I was recently asked to make my classroom wishlist…

tablets for each student in my class (Toshiba Thrives or iPad)

laptop computers instead of these larger towers that have wires EVERYWHERE

mobile computer carts so we can have class outside if we like (hence the need for tablets and laptops)

GOOD video camera and digital camera

Green Screen

Restore Software (software that restores computers after each student logs off)

These were just a few of the items on my list.  What else would you think would be cool to have in a computer classroom?

I have tried about 5 different barcode scanner apps, and none seem to work correctly on my phone and/or the barcodes I’m trying to scan. I have a Samsung Galaxy. I am trying to participate in a reward site that rewards you for scanning barcodes while shopping. My phone should do this. I use one app for entering contests in a magazine I read, but can’t get this to work. Any ideas for a free and reliable scanner for my Android phone? Suggestions are appreciated! I’d really like to earn these rewards.

After posting a couple times how I am now converting my pdf files to Microsoft Word files, I’ve gotten emails from a few readers asking what pdf to word converter I’m using.

I am usually a big fan of free software, but this time I am using one that I have been loyal to for years and do think it behaves better than any free programs I’ve tried that are supposed to be similar, but Adobe is still my favorite program for pdf files. Whether you are creating or converting, I find Adobe to be so instinctive and to do such a good job.

My favorite of the free programs (as far as ease), put a logo on the documents. I don’t want all my files to have a logo on them. Others I’ve tried are not as instinctive or do not have as many features that I have come to really appreciate.

Do you work with pdf files? Which program do you find to be your favorite?

I had all these pdf files saved from over the years, but I haven’t taken advantage of them a lot of times because I didn’t like everything on them.  Since learning that converting pdf to word documents was as easy as it was, I have spent a lot of time doing just that so that I can begin using the portions of those pdf files that I think will be useful and then deleting the old pdf files that are not useful overall? I’m using this a lot with educational files that I’ve saved to my computers so this might be a skill that would be useful to homeschooling parents as well, maybe more so.

I also have some handbooks that the process isn’t exactly the same anymore so  it would be nice to just change out the sections that work differently with software upgrades and still use the files in my classes.

If you are looking to know how to convert your files, I’ll write up a set of directions soon.  I can’t believe how easy it is.

I’ve been trying to teach myself more about the adobe products. I started with making basic PDF documents.  I now want to add documents to my website and make sure that people search pdf documents when they search online. I have a lot of lesson plans created in pdf, and I am thinking of putting them online for others to use, but I want to make sure that the information is searchable so that those that can use it can actually find it. My question – does this happen automatically or do I need to do some special formatting to my pdf documents to make them searchable.  I know that I can search the actual document on my computer for certain words, but I’m more concerned with sharing information online. I’m a firm believer in learning something new every day. I might not really learn something every single day, but I do try to continue learning as often as possible, and this is my goal to learn today.

Do you know the answer? Help me out.