TechSpire

Sharing some FREE mobile apps for iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches

2012-01-08T12:17:00.000-05:00

Using mobile devices in the classroom is a very popular trend in education today, especially with the "Bring Your Own Device" initiative. With school budgets on the chopping block, I am constantly on the look out for FREE apps for Apple's line of mobile devices... iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches. I have put together some sites to share the FREE mobile apps that I have found using a great resource called Symbaloo. Please feel free to add a comment and share some of the free apps that you have found.

Here is how you can access the resources....

A page on my blog that lists all of the links...

My profile on Symbaloo that lists all of the links...

Integrated Arts Apps

Accessibility Apps

Student Productivity Apps

Social Studies Apps

Science Apps

Language Arts Apps

Teacher Productivity Apps

Math Apps

Word Completion, Text to Speech, Convert to Spoken Track in iTunes... Cool Tools for the Mac

2011-12-19T18:59:00.000-05:00

Today I attended the New Hampshire IHE Conference on Educational and Assistive Technology Uses of iPads sponsored by Apple Inc. and co-sponsored by Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH), NHTI - Concord's Community College, New Hampshire AFT, New Hampshire NEA, and New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators.

I learned a lot about using iPads for assistive technology devices in education. However, I wanted to take the time to highlight a few accessibility tools I learned about that are available on the Mac computers... Word Completion, Text to Speech and Convert to Track in iTunes. You can visit Apple's website for more information about theses tools and more in their literacy and learning section.... http://www.apple.com/accessibility/macosx/literacylearning.html

Here is what I learned...

Word Completion

http://www.apple.com/accessibility/macosx/literacylearning.html

By pressing the escape key when you are typing, you activate the word completion tool. It is similar to the auto spell checkers that show up in browsers and mobile devices. So far... when I have been trying this out... I noticed that it only worked in text edit and iWork applications. It did not work in Microsoft Office. That shouldn't be a problem... you can convert iWork files to Microsoft Office files without a problem.

Text to Speech

Screen Shot of the Speech Preferences

Go into the System Preferences and click on Speech. In the text to speech tab, check on "speak selected text when the key is presses" - the default is option-esc - but you can customize that. When you are working in any application on the Mac, highlight the text, and press option-esc and the text will be read aloud. The default voice is Alex - I would recommend staying with that voice... it is the most "human-like" where he speaks with intonation and fluency.

Add to iTunes as a Spoken Track

http://www.apple.com/accessibility/macosx/literacylearning.html

In any application, highlight the text, click on the application main menu and choose "add to iTunes as a spoken track." You will then get an audio file of the text. When you do this you are allowed to name the track and to choose the voice. So cool!

Think of the possibilities these tools have in classroom! Enjoy!

Quiet Tube - Helpful tool for schools

2011-12-13T18:12:00.001-05:00

YouTube has a lot of great resources for the classroom if you can get past the adds, comments, recommendations, etc. Here is a tool to help... Quitetube (http://quietube.com/) Quite tube is a bookmark you can add to your browser. When you find a video on YouTube, you can click the bookmark and it will open the video in a new window without all of the distractions. You can then send out that link or even shorten the link! Here is a video that shows you what it is all about....

http://youtu.be/eEaaLFzEXhI

Educational Twitter Chat Calendar

2011-11-28T20:08:00.001-05:00

Thank you to Free Technology Tools for Teachers for finding this awesome resource!

"Social Media Tools in the Classroom" Workshop Page

2011-11-13T10:48:00.004-05:00

I have created another page to this blog... "Social Media Tools the Classroom" Workshop Page. This page contains links and information that was covered during the workshop.

Click here to visit the page.

Image From: http://carenetworks.com/Portals/62350/images//social%20icon%20collage.jpg

Creating Playlists in YouTube

2011-11-13T10:16:00.002-05:00

So I have been collecting how to videos to show the students in my college class. Rather than providing them the links to all of them, I created a playlist on YouTube. Now all I have to do is share the URL of the playlist. There is also a feature to embed the playlist... below you will see the videos that I have added to the playlist. The videos will loop together... click play!

Click here to see the whole playlist on YouTube.

A Lesson Plan Voki

2011-11-05T22:31:00.000-04:00

"Google Tools in the Classroom" Workshop Page

2011-10-15T14:59:00.003-04:00

I have created another page to this blog... "Google Tools for the Classroom" Workshop Page. This page contains links and information that was covered during the workshop.

My PLN - How am I sharing?

2011-10-05T18:47:00.005-04:00

I have added a new page to this blog.... it is a list of how I am sharing resources on the Web. I hope you consider adding me to your PLN.... Comment below and tell me who's on your PLN! To find the page, click on the tab in the blue bar across the top or click here.

Back in Action

2011-10-03T21:03:00.003-04:00

So I am back from a hiatus! I am now in a new role. I am the Computer Technology Educator at the PreK-Grade 4 Level. Stay tuned for some new ideas!

More Ideas for Summer

2011-06-14T08:20:00.003-04:00

To compliment my May/June Technotes... Free Technology for Teachers, posted this document with 77 Web resources to try this summer... check some of them out!

77 Web Resources for Teachers to Try This Summer

Click here to view it online, you can even download a PDF!

TechNotes: A Year in Review

2011-06-01T13:57:00.002-04:00

I have compiled all of the TechNotes newsletters into one document and posted them on issuu. If you read the newsletter on issuu, the links that are mentioned will be live. Happy reading!

Open publication - Free publishing - More education

Click here for the direct link to the eBook.

TechNotes - May/June 2011 - Summer Fun!

2011-06-01T13:18:00.002-04:00

Here is the May and June issue of TechNotes. This issue focuses on some ideas to help you learn about some new technology ideas and skills over the summer.

Click here to view the newsletter online.

Facebook in the Classroom

2011-05-23T14:09:00.002-04:00

I came across this Prezi about Facebook in the 1st grade classroom. What an interesting concept.

