Deep Roots (published on this day in 1954)

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All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be the blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

-J. R. R. Tolkien, from the “Fellowship of the Ring” published July 29, 1954

Playing Patty-cake

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With younger children the communication is more and more nonverbal but still ideally requires periods of total concentration.

You can't play patty-cake very well when your mind is elsewhere. And if you can only play patty-cake halfheartedly, you are running the risk of having a halfhearted child. Adolescent children require less total listening time from their parents than a six-year-old but even more true listening time.

They are much less likely to chatter aimlessly, but when they do talk, they want their parents' full attention even more than do the younger children.

M Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled

Tuesday Tech Tools: 16 Presentation Tools

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Beautiful.ai
Quickly make beautiful slides with these graphic tools. Slightly different workflow than PowerPoint so it takes a little time getting used to but more fun. Free.

Brainshark
Convert existing PowerPoints slide presentations into an online video. Easy to use. fee for some options.

Bunkr
Collects visual content and organize it into slides. Like Evernote for formatting presentations. Built for speedy, easy assembly though not as flexible as Prezi. The HTML5 presentation works on computers, phones and tablets.  Allows for multiple users to work on the same presentation (like Google Docs). Free unless you want to space to store more than two presentations, though you can download them in PDF or PPT.

Flipsnack (formally SlideSnack)
Record your PDFs as an audio-visual slidecast. Basic features are free, more options for purchase.

Google Docs Presentations  
Create presentations inside Google Docs. Free with collaborative editing but more limited than PowerPoint.

Keynote
For Mac users, compatible with iPhone and iPad.

Ludus
Presentation app focused on simple formatting. Turns PDFs into flipbooks. Add text, photos, videos. $14.99 a month.

Mmhmm
Makes video presentations for video conference meetings. Easily superimpose a resizable version of yourself over photos, videos and slides and share a live feed. Fun tools like laser pointers and filters. There is an educational discount. $12 a month.

Mobile Mouse
Use Your phone to Give a presentation. Phone app will control computer. Free version with limited features. MobileMouse Pro, $2.99 for iPad or Android or iOS $1.99.

Paste
A product of WeTransfer to quickly create slide decks. Limited options compared to PowerPoint or Keynote but inexpensive. $9.99 a year.

Pitch*
Embed pre-recorded videos inside of presentations. Customize video sizes, shapes, and positioning for each slide. Free $8 a month for more options.

PowerPoint
The ubiquitous Microsoft presentation program that’s still easy to use (although often poorly used) for creating slides. $159.99, less with Microsoft 360.

Prezi*
Slide creator. Alternative to PowerPoint. Use 3-D zoom and turn your slides into a cinematic experience.

Screencast-O-Matic
Screencasts can be shared on YouTube, embedded in websites, and accessed online.

Screencastify*
Chrome extension that records a computer screen. Videos are saved on your Google Drive account. Allows the user to record the desktop or record audio. Free.

SlideShare*
Popular resentation tool owned by LinkedIn. Use documents, PDFs and video to create webinars, audio presentations, for online lectures etc. Solid analytics for free. Watch a slide show about SlideShare here.

More Tech Tools

Job Interviews: 19 Articles About What They Do

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Love's advice to his younger self

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Robert Love offers this advice to his 16-year-old self in The Week magazine:

Dear Bob: Would you like some advice from the older you? Turn the volume down to 10 and the SPF up to 30. Be patient with yourself and those who cross your path. Cherish your friends and family; you will miss them soon enough. Don’t feel too bad if you never seem to understand the girl in your life. There are mysteries that will never be solved. Most of all, never lose your curiosity. It will guide you to a career and a calling and bring you into the company of others who are wildly curious about the world and how it works. Believe me, there is no better place to be.

Looking for the ‘Right One’

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While looking for someone who will encourage you to "be yourself", go beyond self-expression and acceptance to content and growth: Look for someone who will help the process of more clearly defining yourself. That is, someone who will not only give you "space" or room to "do your own thing” but someone who spark a chemistry, a back-and-forth, a give-and-take that produces something about you that couldn't have come up with alone. It works the other way around, too. You should spur your beloved’s growth as a person. The two of you should be able to look at the seeds inside the other and visualize the fully formed tasty fruit that could emerge.

