#and the password to the chromebooks which is the same on each one

[britneyshakespeare]

Nothing I love more than having a little tea w the office ladies

[wolfiafuntime]

So, here's the promised reblog!

I actually started planning a few days before the poll ended, because the BF scenarios was dominating from the very beginning. It started with me picking a disney movie character for each of the boy's SO's. Some examples I have are Mulan, Pinocchio, and even the Caterpillar!

I also made the school the SO's will be attending. It's called "Second Star University", and has seven dorms. The school is inspired by disney's Tinkerbell movie series. The dorms, however, are actually inspired by The Owl House's covens! I actually have a lot developed- my only problem right now is where to put each of the SO's- but I don't want to reveal everything, so you'll just have to read it to find out the rest!

Now, time to ramble about the picture. If you remember, I said 'cover/banner' before showing you Riddle's photo. That's because I plan on cross-posting this series! You'll be able to find it both here on Tumblr, over on Wattpad, and possibly on Quotev. I don't know about the last part, though.

To go more in-depth about the cover, it was actually pretty hard to figure out what I wanted to do! I originally wanted to use the dorm leaders in their original style and outfits; but there was one problem with that. I work on an acer chromebook of all things!! I hate it. Why? Because it doesn't let you download any wiki fandom photos. You can only take screenshots of them. So I had to work around the lack of a transparent background. (Also, if you reset your email password, it's gonna automatically hard reset the entire device, no matter so you're gonna lose all photos you didn't post online). At first, I was just going to save myself the trouble and trace them. But then I thought that was too boring, so I spent a bit over an hour planning outfits for them.

I started with an accessory all seven would have in common. After a few minutes, I decided to put them all in flower crowns! And not long after that, I decided to put them all in cottagecore outfits! The following hour was spent looking at pictures of men's cottagecore fashion. Some hints for the other dorm heads: Azul and Vil will be wearing ruffle shirts, and Kalim will be wearing a pear of overalls!

Riddle's original outfit didn't have any flowers on it, but after looking it over, I found it to be too blank. So I browsed all of Ibispaint's brushed and stumbled upon the ume flower (I think???). His rose crown took the most time to make, as I was originally going to go far more detailed look, which took about an hour for the two that I did. But then I realized it looked out of place, so I scrapped them. There's also another half-hour of waisted time when I was figuring out what style I want to draw them in.

In total, with the scrapped rough hour-and-a-half, it took four hours and forty-one minutes! And, because I draw with my fingers, my arm hurts now. So I have to give it a break before I start drawing Leona :(.

Speaking of Leona, it's actually gonna be a while before you see him. Or me. I'd hate to spam the 'twst x reader' tag with just art (no hate against people who do, I love your pictures, I just don't think my art's worthy of it bc I don't put that much time into it), so I'll be dropping Leona and Azul at the same time.

Thanks for reading this!

Hey TWST Fandom!

I'm the person who made the 'Dear TWST Fandom' poll! As you may have seen or guessed, the Boyfriend Scenarios option won! So, I've started to work on it. Part of that work includes making a cover/banner. Anyways, here's Riddle in a cottagecore-inspired outfit!

P.S there's gonna be a reblog with me rambling about the details of the pic and the scenarios if you're curious about anything!

[pbandjesse]

Today was a pretty good day. It was unseasonably warm. Not that I noticed for most of the day because our apartment holds in the cold. But it wasn't even that bad in here. I was comfortable in my outfit when I was in here. I was not when I went outside.

But it was a nice day. I woke up in a pretty good mood. I did not get out of bed for a while. Just watched tiktoks and scrolled. I would get up and get dressed eventually but there was no urgency to it.

I did like my outfit a lot. My hair was very dirty and I would wash it tonight. But I just threw it in buns and off I went.

I did some cleaning. Wiped down the walls and cabinets in the kitchen. We were going to vacuum but it needed to charge. So while we waited I made myself lunch and signed in to style.

I only had one person and I as I was finishing that up I got the alert that I needed to restart my Chromebook to download to my drive. Alright. So I finished up my work and did that. And then was locked out of the laptop. Again. Like happens every time we have to restart this stupid machine. Its supposed to have the same password as my gmail. But for some reason it wouldn't work!!! It kept asking for a different password. Even with the 2 factor phone check. It still wouldn't let me in.

Until it would. Under the condition that it erased my entire computer. Again. This is like the 3rd or 4th time this year. And its not the worst. But I was sad. All of my screen shots and stuff. The photos I downloaded off facebook. I didn't actually lose anything. But it would take a lot of work to get it all back. I was dealing and was trying to not be sad. But then I couldn't get into any of my other emails. Including my styling one. I just couldn't get in. And I didn't even have my boss's email. I had to text Jess to get it. And then my boss wouldn't get back to me until closer to 5 tonight and she didn't understand that gmail wouldn't let me change the password without an admin because its not a private account and is a work account. And am just so frustrated by the whole thing.

So I tried to just focus on something else.

I cleaned up my studio and cut a few bears. I made 4. Which is the tiny goal Im giving myself every day this week. I put some finished pieces back in the baskets. And sewed and tried to be in a better headspace.

I went back to cleaning. Did the bathroom. And then played animal crossing for a bit. One of my favorite characters, Cyrano, asked to live on a construction site. And I had a great time making that.

Once I was done I decided to go out. I needed to go out and do something.

I drove out to the Target shopping center. I listened to a podcast. Enjoyed looking around in the different stores. I went to five below and DSW. I didn't get anything but I had a nice time.

I went to target next. I found a few pieces of clothes I really liked but the sizes weren't exactly right so I passed. If they have them next time well see. I did get this fleece that I love. It was on super clearance. And I love it. Excellent.

I got some snacks and candy. Some things for sweetP. Hair tyes. And then went over to five guys for a little dinner.

I ate in the parking lot. Enjoyed the sunset. And then headed home. My eyes were getting tired.

When I got back we had a card from Ellen. It was so kind of her. She even sent me furby stickers. What a sweetheart.

I put things away. And hung out with James. I vacuumed finally. And gave sweetP a new toy. I played animal crossing for a little. James went to their parents' after work to get some wrapping paper. I spent an hour and a half wrapping my tote bags worn out handle. Working on some visible mending examples. And once that was done I took a shower. I am trying a new way to dry my hair. And I am just ready to close my eyes.

I have work tomorrow. But it should just be one tour. I am looking forward to a nice day. The wind is picking up and there might be snow this week. I hope it is pretty flurries.

Sleep well everyone. Take care of each other. Wash your hands.

[evermmorg]

How do does a student at pierce set up a new password

#How do does a student at pierce set up a new password mac os x#

#How do does a student at pierce set up a new password code#

#How do does a student at pierce set up a new password download#

This score ranges from a low of 1 to a high of 9. This ranking is not the percentage correct. This score indicates the relative standing of the student when compared to others of the same grade. This is the number of questions answered correctly. You may access test results in your online account, or via mail.įor most of the tests the following categories are included in the report: Your test results should be available within a week of us receiving your child's test. Mail the test back to FLO once completed. Once you receive the test, you have two weeks to proctor the test to your student. If not ordering online, please call us or email/fax/mail one of the forms below: Online orders may not be placed for groups. If ordering the SAT10 Online test, instructions will be emailed to you within 3 days of placing the order. All paper tests and instructions will be mailed to you. You may also mail, fax, or email one of our order forms to us, or call our office so we can assist you in completing your order. Without an online account, simply checkout as a guest. An online account is not required to order, but is encouraged for the ability to view order history and past test results. You may place an order directly on our website. In other words, no off-norm scoring is available for the Stanford Online. Stanford Online tests CANNOT be normed for a different period other than the one in which they were taken. The Stanford Online norming periods are slightly different from the other standardized tests. Results will also be available from your online account (if one was created) in this same time frame. Test results are emailed to you within 24-48 hours of the last testing day. Ensure all instructions and sessions codes are printed off before beginning the testing or that they can be accessed on a different device. Once the testing session begins no other applications are allowed to be run. The SAT10™ online is proctored remotely, but an adult needs to be present to monitor the testing. Chromebooks are not supported by the testing browser and cannot be used for the testing. Updated Chrome browser can be used, but will provide an error during pre-test scan.

#How do does a student at pierce set up a new password mac os x#

Windows 7 or higher and Internet Explorer 8.0 or later or Mac OS X 10.6 or higher with Safari 6.0. The first rescheduling is at no charge, but it is $10.00 for each rescheduled testing day following this. Start times are all in PST time zone and are from 7 a.m. You will have the option of choosing to complete the testing over a 2 day consecutive testing window that can start on a Wednesday or Thursday.

#How do does a student at pierce set up a new password download#

You will use this information to download the secure testing browser that will be used for the testing sessions. This information will provide steps to ensure all computers being used for testing will meet the technical requirements. You will receive information by e-mail within 48 hours of placing the order, and at least 24 hours prior to your desired testing date. Once you complete the order and checkout, additional instructions will be emailed to you.Please keep the regional time differences in mind and schedule accordingly. The starting time is in Pacific Time and will apply to both testing days. Also in Cart Review, click on the schedule button to select the desired beginning testing date and time.In the Cart Review, assign a student to the SAT10 test.If you are wanting to test with Fall or Winter norms, give us a call. You may pre-order up to 8 months in advance. Order the grade level your student is completing or has most recently completed. The testing window for the SAT10 Online is April 1st through July 31st each year. 5% of cost goes to help homeschooling families in need nationwide.Testing occurs every week Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday.Results emailed within 1-2 business days of completion.Testing takes places at mutually agreed upon testing dates and time.Untimed testing can continue as long as student is working.Secure Browser ensures security of the test and student data.This is the complete battery version with updated 2018 norms. End result - can visibly see each student in each breakout room on computer screens without having to navigate to each breakout room on one computer.The Stanford 10™ Online is a nationally normed standardized test published by Pearson Assessments.

#How do does a student at pierce set up a new password code#

23 Using CASAS Guidelines 1:5 Test Lab Setup Once the following has taken place: all rooms have been assigned, all students have been given the remote access code all students are ready to start The proctor will click (open all rooms) and move to the logged in computers to accept all their multiple selves into each breakout room.

[hellomcafeeloginblog]

