Google has infused itself within education by offering a ton of web services that make it easy to create and lookup content within your web browser. But, if you are like me, sometimes you discover a great Google service only to forget to use it to its full potential. As great as all the Google services are, navigating about Google is not one of its strongpoints.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Google Shortcuts
SItes I use or will learn
I present what I consider to be the top 10 Tools/Websites/Resources for teachers and students from 2010. These are in no particular order because I believe they are all great, but for different reasons. They might have been around before 2010, but were an important addition to education this past year.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Finding Images and Clipart
Top 10 Sites for Images and Clip ArtFinding images on the internet for educators to use has been a common problem problem for many alike. This can happen for a number of reason such as: copy right privileges, inappropriateness, etc etc.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Have a new e-reader? How about some free books
If Google Trends are anything to go by, a fair number of you were fortunate enough to unwrap a Kindle 3 this Christmas (currently, “free kindle books” is trending at number 9).
As such, we thought we’d alert you to some of the following resources for getting free Kindle books on your new device (as well as your smartphone and desktop). For all but the Kindle Store, you’ll need to transfer the books manually using a computer and USB cable.........
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Annotating the Web
Ever try browsing the web and came across some content that you wanted to save for later reference? Yes you can easily bookmark a site, but wouldn’t it be awesome if you can select and save the specific text in the content that interests you? You are at a page where you want to leave a comment or note but u can’t because the page does not provide a comment system, what do you do about it? Better example, what do you use when you are working on a document or website of your own and wanting to get feedback from users or collaborate with a friend or group?
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
How can you Publish Online?
Last week after I and ten others released The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators I received a handful of emails asking either how I built the page-turning effects into the ebook or why I chose to use to use a 3rd party to host the ebook. I figure if a handful of people were curious enough to email me about it, there are probably others who are also curious about the same questions. I choose to use 3rd party services to host the ebooks I publish so that I can track how many times they're viewed and downloaded. The other reason I use 3rd party services to host the ebooks is because I like having the option of displaying the ebooks with page-turning effects. Here are the services I've used to host my ebooks and some others that you might consider using.
Sir Ken Robinson - Hammer Lecture Series
Ken Robinson has written numerous books, most recently "The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything." This talk explores ways to connect peoples' natural aptitudes with their personal passions to achieve at their highest levels in education and business. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for his outstanding achievements in education and the arts.
Sir Ken Robinson, Hammer Lectures
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Video Games Boost Brain Power, Multitasking Skills : NPR
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Fun ways to make Cards
Being the festive season and if you are like me haven’t organised Christmas cards yet. Here is a quick and fun way you can make them. It also gives you the chance to try out a few websites at the same time.
Friday, December 17, 2010
5 Tasks to Teach Yourself to Teach with Technology
Nik's Learning Technology Blog: 5 Tasks to Teach Yourself to Teach with Technology
Some months ago I had a plan to write a book of tasks to get teachers using technology. As with so many of my plans and ideas, time and circumstances over took me and I never got further than the first 15 tasks. When I went back to do some more I noticed that I was taking so long doing these that some had gone out of date, so to try to get some use from the tasks I've decided to revise them and start publishing them here so anyone can download them and use them either to do teacher training or to develop their own ability to use technology........
Thursday, December 16, 2010
10 Tips for Starting an Education Blog
The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness: 10 Tips for Starting an Education Blog
It was about a year ago that I really started to get into the idea of blogging. I was hesitant, unsure, and fairly new to the whole idea. I spent most of the initial stages of blogging just learning how to use the site to benefit myself, understanding widgets and embedding, and learning how to write for an audience. Below are tips that I would offer someone based on my own experience.......
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Using QR Codes in the classroom
Scannable bar codes may be just what you need to spark some student interest in your classroom - read on to learn how to use them to showcase your student work and give some life to your classroom's infographics.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Opt Out of Google
Google Opt Out Feature Lets Users Protect Privacy By Moving To Remote Village
The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators
Free Technology for Teachers: The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators
There are many teachers who want to start using technology in their classrooms, but just aren't sure where to start. That's why I got together ten prominent ed tech bloggers, teachers, and school administrators to create The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators. In this book there introductions to more than six dozen web tools for K-12 teachers. Additionally, you will find sections devoted to using Skype with students, ESL/ELL, blogging in elementary schools, social media for educators, teaching online, and using technology in alternative education settings.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media In the Classroom
Social media may have started out as a fun way to connect with friends, but it has evolved to become a powerful tool for education and business. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter and tools such as Skype are connecting students to learning opportunities in new and exciting ways. Whether you teach an elementary class, a traditional college class, or at an online university, you will find inspirational ways to incorporate social media in your classroom with this list......
