Emerging Technology in Education

Google Contests for Students Have Arrived!

2012-02-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Doodle 4 Google:

Doodle 4 Google invites K-12 students to express the theme--”If I could travel in time, I’d visit...”--as creatively as possible using Google’s logo as their canvas. This year’s winner, along with having his or her doodle featured on Google's homepage for a day, will take home a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for their school.

Check out www.google.com/doodle4google for more details.

Google Science Fair:

The Google Science Fair is in its second year! The competition is open to students between the ages of 13 - 18 from all over the world. Students will have the opportunity to compete for over $100,000 in scholarship funds, an expedition to the Galapagos, life changing experiences at CERN, Google and LEGO and a new Science in Action Award courtesy of Scientific American. This year Google added some great educator resources to help you bring the Science Fair into your classroom and encourage your students to explore their scientific passion. Visit www.google.com/sciencefair for more information.

Get details for these two great opportunities and explore more at Google For Educators.

iPad News Apps Reviewed

2012-01-29T15:49:00.001-07:00

The iPad has a great collection of apps for news, but my favorite are the social apps that allow you to collect news from many sources. The news apps I like the best are the ones that are interactive, colorful, customizable, and informative. Here are three of my favorite interactive news apps.

Flipboard: This app was named by Apple, the "app of the year" in 2010. It combines Facebook and Twitter news feeds that have been shared. You can customize your news sources and read them in an interactive magazine format. If you find an article valuable, you can retweet it or share it with others through a variety of methods.

Zite: Zite is a free personalized magazine for your iPad that automatically learns what you like and gets smarter every time you use it. I like this app better for education-related news.

SkyGrid: The SkyGrid news app shows the news releases that people are sharing the most. The stories are updating constantly so you can be the first to know.

Blogger's New Look

2012-01-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a change! It took me a bit to get used to the new Blogger interface, but I think I can say...this was not an improvement in my opinion. I have created a new handout, hopefully to help you get a grasp on the new look.

iPad Apps for Family Consumer Science

2012-01-12T11:30:00.003-07:00

As you know, I have been highlighting apps that I have been sharing when doing training on the iPad. My sessions of "Using the iPad for Teaching & Learning" have been a blast. I recently spent some time with Family Consumer Science teachers and shared some specific Apps with them. Here is a short list:

Allrecipes: This App uses a Dinner Spinner approach! It is filled with easy and quick recipes. You can choose by dish type, ingredients or "ready in" time. You shake your iPad for ideas.

AllRecipes: Notice the small difference in the name of these two apps. This app is more like an encyclopedia of recipes. This is great for members of AllRecipes. You get feedback on the different recipes that have been shared with variation ideas.

MyNetDiary: This is a calorie counter that is fast and easy to use with a huge list of foods to choose from. This app provides you with everything you need to start a weight-loss plan. It lets you track your progress through calorie in-take, exercise, water consumption, measurement history...and more. This comprehensive app will teach you about caloric management through food tracking, exercise, and planning.

MyFood: This app provides complete nutrition data for hundreds of foods. It also includes serving size for each food.

Nutrition Facts: Nutrition Fact helps you learn about nutrients, and helps you analyze your own diet and food choices.

Consumer Recalls: This app updates constantly on recalls for every consumer product. You can filter by "Child", "Household", "Outdoor", or "Sports."

Epicurious: This award-winning app provides you with over 30,000 recipes and lets you create shopping lists, and share information with friends. If you are a member of the Epicurious site, you can see reviews from other members as well.

iPad Apps for Personal Finance

2011-12-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

I have been reporting about my iPad training at West High and gave you a list of Apps I shared with the teachers. In that post, I focused a section on science apps. I worked with science, business and family consumer science teachers so I thought this post I would bring you some of the Apps I showed specifically for Personal Finance.

Here are some of the Apps I shared with the business teachers for personal finance:
E*Trade Mobile: The large iPad screen makes it easier to track real-time quotes, evaluate your investments, and keep up with the top financial news of the day.

Bloomberg LP: This App delivers news, market data, charts, feeds, and multimedia content, in a simple and intuitive interface.

Kayak: Use this App to plan a vacation, visit or trip. It lets you search the best deals for flights and hotels.

Wall Street Journal: Access live news programming for the latest markets, tech and opinion areas.

Mint.com: Manage your money, budgets, expenses etc.

Pageonce: Automatically track and pay your bills in one simple App

PowerOne Finance Calculator: combines an algebraic and RPN calculator with simple, customizable, spreadsheet-like templates, giving you hundreds to choose from. Create your own, keep a history and share with others.

Money Me Lite: This application helps you determine your loan option if you are looking to purchase a car or a home, for example. Correctly, choosing the right loan can save you a lot of money over the length of the loan.

TaxCaster: This App by TurboTax is a free tax refund calculator to estimate your tax refund.

Business teachers out there, please share your favorite Apps by commenting on this blog post.

iPad Apps we Have been Exploring at West High

2011-12-06T12:26:00.001-07:00

I recently finished up a professional development project where I spent some time with Business, Family Consumer Science, Math and Science teachers to explore the iPad. We focused on the 2 "How Tos" of this device:

How do you use this in a functionality way...turning it on, sleeping vs shutting down, moving, deleting Apps, adding Apps. etc
How do you use this in a teacher-directed environment and in a student-centered environment.

