Sunday, August 30, 2009

So Many Choices: Which Tool To Use?


A few days ago I was asked whether a blog or a wiki was the right tool to use for a classroom project. The teacher wasn't quite sure of the difference, so I asked what the goal was; what the end product was. Once that was determined, the choice was clear.

I located a matrix (see above - click on to enlarge) charting various Web 2.0 tools and their various applications.

To realize the full impact that Web 2.0 tools have to offer, and rather than reinvent the wheel, let me redirect you to a fellow blogger's article that you'll find extremely detailed, in the form of a post using an analogy entitled The Technology Toolbox

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Slide: An Alternative to Animoto

Bill Gates made it such that there are at least three ways to accomplish a task in Windows. Alternatives are a good thing because we will eventually find one that we'll naturally gravitate toward. So it should be with applications.

Not long ago I mad a post about a very cool online application called Animoto. It allows for the uploading of your pics, the addition of music, and ultimately, the automation of a "digital story" of sorts. Animoto mixes the music and creates anomations, effects, and transitions for you. Don't like the results? Click on "remix" and see the results. Post the output to Facebook or other social networking sites.

Here's an alternate service: http://www.slide.com. It does much the same as Animoto, with a few added features. One of the most notable differences? A MUCH larger music library from which to select is what immediately stands out. It's just as easy to use as Animoto. Give Slide a whirl! You'll like what you see!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

mVal Poll for 2009-10

Administrators,

Please cast your vote by clicking "yes" or "no", then pressing "Vote". This poll will close at noon on Monday, August 31st. Thank you.


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

For the Teacher's Academy (ESL)

ESL Workshop
August 10, 2011
12:00-3:00 - EFHS
Charlie Pitrolo
Title III Director

1.Explore CD of Resources
  • Policy 2417 overview
  • Sheltered instruction, materials, assessments
  • Student ToolKit
  • LEP Committee concept
  • Student Plan
  • Huntington/Cabell County Survival Guide on CD
  • Supporting English Language ...(PDF file)
  • Web resources/shortcuts
2.Print Material
  • Book: 50 Strategies...) and CD
  • Book: Teacher's Guide to Multisensory Learning:Improving Literacy by Engaging the Senses

3.Software
  • IM Translator for Internet Explorer and FireFox
  • Babylon
  • Demoxi multilingual chat tool
  • Lingoes and dictionaries
  • Oxford Picture Dictionary
  • Pix Writer
  • Rosetta Stone
4.Hardware
  • Digital Voice Recorder
  • Lingo PacificaTalk Translator/Dictionary/Thesaurus
5.Questions/Answers
This information may also be found online at http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg9tpff7_52d6q8k7gv

For the Teacher's Academy (Web 2.0)

Also located at http://bit.ly/Il0On

Web 2.0 Resources
(Sites, Apps, Software, Services)
Charlie Pitrolo - Technology Coordinator - Marion County Schools
Fairmont, WV
August 12, 2009


1. ShareTabs: http://www.sharetabs.com/?cjp or http://www.sharetabs.com/teh

A site where the URLs in this session can be previewed. ShareTabs produces a graphic representation of preselected sites for students.

2. 30 Web 2.0 Applications – a narrated, web-based PowerPoint presentation presenting 30 web 2.0 applications. http://bit.ly/Mk3hp

3. Ning – Join an interest group or create a public or private one of your own. Great for collaborating and sharing ideas across geographical boundaries! http://www.ning.com

4. Learn Central- Social networking for educators. http://www.learncentral.org

5. LiveKite – Social networking (faith-based) http://www.livekite.com


6. Etherpad - the only web-based word processor that allows people to work together in real-time. Tracks revisions for later recall. Finished products can be downloaded as .doc or .pdf. files. http://etherpad.com

7. Vyew – Host your own web-based meeting complete with whiteboard, audio, and video.
http://www.vyew.com

8. Scribblar – Simple, effective, synchronous online collaboration. Very similar to Vyew (see above). http://www.scribblar.com


9. Twiddla – Similar to Vyew and Scribblar (see above) http://www.twiddla.com

10. Elluminate – Up to 3 in a meeting at no charge. Supports audio, video, white board and more. Similar to Vyewm Scribblar, and Twiddla. http://elluminate.com

11. OoVoo – Chat, video, and audio teleconferencing. Can be recorded for playback.
Free software download required. http://www.oovoo.com