1st Grade Facebook on Prezi

Wibiya Toolbar

2011-05-20T14:17:00.003-04:00

I just added a new feature to the TechSpire Blog... the wibiya toolbar. Now you will see a toolbar show up across the bottom on the page. This toolbar contains buttons to connect a bunch of social media tools.... twitter, facebook, youtube, etc. It was very easy to create and add as a widget and it is a nice way to connect everything together.

Paintbrush - a FREE drawing app for the Mac

2011-05-17T13:37:00.004-04:00

I finally found it! A FREE drawing program for the mac! It is called Paintbrush! Click here to download it. I can't even tell you how easy it is to install and use! There are quite a few tools: paintbrush, line tool, text tool, shaped, spray paint, eraser, etc. You can also save your image in multiple image formats... .png, .jpg., etc. Below is the first picture I drew with Paintbrush.... it took me no time to learn how to use the program! The software is user friendly... perfect for any grade level!

Twitter Sheep

2011-04-21T08:08:00.003-04:00

Just came across this tool... Twitter Sheep! You type in your twitter name and it create a word cloud of your twitter account! A fun thing to see.... Here's my Twitter Sheep Cloud...

TechNotes Newsletter April 2011: Mac Apps

2011-04-19T10:30:00.003-04:00

Issue 08 of TechNotes - April 2011 is out! This month's TechNotes focuses on Free MacApps you can download on your Mac Computer through the Mac App Store. Click here to view the whole newsletter online.

A Google a Day

2011-04-18T09:12:00.004-04:00

I just came across this neat tool from Google... a Google a Day! A Google a Day gives you a new trivia question each day that you have to use Google to search for the answer.

So I tried it out today... the question had me search for how many rooms in The Palace of the Light and Faith and I had to figure out how many years it would take to sleep in each room. It was kind of fun.... and educational.... here's why....

I had to use some search strategies to find the information
I learned a little bit about culture when I was researching
I had to use logic and math skills to figure out the answer
I had to use problem solving and higher level thinking skills

What I liked the most is there was a link to show you how to find the answer and solve the problem. If explains what you need to type in the search box and what other things you need to do solve the problem. What a great way for students to be independent learners and learn how to problem solve!

How can this be used in education.... a lot of different ways....

Use as a class starter for your class - have it projected with an LCD projector - if students have their own devices they can search for the answer, if they do not, you can complete it as a whole class, or assign a group of students each day to work on it.
Assign it as a homework assignment
Use it for extra credit.... make it a little more challenging and have them explain how they found the answer using their own words!

**I have only explored this tool a little bit... the questions I have looked at appear to be appropriate for school. I would preview the questions ahead of time just to be on the safe side!

Voki - Animated Avatar

2011-04-13T09:46:00.002-04:00

So while looking for a new activity for the multimedia week in my Instructional Technology course that I teach, I have decided to use an online tool called Voki. Voki is a program that allows you to create an animated avatar. You can customize your avatar and add your voice. What a creative way to communicate with students or parents. One of the best features, in my opinion, is the way you can input your voice. You can type in text, record it yourself through the website or upload a file you have created!

Below you can listen to my first Voki avatar!

So you may be thinking... how else can I integrate this into my classroom? Well... here are some ideas....

Have students record a summary of a book they read.
Have students record the main topics from unit.
Record directions to a project or a lesson.
Have students create an avatar based on something or someone they are studying and have them write a speech for that. For example... the point of view from a historical character!
The possibilities are endless...

Please leave a comment and share an idea that you have....

Voki even has a section for educators. There are lesson plans, tips, discussions. Click here to check it out!

The Week in Rap

2011-03-25T08:55:00.004-04:00

Here is a great resource to bring current events into the classroom.... The Week in Rap! Every week there is a new video with rap lyrics and video clips that highlight what has been going on in the world. My favorite feature is the lyrics are written on the post as well! Within the lyrics there are links to news articles online. You can also share the video, embed the video, comment on it... etc. Check it out....

Corkboard Me

2011-03-22T08:36:00.001-04:00

Corkboard.me is an online tool that allow you to create a online corkboard. You can add sticky notes to type information and you can also embed an image onto the coarkboard. You do not need to create an account to create a corkboard.... so make sure that you bookmark the URL that you are given when you start your own. As far as sharing your corkboard, you have a few options... there is a view only version of your corkboard so you can link to it or send the URL to people. You can also embed the corkboard into a website. A little advice.... When I embedded my corkboard into my website, only the middle park shows up in the image... so make sure your design that you want showing fits that little square. I'm working on figuring out some options for fixing that. I would also like the ability to add hyperlinks to the corkboard. So here is my corkboard.

Click here to see my whole corkboard!

So how could you use corkboard.me in your classroom? Here are some of my thoughts....

Post a list of homework assignments
Post key topics from a unit to study
Use as a classroom news board to keep parents and students informed about what is going on
Have students create one for an assignment.

If you have your own idea... please feel free to leave a comment.

The Daily... What is it all about?

2011-03-15T12:16:00.005-04:00

So recently on Twitter I have been seeing a lot of posts about something called "The Daily." I have noticed many tweets saying... "The __ Daily is out!" so that got me thinking... how are these people creating this and when do they have to time to collect all of the different information and put it together in this great looking format. When I finally clicked on one to see what this daily thing was all about, I saw that the daily was set up like a newspaper and it was a collection of different topics. It looked so impressive thatI had to have a closer look. The ones that I looked at were all created with a tool called paper.li - which is a way to read twitter and facebook feeds as a newspaper. All you have to do is create a free account with paper.li and connect your twitter account, a facebook account, a hashtag conversation, and the program creates the daily newspaper for you. Once you have done that, you havesome other options. You can select how often the daily updates, you can subscribe to it, you can send it out to your twitter feed, you can embed it. So in conclusion...creating a daily is so simple... so user friendly... so impressive.... and above all a really cool way to share new ideas from twitter and facebook feeds! Check it out and create one yourself.

TechNotes Newsletter March 2011 - Lucky Lessons

2011-03-11T10:00:00.003-05:00

Here is a link to this month's TechNotes Newsletter. This newsletter focuses on using lesson plans and online student interactive activities to help integrate technology. Click here to view the newsletter online.