We took a good amount of time looking at Apps for teaching and learning so I thought I would share a collection of those with you. I will focus this post on general apps and apps for science. My next post will focus on Business and Family Consumer Science apps. Check them out, there might be some you haven't used!

Apps for Teacher Productivity

Evernote - Evernote is a suite of software and services designed for notetaking and archiving. Your notes can contain text, images, sound recordings, clippings from websites...but unfortunately, not the kitchen sink. I LOVE this app because I have it on every device I own so all of my notes are right at my finger tips.
Dropbox - Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again! Dropbox is like Evernote...you can put it on all your devices and have access to your files from anywhere.
Notes - Notes is a built-in tool for the iOS devices that lets you take notes...not so cool until you realize that you can sync it with your Gmail account and pull up any note you took on your iPad from any computer that you log into your Gmail account with...you have to turn on this sync option in settings.

Apps for Teacher Directed EnvironmentsHonestly, it is hard to distinguish whether an apps is specifically for teacher-directed or student-centered...it really depends on how the teacher sets up his classroom.

Timer+ - Timer+ is a count down timer that lets you set times for different activities. You can have separate activities set up and then just pick the one you want to use. You can also set different sounds for the end indicator.
Rowmote - Rowmote is a remote control for your computer. It lets you turn your iPad into a big track pad. It also gives you volume and media controls and a full keyboard with shortcut keys. You don't see your desktop on your ipad, but it is great for when you want to be mobile in your classroom but still be able to control your projected computer screen.
Edmodo - Edmodo is FaceBook for education! This free social networking tool lets teachers reach students on their terms and connects your classroom 24/7...the learning doesn't have to stop when the bell rings. This is a secure environment that is definitely worth looking into.

Apps for Teaching & Learning

Podcasts and iTunes U - these resources straight from the Apple iTunes store are absolutely amazing, not to mention FREE. You can find sources for every subject...here are some samples:

Earth from iTunes U (CA Academy of Sciences)
Food Talks from iTunes U (92nd Street Y)
Futures of Finance from iTunes U (Duke University)
LearningAlgebra from iTunes U (Louisiana Delta Community College)
The Video Math Tutor Podcast
Dishing up Nutrition Podcast from Nutritional Weight & Wellness, Inc
Inside Yellowstone Podcast from Yellowstone National Park
Value Stocks & Investing Podcasts by Michael Salvucci

If you go to the iTunes store and do a search for a topic, you are bound to find either a podcast or an iTunes U course available to you!

Flipboard - Flipboard is a personalized social magazine that lets you customize the news content you receive. The interface is engaging and fun!
Zite - Zite is like Flipboard except it looks slightly different...different personalities will like different apps...
TED - TED is an organization that brings you video talks from the greatest minds around the world...engineers, scientists, sociologists, educators, entertainers...every TEDTalk I have watched has been educational and enlightening.

Science Apps

Science360 - The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Science360 for iPad provides easy access to engaging science and engineering images and videos.
PeriodicTable - Interactive version of the periodic table that lets you see at what point each element changes state. Lots of good information in this app.
3D Cellstain - This apps has videos on cells and cell structure... and lets you stain your own cell.
PhysicsHD - Pick a topic and learn the concept as well as learn the equations associated with it.
Finger Physics - This is a game that makes you apply different physics concepts in order to accomplish a goal.
Science@VL - a comprehensive science glossary with cross references.
Google Earth - Google Earth has an App! It is great and you can just like the program installed on your computer.
iQuakeLite - This provides you an up to the minute report on earth quakes around the world. Details are available for every quake and you can locate them on a map view.
3D Brain - This app is a 3-D model of the brain with the ability to isolate specific regions, and label pertinent parts.
Molecule - is for viewing three-dimensional renderings of molecules and manipulating them using your fingers.
TinkerBox - TinkerBox is a fun, free-to-play physics puzzle game.

Visit the iTunes App store to research more great educational apps.

Exploring iPads Staff Development

2011-11-09T14:00:00.001-07:00

I will be conducting iPad Exploration training at several schools in the coming months. This is an adapted presentation to the one I did for those who use the iPad professionally AND personally.

Exploring iPads Staff Development

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Reflecting: Technology Journey of Billings Public Schools

2011-11-03T08:22:00.003-06:00

There are so many projects going on in Billings, it is mind-blowing! But, I wanted to highlight a little of how technology is impacting our schools. I ran out of time and out of room to mention all of the great projects you are doing in your classrooms. Could you please comment on this post and share - even just one project that you are doing involving technology? It will be so interesting to see what everyone is doing.

Technology in Billings Public Schools

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Using WebDoc to Present Technology in BPS

2011-11-01T14:59:00.000-06:00

I will be in Helena to present on technology use in Billings Public Schools. I am not sure how much time I have...I don't want to create a presentation then find out I only have 5 minutes to go through it...ta da! In steps Webdoc! I can use this to present and if I only have a short time, I can give them a link. But...if I have more time...you can see how this could be a short or long presentation support tool!

What's on my iPad...what's on yours?

2011-10-10T12:40:00.001-06:00

Here is a snapshot (screenshot really) of the apps I have on my iPad 2 for teaching and learning:
(The cover page was made using ShowMe app on my iPad)

Whats on my ipad

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Support as you Start using Weebly

2011-10-10T08:21:00.000-06:00

Weebly is a great easy tool to use when you are new to building websites. This is the first digital tool where you can drag and drop elements into your page to create the content. The free version of Weebly is excellent and allows you to create a quality product. The following SlideShare gives a nice overview and basic tutorial for using the tool:

Weebly Education Website Building

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Connecting the 406

2011-10-09T09:42:00.002-06:00

This Montana PBS documentary highlights how a rural state becomes less and less rural with the emergence of social and communication technology.

