks, etc
teachers can create boards to plan projects, themes, courses, pd, etc

publishing

create a board where students share their review of a book, recording, video, website, etc

feedback

create a board which solicits feedback on an event or course
a suggestion box

library recommendations
school events
project ideas

Kudos

create a board where people can post positive things they see people doing around your school
create a board where your class can celebrate an individual - eg mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, teachers, coaches, etc.

Virtual Corkboards

This list will automatically update as I add links to my Diigo account. Feel free to drop back often to see what has been added.

Tech Tip #235: Note-taking and Study Skills Resource

2012-05-14T08:07:00.001-03:00

Recently, I presented this new resource to Intermediate and Senior High Principals: Note-taking and Study Skills. It was developed for both student and teacher use. I mention it on this blog because there is an entire section devoted to Technology Aids (online and downloadable) which will help teachers and students in terms of studying, note-taking and even exam preparation. There are plenty of downloadable forms which can be adapted for your classes. It will be an ever-evolving resource and can be found under the student section of the Western School Board website if you are looking for it in the future or wish to refer students and/or parents to it. If you have suggestions for additions and improvements, please let me know!

Document Camera Resource List

2012-05-08T08:45:00.000-03:00

This post will automatically update as I add links to my Diigo account. Feel free to drop back often to see what has been added.

Tech Tip #234: Using Document Cameras in the Classroom

2012-05-07T08:23:00.005-03:00

Many schools purchased document cameras this past year (the ELMO brand was a common model). This tech tip is a summary of some of the things you can do with them in a classroom or meeting situation:

Demonstrations

show student work

group sharing
student sharing
constructive critique

show and tell

close up examination/observation of objects
visual comparison of 2 or more objects
photographs, artwork, sculpture
model note-taking
worksheets

Video Camera

record interviews
record presentations
record reader's theatre
VOIPP

Camera

image capture - save images for future use

student photos for projects
stop motion animation
time lapse photos - a plant growing eg
post examples of work on website, blog, etc

Math

manipulatives

colour and three dimensional
compass
protractor

examples
math games

Reading and Writing

zoom in on terminology
zoom in on important parts of text books (eg maps and graphs)
follow alongs
letter tiles - spelling

Science

experiments

Brainstorming
Flash Cards
Timer - stop watch

If you have other ideas that work well for you, please feel free to add a comment below!

Tech Tip #233: Facebook Groups - being added without permission?

2012-04-30T08:08:00.001-03:00

Last week CBC PEI ran an article called "Facebook users warned to watch group adds". In effect it was a warning that you can be added to a group without your permission and questioning whether this feature should be automatically allowed.

I felt that the following two points were not clearly covered in this article and you should be aware of them so that you do not think that you're being added to groups without your permission willy nilly by strangers and that you are never notified of the fact or have any recourse when you don't want to belong to the group.

Firstly, in order for someone to add you to a group they must be a "Friend". Yet another reason to ensure that you actually KNOW the person you are friending on Facebook. In general, your friends (if they are "real" friends) are going to be fairly aware of what groups you would and wouldn't like to join. They might even ask you before adding you!

Secondly, if you are added to a group you do not wish to belong to...and I went through this a couple weeks ago...it is NOT a surprise. You do receive an immediate notification that you have been added AND you have the option to remove yourself from the group by clicking on "Leave Group" in the right-hand column on their page. Once you leave a group, you can't be added by anyone else unless you explicitly request to be re-added. See the Facebook Help Article on this topic.

Ideally, there would be a feature where you would be notified and have to accept the group request as you do with a friend request; however, you do have the power to decide whether you wish to be a member of the group if you are added.

Tech Tip #232: Facebook Considerations for Teens

2012-04-23T11:26:00.001-03:00

Last year I published a guide for teens and parents concerning what elements in terms of privacy and posting teens should consider. Some people still may be using the old profile format, so I'm keeping it online. These guidelines are actually based on my own settings -- I'd recommend them to anyone. I just published a new guide of considerations (based again on my own profile) which covers the elements in terms of privacy and posting that teens should consider using the new TIMELINE version of Facebook. Rumour has it, we'll all have this sooner or later! It is embedded below and the old version below that.