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Learn about Storify
Storify for Educators–Tell a Story with Social Media! | Tech the Plunge
The Process
I knew I remembered Storify but couldn’t really remember much about it. I went to the site and it looked like you had to have an invite. I checked my old e-mails and found that I had already applied and received an invite so I decided to log in.
Storify in its most basic form is an information curator. As I thought about it, isn’t that exactly what teachers do each and every day? So let’s see if Storify helps me curate information or simply offers another way to curate that doesn’t really save me time.
Special Education - best Technology Blogs
50 Best Education Technology Blogs You Aren’t Reading Yet
Technology and teaching — two words that seem to fit together perfectly today for most teachers and learners. So much so that a slew of new blogs have come on board to talk about education technology — or, edTech. This list of the 50 best education technology blogs are not inclusive, as there are so many new blogs available; however, if you look at links provided by many of these blogs to other edTech blogs, you may learn about even more blog that you aren’t reading yet.
Using SMS in the classroom
The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness: 10 Tips for Using SMS in the Classroom
There is an increasing use and ease of access to cellular technology in the classroom. Our students are pros at using text messages to communicate with friends. Why not turn this into a proactive solution to communicating with students in and out of the classroom. Remember to get your students information at the beginning of the year. Do they have an unlimited plan? Can they accept and send MMS messages?
5 Useful Webtools You Don’t Know Exist
5 Useful Webtools You Don’t Know Exist – SimpleK12
Have you ever learned about a new (or new to you) tech tool and thought, "Wow -- how did I not know about this?". Saturday I attended EdCamp Citrus, and experienced this during one of the sessions. Here is a list of my favorite free lesser-known webtools, all mentioned at EdCamp Citrus' Web 2.0 Smackdown.
17 free eBooks for Teachers and Parents
Free Technology for Teachers: 17 Free eBooks for Teachers and Parents
Over the last eighteen months I've created and offered seven free ebooks for teachers. In those ebooks I've covered Google tools, web search, video creation, blogging, and other resources of interest to educators. All seven of those ebooks are available in the right hand column of Free Technology for Teachers. This morning I'd like to highlight some other free ebooks created by others for teachers and parents....
Monday, December 06, 2010
K12 Technology Scope and Sequence
Generic version developed by My eCoach and aligned to ISTE Standards and Performance Indicators for Students
Google Teracher Academy
Google recently announced that applications are now being accepted for the next Google Teacher Academy. The next GTA will be held on March 10, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Applications are due by January 27, 2011. As always only 50 applicants will be accepted. You can learn more and apply here. If you're interested in knowing more about the purpose of GTA, watch the video here.
100 Best (and Free) Online Learning Tools
We’re always excited to find the next best thing. But how does one actually find this supposed next best thing? Let EduDemic and it’s sister site EduDatum do the work for you! For example, ever wanted to spend zero dollars but have some of the most bleeding edge technologies at your disposal? Fear not!
In the vain of C4LPT, we bring you many other resources that are not as well-known as those featured on their site. (Be sure to check out their list though as it also has some great stuff!) Below you will find a dazzling number of free (open) resources to learn, engage, and just make learning more fun. Enjoy!
Sharing and Collaborating
These sites offer a place for educators to find open educational resources as well as provide a place for those who want to share their ideas or work collaboratively on projects......
More ways to share slideshows
Create Amazing Slideshows, Edit Photos, then Share!
More ways to share slideshows
Create Amazing Slideshows, Edit Photos, then Share!
100 Best (and Free) Online Learning Tools
We’re always excited to find the next best thing. But how does one actually find this supposed next best thing? Let EduDemic and it’s sister site EduDatum do the work for you! For example, ever wanted to spend zero dollars but have some of the most bleeding edge technologies at your disposal? Fear not!