March Mobile App: Translator - Google Translate Lite

2011-03-11T08:52:00.002-05:00

Translator - Google Translate Lite is a free app that you can download for your iPod Touch, iPad, and/or your iPhone. You are able to translate from multiple languages. All you have to do is type in a word or phase that you would like to translate, and the app will provide you with the translation. There is also a feature that lets you listen to the pronunciation of the words or phrases. (The voice still sounds like a computer generated voice so, in my opinion, it is not as authentic.) This is a great tool to get a quick translation of a word or a phrase. Once you have completed the translation, you have the ability to send an email with the whole translation.

Extension for Safari: Awesome Screenshot

2011-02-09T19:41:00.003-05:00

Diigo has created a great extension for the Safari web browser... it's called Awesome Screenshot. This extension allows you to take a screenshot (picture) of something online. You can then annotate it by drawing arrows or typing text. What a great tool for those how to directions! Below I have embedded a YouTube Video of how it works....

February TechNotes: Multimedia You'll LOVE in Your Classroom

2011-02-04T11:12:00.003-05:00

The February 2011 TechNotes Issue is published! Click here to view it online. This issue focuses on multimedia tools for the classroom. There are a few links to online resources to integrate multimedia tools with your lessons... show documentaries, interactive ways to research, access to photos from around the world, etc. There are other links to Web 2.0 tools that will allow students to create multimedia projects online. Enjoy... please feel free to comment and share your experience with these new tools!

LinkWithin - a new widget for my blog

2011-02-04T08:50:00.003-05:00

I just came across a new widget for my blog that seems pretty cool. It is called LinkWithin. It is a free widget that you can install on your blog. What does it do???? Well, the widget will select 3-5 previous posts and display them as suggestions to read. The widget works well if you install it to show up directly after every post. To add the widget, visit the LinkWithin website (http://www.linkwithin.com/learn), type in the information that is needed then follow the directions to install the widget to your blog. It is that simple... and it only take a minute or so. In my opinion, this widget is a great way to promote other entries from the past!

Google Goggles - So Cool!

2011-01-20T10:29:00.004-05:00

Great new tool from Google! With the Google mobile app, you can take a picture of anything you see and it will look it up and provide you with information about the photo. For example, you can take a picture of a logo and it will give you information about the company. This also looks like a great tool when you are in an area that you are not familiar with. Take a picture of your surroundings and let Google tell you what you are looking at! I can't wait to use it when I travel!

TechNotes - January 2011 - Professional New Years Resolutions

2011-01-14T10:35:00.000-05:00

Click on the link below to view the January 2011 version of TechNotes. This issue focuses on giving some ideas for developing professional New Year's Resolutions. Some of the ideas include, developing a PLN, Collaborating Online with Google Docs or Wikispaces, and Becoming a Digital Classroom starting with Homework Now. Some tools that are mentioned include: Vimeo, TeacherTube, VoiceThread, Animoto, and Slideshare.

Click on the link below to view the online document!

http://public.iwork.com/document/?a=p215120064&d=TechNotes_Issue_05_January_2011.pages

Mobile Learning: Quick Graph

2011-01-13T09:31:00.000-05:00

Quick Graph is a free graphing calculator app for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. You can create 2D and 3D graphs. To make a graph, you need to type in an equation. To get started there are some sample equations in the library. Once you have created the graph, you can send the graph via e-mail or your can save it to the photo library or you can copy the image. This app is a great tool to use for the math classroom! Enjoy! Click here to view the app on iTunes. Click here to view the company's website.

Making the Switch?

2011-01-11T10:06:00.004-05:00

So I have been debating about making the switch from Blogger to WordPress. Does anyone have any thoughts about this subject???

Image Credit: http://spillspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/blogger-vs-wordpress.jpg

iLearn Mobile Technology eZine

2011-01-05T09:04:00.002-05:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More technology

I found this great eBook resource online...

The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators by Richard Byrne

2010-12-15T08:19:00.000-05:00

Below is the latest eBook from Richard Byrne. This book showcases various Web 2.0 tools for the classroom.

Click to launch the full edition in a new window
Publisher Software from YUDU

Mobile Learning - myHomework App

2010-12-14T10:22:00.000-05:00

myHomework is a FREE app that allows you to keep track of your assignments. This is an app that you can download on an iPod

Touch, iPhone, or iPad. There is also a free download for an application for your mac computer. Click here to view the website to download the application to your mac computer.

Some of the features... You can add multiple classes and various types of assignments. You can view your assignments by list, by due date, or by month. Notifications are sent to remind you are your assignments. You can upload and download myHomework data from the computer application to the mobile device application. Assignments are colored coded according to the due date.

myHomework is a fun way to keep track of your assignments and tasks!

Here is a screenshot showing what the app looks like...

December Google Book of the Month: Why Don't Students Like School?

2010-12-09T15:15:00.005-05:00

An interesting approach to figuring out how today's students are functioning in school.

Google eBookstore - a new tool for classrooms

2010-12-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

Google has just released a new tool! Google eBookstore is a place for you to purchase eBooks. Google eBookstore is a lot like the Kindle, the Nook, and iBooks... but the neatest feature (in my opinion) is the ability to read the books on your computer through your web browser! Think of the power that has in education! Here are some quick ideas that I have thought of to start to integrate Google eBookstore into the classroom...

Download the classics for FREE!
Use a LCD projector to read a book as a whole class activity.
Download FREE samples of books to do a book talk.

Click here to watch the great YouTube video about Google eBooks! So amazing! Happy reading!

Here are some other links to you to read:
Google eBooks Files
Google eBooks Overview
Google eBook User Policy
Google eBooks for Multiple Devices

TechNotes ~ December 2010 ~ Classroom Makeover

2010-12-08T12:39:00.000-05:00

Click on the link below to view the December 2010 edition of TechNotes. This newsletter features some technology resources for you for a classroom make over.

Click here to view the online version with live links!

Google Tools in the Classroom

2010-12-06T14:49:00.000-05:00

Below is a slideshow of a presentation I gave at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference. Enjoy!