I may have missed one or two items, but the guide is just that...a way to open a dialogue and begin to understand how our information is used online and socially. Please feel free to email me or comment with suggestions to make the guide better. It is very extensive; but, that cannot be helped...there are a lot of things to consider.

FB Setting Recommendations 2012

Recommended Facebook Settings for Teens

Tech Tip #231: Woopid - Video Tech Tutorials

2012-04-16T08:19:00.002-03:00

Woopid is the site I wish this one was! It has a huge cross section of video tutorials about using software and popular websites as well as hardware on a variety of major computer platforms and gaming systems in addition to many handheld devices and smart phones. It is really simple to navigate and does not require a membership. You can create one if you wish however which allows you to personalize the videos you wish to see. The website has also taken the time to "bundle" a group of videos together on a related topic. The currently featured one is on parental controls.

I would recommend this site for anyone who is learning new technologies or want to make the most out of the technologies they already use. This site for instance has an excellent library of MS Office 2007 videos. I plan to peruse the videos for my smart phone tonight. I thought I had a pretty good handle on what it could do, but after just a skim over the videos for my model, I know there are a few videos I think I could benefit from.

Tech Tip#230: ShowMe: The Online Learning Community

2012-04-10T08:46:00.004-03:00

This morning I found an interesting site called ShowMe which is a repository of user created tutorials which are well organized and catalogued.

The tutorials are created on an iPad using the ShowMe app. I know that many teachers now possess these and might be interested in creating content for their students. Failing that, you could make use of the publicly shared ones available on their website. The resulting videos can be downloaded, linked to, or inserted into your presentations including Prezi.

If you create an account, be sure to read the terms of use and determine whether you are comfortable with them as with all online services!

I can't wait to get home to try this out on my iPad. Next week's tech tip will likely be made with ShowMe!

Tech Tip #229: Pinterest Applications for Education

2012-04-02T11:17:00.002-03:00

By now the site Pinterest is probably familiar to quite a few of you. It is the latest fad to hit the social media bookmarking world. People with accounts can curate visual links to online content into different categories called "boards" with a very simple interface quickly and easily. It is a lot of fun and I have spent time viewing items my friends have "pinned" and finding fun and interesting pins to share myself. Almost as quickly as this site was adopted by the general public, educators have also seen the value in it and have started "pinning" educational resources.

Currently, there is not an "education version" of Pinterest - you need to remember is that there is a lot of "unmoderated" content on the site. An individual is only exposed to random content if they surf around through random pins therefore I likely wouldn't use this site with younger children and I would discuss what to do if older students leave your page and find content that is not appropriate as per their AUP.

As with most social media services, students under the age of 13 are not permitted to create accounts. Be sure to check out the Terms of Service, Acceptable Use, and Privacy Policies. If you choose to create an account you can provide a direct link to your main page or to one of the "boards" without individuals requiring an account. Here is a link to the WSBtech one that I started building this morning: http://pinterest.com/wsbtech/.

For those of you who create an account -- here's Pinterest's page of help and how to. You'll notice that you can link your Facebook and/or Twitter accounts to it. In fact you must have one or the other for Pinterest to work. I initially allowed all my posts to go automatically to my Twitter account and it caused one of my Tweeps to ask if I'd been hacked! So now, I have it set so that I can choose to re-post a pin or not.

Ways to Use Pinterest in the Classroom

Themes/Topics

create a board and collect resources
many people are doing this for their own use but imagine collecting resources for a novel study, videos of science experiments, great books, virtual field trips classroom decor and bulletin boards, professional reading, inspiring quotes, literacy, numeracy, etc.

Organization

for many bookmarks are collected without any sort of filing system and then usually never viewed again
creating boards allows you to categorize your links
creating pins allows you to visually remember the link you saved

Sharing

the ability to share links with students, colleagues and parents in a visually stimulating and organized manner
collaborating with other teachers - creating a board together

Presentations

create a board for all links used in a presentation
run your presentation using the visual template Pinterest provides

Tech Tip #228: How Different Printers and Computers Can Affect Your Document

2012-03-26T09:42:00.000-03:00

Have you ever created a wonderful handout for your class, emailed it to work to be printed, only to discover the fonts have changed and the carefully designed layout you created is no longer the same?