In the vain of C4LPT, we bring you many other resources that are not as well-known as those featured on their site. (Be sure to check out their list though as it also has some great stuff!) Below you will find a dazzling number of free (open) resources to learn, engage, and just make learning more fun. Enjoy!
Sharing and Collaborating
These sites offer a place for educators to find open educational resources as well as provide a place for those who want to share their ideas or work collaboratively on projects......
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Google Teracher Academy
Google recently announced that applications are now being accepted for the next Google Teacher Academy. The next GTA will be held on March 10, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Applications are due by January 27, 2011. As always only 50 applicants will be accepted. You can learn more and apply here. If you're interested in knowing more about the purpose of GTA, watch the video here.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Mobile Learning Resources
This site was created and is maintained by the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Mobile Learning Team. Additionally we provide a weekly newsletter to the military and government agencies. The archives for the newsletter are publicly available here.
The ADL Mobile Learning Team’s vision is to be the source of information and support for DoD mobile learning initiatives. Effective usage of handheld devices can bring us closer to improved personalized learning—the right learning resources and performance aids, to the right person at the right time and place.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Why Use Google Spreadsheets?
There are lots of reasons that you might use Google Spreadsheets instead of Microsoft’s Excel or SPSS. As a teaser for this week’s Faculty Friday, here are a narrow set of the benefits you’ll find with Spreadsheets.
A great demonstration of Creative Commons by Darren Draper
As not every teacher understands how to implement the Creative Commons into their curriculum, I thought I'd take a minute to explain how I would use it if I was in their shoes.
Th ebattle between Schools and Web 2.0 tools
Many school systems have discovered that Web 2.0 tools such as blogging, social networking, and collaborative authoring software can help create participatory learning environments—but the gap between schools that have embraced these tools and those that have not is still large.
A new monograph from the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) profiles six school districts—Birdville Independent School District in Texas, New Canaan Public Schools in Connecticut, Michigan’s Westwood Cyber High School, Georgia’s Forsyth County Schools, Barrington 220 in Illinois, and White Oak Independent School District in Texas—and examines how those districts are using Web 2.0 tools to align school policies and practices with global education goals.
“Web 2.0 as a Force for School Transformation: A Tale of Six Districts,” part of the 2010 CoSN Compendium, contains profiles of each district, an overview of some of the Web 2.0 tools that each uses, and a librarian’s perspective on the role that school media centers play in adopting Web 2.0 strategies. The profiles also address filtering policies as they relate to Web 2.0 content.
Classroom Management Tools
Few teachers are drawn to the profession for its administrative duties. But the reality of attendance taking, lesson planning, grading and parental communications is that they’re a big part of the job.
These tasks, however, need not take over. With help from the many online services and mobile apps designed for teachers, it can be easy to efficiently organize and complete classroom management responsibilities.
Here are five of our favorite virtual tools for tackling some of the most common classroom chores.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Moving forward with Google Apps
Over the past few weeks I have collected some great classroom resources surrounding the use of Google for various classroom activities. Here are a few of my favorites. (In no particular order. I don't want to make anyone jealous or anything...)
Using Twitter for professional development
Hundreds of educators from international schools around the world came to Nice, France, for the European Council of International Schools annual conference from Nov. 17 to 21. Teachers everywhere are grappling with how to integrate social media into their lesson plans, and many seem skeptical of the appeal of Twitter, let alone how it could be used for educational purposes.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Using Twitter to stay on top of education news
Tired of being the last to hear about education news? Try using Twitter to listen and learn!
Stories and Poems in mp3 format
Lit2Go is a free online collection of stories and poems in Mp3 (audiobook) format. You can:
- Download the files to your Mp3 player and listen on the go,
- Listen to the Mp3 files on your computer,
- View the text on a webpage and read along as you listen,
- Print out the stories and poems to make your own book.
Great List of Hashtags For Educators
I just read a post on Karlana's World regarding #hashtags for education - it's a great article and I encourage everyone to read it who is an active educator on twitter. You'll learn how to use #hashtags and how to monitor the most useful #hashtags for edcucation and learning.
Questions about how technology is changing learning
What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of using technology for learning? Are tech tools essentials, distractions or somewhere in between? How are other teachers using technology? What tech skills do today’s teachers need to use digital tools effectively?
