iFrame code generator

Here is a great time saver. Rather that use the Google gadget to insert a frame into your blog or site, use a iframe code generator. Below is the one I find the best, but there are lots.
http://7thspace.com/webmaster_tools/iframe_generator.html

Goo.gl - Google URL Shortener

One often needs to send a link URL and those using Google Sites will know how long sub-page URL's can become. This is Google's version of TinyURL. What is nice is that it shows a list of the shortened URL's that you have created.

Goo.gl

Free design software for students and teachers from Autodesk

Autodesk offers free, fully functional software to teachers and students. At first I could not believe it since all the big CAD software companies make it difficult to use their products because of costs and licencing issues, but I tried it and it true. 

You obviously have to register and they obviously keep track of the free licences they hand out, but at least it is possible to use their products without having to struggle with licencing issues. That is if your students have their own laptops. If you rely on institutional computer labs, though!

Archiving your Google Site

I use Google sites for teaching purposes but when it comes around to accreditation time the Luddites want printed evidence or a CD (at a push)

Here's the steps I follow to have an archived copy of a subject website.

Step 1: Electronic Archive
I don't include the year and semester in the current website, for example:
https://sites.google.com/site/eee400sautomaticcontrol/

To create an electronic archive, I copy the whole subject website (under MORE>Manage Site>General)
and rename it to only the subject code and the year and semester
https://sites.google.com/site/eee400s2012sem2/

The site without the year and semester is then what I use for the new semester and go through the copying process again at the end of the current semester. Any updates and changes is retained and the current website is then also the one that has all the newest stuff.

NOTE: the default settings is for the copied site to be closed, change that to Public on the Web. It makes the next step easier.

That is my electronics archived copy for record keeping purposes. It sits there at Google and you can forget about it. Here is a screen clip of what My Sites look like after copying

My Google Sites after copying the site

NOTE: Keep the browser tab with the copied (in Google) website open, you will need it a little later.

Step 2: Local Copy of complete website
a) Download and install the open source website copier from http://www.httrack.com

b) Create a local directory where you would like to save the local copy of the website. I find it best to make a directory called "Website" . It needs to be in it's own directory (Why, later..) The HTTrack creates subdirectories.

c) Launch HTTrack Website copier and open a new project

New HTTrack project

Add the information requested, click the BROWSE button next to the Base Path box.

Browse to the directory that you created to save the website to

Once you have found the directory, click OK , and then NEXT

Now you need to specify two things, 
one, you want to copy the WHOLE website, and
two, the URL of the site that you would like to copy.

To get the URL, go back to the browser tab with the copied (in Google) website and copy the URL from the browser address bar.

Copied (in Google) website browser tab with URL

Go back to HTTrack and paste that URL in the URL box

Insert the URL of the website you would like to copy

Click Next, the next window appears

Here you can click FINISH, and HTTrack with starts doing it's magic, and when it's complete this dialog box appears,

HTTrack Finished dialog box

The error log button will probably be flashing, click on it just to see if there are any serious errors.  

NOTE: If there are serious errors that results in the website not being copied, it takes just as much time as when the website is copied completely, so do not use the time it takes and assume the website has been copied.

NOTE: If you did not make the website public, HTTrack will not be able to copy it and that will result in a serious error.

Now you can go back to Windows Explorer and navigate to the directory where you asked the website to be saved

Mine looked like this

To open the copied website, just double click the index.html file.

NOTE: Not all the website contents are in the sub-folders, some are in the main Website folder, that is why it was necessary to create the Website directory so that these files, like index.html does not get lost in and amongst a bunch of other files.

And there you have it, a local copy of you Google site, that is fully operational with links and all. Even if you have Adsense ads on your subject site, they will also be copied!

Google domain ownership verification & Free website hosting

This post is to help those who want to map a custom domain to their Google site and run into problems when Google want to very the domain ownership.
I am not going to go into details on the domain registration process, Google site creation, etc in this blog but concentrate on the custom domain mapping.

