Power Strips and Windows 95, a BAD combination
by Chris Bonhorst
As many of you are well aware, all school offices are in the process of migrating to Windows 95. I have seen quite a few problems arising from the old habit of using surge protectors to power everything off. Don’t get me wrong — surge protectors are very important on computers, especially this time of year with the beautiful lightning storms that we have been having. As a matter of fact, I would hope that everyone has their new computer setup using one. The point is that Windows 95 is very particular in the way it wants to be powered off. Previously, many of you simply exited windows and hit the power switch on the computer or surge protector when you left for the night. This is a VERY BAD thing to do to Windows 95, especially if you want it to work when you come in the next morning. Windows does some very important housekeeping just before it shuts down.
Here is the proper way to shut down Windows 95:
1. Click the Start menu in the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. Click on the word Shutdown.
3. Make sure Shut down the computer is the option selected.
4. Click Yes
5. DO NOT TURN OFF THE POWER! Windows95 will power down the computer for you.
If you follow these instructions, you will not need to turn off your surge protector or hit any other buttons to turn off your computer. As an added benefit, you can simply tap the space bar to turn it back on in the morning. If for some reason you still want to turn off the surge protector, just make sure that Windows has already turned the computer
off. The screen should be black and the light on the front of the computer should be off.
Where Have All My Word Perfect Documents Gone?
Opening Word Perfect Documents Using Word
by Steve Tate and Matt Weber
For those of you who have started using Windows 95 and Microsoft Word you have probably run into the problem of not finding your old documents. When you start Word and hit open you see an empty box with no files listed to open. This is because Word defaults to only show Word files. Below are written instructions on how to open and save a Word Perfect document using Microsoft Word.
1. Start Microsoft Word.
2. Click File and then click Open.
3. Change the box marked Files of Type at the bottom of the window to All Files by using the down arrow on the right side of the box. You will then see all of your documents in that folder.
4. Choose which one you want to open by clicking on it. Once highlighted, click Open on the right side of the window. Your selected document will then open in Word. You can now manipulate the document all you want.
Saving Word Perfect documents to Microsoft Word format
1. When you are ready to save your Word Perfect document, click on File, then Save As.
2. Type the name of your document in the File Name box.
3. Make sure the Save as Type box says Word Document.
4. Now click Save on the right of the window.
Backing Up Your Information, Just How Important Is It?
by Jim Davis
I have a philosophy about loaning money: never loan what you can’t afford to lose. This is also true about computers and data. Never store in just one location what you can not afford to lose. The unfortunate fact is that sometimes computers, or parts of computers, break. We, in the Technology Department, do our best to get your computer back up and running with a minimum loss of data, but sometimes it becomes necessary for us to replace hard disk drives. Also, sometimes the floppies that are storing your grade books go bad. If the world might stop if your data is lost, then you might want to consider these tips.
If your computer has a hard drive, and is connected to the network, you might want to store a copy of your data both on your local hard drive as well as the server. The servers should be backed up nightly so in the unlikely event that both your computer and the server break at the same time they have tapes, so you are really getting three copies for the small effort of two.
If your system does not have a hard disk drive, and you are on the network, a good idea is to save it both on the server and on a floppy disk, or even two.
If you are not on the network, and do not have a hard disk drive, then please save your files on more than one floppy disk.
Setting up your Networked Printer
by Seth Butler
Here are the steps to set up a network printer.
1. Click on the Start Button
2. Go to the Settings selection on the menu
3. Go to the Printers selection and select using your mouse or enter key
4. The Printers Window now appears and you double click on the add printer icon.
5. Click Next to continue and click with your mouse on the Network Printer circle and choose Next again
6. Click Browse now and select your school name (e.g. - Coronado, Harelson…etc)
7. From the list that appears select your printer (queue). When you find it select it and click on OK.
8. From this window choose Yes to print from MSDOS based programs
9. Click Next and you will be asked to capture the printer port, click on this and choose LPT1 (this is important for Old SASI and Word Perfect)
10. Click Next and choose the Manufacturer and the Model (e.g. HP and HP III)
11. Click Next and the Printer name will be requested. Put in the area where the printer is located preferably.
12. Click on the Yes circle on this screen if you want this to be your full time printer.
13. Click Next and you will be asked to print a test page, Yes should be selected already. Click Finish
14. You are now asked for the CD ROM disk for Windows 95.
15. Click OK and type in the window C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS
16. Click OK and continue (this will show a progress meter and you will be finished when the message about the printer test page appears.)
17. Click Yes if it printed OK and you are now almost finished.
18. From the printer Icon you just created in the Printers window, double click on this to open it.
19. Go to the File menu in this window and select Properties.
20. Click on the Details tab and click on the down arrow where it says Print to the following port. This should show you the LPT1 with the network queue name (e.g.LPT1\\coronado\HPII). Select this and click Apply and then OK and you are now completed in the printer setup process.
Phone Tips
by Tom Gill
In the wake of the new school year there have been some common problems reported to me. So here are some tips to make the transition as smooth as possible.
One problem I have encountered quite often is having a phone not working due to it being unplugged for a period of time. The phone system does a daily diagnostic at 12:00 am. It checks all active ports (or jacks). If a phone is not plugged in the jack at the time the system runs its diagnostic, it will recognize it as a non-active port and disable the jack. This results in the phone not working when plugged in the following day. If you have a phone that was unplugged, plug it in so that when the system runs its diagnostic it should reenable that jack and see the phone.
Another problem I have come across are the users not able to access their voice mail boxes. Due to the personnel changes, and teachers changing rooms, the new people who come on board cannot access the voice mail boxes because they don’t know the password from the person that was previously there. This results in manually restoring the passwords to the extension number. This can be a very time consuming process when dealing with these changes in bulk. The changes can only be done at Wetmore Center because this is where the Meridian mail system is housed.
I have heard some good ideas from people in the district on implementing a plan for teachers to leave their password when checking out at the end of the school year. I believe a few sites are doing this already which alleviates a lot of double work. If anyone can offer any other ideas please feel free to e-mail me with them (tgill@amphi.com). I would very much appreciate it. Thanks.