We present a collection of Learning Network resources, Times multimedia and articles and useful outside links to help both digital immigrants and digital natives think through these questions.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Pens and Pencils should be banned from classrooms
10 Reasons to Ban Pens and Pencils in the Classroom
November 26, 2010 | 10:01 AM | By Katie Stansberry
According to a recent MSNBC article, 69% of high school currently ban cell phones. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a school anywhere that has enacted a blanket ban on pens and pencils. Here are 10 reasons to reconsider the widespread acceptance of these distracting and potentially dangerous implements.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Learning about how to blog - check out these great blogs
Graduating college is just the first step in a teacher's education. From required continuing education units to the learning you want to do to keep your teaching fresh, you probably find yourself on a continual quest for new information. This list of blogs for the classroom teacher is just one more way to find that ever-important knowledge. Read these blogs to find ways to bolster your lessons, learn how you can use technology in your classroom, stay on top of current education news and policy, or get resources for a specific subject.
Web Pased presentation ideas
Whether they're for clients, customers or colleagues, visual presentations are an unavoidable part of doing business. For years, Microsoft PowerPoint has been the standard bearer of slide presentation applications, but several Web-based alternatives have emerged.
For the most part, the alternatives offer similar functionality to PowerPoint, sometimes more, sometimes less. One obvious advantage to Web-based presentations is that they're stored in the cloud, eliminating the potential for nightmare scenarios involving lost or corrupted thumb drives.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Free Presentation Videos from Tech-Ed
If you've ever been lucky enough to get to Tech·Ed, you'll know that some of the best technical presenters are there, presenting some of the most useful technical content for IT managers. Each year over 100 people from UK educational institutions travel out to it (this year, it was in Berlin), but I know that many, many more people want to attend, but simply can't get sign off for the costs.
A dropbox manual
Dropbox is a very useful tool to store online files, sync your computers and mobile devices and share files. With all those capabilities it makes it a natural tool for educators!
Going Google
Getting Google Apps accounts for your school is an increasingly attractive proposition. This free, online suite of tools offers schools the chance to centralize all their academic efforts under one school-managed online domain. It is highly interactive, and positively encourages collaboration. It has benefits for both staff and students and is instantly familiar and easy to learn. Here's what you can expect to get if your school signs up for this versatile online solution.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Videos and lectires - why leave home for school?
750+ Online Courses, 18400+ Videos from Top 30+ Universities on 35+ Categories
Mobile Learning - a hot topic
According to a recent national survey, access to mobile technology in the classroom has more than tripled among high schools students in the past three years—and even more interesting, parents say they are more likely to purchase a mobile technology device for their child if it’s for classroom use.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Ten Top Technology Tools for Teachers
These tools are all free, easy to use, easy to access and can be used in any subject at any age to enhance the learning experience.
Monday, November 15, 2010
8 Awesome Utilities for Extending iCal | Mac.AppStorm
Social Learning Tools for the School Classroom (ages 5-18)
This is a new page of the Directory showing SOCIAL tools particularly targeted at (or very useful) for the primary, junior, middle and secondary school classrooms.
Friday, November 12, 2010
A Teachers Guide to Facebook
You can’t swing a stick in social media without hitting something on Facebook. Same goes for education. You can’t talk about how technology is revolutionizing education without mentioning Facebook. It’s a simple service to figure out but what about once you become a regular user?
Video Web Sites for Teachers
Learning can come from books, or it can come from streaming TV interviews about books and authors. Video produced by universities, major television networks and organizations all provide entertaining and enlightening shows, lectures and films that can enhance learning experiences for students of all ages. The following top 40 sources for open courseware videos (meaning they are no charge and educational) are categorized and listed in alphabetical order within those categories.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Mobile Tools for Teachers
It is a common-known fact that teaching is a labor of love for most educators. They are overworked and under-appreciated and many of them spend their own money, time and energy to improve their students’ education. With all of the new mobile tools on the market today, teachers can more easily work from satellite locations, share educational resources and access school-related data directly from their cell phones. Here are 100 mobile tools for teachers that make the grade.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Do Podcasts Help Students Learn?
Before George Washington University renewed its iTunes U contract, the administration wanted to know how the podcasts impacted student learning and engagement.