I registered a domain, www.epi.org.za

created a CNAME listing using http://freedns.afraid.org

which I then wanted to point toward the Google site that I created for at https://sites.google.com/site/epandicentre/

Seemed simple enough, I had done it before, but Google brought in a  new domain verification process and that is where I ran into a dead end, or so it seems. They did promise that the new process is simpler.

The solution was obvious once I realised that a DNS record can have more that one entry.

Therefore two DNS entries for the same domain will be needed:

1. CNAME:   ghs.google.com
this entry lets the world find your website

2. TXT: google-site-verification=eST......

This entry is for the Google Site Ownership verification

So for those that want to create a free website with a custom URL, I would recommend:

1. Domain registration: For .ZA domains work direct through the .co.za authorities (http://co.za  or http://http://org.za/) The cost involved is R75/year (R171 once off for a .org) and the process is simple. Download a text file, add information and then email that text file. If all goes well it takes about 20min, mostly spent typing details like address, phone numbers, etc) Payment is automated by credit card. 

2. DNS Hosting: You don't have to pay a ISP for hosting your DNS, just create an account at http://freedns.afraid.org/ Their website is easy to navigate and purely functional. You will make some mistakes especially if your DNS knowledge is as basic as mine, but they are easy to fix. You can even delete and start again. With a little bit of reading, a couple of missteps, you will get it right.

3. Site hosting: Google sites offer an the best free hosting option. Sure, you can get more slick templates from any of the free hosts, but there is always a catch. Ads and banners, bandwidth charges, limited storage, etc, etc, Google sites also has it's limitations but the support and user forums make up for that.

Free stuff for Educators from Microsoft

Why I don't like Alberto Contador

An aspect I admire about the Tour de France is the respect and sportsmanship between the riders. Riders obey many unwritten rules for the sake of sportsmanship. 

One of these rules is that you do not attack when or if the Yellow jersey has a problem.

In 2010, Contador took advantage of Andy Schleck's mechanical problem on the climb.

In 2013, Contador thanked the Team Movistar riders for not waiting after he caused Froome to go off the road. 

EN - Summary - Stage 16 (Vaison-la-Romaine > Gap) by tourdefrance

Sorry, Alberto, you might be an excellent cyclist, but you are terrible sportsman ! 

PS: When you are finished with cycling, you should join the Australian cricket team.

Die Avond Etappe - The best Tour de France Insights and Commetary

If you are lucky enough to have DSTV and follow the Tour de France, then the best commentary and insights are to be found on DSTV  Channel  431 - BVN

It is in Dutch, but with a working knowledge of Afrikaans you should be able to follow.

They do use some strange words, like "ploeg" for "team" but you quickly pick it up. in any case, most of the Dutch cycling terminology is borrowed from French, for example they would use "etappe" for "stage"

The have very knowledgeable studio guests, ex and present riders, ex and present team leaders. Listing to them even highlights how uninformed Paul and Phil are.

It also comes on late at night when there are no contests for the remote, else use the PVR.

Look like a computer whizz, Run Commands

If you want to look like a computer whizz, try remember these.

To get the Run box quickly,
Press Windows Key + R

Then type any of these commands.

appwiz.cpl	:--Add or Remove Program
cmd	:--:Command Prompt
control admintools	:--Administrative Tools
calc	:--Calculator
charmap	:--Character Map
compmgmt.msc	:--Computer Management
control	:--Control Panel
desk.cpl	:--Display Properties
explorer	:--Windows Explorer
msconfig	:--System Configuration Utility
msinfo32	:--System Configuration
ncpa.cpl	:--Network Connections
netsetup.cpl	:--Network Set Up Wizard
notepad	:--Notepad
perfmon.msc /perfmon	:--Performance Monitor
powercfg.cpl	:--Power Option Properties
regedit	:--Registry Editor
shutdown	:--Shutdown
sysedit	:--System Configuration Editor
sysdm.cpl	:--System Properties
taskmgr	:--Task Manager
utilman	:--Utility Manager
write	:--Wordpad

.