Top 8 Password Managers Everyone is Talking About in 2021

Working from home has become the norm for many of us, making it more critical than ever to safeguard your online accounts with secure passwords. However, remembering dozens of passwords can be tough, and repeatedly using the same password could be dangerous. If you’re continually getting locked out of online accounts because you can’t remember your passwords, it’s time to invest in a password manager. A password manager will help you keep track of and manage your login credentials while also assuring password security. They can also be used to auto-fill forms and sync data between Windows and Mac computers, as well as Android and iPhone devices. A password manager is essentially a secure digital vault that keeps password login information for apps, accounts, websites, and other services on your mobile device. The best password manager contains a password generator to create strong, unique passwords and ensure you aren’t using the same password in many places, in addition to keeping your identity, credentials, and sensitive data safe. 1. LastPass Because of its ease of use, compatibility for all major platforms, and extensive feature set, LastPass remains our top pick for the best password organizer. That’s even despite the fact that its once-excellent free tier has been significantly reduced. LastPass’s free version no longer syncs across all of your devices, but only between your PCs and mobile devices – not both. A password generator, unlimited passwords, and secure storage are among the features it shares with the commercial version. Unlimited syncing across all devices, support for physical two-factor authentication keys, 1GB of online file storage, dark-web account monitoring, and premium tech support are all included in the subscription edition. LastPass does not require the installation of any software on your computer. Instead, the software can be completely contained within browser extensions and a fully functional online interface. With some limitations, vintage desktop apps for Windows and Mac are still available. Meanwhile, the LastPass Pocket option for Windows and Linux that only works on a local network has been retired, as has the password filling feature. 2. Bitwarden With its affordable rates, stylish design, and full-featured free tier, Bitwarden has risen to the top ranks among password managers since its launch in 2016. Bitwarden is the best alternative for anyone who wants to sync all of their logins across all of their devices without paying anything now that LastPass has crippled its own free service. Meanwhile, Bitwarden’s $10-per-year commercial version provides most of the same capabilities as LastPass, Keeper, or 1Password, albeit it can be a little awkward to use. Bitwarden gives you the option of setting up your server to sync your passwords, which privacy freaks will love. A secure information-sharing service called Send, a “portable” Windows version that can be installed on a flash drive, and extensions for eight different browsers are also essential features. Bitwarden’s two main drawbacks are a limited desktop app and the inability of the mobile apps to auto-fill credit card numbers or other non-login information. 3. Keeper Keeper is a full-featured password manager that is quick and easy to use, has a solid web interface, keeps all types of files and documents, has possibly the best security of any password manager, and includes a premium version that is less expensive than both Dashlane and LastPass. Its free tier includes everything except device syncing. The cost of increased security is a little inconvenient. Keeper does not feature a bulk password changer and does not allow you to generate a PIN to access the mobile app quickly. You’ll have to input the complete master password every time if you’re still using an older phone that can’t recognize your fingerprint or face. Keeper will also monitor the internet for unlawful usage of your data and provide 10GB of safe cloud storage for an additional $25 per year. It also has a secure messaging option that is free. 4. Dashlane Dashlane is similar to LastPass in terms of platform coverage and has excellent desktop software, at least for the time being. Although the sites that support it aren’t the most well-known, its killer feature remains the bulk password changer, which can reset hundreds of passwords at once. Dashlane stated in January 2021 that its desktop applications would be phased out over the next year. It encourages everyone to use browser extensions. The password organizer is well-designed, simple to use, and quite effective at filling out personal information in web forms. A scanner searches your email inbox for online accounts that you may have forgotten about. The high cost of Dashlane is a disadvantage. Dashlane’s Premium membership costs $60 per year or $78 per year if paid monthly, while the free plan is limited to 50 sets of credentials and doesn’t allow you to sync between devices. A new Essentials plan, which costs $36 per year ($4 per month), seeks to bridge the gap between the two, but it only allows you to use two devices, which isn’t much of a bargain when compared to LastPass, Keeper, and 1Password’s unlimited options. Dashlane Premium package, on the other hand, includes dark-web monitoring and an unlimited VPN service. The high prices may be justified by these non-password management functions. 5. 1Password The 1Password apps are better on Mac and iOS than they are on Android or Windows, but the designs and user interfaces on both the desktop and mobile apps are a little archaic. However, 1Password in the browser, a set of stand-alone browser extensions for Brave, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, is fantastic. They operate with web browsers directly and now support biometric logins as well. They also make 1Password available to Chromebook users, and the 1Password Linux desktop client will be available in May 2021. The most compelling feature of 1Password is its Travel Mode, which deletes sensitive data from your devices (you’ll get it back later) so that eavesdropping border-control officials can’t locate it. 1Password features excellent form-filling capabilities as well as real two-factor authentication. New users must join up for a $36 yearly cloud membership with 1Password. Until recently, Mac users could purchase the older stand-alone application for $65. However, 1Password will no longer be releasing new licenses as of August 2021. 1Password’s limited free edition is no longer available. 6. Blur Blur is a password organizer that comes with a privacy protection service. It works well as a browser-based desktop password manager, but it’s pricier than LastPass, Keeper, or 1Password. Its mobile apps are also outdated and difficult to use. Blur excels at keeping your information secret. It provides one-time-use credit card numbers for online transactions, separate email addresses for each online service you join, and even a second phone number if you don’t want to divulge your real one. With Blur’s basic premium plan, you receive all of this for $39 per year, albeit you must pay a tiny price for each one-time-use credit number. The $99 unlimited premium plan eliminates these expenses. (Each paid plan is free for the first 30 days.) The free tier is rather basic, with few privacy protections and no cross-device syncing. There are better and less expensive choices if you merely want a reliable password manager. Blur, on the other hand, is well worth investigating if comprehensive online privacy is your primary concern. 7. Enpass Enpass’s free desktop software for Windows, Mac, and Linux are robust and unlimited, but its free Android and iOS mobile apps are limited to 25 passwords. Unlimited coverage on all devices is $15.99 for six months, $23.99 for a year, or $55.99 for a lifetime subscription. Enpass does a good job with the essentials, but you’ll have to sync your own devices with Dropbox, OneDrive, or another service because Enpass doesn’t have any cloud-syncing capabilities. Enpass PC interface is simple but effective, and the mobile apps are well-designed. To some extent, they all deal with biometric logins. Although Enpass does not offer a local-sync feature, you can make one using USB drives or network sharing. This might make the service suitable for consumers who are hesitant to share their personal information online. 8. Zoho Vault Although Zoho Vault is part of a bigger package of paid commercial applications, the password manager is available for free for personal use. Families can sign up for group plans that start at $12 per user per year. With Zoho Vault, you won’t find consumer-friendly features like personal data form filling or a mass password changing, but all necessities are present and functioning well. Zoho Vault uses its servers to sync your passwords, and there’s no charge to sync all of your desktop, laptop, and mobile devices. The one flaw we found in our testing was that Zoho Vault occasionally tripped over Google’s two-page logins, but Zoho reps say this has already been resolved. Source :- https://infoprintercan0n.co.uk/top-8-password-managers-everyone-is-talking-about-in-2021/

[colorfulcatunknown]

Mac Os X Iso Download 64 Bit For Virtualbox

Mac Os High Sierra Iso For Virtualbox

How To Install Mac Os On Virtualbox

Mac Os Iso For Vmware

Mac Os Vm Iso

Mac Os X Download Iso

Mac Os 64 Bit Download

If you have 64 bit Operating system then you can download Virtualbox 6.0. 1) Just again visit this Link 2) Now under Virtualbox 6.0.0 click on your OS. 3) Now the download will start automatically, it will 200mb in size. The 'System Type' of your copy of Windows needs to be 64-bit, because OS X Mountain Lion is a 64-bit operating system. If you have a 32-bit copy of Windows, you can only install Mac OS X Snow Leopard on Virtualbox.

Downloading process of macOS Catalina Image file for VirtualBox and VMware. Mac OS 10.15 Catalina is named because of a special kind of update for Apple and for its operating system which is known as Mac. It has some outstanding features, applications, and a voice record facility which we already discussed earlier.

Mac Os High Sierra Iso For Virtualbox

VirtualBox is a general-purpose full virtualizer for x86 hardware, targeted at server, desktop and embedded use.For a thorough introduction to virtualization and VirtualBox.

For VMware or VirtualBox virtual machines, click the button below to download the image file to your computer via google drive. Download ISO File. Update (June 8, 2018): Mac OS 10.13.5 Released! Update: (July 26, 2018): Mac OS 10.13.6 Released! Update: (July 26, 2018): Mac OS Mojave 10.14 Released!

Want to install macOS on Virtualbox?

If yes, then this post is definitely for you.

In the previous posts, I have already talked about installing linux ubuntu on Virtualbox & other operating systems also.

Everyone knows Mac OS is one of the most premium Operating systems.

And everyone wants to use it but it’s a little expensive.

And that’s why people try to find out different ways to install Mac OS on their PC.

Two years back I also installed Mac OS High Sierra Hackintosh on my PC.

And now I am installing the Mojave version.

So in this post, I will show you how to install macOS Mojave on Virtualbox on Windows PC.

Let’s see How it works. Also Read: Chromebook ChromeOS on Virtual machines.

How to Install macOS on Virtualbox in Windows 10 PC [ Mojave ]

But before we begin.

Please make sure that you have downloaded the Oracle Virtualbox and the macOS Mojave ISO file from the given link.

Virtualbox: Download link macOS Mojave Virtualbox image: Download link

I know you might be thinking of creating your own iso file but it’s a little time-consuming.

And that’s why I have already given the link for the Mojave image file.

Now I hope you have already downloaded all the given files & installed Virtualbox successfully.

Note:- Please check the VT-x or AMD-V virtualization feature must be enabled in your BIOS settings.

So Let’s get started & follow this step by step guide.

How To Install Mac Os On Virtualbox

1. Open & Install Virtualbox Extension Pack

Now Open Virtualbox and install the Extension Pack from the given link. Download link

Now that you have installed the extension pack, it’s time to create a virtual machine.

2. Create a macOS Mojave Virtual Machine

Open Virtualbox and Click on the “New” button to create a macOS virtual machine.

Now type the name as “macOS Mojave“, type of OS as Mac OS X and the version of OS as Mac OS X (64-bit). And then Click on Next.

3. Memory Size (RAM)

Now select the amount of RAM to be allocated to the virtual machine. And to run macOS on Virtualbox, the minimum recommended RAM size is 2048Mb.

4. Setup a Virtual Hard Disk

Now the next step is to create a virtual disk for this machine. But here instead of creating a new virtual hard disk, we will import the macOS Mojave 10.14 disk image file which we have downloaded earlier. So Click on Use an existing virtual hard disk file.

And then click on the Folder icon and browse to the image file.

Now select the image file and Click Open.

And you can see that you have successfully created the macOS virtual machine and here comes the configuration part.

5. Configuring macOS Virtual Machine

Note:- All these settings are mandatory to run and install macOS Mojave on Virtualbox on Windows PC properly.

Now Click on Settings.

Now in the Next screen Go to System, then Click on Motherboard Tab and Select the Boot Order as Optical and Hard disk. And in the Extended Features Enable I/O APIC, Enable EFI (Special OSes only) and Hardware Clock in UTC Time. Click OK.

Next Go to Processor Tab. And select the minimum processor as 2 and Enable PAE/NX in the extended features. Click OK.

Further, Go to Display Settings and change the Video Memory to 128 MB or the maximum you can have.

Next, Go to the Storage tab and Enable the Use Host I/O Cache and Click OK.

Now, Go to the USB tab and Enable the USB 3.0 (xHCI) Controller and Click OK.

6. Modify Virtualbox Virtual Machine using Command Prompt

Note:- Before running the Command Prompt, please make sure that you have Closed the Virtualbox & it is not in the running state.

Also, I would recommend you to Restart or Reboot your pc before using these command-line codes.

Now add the following commands to Virtualbox Virtual Machine using Command Prompt (CMD). And to Open Command Prompt, click on Search and type “CMD” and Right Click on it and select Run as Administrator.

Now run each command one by one in the command prompt. And before running each command, please make sure to change the “Your VM Name” part with the name of the virtual machine that you have created earlier.

cd “C:Program FilesOracleVirtualBox”

VBoxManage.exe modifyvm “Your VM Name” –cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff

VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct” “iMac11,3”

VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion” “1.0”

VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct” “Iloveapple”

VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey” “ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc”

VBoxManage setextradata “Your VM Name” “VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC” 1

Like I will replace “Your VM Name” with “macOS Mojave” in all the codes.

It will be easier if you first copy all the codes to a notepad file & edit them and then paste them in the CMD.

And you are done with the configuration part. Now comes the major part to install the macOS Mojave on Virtualbox Virtual machine.

Install macOS Mojave on Virtualbox PC

Note:- All this installation process of mac on Virtualbox works the same as on the original MacBook. This means that this process is also applicable to Mac Users installing the Mac operating system.

So Let’s get started & install it properly.

1. Start & Run macOS Mojave

Now Open Virtualbox & select the virtual machine and then Click on Start.

Now, wait for a few minutes while the virtual machine boots up and start loading the installer or the installation files.

2. Select Country & Keyboard Layout

Now select the United States as a country & Click on Continue.

And Keyboard layout as the US and Click on Continue.

Mac Os Iso For Vmware

3. Data and Privacy

Now in the next screen, it will ask for the Data and Privacy settings which are by default. So Click on Continue.

4. Transfer information to this Mac

On this screen, it will ask if you want to transfer any sort of information from any Mac or Windows PC. So, select Don’t transfer any information now and Click on Continue.

5. Sign in with Your Apple ID

Now it will ask to sign in with your Apple ID. If you already have the apple ID then you can enter or you can simply on Set up Later. And Continue.

6. Term and Conditions

Now the Term and conditions part, So simply Click on Agree.

7. Create a Computer Account

Its time to create a computer account that is similar to the user account created in Windows PC. So, fill out all the details like Full name, Account name and Password. And Click on Continue.

8. Express Set-Up

Next is Express Set Up where you can also customize settings or you can simply click on Continue.

9. Choose your MacOS Look

Since macOS Mojave comes in two different looks, one is the Light look which is similar to normal and the other one is the Dark look. You may choose according to your Preference & Click on Continue.

10. Installed Mac OS Mojave on Virtualbox

And Done! You have successfully installed the macOS Mojave 10.14 on Virtualbox virtual machine in Windows 10 PC.

That’s it for now…

Conclusion

So that’s how you can easily install a Mac OS on Windows 10 PC using Virtual Box Virtual Machine. And you can also follow the same method for other different OSes like Catalina & High Sierra.

Stay tuned for the next post on install mac os on VMware.

Feel free to share your thoughts and also tell us if you know any better way to Install macOS on Virtualbox in Windows 10 PC [ Mojave ].

If you liked this post, Don’t forget to share this awesome post with your friends.

Table Of Content

1- Download Mac OS

2- Create Mac OS Virtual Machine

3- Configure VBoxManage

4- Start the Mac OS virtual machine

View more Tutorials:

1- Download Mac OS

2- Create Mac OS Virtual Machine

3- Configure VBoxManage

4- Start the Mac OS virtual machine

1- Download Mac OS

Mac OS is a computer operating system developed by Apple. This is a operating system with beautiful interface, however, to own a the computer of Apple with this operating system, you need to use a lot of money, normally with the double price than that of common computers using Windows operating system. Fortunately, you can experience the Mac OS right on your computer by installing a Mac OS virtual machine on VirtualBox.