Educational
Internet Sites
by Peggy Steffens
Here are more Internet sites that you and your students can use. You can also find these links by going to my homepage and looking in the appropriate category. My URL is www.amphi.com/~psteffen
Mesa Public Library’s Bookmarks – great educational links to geography, government, history, literature, mathematics, medicine, health, science, and social issues.
www.ci.mesa.az.us/library/azlabtw2.htm
The Ancient Greek World – provides information on the land, time periods, daily life, economy, and religion of Ancient Greece.
www.museum.upenn.edu/GreekWorld/Index.html
Egypt’s Culture Net- provides information about Egyptian culture including hieroglyphics, education, art, religion, museums, sites and more.
www.idsc.gov.eg/culture/index.html
Ancient Greek Sites on the World Wide Web – provides links to authors and texts, arts and images, essential resources and topics, and maps and geography.
www.webcom/shownet/medea/grklink.html
Plymouth: It’s History and People – provides information about Plymouth, Mayflower, Mayflower Compact, Pilgrims, Wampanoag Tribe, John Alden, William Bradford, William Brewster, John Carver, Massasoit, Samoset, Myles Standish, Winslows, and the Mayflower passenger list.
wwx.media3.net/plymouth/history
US Historical Documents – The University of Oklahoma has documents such as charters, items from the constitution, treaties, proclamations, and inaugural addresses from pre-colonial time to the present.
www.law.ou.edu/ushist.html
Periodic Table – Los Alamos has the periodic table with links to each element and information on the history, sources, compounds, properties, uses, isotopes and handling of each element.
Cst.lanl.gov/julie/imagemap/periodic/periodic.html
Computers in Elementary Education – provides links to educational sites and lesson plans and ideas for using computers in the K-8 curriculum.
Nimbus.temple/edu:80/~jallis00/
Collegescape – has information on over 200 colleges with free applications to fifty colleges. Students can search for a college based on interests and available money.
www.collegescape.com
StarChild: A Learning Center for young astronomers – provides information on the solar system, universe, and space on two reading levels.
starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
Mighty m&m math – class predicts the total number of m&ms in a package, the most and least common colors, and the percentage of each color. The class compares the data worldwide.
www.iphysique.com/school/main.htm
700+ Great Sites: Amazing Spectacular, Mysterious, Colorful Web Sites for Kids and the Adults Who Care About Them – provides links to library and school sites, sites for parents, teachers and others who care about kids. Sites for children includes information on arts and entertainment, literature, language, people past and present, planet earth, and science and technology.
www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites/lib.html
Euclid’s Elements - uses a Java geometry applet to teach geometry concepts, students can manipulate the figures by dragging points and the remaining part of the figure will adjust appropriately.
aleph0.clark.edu/~djoyce/java/elements/elements.html
You Be the Historian - Students visit the Springer household from the 1700’s and are given 8 photographic clues to determine how many people lived there, what they ate, and what they did for a living. They are asked to think about what would happen if historians visited their house in the year 2050. This is a great spring board to talk about primary and secondary resources and life in the 1700’s.
http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/nmah/notkid/ubh/00intro.htm
Technology Coaches
by Peggy Steffens
Each school in our district has a Technology Coach. The primary responsibilities of the Coach are to provide inservice training, provide technological support for integrating technology into the curriculum, be the Internet Advocate, and facilitate computer repairs.
If you have problems with your equipment, questions about software, or need ideas for integrating technology into your curriculum, you should contact your Technology Coach. The Technology Coaches work very hard and should be commended for their efforts. The Coaches for the 1998-99 school year are listed below:
AHS Dean Packard
AMS Jeannie Wager
CDO Casey Smythe
Copper Creek Diana Walker
Coronado K-8 Anne Booth
Cross Gary Zent
Donaldson Debbie Grimble
Nancy Jimmerson
Harelson Jeff Homoki
Molly Romano
Holaway Rosemary Beck
Keeling Russell Mueller
La Cima Patricia Cadigan
Cynthia Rolewski
Mesa Verde Rhonda Ball
Suzi Cook
Nash Betsy Evans
Prince Laura Alexander
Bianca Rivas
Rio Vista Lisa Boyer
Walker Karen Rutynowski
Wilson Joannne Lazarus
Jim Reed
Getting Rid of Banners on your Printer
by Kathy Sheppard
Are you getting a banner and form feed when you print from Windows 95 and would you like to get rid of them?
Follow these steps to remove the Banner and Form Feed.
(Note: Use your left mouse button unless the right button is specified.)
1. Click on Start Button
2.
Go to Settings3.
Click on Printers4.
Place your arrow on the Icon that represents the printer you are printing to and click once to highlight it.5. Then RIGHT CLICK (press the button on the right side of your mouse), a small window should pop up. Click on the word Properties. The Properties window should pop up.
6. Click on the Capture Settings tab.
7. Look at the bottom of the Capture Settings page. You will see a JOB area. There are four things you need to do here.
8. If there is a check in the small box in front of the word Banner. Click on it to remove the check.
9. If the letters LST are in the box to the right of the word Banner. Highlight the LST and delete it.
10. If there is a check in the small box in front of "Form feed after job," click on the check to remove it.
11. To close the Properties window be sure to click on the OK button.
Then close the Printers Window and you should be back to your Desktop and you should no longer receive a Banner or Form Feed.
Printing Envelopes on the HP 4000TN Laser
by Patti Greenleaf
In order to print envelopes on the Laser NT you must adjust the paper guides on the paper input tray to the middle. If you put the envelope on the side on the tray nothing will print on it.
Notes from the Director
by Ron Shannon
I want to take a moment to thank all of the Technology Staff for their accomplishments this summer. Everyone has worked hard to complete their various projects. From computer installations, system upgrades, office remodeling, phone moves, adds & changes, network maintenance - the staff worked as a team and accomplished an incredible work load. I look forward to working with this Technology TEAM this year and accomplishing even more projects that will increase YOUR confidence, competence, and productivity in the classroom and in the workplace.
This summer was a very busy one for everyone in the Technology Department. Here is a summary of what we accomplished for you.
Computer Installations
We installed 210 administrative computers. Now that these computers are setup, we still have a lot of things to complete. Our priorities will be to first convert all administrative users from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. This includes migrating users from WordPerfect and configuring them to use Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
We installed 460 instructional computer systems. Initially, all instructional computers are to be setup as stand-alone computers. We are in the process of purchasing and installing all instructional printers. This should be completed by the end of September.
