Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Edistorm - Virtual Sticky Notes

Edistorm
Edistorm takes away the idea of sticky notes on a wall and makes it virtual. Brainstorm, think out ideas alone or with friends; plan out anything you like with Edistorm. Use virtual sticky notes in Edistorm to come up with a multitude of ideas all on one site.  There is also an APP available for smart phones.

View an introductory video:
http://www.edistorm.com/users/welcome

On the surface, Edistorm reminds me of WallwisherEdistorm has some additional features and abilities that make it very useful in the classroom.  Just like Wallwisher, you brainstorm and collaborate using virtual sticky notes.  Edistorm gives you a place to organize ideas in a real-time interactive wall.  Virtual sticky notes can each have their own color and can be organized in vertical or horizontal groupings.  Edistorms can be created independently or with others in a collaborative effort.  Edistorm features an idea bot that works at the bottom of the screen offering suggested ideas based on what students add to the sticky notes in the work space.  There are a variety of bots including a rhyming bot, thesaurus, and related words.  Creating public and solo storms is always free. Creating private storms requires a subscription.
  
Edistorm in the classroom: Edistorm offers an opportunity for students to brainstorm, collaborate, and group ideas.  Students can use Edistorm to brainstorm ideas for writing, research, for grouping ideas, and collaborating on group projects. Create an Edistorm for your students and ask them to group like ideas, sort, and expand on thoughts.  This could be done for any historical event, literature, science concept, and even phonics.  Students could practice spelling by typing out their spelling words along with a sentence or synonyms on sticky notes.  Then, they can group words by spelling pattern or common phoneme blends.  Create an Edistorm of sticky notes with English words and sticky notes with a foreign language word on them.  Students can work together to group words with their meanings.   In math, create Edistorms with word problems on one color of sticky note and answers on another set of sticky notes.  Students can work to create groups of problems and their solutions.  Edistorm can be used for whole class activities using an interactive whiteboard, the class can brainstorm together and collect ideas or use the grouping feature in an activity created by the teacher or students.
Tip: Edistorm requires an email address for sign up. 

Monday, November 28, 2011

EVERNOTE - Free notetaking app for your computer, your phone and your iPad.

Evernote allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere.
Website:   http://www.evernote.com             Cost:   Free
Evernote makes it easy to remember things big and small from your notable life using your computer, phone, and the web.
Getting Started Guide:http://www.evernote.com/about/getting_started/
Evernote is a free note taking app that works on any device; computer, phone, iPad, the web and syncs automatically. Because of the multiple ways you can capture information to make notes it is a must have classroom app.  If you have an iPad 2 with a Smart Cover, Evernote Peek is a free app designed to help you study, learn and strengthen your memory.  Learn how to get started using Evernote and Evernote Peek and discover powerful classroom application for teaching and learning with these free apps!
Drag and drop images into notes using the Evernote desktop client
Do a screen capture of content from your computer or the web using the Evernote desktop client
Create an audio note with your computer or mobile device
Snap a picture to create a note with your mobile device or computer webcamEmail notes to your Evernote account

Other ways to create notes:

Monday, November 21, 2011

GeoCube - World of Geography


Geocube…… re-inventing the way to explore Geography and our Earth...

The world of Geography at your fingertips and just a mouse click away!

Geocube is an attractive online resource about Geography. Geocube is based on the principle of the Rubik Cube with six faces and 54 topics. It is a virtual and easily accessible website which is available online for free. Move the Geocube around with your mouse and explore the faces and topics.  Geocube provides an accessible way to read, see and watch what Geography is and geographers do. This is a European initiative developed by HERODOT, the European Network for Geography in Higher Education and is available to anyone who is interested in Geography.
Learning about Geography has rarely been more fun.


Great for Geography and/or
Earth Science classes

Be sure and click on "How to Use."  This is a very short video on how to move the cube around for information.  The six side general topics are listed below:




Friday, November 18, 2011

ClassTools.net

Create free educational games, quizzes, activities and diagrams in seconds!
Host them on your own blog, website or intranet!
No signup, no passwords, no charge!