Mac Os Vm Iso

Below is the list of Mac OS versions released in recent years:

Mac OS VersionNameRelease Date10.10YosemiteJune 201410.11El CapitanSeptember 30, 201510.12SierraJune 12, 201610.13High SierraJune 5, 2017

Mac Os X Download Iso

In this post, I will show you how to install the Mac OS on VirtualBox. First of all, please download an installer.

Mac Os 64 Bit Download

After finishing downloading, there is one file:

Extract the file that you have just downloaded in a folder.

2- Create Mac OS Virtual Machine

On the VirtualBox, create a new virtual machine.

Enter a name for the virtual machine and select a Mac OS version suitable for the Mac OS version that you have downloaded..

Mac OS operating systems need a large amount of RAM to work, You should provide it with about 4GB RAM.

The Mac OS file downloaded by you in the above step is a complete operating system and you can be willing to use without installation. Therefore, on the VirtualBox, you only need to point to this postion of this file.

OK, your Mac OS virtual machine has been created.

You can carry out other configurations for Mac OS, for example, Network configuration, specifying the quantity of Processors,..

3- Configure VBoxManage

After you create VirtualBox virtual machine, the Meta information of this virtual machine will be found in the folder (Depending on your operating system):

LINUX (Ubuntu,..):/home/{user}/VirtualBox VMs

WINDOWS:C:/Users/{user}/VirtualBox VMs

There are some advanced configurations that you can perform via the interface of VirtualBox, and you must carry out it via a command:

Replace 'Your-VM-Name' by your virtual machine name. Your virtual machine name can be found in the 'Setting > General > Basic' (Like the following illustration).

On the Linux (Ubuntu,..), open Terminal windows and CD to go to your Mac OS virtual machine directory. If you use the Windows operating system, open the CMD windows with Administrator privilege and CD to go to the Mac OS ​​​​​​​virtual machine directory.

Perform the above commands respectively (after having replaced 'Your-VM-Name'):

OK, all the commands have been performed successfully.

4- Start the Mac OS virtual machine

Press on 'Start' button to start your Mac OS virtual machine:

Enter username/password (to be used to enter your Mac OS virtual machine).

OK, at this moment, you have installed Mac OS Virtual Machine on VirtualBox successfully .

View more Tutorials:

[raysync]

8 Best Ways to Send Large Files For Free

Being able to share files with others is one of the many benefits of modern technology. However, when these files are too large to share and transfer, things become much more complicated.

We are here to tell you that there is an easy way to send and upload large files for free. In this article, we have compiled a list of free cloud storage services and provided tips on how to accelerate file transfer process.

Compress files before sending

Regardless of how you choose to send the file, shrinking it will only help in storage. File compression not only shrinks the content you want to send but also makes the transfer faster no matter which method you choose (email, FTP, or cloud storage).

Most computers have built-in file compression utilities, so you can make a ZIP file with just a few clicks. This is how to do it.

If you want to transfer music files or videos, it is recommended that you use RAR compression instead of ZIP, because it uses a better compression algorithm, which usually reduces data loss and file damage. We recommend using 7-Zip for this because this open-source file archiver is one of the best archivers currently available.

Upload to cloud storage service

The best way to transfer large files is to upload them to an online storage service, where the desired recipient can download them. Thanks to cloud computing, there are countless such services, so we have selected some of the best services for you.

You can find a quick list of our current favorites below, all of which provide enough storage space, security, and sharing features. We will not describe in detail how to use each program but will provide a short description to help you find a service that suits your needs.

1. Google Drive

Google Drive provides up to 15GB of free storage space and allows you to share large files, such as pictures and videos, with a few clicks. It even has backup and synchronization options, which are useful features.

If you already have a Gmail account, you can't go beyond the simplicity of Drive, because Drive is built directly into the email service. You just need to click the Google Drive logo in the email compose window to "attach" the file to the email stored in your Drive account.

After upgrading to the paid version of Cloud Drive, you can get 100GB of storage space ($2 per month), 200GB of storage space ($3 per month), or 2TB of storage space (ie 2,000GB) for a price of $10. There is also a 10TB option for $100 per month, and if you plan to share many large files, you can choose a larger package. Any user who pays for the upgrade will automatically upgrade to Google One (if available in their country of residence) and will receive a free 100GB upgrade, share up to six users, and get expert support from Google.

Chromebook buyers can also get 100GB of storage for free for 12 months, so please use this as much as possible.

2. Dropbox

In most cases, compared to Google Drive, Dropbox is another great cloud storage option with 2GB of free storage space and various sharing options. The basic feature set is roughly the same as Google Drive, but Dropbox also provides mobile apps for non-Android and iOS devices (such as Kindle Fire).

You can expand your storage options in several exciting ways, but you can also use premium accounts. For $10 per month, you can get a Plus account with 2TB of space, while $17 per month provides you with 3TB of storage space and some advanced features, as well as advanced sharing controls, including the ability to set passwords and create expired links.

3. OneDrive

Over the years, Microsoft's OneDrive service has undergone major upgrades and renovations, making it one of the more competitive solutions for storing files and folders online. With its shared folder system, you can share any content at any time, and click a button to stop sharing when finished. The free tier provides you with 5GB of free storage space, and a monthly fee of $2 can increase it to 100GB. If you are an Office 365 subscriber, you can also enjoy 1TB of OneDrive storage for free as part of the plan.

4. Box

Compared with some of the other products in this section, Box's business is more biased. Although this does not mean that it lacks features suitable for individuals, to access its file and folder sharing features, you will need to purchase an enterprise account (at least at the Starter level), which requires at least three users. Each will cost about $5 a month. It also has free storage products and reasonably priced software packages.

The files and folders shared through these accounts can be password protected, so this is a useful security feature, and Box is an excellent choice for those who care about data privacy and security.

5. MediaFire

MediaFire provides a 10GB basic account, although users can get up to 50GB of free storage space in total, and have very simple sharing tools. However, the maximum upload size of the above plan is 10GB, but large files can still be uploaded without problems. You can also buy 1TB of storage space for $4 a month.

6. pCloud

pCloud's file transfer service is excellent, especially suitable for large file transfers. The service does not have any restrictions on file size or file transfer speed, so you can move files at a speed that your Internet connection can handle, which is very useful for users with gigabit networks. The service also provides many additional features, including the ability to share download and upload links, and complete security, including five additional copies of files on different servers to ensure that the files are not lost. The service does provide a free trial version that can be used for short-term sharing, but you must make a one-time payment or subscription to unlock the service permanently.

7. Masv

Masv is a file transfer service designed for large video files, graphic files, and other demanding transfers that creative professionals need to carry out. If you use files larger than 20GB, you need to research this service. Masv uses 160 servers around the world to increase the transmission speed as much as possible while still making it easy for all kinds of customers to understand. This is a valuable service, but with the option of paying on-demand, you can save even more. You can also start with a free 7-day trial period and provide 100GB of data for free.

8. Raysync

Raysync file transfer accelerator can increase the speed of file transfer and reduce the delay and packet loss rate of the file transfer.

The Raysync file transfer protocol is a high-efficiency transfer software specially developed for enterprises to completely replace the existing file transfer protocol FTP. It can realize high-speed file transfer based on the existing structure and uses the Raysync file transfer protocol FTP to accelerate Later, the file transfer protocol FTP transfer speed can be increased by 10-100 times

The transfer speed is hundreds of times faster than that of FTP and HTTP, which maximizes the bandwidth without affecting other network traffic. Among them, the transfer of massive small files under the same network environment is 6000 times faster than FileZilla. Cross-regional and cross-border big data replication, migration, or archiving, at least 100TB of data can be transferred every day.

Article From:https://www.raysync.io/news/8-best-ways-to-send-large-files-for-free/

[t-baba]

How to Install MySQL

Almost all web applications require server-based data storage, and MySQL continues to be the most-used database solution. This article discusses various options for using MySQL on your local system during development.

MySQL is a free, open-source relational database. MariaDB is a fork of the database created in 2010 following concerns about the Oracle acquisition of MySQL. (It's is functionally identical, so most of the concepts described in this article also apply to MariaDB.)

While NoSQL databases have surged in recent years, relational data is generally more practical for the majority of applications. That said, MySQL also supports NoSQL-like data structures such as JSON fields so you can enjoy the benefits of both worlds.

The following sections examine three primary ways to use MySQL in your local development environment:

cloud-based solutions

using Docker containers

installing on your PC.

Cloud-based MySQL

MySQL services are offered by AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle, and many other specialist hosting services. Even low-cost shared hosts offer MySQL with remote HTTPS or tunneled SSH connections. You can therefore use a MySQL database remotely in local development. The benefits:

no database software to install or manage

your production environment can use the same system

more than one developer can easily access the same data

it's ideal for those using cloud-based IDEs or lower-specification devices such as Chromebooks

features such as automatic scaling, replication, sharding, and backups may be included.

The downsides:

set-up can still take considerable time

connection libraries and processes may be subtly different across hosts

experimentation is more risky; any developer can accidentally wipe or alter the database

development will cease when you have no internet connection

there may be eye-watering usage costs.

A cloud-based option may be practical for those with minimal database requirements or large teams working on the same complex datasets.

Run MySQL Using Docker

Docker is a platform which allows you to build, share, and run applications in containers. Think of a container as an isolated virtual machine with its own operating system, libraries, and the application files. (In reality, containers are lightweight processes which share resources on the host.)

A Docker image is a snapshot of a file system which can be run as a container. The Docker Hub provides a wide range of images for popular applications, and databases including MySQL and MariaDB. The benefits:

all developers can use the same Docker image on macOS, Linux, and Windows

MySQL installation configuration and maintenance is minimal

the same base image can be used in development and production environments

developers retain the benefits of local development and can experiment without risk.

Docker is beyond the scope of this article, but key points to note:

Docker is a client–server application. The server is responsible for managing images and containers and can be controlled via a REST API using the command line interface. You can therefore run the server daemon anywhere and connect to it from another machine.

Separate containers should be used for each technology your web application requires. For example, your application could use three containers: a PHP-enabled Apache web server, a MySQL database, and an Elasticsearch engine.

By default, containers don’t retain state. Data saved within a file or database will be lost the next time the container restarts. Persistency is implemented by mounting a volume on the host.

Each container can communicate with others in their own isolated network. Specific ports can be exposed to the host machine as necessary.

A commercial, enterprise edition of Docker is available. This article refers to the open-source community edition, but the same techniques apply.

Install Docker

Instructions for installing the latest version of Docker on Linux are available on Docker Docs. You can also use official repositories, although these are likely to have older editions. For example, on Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get remove docker docker-engine docker.io sudo apt install docker.io sudo systemctl start docker sudo systemctl enable docker

Installation will vary on other editions of Linux, so search the Web for appropriate instructions.

Docker CE Desktop for macOS Sierra 10.12 and above and Docker CE Desktop for Windows 10 Professional are available as installable packages. You must register at Docker Hub and sign in to download.

Docker on Windows 10 uses the Hyper-V virtualization platform, which you can enable from the Turn Windows features on or off panel accessed from Programs and Features in the the Control Panel. Docker can also use the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2 — currently in beta).

To ensure Docker can access the Windows file system, choose Settings from the Docker tray icon menu, navigate to the Shared Drives pane, and check which drives the server is permitted to use.

Check Docker has successfully installed by entering docker version at your command prompt. Optionally, try docker run hello-world to verify Docker can pull images and start containers as expected.

Run a MySQL Container

To make it easier for Docker containers to communicate, create a bridged network named dbnet or whatever name you prefer (this step can be skipped if you just want to access MySQL from the host device):

docker network create --driver bridge dbnet

Now create a data folder on your system where MySQL tables will be stored — such as mkdir data.

The most recent MySQL 8 server can now be launched with:

docker run -d --rm --name mysql --net dbnet -p 3306:3306 -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=mysecret -v $PWD/data:/var/lib/mysql mysql:8

Arguments used:

-d runs the container as a background service.

--rm removes the container when it stops running.

--name mysql assigns a name of mysql to the container for easier management.

-p 3306:3306 forwards the container port to the host. If you wanted to use port 3307 on the host, you would specify -p 3307:3306.

-e defines an environment variable, in this case the default MySQL root user password is set to mysecret.

-v mounts a volume so the /var/lib/mysql MySQL data folder in the container will be stored at the current folder's data subfolder on the host.

$PWD is the current folder, but this only works on macOS and Linux. Windows users must specify the whole path using forward slash notation — such as /c/mysql/data.