File Server Upgrades
The primary file server at every site was upgraded with new hardware and newer operating system. This will allow for more users on each system, faster access to information, and will be easier to remotely administrate, and should result in less down time.
Follett Library System Upgrade
Most of the libraries across the district have been upgraded to a newer version of Follett, called Unison. The primary reason for the software upgrade is to become Y2K compliant (Year 2000). Additionally, this will provide the libraries with continued technical support from Follett.
Summer Workshops
This summer over 75 classes were offered in a variety of content areas and grade levels. I want to congratulate all of you who took these classes. I’m sure you have learned many new things that you can apply to either the classroom or office.
Year 2000 Bugs (Y2K)
I’m sure many of you have been hearing about the problems that computer users will experience when we reach the year 2000. The good news is that Amphitheater School District is in fine shape. All of our new computers and file servers are Y2K compliant as are the operating systems. All of the district primary application software is also compliant.
ERate Update
This has been a most disappointing endeavor to date. Massive amounts of work were focused on the proposal which included site surveys, network diagramming, and detailing District information which included numbers of schools, classrooms, computer inventories, and technology budgets. All of this information was submitted to the SLC (Schools & Libraries Corporation) in January, with the hopes of funding in July. This Federal Project became mired in politics, which has resulted in a complete standstill. At this time, it isn’t clear if and when any funding will be made available. However, we are still in communication with the SLC and continue to submit additional information as requested. It is still hoped that we will receive funding sometime in 1998.
The purpose of the ERate grant was to complete the networking infrastructure to provide Internet access into all the classrooms. As a result of the standstill, we have not been able to purchase and install any networking components. This means that classroom computers can not be networked yet. Hopefully, this will be funded in the near future and we will be able to move forward with this important project.
803 & 816 Bond Allocations
by Margaret Harris
Just a brief update on these site bond allocations. The "carryover" bond accounts (803-XX) have come to a close effective June 30, 1998. Many sites are carrying a balance in the 816-XX Site Technology allocation that was assigned last September. I am planning to balance those accounts in the next two weeks and will then provide all sites with the latest spreadsheet of charges and balances. Many sites were spending monies even after the last school day and so those invoices are just now arriving in the Accounts Payable office for payment. Until then, if anyone needs information about their account, please feel free to contact me at 5212.
Technology Integration
by Peggy Steffens
Integrating technology is as easy as one, two, three.
1. Select a lesson to integrate technology into and find a simple program
2. Learn the program
3. Implement the program
1. Selecting the Lesson
The first thing you need to do is select a lesson that you would like to use with technology. Start simple: Find a computer program, laserdisc, CD-ROM, Internet activity, or video that is easy to use. Easy computer programs include KidPix, Student Writing Center, and PowerPoint. These programs are part of the District Core Software and should be loaded on all new computers. Kid Pix is a drawing and multimedia presentation program for younger students. Each school has a manual for every teacher that includes wonderful ideas for integrating lessons into the curriculum. Check with your Technology Coach if you don’t know where the manuals are located. Student Writing Center is an easy to use desktop publishing program. It is easy for you and your students to make signs, newsletters, and reports. The students can use the sign portion of the program as an easy way to design professional looking report or journal covers. Students could use the newsletter format and write information about a unit or lesson, submit a poem, describe upcoming events. The newsletter could be sent home to parents. The report part of the program has a feature that is great for the Research Paper Project or any paper that requires a bibliography. The program allows students to enter the basic information of author, book or article title, page numbers, etc. and it puts them in bibliographic format. There are many easy to use CD-ROMs that are available for check-out from the Media Center. The Discis Books and Living Books are two great series that are excellent for language arts and reading. Students can have the stories read to them or interact with them. The Tom Snyder Decisions, Decisions, Inspirer series, and Choices, Choices programs are perfect for cooperative learning activities and using one-computer in the classroom. Laserdiscs that are easy to use include the Jasper Woodbury series, Science Forums, Science Sleuths, Wide World of Math, Windows on Science, Disney ImaginActive series, and Tom Snyder series. Each of these have wonderful teaching materials. These programs involve problem solving and higher level thinking activities and integrate easily into the curriculum.
2. Learn the Program
Now that you have selected the program, you need to learn how to use it. If you have never used the program before, you could take a class from the District Technology Department, read the teaching materials or manual, ask your Technology Coach or a teacher who has used it before, or ask Patti Greenleaf or me to assist you. You will want to learn the basics of the program, CD-ROM, or laserdisc and how it will meet your learning objectives. As you are reading, decide how you will use this in your classroom — in a large group, cooperative learning groups, pairs of students or individual students. As you learn the program think of key parts you will want to emphasize to your students, and problems they might encounter.
3. Administer the Program
You are now ready to implement the program into your classroom. As you implement the program, explain to the students what they will be doing and for what they will be held accountable. Also, explain classroom rules that pertain to this type of activity. You may need to demonstrate the program to the entire class before they do it at a center or in a lab. When you demonstrate what the students will be doing, you should also show them problems they might encounter. You may want to train a small group of student experts who can serve as assistants to help other students. If you are using a computer program, be sure to show the students how to save, print, and/or quit depending on what is necessary for the activity. At the end of the activity, assess the students to be sure they have accomplished your objectives. Remember to be patient with yourself and your students as you try something new. After the lesson be sure to reflect upon the successes and problems with the lesson and the technology, and to make modifications for the future.
Staff Update
by Ron Shannon
As many of you know by now, Joan Munoz has moved to AHS. I want to extend our thanks to Joan for everything she did for the Technology Office and District staff this year. Her skills and sense of humor will certainly be missed. The name of our new secretary is: Sue Sledge. At this time, we expect that she will join our office Monday, August 24th. Most recently, Sue has been working in a long-term temporary assignment at Raytheon; we hope to have more about her in the next issue. Please make her feel welcome!
I would like everyone to extend a warm welcome to Seth Butler, our Network Installer. Seth is a native Arizonan and has been working in the computer area for the last 9 years. He comes to us from the Ventana Corporation where he worked as a Technical Support Test Engineer and a Quality Assurance Engineer. His hobbies include running and hiking. He says that he enjoys working with people and computers. I’m sure you’ll enjoy getting to know him.
We are still in the process of hiring a new Computer Installer. In order to accomplish all the HP computer installations this summer, we enlisted the services of several temporary staff. A big thanks, however, goes to Chris Bonhorst for all the organizing and coordinating he did to facilitate all of these installations.