Here are some other links:

Workshop Website
Workshop Links

Mobile Learning - SonicPics LITE

2010-11-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

SonicPics LITE allows you to use the images you have on your iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad and create narrated slideshows. You can then share these movies by sending them to your computer, through e-mail, and upload to YouTube. The LITE version only allows you to use 3 photos, record up to 10 minutes, and embeds a watermark on the slideshow. You can pay for an upgrade where the restrictions are lifted. Here’s how you use SonicPics...

Select photos from your photo library (or take a new photo on an iPhone or 4th generation iPod Touch).
Arrange the photos in the order that you want.
Record a narration for your movie while you swipe through the photos.
Share your movie via e-mail, YouTube, or as a file on your computer.

Click here to view SonicPics LITE in iTunes.

TechNotes - November 2010 Newsletter - Accessibility Tools

2010-11-12T09:24:00.000-05:00

Below is a link to November's TechNotes Monthly Newsletter. This month focuses on accessibility tools for all learners. The newsletter has links to FREE apps for mobile devices, such as an iPod, iPhone, or iPad. The links for the mobile apps will take you straight to the app in the iTunes Store. There are also links to websites that are great resources and tools for all learners. Click on the link below the image to view the document online so that you can click on the links.

Click here to view the TechNotes Newsletter.

November Google Book of the Month

2010-11-01T13:30:00.000-04:00

Here it is.... November's Google Book of the Month: Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools by G. Solomon and L. Schrum. This book takes a log at Web 2.0 technologies and how it is transforming schools. Our students are living in a digital world and as educators, we need to transform our teaching to meet their needs!

QR Codes - Have some fun creating secret messages for your class!

2010-10-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

QR codes are bar codes that you can program a secret message into! Here is how it works! Use a QR code generator to program a message. The generator creates a bar code. Using a smartphone/iPod Touch, download an app to be able to read QR codes. Take a picture of the QR code with the camera on your smartphone or iPod Touch. The QR code reader app will then translate the code for you and display the secret message. Here are the programs and apps I use....

Go to an online QR code generator website. I have used http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
Type in a message or a URL to create a code for... choose a size... click generate.
Drag the image to your desktop to be able to print out the image OR copy the code and embed it in a blog, wiki, or website!
Use an app on your smartphone or iPod Touch to read the code. I use the free app called “QR reader for iPhone” - it works on an iPhone or a 4th generation iPod Touch.

Technology Integration Ideas

2010-10-21T13:36:00.000-04:00

I have put together an album on Picasa that will showcase some of the technology projects that the teachers and students at my school have been working on. Click here to view the album through Picasa Web Albums. Below you will find a slideshow of the the album. I hope you enjoy and try some of the ideas... feel free to leave a comment and suggest some other projects!

October Google Book of the Month: National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students

2010-10-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

Here is a preview of the NETS for Students booklet. There are the national standards for students in the area of educational technology. This is a great resource to learn what technology skills we should be teaching our students.

Here are some links to download the NETS for Students, the NETS for Teachers and the NETS for Administrators.... I would also recommend taking a look at these standards to see what is expected for teachers and administrators!

TechNotes- October 2010 - Online Tutorials

2010-10-14T09:59:00.000-04:00

Here is the October 2010 issue of TechNotes. In this issue, I focused on online tutorials that are available to help you learn new technology skills and integration ideas.

Click here to view the document with live links!

Ideas for Using an iPad in the Classroom

2010-09-30T14:17:00.000-04:00

Just came across this neat Google docs presentation about iPad apps that would be great to use in the classroom....

Click on this link to view the presentation...

September Google Book of the Month: Born Digital

2010-09-30T14:07:00.000-04:00

I recently went to a workshop where they mentioned this book. It seems like it would be worth the read...

Born Digital by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser

TechNotes 2010-2011 - Issue 01

2010-09-17T09:04:00.000-04:00

TechNotes is a technology integration newsletter that I have created to share ideas for integrating technology in the classroom. Here is an image of the first issue for the 2010-2011 school year. In this issue, you will find links to various resources for ideas. There are links to a website, twitter feed, facebook page, and even this blog.

Click here to view this document.

New "Techy" Ideas For the New School Year (Thanks to R. Bryne)

2010-08-30T15:13:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Richard Bryne for making a great ebook about 11 new "techy" ideas to use in your classroom this year. It is definitely worth the read!

Click to launch the full edition in a new window
Publisher Software from YUDU

August Google Book of the Month: Tips and Tricks for Using Digital Photography

2010-08-25T20:00:00.001-04:00

As you probably know... photography is one of my biggest hobby. So why not share some ways to use photography in the classroom! There are so many ideas. While searching Google Books, I came across this book that shares some ideas. The book is a little dated with the information given in the introduction section, but there are some great integration ideas!

Mobile technology

2010-08-16T23:38:00.000-04:00

As new technologies are being developed... I am anxious to try new things. Here is my first attempt at blogging from my iPad. I am using an app called BlogPress. Let's see how this works... Stay tuned for more experiments. If you have any other suggestions, please send them my way!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

July Google Book of the Month: Learn and Use Inspiration in Your Classroom

2010-07-07T11:13:00.001-04:00

Integrating graphic organizers in the classroom is a trend in today's classroom. All subject areas are reinforcing reading and writing skills within their curriculum. One way to do this is the use graphic organizers. There are may ways to use graphic organizers... there are a lot of templates and free programs on the web. You can make your own through Word or another specialty software application. The most popular is Inspiration... which leads me to the Google Book of the Month for July...

Learn & Use Inspiration in Your Classroom by Erin K. Head

Stay tuned for more posts about graphic organizers!

Developing a PLN for Professional Development

2010-06-27T10:48:00.000-04:00

As each school year passes, I see less and less time and money devoted to professional development. In my opinion, that is where our effort need to focus. How else are our teachers going to learn the new trends and best practices? With access to the Internet and Web 2.0 technologies... we have a solution! Teachers now have a lot of free resources at their finger tips. They will still need some time though! Developing a PLN (Personal Learning Network) is what has helped me learn about the new tools for technology integration. I am following a lot a different blogs, participating in various wikis, and sharing my technology integration ideas on Twitter, Facebook and a blog. So when thinking about how to share the idea of developing your own PLN... I came across this video. Enjoy!