Templates:

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Diigo - Social Bookmarking and More!


Diigo - Social Bookmarking
Awesome cloud-based information management tool that enables users to collect, highlight, access and share a variety of information, on a variety of devices.


 
Website:    www.diigo.com
Cost: Free
Availability: Online



Use Diigo to:
    • Save important websites and access them on any computer.
    • Categorize websites by titles, notes, keyword tags, lists and groups.
    • Search through bookmarks to quickly find desired information.
    • Save a screenshot of a website and see how it has changed over time.
    • Annotate websites with highlighting or virtual "sticky notes."
    • View any annotations made by others on any website visited.
    • Share websites with groups or the entire Diigo social network.
    • Comment on the bookmarks of others or solicit comments to your shared bookmarks.

To learn more about how Diigo can be used as as information management tool, visit these pages:

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

PicLits - Poetry


PicLits.com is a creative writing site that matches beautiful images with carefully selected keywords in order to inspire you. The object is to put the right words in the right place and the right order to capture the essence, story, and meaning of the picture.

Images

Choose any image to create your PicLit—a photo plus words—by clicking on it from the carousel at the top of the home page or using the image featured on the home page. You can speed up the carousel by holding your mouse over the arrows at either end. If you would like to see all the carousel images at once, you can click on the "SEE MORE" link on the right side of the carousel.

Drag-n-Drop

If you need some extra inspiration for creating your PicLit, you can use the Drag-n-Drop customized keywords underneath the photo, kind of like refrigerator magnets.
  • To create your PicLit, hold your cursor over any keyword or universal word.
  • Click and hold to select the word.
  • Drag the word to where you want it to be on the photo.
  • Unclick to place the word.
  • Once a word is placed on the photo, you may select capitalization and conjugation options from the drop-down arrow.
  • If you change your mind about a word, you can just drag-n-drop it back into the keyword list.
  • A keyword may only be used once in a PicLit. Universal words and punctuation may be used multiple times.
  • If you want to erase all the words and start over, simply click on “New PicLit” on the right-hand side.
  • When you are satisfied with your PicLit, click on the “Save” icon to save it to your account and have it appear in the Gallery. You can also email your PicLit to a friend or post it to your Facebook profile. In order to save or post a PicLit, it must have words on it.

Freestyle

If you would like more freedom with the creation of your PicLit, you can click on the Freestyle button to access the same picture with a text box where you can type anything you choose.
  • Use your space bar and Enter key to position the words in the text box where you want them to appear on the photo.
  • If you want to erase all the words and start over, click on “New PicLit” on the right-hand side.
  • When you are satisfied with your PicLit, click on the “Save” icon to save it to your account and have it appear in the Gallery. You can also email your PicLit to a friend or post it to your Facebook profile. In order to save or post a PicLit, it must have words on it.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Blogs That Will Make You a Better Teacher


General Teaching Blogs to Follow...

Life-Long Learners!  We are!  Teachers are the prime example of this philosophy.  Every day there are new and exciting ways to integrate lesson plans and create inviting atomosphere in the classroom.  With the social media explosion, we can subscribe to Blogs and learn new useable ideas.  The following are some recommended Blogs for General Teaching. Subscribe to their blog by clicking on an RSS feed button and read at your leisure. Also, most Blogs now have Twitter buttons so that you can tweet the Blog.
Check out these teaching blogs that offer invaluable tips for everything in the classroom.
    1. Teacher Magazine Blog : This is a great resource for teachers and provides links to webinars for creative teaching methods
    3. World of Learning : If the relationship between education and politics interests you, you’ll be glued to your seat with this amazing blog that strives for innovative teaching methods.
    4. New Tech Network Blog : New Tech Network works with districts across the country to bring forth a new wave of teaching in public schools. Read about their endeavors and philosophy at this blog.
    5. Classroots : Written by a teacher at a charter school, this blog shows the new face (and possible future) of teaching.