Here are some helpful tips to save you this grief:

Fonts

...are actually derived from the computer you are using when creating a document. If they are not installed on the computer you want to print from, the computer will substitute another font in it's place.

Solutions:
1. There is a core group of fonts which are installed on all computers which you can depend on. They are:

Arial
Comic Sans
Courier New
Georgia
Impact
Tahoma
Times New Roman
Trebuchet MS
Verdana

* For a more detailed list (with Mac equivalents) see Common fonts to all versions of Windows and Mac equivalents.

2. If you absolutely cannot live without the font, consider publishing your document as a .pdf before sending it to be printed. But you want to be 100% sure that you no longer wish to edit it.

Margins

Minimum margin widths are determined by your printer.

Solutions:

1. It is best to stick with the default width in your editor as it meets all printer requirements.

2. If you have to change your width to accommodate a table for instance, you can force the document to "fit to your printer" when you go to print it. You need to save it as a .pdf so that when you open it on the new computer the margins do not get adjusted by the program you are using to edit it. Then when you select Print...look in the print dialogue for something similar to the Zoom option in mine. Choose for it to scale to the document size you want. Each printer dialogue has a slightly different way of presenting this, but the option will be there. My printer is about 15 years old and it has it!

Tech Tip #227: Travelling with Technology Updated for 2012

2012-03-12T08:29:00.000-03:00

Just before the March Break last year, I posted about travelling with technology. With all the advances in technology, plus my own experience travelling over the past year with a multitude of new devices, I thought it would be nice to revisit and update this post:

For those of you using air travel, you are well aware that luggage weight and size restrictions are requiring that we pack smarter and lighter.

Here's some advice which I now follow when "on the road" and it's amazing how I somehow manage to live without some items I use on a daily basis.

1. Leave the laptop at home.

You can access the internet if you need it from payable kiosks throughout the world. More and more places are also offering internet access for free as well.
You are on HOLIDAY. Take a break!
If you want to bring it merely to back up photos taken during the trip consider using "the cloud" - backing up your photos on location to a file sharing site or photo sharing site you have a membership to. (See Tech Tip #186: Backing Up Your Life for ideas).
If you ABSOLUTELY require a laptop -- consider purchasing an inexpensive Netbook or, if you have the funds, get an interactive tablet. You can back up your digital images/video on these.

2. Buy extra or larger memory cards for your camera.

This allows you to leave the laptop at home
They're also pretty affordable right now and larger than ever
Ensure you keep the cards in the cases they come with. They protect the cards from damage and static electricity (which can erase a card).

3. Bring an e-Reader (rather than several paperbacks)

pre-download books if you are worried you might not be able to where you are going
I have been able to download books in many different countries though.
Many interactive tablets have apps for reading your books should you choose to bring that device instead.

4. Leave your cell phone at home.

if you must bring it ensure that it is turned off to avoid fees for roaming in different countries
if you have an iphone and still want to use the camera and ipod on it turn off data roaming and 3G and turn on airplane mode -- you can turn the wireless on to use the internet if you are in a location which has wireless provided

5. If possible use a universal adapter cord that fits all your technologies so you don't have to bring cables for everything.

Remember that in some countries the power is not as "pure" as ours and prone to variations. This could damage your device.

6. FYI - you can use your mp3 earphones to listen to the videos on airplanes now. You do not have to purchase the ones provided by the airline.

7. Write down your serial numbers, consider using apps to track your devices and employ password protection.

Have a list of all your makes, models and serial numbers for each device you bring just in case something goes missing during your trip. Lately, in the news there have been several recounts of individuals having digital cameras returned several years after losing them in the ocean!
I use an app which allows me to pinpoint where several of my devices are should I lose them. This worked well when I couldn't find my iPhone. I logged into the app from my computer and discovered I had left it at work.
Most devices have the option to require a password to start the device. This does not guarantee that anything is really safe as there are ways to by-pass them, but think of it like a fence on your property. Most individuals will avoid crossing your lawn because it is inconvenient. You can disable the password when you return home if you find it inconvenient.

8. When using public computers THINK and READ the computer prompts.

Never allow the computer to save your log on information
Find and use the LOG OUT option for the website before you leave it. Merely closing the browser window does not accomplish this.
if you can't log off -- erase the browsing history, and restart the computer (I usually do this anyway to be doubly sure).
Do not type personal information on the computer (banking information, credit card numbers, etc). Even if you practice the above items, there are programs that can be installed on computers (called keyloggers) which keep track of any information you type.
Do not download pictures or other information that you do not wish other people to see.