Following Blogs

2010-06-27T10:18:00.000-04:00

So I am constantly following blogs for new ideas. I am also teaching a college level course and have my students create their own blogs to respond to chapter questions and reflections on the topics we are covering in class. I have been trying to find the best way to keep up-to-date with the new posts. I have been using Safari (Apple's browser) to keep up with the blogs... I would bookmark the RSS feed in the Bookmarks bar. When a new post show ups, a number would be listed in the bookmark. I loved this! But... now I am working from a few different computers and need to have a way to keep up with the blogs with an online tool that I can access from any computer. So.... I am now using Google Reader. So far, I have found it to be a useful tool. Here is a quick You Tube Video I have found that explains Google Reader....

I am always looking for other ideas.... if anyone out there is using something different... please post a comment!

Adding Artifacts to Your Digital Portfolio

2010-06-09T15:17:00.004-04:00

I have created a video portfolio that shows you the steps to add artifacts to your digital portfolios. Check it out...

Connecting It All... Blogs, Twitter, Facebook

2010-06-08T18:18:00.001-04:00

So here I am trying to update lots of different resources... this blog, my facebook page, my twitter feed.... trying to reach as many people as I can to share ideas/resources and realizing... it's a lot of work to update everything. Well, on my quest to find a solution... I came across this website: Networked Blogs. I thought to myself, I need to take a look at that... it seems like an answer to my prayers! So I bookmarked it in my "Look At" folder and forgot about it. So today, I received a request on Facebook from my cousin who wanted me to follow his blog through a Networked Blogs app. I am already following his blog through Blogger and an RSS feed... so I thought this is perfect! I would rather be on Facebook and still be connected. So i did it! I connected this blog to facebook and twitter! I am hoping if everything goes right, when I click publish post... something will also show up on my twitter feed and my facebook page. Let's hope....

Google Book of the Month for June: The Backchannel

2010-06-04T11:02:00.003-04:00

I am very willing to say that I am intrigued about using social media/networking in education and the professional world... whether it be for developing a personal learning network (PLN), promoting and sharing ideas, professional development, or networking with others, etc. I am at the point where I know colleagues are using social media/networking sites for personal use and would love to know how to entice them to starting using these tools their professional lives as well and the possibility of using these tools with students in order to promote online safety education. So... with all that said, when browsing Barnes and Noble, I came across this book: The Backchannel by Cliff Atkinson. I have not read it in its entirety yet, but I am intrigued about the topic: using social media/networking during presentations and workshop. It is on my list of things to read during the summer, so join me and we can participate together in some discussions:

Great Resource for Creating Video/Music/Photos Projects on the Web

2010-05-26T13:11:00.001-04:00

I recently had the chance to read a great document about creating Video/Music/Photos Projects on the web. It was written by Richard Bryne and posted to his blog Free Technology for Teachers. It gives a great overview of online tools and what you can/can't do with video/music/photos/info that has been created by others.

Click here to read his post. Below you will find a preview of the article...

Making Videos on the Web - A Guide for Teachers -

A Thought Provoking Comic...

2010-05-24T12:08:00.002-04:00

Just came across these interesting, thought provoking comics. Here is one about "The Digital Divide"...

Click here to view the comic full screen. These comics were found on a website called Bitstrips and they were created by a user called branzburg. Check them out... they are interesting!

Shape Collage FREE Software

2010-05-18T12:20:00.001-04:00

I came across this great software.... FREE too! (and is works cross platform). The software is called Shape Collage. The program allows you to make a collage of photos and change the layout to various shapes, words, sizes, etc. You can also draw your own custom shape. The program is very user friendly. There are a lot of possibilities for the classroom - for teachers and students! Here is a shape collage I made with some pictures I took at our school's track meet! What is the best part... it only took me 5 minutes! Check it out and try to create your own shape collage.

Here is a You Tube Video about the Program:

Five Ways Students Can Build Multimedia Timelines

2010-05-18T11:43:00.000-04:00

I just read a great blog post from Free Technology For Teachers. The author, Mr. Byrne, has found 5 online tools for creating Multimedia Timelines. He does a nice job explaining what each site is all about. Check it out:

Five Ways Students Can Build Multimedia Timelines

Word Clouds - The Possibilities!

2010-05-13T12:42:00.000-04:00

Creating Word Clouds is very popular in the Web 2.0 world.... but what are they, really? A word cloud is a collection of words in the shape of a collage. Word clouds can be created a number of different ways... either by typing in words yourself or copy/paste a URL and the tool picks out the most common words used in an article or on a website. So how can you use word clouds in the classroom....

writing prompts
introduction to a unit
closure to a unit
discussion generators
summary of the main ideas or topics in a book, article, chapter, etc.
vocabulary activities

So where can you go to create word clouds? Well, here are a few suggestions...

iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch Apps for Education

2010-05-10T12:58:00.001-04:00

I found a great resource about apps for education. It looks like there are some great apps! There are also a lot for special education students. There are even some for teacher productivity tools! Check it out....

iPhone, iPad and iPod touch Apps for (Special) Education

Great Podcasts from Apple Inc.

2010-05-10T12:47:00.000-04:00

I recently came across some great podcast from Apple. You can watch the episodes right on the web or you can subscribe to them using iTunes Here is a list with links to the websites:

Apple Education (stories from educators using Apple products to enhance education!)
A pple Science Profiles (using Apple products in the Science field)
iWeb '09
GarageBand '09
Mac Basics
iMovie '09
iWork '09
iPhoto '09
iPods
Microsoft Office 2008

So how might you use these as an educator? There are a lot of different ways:

Watch them yourself for professional development. (You may even get recertification credit)
Play the episodes for students to teach them a new skill
Play the episodes as a class opener

Jump On Board - With Twitter

2010-05-05T10:32:00.000-04:00

I have created a Twitter account a long time ago, but I have never joined the band-wagon... so now here I go! I have decided to use Twitter to share information that I have found through my PLN. I am not sure how dedicated I will be... it seems like there are a lot of things to update! :) I have added a widget along the right hand side that is a feed of my posts. Well... here you go... Click here to follow me on twitter.