    6. Strive Together : This site stems from an organization making changes in Ohio public education, but their tactics and workshops provide something all educators can learn from.
    7. Joanne Jacobs : This fantastic education blog touches on all aspects of the industry and will get you thinking.
    8. Politics K-12 : If you’re a primary school teacher, bookmark this site for updates and news on policies that effect you.
    9. Great Schools Blog : This non-profit organization aims to bring parents and teachers together for a better education experience for students.
    10. Edwize : We love this blog because it incorporates some education policy alongside smart teaching techniqes.
    11. Change.org – Education : From analyzing the purpose of certain college courses to teaching grade school teachers how to utilize technology, this blog touches on many aspects of teaching.
    12. The Future of Education is Here : This site aims to prep teachers for the digital age of teaching.
    13. Brainstorm – The Chronicle of Higher Education : This blog discusses higher education for the most part, but also touches on teaching techniques that work across the board, no matter what age you’re educating.
    14. Edutopia : A busy discussion board and thought provoking articles will keep teachers new and old locked to this blog.
    15. The Education Optimists : From Race to the Top news and predictions to improving classroom conditions in low income areas.
    16. Set Our Teachers Free : Education reform and what changes should be made to the public school system is what you’ll find at this site.
    17. A Teacher’s Education : The scoop on teaching straight from the source, with tips to improve your methods in the classroom.
    18. Education Week – Teacher Beat : This site examines policies from around the nation and also touches on what districts are doing to improve student performance and test scores.
    19. Moore On the Page : This teacher isn’t afraid to tackle tough topics and discusses classroom teaching experiences that can inspire and enhance your own techniques.
    20. What It’s Like on the Inside : A fantastic blog for teachers who will can identify with the classroom chaos this blogger writes about and the great rewards it brings.
    21. National School Board Association – Board Buzz : How to help students succeed and achieve their goals is what this blog is all about.
    22. The New York Times – Lesson Plans : This blog no longer updates, but the archived stories of teachers chronicling their first experiences on the job still offer a fresh perspective that shows how education can improve.
    23. Democrats for Education Reform : This site examines education policies, specifically the Race to the Top plan.
    24. Eduwonk : Education reform and commentary from those in the system is what you’ll find at this blog.
    25. The ASCD Community Blog : This blog provided information on pushing the boundaries of conventional teaching and hosts podcasts that will enlighten even the most seasoned teacher.
    26. The Teacher’s Toolbox : Quick exercises to enhance student’s language and writing abilities can be found at this thoughtful blog.
    27. Speed of Creativity : For the teacher that loves to be on the forefront of new techniques and technology, this blog’s for you.
    28. Around the Corner : This blog focuses on the future of education through technology, but also discusses how to improve conventional teaching methods.
    29. National Journal Online : Take a hard-hitting look at education reform and policies at this blog.
    30. This Week In Education Penned by a former Senate education member, this site focuses on national education policy.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Spicy Nodes - Concept Map Presentation Tool


external link icon
Spicy Nodes is a concept map presentation tool that allows the users to link and embed pictures, websites, and more into the overall presentation. Easy to use and fun to show, Spicy Nodes is whole new way to present your information.
SpicyNodes provides an innovative means to add excitement to almost any area of study. As students become enamored with the presentation of their ideas, they increasingly focus on the quality of their work and develop the critical thinking skills necessary for the digital age.


Here is a Spicy Node ABOUT Spicy Nodes - This will give you a sense of how it works:
http://www.spicynodes.org/nodes.html