In fall 2009, the university's Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning studied a world history class of 262 students to find the answer.
But the answer isn't yes or no — the answer depends on the student's learning style, gender and motivation.
“If your goal is to find a magic bullet that makes all students better, this isn’t it," said Hugh Agnew, a professor from the Elliott School of International Affairs who taught the course. "But If your goal is to reach some students better that maybe you aren’t reaching so terribly well, then I think this is worth trying.”
6 Free Sites for Creating Your Own Comics
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Survey: Mobile learning at a tipping point | Mobile and Handheld Technologies | eSchoolNews.com
12 videos to spark educators’ thinking | Dangerously Irrelevant
Monday, November 01, 2010
Twiducate.com - Social Networking For Schools
Blecko - a new search engine
blekko is a better way to search the web by using slashtags. slashtags search only the sites you want and cut out the spam sites. use friends, experts, community or your own slashtags to slash in what you want and slash out what you don't.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Schoology Aims to Fix One of the Greatest Pain Points of Education
Friday, October 29, 2010
100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in Your Classroom
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/
Facebook isn’t just a great way for you to find old friends or learn about what’s happening this weekend, it is also an incredible learning tool. Teachers can utilize Facebook for class projects, for enhancing communication, and for engaging students in a manner that might not be entirely possible in traditional classroom settings. Read on to learn how you can be using Facebook in your classroom, no matter if you are a professor, student, working online, or showing up in person for class.
101 Ways to Use Twitter on Campus
http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/09/14/101-ways-to-use-twitter-on-campus/
Twitter is known as a great networking and self-promotion tool, but it’s also a useful service for your campus community. Teachers, administrators and students can all use Twitter for study help, group projects, catching up on news around the world and on campus, public relations and recruitment, library announcements, and a lot more. Here are 100 ways to use Twitter on campus.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
6 Free Sites for Creating Your Own Animations
http://mashable.com/2010/10/27/create-animations-online/
The long and illustrious history of moving pictures all started with the zoetrope. Then there was the thaumatrope, the flip book, and my personal favorite, the phenakistoscope. And now we have (drumroll please): The Internet......
Friday, October 22, 2010
100 Incredibly Useful YouTube Channels for Teachers | Online College Courses
Thursday, October 21, 2010
RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms
9 Safety Tips for Podcasting in the Classroom – SimpleK12
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
iLearn Technology » Blog Archive » 31 of My Favorite Digital Storytelling Sites
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Rubric for Evaluating Student Blogs - ProfHacker - The Chronicle of Higher Education
100 Serious Twitter Tips for Academics | Best Colleges Online
Education Article :: 100+ Google Tricks for Teachers
Sunday, October 10, 2010
50 Excellent Open Courses on Teaching With Technology
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Texting and Teachers Experimenting with Technology: 10 Resources | Teacher Reboot Camp
10 Benefits of Mobile Devices for Learning « Mobile Learning Blog
Monday, September 27, 2010
Five Free 21st Century Presentations by David Kapuler
Free Technology for Teachers: 47 Alternatives to Using YouTube in the Classroom
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Best Embeds for Educational Wikis and Blogs
Friday, September 24, 2010
28 Video Websites To Upgrade Your Knowledge | Creative Magazine
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Eyejot :: What's Eyejot?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Mac Freeware All-Stars: Our 10 Best in Category Picks | Mac.AppStorm
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Tools to help!
NoodleTools provides innovative software that teaches students and supports teachers and librarians throughout the entire research process
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org: Free ePub solutions for Your Nook
Teachers and Students in Control - 4 Media Creating Sites
Full List - 50 Best Websites 2010 - TIME
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
YouTube - Dr. Bena Kallick Video Blog-Technology In The Classroom.wmv
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Bittersweet News for Social Media in Education | Edutopia
Friday, August 20, 2010
Mobile Trends, E-books, and the Web « The Xplanation
Weblogg-ed » Unlearning Teaching
Langwitches Blog » 21st Century Learning
Monday, August 16, 2010
iPad Quiz Maker
ProProfs is an advanced, free quiz maker offering more features than you might expect. Advanced options like security, scoring, time limits & more make this online quiz software perfect for corporations, educational institutions and just for fun. This free quiz maker is 100% safe for use in educational environment with Family-safe advertisements in the free version. If you are looking for a test generator, exam maker or a causal quiz creator, ProProfs fits the need. Make your own online quiz now with many options at your disposal.