Stephen Goforth

7 Free Webinars Taking Place in the Next Week

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Podcasting, mobile purchasing, local news, media law, branding & digital publishing

Thursday, July 21 - Unlock Gen Z’s Mobile Purchasing Power

What: Discussion topics include how consumer preferences and needs around mobile are changing, the impact of the new mobile-first reality on marketers in a wide range of industries, from consumer goods and services to entertainment and beyond, along with strategies to make your marketing mobile-first and in line with shifting Gen Z and Zillennial expectations and needs.

Who: Jackie Mockridge Mattina Chief Strategy Officer dentsu; Justin Sparks, Director, Vertical Strategy InMobi

When: 1 pm Eastern 

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: inmobi 

More info

 

Thursday, July 21 – DIY Podcasting without Restrictions 

What: Panel discussion on being an independent podcaster.

Who: Nicole Logan, Founder, Dutchie Studios; Jessie Lawson, Freelance audio maker; Raymond Tannor, audio producer and broadcaster; Tatum Swithenbank, presenter and audio producer. 

When: 18:00 BST (10 am Pacific) 

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Good Growth Hub, a non-profit located in London

More info

 

Friday, July 22 - World of Podcasting with Spotify

What: A conversation on the craft of producing true crime and justice audio content.

Who: Founder and CEO of Neon Hum Media Jonathan Hirsch will be in conversation with Emma Courtland, creator of Spotify's popular Crime Show podcast. 

When: 1 pm Pacific 

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

More info

 

Tuesday, July 26 - Four Case Studies of Innovative Models in Local News

What: The four case studies are:  1) Chicago Public Media merges with the Chicago Sun-Times; 2) Outlier Media, Detroit, a nonprofit public service outlet that delivers news via text messaging; 3) Richland Source in Ohio, a digital news outlet focused on solutions journalism that is supported by members;

4) The Sand Hills, N.C. Pilot, a small, legacy print newspaper that has successfully diversified with lifestyle magazines, topical publications and acquiring the local bookstore

Who: Matt Moog, CEO, Chicago Public Media; Nykia Wright, Publisher, Chicago Sun-Times; Tracy Brown, Chief Content Officer, WBEZ; Candice Fortman, Executive Director, Outlier Media; Larry Phillips, Managing Editor of Source Media; David Yoder is a founding member of the Source Media team & is currently the Sr Ad and Marketing Manager; David Woronoff, Publisher, The Pilot.

When: 8:30 – 11 am Central 

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, Northwestern University 

More info

 

Tuesday, July 26 - One-Day Law School for Journalists

What: Topics include the Federal Judicial Process, Understanding & Covering Criminal Litigation 101, Right to Know & Open Records, Access to Information & the Impact of Disinformation on the Public's Confidence in Our Courts

Who: Judge Mark A. Kearney, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of PA; David Sonenshein, Prof. Emeritus, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Deborah Gross, President & CEO of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts; Paula Knudsen Burke, Local Legal Initiative Staff Attorney, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Melissa Melewsky, Media Law Counsel, PA NewsMedia Association; David Bodney, Senior Counsel, Ballard Spahr LLP; Hon. Peter Swann, Arizona Court of Appeals

When: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Eastern 

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free but you must register in advance 

Sponsor: Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts 

More info

 

Wed., July 27 - Staying Ahead of the Curve - Top trends influencing the digital publishing industry

What: Panelists will delve deep into the trends impacting the future of the digital publishing industry, including: Evolving and expanding revenue streams - including the rise of micropayments, shifts in consumer behavior and the rising demand of video content, exploring subscription bundling offers 

Who: Gwyn Roberts, Chief Strategy Officer, Global Fund Media; Matt Lindsay, President, Mather Economics; Emily Oxley, Senior Customer Success Lead, Zephr; moderator Hanna Rifaey, Partnerships Consultant at the Online News Association.

When: 1pm Eastern 

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Online News Association 

More info

 

Wed., July 27 - Harness the Power of Community to Build Your Brand

What: A discussion on the importance of community building and how it contributes to the success of your brand. 

Who: Espree Devora, Founder WeAreLATech & Women in Tech Podcast; Karrie Sanderson, Chief Marketing Officer Typeform

When: 1 pm Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Typeform

More info

Be your imperfectly perfect self

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In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self. And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same. Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress. 

Marc & Angel Chernoff

Test your Online Security Setup

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Answer a few simple questions from Security.org to find out whether you are staying safe online.

Created by Security.org  • View larger version

Tuesday Tech Tools: 20 Tools for creating Polls & Quizzes

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Need help with a business or class presentation? Here are some tools to help you create polls and surveys.

AhaSlides
Create polls, live charts, Q&A sessions, quizzes and games. Most features are free with no limit on the questions you can ask in a presentation.