Welcome Patti Greenleaf
by Peggy Steffens
Patti Greenleaf is the new Technology Education Specialist. Patti replaces Bill Walther who is now assistant principal at CDO. We want to thank Bill for all he did with training and educating teachers, students, and staff. His knowledge and expertise will be missed. We are excited to have found an outstanding person to follow in Bill's path. Patti previously worked at the Patagonia school district where she taught business education courses, served as Technology Coordinator and was the Director of the Career Ladder Program. Patti has been involved in curriculum development and teacher professional growth. In addition, Patti has taught technology courses for Pima Community College. Patti’s hobbies include scuba diving, hiking, softball and playing with her dogs - Scooby and Tasha.
Patti can provide training for your school, department, team, or grade level. She can help you with ideas for integrating technology into your curriculum, and can work with you one-on-one in your classroom. Patti will also be providing district professional development classes in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends. If you are interested in having Patti work at your school or in your classroom contact her at 5218 or pgreenle@amphi.com.
Patti is an excellent addition to our technology team, we are excited to have her working in Amphitheater School District.
Did I just
break the law?
What does it mean to perform an illegal operation?
by Jim Davis
Very soon now, all school administrative computers will be running Microsoft Windows 95. During the course of using the machines, you will see a message pop up saying you have performed an illegal operation. There are a few things that you can, and should, do to minimize these and other errors.
1)
Close any application that you are not using; having them open uses memory, and when you run out of memory, you get errors, and the computer locks up.2)
Once a month or so, do a little disk maintenance. This is fast and easy to do and will save many a headache.1) Click Start
2)
Select Programs3)
Choose Accessories4)
Select System Toolsa) First run a program called ScanDisk, make sure you check the box that say Automatically fix errors
after it is finished, click on Close
b) Go back to System Tools and choose Disk Defragmenter and choose to defragment drive Ms-dos_6(C:)
Click OK
Doing these things can reduce the amount of problems you will encounter using Windows 95.
by Patti Greenleaf
A new school year is upon us and many more teachers now have a computer in their classroom. This is very exciting, but many of you are probably looking for some ideas as to what to do with that computer. This article will give you some ideas that you will be able to use in a multitude of different classes.
First of all, if at all possible try to get a device that allows everyone to see the image on the screen. The most affordable of these is a computer to TV converter like the VGA/Gold which connects your computer to a TV for about $190. You can check the Technology Department's Home Page price list for more information. Once you have the system, set it up so that it faces all the students and you are able to face your students when using the computer.
Some whole class instruction uses for the computer are below:
Direct Instruction Delivery—Create your lectures using a presentation program like PowerPoint. Not only can you display text, but you can insert clip art, graphics, video clips, and Internet links. Think about how easily this lecture can be repeated for students who miss the lecture. Also, many more educational and textbook CD-ROMs are becoming available which can be used in this method.
Agendas—You can display a daily agenda so that it can be displayed on the TV while you are using the blackboard.
Tabulating Data—Many lessons require the gathering and tabulating of data. This can be made easy by using a spreadsheet program like Excel. You can then create formulas or charts based on the information. Not only are you teaching your students the topic of your lesson, you are also demonstrating the use of a spreadsheet software.
Conducting Quizzes—If you use the computer to write your quizzes you can insert page breaks after them and display them in class allowing you to lead your students through the quiz.
Using the Internet—If you have access to the Internet in your class there are a wealth of sites which can be used to help you get your students to visualize a concept you are trying to illustrate. For instance, http://www.innerbody.com is a site which has descriptions, pictures, and animations of the human body.
Screen Saver Messages—You can customize your screen saver message (Scrolling Marquee in Windows) to allow you to display a message that you want your students to know. These messages get your students’ attention because they are moving and in color.
A couple of other ideas:
Student Presentations—having a computer in your class allows your students to create presentations using PowerPoint for classroom presentations.
Cooperative Learning Tool—You can use one of many CD-ROMs especially designed to incorporate cooperative learning. Tom Synder Productions for one has many titles like Decisions, Decisions, and The Great Ocean Rescue to get your students thinking critically and communicating.
These are just a few suggestions that you can use in your one - computer classroom. Not only are you using the computer as a tool to help teach your course content but when students see you use the computer for many different tasks, it gets them to see and to learn how the computer can be used for things other than playing games.
Computer Tips
by Patti Greenleaf
Saving Files in Different Versions of Microsoft Office
If you are using computers with two different versions of Microsoft Office, for instance Office 95 and Office 97, you must save the file in the lower version. If you don’t, the computer with the lower version of Office will not be able to recognize the file information of the higher version. To save a file from the Office 97 Word program to later use in Office 95 Word, go to the Save As dialog box, and in the bottom left hand corner where it says Save as type, click on the drop down arrow and select Word 6.0 for Win95. Then click Save or press enter.
Filenames in Windows MicroGrade
File names can contain up to eight characters.
File names should contain letters and numbers only.
Spaces, punctuation marks or special characters should not be used.
Do not delete file extensions generated by MicroGrade. For example, the Windows version of MicroGrade uses the extension.cls to identify class files.
Portable Planetarium
at Your School
by Peggy Steffens
Lowell Observatory has created a traveling educational service called Reach For The Stars. It uses a powerful teaching tool called Starlab, a portable planetarium. Starlab can show the night sky, phases and positions of the moon, location of the visible planets, demonstrate changing sunrise and sunset with the seasons, and even show the sky as it would appear at the north pole. The programs are easily adaptable for student needs and background level.
You may arrange for this traveling astronomy tool to visit your school, office, science fair, scout meeting, or other event for one day or several days, depending upon the number of classes you wish to be served. Starlab is available for half-day sessions (1-3 presentations) or full-day sessions (4-6 presentations). There is a single charge for 1-3 presentations and a slightly higher fee for 4-6 presentations. The fees are based in part on your distance from Flagstaff.
Requirements
* A large empty room or gym, with a minimum size requirement of 24' X 24' with a 12' ceiling. (Beware of low hanging light fixtures.)
* Easy access to an electrical outlet.
* A teacher or parent volunteer to remain outside the dome during all programs.