Sonic Pics for iPod (and iPad)
This app allows you to narrate over pictures in your photo gallery. It’s very simple to start a project, choose pictures then record the narration to accompany your pictures. You change between photos by swiping your finger across the screen.
What matters about 21st Century Learning
Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 1 : 2¢ Worth
The only thing that is one to one that we should be concerned with is equitable access to rigorous, relevant, and irresistible learning experiences that reflect and harness the times, environment, and ultimate goals of the learning.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Schools making use of iPads
Forget laptops. The North Adams Public Schools are hoping the latest form of innovative handheld technology -- the Apple iPad -- will entice at-risk students to improve their grades and graduate on time.
The school district is piloting a new program aimed at helping students earn credits for classes they’ve failed through learning modules specifically created for the iPad.
Access iPad and iPod documents when offline
Cloud storage and collaboration platform Box.net has just updated its iPhone and iPad application with support for offline downloads and background processing in iOS 4.
Creating content with iPads
I am sick of people saying that the iPad is for consuming and not creating online digital content. There is no doubt that the iPad is a great device to browse the web, read an eBook and check email (consuming) but it can do so much more than that. You will see from my list below that the iPad is far superior to the laptop in a lot of different areas of digital content creation.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Technology takes formative assessment to a whole new level
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/08/04/technology-takes-formative-assessment-to-a-whole-new-level/
Student response system (SRS) technology has caught on in classrooms nationwide as a tool for boosting class participation, as well as helping teachers ensure that students understand what’s being taught before they move on to another concept. But the current generation of the technology has its limitations.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Anthologize
Anthologize is a free, open-source, plugin that transforms WordPress 3.0 into a platform for publishing electronic texts. Grab posts from your WordPress blog, import feeds from external sites, or create new content directly within Anthologize. Then outline, order, and edit your work, crafting it into a single volume for export in several formats, including—in this release—PDF, ePUB, TEI.
http://anthologize.org/
Monday, August 02, 2010
A wordle replacement
Tagxedo turns words -- famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes, even your love letters -- into a visually stunning tag cloud, words individually sized appropriately to highlight the frequencies of occurrence within the body of text.
Screencast
Now you can create screencasts for your followers as easily as you tweet. Just click the record button and you’ll have your ready-to-tweet screencast in seconds.
Seven Ways to Find Teachers on Twitter
Free Technology for Teachers: Seven Ways to Find Teachers on Twitter
More Web 2.0 Resources
The list below is an ever expanding list of free resources, now over a 100 tools, that can be used in a classroom either by students or teachers. Each utility has a review and I provide a link to the site so that you can download the tool should you wish to use it. I will endeavour to keep the links up to date, but am not responsible for any site or service mentioned below. Please use them on an as you find it basis.
iPad Second Thoughts
Well, at the moment it’s more a case of what am I not doing with it. Here’s the software I’m currently making most use of:
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
iPad apps - and teaching with Mobile devices
In spite of being involved with technology in one way or another for most of my working career, I’ve never been much of a gadget guy. So, I was a bit surprised when I saw the iPad and immediately felt like I had to have one.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
More Screencasting
Screenjelly is a free web-based tool that allows anyone to quickly create a screencast video. To use Screenjelly all you need to do is go to Screenjelly.com and click the big red "record" button. Once clicked Screenjelly will begin recording your screen and your voice (if you choose) for up to three minutes. When you're done recording press "stop" and you can then share your video on Twitter and other social networks. You can also embed your Screenjelly recording into your blog or website.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Simple Diagrams
Simple Diagrams offers a free tool that anyone can use to create diagrams using a combination of clip art, text, and free hand drawings. Simple Diagrams provides a large selection of shapes and drawings that you can drag and drop into your diagrams. You can adjust the size of each element you place in your diagram. Any element can also be altered by using the pencil drawing tool. The pencil tool can also be used to create a drawing from scratch.