8. If you bring the device near water, ensure it is wrapped in plastic (my Army buddies have been using zip lock bags for socks and cell phones for years!) or you may even choose to buy a waterproof housing for your camera.

9. Finally -- make sure whatever you are bringing is all charged up before you board the plane. This makes it so much simpler when going through security.

Tech Tip #226: Infographic Handbook

2012-03-05T09:22:00.000-04:00

Infographics Lesson Plans

Tech Tip #225: Creating Your Own Infographic (Part II)

2012-02-27T08:10:00.000-04:00

Well...I did it...I created my first Infographic! Of course, in the future I'll likely use graphics programs to do this, but I wanted to use Microsoft Word and Excel because I know most of the readership of this blog not only has access to those programs, but also have some basic skills with them.

If you click on it, it will open in a large version. It's by no means perfect, but considering it's my first one...I'm somewhat proud!

I followed my Steps outlined from last week (Creating Your Own Infographic Part 1) and decided to use some data I collected last May/June in combination with some research from the states that demonstrates to parents that the need to educate themselves about social media can no longer be avoided.

View the videos below on how I created my infographic (this also gives you some good tips on how to incorporate charts and text art/boxes into Word). I uploaded it to YouTube so those with Teacher Accounts will be able to view it in the schools or you can watch it at home.

The first video (14 minutes) shows you the basics. The second video (6 minutes) shows you a few tweaks on the skill set from the first.

(PS next week, I'll be posting a handbook with lesson plans on how you can use this with your classes).

Infographics Resource List

2012-02-23T14:19:00.001-04:00

This post will automatically update as I add links to my Diigo account. Feel free to drop back often to see what has been added.

Tech Tip #224: Creating Your Own Infographic (Part 1)

2012-02-21T10:28:00.001-04:00

Last week I introduced the concept of using Infographics to enhance your teaching toolbox. Today, I'll discuss the elements you need to consider when making them.

Step One: Consider your topic
What information do you wish to get across and what data will you use to do this?

research facts and statistics
ensure facts and statistics are relevant and up to date
ensure what you choose supports your "thesis"
be able to clearly draw conclusions
be prepared to reference or cite your facts

Step Two: Determine how best to present this information.

timelines
flowcharts
graphs
venn diagrams
annotated maps
size comparisons
showing familiar objects/size/value

Next week I will show you how to create the above using software in the schools.

Step Three: Choose your design elements.

keep it simple
choose a colour scheme
choose a font scheme
select graphics to enhance flow or points
BRAND IT (provide your contact info)

If you're unsure of your own design sensibilities (at this point), check out infographics online and make use of the design elements of one which you find engaging.

Next week, I will post an infographic I have made and show you the steps on how I did it.

Now...to pick a topic...

Tech Tip #223: Introduction to Infographics

2012-02-14T10:03:00.000-04:00

A current trend right now is the use of INFOGRAPHICS on the web. These are used to show data and the interesting connections of that data to social trends, historical situations, future possibilities, etc. As with anything on the Internet, anyone can publish these. Therefore data may be chosen specifically to support a viewpoint and ignored if it doesn't. On the other hand, those who create balanced infographics can show information in a very striking way.

It may be interesting to do a web search for a topic you in combination with the term infographic and see what results you get. There may be an interesting one out there created that you can utilize in your classroom which serves as a jumping off point for a discussion, a review or even poses a question to be answered.

This is how I went about finding the below infographic. Next week, I'll show you how to create your own. And the week after, will provide a couple ideas of how you could have your students create their own, and learn to analyse them with a critical eye.

Right now I am putting together a presentation on the Family and Social Networking. So I did a quick Google search using the terms infographic facebook and family. I switched the search to images only by clicking on that option in the left hand menu on Google. AND finally...because I wanted to find the most recent information as data on social media changes by the minute, I scrolled down and chose past week from the options.

I found this nice infographic published by Microsoft 5 days ago (feel free to click on it and visit it for more info about this topic!):

You can get lost in the world of infographics. I printed out an awesome one that shows me how to make different kinds of coffee and stuck it to my fridge!