Watch the full episode. See more MontanaPBS Presents.

iPads for Teaching and Learning

2011-10-03T09:09:00.000-06:00

I am currently teaching a workshop with the above title and I think the resources I gathered could benefit many iPad owners...not just educators. I put together an outline of sorts to help make sure we covered all the topics of interest. Below is a Slideshare copy of that outline (there are active hyperlinks to specific sites referenced in the presentation):

iPad for Teaching & Learning

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My Favorite Tools

2011-08-16T12:09:00.000-06:00

As I am preparing for a "Digital Shootout" at the Poplar Technology conference, I think it would be wise to list them somewhere - kind of like a cheat sheet...but to hopefully help you as well. I have put them into categories to help me organize and hopefully help you as well. Explore the ones you aren't familiar with and comment and add your own favorites!

Disclaimer: I think it is important to say that there are about 5 tools for every 1 purpose. I recommend you don't strap yourself to one specific tool - you never know when it will be gone.

Web 2.0 Tools:

Evernote - Information Organizer
Evernote lets you capture, record, save, create information from practically any source into notebooks. You can record audio, upload images, capture websites, type notes....

ShowBeyond - Tell Your Story
"Showbeyond is a multimedia slidecast creator, online publishing platform, and story sharing community. With Showbeyond, you can easily grab your images, then add your sound and text to create multimedia stories. Now you can share your stories with friends or post to blogs and social networking sites!"

UStream - Broadcast Your Events
UStream allows you to create your own channel and broadcast live or recorded video feeds.

SoundCloud or AudioBoo - Record and Publish Audio
SoundCloud and Audioboo both allow you to record your voice and save it to a channel or embed it into your website. Great for encouraging reading.

Prezi - Unique Presentation Creator
Prezi is a web-based presentation and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of traditional slides. Although it can be a bit confusing for linear thinkers to use...it is worth the time to explore.

Picnik - Online Photo Editor
Picnik technically belongs to Google now but deserves a mention by itself. I use this all the time to clean, crop, and decorate images before I share them.

Protagonize - Online Writing Community
Not only can you read, create and share stories...but if you want, you can collaboratively write too!

Popplet - Online Social Graphic Organizer
Collaborate with colleagues to create a visual organization of thoughts and ideas.

Wallwisher - Collaboration Site
Wallwisher uses sticky notes on a wall to let you communicate with others. Build a wall and send out the web address to get others to participate.

Stixy - Creation & Collaboration Site
Stixy is similar to wallwisher but you add widgets by dragging them to your "Stixy Board." You can add photos, upload documents, and more. You can also share with a select group of people or create a public Stixy Board.

Online Tools:

TinyURL - URL Shortner
Edmodo or Wall.fm - Educational social network tools
Weebly - EASY to use website creator
SlideShare - Online presentation and documentation sharing
Anything Google - research, shopping, mail, docs, news, photos, blogs...the kitchen sink
SuperTeacherTools - I love the random name generator, but there are other essential tools here.
Image Mosaic Creator - You need a ton of images but this tool makes an image out of all your other images. So neat!

Apps(these are from my ipad):
A lot of my favorite Web 2.0 tools are now apps so I didn't repeat them here

FlipBoard - view collections of news and information feeds through one (easy to navigate) app
G-Whizz! - a lot of your Google tools in one app
Blogsy - a cool way to create and edit posts to your blogs
TabletScanner - scan and organize documents on your mobile device
Side by Side - web browser that gives you two windows at once
Diigo Browser - I know...a web browser, but I really like it (did I mention I am not a Safari fan?)
Rowmote Pro - an amazing tool that lets you control EVERYTHING on your computer
PresenTimer (search Presentation Timer) - a nice, big, ad-free timer
iPicEd - a great photo editing tool

Browser Extensions:

SimplyBox - social bookmarking tool that is great for younger students to use (more visual)
Delicious Shorcuts- I love the time I can save by having this extension at my fingertips
Evernote - See Delicious comment
Google Shortcuts - this customizable extension makes it so that I don't have to use iGoogle as my homepage.
Easy YouTube Video Downloader - of all the tools I use, this is my favorite! It puts a new button in your YouTube window for downloading any YouTube video.
Shorten URL - lets you right-click on any URL in your browser window and 1)shorten it then 2) copy it to your clipboard
Aviary - lets you capture your screen and gives you a variety of saving options

Looking at Google Tools

2011-08-15T21:07:00.000-06:00

Have you see Google A-Z? If not, you might want to check out this public Google Doc.
NOTE: a lot of these tools were Labs, which is now on the way out.

As you continue to use Google for almost all your digital needs, you might find these resources helpful:

Google search tips

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Poplar Tech Conference - Google Tools

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Educators Making Connections

2011-08-15T12:43:00.002-06:00

No matter what your tech experience, find a tool to help you stay connected & stay informed

Use this Stixy to add any sites you don't see here.

New to collaborating and connecting with others online? You don’t want to get overwhelmed so you might want to start out with one or two sites. If there is a site that is local or regional, that might give you the most confidence to join and participate.