Apple Tutorials for Education

2010-05-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

I just found out about some great Apple Tutorials for Education. There are some great videos that show you how to get more out of your mac in the education setting. There are a some great tutorials for assistive technology resources for special education students. There are also some tutorials for managing your busy lives as teachers! Check them out! Click here to view the tutorials.

Google Book of the Month for May

2010-05-03T12:42:00.000-04:00

The recommended Google Book of the Month for May is: PowerPoint for Teachers. This book does a nice job explaining all of the elements of PowerPoint and gives you some "out-of-the-box" ideas for using PowerPoint in the Classroom.

Here is the limited view edition of this book from Google Books:

Technology Integration Workshops

2010-05-03T12:32:00.000-04:00

Over the years, I have given quite a few workshops on different technology integration ideas. I have put together all of the resources on the web in different formats. Please feel free to take a look at all of the resources. Here is a list of where to go for the information:

Workshop Descriptions and Handouts
Workshop Websites
Workshop Links
Workshop Presentation Slides

Earth Day is 40!

2010-04-22T11:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Day! Wow! Who Knew? Earth Day is 40! I have quickly searched for some Earth Day Resources:

Think Green - Waste Management
National Geographic: Earth Day is 40!
EcoKids
Earth Day Games
Planet Pals
EPA Environmental Kids
Discovery Education Think Green!

Web 2.0 Projects - Free eBook

2010-04-22T11:02:00.001-04:00

Terry Freedman has created a free eBook about Web 2.0 Projects. The newest version of the book is available on SlideShare. The SlideShare version has live hyperlinks that allow you to click on all of the links in the eBook!

Check it out....

Amazing web 2 projects 2 online version

View more documents from terryfreedman.

To download the eBook: Click here!

Creating Bookshelves on Google Books - My Shakespeare Bookshelf!

2010-04-21T20:22:00.000-04:00

Google Books has a wide variety of texts available... but in an educational setting time is precious and have the students use their limited time to search for the text you want them to read is not a great option... so as an educator, you can create a bookshelf! A bookshelf is a collection of texts that you put together in one place. Then you can give your students the link and time will not be wasted searching....

So here is an example of how you can create bookshelves for your students in order to share books. I have created a bookshelf in my library in Google Books with the full version of Shakespeare texts... Click here to check it out.

Google Book of the Month for April

2010-04-21T19:52:00.001-04:00

Here it is the Google Book of the Month for April:

Google Books Explored!

2010-04-21T19:51:00.001-04:00

I have finally found the time to explore Google Books! Fascinating! So here is the concept in a nutshell... Google has put together a collection of various books. The books are visible right in the browser window. There are full versions of non-copyrighted texts (Romeo and Juliet, Jane Austin books, etc.) and then there are limited previews of other books that are still copyrighted. There are also magazines, poetry, and more! AMAZING! One feature that I like is you can create bookshelves to organize your books. You can create a reading list for your students and share the URL of the bookshelf! So how can this be used in an educational setting?

Here are a few suggestions:

For a Language Arts class... students can read the classics on the computer for free.
For any class... you can find an excerpt from a book to have the students read and respond to
For a History class... there are lots of magazines from the past that can be accessed - such as LIFE

Be sure to check it out! If you look in the bottom right hand corner of the blog, you will find a widget with my recommended Google Book of the Month!

Happy Reading!

PLN's - What's all the buzz?

2010-04-21T13:13:00.001-04:00

A PLN is your "Personal Learning Network".... basically it is all of the resources you use on the web to find and share information. A PLN is a way for you to learn about new ideas and share your ideas. The Internet - Web 2.0 - has changed the educational world. It has brought learning outside of the classroom. Your own PLN is who/what you use for information, resources, new ideas, etc. When thinking about developing your PLN here are some resources to think about:

Blogs (with RSS feeds)
Wikis
Podcasts
Social Networks
Twitter Feeds
eNewsletters
eBooks
Slideshare
Social Bookmarking

So... get out there... start finding some great resources and develop your own PLN!

Merging Blogs!

2010-04-14T20:17:00.002-04:00

So I am getting to the point where I need to simplify and start merging! I have different initiatives for different aspects of my professional life... for example... I have this "TechSpire" blog for my day job as a computer teachers and technology integration specialist and I have my NHTI - Ed Tech Blog for my night job as a college professor. I am tried of trying to update both.... so I have figured out how to merge the two! So cool! Here is what I did....

Logged in to NHTI blog > Clicked on settings > Clicked on Export Blog
Logged in to my TechSpire Blog > Clicked on settings > Click on Import Blog
There is a check post that allows you to automatically post all of the entries... I only had a few so I chose not to so I can change the tags on my NHTI blog to match the tags of this blog!
And now.... my 2 blogs have become one! - YES it was that simple!

Enabling Dreams Video

2010-04-14T19:03:00.003-04:00

Here is a great video about assistive technology:

Internet Safety for Parents Presentation

2010-03-25T14:25:00.001-04:00

Another one of my presentations is available online. I recently presented a working on Internet safety for parents.

Click here to visit the workshop website.

Click here to access a PortaPortal with all of the links from the workshop.

Watch below to see a slideshow of the presentation:

If you click on the slideshow it will take you to the Picasa Web Album where you can see a larger version of the slide and you can scroll through the slides at your own speed.

Facebook in the Classroom

2010-03-19T14:03:00.000-04:00

So.... I said it out loud! "Facebook in the Classroom!" Is it a reality? Is it a "no-no?" Can it increase student learning? Should it be allowed? Should we be teaching responsible use? These and many more questions have been floating around in head! So I googled it to see what is out there. There is a huge push in higher education colleges and universities to move to using Social Networking sites.

Click here to read an interesting PDF with some ideas.