How to Reserve Starlab
Starlab can accommodate one class of 25 students at a time. Each presentation will last approximately 35 minutes. Lowell Observatory staff can give a total of 6 presentations per day. It is also possible to add an evening star party to your Starlab visit. An observatory staff member can bring a telescope to your site to allow your students and their families to explore the night sky first hand. Call the public program office at (520) 774-3358 ext. 210 for more information.
How to Get Help for your Computer Problems
by Jim Davis and Richard Coca
As the new school year is starting, a lot of you are coming back to new or different computers. Some of you will find that over the summer, computers were moved, or replaced. We just wanted to remind you that the best thing to do, to get service, is to call the Technology Hot-line at extension 5078. If it is a new computer, you need to select option 1 (HP), if it is an older system, then choose option 2 (Repair). If the problem is with the network itself, then select option 4 (Network). If you find that you are having problems with SASI XP, you should call 5162 and talk to Diana Betancourt. We want to offer the best, and fastest possible service, and having one central location to collect problem reports makes it easier for us to provide that service to you. Once your call has been received at the hotline, it will be scheduled by a dispatcher to the repair technicians. Repairs will be scheduled as they appear on the list, with priorities given to downed systems. When calling in a repair request, certain information is required and is stated on the Hot - line recording. This is necessary in order to expedite the repair process. One other thing that helps technicians, is to be able to quickly locate the equipment needing repair. This can be done by having the equipment marked, tagged or labeled as not working or needing repair. This visual identification is helpful because many times when a technician arrives at the site, there may not be anyone around, and the quicker the equipment can be found, the quicker it is repaired. Another thing that is helpful for the technicians is to specify an ideal time when the equipment can be looked at. For example, if a piece of equipment is still usable but needs service, scheduling it for repair at an ideal time helps to expedite the repair. Lastly, reporting the equipment first to the Technology Coaches can sometimes eliminate the need for a service repair request because they can resolve a number of computer related problems.
Soon, we will be moving to a new system that will make it even easier for you to request repairs and for us to collect trouble reports via e-mail, but until then, please continue to use the Tech Hotline. Thanks.
Changing the Default Fonts, Fonts Sizes, and Margins in Word
by Patti Greenleaf
The defaults for Word are:
Font—Times New Roman
Size—10 point
Margins—left and right 1.25 inches, top and bottom 1 inch
To change default font or size (this will change them for all new documents)
Go to Format on the menu bar, slide down to Font
In the font dialog box, select your desired font and size, click on the Default button
When you do this, it will ask you if you are sure you want to do this, click Yes.
To change default margins (this will change them for all new documents)
Go to File on the menu bar, slide down to Page Setup
Make sure the margins tab is selected and enter desired margins, click on the Default button
When you do this, it will ask you if you are sure you want to do this, click Yes.
Cable Reception Problems
by Gordon Larsen
The issue of poor cable TV reception has been addressed before in a letter to principals, AV specialists, and librarians. But a recent situation has caused me to address this topic on an expanded scale. The requested policy was for a person having a reception problem to report it to the school administrator, AV specialist or librarian. They in turn would report the problem to Media Services at 696-6200, if they could not resolve the problem themselves. It is our responsibility to assess the cause and determine whose should fix the problem.
This requested procedure was not followed recently at one of our elementary schools. The problem was one of no or poor reception throughout the school, even in the library headend. The problem was called into Jones Cable and they were unable to solve the problem. Media Services was then called by a library staff member. The problem was discussed over the phone and suggestions were made to solve it. Apparently, when the contracted carpet cleaning company came in to clean in the headend room, they unplugged all of the equipment from the outlet strip which supplied power to the distribution system. With power restored, acceptable reception was reestablished in the library headend but not in the rest of the school.
Media Services was again called by the library staff member to report the current status of the reception problem. When I got there, I discovered, after much trouble shooting and testing, that the technician from Jones had rewired the distribution system. After finding the wiring diagram of how the system had been wired before and making the necessary hookup changes, excellent reception was restored to the whole school.
This example shows that the problem could have been solved much faster if this problem had been reported to Media Services first. We will facilitate any repairs with outside vendors if necessary. It would have also saved the time required by the technician from Jones as well as the time required for me.
Conclusion: In the future, if you report a reception problem to a school administrator, AV specialist or librarian, ask them to first call Media Services at 6200 and then we will call the Cable company, if necessary.
A message from Claudiovisuals
by Claudio Araya
Over the last few years Amphi Schools has placed an emphasis in teaching through technology. The Media Center now has 234 laserdisc programs and 146 CD-ROM programs available for check out. I would like to introduce some of the latest titles added to the Media Center. Following these titles is a list of all laserdiscs and CD-ROMs.
Decisions, Decisions
With each title in the Decisions, Decisions series, students role-play a decision-maker faced with a critical situation drawn right from your history or contemporary issues curriculum. As presidents, feudal lords, mayors, or independence leaders, students use a proven 5-step model for critical thinking and decision-making to gather and review information, discuss options, and take action. Your students not only acquire information, they learn how to use it. The cooperative learning methodology is used extensively with these programs.
Science Court
Science Court is an exciting new series that mixes animated courtroom drama, hands-on science activities, and humor to teach students fundamental science concepts and model good scientific practice. As each case unfolds, students examine the facts and perform hands-on experiments to help them predict the verdict.
Prime Time Math
Prime Time Math engages your class in dramatic stories about fire fighting, police work, and emergency medicine. Students watch a dramatic story, record messy data, read, write, calculate, and cooperate to solve problems set up by the video.
International Inspirer
From the Inspirer series students will learn the locations of more than 185 nations plus important demographic, political, historic, economic, and physical characteristics of our world. Teams of students compete against one another, armed with unique maps which are essential for the team’s planning and success.
Choices, Choices
Kids face difficult choices every day; balancing their own values with the expectations of friends, parents, and teachers. Choices, Choices helps students develop the skills and awareness they need to make wise choices and to think about the consequences of their actions.
Minds on Science
With each interactive videodisc kit, students explore the dynamic relationship between science, history, and their own lives. Students watch a dramatic simulation, role-play experts, analyze data, and develop a course of action.
The remaining pages of Tech Talk contain a listing of all CD-ROMs and laserdiscs available from the
Media Center.