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Edmodo


external link icon
Edmodo is a secure social learning network for teachers and students. Edmodo gives libraries and classrooms a safe and easy place online to connect and collaborate, offering a location to share ideas and content, as well as access homework, grades and school notices.
Edmodo gives teachers a safe and easy place online to connect and collaborate, offering a location to share ideas and content.   It is the perfect forum for developing a relationship between  two schools or just within your classroom.
Some Suggested Ideas on using Edmodo:
  • Have students introduce themselves and post a short biography. From the biography, discuss internet safety and digital citizenship by talking about the items that we should and should not put online about ourselves. Focus on being responsible and safe on the internet in practice in the closed and safe environment that Edmodo provides.
  • Teach book reviews and have students write their own reviews. Students also suggest books to read as well.
  • Students create top ten lists. Top ten books, top ten video games, top ten authors. Host a book club. Once a month the book club can take place in person and then for the rest of the month discussions can take place on Edmodo. This creates an intimate reading community. Even if a student moves they can still take part in the reading group from wherever their new location is based.
  • Connect with students over the summer. Have a summer online book club. Students can sign up. Post a new book every three weeks, have new questions and new discussions.
  • Edmodo now has badges where users can create a special badge for their team or grade. Use the ones that Edmodo has in their selection or create your own. Educators do have the option to turn student comments on and off if there are any inappropriate comments. This is another way to reinforce online responsibility and good digital citizenship. Edmodo does have a gradebook for educators to use. It has a poll feature, and other assessment tools that can be used to the educator’s advantage. There are iPad and iPhone apps to make this site even more versatile for users.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Flickr -

What is Flickr?

Flickr is the best way to store, sort, search and share your photos online. Flickr helps you organize that huge mass of photos you have and offers a way for you and your friends and family to tell stories about them.

Take the Flickr Tour:
http://www.flickr.com/tour/

How many photos and videos can I upload for free?


When you have a free Flickr account, you can upload 2 videos and 300MB worth of photos each calendar month. If you need or want more each month, you may purchase a Pro Account for about $25/year.

Flickr is probably known to most of us...
 Give it a try or re-visit!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Learn the Periodic Table - 5 Resources for Students

And here are five resources for helping students
learn the Periodic Table.

Glaxo Smith Kline's Active Science offers fifteen interactive games covering a range of science topics. The Interactive Periodic Table is a game designed to help chemistry students practice identification of the elements. To play the game students are given some clues about an element's properties. Using those clues the student has to place the element in the correct place on the table.

The Elements is an interactive periodic table on which students can click an element and learn about that element. Clicking on an element describes all of the element's properties and the common uses of that element. If students just need a snap shot of information, simply placing their cursor on an element reveals a snap shot of information at the top of the page.

The Periodic Table of Videos is produced by The University of Nottingham. The table features a video demonstration of the characteristics of each element in the table. Each element in the Periodic Table displayed on the home page is linked to a video. The videos are hosted on YouTube, but don't worry The University of Nottingham provides an alternative server through which you should be able to view the videos.

The Periodic Table of Comic Books is a project of the chemistry department at the University of Kentucky. The idea is that for every element in the Periodic Table of Elements there is a comic book reference. Clicking on an element in the periodic table displayed on the homepage will take visitors to a list and images of comic book references to that particular element. After looking at the comic book reference if visitors want more information about a particular element they can find it by using the provided link to Web Elements.

The Dynamic Periodic Table is a good resource for science teachers and their students. The Dynamic Periodic Table works like this, click on an element and a window will pop up to tell you more detailed information about that element. The pop up windows cover properties, orbitals, isotopes and more. There are even links to more information, like the history of each element, for each element.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

JeopardyLABS




JeopardyLabs allows you to create a customized jeopardy template without PowerPoint. The games you make can be played online from anywhere in the world. Building your own jeopardy template is a piece of cake. Just use the simple editor to get your game up and running.  Not interested in building your own jeopardy templates? Well that's cool too. You can browse other jeopardy templates created by other people. It doesn't get any better than this!
I tried Cosmetology, Dental, Surgical and found jeopardy games already created!  Try your Lab or area of study first and see if there is a jeopardyLab already created. 
Everyone may use this website for free.  Browse the jeopardyLabs already created or create your own.  One drawback...If you want to be a member, you have to pay at least $1.00 to sign up to use JeopardyLabs through PayPal.  When signing up for an account, they automatically put in a $20 amount, but you can change this to $1 - I did try $0 - did not work, must be at least a $1.
BUT think of all the jeopardy games you may create or use some of those that are already created for your SMART Board!!!