The first time you run this command, MySQL will take several minutes to start as the Docker image is downloaded and the MySQL container is configured. Subsequent restarts will be instantaneous, presuming you don’t delete or change the original image. You can check progress at any time using:

docker logs mysql

Using the Container MySQL Command-line Tool

Once started, open a bash shell on the MySQL container using:

docker exec -it mysql bash

Then connect to the MySQL server as the root user:

mysql -u root -pmysecret

-p is followed by the password set in Docker's -e argument shown above. Don’t add a space!

Any MySQL commands can now be used — such as show databases;, create database new; and so on.

Use a MySQL client

Any MySQL client application can connect to the server on port 3306 of the host machine.

If you don't have a MySQL client installed, Adminer is a lightweight PHP database management tool which can also be run as a Docker container!

docker run -d --rm --name adminer --net dbnet -p 8080:8080 adminer

Once started, open http://localhost:8080 in your browser and enter mysql as the server name, root as the username, and mysecret as the password:

Databases, users, tables, and associated settings can now be added, edited, or removed.

The post How to Install MySQL appeared first on SitePoint.

by Craig Buckler via SitePoint https://ift.tt/2U399ve

[joeruane]

Apple shows it takes privacy seriously, in a public ad campaign

In this day and age, privacy is at the forefront of public and consumer discourse. it seems like either everything can be hacked, or already has. Concurrently, the line between our public and private lives has been deteriorated. As a consequence of these two phenomena, people value their privacy more than ever. And in the face of prominent data breaches, Apple wants to let the public know that they value your privacy, as much as you value your own.

In their recent 60-second ad, designed for both TV and social media audiences, they use familiar situations to convey how we each value our own privacy. Whether its from a “no trespassing” sign, a ‘menacing’ guard dog, or locking your doors (rather excessively), they create familiarity with the audience by letting them know that the people behind the creation of the iphone are regular human beings, who lock their own doors, close their blinds, and put passwords on their phones. The biggest takeaway from this advertising piece is that from a policy standpoint, Apple stands with the people in the public-private debate. From fingerprint scanners, face scanners, and encryption, Apple is putting their money where their mouth is in terms of delivering the message to their consumers, and providing products that meet consumer’s expectations in regards to privacy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this ad, because of its use of multiple framing to deliver a message that is resonant to whoever views this short clip. We might think its weird that someone would put a “no trespassing” sign on their yard, but when viewed through our own perspectives, like having a conversation at the restaurant, we see exactly what people mean when they say they value privacy. By placing themselves in the mind of the consumer, beyond any market research, there are fundamental values that subconsciously drive people to buy the way they do, and privacy is certainly one of them. In order to drive this message across, they deliver the same sentiment across multiple perspectives, which required both apple and the ad agency to go outside of their comfort zone, ad re-examine how they can convey to their audience that when it comes to privacy, Apple means business. With their introduction of Apple pay, touch and face unlocking, plus their own credit card, Apple needed to re-examine how to highlight the design philosophy behind the iphone in terms of privacy, and what better way to do it than to release an ad campaign in the eyes of the consumer. Note that Apple isn’t particularly groundbreaking in this campaign, unlike their earlier campaigns “1984″ and “The Crazy Ones”. Google has been using this style of commercials for their Pixel Phones and Chromebooks, by using multiple framing to create commercials that give the products and brands a personality dimension that a simple feature-benefits approach simply cannot.

As you can see, Apple isn’t reinventing the wheel here, but putting their own spin on a particularly effective method. As innovative as Apple is, its okay that they weren’t the first company to release ads in this style. Like their products, they are fine letting other companies innovate because they act as a test market for these features. Since the google commercials did well, they knew making one of their own, in an entirely new perspective to deliver their competitive advantage of privacy, was a guaranteed hit. And with this commercial, they are ensuring that more and more people are using an iphone to keep themselves secured in an age where our digital footprint is completely vulnerable.

[joebustillos]

JBB’s Final Thoughts Episode 37: The Endless Assault of “New Normals”

Pondering the challenges of finishing the school year in “work from home” mode and how the world might change “after this is done.”

MP3 Version: https://joebustillos.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/jbbsfinalthoughts_e037_the-endless-assault-of-new-normals.mp3 Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel or subscribe to all of my blog posts (scroll to the bottom of this page, click the red FOLLOW button in the “Follow blog via email” box).

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Past JBB’s Final Thoughts Podcast Episodes

Resources/Credits:

music: Social Blindness – 22K by Smart Sound Music

All images and screen grabs by Joe Bustillos ©2020 except where noted

Nevada schools will stay shut the rest of school year (image by Rachel Aston), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 04-22-2020

CCSD Chromebook Deployment (images), CBS 8 News Las Vegas, 04-22-2020.

EduBlogs screens (images), retrieved  01-22-2020

Empty Las Vegas by Josh Metz, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2932568266766674&set=pcb.2932568556766645&type=3&theater, retrieved 2020-04-08

Episode Notes/Script/Post:

Joe Bustillos here.

Toward the end of last week I found out that the rest of the school year is going to continue in the current “work from home”/“emergency learning” mode. Side Note: many districts are calling this current mode “remote learning,” but those of us who have conducted actual online or remote learning reject the use of those words to describe what we’re doing because it wasn’t begun with any planning or guidance or technology support that actual remote learning requires. And any successes in this endeavor is entirely because teachers are determined to stay connected with their students and quite frankly we are used to being told to do the impossible and make it happen without the means to be successful.

2020-04-22 RJ: CCSD schools closed for the rest of the year

2020-04-22_NCTA: CCSD schools closed

Stickam Session 2009 – joe bustillos

2012-08-22 Full Sail University EMDT Wk4 Wimba at 7.53.06 PM

Henry Price works on a Pepperdine OMAET project while we edit the video(s)

Last week was also the week when Chromebooks were being distributed to families attending my school who do not have technology at home. Since week two, home room teachers have been calling homes to connect with their students and to verify contact information. The word was that a large portion of our students and families didn’t have any technology at home including any kind of smartphone. So the decision and implementation of distributing technology is a good thing. I just wish that this could have happened before we began the fifth week of our current situation (sixth week if you count the week of Spring Break that we still got). So, that leaves four more weeks until the beginning of the Summer Break. I’m curious how much can be done in that time, given the lack of direct contact.

2020-04-22 CCSD chromebook deployment1

2020-04-22 CCSD chromebook deployment2

2020-04-22 CCSD chromebook deployment3

2020-04-22 CCSD chromebook deployment4

I’ve been working like crazing creating instructional videos and trying to figure out how I might get students to access the curriculum. One of the other specials teachers, the music teacher, has been championing using the Seesaw platform because it’s not dependent on student email addresses and can be accessed with a smartphone. Before this began I had created individual blogs for the 4th and 5th graders to teach Internet communications and digital citizenship, but that got a little derailed. So I’m thinking that I will jump on the simpler Seesaw bandwagon for the primary grades (K through 3) and use Google Classroom with the intermediate grades (4 and 5) with the option for any 4th or 5th grade students to use the blog accounts I’ve already created if they want to. Now to figure out how to get the personal login information to each student without creating a security leak. Oh yeah, during the second week of this situation district IT decided to change how student passwords could be updated and/or recovered and I was locked out of that process altogether, making it impossible for me to assist my teachers in getting student emails up and running (another reason I am going with Seesaw with the primary grades…). Then toward the end of last week, I was able to update a student password, so I’ll be busy working on those classes that didn’t get setup after I was locked out.

2020-04-06-COVID-19 Work From Home-week4: Spring Break edition

2019-08-28 twinsies with Mr. Sharp

edublogs1

edublog-dashboard-post-view-original

edublogs2

It’s not exactly a “new normal” for me to work from home or begin and end my day sitting at my computer desk. I taught online for six-years at Full Sail University before coming to Las Vegas and have been an online student since working on my masters with Pepperdine beginning in the summer of 2001. That said, I do miss going to the local micro-breweries Friday evenings after work or going to the movies at the Orleans with my girlfriend, Deb. And I really wish that I hadn’t sold my trusty treadmill when I moved from Orlando in 2016. Before I sold it, I got a lot of mileage on that bugger because I had it set up so that I could work on my laptop, create assignments and grade student work while getting in my daily walks. I notice that most of the treadmills are sold out on Costco’s website. When I was working face-to-face in the classroom I was on my feet continually, so I’m going to have to find some solution before I put on too much quarantine-weight. I also recognize that concentrated creativity requires routinely stepping away/physical activity to keep the brain fresh and engaged. Oh, and we’re now in that time of year when it’s getting over 80° by 9am. Ugh.

jbb video editing

2010-05-12 Work space iPad-ified

2011-04-01 Office Still Life (keyboard)

2020-02-22 Sand Dollar Lounge with Deb

2014-06-14 Treadmill Workout/Tech Pix

2014-09-12 Treadmill Workout Pix

Alas, a little physical discomfort is nothing compared to the challenges many are facing particularly unemployment and job loss because few service businesses like restaurants, casinos and theaters (the bread and butter of Las Vegas) can be done from home. I am lucky that there is an “emergency learning from home” possibility, but as I noted earlier, there’s a lot of families who don’t have the means to do at home learning and are falling through the cracks and might not come back when things turn around. And who knows what this “turn around” might look like. The number of students re-enrolling in the Fall might drop tremendously, shrinking the number of teachers needed in the Fall. Just after the work-from-home order was given, I was lucky enough to secure a position teaching at a Middle School close to my place beginning in the Fall, but things are far from certain given that we have no idea what enrollment is going to be in the Fall or what challenges we’ll face when we’re hit by COVID-19’s second wave. Given my health history, I’m certainly not in a position to not take precautions and be very concerned about getting back into the business of working in close proximity with hundreds of potential walking germ factories. I hope they like me in my fashionable face-masks.

2020-03-24 Josh Metz – empty-vegas

Learning from Home – robots

2020-03-03 Reading Week – funny Hair Day

2020-04-28 n95-busted

2002-06-04 Twain computer lab teacher

2020-04-07 costco with bandana

I have been working in technology (officially) for over 40-years, since I hired on with the phone company in 1979, so I’ve made a study of the constant change brought about by the continuing changes in technology. I’m used to this and I’m always looking for benefits and challenges. But most of my fellow teachers do not easily welcome change. One year after one of my schools became a video-journalism magnet school, ten of the thirty teachers left that school for other teaching positions at other schools. Hell, my change of schools has nothing to do with the current COVID-19 challenge, but it certainly doesn’t help with the difficulty of starting something new at a new school, new grade levels, new administration and the possibility of the second wave of COVID-19 rearing its ugly head just after the beginning of the new school year. So, yeah, I’m okay with the computer stuff/working from home stuff, but I worry that the world outside my door will never be the same again and I am getting a bit old for this shit. Really. I appreciate a good challenge, but this is getting ridiculous.

pacbell by joe bustillos

1979-1995 The Pacific Bell Years-04-ANHM01 ITT T-CXR equipment

Kaypro II

Non-Linear Systems Inc., Kaypro 10

2001-04-15 FACT TV screen shots – 12

2020-03-30 teach from home

How are you coping? How do you keep your sanity? I do find myself watching way too many Graham Norton videos on FaceBook when I need a break from other computer things. What’s your guilty pleasure? Please leave a comment or a like where ever you are seeing or hearing this podcast.

Also, if you haven’t done so, please subscribe to either my blog or to my YouTube channel. If you found this on Facebook and clicked the link to my blog to watch this, please scroll to the bottom of the blog page and click the “Follow” button. Enter your email address and whenever I post another podcast you’ll get a message in your email. Because I recently moved my videos to a new YouTube account, I have very few subscribers. So, if you’re watching this on YouTube, please feel free to go to my channel, click the subscribe button and the little bell icon, so that you get an email message whenever I post a new video podcast to my channel. Alas, thanks to FaceBook’s precious little algorithm, it’s not enough to be my friend on FaceBook, if you are interested in getting these podcasts when they come out (which I’m working on getting one out every two-weeks)… So, it works better if you either subscribe to my blog or my YouTube channel (or both!). Enjoy.

JBB's Final Thoughts Episode 37: The Endless Assault of “New Normals” JBB's Final Thoughts Episode 37: The Endless Assault of “New Normals” Pondering the challenges of finishing the school year in "work from home" mode and how the world might change "after this is done."

[epacer]

Education in the Age of the Coronavirus Pandemic

School districts scramble to switch to online learning

On March 17 the state education department said all public schools “should immediately begin developing a plan for distance learning.”

Almost two weeks later, many San Diego County school districts said they’re getting ready to officially make the switch to online learning in coming weeks.

But several say they are still trying to figure out the details, such as whether online work will count toward students’ grades or how to make sure education is provided equitably to all students.