CD-ROMs and Laserdiscs Available for Check-out from the Media Center
You will see listed the Number of each item available. The number starts with CDR or LD. CDR represents CD-ROM and LD stands for laserdisc. The next column has a place for Computer Type for the CD-ROMs, if it says MP, it will work on either the Macintosh or PC-Windows 95 platform. If it says M it is for the Macintosh platform, and if it says P it is for the PC - Windows 95 platform.
In addition to being able to check out the laserdiscs, you can check out a laserdics player. You will need to connect the laserdisc player to a monitor. The CD-ROMs, laserdiscs, and laserdisc players can be checked out for 2 weeks.
Number Computer Title
ART CDR 029 M Jazz: A Multimedia History CDR 031 M Orchestra, The: The Instruments Revealed LD 085 Louvre I, The LD 086 Louvre II, The LD 087 Louvre, III, The LD 050 National Gallery of Art LD 144 Norman Rockwell’s World: An American Dream LD 115 Regard for the Planet: 50,000 Photos by Marc Garanger |
Foreign Language
CDR 053 MP Learn to Speak Spanish LD 074 Diez Temas: De Compras - Las Vacaciones LD 073 Diez Temas: Deporte - Comer y Beber LD 071 Diez Temas: Informacion Personal - La Familia LD 072 Diez Temas: La Vida Diaria - Tiempo Libre LD 075 Diez Temas: Un Cumpleanos - La Ciudad Y el Pueblo |
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Geography CDR 086 M Interactive Geography CDR 132 MP Neighborhood Map Machine CDR 110 MP Search Series, The: Geography Search CDR 080 MP U.S. Atlas and Almanac CDR 081 MP World Atlas and Almanac LD 203 Geography of the Mid-Atlantic States, The LD 199 Geography of the Mountain States, The LD 197 Geography of the New England States,The LD 202 Geography of the North Central States, The LD 200 Geography of the Pacific States, The LD 201 Geography of the South Central States, The LD 198 Geography of the Southeastern States, The LD 196 Geography of the U.S., The A Geographical Overview LD 114 Great National Parks LD 153 Map Skills for Beginners LD 160 U.S. Regions: The Midwest - The Mountain Region LD 161 U.S. Regions: The Northeast - The Southeast LD 159 U.S. Regions: The Pacific Region - The Southwest LD 162 U.S. Regions: Washington D.C. |
Guidance CDR 120 MP Choices, Choices: Kids and the Environment CDR 042 MP Better Homes and Gardens: Healthy Cooking CDR 122 MP Choices, Choices: Taking Responsibility CDR 121 MP Choices, Choices: On the Playground CDR 098 MP Cultural Debates CDR 116 MP Kaplan: SAT CDR 046 MP Total Baseball CDR 129 MP Time Liner CDR 030 M World Book Information Finder CDR 028 M Compton’s Multimedia Encyclopedia CDR 060 M First Connections: The Golden Book Encyclopedia CDR 052 M Microsoft Encarta: Multimedia Encyclopedia LD 113 First National Kidisc, The LD 190 Learning to Be Assertive: The Advanced Skills LD 189 Learning to Be Assertive: The Basic Skills LD 145 Fun and Games |
Language Arts CDR 090 MP Living Books: Dr. Seuss’s ABC CDR 088 MP Living Books: New Kid on the Block, The CDR 091 MP Living Books: Sheila Rae, the Brave CDR 094 MP Living Books: The Berenstein Bears - In the Dark CDR 092 MP Living Books: Tortoise and the Hare, The CDR 065 MP Reader Rabbit Interactive Reading Journey CDR 010 M Aesop’s Fables CDR 040 M Alice in Wonderland CDR 026 M Arthur’s Teacher Trouble CDR 146 M Classroom Newspaper Workshop CDR 013 M Discis: A Long Hard Day on the Ranch CDR 069 MP Discis: Aesop’s Fables CDR 011 M Discis: Cinderella CDR 071 MP Discis: Cinderlla - Thomas’ Snowsuit CDR 012 M Discis: Heather Hits Her First Home Run CDR 074 MP Discis: Moving Gives Me a Stomach Ache CDR 014 M Discis: Moving Gives Me a Stomach Ache CDR 015 M Discis: Mud Puddle CDR 070 MP Discis: Paper Bag Princess - Mud Puddle CDR 017 M Discis: Scary Poems for Rotten Kids CDR 072 MP Discis: Tale of Peter Rabbit - Heather Hits Her First Homerun CDR 073 MP Discis: The Night Before Christmas - A Long Hard Day at the Ranch CDR 016 M Discis: The Paper Bag Princess CDR 018 M Discis: The Tale of Benjamin Bunny CDR 075 MP Discis: The Tale of Benjamin Bunny CDR 019 M Discis: The Tale of Peter Bunny CDR 020 M Discis: The Tell Tale Heart CDR 021 M Discis: Thomas’ Snowsuit CDR 036 M Fire and Ice: London’s Tales of the Yukon CDR 041 MP Great Literature CDR 093 MP Living Books: Arthur’s Teacher Trouble CDR 095 MP Living Books: Framework Volume II CDR 089 MP Living Books: Just Grandma and Me CDR 077 MP Living Books: Stellaluna CDR 076 MP Living Books: Green Eggs and Ham CDR 025 M Just Grandma and Me CDR 087 MP Kids Culture CDR 024 M New Kid on the Block, The CDR 039 M Peter’s Alphabet Adventures CDR 063 MP Reader Rabbit 1 CDR 064 MP Reader Rabbit 2 CDR 100 MP Reader Rabbit 3 CDR 096 MP Reading Galaxy |