12. Skype – Similar to Oovoo (see above) but without recording/playback capability.
http://www.skype.com

13. Animoto – Quickly generate 30 second slide shows from your photos. Add music (yours or theirs). http://animoto.com

14. PhotoPeach – same concept as Animoto (see above) http://photopeach.com

15. VOKI – Used to create a character or an avatar that speaks or reads text that’s been input. http://www.voki.com

16. Jing – Create video screen captures or part of a defined area to be captured. Audio can be added. Text can be added. http://www.jingproject.com

17. WORDLE – Create visuals of text such as poems, scripture, documents (i.e. Constitution), etc. http://www.wordle.net

18. Jjot – Take notes online. Share them with others. http://jjot.com

19. NotebookG – Similar to Jjot (see above) http://www.notebookg.com

20. Pixton.com – Allows the creation of cartoon strips. May select background and characters. http://pixton.com

21. Tiny URL – shrinks very long URLS (also see bit.ly) http://www.tinyurl.com and http://bit.ly

22. Pandora – Internet radio that can be trained to learn your likes and dislikes.
http://www.pandora.com

23. Last.FM – Similar to Pandora. An Internet radio station that can be “trained” learn your musical preferences. Many genres. Includes videos. Free MP3 downloads. http://last.fm

24. Getdropbox – simultaneous synchronization of files between PCs. Makes transferring files between PCs using a flash drive a thing of the past!
http://www.getdropbox.com

25. Mediafire – Similar to Getdropbox (see above). Not as many features (i.e. synchronization between PCs) http://www.mediafire.com.

26. OurMedia – Publish and share your videos, podcasts, etc. with others. Join various “channels” or create your own. http://ourmedia.org

27. Slideshare - free online hosting of PowerPoint presentations. May be shared with others. May be set to allow for viewer download. http://www.slideshare.net

28. AuthorStream - Same concept as Slideshare (see above). http://www.authorstream.com

29. Podbean – Host your podcasts, blog, audio, and video. http://podbean.com

30. Survey Monkey - http://www.surveymonkey.com

31. MisterPoll – Create free online surveys with stats updated in real time. http://www.misterpoll.com

32. Poll4.com - Use cell phones to conduct polls via texting. (Choose “free” plan. Up to 30 responses.)http://www.polleverywhere.com/plans/retail

33. xtimeline.com – Participate in the synchronous collaboration & creation of timelines. http://www.xtimeline.com

34. Meet-O-Matic – Aids in the scheduling of meetings. Use in conjunction with Google calendars and its sharing capabilities. http://www.meetomatic.com/calendar.php

35. ZOHO - A comprehensive online suite of Microsoft compatible applications. Allows for sharing and collaboration. http://www.zoho.com.

36. ThinkFree - An online word processor. Office compatible. Saves documents as ,doc or .pdf. http://www.thinkfree.com


For the Students: A Little Interactive Fun!
(Educational, of Course)


Learn to Play Chess – An interactive chess game that displays possible moves when a piece is clicked upon. Great for beginners!
http://thedogpaddler.com/RandomUploads/FlashChess/flashChess.htm

Periodic Table Game – A fun way to learn the periodic table.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Elementsgames.htm

2003 to 2007 Morphing Tool – A nifty little site that shows how to accomplish in Office 2007 what you do in Office 2003.
http://www.otterbein.edu/its/office2007help/featurefinder.asp

Add it Up! – A rapidly-paced game for students to practice addition skills.
http://schooltimegames.com/Mathematics/MP_Numbers.html

Billy Bug – Assist Billy Bug in finding food on a Cartesian coordinate system.
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/BillyBug2/bug2.html

Story Starters – Students spin the wheel then use the topic to start writing a story.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/storystarters/storystarter1.htm

The Product Game – Use higher-order thinking skills to practice multiplication facts 1-9. http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=29

If You Were President – Make decisions just as the president would. Not only do students have to answer the questions, but they have to justify their decisions.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/games_quizzes/electiongame/game.asp

Inaugural Word Clouds – Each president’s inaugural speech presented in a “word cloud” (see also Wordle). A “word cloud is a representation of words; larger words being used more frequently. Great for analyzing prose (writing style, overuse of words, etc.)
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/17/washington/20090117_ADDRESSES.html

Magnet Poetry – Think of refrigerator magnets. The same, only in digital form!
http://www.magneticpoetry.com/kidspoetry/playonline.cfm

Do You Know Your States? – Identify as many as you can before the time runs out!
http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf

Changing Circuits – Use this virtual model to illustrate the operation of electrical circuits.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/changing_circuits.shtml