IDEAL:
IDEAL is a Billings-based social network that has been continually growing to include educators from around the state and nation. All members have to be approved, so it is a more safe, comfortable environment to learn.
bpstilt.ning.com

Classroom 2.0:
Steve Hargadon created this site for educators all around the world to connect. Although the site is pretty large, it is easy to navigate and you can join specific interest groups to make sure you focus on what is important to you. My favorite part of this community however is the free webinars and interviews with innovative technology users. They give you tutorials, resources, lesson ideas and more.
classroom20.com

Free Technology 4 Teachers:
Richard Byrne continually keeps us current on free and effective digital tools. Although he is a full-time teacher, Richard devotes enough time to this blog that it is an award-winning resource for us.
www.freetech4teachers.com

Digital Learning Environments:
DLE is a sponsored site created by Tech & Learning. It gives you so many resources, it will make your head spin. There are resources for integrating technology, learning new tools, teacher professional development and more.
guide2digitallearning.com

Tech & Learning:
I have to admit that sometimes this site drives me crazy...if you are easily frustrated by slow pages, you might steer clear. But, if you have patience, this site is so valuable! I read the e-zine (online magazine) to learn about new digital tools, education news, and enter contests to win more technology. The site also includes webinars, forums and videos.
http://www.techlearning.com/Default

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If you want to spend more effort making connections and even contributing to conversations, you might want to check out these sites. Although there is ample opportunity to make connections, don’t create too many accounts until you are ready.

We Are Teachers:
Constant opportunities to win technology, asking for your opinion, and sharing lots of great resources make this a site that I love to visit. There are grant opportunities, professional development resources, communities to join, and lots of ideas shared...all by teachers.
www.weareteachers.com

Follow individuals or organizations on Twitter:
If you are new to Twitter, don't worry about posting, but follow a few key people or organizations. Some suggestions:

WeAreTeachers
Google
PBS Teachers
Dean Phillips (Caddiscaster)
Diane Woodard (dianewoodard)

www.twitter.com

Edutopia:
There is so much to this site, be prepared to spend a good amount of time learning it if you have never been! This site is possible because of the George Lucas Foundation and its focus is creativity paired with technology in education. This is an amazing resource!
www.edutopia.org/

Google Groups:
This is a great tool if you are interested in connecting and sharing information with people who have the same interests, hobbies, or philosophies as you. You can find a Google Group for everything from knitting and cooking to education and technology. You must have a Google account to participate.
groups.google.com

Tech 4 Learning:
Although some of this site is sales oriented and they push their products in a lot of the documentation, the products are good, the information is great, and you can get a ton of classroom ideas here. Lots of lessons and resources that you can start using right away - one of my favorite is the Picts4Learning photo gallery. This is a collection for education by educators and students.
http://www.tech4learning.com/

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Manage multiple email addresses, have information you want to share, and want to stay up on the latest technology conversations? You might want to join and participate in these sites. If you want to belong to multiple groups, be sure to set up notifications so that you don’t have to visit the site to get updates.

ISTE Community:
As a member of ISTE, you get a few perks, like discounts on books and access to special interest groups. BUT...ISTE makes available for everyone the national educational technology standards. You can also join the ISTE Ning community and participate in forums.
http://www.iste-community.org/

CILC:
If you are interested in connecting with other educators from around the world and collaborating on different global projects, CILC is a clearinghouse for educators to post and reply to such requests. There are fee-based collaboration opportunities as well as free. It is pretty clear which is which. You can subscribe to different collaboration opportunities so that you receive a digest of new projects weekly.
www.cilc.org

Educator’s PLN:
This is an award-winning Ning (social network) that is specifically for educators (obviously). This is a smaller social network than Classroom 2.0, so you don't feel as lost...although there is a wealth of information and opportunities to share and connect with other educators. I guess this just has a bit more focus than Classroom 2.0.
http://edupln.ning.com/

LinkedIn:
If you are not familiar with this tool, LinkedIn is a professional social site. Although most of the customers of this tool reside outside the United States, there are a lot of people from the US joining and you will make connections with a lot of people you know when you join. You start by posting your professional profile and the tool suggests connections based on your information. So it might suggest other people who are also teachers or who teach in your area (connections would have an account). I have joined several groups on LinkedIn to connect with other Technology Integration Specialists from around the world. It is fun and informative to communicate with them.
www.linkedin.com

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So, no matter what site you choose or how many sites you sign up on, the important thing to remember is you can make connections in this global society and shrink the size of the world to fit into your classroom. You can become better informed, create connections for yourself and your students, and really enjoy meeting people from around the globe.

An Informed Educator is an Effective Educator

2011-08-15T12:43:00.000-06:00

Being a well-informed educator is crucial and technology can certainly help you accomplish this. Knowing a few simple tools to collect and organize your information can not only save you hours of web surfing, but also give you access to a ton of information.

Collecting Information
Learn to save your bookmarks online so that you can access them from any Internet-connected computer. Many social bookmarking tools allow you to share with colleagues and to share through social tools such as Facebook, Google + or Twitter.