Google Training
Google Apps Education Edition offers a free (and ad-free) set of customizable tools that enable faculty, staff and students to work together and learn more effectively
Digital Storytelling with the iPad
Digital Storytelling can transform your students' writing into a visual masterpiece that is filled with voice and emotion, while enhancing critical thinking skills. The iPad takes digital storytelling to a new level by making the process easier, and even more engaging for students of all grade levels as well as for their teachers.
Friday, July 02, 2010
In defence od PowerPoint
The presentation software has become a target of comedians and critics. The problem isn't PowerPoint, but how presenters abuse it
Join an educational technology group - collaborate!
Edutopia Community Groups
Our community welcomes all teachers, administrators, parents, and others who are passionate about improving education.
Where do you rank - wuiz on your Technology Integration
WHERE ARE YOU IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM? Are tech tools improving your teaching or just a distraction? The quiz below will rank you on our technology integration scale and provide you with smart tips to extend your tech comfort zone.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Aviary - Tools
Friday, June 04, 2010
ELI Discovery Tool: Collaborative Learning Workshop Guide | EDUCAUSE
HOW TO: Make a Great How-To Video
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Free Technology for Teachers: 100 Ways to Use VoiceThread in Education
Easy Google Apps Management with Gpanion | Web.AppStorm
Learning with 'e's: Movements for change
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Reframing Google's Search Options: The Poster, by Joyce Kasman Valenza
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Welcome to NBC Learn
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Shareaholic for Google Chrome - The best way to share, tweet, bookmark, save and e-mail webpages
Friday, May 21, 2010
Deleting Facebook
Are you confused by the myriad changes Facebook keeps making to its privacy settings? Are you angry about your data being exposed without your express consent? Are you just fed up and not going to take it anymore?
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Online Learning: A Continuum of Opportunity
NAIS 21st Century Curriculum/Technology Task Force
Online Learning: A Continuum of Opportunity
Critical Questions for School Leaders
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tired of lecturing?
Fifty Alternatives to Lecture
Researched by J. Prusch and written and adapted by A.M. Pickett.
Almost any activity can be designed to be carried out in some way or another for an online course. Most important is that the instructor must set up the activity with all the supporting and explanatory documentation necessary for the students to understand fully what they are to do, when, where in the course they are to do it, what is expected specifically, and how they will be evaluated. Areas in the course must be designed and set up in advance by the instructor to account for and accommodate, explain, model, and evaluate each activity. Below are some ideas to get you thinking about what is possible and how. For help implementing any of these ideas in your course, contact your assigned instructional design partner.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Open Course in Education Futures #edfuture
I am participating in this free eight week course - it looks to be an interesting experience. The first orientation and lecture is available online. Stay tuned to get more information.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Mandatory Reading for School Reformers and Transformers: Alvin Toffler’s 2007 Interview in EduTopia
James Daly's 2007 interview with Alvin Toffler, "Reshaping Learning from the Ground Up," should be considered mandatory reading for anyone seeking to reform and/or transform formal education in the 21st century.
Monday, April 19, 2010
RCampus - Create and Conduct Courses Online
RCampus - Create and Conduct Courses Online
RCampus is a free, web-based, platform for creating and conducting courses online. Using RCampus teachers can create a course, collect students' assignments, and maintain a gradebook. RCampus provides all of the tools you would expect to find in an online course management system. Through RCampus you can post assignments, host discussion forums, post videos, post images, post links, collect assignments, and manage a gradebook.
Report profiles key emerging technologies for K-12
The New Media Consortium (NMC) today released the 2010 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition, the second in an annual series of reports focused on emerging technology use in elementary and secondary education. The report identifies and describes six emerging technologies that will likely have a significant impact on K-12 education in the next one to five years.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Ning: Failures, Lessons and Six Alternatives
Ning, the network of social networks that boasted 20 million visitors a month, is making massive staff cutbacks and has announced a complete end to free services for its users. Those who pay for premium services will be asked to pay more, and those who are getting their social networks free of charge will be asked to fork over or phase off the Ning platform.