No fees
No registration
No PowerPoint
Pasted from <http://jeopardylabs.com/>

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Comic Strip Builders - Bitstrips & Comic Life

Bitstrips
Create your own cartoon characters and comic strips using the items included in the drag-and-drop builders, with quite a bit of flexibility in what you can make, i.e. scenes, facial expressions, body langauge, cartoon panels, etc.
And it is FREE....

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Making comics is fun for everyone, and Comic Life makes it easy. Teachers and students will find Comic Life a very useful software tool, and now it's available for both Mac and Windows platforms.
Technology not only changes how we write, but it also changes what writing is. Education will need to re-evaluate which writing skills teachers should pass to their students. Digital graphic writing is one genre students need to be fluent. Comic Life is the "word processor" of digital graphic writing.

Inexpensive

Schools often don't have money to buy expensive software. At $19.95 for a single license, however, any teacher will find Comic Life a bargain, and administrators will find the cost of licensing Comic Life for labs affordable.


Comics in the Classroom:
100 Tips, Tools, and Resources for Teachers:   This link is to a page on TeachingDegree.com where Using Comics in the Classroom is discussed with many other links!
http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/07/05/comics-in-the-classroom-100-tips-tools-and-resources-for-teachers/

Monday, September 12, 2011

Welcome Back!!
New School Year...exciting!
Next week, Tuesday, September 20, I will start posting to this blog every Tuesday.

We will explore more Web 2.0 tools that will engage our students.
This summer, I did expand the Labels to include English, Social Studies, Math, Science and Career & Tech Labs.  When you click on one of these labels, you will see which of the Web 2.0 sites I recommend for each group.

Hope your school year is the Best!
See you next week.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Have a Fantastic Summer!!!

This summer I hope to put more tags on the Web 2.0 sites we already have . . . mainly academic tags, such as Science, Math, Social Studies, and English.  Then you will be able to click on your subject area and find only those Web 2.0 tools I recommend for your discipline.
Tech*Knowledge*Y Tips will return in September 2011 with a new Blog each week.  Thank you for your suggestions and comments!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

FreeRice

FreeRice
http://freerice.com/
is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. The site has two equally important goals. To provide education to everyone for free and to help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free. Students answer vocabulary questions and for each one they get right, rice is donated to feed the hungry. This is a great way to study vocab and help Change the World at the same time.
Just a website that we should not forget . . .
Use in the classroom the last 5 minutes!!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Got Brainy - SAT Prep / Vocabulary Builder

Got Brainy
is a vocabulary building site with a twist. Students and teachers can create or view mock-motivational-posters or videos for vocabulary words that often pair ironic or sarcastic images with a word and definition. This site might be best used with an upper-level High School English class studying for standardized tests. (SAT/ACT) However, it can be used for ESL students as well to pair images with new vocabulary words and simple definitions.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Exploratree - Interactive Thinking Guides

Exploratree
     http://www.exploratree.org.uk/
Exploratree is a free web resource where you can access a library of ready-made interactive thinking guides, print them, edit them or make your own. You can share them and work on them in groups too.

Thinking guides support the thinking or working through of an issue, topic or question and help to shape, define and focus an idea and also support the planning required to investigate it further. Exploratree guides can be used as a basis for whole class discussion, or emailed to individuals or groups to complete. They can also be used as a presentation tool to share your findings and thinking with others. As well as providing a set of ready to use thinking guides, which are completely customisable and shareable, Exploratree also enables teachers and students to create their own simply and easily.