CDR 145 MP Research Paper Writer CDR 084 MP School House Rock: Grammar Rock CDR 027 M Tortoise and the Hare, The CDR 038 M Velveteen Rabbit, The LD 084 Basic Grammar LD 079 Boy Who Cried Wolf, The LD 150 Brer Rabbit and the Wonderful Tar Baby LD 194 Channel R.E.A.D.: Rita Rides Again LD 195 Channel R.E.A.D.: The Ordinary Princess LD 152 Charlotte’s Web LD 216 Exploration in Literature: Beauty and the Beast LD 215 Exploration in Literature: White Fang LD 149 Faerie Tale Theater: The Tale of the Frog Prince LD 171 Fantasia LD 157 Frog and Toad are Friends LD 157 Frog and Toad: Behind the Scenes LD 145 Fun and Games LD 059 Gift of the Magi, The LD 057 Golden Lizard, The LD 163 Hare and the Tortoise, The - Whazzat LD 167 Island of the Blue Dolphin LD 058 Lady or theTiger, The? LD 059 Magic Shop, The LD 079 Nate the Great and the Sticky Case LD 060 Necklace, The LD 151 Paul Bunyan LD 147 Ransom of Red Chief, The LD 143 Red Balloon, The LD 180 Sign Languge Basics LD 170 Thumbelina LD 188 Video Ways to Reading: Coati and Coyote etc... LD 187 Video Ways to Reading: Owl and Weasel etc... LD 060 What is a Short Story LD 143 White Mane LD 116 World Alive, The LD 214 Writing Process, The A Conversation With Mavis Jukes LD 056 You Be the Reporter LD 213 Johnny Appleseed-Paul Bunyan |
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Science CDR 050 M Mammals: A Multimedia Encyclopedia CDR 051 MP Amazon Rainforest, The CDR 082 M An Odyssey of Discovery CDR 032 M Animals, The: A True Multimedia Experience CDR 043 MP Blue Whale, The: Sierra Club Electronic Guide CDR 130 MP Dr. Jane Goodall: Animals and Environment CDR 113 P Genetics: Fundamentals and Frontiers CDR 023 M GEO Media CDR 044 M GEO Media 2 CDR 097 P Great Ocean Rescue, The CDR 099 P Great Solar System Rescue, The CDR 079 MP Life in the Desert CDR 022 M Mammals: A Multimedia Encyclopedia CDR 047 M Oceans Below CDR 035 M Our Earth CDR 101 MP Rainforest Researchers CDR 085 MP School House Rock: Science Rock CDR 139 MP Science Court: Gravity CDR 140 MP Science Court: Inertia CDR 141 MP Science Court: Sound CDR 142 MP Science Court: Statistics CDR 143 MP Science Court: Water Cycle CDR 144 MP Science Court: Work and Simple Machines CDR 078 MP Science Sleuths: The Wreck of the Fortuna Dorada CDR 067 MP Science Sleuths: Vol I CDR 068 MP Science Sleuths: Vol II CDR 115 M Sharks M CDR 114 P Sharks W CDR 049 M Space Shuttle CDR 058 Talking Jungle Safari CDR 045 MP Tropical Rainforest CDR 131 MP Women in Science CDR 034 M World of Animals, A CDR 033 M World of Plants, A CDR 061 M Way Things Work, The LD 077 All About Animals: Insects LD 053 Animal Pathfinders LD 191 Animals in Motion LD 118 Bio Sci II LD 119 Bio Sci II Elementary Edition LD 217 Bioethics Forums LD 078 Changing Seasons LD 082 Communities of Living Things LD 103 Creatures of the Mangrove LD 104 Creatures of the Namib Desert LD 098 Death Trap, The: The Biology of Carnivorous Plants LD 134 Destination Universe LD 048 Dinosaurs LD 081 Dream is Alive, The LD 110 Dream Machine I, The: The Visual Computer LD 111 Dream Machine II, The: Computer Dreams LD 112 Dream Machine III, The: Computer Visions LD 146 Exotic Plants: A Videodisc Compendium LD 154 Explore Antarctica LD 193 Faulting and Folding LD 210 First Look at Birds, A LD 117 Flying Machines, The LD 207 Garbage Tale: An Environmental Adventure LD 208 Garbage: The Movie - An Environmental Crisis LD 132 Gems and Minerals LD 224 Gems and Minerals: the Ultimate Rock Video LD 231 Genetics: Fundamental and Frontiers LD 080 Great Ocean Rescue, The LD 052 Great Solar System Rescue, The LD 100 Great Whales, The LD 230 GTV: Planetary Manager LD 209 How We Classify Animals LD 102 Iceland River Challenge LD 164 In the Company of Whales LD 225 Insects: The Little Things That Run the World LD 054 Interactive Nova: Race to Save the Planet LD 108 Lions of the African Night LD 141 Living Texbook, The: Physical Science LD 142 Living Texbook, The: Physical Science LD 038 Living Textbook, The: Earth Science LD 137 Living Textbook, The: Earth Science LD 039 Living Textbook, The: Life Science LD 140 Living Textbook, The: Life Science |
LD 076 Microbes: Bacteria and Fungi LD 235 Minds on Science: For Profit, For Planet LD 236 Minds on Science: For the Sake of the Nation LD 234 Minds on Science: The Impact of Discovery LD 045 MIST: Living and Growing LD 046 MIST: The Senses LD 097 National Zoo, The LD 064 Night Sky, The LD 156 On Dry Land: The Desert Biome LD 095 Our Environment LD 065 Periodic Table Videodisc: Reactions to the Elements LD 107 Physics of Sport LD 233 Pip and Zena’s Science Voyage LD 155 Planet Earth: The Blue Planet LD 136 Planetscapes LD 192 Plate Tectonics: Puzzle of the Continents LD 089 Polar Bear Alert LD 120 Predictable Disaster LD 049 Pulling G’s LD 220 Science Sleuths Elementary: Grade 3 LD 221 Science Sleuths Elementary: Grade 4 LD 222 Science Sleuths Elementary: Grade 5 LD 223 Science Sleuths Elementary: Grade 6 LD 019 Scientific Eye: Acids LD 020 Scientific Eye: Cells and Systems LD 021 Scientific Eye: Drying Out LD 022 Scientific Eye: Earth Ltd. LD 023 Scientific Eye: Fire and Flame LD 024 Scientific Eye: Gravity LD 025 Scientific Eye: Keeping Cool LD 026 Scientific Eye: Keeping Warm LD 027 Scientific Eye: Lighter Than Air LD 028 Scientific Eye: Microbeasts and Disease LD 029 Scientific Eye: Plants for Food LD 030 Scientific Eye: River of Rock LD 031 Scientific Eye: Rocks and Weather LD 032 Scientific Eye: Seeing is Believing LD 033 Scientific Eye: Shape and Strength LD 090 Shape of Things, The LD 091 Sharks, The LD 165 STS Science Forums, Volume 1 LD 166 STS Science Forums, Volume 2 LD 226 STV: Animals LD 227 STV: Plants LD 066 STV: Rain Forest LD 067 STV: Restless Earth LD 068 STV: Solar System LD 211 STV: The Cell LD 092 Tropical Kingdom of Belize LD 064 Universe, The: Beyond the Solar System LD 070 Voyager Gallery LD 133 Voyager Odyssey, The LD 034 Wetlands, The LD 121 Windows on Science: Earth Science Vol I LD 122 Windows on Science: Earth Science Vol II LD 123 Windows on Science: Earth Science Vol III LD 130 Windows on Science: Life Science Vol I LD 131 Windows on Science: Life Science Vol II LD 127 Windows on Science: Physical Science Vol I LD 128 Windows on Science: Physical Science Vol II LD 129 Windows on Science: Physical Science Vol III LD 124 Windows on Science: Primary Science Vol I LD 125 Windows on Science: Primary Science Vol II LD 126 Windows on Science: Primary Science Vol III LD 040 Wonder World of Science: How Big Were the Dinosaurs LD 040 Wonder World of Science: What’s the Biggest Living Thing LD 184 Visual Almanac, The |