More than 6 million California students are out of school because schools closed two weeks ago to accommodate social distancing. Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he doesn’t think regular, in-person schooling will resume this school year.

School districts are giving students Chromebooks, WiFi hotspots and paper packets of schoolwork while some are preparing to train teachers for online learning. Some teachers have started holding virtual lessons or check-ins with students on their own.

Retrofitting classroom lessons to an online program is an exercise in improvisation, they say.

“What you’re seeing, for us and every other school district, is we’re building the plane as it’s flying,” said Ben Churchill, Carlsbad Unified’s superintendent.

Carlsbad Unified is posting grade-level assignments online and moving toward a more structured digital learning program after April 13, the end of spring break, he said. It is using some digital tools already employed in classrooms and is giving teachers a “crash course” in distance instruction, he said.

Teachers will push out material on Google Classroom, including videos, reading, writing and math assignments. Families without online access can check out Chromebooks and personal hotspots from the district and sign up for free or low-cost internet service.

“This is not going to be school as we traditionally think about it,” Churchill said. “We’re being clear with our teachers that remote learning does not mean that students or teachers will sit in front of a screen for six hours.”

Many districts are offering optional-only learning activities online. They have not been counting anything for a grade or credit to avoid disadvantaging students who lack a computer or internet access.

California students won’t have to take standardized tests this school year, state officials have promised. But the absence of grades has left many students wondering whether they will be able to graduate or complete the academic year.

San Diego Unified School District Board Member John Lee Evans

San Diego Unified on Tuesday announced its plan to return to official instruction — online — and to grading class assignments beginning on April 27.

But first the district needs three weeks after it returns from spring break to complete teacher training and distribute about 40,000 Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots to students who need them, school officials said.

San Diego Unified School Board Vice President Richard Barrera said he thinks it’s important to return to grading.

If schoolwork is left optional for the rest of the school year, students who have support at home to do schoolwork will learn, but students who lack support or resources will fall behind, he said.

“To do it without grading … is raising the white flag and just saying, ‘We really can’t have any expectations that students are gonna learn during this time,’” Barrera said.

“What I believe you’re also doing is saying, ‘We’re okay with the fact that some students who have more resources are gonna learn while other students won’t.’”

San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten said traditional requirements for grading, course completion and graduation will have to be revisited because the circumstances of this pandemic are unprecedented.

The state is leaving it up to school districts to decide whether to require graded work from students, said Scott Roark, spokesman for the California Department of Education. The department will soon publish guidance about grading for distance learning.

“Part of that guidance will include an understanding that grading assignments should not be punitive to students during this time,” Roark said.

Sweetwater Union High, San Diego County’s second-largest school district, has not been requiring any schoolwork during the closures. For last week and this week, south county school districts are on spring break, so no in-class work would have been expected anyway.

Sweetwater told families Friday that it will train teachers for two weeks starting April 6 and transition to distance learning in mid-April.

Sweetwater spokesman Manny Rubio said he doesn’t know how the district will start requiring assignments and counting schoolwork for credit once spring break is over.

“What exactly it’s gonna look like, we don’t know,” Rubio said. “As much as we can say, it’s going to look differently.”

Poway Unified, the county’s third largest school district with about 36,000 students, says it will switch to distance learning by April 6 but will not give credit or grades for students’ work to avoid penalizing students.

Escondido Union High School district also “pressed pause” on grades as of March 13 and will move to distance learning starting April 14,said April Moore, assistant superintendent of educational services.

Students who can’t access the distance learning platform won’t be penalized, she said.

“This will allow flexibility for student learning and the opportunity to increase grades,” she said. “Our approach will hold harmless students who may not be able to participate in distance learning.”

The district, which exclusively serves high school students in the Escondido area, also is awaiting state guidance on graduation requirements.

“To the extent that this is a local decision, we are determined to support our students and ensure the (school) closure does not harm them or their outcome of graduation,” she said.

Some districts are farther along.

Oceanside Unified announced it had launched a distance learning website that includes educational resources, homework packets, social-emotional supports and access to digital programs. Parents can also visit select school sites to pick up paper copies of the same lessons posted online for elementary and middle school students, the district stated.

High school students can visit “virtual learning spaces connected with their classes,” the school stated, and students completing online credit recovery programs can continue working online and checking in with their teachers as needed.

The district will begin offering online tutoring in coming weeks.

Students logging in

Some districts and independently-run schools have already been conducting daily, mandatory classes for all their students since last week.

E3 Civic High, an independent charter high school in downtown San Diego, announced Friday March 13 that it would close its school site and it began official online learning the following Monday.

Students are logging onto online school every day at set times between 8:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m., said Cheryl Ward, CEO of E3 Civic High.

Teachers hold their classes using Zoom, an online video conferencing tool that allows dozens of students to see each others’ faces and the teacher’s screen at the same time.

Students “raise their hand” using a button on Zoom to participate in class discussions. Students use virtual “breakout rooms” for smaller group discussions or group assignments.

School staff called “learning associates” provide tutoring for students with disabilities after school and accompany those students to breakout rooms, Ward said. She said students are continuing to receive special education services, like occupational therapy, via Zoom.

Ward said it hasn’t been difficult to get students to show up to online class every day.

“Funny thing, attendance improved when we went online because the kids don’t have to go anywhere. They just have to get up,” Ward said.

Getting devices was not a problem for E3, which since 2013 has given students MacBook Air laptops. Most of the school’s curriculum is on the online Edgenuity platform; the school also uses online Advanced Placement textbooks.

A school staff member was tasked with making sure each of the school’s 405 students have internet access. For students who lacked internet, the school connected them with free and $10-a-month internet for low-income families being offered by Cox and AT&T.

Among school districts, Vista Unified is launching a learning program called “Vista Virtual School” that offers some elements of conventional schools.

Superintendent Matt Doyle said Vista has invested in educational technology and “personalized learning” systems in recent years, so it is prepared for the transition.

“I think in Vista the change isn’t going to be as dramatic as other districts, because of our innovative approach,” he said.

“Almost all of our classes are comfortable in the Google Classroom environment. I think the struggle that we’ll have is making sure that all of the families have access to wideband internet connectivity.”

The district has more than enough mobile devices, such as iPads and computers, to supply each student with one, he said, and it has 600 mobile hot spots available for families without broadband access, he said.

The district plans to purchase 200 more hot spots and will work with Cox Communications to provide internet access to families that need it.

Some districts have come up other solutions to technology access.

Alpine Union School District set up free internet around its elementary school that anybody can use without a password. Lemon Grove School District is mailing hundreds of Chromebooks to students who need them for optional learning activities.

Even if every student gets technology access, however, it will still be difficult to ensure that every student is learning.

Fernando Hernandez, principal at Perkins Elementary School in Barrio Logan, said his biggest worry isn’t about technology or even whether his students are learning.

“We’re worried about their health more than anything else,” Hernandez said.

More than a third of Perkins’ approximately 460 students are homeless. Hernandez said he worries about students who live in nearby homeless tent camps or shelters, where social distancing is difficult.

Many of his homeless students don’t have computers or internet access. And it was hard to reach some families even before the pandemic arrived, he said. About half of Perkins families don’t have a working email address and some don’t have a working phone number on file.

Taryn Burden, a fifth-grade teacher at Perkins, said only two of her 31 students logged into Prodigy, a math website where she has asked students to do activities during the first week of school closures.

If Perkins does online school, Burden said she worries some students won’t have as much support at home to help them complete the same assignments as everyone else.

“I’m worried about the accountability,” Burden said. *Reposted article from the UT by Kristen Taketa and Deborah Sullivan Brennan of March 29, 2020

[andrewdburton]

A brief guide to cybersecurity basics

Last Monday, I got an email from Spotify saying that somebody in Brazil had logged into my account.

I checked. Sure enough: A stranger was using my Spotify to listen to Michael Jackson. I told Spotify to “sign me out everywhere” — but I didn't change my password.

On Wednesday, it happened again. At 2 a.m., I got another email from Spotify. This time, my sneaky Brazilian friend was listening to Prince. And they apparently liked the looks of one of my playlists (“Funk Is Its Own Reward”), because they'd been listening to that too.

I signed out everywhere again, and this time I changed my password. And I made a resolution.

You see, I've done a poor job of implementing modern online security measures. Yes, I have my critical financial accounts locked down with two-factor authentification, etc., but mostly I'm sloppy when it comes to cybersecurity.

For example, I re-use passwords. I still use passwords from thirty years ago for low-security situations (such as signing up for a wine club or a business loyalty program). And while I've begun creating strong (yet easy to remember) passwords for more important accounts, these passwords all follow a pattern and they're not randomized. Worst of all, I maintain a 20-year-old plain text document in which I store all of my sensitive personal information.

This is dumb. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.

I know it's dumb, but I've never bothered to make changes — until now. Now, for a variety of reasons, I feel like it's time for me to make my digital life a little more secure. I spent several hours over the weekend locking things down. Here's how.

A Brief Guide to Cybersecurity

Co-incidentally, the very same day that my Spotify account was being used to stream Prince's greatest hits in Brazil, a Reddit user named /u/ACheetoBandito posted a guide to cybersecurity in /r/fatFIRE. How convenient!

“Cybersecurity is a critical component of financial security, but rarely discussed in personal finance circles,” /u/ACheetoBandito wrote. “Note that cybersecurity practitioners disagree over best practices for personal cybersecurity. This is my perspective, as I have some expertise in the area.”

I won't reproduce the entire post here — you should definitely go read it, if this subject is important to you — but I will list the bullet-point summary along with some of my own thoughts. Our orange-fingered friend recommends that anyone concerned about cybersecurity take the following steps:

Get at least two hardware-based security keys. My pal Robert Farrington (from The College Investor) uses the YubiKey. Google offers its Titan Security Key. (I ordered the YubiKey 5c nano because of its minimal form factor.)

Set up a secret private email account. Your private email address should not be linked in any way to your public email, and the address should be given to no one. (I already have many public email accounts, but I didn't have a private address. I do now.)

Turn on Advanced Protection for both your public and private gmail accounts. Advanced Protection is a free security add-on from Google. Link this to the security keys you acquired in step one. (I haven't set this up because my security keys won't arrive until this afternoon.)

Set up a password manager. Which password manager you choose is up to you. The key is to pick one that you'll use. It's best if this app supports your new security keys for authentification. (I'll cover a few options in the next section of this article.)

Generate new passwords for all accounts. Manually create memorable passwords for your email addresses, your computers (and mobile devices), and for the password manager itself. All other passwords should be strong passwords generated randomly by the password manager.

Associate critical accounts with your new private email address. This will include financial accounts, such as your banks, brokerages, and credit cards. But it could include other accounts too. (I'll use my private email address for core services related to this website, for instance.)

Turn on added security measures for all accounts. Available features will vary from provider to provider, but generally speaking you should be able to activate two-factor authentification (with the security keys, whenever possible) and login alerts.

Turn on text/email alerts for financial accounts. You may also want to turn on alerts for changes to your credit score and/or credit report.

Activate security measures on your mobile devices. Your phone should be locked by a strong authorization measure. And each of your individual financial apps should be locked down with a password and any other possible security measures.

/u/ACheetoBandito recommends some additional, optional security measures. (And that entire Reddit discussion thread is filled with great security tips.)

You might want to freeze your credit (although, if you do, remember that you'll occasionally need to un-freeze your credit to make financial transactions). Some folks will want to encrypt their phones and hard drives. And if you're very concerned about security, purchase a cheap Chromebook and use this as the only device on which you perform financial transactions. (Believe it or not, I'm taking this last optional step. It makes sense to me — and it may be a chance for me to move beyond Quicken.)

Exploring the Best Password Managers

Okay, great! I've ordered a new $150 Chromebook and two hardware-based security keys. I've set up a brand-new, top-secret email address, which I'll connect to any account that needs added security. But I still haven't tackled the weakest point in the process: my text document filled with passwords.

Part of the problem is complacency. My system is simple and I like it. But another part of the problem is analysis paralysis. There are a lot of password managers out there, and I have no idea how to differentiate between them, to figure out which one is right for me and my needs.

For help, I asked my Facebook friends to list the best password managers. I downloaded and installed each of their suggestions, then I jotted down some initial impressions.

LastPass: 16 votes (2 from tech nerds) — LastPass was by far the most popular password manager among my Facebook friends. People love it. I installed it and poked around, and it seems…okay. The interface is a little clunky and the feature set seems adequate (but not robust). The app uses the easy-to-understand “vault” metaphor, which I like. LastPass is free (with premium options available for added cost).

1Password: 7 votes (4 from tech nerds) — This app has similar features to Bitwarden or LastPass. The interface is nice enough, and it seems to provide security alerts. 1Password costs $36/year.