Tech Tip #222: Website Feature "Wonderopolis"

2012-02-06T08:56:00.000-04:00

Wonderopolis is a pretty nifty site which features a daily presentation about a burning question you or your students might have. For instance, today is "Wonder 491: Do Dogs Really Eat Homework?". It features a balanced overview of why you should do your homework, the fact that dogs can eat paper, a list of items that actually do make dogs sick, and finally a list of "new" words associated with the article. A quick perusal of some of the past daily wonders include:

#466: Are you worth your salt?
#423: How does medicine know where you hurt?
#415: What rhymes with Orange?

They're pretty interesting! If you click on the "Wonders" tab in the menu and then scroll down a bit, you'll find a list of keywords for all past wonders posted or you can cycle through them from present to past. I think you'll find some neat resources for the classroom

Teachers with Blogs might consider including the feed from this site on their blog. Teachers who use Blogger can check out instructions on how to do this via the Blogger Tips link in this blog's main menu. The .rss source file for this can be found by clicking on the orange radial button in Wonderopolis' main menu.

Just copy the link in your web browser window and then follow the instructions in the Blogger Tip: "Adding A Feed To Your Blogger Blog".

Note that this site also has a Facebook and Twitter feed which you might be interested in subscribing to.

Adding A Feed To Your Blogger Blog

2012-02-06T08:54:00.003-04:00

1. To add a feed to your Blogger Blog you'll want to edit the LAYOUT.

2. Decide where on the page you would like the feed displayed and then click "Add a Gadget". Remember, you can drag and drop within the main container once your gadget is added.

3. Scroll down in the Google gadget list until you find the FEED option and click on the +.

4. Copy and paste the .rss feed link from the source into this window and continue.

5. Configure your feed. I left mine with the default settings, except for two important items: (a) I renamed it and (b) I checked "Open links in new window". I really prefer to have off site links open a new window to not only delineate external content from my own, but also so that when the person finishes with the link and closes the window, my blog appears and they remember what they were doing in the first place!!

6. Click SAVE and then drag and drop the gadget into the slot you wish to have it displayed.

7. Save your layout and voila! Instant Feed!

Tech Tip #221: Sorting Out Your Tables in MS Word 2007

2012-01-30T08:10:00.000-04:00

As educators it seems that our life is made up of lists. We have to keep track of books, hardware, students, lunch money, assignments, dogs, cats...you get the point! It also happens that we often have a desk piled with scribbled notes and returned forms which we need to compile and submit to someone as soon as possible.

I can't help you with never requiring lists again, but I can help you with sorting out your information if you collect it in tables. Depending on the task, I may set up information in Excel and use that to keep track of items which I may "mine for data" later on; however, more often then not, most lists are simple one time only items. For these, I stick with MS Word and create a table.

Here I made a table where I am keeping track of some computer hardware. In the end I would love to have a list with all the like components listed together (eg all the printers). In the "olden" days I would have spent hours inserting rows above and below items and visually sorting through the info. But I don't have to do that any more. I can just add everything to my list in whatever order I wish.

(PS. If you wish to find out how to make it look "all fancy" refer to the previous tech tips #143 and #144.)

At any time I can resort this info quite quickly. All I need to do is click somewhere in the table and then choose LAYOUT from the TABLE TOOLS option which appears on the MS Office Ribbon at the top of the screen. From there I choose SORT (see below). It's fairly easy to make your choices. In this case, I chose Item (to lump all the like items together), then the make (to lump all the similar makes together within an item) and then the Serial Number. Your choices will change as you name the header cells in your table.

Click on OK and immediately your table is organized in the way you wish. See how mine changed below. What is nice is that you can keep adding and then sorting as required. No need to insert cells and move and delete items to get them in the right order.

Calculator Resource List

2012-01-25T15:11:00.001-04:00

This post will automatically update as I add links to my Diigo account. Feel free to drop back often to see what has been added.

Geography Resource List

2012-01-25T13:09:00.001-04:00

This post will automatically update as I add links to my Diigo account. Feel free to drop back often to see what has been added.

Google Maps Resource List

2012-01-25T13:00:00.001-04:00

This post will automatically update as I add links to my Diigo account. Feel free to drop back often to see what has been added.