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Social Studies CDR 111 P Capitol Hill CDR 106 MP Decisions, Decisions: Ancient Empires CDR 107 MP Decisions, Decisions: Colonization CDR 104 MP Decisions, Decisions: Feudalism CDR 102 MP Decisions, Decisions: Immigration CDR 124 MP Decisions, Decisions: On the Campaign Trail CDR 105 MP Decisions, Decisions: Prejudice CDR 125 MP Decisions, Decisions: Prejudice CDR 109 MP Decisions, Decisions: Revolutionary Wars CDR 127 MP Decisions, Decisions: Substance Abuse CDR 123 MP Decisions, Decisions: The Cold War CDR 103 MP Decisions, Decisions: The Environment CDR 126 MP Decisions, Decisions: Town Government CDR 128 MP Decisions, Decisions: Violence in the Media CDR 108 MP Decisions. Decisions: Building a Nation CDR 066 MP Oregon Trail II CDR 112 MP School House Rock: America Rock CDR 057 MP Smart Books: Malcolm X CDR 048 M Time Almanac CDR 055 M World Atlas CDR 134 MP Africa Inspirer CDR 138 MP American History Inspirer: The Civil War CDR 135 MP Asia Inspirer CDR 136 MP Europe Inspirer CDR 133 MP International Inspirer CDR 137 MP National Inspirer CDR 056 MP Smart Books: Favorite Greek Myths CDR 062 MP Smart Books: If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island CDR 059 M Atlas of U.S. Presidents CDR 054 P Presidents, The: It All Started With George LD 218 500 Nations LD 148 American Documents: The Bill of Rights LD 185 American History Videodisc, The LD 232 China LD 168 Chronoscope: Exploring 1492 LD 212 Civil War, The LD 099 Explorers, The |
LD 096 First Ladies: Symbols of a Nation LD 043 For All Mankind LD 063 Great Americans: Abraham Lincoln LD 062 Great Americans: Andrew Jackson LD 061 Great Americans: Benjamin Franklin LD 061 Great Americans: George Washington LD 063 Great Americans: Martin Luther King Jr. LD 062 Great Americans: Thomas Jefferson LD 069 GTV: A Geographic Perspective on American History LD 179 Had You Lived Then: Life in a Gold Mine Camp LD 036 Helen Keller: Voice and Vision in the Soul LD 169 History Disquiz, The LD 181 History in Motion: Milestones of the 20th Century LD 101 Hong Kong: Portrait of a Family LD 204 Images of Antiquity LD 047 In the Holy Land LD 042 Inventors and the American Industrial Revolution LD 106 Investigating History: Treasures From the Deep LD 035 Life in the Woodlands Before the White Man Came LD 037 Life of Sojourner Truth, The: Ain’t I a Woman LD 109 Living Treasures of Japan LD 088 Love Those Trains LD 105 Martin Luther King Jr. LD 044 Mexican Way of Life, The LD 182 Struggles for Justice Volume I LD 183 Struggles for Justice Volume II LD 135 Western Civilization LD 186 World History Videodisc, The (non-European History) LD 055 You Can’t Get There From Here |
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Math CDR 037 M Peter's Number Adventures CDR 117 MP Prime Time Math: Emergency CDR 118 MP Prime Time: Fire CDR 119 MP Prime Time: Stakeout CDR 083 MP School House Rock: Math Rock LD 173 Adventures of Jasper Woodberry, The: A Capital Idea LD 176 Adventures of Jasper Woodberry, The: Journey to Cedar Creek LD 177 Adventures of Jasper Woodberry, The: Rescue at Boone's Meadow LD 172 Adventures of Jasper Woodberry, The: The Big Splash LD 175 Adventures of Jasper Woodberry, The: The Great Race LD 174 Adventures of Jasper Woodberry, The: The Right Angle LD 001 Concept in Mathematics: Conic Sections LD 002 Concept in Mathematics: Trigonometric Functions; Solving Triangles LD 003 Concept in Mathematics: Vectors LD 206 Mastering Decimals and Percents LD 205 Mastering Ratios and Word Problem Strategies LD 038 Math for Beginners Vol I LD 039 Math for Beginners Vol II LD 219 Math Sleuths |
LD 004 Mathematical Eye: Area and Volume LD 005 Mathematical Eye: Circles LD 006 Mathematical Eye: Decimal Investigations LD 007 Mathematical Eye: Equations and Formula LD 008 Mathematical Eye: Fractions and Percentages LD 009 Mathematical Eye: Graphs LD 010 Mathematical Eye: Maps and Coordinates LD 011 Mathematical Eye: Measurement LD 012 Mathematical Eye: Numbers LD 013 Mathematical Eye: Probability LD 014 Mathematical Eye: Ratio and Scale LD 015 Mathematical Eye: Shapes and Angles LD 016 Mathematical Eye: Statistics LD 017 Mathematical Eye: Symetry LD 018 Mathematical Eye: Triangle and Square Numbers LD 083 Mathematics for Primary LD 229 Wide World of Mathematics: Algebra LD 228 Wide World of Mathematics: Middle School |
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Health LD 158 Look Before You Eat LD 041 Noncommunicable Diseases |
Music LD 093 Illumination LD 178 Instruments of the Symphony Orchestra LD 094 Natural Light: Windance LD 051 Nature's Symphony |
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