Bitwarden: 4 votes (2 from tech nerds) — Bitwarden has a simple, easy-to-understand interface. It uses the same “vault” metaphor that products like LastPass and 1Password use. It's a strong contender to become the tool I use. Bitwarden is free. For $10 per year, you can add premium security features.

KeePass: 2 votes — KeePass is a free Open Source password manager. There are KeePass installs available for all major computer and mobile operating systems. If you're a Linux nut (or an Open Source advocate), this might be a good choice. I don't like its limited functionality and its terrible interface. KeePass is free.

Dashlane: 2 votes — Of all the password managers I looked at, Dashlane has the nicest interface and the most features. Like many of these tools, it uses the “vault” metaphor, but it allows you to store more things in this vault than other tools do. (You can store ID info — driver license, passport — for instance. There's also a spot to store receipts.) Dashlane has a free basic option but most folks will want the $60/year premium option. (There's also a $120/year option that includes credit monitoring and ID theft insurance.)

Blur: 1 vote — Blur is different than most password managers. It quite literally tries to blur your online identity. It prevents web browsers from tracking you, masks email addresses and credit cards and phone numbers, and (or course) manages passwords. I want some features that Blur doesn't have — and don't want some of the features it does have. Blur costs a minimum of $39/year but that price can become much higher.

Apple Keychain: 1 vote — Keychain has been Apple's built-in password manager since 1999. As such, it's freely available on Apple devices. Most Mac and iOS folks use Keychain without even realizing it. It's not really robust enough to do anything other than store passwords, so I didn't give it serious consideration. Keychain is free and comes installed on Apple products.

Let me be clear: I made only a cursory examination of these password managers. I didn't dive deep. If I tried to compare every feature of every password manager, I'd never choose. I'd get locked into analysis paralysis again. So, I gave each a quick once-over and made a decision based on gut and intuition.

Of these tools, two stood out: Bitwarden and Dashlane. Both sport nice interfaces and plenty of features. Both tools offer free versions, but I'd want to upgrade to a paid premium plan in order to gain access to two-factor authentification (using my new hardware security keys) and security monitoring. This is where Bitwarden has a big advantage. It's only $10 per year. To get the same features, Dashlane is $60/year.

But here's the thing.

I started actually using both of these tools at the same time, entering my website passwords one by one. I stopped after entering ten sites into each. It was clear that I vastly preferred using Dashlane to Bitwarden. It just works in a way that makes sense to me. (Your experience might be different.) So, for a little while at least, I'm going to use Dashlane as my password manager.

The Problem with Passwords

My primary motive for using a password manager is to get my sensitive information out of a plain text document and into something more secure. But I have a secondary motive: I want to improve the strength of my passwords.

When I started using the internet — back in the 1980s, before the advent of the World Wide Web — I didn't spare a thought for password strength. The first password I created (in 1989) was simply the name of my friend who let me use his computer to access the local Bulletin Board Systems. I used that password for years on everything from email accounts to bank sites. I still consider it my “low security” password for things that aren't critical.

I have maybe eight or ten passwords like this: short, simple passwords that I've used in dozens of locations. For the past five years, I've tried to move to unique passwords for each site, passwords that follow a pattern. While these are an improvement, they're still not great. Like I say, they follow a pattern. And while they contain letters, numbers, and symbols, they're all relatively short.

As you might expect, my sloppy password protocol has created something of a security nightmare. Here's a screenshot from the Google Password Checkup tool for one of my accounts.

I get similar results for all of my Google accounts. Yikes.

Plus, there's the problem of account sharing.

Kim and I share a Netflix account. And an Amazon account. And a Hulu account. And an iTunes account. In fact, we probably share twenty or thirty accounts. She and I use the same easy-to-remember password for all of these sign-ins. While none of these accounts are super sensitive, what we're doing is still a poor idea.

So, I want to begin moving toward more secure passwords — even for the accounts I share with Kim.

The good news is that most password managers — including Dashlane — will auto-generate randomized passwords for you. Or I could try something similar to the idea suggested in this XKCD comic:

The trouble, of course, is that each place has different requirements for passwords. Some require numbers. Some require symbols. Some say no symbols. And so on. I don't know of any sites that would let me use four random common words for a password!

For now, I'm going to take a three-pronged approach:

I'll manually create long (but memorable) passwords for my most critical accounts. This is the XKCD method.

For the accounts I share with Kim — Netflix, etcetera — I'll create new, memorable passwords that follow a pattern.

For everything else, I'll let my password manager generate random passwords.

This seems like a good balance between usability and security. Every password will be different. Only the ones I share with Kim will be short; all others will be long. And most of my new passwords will be random gibberish.

Final Thoughts on Cybersecurity

In this short video from Tech Insider, a former National Security Agency security expert shares his top five tips for protecting yourself online.

You'll note that these are similar to the Reddit cybersecurity guide I posted earlier in this article. Here are the steps he says to take to keep yourself safe:

Enable two-factor authentification whenever possible.

Don't use the same password everywhere.

Keep your operating system (and software) up to date.

Be careful with what you post to social media.

Do not share personal information unless you're certain you're dealing with a trusted company or person.

I won't pretend that the steps I'm taking will protect me completely. But my new system is certainly an upgrade from what I've been doing for the past 20+ years — which was, as I've mentioned, dumb dumb dumb.

And I have to confess: I like the idea of restricting my online financial life to one computer — the new $150 Chromebook. I'm not sure if this is actually doable, but I'm going to give it a go. If this works, then I may see if I can find a money-management tool that I like for the machine. Maybe then I can finally leave Quicken 2007 for Mac behind!

What have I missed? What steps have you taken to protect your online accounts? Which do you feel is the best password manager? How do you create memorable, secure passwords? How do you handle shared accounts? Help other GRS readers — and me! — develop better online security practices.

from Finance https://www.getrichslowly.org/cybersecurity-basics/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[mathematicianadda]

Educator Perspectives: Best Practices and Planning for Effective Implementations

This article features contributions from the MIND Success Team, which includes Danette Morse, Education Success Manager, and Huey Pham, Education Success Manager.

In each installment of our Educator Perspectives series, we interview teachers and administrators across the country who are engaging, motivating, and challenging their students in unique ways. We share their obstacles, successes, and strategies in order to build a community better prepared to mathematically equip all students.

Sonora Elementary School is a beautiful, single-story brick building in Springdale, Arkansas. Surrounded by grassy stretches of land and Sonora Middle School, Sonora Elementary was established in 2011 and serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

Dr. Regina Stewman has been the Principal at Sonora Elementary School since the doors opened. With over 29 years in education, Regina’s extensive experience spans state lines and leadership roles, like principal, assistant principal, third grade teacher, and kindergarten teacher.

Sonora Elementary School has used ST Math® since August 2015 and is now up to 31 classes registered with 610 active students. Dr. Stewman first discovered ST Math the way most of us are introduced to new things—through a friend.

“I heard about it from a peer in the district. I was intrigued that it was created by somebody who had dyslexia and didn’t want deficits in language or reading to hinder students from excelling in the content area of math. That piqued my interest because we were continually searching for strategies to serve our ESL population.”

Her peer, Dr. Anette Freeman at George Elementary, had tried ST Math and her teachers loved it for a number of reasons, including the way it helped students focus on math by removing language barriers. “At the time, our district was training teachers in Cognitively Guided Instruction. It [ST Math] really aligned with our curriculum, adding an additional scaffold allowing personalized instruction for each student to move at their own pace.”

Research shows that an early start with ST Math helps schools reach their math goals. Because of this and the success that Sonora Elementary School has had, Dr. Stewman shares her journey and best implementation practices to help other administrators start their year off strong with ST Math.

Do Things “With” Teachers, Not “To” Teachers

Preparation for ST Math looks different each year for Regina and her team. "I’m a big believer in—I can’t do things to the teachers. I need to do things with the teachers."

When Regina decided she wanted to implement ST Math, she shared her innovation with the assistant principal and teachers. “I said, ‘I want to do this, but I want to hear your insight.’ You want 80-85 % of your staff on board for something like this to be successful.”

Dr. Regina Stewman and her team moved forward—implementing ST Math with fidelity. From the beginning, Regina and her leadership team were very involved, ensuring that as they learned together, they remained on the same page and encouraged their teachers to embrace the program and implementation.

“I believe it’s the teachers, not a program, which makes a difference. I always tell them, they are the difference-makers with this program. It won’t work without them. They came to me and said, ‘We just thought this was another thing you were adding to our plates.’”

It’s the teachers that make a difference. They are the difference-makers. It won’t work without them.

At the end of the year, the teachers saw why Regina felt strongly about implementing ST Math. "They felt that it was good for students and positively impacted student learning. Bottom line, they came to me in the end and said, ‘We’re glad we did this.’"

Trust is Important

Trust is a significant factor in not only building a strong relationship with teachers, but also helping them believe in the mission. “There is always going to be a fine line between administrator and teacher. We do our best to build up trust and put it in place, but I believe there’s always going to be, ‘Am I going to be in trouble? This is my evaluator.’”

What helped was making her intentions and the intentions of her leadership team clear and unified. “Opening the building with staff that we (with Mrs. Hennarichs, assistant principal) had hand-picked allowed us to find individuals with similar philosophies. Then, we worked to build a school family with every decision based on what was best for our students. Everything we did was to help our school. Decisions were made with the interest of the students first—not based on what was easier for staff.”

There was a year in the beginning of ST Math where Regina had medical issues. Even during that difficult time, her team knew everything she did was done with the kids in mind, and what was best for them.

A unified message from the district level translates to what they do within the walls of Sonora Elementary School. A consistent message all the way down is critical.

“Our district saying is, ‘All means all.’ Whether they come from across the road or across the ocean. That comes from Dr. Jim Rollins, our Superintendent. We have kids from all over. We have a high Marshallese population. They’re all ours. No matter how far they traveled to get here.”

Identify and Empower Your ST Math Champions

To reinforce her involvement, in the first couple of years of ST Math, Regina reviewed the weekly reports and shared them with the whole faculty. She would point out trends and send helpful reminders, like delete (or make inactive) students from your roster as they move. Regina also celebrated wins.

I’d say, ‘Look at this celebration! Look at how much growth this grade has had this year.’

But she hasn’t continued with that method. In fact, she’s changed how she communicates these important best practices. “Year three, I noticed at each grade level there was a high-flying teacher. I decided instead of sending a weekly report to everyone and to build collective teacher efficacy, I would empower my teacher leaders to lead with their best practices. They are called the ST Math-ers. Each grade level (K-5) and one instructional facilitator are represented in this group.”

Once Regina identifies her ST Math Champions, she empowers them to lead their students and their peers. “Now when I get the weekly reports, I share it with my ST Math-ers.” She still notes trends, updates, or best practices that are timely and that she wants them to stay cognizant of each week.

I’m sharing it with a small group and I’m passing the leadership on to them.

Regina continued, “I’ll say, ‘at one of your team meetings this week, please share this with them [your team].’”

By sending her observations from the weekly ST Math report to leaders in her school, she's seen the leadership flourish. The requests and recommendations go straight to each team. Each team is competitive and wants their kids—their team to do well, so they actively work on improvement.

The weekly SPR report is also used to check-in on teacher readiness. If a teacher hasn't shown any starting activity, there is a process in place. The instructional facilitator will check in to see what they can do to help. “If they’re not implementing the program [ST Math], it is my responsibility to make sure they know how to successfully implement.”

Lead By Example

Regina isn't afraid to get involved and promote peer support. If she identifies a teacher who has areas of opportunity, she loops in her ST Math Champion, or what she calls the ST Math lead teacher in order to use them for support.

Regina has covered classes in order to allow a teacher to observe and watch what the lead teacher does in the classroom. This allows teachers to experience a streamlined ST Math session and come away with new processes or ways to optimize their classroom implementation.

Oftentimes, there are small changes that can be done in order to maximize implementation success with ST Math. “It’s usually little tweaks. It’s the monitoring of it. It may be them not knowing how to help when a student has a flag or a hurdle.”

Engage Students with ST Math Right Away

Regina builds time for ST Math into her teachers’ schedules. “I tell them, there’s no reason, even while you’re teaching rules and procedures to not engage students right away.”

“Outside of kindergarten, our first through fifth graders who have been with us, know the program works. I tell teachers to get them started on the very first week.”

With 610 students using ST Math, most of her students know and are familiar with the program. “For the most part, the kids know the process and the routine.”

The sooner we get kids in a routine, the better it is.

On the 7th day of school, teachers are already using ST Math. “The sooner we get kids in a routine, the better it is. If ST Math is part of your routine, and you’ve got 1:1 Chromebooks or iPads, there’s no reason kids can’t start their password training.”