Social Bookmarking Tools:
Social bookmarking tools are an amazing way to save you time and effort as you start to collect all those great educational sites. Many social bookmarking tools also allow you to share and search so you can actually access many related sites as you start saving your sites and connecting with other users. If you are not comfortable with technology, I would recommend you simply pick one tool and get acquainted with it. They all work quite similarly so you don't need to create accounts in each one and try to learn and compare. I would recommend Delicious.
delicious.com
diigo.com
www.symbaloo.com
www.google.com/bookmarks

Social Bookmarking in Plain English (need help with the concept? Watch this video)

News Readers:
The concept of News Readers has long been a confusing one to non-technical users. I always try to use the analogy of a magazine or newspaper subscription. You know how you could go to a bookstore or convenience store periodically to get the latest news or magazine? But if you want to read it conveniently (and frequently), you actually subscribe to it and make it be delivered to you. That is exactly what news readers do for you...the difference is the material you are subscribing to comes from websites. There are tons of different tools that let you collect (aggregate) this information in one location - here are a few. Again, I would pick one. I like Google Reader.
google.com/reader
dashboard.bloglines.com/en
www.netvibes.com
digg.com

Home Pages:
Home Pages are amazing tools for people who are getting serious about staying informed with Internet resources. Not only can these tools collect all your bookmarks for you (social bookmark tool), but they can also subscribe to changes to a site (news reader). The Home Page can do quite a bit more as well. You can have games, educational activities, music, photos and more all categorized to your tastes. If you have a google account, you already have access to a home page, called iGoogle.
iGoogle
PageFlakes
Netvibes

Don’t Forget EverNote

Internet Safety Presentation

2011-08-15T08:42:00.002-06:00

The Internet is an amazing resource for education and entertainment, however, it can be SO EASY to put yourself at risk as you become more and more Internet-savvy. The following presentation provides information and resources to guard your privacy, security and reputation.
Use this Stixy to collaborate with other attendees about this topic.

Internet Safety

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Using Google +? Consider this Site

2011-07-19T15:48:00.003-06:00

Google + Tutorials...in a blog

http://www.googleplustutorials.com/

Blogsy a perfect tool for traveling bloggers

2011-06-10T14:36:00.001-06:00

Blogsy is a new app for the iPad that let's you post to any of your blogs easily. It also let's you connect to different media sites and drag and drop your media content right into your blog post.

Watch this short video to see what I am talking about. By the way I drug it from YouTube.

Blogsy is $4.99 but if you are a blogger, i think it is total worth it!

My Favorite Apps for the iPad

2011-05-27T11:41:00.006-06:00

As promised from my My New Favorite Toy...and a few other "Must Haves"! post, here is a list of just some of my favorite apps for the iPad. There are so many apps for education that it is hard to keep the list short. I decided to categorize them for easy researching. As you can see, I am going to post a collection and highlight one or two from that collection.

Productivity:

iTalk Recorder ($1.99) lets you quickly record and store dictations. Great for recording interviews, quick notes and readings.

PrintDirect ($9.99) - you can print your emails for free, but if you want to print web pages documents or other items, you have to pay.

Alternative printing solution: Download Airprint Activator onto your computer and it turns on the Airprint feature for all printers. I installed this application on my Mac that I don't have synced with my iPad, launched it and printed immediately from my iPad. Easy-Peasy!

News:

TIME Magazine (free) - It's TIME magazine, need I say more?

Flipboard (free) - this is a social magazine that lets you add your favorite news sources. Great interface!

NPR (free) - I am an NPR junky and this app feeds my addiction.

ABC News (free) - I really like the fun (globe) interface of this app.

And now, KTVQ has two new apps for you. The 1st is a news and and the 2nd is a weather tracker app. Way to go KTVQ!

Classroom Tools:

Presentation Timer (free) - this is the perfect tool for teachers. When you provide a timed activity, just start this puppy up and display it so your students can see how much time is left. Huge display is great for the classroom to view.

Rowmote ($4.99) - this tool turns your iPad into a remote control device, a track pad, keyboard. Easily control your computer from anywhere in the classroom.

Social Tools:

Audioboo (free) - I love when students record their voices! This tool is one of my favorites. I use it to read text and then post that online.

Twitterrific (free) - Twitter is a tool I use constantly to share news and tools. I also follow some pretty neat individuals. This tools lets me do that easily.

MyPad (free) - Interface for Facebook. I really like the way this app presents the information.

Productivity:

Dropbox (free) - online file storage has been made sooo easy with this nice app.

Evernote (free) - manage your life with this great tool. Collect notes, images, sites, audio recordings...you name it. AND keep them all collected in neat and tidy notebooks.

Google Calendar Client ($6.99) - I can manage my personal and professional time with this app. My complete Google calendar is at my fingertips!

Pages ($9.99) - this word processing tool is just like the desktop version of Apple's Pages.

Keynote ($9.99) - I love making presentations and Keynote is a great tool!

Books & Reading:

Kindle (free) - I bought a Kindle the day they came out. I gave that to my sister the day the Kindle app became available. :O)

iBooks (free) - I always get iTunes gift cards and am a voracious reader. A match made in heaven.

Nook (free) - I know! already highlighted two different book collection apps, but honestly each of these offers a ton of free books and each offers a bit different list. I can also help my mom figure out her new Nook.

Interactive Books (free) - I have downloaded as many interactive books as I can find. These are great for kids of all ages to involve them more in the reading process.

More Apps!
I have a ton more apps on my iPad... apps for math, science, phonics, maps, music, photography, and games. You really can find an app for almost any need in your life. What apps do you have on your ipad or ipod?

My New Favorite Toy...and a few other "Must Haves"!