Take a look at an introductory video:   http://www.exploratree.org.uk/movie.php

With Exploratree you can:
  • Use our ready-made thinking guides
  • Make a new thinking guide from scratch
  • Use it to set class projects
  • Print them out (they can go as big as A0)
  • Change and customise thinking guides, you can add or change text, shapes, images etc.
  • As a teacher, you can set up the sequence that you want the thinking guide to be revealed in, so that you can stage the thinking activity
  • You can fill in a thinking guide and complete your project on the website
  • You can present your project
  • You can send your thinking guide to a whole group of people
  • You can submit a thinking guide for comments, so it can't be edited but just reviewed
  • Work in groups on the same thinking guide

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

aMAP - "Argument Creator Map"

aMap is short for ‘argument map’.  The idea is very simple – to promote the art of arguing by mapping out complex debates in a simple visual format.
aMaps come in two different formats:
- Interactive personalised aMaps, which you can make here
- Printed pocket-sized aMap “argument guides”, which you can buy here

Using aMap in the classroom! 

At its heart, aMap is about helping people get to grips with complex issues and getting people to think –  ideal for use in the classroom for lessons like Critical Thinking and other philosophical based subjects . . .
The underlying structuring of aMaps is based around “informal logic” – this is the logic people use to argue in everyday life.  Informal logic has a four-tiered structure:
- Your position (I think ...) – what you think overall
- Propositions (Because ...) – reasons that support your position
- Arguments (As ...)– supporting arguments that back up each of your propositions- Evidence (Supported by . . .) – supporting evidence to back up your arguments

This critical thinking exercise for teachers focuses on helping students to develop arguments – all part of aMap’s critical thinking educational resources for teaching critical thinking in classrooms across schools and colleges.

The ability to develop a good argument is an essential skill to have in everyday life – whether for professional or personal reasons, the ability to argue well will get you a long way in life.
Start an Argument!!! 
 http://www.amap.org.uk/create/



Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Museum Box

 Museum Box

This site provides the tools for you to build up an argument or description of an event, person or historical period by placing items in a virtual box. What items, for example, would you put in a box to describe your life, the life of a tree or cell, the history of a career, the life of a Victorian Servant or Roman soldier, or to show that slavery was wrong and unnecessary? You can display anything from a text file to a movie. You can also view and comment on the museum boxes submitted by others.
MuseumBox is a cross curricular tool. It is particularly useful in areas of the curriculum where students have to assess, investigate or debate issues and explore and develop ideas.  In the Guidance for Teacher area, there are creative ways listed to use Museum Box in the classroom.

If you wish to review and approve your pupils' work then you will need to:
Register your school    Once you have been approved (can take up to 5 days) you can review their work.

Guidance for Teachers - Registration and creating student accounts

http://museumbox.e2bn.org/teachers/view.php?id=74


Thursday, April 21, 2011

Ice Breakers

 Ice Breakers 

http://www.icebreakers.ws/

This site features instructions to several play tested. high quality Free Icebreakers, fun games, and team building activities.
Works well for group facilitation, the first day of school, training programs and icebreakers for meetings of all kind.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Zentation

Zentation - Online Presentation with Video and Slides

The next best thing to being there live . . .
Zentation combines video and slides to create online presentations that best simulate the live experience. Easily create high-end webinars, webcasts, elearning, training and virtual events.

Basic features with social media tools.

Easily synchronize your video and PowerPoint slides together in a single presentation format. The Zentation player provides your audience with a simple outline of your presentation so they can access any part of it without having to wait for it to download completely. Viewers can even use the comment section to blog about your presentation.
  • Sharing a presentation is easy. Zentation provides thumbnail image links and embed code for a simple flash player that can be integrated into your blog or website.
How do I use the Zentation service (for free)?
  • Upload your video to YouTube or Slideshare.
  • Log into Zentation and create a new Account and "Add a New Presentation."
    • In the form, copy and paste the URL of your video from YouTube or Slideshare.
    • Then, upload your PowerPoint file or link a Slideshare slide deck.
    • Finally, you can use our ZenSync™ tool to provide precise start timings for each graphic in your presentation.
   See how this works . . .

 CLICK on PLAY

Uses in the Classroom -
Videotape your lesson presentation . . . 
Students can review or see the lesson from the day they were absent with you talking and the slides you presented!