Give Teachers the Right Tools

Once you get started with ST Math, it's time to keep the momentum going. Along with the encouragement, support, and open communication, Regina provides additional tools to get teachers started. She keeps a Google folder for teachers to access, filled with support documents like her expectations and ST Math resources, like the Getting Started link in ST Math Central or the Self-Guided Courses for anyone new to Sonora.

Among her documents are notes from MIND co-founder, Dr. Matthew Peterson. He once came to her district to speak and Regina was in attendance. “I took notes about his vision, why he did it, his experiences, and some tips. I typed it all up from a few years ago.”

Also documented are notes from what Regina has seen at other schools or pictures of how they’ve celebrated their achievements.

Create a JiJi Culture

Her school also rewards students for their hard work by creating a JiJi Culture. She ordered bulk quantities of stuffed animal penguins as rewards. When students reach 100% completion, they make a big deal about it by sending students to the office to collect their JiJi reward. Every nine weeks, she also gives out certificates.

Regina actively asks her teachers what they want to do to celebrate their student wins. “The teachers are invested now. They’re even doing grade level celebrations in their pods...ST Math is part of our culture now."

MIND would to thank Dr. Regina Stewman and Sonora Elementary School for sharing their wins, best practices, and methodologies with us!

from MIND Research Institute Blog https://ift.tt/2Nc3FvM from Blogger https://ift.tt/2Nc2ex8

[zipgrowth]

Teaching Coding to Kids: What Programming Language Should We Use?

One of the most common questions I get from teachers and parents is: What programming language should we use to teach kids to code? Is it important to always start with block-based languages like Scratch? At what age should they transition to text-based languages? And how do I choose between Python, Java or JavaScript?

Having taught coding for almost 10 years to hundreds of students, I often present at conferences or run workshops for teachers new to computer science. Many teachers are trying to build a CS program in their schools for the first time, and it’s understandable why they worry about which programming language to choose. In addition to trying to figure out what’s best for their students, teachers have to strike a balance between what they’re comfortable teaching, and what administrators, parents and students feel they should be learning.

So, is there one “right” coding language to start with?

The coding language is not important. The concepts of programming are!

As you can guess, the answer is: No! What is important is not the language, but how to teach students how to solve a problem with code. Understanding how to create an algorithm (step-by-step instructions) to tackle an assignment, and coming up with the best way to write this in code, is probably the hardest part.

Programming languages come and go—and you will adapt.

Learning the fairly small number of keywords and simple syntax of a specific programming language is easy—a lot easier than learning an actual, spoken human language! By contrast, in order to program independently, one must understand the underlying concepts in programming—variables, lists, conditionals, loops and functions, for example—and then know when, where and how to use them to convert your algorithm into code.

Once a student grasps these concepts and has programmed successfully in one language for some time, it is not that difficult to code in another language. Switching languages is not immediately easy, but it can be done.

However, does that first language change the way you think and code in the future? Is it important to learn the most popular language in industry today?

Programming languages come and go—and you will adapt.

The popularity of programming languages change, and there is no guarantee that what we teach our kids today will be used by the time they enter the job market. My first programming language was Pascal. (Yes, you probably have to look that up now.)

Over the years, I have learned to use different languages on different machines—some too obscure to be mentioned. Over the last 10 years as an educator, I have learned just enough Logo, Scratch, Processing, JavaScript, Arduino and Python to be able to use it as a teaching language in my classes.

Six years ago, I suggested that kids start with Logo, the earliest CS education language, and I still believe it remains a strong option available today. Here’s the most important part: If you can teach kids the basic concepts in programming, and they have spent enough time coding in one language, then they should have developed the fundamentals to switch languages later as needed.

There is another question that often comes up: Do we need to start all kids with block-based languages instead of text-based languages?

Block or text?

I started to use Scratch, perhaps the most popular and kid-friendly block-based language, in a digital design class for sixth graders almost 10 years ago, and I continue to love using it at all grade levels. I am excited to use the new features in Scratch 3.0 just released—especially the extensions to support text-to-speech, and language translation.

Block-based programming takes away so much of the frustration for young and early coders, such as missing a comma or forgetting to close a parenthesis, and leaves more time to focus on understanding concepts. In addition, Scratch’s focus on creativity and easy access to creating graphics, editing sound, sharing and remixing projects makes it a perfect first coding language for all ages. It is positioned as a tool to create art, animations, stories and games and not as a “coding” language, a branding that makes Scratch much more welcoming and less intimidating.

What is important is not the language, but how to teach students how to solve a problem with code.

I have found that after a few years of using Scratch, students want to try text-based coding because they associate it with “grown ups” and the “real” coding that is done in industry. I have also seen that sometimes just a change in language is needed to review concepts like variables and loops.

My middle-school students are willing to put in the extra effort it takes to learn text-based coding; often they slow down in order to be careful with their spelling and syntax as they tackle the challenge of programming in Python, JavaScript, Arduino and Processing. But once students can get past the initial “I have to really watch what I type” part, they often appreciate the flexibility and power of text-based coding, especially when they find how much easier it is to copy, paste, modify and collaborate on text code to create projects.

At the Foothill College KCI Computer Science Crash crash course that I teach each summer, I offer teachers both Scratch and Python and show the same project in both languages. They love seeing the parallels between the two types of languages, and even more if we first start with “pseudocode” or a flowchart—a way to write down the algorithm before writing any code. Here’s what a small project that involves checking a password looks like as a flowchart, in Scratch, and in Python.

Password checker flowchart diagramThe same password checker, in ScratchThe same password checker, in Python

Both teachers and students who had no exposure to block-based programming are easily able to learn Python in my classes, showing that with the right projects, starting with text-based language also works.

What makes any programming language a good language for teaching kids to code? Are there any criteria to help pick a language?

While it may be good to know that teaching coding is more about concepts, and that you do not need to stress about picking the perfect first language, the question remains: What should a language have that will make it a good choice for teaching kids to code? While programming languages are often evaluated in numbers of ways—on speed, applications, libraries available, industry support—here are some important criteria I consider.

Does it have a strong community of educators?

One of the reasons I always point to Scratch and Python is their access to a network of educators using these languages in their classrooms. They have such large communities behind them because they have always been free, open and welcome to a wide range of users from across the world. Having a large community means you can find more resources, such as projects, lesson plans, tutorials, videos and books dedicated to teaching the language in the classroom. It’s also likely that you can walk into an education conference and find a session giving you tips.

...teaching good programming habits trumps teaching a popular language.

Is it easy to pick up?

There are many text-based languages to choose from—some more popular today in the tech industry than others, some with specific features that make them good for creating a particular project. While many high-school students may have to ultimately learn Java for an AP Computer Science course, it is not necessarily the easiest language to start with. Python is by far easier and has been gaining popularity in education because it is so simple. After three years of using Python for a computer science elective class, I am constantly surprised at how little it takes to get something done, and how quickly my middle-school students learn to code in Python. Inspired by how well Python works in teaching coding to kids, I spent time writing a book about it.

What is the design philosophy behind it? Was it designed for this age group?

It is important to offer tools that are age-appropriate, and programming languages can hide or showcase features based on the target age group. Scratch, rooted in the philosophy of using code for creative expression, deliberately simplifies some constructs one may expect to see in a coding language. Scratch Jr. is designed for kids who are still learning to read, and has no variables or conditionals, which may be too confusing at their age. Python offers extensions to support many types of projects, but these are available as modules that have to be explicitly added, so you do not need to see them until they are needed. Languages for older students working on complex programs must have support for debugging, a fundamental skill. If teaching “object-oriented” programming is critical, then using Java is not a bad choice.

How easy is it to install, and does it run across platforms?

These are things to keep in mind, especially if it is important that students continue to code at home. Some only work in specific environments, like Apple’s Swift coding language. If students are working on Chromebooks, then having a stable, browser-based tool is critical. Another thing to consider: Is the language really available for free so every student can use it at home, or are there hidden extensions only available for a fee?

How easy is it to share projects with the community?

One of the fundamental ideas behind Scratch has been the community, and letting kids share and learn from each other. That community is also useful for teachers as well. However, sharing also requires planning: when and how much you want students to share, comment, reuse and repurpose others’ projects. While JavaScript may be frowned upon as a first text-based language to learn and is not as easy as Python, it does have the advantage that it just runs on the web. Showcasing projects is as simple as posting them on a school web server.

There are many other considerations when choosing a language. What kind of projects are possible? Different languages have supports and extensions for different types of projects; for example, Processing and P5.js make it easier to do media projects and create art and animations. Python makes writing complex data analysis and even machine-learning projects possible. Teachers may also want strong classroom tools to manage assignments and grading, especially for group projects.

One of the most common questions is: “Is this language popular today?” Popularity can certainly shape the choice of programming language to encourage students to sign up for a class. It’s understandable that parents want educators to teach what is marketable for jobs. However, teaching good programming habits trumps teaching a popular language.

While we can stress about finding the “perfect” programming language to start, let us not forget that the ultimate goal is to let students explore fundamental programming concepts. They may never choose to program after your class, and the language you teach may become obsolete as they get older. What is important is that teaching coding will help students understand how computers solve problems, acquire critical thinking skills—and hopefully learn just how much fun it is to make stuff with code.

Teaching Coding to Kids: What Programming Language Should We Use? published first on https://medium.com/@GetNewDLBusiness

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One-Click Access for All

A technology integration specialist recounts how her district tamed the chaos of a digital learning environment serving thousands of students, teachers, and administrators.

By Jennifer Cleven

Like many districts, Central Kitsap School District (CKSD) began to adopt a number of digital curricula (and supplements) around 2010. We had access to approximately 10 digital resources that required rostering, and most of these were not in regular use. Teachers did not have time to update their class rosters as new students came and went, were often overwhelmed by the multiple steps required for student access, and often found that most of computer lab time was spent trying to sign in rather than use the resource.

Over the next few years, we began to adopt more robust digital resources—not just optional supplements, but ones that required daily use by both staff and students in order to implement the adoptions with fidelity. Our challenges included:

Managing access, handling password reset requests, creation/maintenance of multiple.csv files: The daily needs of 11,000 students, 750 teachers, and 1,800 staff across 19 schools had become more than we could manage efficiently. We were moving towards a K–12 1:1 Chromebook and blended-learning environment, so we needed a single product to help us manage and roster the hundreds of apps and websites that were in use across the district.

Providing equitable access to resources: We needed to make sure that all students were able to access their resources easily and efficiently. It didn’t matter how “techy” someone’s teacher was, or whether a school spent more time developing its website. We wanted every student to have the same opportunity for access to digital resources, regardless of grade level or school.

Maximizing time available for teaching and learning: We did not want teachers to lose instruction time troubleshooting tech and remembering which credentials to use with which curricula, so we had to find a way to get our students and staff connected to their online resources reliably and efficiently.

Mirroring an online environment that our students and staff were already comfortable using: With the understanding that our students are digital natives, we needed to present resources in a user-interface that was intuitive and took advantage of the users’ current understanding of apps and file management. Even our more tech-challenged staff members were growing comfortable with smartphones and tablets, so we theorized that using an app-based platform might bridge the gap.

Ease of access outside of the district: We were also hearing from parents that we had so many resources in different places that they couldn’t keep track of where to go to support their children with schoolwork. It was especially difficult for parents with children in multiple grades in multiple schools—each school and teacher was doing things a little differently, and this translated to frustration at home.

To address these challenges, our IT/Curriculum team searched for a simpler way to deploy and manage our growing number of applications while providing 24/7 access for students and teachers. We tried School Messenger Passport, and found that we needed a more streamlined single sign-on solution that would provide easy access for staff and students, while also leveraging the use of open data standards for rostering. We ultimately selected ClassLink for its use of IMS Global OneRoster® LTI for single sign-on and OneRoster® standard for Roster Server.

Getting Technology (and People) Talking to Each Other Since we launched our new portal in June 2017, everyone at CKSD has had one-click access to all of their resources. Whether it’s a PD calendar for staff, a list of closed days, surveys, or app notifications, we host all of our digital resources in one place. Although every grade level uses the portal, the younger students see the most significant impact. They can log in to their resources independently, giving teachers more time to focus on teaching.

Being able to put a single link to ClassLink on our district website has enabled parents to quickly find our district-specific landing page, and have their child sign in with them. The students see the same thing at home that they see at school, and parents know that they only need to go to one place to help their child. We’ve created video tutorials and hosted Family Tech Nights to continue to spread the word about the portal.

The IT team now gets fewer questions about lost logins or requests to help users hunt for resources. Our rostering process is now only a handful of steps, rather than dozens, saving our engineers considerable time. And maybe most importantly, all of our systems now “talk” to each other—and so do our people.

As a technology integration specialist in our district’s Curriculum department, my position includes being a liaison between the Curriculum and IT departments. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this: if a district wants any digital adoption to be successful, it is critical that their Curriculum and IT departments work together.