But what about middle school? I would have to say a large portion of my students are using facebook.... do they know how to use it appropriately? Do they know how to be safe? Do they realize that what they post is out there forever? Do they understand what they post can affect their future?

So I leave you with a few things to think about....

Create a separate profile for school.
Create a list for your students and control the amount shared.
Make groups for your classes or activities.

With those ideas and more.... shouldn't we be able to model appropriate use of a social networking site?

Digital Footprints

2010-03-12T14:23:00.001-05:00

Digital Footprints is a term that has really struck me. I first came across that term when I was reading some blog entry along the way.... I keep coming back to it every once in awhile. What does it mean to you? Well, to me... it means everything that is out there about you on the Internet.... things you have created and posted on blogs, wikis, forums, podcasts, etc. It can even be things that others post about you. About every month, I type my name in Google just to see what comes up. Of course, being a middle school teachers, I type different variations of my name! :) So thinking about my Digital Footprint in a professional development way... this is what I would like people to see...

TechSpire Blog
TechSpire Wiki
Delicious Tags
Workshop Websites
SlideShare Presentations
Picasa Photos of Workshop Slides
Twitter (although I haved been completely twitterfied!)
School Technology Website

Now are you wondering about your own digital footprint?

New Name - New URL

2010-03-12T13:16:00.000-05:00

Please take note of the new name and the new URL for this blog! The new address is http://techspired.blogspot.com/ and the new name is TechSpire! This blog will still share technology integration tools for the classroom.

How to create a Blogger Account

2010-02-24T17:59:00.001-05:00

I found this video on You Tube... for those of you who are having problems creating accounts:

For more how to videos about blogger, click here to check them all out.

Using Google Reader to Subscribe to Blogs

2010-02-23T08:29:00.001-05:00

Since you all have a Blogger account, you also have a Google account. With a Google account, you have access to Google Reader. Google Reader works like an application that subscribes to multiple RSS feeds from blogs and other websites. You are able to see the updates of multiple sources in one place. Here is a great video to explain it...

Working With Blogs - Tip 1 - Subscribing to Blogs

2010-02-23T08:06:00.001-05:00

Are you tired of having to keep visiting each blog to see if there is a new post? Well... you can subscribe to a blog. At the bottom of the blog page is a link that says "Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)." If you click on this link, it will take you to a page with an RSS Feed - or a listing of the most recent posts to a blog. This RSS Feed page can then be bookmarked in a browser and it will display the number of new posts. To learn more about RSS Feeds, click here to watch this video.

Blogs for Professional Development

2010-02-17T17:00:00.001-05:00

Recently I have been using blogs for my own professional development. While I surf the web, I usually come across blogs that give me new ideas. As a result, I have bookmarked them and I have created my own PLN. What is a PLN you may be wondering? It is a personal learning network. Blogs are great to read to get new ideas, learn about new trends. Here is a list of some of the blogs that I am following...

Doodle 4 Google Contest

2010-02-03T14:02:00.000-05:00

Google is sponsoring their "Doodle 4 Google" contest again this year. Click here to learn more about the contest. This year's theme is "If I could do anything, I would..." Teachers are the only people that can submit the student entries and you must register your school. The deadline for registration is March 17th and the deadline for submitting entries is March 31st! The contest has you design a new logo for Google that illustrates the theme. To check out some ideas (but remember.... do not copy), you can check out the original doodler, Dennis Hwang. Now it is time to get creative and show the world what you can do!

Using Google Earth to Teach About Current Events

2010-01-14T16:32:00.001-05:00

Google Earth is a powerful tool. It brings satellite imagery right in to the classroom. You can use Google Earth for virtual field trips, show 3D replicas of geographic landmarks, calculate distance... the possibilities are endless!

Why not use Google Earth to teach about current events... like the earthquake in Haiti...

Thanks to the Free Technology for Teachers Blog that I follow, I learned about a Google earth file that you can download that shows the effects of the earthquake in Haiti. Click here for more information about the file.

Here are some resources for more information:

Online Mind Maps

2010-01-12T14:19:00.001-05:00

Concept Mapping or Mind Maps are always at the forefront of teaching. They are a great tool for students and teachers to use to share ideas, understand concepts, compare topics, etc. There are many different resources out there for creating these on the computer. Here is a list of some traditional ideas (some cost money and some are free!) to start concept mapping in your classroom....

Inspiration/Kidspiration Software - most common software - costs money.
Cmap Tools - free open source software you can download
Any Word Processing Program - Word, Pages, OpenOffice - use the shapes, text boxes, and drawing tools

But now... with Web 2.0 resources there are a lot of online tools that allow you to create concept maps. Text 2 Mind Map is one of my favorite ones. You can create an outline and then have the computer create the web for you. You can then customize your map by changing colors, lines, and the font. Check it out... it is a lot of fun!

You may be thinking... how can I use something like this is the classroom... well here are some ideas...

Project your computer screen as a whole class activity and use this Web 2.0 tool...

as a brainstorming session with your students.
as a review before a test.
to compare and contrast different topics.

Come down to the computer lab and have your students use this Web 2.0 tool...

to have your students create their own map
work in small groups to summarize the events in a unit of study

Give your students the URL and have them create one at home and use this Web 2.0 tool

to create an outline of a chapter
to creatively study vocabulary words and concepts

For more online mind mapping tools, visit this the New Tools Workshop wiki by Joyce Valenza.

Sharing PowerPoint Presentations

2010-01-11T15:22:00.000-05:00

There are many different ways to share PowerPoint presentations with others.... beyond sending the presentation via e-mail or using a flashdrive. Why might you want to do this you are asking????? Here are a few thoughts:

If you are presenting at a conference or workshop, you can post your presentation for your participants rather that printing handouts.
You can post presentations of your class lectures for students to review before the test, learn the material if they were absent.
Upload student presentations as a way to share their work with the global community!
The possibilities are endless... if you have an idea... post a comment!

Here are a few to take a look at:

SlideShare:
SlideShare allows to to upload your PPT files - you can share with the world or keep them private... you can also give the option for viewers to download the presentation. Check out a presentation about "Teaching with WebQuests" I uploaded to my slideshare account.