Save My Ning
Save My Ning is an archive service that will allow you to backup your existing Ning Network on our webservers for free. We will host ads on the sites in order to cover the cost much like your Ning Network had ads. However, you will not be able to post to your archive, only read it. For continuing your community, we recommend any of the services listed to the side.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Replacing Etherpad with TypeWith.Me
Source: Jane’s eLearning Pick of the Day
Site: TypeWith.Me
There is a super simple and ultra functional website called Etherpad. Etherpad allows you to create a document that multiple people can edit at once. It can be handy for collaboration with other teachers, creating a super-simple wiki page and a few dozen other uses. There are other sites which allow similar functionality, but what sets etherpad apart is that you can create and share a new page without an account (type in to your browser http://etherpad.com/xxx where xxx=what you want your page to be titled). Another thing that sets etherpad apart is the simple chat function in the bottom corner of the page. It allows users to discuss things before they set them down on the page.
So if etherpad is so great, why would you ever use anything that was similar? Well, etherpad was purchased by google (have you heard of them?) and the technology behind the product is going to be used in other products that google offers.
Google will not be keeping etherpad up and running, but to their credit they have made the source code available to other designers. The first (that I’m aware of) replacement is TypeWith.Me and is linked up at the top of the page. You can navigate to the site and create a pad (or you can place http://typewith.me/xxx in your brower’s URL bar, where xxx is your desired title) and start collaborating on shared documents!
If you want to just ’see’ what a pad looks like before you create one, click here:
http://typewith.me/tablettalk
There are likely to be be more and more etherpad replacement on the horizon. Enjoy.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom by Alan November
Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom by Alan November
Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom by Alan November from Brian Mull on Vimeo.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Google for Educators: The Best Features for Busy Teachers
Among all the links and downloads out there, it can be hard for teachers to know which ones work best. Google has made it easier by creating Google for Educators, which compiles some of the search engine's most useful features in one place. Whether you're teaching Spanish or social studies, mathematics or music, there's a free Google feature that will make your lessons more dynamic and your projects more organized. The lively, informative Web site offers step-by-step visual tours and even videos to help you get set up. Below are some of the most useful features the site has to offer:
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Guiding students on the web
JOG THE WEB is a web-based tool that allows anyone to create a synchronous guide to a series of web sites.
Its step by step approach of taking viewers through web sites allowing the author to annotate and ask guiding questions for each page is unique.
Give it a try and start creating your own Jogs.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tools to create digital stories
The Fifty Tools
Below you will find 50+ web tools you can use to create your own web-based story. Again, the mission is not to review or try every single one (that would be madness, I know), but pick one that sounds interesting and see if you can produce something. I have used each tool to produce an example of the original Dominoe story, plus links are provided, where available, to examples by other people. Please share your own examples or thoughts in the discussion area of this wiki.
But before rummaging around the toolbox, have you done your prep work? Do you have your story idea or presentation concept outlined, developed? This should be on paper or in a document file or scribbled on the back of a napkin, but do not rely on making it up as you go! If not, go back 2 spaces and do this now. Next- do you have your media assets available, your images, video clips, audio files-- if not go find your media now.
A New way to Blog?
Glogster EDU is your original educational resource for innovative and interactive learning. Glogster EDU was conceived to imaginatively, productively, and collaboratively respond to the dynamic educational landscape and exceed the needs of today’s educators and learners. We value the participation of educators and strive to assimilate their contributions to Glogster EDU, Glogster EDU is yours! Educators from all over the world are integrating Glogster EDU’s resourceful platform to make traditional learning more dynamic, more interactive and more in tune with learners today. Most importantly Glogster EDU is FUN for teachers and learners alike!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
100 Apps for Tech–Savvy Teachers
Teachers have one of the most difficult jobs out there. As an educator, you have to manage a classroom of boisterous students, organize heaps of data, stay up–to–date with current events and plan lessons day in and day out. In today’s technologically linked world, the ability to use web applications is at your advantage as an educator, and we are here to tell you the best tools to use. So if you teach at an online college, or in a traditional classroom, here is a collection of 100 web and iPhone applications that make the grade for tech–savvy teachers:
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Letter to an administrator
Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Dear Administrator: Focus
Dear Administrator: Focus
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Online Professional Learning - Recordings Available
In January 2010, the Department offered a program of free, online conferences to support teacher professional learning. The program of web conferences covered the domains of Literacy, Maths, Science and ICT.
A synopsis and an online recording of each session are available via the links below.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Nine Myths about Public Schools
None of this will likely strike you as particularly new, but it might be good to have a bunch of myths lined up and debunked all in one place.