We continue to work on our communication, because it is essential that our staff and registrars understand the concept of “good data in, good data out,” and how heavily we rely on information in our SIS. At the same time, my own personal communication has been streamlined. When I used to send email updates about the availability of resources at the start of the year, I’d get 500 replies. Now I can post updates, be intentional with who those are visible to, and include links to instructions, videos, and other resources that answer the questions that used to come in those 500 emails.

How the Digital Resource Portal Protects Student Privacy Our most recent launch, the CKSD Digital Resource Portal, has helped us to become more pro-active in protecting student data and privacy. With 15,000 Chromebooks now deployed as part of our K–12 1:1 environment, more administrators, teachers, parents, and community members are asking questions about the digital resources that our students are accessing on a daily basis. As a district, we realized it was critical to develop a digital resources approval process and provide teachers with a single portal where they could:

search for district-approved digital resources;

browse resources by collection;

view parental consent requirements;

read privacy/data/terms policies;

view pending or not approved apps; and

submit their own digital resource requests.

The Digital Resource Portal has generated invaluable conversations with staff regarding the importance of protecting student data and privacy. As with any new process, we are continuing to iterate and streamline.

Next Steps These days, our IT and Curriculum departments are managing access to more than 40 digital resources and 260 apps with ease. To continue building this interconnected digital learning environment, we’re doing what we can to convince more digital curriculum publishers to accept open data standards. As they expand their adoptions of OneRoster and IMS Global standards, we will be able to update those resources in the CKSD OneRoster console.

Our Digital Resource Portal will also always be a “work in progress” as privacy policies, data agreements, and terms of service are updated throughout the year. We hope to next explore the Parent Portal resource to see what features our families may find helpful as they support their children’s digital learning.

Jennifer Cleven is a technology integration specialist at Central Kitsap School District in Washington. She can be reached at JenniferC@ckschools.org.

The post One-Click Access for All appeared first on The Edvocate.

One-Click Access for All published first on https://sapsnkra.tumblr.com

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Make 2019 The Year You Start Your Law Firm: A Buyer’s Guide To Essentials & Optionals For Lawyers Starting Out Lean

When I started my law firm back in the dark ages, a desktop computer and laser printer, telephone (remember what that is?) and Word or Word Perfect (for generating documents) were indispensable tools, along with business cards and a couple of legal pads. Laptops were still really expensive and still a bit of a luxury though without one, I was confined to working in my damp, dark basement where our home computer was located, without any confidence that I’d ever get my firm off the ground.  Fortunately, my husband believed in me before I believed in myself – and bought me the $1500 laptop  that took me out of my basement and into the world. With the laptop, I could work from the Library of Congress or one of the cubbyholes in my virtual office where I met other attorneys and a year later, I was on my way with enough clients to afford a full-time space where I’d spend the next decade.

That laptop wasn’t really a “must-have” purchase – I probably could have plodded along, making due on the desktop in the basement until I found clients who paid the bills. But in retrospect, it turned out to be a game-changer if only because it served as a constant reminder of my husband’s faith in me.  Likewise, many of the tools included in the guide listed below, while eminently practical aren’t indispensable to starting your firm. But they’re nice to have and could, like my laptop, propel you in a direction that you never expected or simply make your life a whole lot easier – especially if you’re starting out from home or a part-time co-working space.  So, if you plan to make 2019 the year to start your law firm (you can view the replay of last week’s webinar here), consider putting some of these items on your gift wish list.

Disclosure: all links to Amazon products are affiliate links; other links are not.

Chromebook

As I wrote here, I’m a big fan of the Chromebook, which is a machine designed to be used primarily while connected to the Internet, with most applications and documents living in the cloud. But in contrast to iPads and tablets which are similarly Internet-dependent, Chromebooks have a full screen and keyboard so they’re more functional plus they cost a lot less. If you work from home or out of coffee shops or travel a lot, a Chromebook is a dependable work companion.

I purchased this Acer Chromebook  a couple of years back when I traveled out of the country and still take it with me instead of my laptop on short trips. But if you’re looking for something even lower in price, check out the Dell Chromebook  or Samsung Chromebook which are both under $170.

  Printers

As law practice becomes digitized, many attorneys no longer have much need for a printer. In my practice, although I have access to a common printer located in the common area of my space, I prefer to keep a small printer in my private office for smaller jobs.  I use something similar to the HP Laser Jet Pro , though if you anticipate having to make color copies, you might consider the HP Laser Jet Pro .  For large projects like briefs, I outsource production.

There are also several types of special-use printers for different purposes that are as useful or more so than a conventional printer. The portable HP Sprocket  will print tiny photos on the go, while the Canon Pixma  works for mobile printing. Finally, many lawyers swear by the Dymo Label Printer for everything from file and mailing labels to printing postage.

  Scanners & Shredders

As recently as three years ago, a workhorse scanner was an integral component of a paperless practice. Not so much anymore — at least for a national or federal court-based practice like mine where most of the documents that I receive from clients or the court are already in electronic format. Still,  for many other types of practices, lawyers still deal largely in paper and therefore need a powerful scanner to digitize paper as soon as it comes through the door. The Fujitsu iX 500 SnapScanner  has long been the gold standard for lawyers – and in fact, it’s the version that I used for almost a decade until I no longer had a need for a scanner. Of course, there are other of scanners — some reviewed here that are less expensive. Still, if you’re going to be doing a lot of scanning, the Fujitsu is the way to go.

For occasional scanning or scanning on the road, you can use your phone (I use the Genius Scan app on my iPhone) or an inexpensive portable scanner like the Brother Mobile 620  which is $79.

What to do after you scan paper copies? Check to see if your malpractice policy or retainer agreement requires you to retain originals. If not, then send those copies through the shredder .

  AI and Voice Assistants

If I were starting out today, I would purchase an AI or Voice Assistant like the Amazon Echo or Google Assistant and incorporate both tools into my practice and workflow from the get-go. Why? Because sooner than we realize, most consumers will come to depend on AI-powered bots and Alexa and Siri and similar tools to help them make decisions about what products to purchase and even what lawyers to hire . In order to understand how consumers will use these tools in the future, it’s critical to get out in front and use those tools yourself.  And there’s no better way to get a head start than by incorporating tomorrow’s tools into your practice today.

Right now, the Amazon Echo (which I use at home) holds the lead for legal business integrations, synching with some practice management platforms for time tracking and performing other business tasks .  That said, be aware of stories like this one that raise concerns about confidentiality of AI assistants.  As confidentiality issues sort out, tread cautiously, but that’s no reason to avoid AI assistants. Instead, employ them to operate appliances, create Flash Briefings for clients (like legal marketer Nancy Myrland ) or just listen to music or audio books to the work environment a little more pleasant.

  Security Camera

Sometimes, online security breaches originate offline – either through employees using a computer that doesn’t belong to them or cleaning crews rifling through your desk after-hours in search of passwords or financial data.   The Amazon Security Cam – which works with Alexa – lets you keep an eye on what’s going on even when you’re not around.

  Standing Desks

For sedentary lawyers who spend much of the workday sitting, standing desks offer real health benefits.  If you have your own office or unlimited space, you can purchase a desk that can adjust to standing height – there are many options  though some can be costly.  Still, you can experiment with a standing desk with less commitment by choosing an elevated desk that mounts on top of your existing desk.  One such option is the Innovadesk which sits atop your existing desk, and convert it into a standing desk. The Innovadesk is large enough to support dual monitors. Another option is the Standing Desk Elite – it will hold only one monitor but no assembly is required.

  Laptop Stands

If you work in a part-time co-working space (as opposed to one where you have a full-time office or dedicated desk), chances are that you are working off a laptop and sitting at a desk that you can’t adjust to suit your comfort. That’s where a laptop stand comes in to play: you can adjust the height to make it more comfortable – or, play around with the angle for a more flattering view if you’re participating in a video call or broadcasting a Facebook live. Two of the stands that I see most commonly in the office where I work are the Lamicall Laptop Riser  and the Macally Laptop Stand  for Macs. If you work on the go or at a virtual office or co-working facility where you don���t have a dedicated space, this foldable laptop stand  is fully portable so you can take it along on the go.

On the Go

Back when I split my time between a part-time virtual office and home office, I remember how difficult it was to always be on the go. I didn’t have a car back then nor did Uber or rideshare services exist – so I’d cram my laptop, dress shoes and lunch into my briefcase (if they fit) or an old backpack and lugged it all downtown on the metro. These days, I have a space to call home, but starting out, that may not be true for you – and these suggestions can make a nomadic professional life — bouncing from spot to spot each day — a little easier.

First, though briefcases are nice, they weren’t intended to carry the kitchen sink. Instead, invest in a rolling laptop or trial bag that you can use for court but also just to haul your belongings. This Perry Ellis laptop bag seems spacious, as does this Samsonite Wheeled Catalogue Case  – and both will allow you to carry your office along with you with ease.

Another lifesaver that I always have on hand no matter where I go is the humble power strip . For a  tiny investment , you can ensure that your computer and phone are always connected – while connecting with others around you.  For the same reason, I also like having a powerful charger along with me which I can share with others when their batteries run low. Although the  MyCharge Hub  can be a bit fragile (I’ve had the plug break off or the USB connector snap on past models), I’m still a fan because of its long lasting and reliable charge.

Podcasting and Instagram

Back when I started out, lawyers marketed through websites and later blogs.  I launched my website in 1996, well ahead of the wave, and kept out in front with my blog. Today, podcasts are growing in popularity  as too is video.  Lawyers starting a firm today should be poised to leap on these trends as I did back in the day.  And one way to do that is to be prepared by having the equipment you need a podcast or video at your fingertips.  Fortunately, neither podcasting nor video casting (or v-logging) requires much in the way of investment. Good quality sound is necessary for a podcast or video – I like my easy to use Snowball mic  (I used it for webinars) but the gold standard is the Blue Yeti .

In addition to good sound, video also requires a well-lit room (nothing less professional than looking like a lawyer from the Blair Witch Project ).  Reasonably priced lighting options include Limo Studio – both affordable and easy to set up and break down.

To record a video, you may not want to be tied to your desk. A phone works better – most phones have great resolution and you can use your phone’s headset to improve the sound quality. Another benefit of video recording on your phone is that you can move to a better lit location if you haven’t purchased lights – and also sit, stand, walk or assume whatever position makes you feel most comfortable. To do that, you’ll need to set your phone up on a tripod or use a selfie stick: the Youzon selfie stick and tripod  will work for desk top filming; if you need a taller tripod, check out the  Flexible Tripod and Selfie Stick for Vlog and Videos.

  Home Office Necessities

Working from home – particularly if you live in a small house with kids or pets – can prove challenging without a dedicated space for a home office.  From all those years working from home, I discovered that the situation was manageable so long as I could establish a personal space for myself (even if it was just by putting a couple of bookcases around a desk and maintain sufficient storage to contain my work and hide it away when I was done for the day. Because my firm expanded over time, it was also important to have flexible and affordable furniture that could be added on and later, put away in storage or repurposed if I moved back to a full-time office outside the house.  Here are some of the products that I found useful:

Folding Bookcases  Bookcases like this Easy Assembly Bookcase or these ladder bookcases  were a lifesaver – quick to set up on my own and ensuring that I always had enough storage space without having to stack milk crates like a college kid.

Ottomans  Ottomans also offered a great way to contain larger messes – like stacks of paper exhibits or 3000-pages of appellate records before e-filing was a thing. The Beleze Tufted Gray Ottoman  and Avalon Rectangular Faux Leather Ottoman are affordable and functional, providing storage space that can be pushed up against a wall – and double as a bench where the kids to hang out. If you tend to work closer to the family room or on the couch, you can stow your laptop and belongings in something like the Burlington Leather Ottoman .

Room Dividers  I always found that room dividers came in handy to both stake out my territory and hide my mess from guests. I used fairly generic screen dividers like these which worked fine though they were a bit flimsy.  Looking around Amazon, I found the Diamond Room Dividers  which look sturdier and more functional because they have built-in mini-shelves, and also these Chalkboard Dividers  where you could jot down notes or let your kids decorate while you’re working.

  Printer Stand and Storage  You may not have much real-estate on your home-office desk if you’re using one of the stand-up desktop options mentioned earlier, or if a small desk was your only option. A printer stand and cabinet like the Little Tree Printer Stand and Storage  will help preserve that precious desk real estate and also keep supplies and paper away from little hands.

Are there any office products that you’d like us to include on the list based on your experience? Please post a link in the comments and share your recommendations. And there’s more to come…tomorrow stay tuned for the eclectic list of book recommendations to teach and inspire you on your journey to making 2019 the year that you start your law firm.

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