Teaching with Webquests

View more presentations from Amy Gillam.

Picasa:

You can save your PowerPoint as images and upload them to a photo sharing site like Picasa. People will be able to view your presentations as images. They won't be able to download or edit the presentations. Check out a presentation I posted about Using iPods and iTunes in the Classroom:

iPods iTunes Images

QuickTime Movie:

You can save your PowerPoint as images and create a QuickTime Movie. You can put the movie on an iPod or publish it as a podcast through iTunes.

Social Bookmarking

2009-12-23T14:47:00.002-05:00

Have you ever wanted to access your bookmarks/favorites from anywhere in the world? :) Well... you can! It is called social bookmarking. Social Bookmarking allows you to create an online account and save websites. The websites can be kept private or shared publicly. You can keep your bookmarks organized by categories (which are called tags).

To learn more about social bookmarking... watch the video below created by Common Craft.

Click below on the links to come common social bookmarking websites...
Delicious
Digg
Diigo
To see it in action... Click here to visit my social bookmarking account on delicious.

Green Screen Effect

2009-12-11T10:00:00.004-05:00

iMovie '09 has a green screen feature built right in to the program! How awesome. In addition, it is VERY east to use. Click here to watch a homemade video tutorial about how it works. (Thanks to Kevin McLaughlin) All you need is a piece of green material, a video camera and you are all set! Here is another idea on how to use a green screen using PhotoBooth. (Thanks to Kathy Schrock) Click here to check it out! For even more iMovie '09 tutorials... visit the Apple Website.

Editorial Cartoons

2009-12-08T12:47:00.003-05:00

Do you use editorial cartoons in your class? Well, if you do... here is a great resource: The Dirksen Center's Editorial Cartoon Collection. The site makes it very easy to find cartoons. You can search chronologically or by subject. There is also a database of lesson plans. The lesson plans give you sample activities, interpretation questions and much more! Check it out!

Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference

2009-12-03T13:54:00.003-05:00

For the past 3 days, I have been attending and presenting at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference in Nashua, NH. There have been a lot of ideas sharing and a new found inspiration. The next couple posts will showcase the tools, ideas, and resources. You can explore the resources from your own computer... The conference has a section on the website for presenters to post links and files - extensions - from their session. Click here to check it out!

Great Assessment Tool - Rubistar!

2009-11-03T19:33:00.004-05:00

Rubistar has been around for a long time.... but I thought I would remind people about this great assessment tool. If you are having your students create a project or work together in a group... you probably need a way to assess the final product. Well, look no further... Rubistar will help you create a rubric. All you need to do is choose from a list of projects, choose the categories you want to grade... and Rubistar will do the rest for you! All of the wording for each of the catergories will automatically be generated for you. When you are done, you can print out the rubric or download it as an Excel document. This tool is quite the time saver! There are so many options... from rubrics for posters, newsletter, debates, powerpoints, lab reports... for many different subjects such as LA, Math, Science, Art, Music. Please take the time to use this tool!

Rubistar Website: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

Click here to download step-by-step how to instructions.

Jeopardy Labs!

2009-10-21T14:04:00.002-04:00

Do you want to spice up one of your lessons? Try creating a jeopardy game with an online program called "Jeopardy Labs." With this online tool, you can can create the questions/answers yourself. The set up allows you to keep track of points and which questions have been answered. You can also play this game with multiple teams! You care given a URL (website address) to play your game and a separate URL to edit your game. I hope you have fun playing!

35+ Educational Games

2009-10-21T13:45:00.003-04:00

Out of the many blogs that I use as a resource.... "Free Technology for Teachers" is one that I highly recommend following. In a recent post, the author created a list of 35+ Educational Games. Rather than recreating the list... click here to view it. The games that are mentioned are for a variety of grade levels and subject areas.

Sending an iWork Document (Pages, Keynote, Numbers) as an Attachment in Webmail

2009-10-21T13:10:00.004-04:00

Have you been having problems sending iWork documents as an attachment in Webmail? You probably have! Webmail sometimes does not recognize a pages, keynote, or numbers document because it has an extension that Webmail does not recognize. (For example, Webmail recognizes .doc, .ppt, and .xls but NOT .pages, .keynote or .numbers!) Well, here is a quick way to fix that!

Find where the file is saved... right click (or hold down the control key and click)

on the file name > choose compress.

This will create a zip file that contains your iWork Document.

You can then attach the zip file and send that as an attachment in Webmail. Now you will have success!

Apple Online Seminars

2009-10-05T13:56:00.004-04:00

Are you looking for some free professional development hours? Well... check out Apple's Online Seminars! (http://www.seminars.apple.com/seminarsonline/). Apple has put together some great seminars that are online, free, and available 24/7! You can't find a better deal! Here are a list of some of the ones I like...

60 Second Recap Videos

2009-10-01T11:41:00.003-04:00

Check this out... There is a website that has a whole library of 60 second videos that recap pieces of literature. The videos summarize the plot, the characters, symbolism, and more! Some of the books include Great Expectations, The Catcher in the Rye, Romeo and Juliet, and many more! This could be a great tool to use in the classroom. You could even take it a step further and have your students create their own! Click here to watch them.

Blogging With Students

2009-09-29T12:48:00.004-04:00

Did you know that Cawley has an account with Blogmeister to have student blogs? Each student in your class can have their own blog. All of the content that is posted to the blogs can be filtered and approved by you, the classroom teacher. You can create links, post writing assignments, comment on other's writing, and much more! Click here to check it out! If you find the link for New Hampshire you can see all of the teachers in our school who are already using blogs in the classroom.

When using blog with students, there are few guidelines for students to follow. For example:

Don't share personal information.
Think about who will be reading your blog what what information you want to share with them.
Use appropriate language and grammar.
Provide constructive feedback when commenting on someone's blog.

To see a full list of guidelines, click here to visit a Blog created by students at the Internal School Bangkok. Click here to read an article that explains more about blogging with students.