Alchemer (formally SurveyGizzmo)
Supports the creation of forms, including payment forms, quizzes, and surveys. Users can include text, or other media. Can import questions from Word docs. Includes a bulk-edit mode. A free option with unlimited survey questions but otherwise limited. $25 per month for the Explorer plan.

Checkbox Survey
Flexible question design but weak interface and results reports. Has multiple levels of access. Lots of mixing and matching of radio buttons and checkbox responses. Weak reporting options-just static displays. Expensive: no free version and it’s $37 a month for just the basic plan, up to $287 a month.

Classtime
Intended for teachers needing to give quizzes, take polls, or supplement a classroom Q&A. There’s a free version though more options with a plan starting at $8. Video introduction here.

CrowdSignal (formally PollDaddy)
Create surveys, polls, and quizzes. Works well with WordPress sites. Free version offers unlimited polls. The $29 a month account for more options such as customization and export options.

Doodle
Create polls. Great for finding a meeting time among people. Cuts down on email exchanges. Can’t be embedded, but can be linked. It’s a PCMag Editors' Choice productivity app. Everything you need for polling is free. The $39 a year Private account takes away ads and gives you the ability to see who hasn't answered a poll yet and encryption options. Business account for $69 a year.

eSurveyPro
Interface could be better. Multiple reports. More options than SurveyPlanet and some design advantages over Toluna QuickSurveys. Features not as strong as Checkbox Survey and SoGoSurvey. Free options includes unlimited surveys, questions, and respondents. Basic plan includes data exporting, email support. $40 per month for the Premium plan.

Instagram*
The photo and video sharing app owned by Facebook is also a polling tool. Will accommodate single question polls with two answers (yes no) and a guessing game type of polls with up to four answers. While it has limited options, it’s free and can reach a large audience.

KeySurvey
Sometimes confusing interface. Can import questions from Word docs. Works best with straightforward a survey structure. Includes a collaborative task manager, administrative controls, and various reporting options. No direct social media integration. Customized pricing, so who knows how much it cost.

Mentimeter*
Allows you to pose a question to your audience and get instant feedback by phones. Fewer  features than Socrative or Poll Everywhere, but it is free and easy to use.

Poll Everywhere*
Instant audience feedback through texting. Embed in PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides for live surveys. Can replace clickers in classrooms. Free version for up to 25 responses per poll. $19 a month for more options.

Poll Junkie
Unlimited polls and responses with more features than social media polls. Share the link or embed the code. Only free with no sign up.

Qualtrics
Expensive but winner of PC mag’s Editors' Choice award for creating surveys. Interface is powerful and thoughtful organization but has a learning curve. Create shared reports. Really meant for professionals.

Quizlet*
Create study tools like flash cards and quizzes or make use of those created by others. Useful for rote learning. Easy to use but limited functionality. Popular among language learners. Although it will link to Google Classroom, it will not connect with academic LMS (learning management systems like Blackboard). App available. Free version for most features. $1.99 to make it ad free. $19.99 for more options.

Slido
Q&A and polling platform focused on business needs. Video explanation here.

SoGoSurvey
Create online surveys. Nice interface with lots of starter templates. An option to merge surveys. Limited flexibility in question ordering. Tracks email invitations and responses. Strong reporting functions including a helpful calendar. Stacks up decently against SurveyGizmo and SurveyMonkey. Pro accounts from $12 to $40 a month.

SurveyMonkey*
Popular option for easily creating simple surveys. Designed to be accessable. Free option allows for up to 10 questions and an unlimited number of surveys that can be sent to up to 100 respondents. Has a mobile app to check survey progress. $32 per month for the Advantage plan. $99 a month for the Premier tier.

SurveyPlanet
Easy step up from Google forms to create surveys with a very clean interface but very basic. Limited question choices and limited options for surveys requiring more complex questions. The free version is generous: unlimited surveys of unlimited length to unlimited respondents. $15 a month for the Pro plan.

Toluna QuickSurveys
An online survey tool with nice reporting options, including the ability to create shared reports. Limited options for more complex questioning. Works best with straightforward a survey structure. $85 per month for the Premium option. A hefty $85 a month for access to Toluna analytics.

Zoho Survey
Online or offline surveys. Easy to use but limited question options. Has a mobile app to check survey progress. Great reporting features. Comparable to SurveyPlanet but with more features and options. Limited free option. Many features are available for the $20 a month option. $60 per month for the Enterprise plan.

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