2011-05-21T09:57:00.000-06:00

Well, since my iPad 2 has not arrived - and who knows how long the plant explosion will delay delivery - I had to find another toy to declare my favorite. I think iPad owners will agree that sometimes you really want a keyboard attached to that little guy so you can send lengthy emails, post to your blog, or even type out a legible Facebook response. So here it is...my #1 addition to the iPad (and a few other things I really like)

1. Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG

Although this model is made for the iPad 2, I can still use it with my ancient device until my new one arrives (can't use it as a carry case though). They do make one for the 1st generation however if that is what you have. It is a keyboard and carry case in one!

Those of you that have the docking keyboard might be thinking that this isn't such a great deal, but it is...for several reasons. With this case, you turn your iPad into a netbook-type device. It has the look and feel of a netbook with a full keyboard and extra function buttons for quickly going to your home screen, controlling your music, and searching. The case is a durable, light and slim design that automatically sleeps your iPad when you close it. It has a nice keyboard feel and sits on your lap much better than the docking keyboard from Apple. It is worth the investment. For $99, this can be yours!

2. iPad Camera Connection Kit

This has to be a photographer's favorite! I love that I can take my digital camera and connect it directly to my iPad. OR...I can take out my storage card and plug it into the storage card adapter. In this kit you receive two adapters (USB & SD Card) that let you download your photos directly to your iPad. You can then edit using any number of free apps, set your wall paper or lock screen to a new photo, upload to your favorite sites, email to a friend or print them out (I haven't tried this yet, but the option is there).

3. Apple Digital AV Adapter

I don't know...this might very well move up to my #1 spot once I get my iPad 2! I haven't tried using this with the original iPad - that is on my agenda for today! But this lets you put your slides, movies, photos, and everything else that fills your iPad screen on an even bigger screen. The new Apple Digital AV Adapter mirrors exactly what you see on your iPad so that everyone in the room can enjoy it on your widescreen TV, video projection screen, or other HDMI-compatible display. It even routes digital audio to screens that support it. And a second built-in 30-pin connector lets you charge your iPad while it’s mirroring.

Watch for my next post where I review a few new apps! Some for fun and some for, well...fun, but work fun!

If you are interested in an iPad workshop, comment on this post and let me know! I think it would be invaluable to share resources, questions and ideas!

2010-2011 TILT - We had a blast!

2011-05-19T12:09:00.002-06:00

What's New With Google

2011-04-28T13:34:00.002-06:00

Google has made some changes that I think you will be happy about. Some of the changes are minimal but really make life nicer in the cloud.

Below I have listed a few key updates from Google:

Upload images in Google Spreadsheets: You can now insert images into your spreadsheets. Those boring documents with data, data and more data just got...well...more interesting. Check out the Insert menu to see the image option.

New Fonts in Google Sites: Sites now has over 100 new web fonts! Woot! Woot! These aren't boring fonts either. If you go to Manage Site and click on Colors and Fonts, you will see that you can select a custom font (see image below).

Upload Improvement: Now you can upload full contents of folders (including enclosed folders). Chrome is ready to use this tool right out of the...cloud, but you will need to install a piece of software to use the feature in Safari or Firefox. Google has also improved the entire upload process so that it is easier to manage your uploads...whether converting or not.

Pagination in Google Docs: Now you can see where your page breaks are! What a small, but so important improvement! You can take advantage of the Paginated view or if you prefer, stay with the Compact view. Just change your settings under View > Document View.

Mimio Resources for Teachers

2011-04-22T12:34:00.000-06:00

In the last couple of months, many of you have become proud new owners of the Mimio Interactive technology. This bar that turns your whiteboard into a "SmartBoard" or interactive board is really easy to use. BUT...sometimes it is nice to have a resource to help you learn more of the ins and outs of the tool. Dymo/Mimio has created some resources for you to help with that.

YouTube Channel: Check out the tutorials, lesson ideas and more here. They have several different playlists, but check out MMLB (Make Mimio Lessons Better) and Ask A Master.

Training Materials: You can get more technical how-to help from the Mimio Training Center. Here you will find printables and videos on the different tools.

The tool is easy to use...but you can make it more effective by learning some of the more advanced features to really enhance your lessons.

Education Foundation Grants...and the winner is...TILT!

2011-04-05T15:16:00.003-06:00

When I say TILT teachers are innovative and committed, I mean it! When the Education Foundation announced their grants, TILT teachers jumped right on the opportunity to get digital tools into their (and their students') hands. Congratulations to all BPS teachers, but HERE! HERE! to TILT:

Sally Bishop - Kindergarten - iPad
Kevin Cicero - Kindergarten - iPad & Big Screen TV
Ellen Craig - MS Art - MimioView Document Camera
Lori Wilson - HS Early Childhood - MimioTeach
Andrea Christen - HS English - 2 iPads
Shaundel Krumheuer - HS English - Ning Classroom Social Network
Julie Betts - Reading Specialist- iPad
Jamie Fleming - 3rd Grade - iPad & iPod Touch
Erin Curnow - MS English - MimioTeach & Projector
Kathi Hoyt - Elementary Librarian - Mimio Pad
Doretta Lambert - 3rd Grade - 2 iPads
Courtney Hill - 5th Grade - iPad cart for her classroom set
Sara Olsgaard - 6th Grade - MimioTeach
Kerra Olson - Kindergarten - Classroom Mic System
Mandy Bighorn - 4th Grade - Wacom Tablet
Kari McKay - 6th Grade - MimioTeach
Angie Gray - 4/5 Combo - 2 iPads
Elizabeth Waddington - MS Librarian - iPod Touches
Karen Preble - Read 180 - iPod Lab

Wow! I know I will be adding to this list as more teachers let me know, but man what a list!! Congratulations to all you amazing teachers!