Changing Math Teaching

The SOLE Challenge

Google Sites Training

Bloom's Taxonomy in the Digital Age

http://www.schrockguide.net/bloomin-apps.html

Graphic Design

One of my interests is in graphic design and typography. A couple of times I have needed to design a logo and always found it rewarding but incredibly hard. Anyone thinking they can do it, should try.

Here are some of my attempts at logo design:

CPUT Mechatronics 

I was looking for something that would show some constituent disciplines of Mechatronics. Hence the electrical "Power" icon, then the fluid power icon (symbol used in pneumatic diagrams)  and the the last to represent actuators (either a pneumatic cylinder or an electric motor). The colors were prompted by the Festo blue and the brown being the complementary of the blue.

I wanted a logo that could work on any color or monochrome suitable for all applications from t-shirt embroidery to laser printed letterheads.

EPIcentre

                         

The main idea of the EPIcentre is that it is trying to do things differently, so I attempted to come up with a logo that is in juxtaposition with everything else in the vicinity. One of my all time favorite logos is that of  EATON. It was probably the first time I noticed that logos were actually designed and not just pictures. Since then I have always been looking to use negative space in a logo.

I also like European, especially Dutch, graphic design and was inspired by the simplicity of the logo for the Eindhoven Brainport. 

The colors was also chosen for contrast, to symbolise the EPIcentre's contrast to it's surroundings.

WCMTech

My latest effort was for WCM Technology. I still don't know if I like it! 

I once saw a website with logos with hidden things like the arrow in the FEDEX logo. The W and M is also letter that are reflected which I tried to take advantage of.

The segments are suggestive of LED or LCD displays. I was reminded of my old HP41C calculator LCD alphanumeric display (with 16 bits per digit!), which then evolved to this.

I have no idea why I chose the colors!

PS: All of these was done using MsWord Draw ! 

Google Sites

I created this with Google sites using a template from ArcTemplates

Google sites may not offer the slickest templates, or the best HTML editor, etc but it is still the most reliable and free-ist hosting available. All the other "free" website hosts have some catch in the small print so I cannot recommend Google sites more. Especially for non-commercial applications.

Examples of some more Google sites can be found here:

https://sites.google.com/site/resourcesforsites/home/example-sites-developed-using-sites

https://sites.google.com/site/learningwithlucie/cssu-workshops/google-sites/google-sites-example-list

Free Moodle Hosting

1. FreeMoodle.org

The purpose of FreeMoodle.org is at once ambitious, and very simple.  In essence it is:

To provide educators and learners opportunities to change the world for the better through access to free education using Moodle

From New Zealand

2. Freehostia

General Web hosting service in California.  Only 250Mbyte storage and 1GByte traffic

Windows 8: Advanced System Care

I have tried various system maintenance utilities in the past and have, at best, been disappointed and at worst, had to re-install the OS.

I recently had a problem with my laptop that it slowed down to a crawl. Being as impatient as I am, I immediately went shopping for a new whizz-bang laptop. This was something, because until now I have been a disciple for cheap refurbished laptops since, in my mind, a laptop is a disposable item. It makes no sense wasting money on super spec laptop if the thing is going to get stolen, dropped, coffee stained, etc sooner rather than later.

But I found my laptop had pretty good spec as it is. Only problem was only 2Gb RAM.

CNet recommended free Advanced System Care. 

I tried it and it works with no problems (so far). My PC sped up noticeably with no adverse effects such as browser toolbars, adware, registry errors, etc.  An unexpected benefit was that Advanced System Care offered a simple way to get to all the Windows settings that Microsoft hides from the average user.

For example, Advanced System Care allowed me to customize the Windows right click "Send To" option. Cool !

I am even considering paying for the upgrade !

Try it.

First Post

This is my first blog!