Category Archives: Make Tech Easier

Aleks and iPads: The Fall 2019 edition

IOS 13 and Aleks have made some changes. If you are unable to get your Aleks work done on your iPad, try switching the version that your iPad is using – Mobile vs. Desktop.

Covered first: Safari, then Chrome, then Firefox.

SAFARI

  1. Call up Aleks website and login.
  2. Click on the little aA icon, to the left of the web address at the top of the window

3. Select “Request Mobile Site” or “Request Desktop Site”.

4. The page will reload. Test it to see if you can get your work done.

Switch Back to Mobile Site After Switching to Desktop Version on iPhone and iPad in Safari
Another View of how to switch which version of the site you want to use

Other ways in Safari:

There are two other ways to get to the “Request Desktop Site” selection:

  1. Touch and hold the REFRESH button at the top
  2. Tap on the SHARE icon [looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing OUT of it]

Setting to request Desktop site from ALL websites, or not

  1. Settings –> Safari–> REquest Desktop Website [it is in the “SETTINGS FOR WEBSITES” section
  2. Set the slider as you wish – green = Desktop sites will be requested.

CHROME



Click the three dots at the bottom of the webpage.

FIREFOX

Click the three dots at the top of the window and “Request Desktop Site”

Organize your Drive Life

Why?

Because it makes your life easier, your stuff easier to find, saves you time, saves you stress and headaches…. do I really need to go on?

How?

Create new folders by clicking on the big PLUS icon, and select NEW FOLDER.

Name it something that will HELP you know what’s inside – naming the folder “English Papers” is going to save you time because it’s easy to know what is in it. On the other hand, naming it “Verbage I couldn’t stand creating” will cost you time.

After you create your folders, click-n-drag your files into the correct folders. YES – this can be done using the Drive app on the iPad.

5 more tips

Taken from https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-organize-and-name-folders-and-files-in-google-drive/

1.

Balance the number of files and folders – you can get TOO organized. For example, ONE folder called “English Papers” might be enough – you may NOT need “English Paper 1”, “English paper 2”, “English Paper 3” etc.

Think about what will make it EASY to find your stuff.

2.

Name your files! DON’T leave them at the default “Untitled Document“. Name it something so that anyone with half-a-brain can tell what that document is about.

3.

Making major changes? Make a copy, then add something at the end of the filename [“v2“, “v3“, etc.]

When you are working on a document, select File–> Save As Copy….. When working in Drive, you can right-click on the file icon and select “Duplicate this file”. Then right-click the copy and “Rename”.

Seriously, it’s worth the time.

4.

Got a deadline? Put the date in the filename, so you’ll always know when it’s due.

MDS Tech suggests using this format: “2019-10-22 English – Projectname”….. but remember to use TWO digits for the months and days [09 for September, 06 for June, etc]. That will make it easier to find because of how the computer sorts things.

5.

THINK AHEAD!

How does your brain work? What scheme will make it easy for YOU to find your stuff?

The key point is NOT to use a method that everyone else is using – although that might be a good start. The key is to make it easy for YOU to find your stuff.

…and a bonus tip:

START EARLY, AND START NOW

It is FAR easier and takes MUCH less time to organize a few files than to organize a gazillion – which you might have in your Drive space by the time you are a Senior. Get started now organizing your sock drawer….er……. your Drivespace.

How to Check Your Grades

Although there are a couple of ways to check your grades, here is the foolproof method.

NOTE: Grades are not available during the school day [there are certain specific days when grade access is left open – there are rare.]. If you try to check your grades when access is disabled, you will receive an error message.

LOG IN using your school ID (lunch code) starting with mds – example: mds12345
Enter your password as given by the school (used with LMS and Apple ID).
Students DO NOT create an account.
There are other ways to access grades, but this is recommended.

Again, grades are not available during school hours.
You may get a “disabled” or “unable to see grades” error during school hours.

CLICK HERE to get this information as a PDF.