Innovative ways to use the ipad

2011-04-01T16:21:00.003-06:00

Take a look at this picture. What do you see?

Here, let me help you. Now look and what do you see?

That's right! That is an ipad! It is being used as a cash register at one of Billings newest eateries, Harper & Madison. Well, obviously, the cash is not stored in there...but the establishment is using a point-of-sale app to record all of its sales and keep track of inventory. Harper & Madison is located off 31st Nth on 10th Ave, just up from the Lincoln Center. It is a new bakery, deli and restaurant that serves different salads, soups and other meals every day. I encourage you to stop in and see how they are using the ipad...you might get some inspiration. While you are there, why not try one of their desserts too!

Discussions in Docs

2011-03-31T12:17:00.001-06:00

Have you ever collaborated on a doc in Google and wanted to communicate with the other editors, but they weren't in the doc when you were, and you didn't really want to construct an email to them? Enter Discussions in Docs!

I have used this feature in the past couple weeks to collaborate with other members of a committee. We really didn't have time to meet face-to-face, and wanted to avoid throwing comments all over the document. We were in a time crunch so commenting felt like a waste of time. So...we used discussions and whenever someone wanted to communicate a thought to the rest, whether it was through a comment or through the discussions tool, we all were kept informed of the flow of the document. It is really a neat addition to docs and I encourage you to try it! Not sure it is for you? Watch this short video:

Storage in the Clouds: DropBox

2011-03-29T08:57:00.002-06:00

If you are not using Dropbox yet, all I can say is..."WHY NOT??"

As our school district continues to look for ways to save money, transitioning our storage servers has come up many times. A quick survey of the data on the servers shows that most teachers are using their personal folders on the districts server for personal and professional use. BUT...the personal use is killing us! Every month, our network managers need to send out a reminder to teachers to clean out any personal files so that we can keep the servers running.

We have always tried to teach our users to be good stewards of the data and back up. So what is a person to do? Use Dropbox! Dropbox is an amazing service that lets you store your files in the cloud (The Internet). With Dropbox, you actually store your files on your computer, and they are automatically backed up to a location on the Internet. Every time you make a change, either online or on your computer, all your files are automatically synced so you never have to worry about which file is the updated version.

When you create an account, you can download a small program that you install onto any computer you use (Mac or PC)...all your files are then synced with any computer you choose. If you are anywhere using a public computer, you can still access your files from the Dropbox website. I have used this many times when I am presenting in a remote location. It saves a ton of worry and preparation for me.

Sharing has become a piece of cake with Dropbox. If you want to share files with someone (they need a Dropbox account too) you simply create the folder and share it with them via the Dropbox website. Remember though, if you delete a shared file, it deletes it for everyone.

Here is the best part! You get 2 GB for FREE! And...you can get more free space by inviting more friends, or accepting an invite from someone! You can get up to 8 GB for free this way. Try Dropbox! I think you will transition away from a local server storage space in no time.

Using AudioBoo...

2011-02-25T11:57:00.002-07:00

In previous posts, I have shown you a few different tools for creating audio recordings. This post highlights AudioBoo. It is very similar to SoundCloud. It does have an App you can use on the Droid, iPhone, iPod and iPad. It is easy to use and seems pretty intuitive.

Here is an example recording from Audioboo:

Listen!

vocaroo example

2011-02-07T09:22:00.003-07:00

Today in TILT, we are learning about tools that let you create audio recordings. We are looking at Odiogo...which reads your blog posts out loud. We are also exploring Sound Cloud to record and save audio recordings and Vocaroo which allows you to record your voice as well.

Sound Cloud lets you save all your recordings into a dashboard so that you can access them at anytime. You must create an account to use Sound Cloud.

Vocaroo lets you record and get the sound immediately to embed into your publishing tool, like a blog or wiki. You do not need to create an account to use Vocaroo.

Here is an example of a Vocaroo recording:

Using Middlespot as a Learning Environment

2011-02-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Next week I will be presenting on video resources other than YouTube to a group of high school teachers. I wanted an easy place to collect these resources so I chose Middlespot...a bulletin type tool that lets you add websites, videos, text, upload documents, audio...and more...then share the site for users to access.

This Middlespot mashup is just websites, but it gives you an idea of how you could collect resources to share with your students. They do not need an account to access it, you just need to give them the web address:

Open House with a Cause

2011-01-20T14:37:00.001-07:00

Each year my husband and I host an event called Open House with a Cause. We solicit donations from local artists and artisans, crafters and collectors alike. Then we open our home for an afternoon/evening and sell all the items...and accept cash donations! 100% of the proceeds go to a person or family in our community that has a financial need. This year we are honored to serve a young mom and her four children. We hope you can help us ease the burden for this family by donating something for the event or attending and buying something!

Using Google CSE to create a custom search engine for your students

2011-01-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

Google now has a tool called CSE that lets you create a custom search experience for your students. If you have a collection of websites you want your students to visit for a project, simply put them into your new CSE, give it a name, and you will receive an embed code to put the custom search bar into your blog, wiki or website.

I created one on careers in math and science below:

Make your browser more intelligent

2011-01-13T12:52:00.001-07:00

I have my face stuck in a web browser all day...every day, so it is important that I have a good collection of tools and resources available to me with a minimum of work.

Enter browser extensions! These are little tools that you add to your browser's program to give you more functionality or personality...well...not you, but your web browser! I use Firefox for my primary browser and I think it is by far the best browser around for someone like me that visits a ton of sites, and does a lot of production with Web 2.0. I use extensions to bookmark and manage important web sites, to extract video from websites (so I can show them without needing Internet access) and for other needs or wants.

Here is a small collection of browser extensions I use to make my life easier...and more fun!

1. Delicious Bookmarks

If you bookmark websites to your Delicious account often, which I do, this tool is really a must! I can simply click on the "Tag" button when I want to save a site to Delicious. I add my tags, and click save. If I want to visit my bookmarks, I click on the checker board button. I don't use this...but if you want to see your Delicious bookmarks permanently, you can click on the sidebar button and it will extend your window and add a little sidebar window of all your Delicious sites.

2. Easy YouTube Video Downloader

You won't see this as a button in your web browser, but after you install it and then visit YouTube...you will have a new button called "Download As..." under any video you watch...and you can choose from a variety of file types to convert the video into.

3. SimplyBox

If you teach younger students or want to make a related collection of websites available to your students, SimplyBox is the tool - and you use it by adding its extension (Firefox only for now). Once you install the extension and create an account, you visit a site you want to "Box" and click on the button called "Box It"...SimplyBox walks you through the steps to save and organize your saved site into separate storage areas called boxes. I really, really like this tool! It is visual for your students, easy for you to use and really easy to collect and store subject specific web sites.

4. WiseStamp

WiseStamp lets everyone see your activity on the Internet...I mean this in a good way. So, for example...if you have a classroom blog and you want people to visit it, you can add that blog as a button in the My profiles section. If you look up at my example, my signature is my name and title, then I have my profiles for my blog, my delicious and my Buzz (like Twitter). I also added a gadget that shows my last bookmarked site in Delicious. You can make this more social by adding your FB and MySpace profiles...but...yuck. The cool thing about WiseStamp is you can choose to use the signature or not, and you can have multiple signatures! I have dumped my GMail signature and will be using WiseStamp!

5. Google Shortcuts

If you look at the picture above, you can see that directly below my main toolbar (where my address bar is) is a complete toolbar with shortcuts to all my Google tools: Gmail, Create a new Gmail Email, Google Reader, Google search, Image search, Calendar, YouTube, Picasa, Blogger, and several Docs buttons (create for specific Docs tools). There are so many Google tools and you can customize all of them to fit your needs. Now, I don't have to set iGoogle as my home page, I can get to it anytime by clicking on my iGoogle button. Big grin for this extension.

6. New Tab King

If you like the way Safari or Chrome create a collection of your most-used websites when you click New Tab...you now have that option in Firefox. You can customize the number of sites you want to see, what sites you want to see, and what the page looks like. I really like this extension because I am often visiting the same site multiple times a day and then closing the tab...oops! Now, I can just get a new tab and choose from the visual list!

7. Themes

Okay, so not all of my extensions have any more purpose than to make me smile, like this theme called "Worm Party"! Give your browser a little personality by add a theme - yes, themes are considered extensions!

Seven is probably enough to get you interested in themes, but know that there are way too many extensions to count available to you and for all different purposes. My recommendation is to try one or two at a time, if it works, great, if not...you just uninstall it.

You can access your extensions by going to Tools > Add-Ons in your browser software. Here you can search for extensions, set the preferences for each extension and remove those that you don't use or that aren't working for you.

Explore, be adventurous and let me know what you Add-On.

Use Simplybox to create a collection of sites

2011-01-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

If you want your students to research on the web, but only want them to visit certain sites, Simplybox is the tool for you. This is an easy to use tool that can be very valuable. One note of caution, the commenting option can't be turned off yet so students have been known to use this as a chat tool. The company has been contacted asking to make commenting an option.

This is a tool I use to teach Word/Tag Cloud tools:

SnagLearning brings documentaries to the classroom

2011-01-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Bringing videos into the classroom with SnagLearning

Straight from the site: SnagLearning features carefully selected films from SnagFilms’ award-winning library of over 1,600 documentaries that are appropriate for students from middle school and up. Our titles cover nearly every classroom subject and many are produced by well-known educational sources, including PBS and National Geographic. The goal of this site is to highlight documentaries that make for engaging educational tools. We will also feature guest teacher bloggers as well as special programming stunts like Q&As with the filmmakers.

Teachers can submit and share their own lesson plans, quizzes and homework ideas with fellow educators. The commenting area on each film page functions as public forum to share and discuss.

New films are added to this site each week so you might want to bookmark this resource. I like that you can explore by subject, grade level or go to a specific channel (like PBS or National Geographic).

Each video lists the subject and grade level for which it has been cataloged so you can be sure you are using a valuable one.

VoiceThread Example for TILT

2011-01-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is a quick VoiceThread I threw together to show TILT teachers how to quickly put together a digital story:

Glogster is the new Poster

2011-01-03T10:04:00.002-07:00

If you have not explored this tool yet, be prepared to spend WAY TOO MUCH time having fun. This cool tool is exactly what you need when you want to transition from the old poster creation activity. There is even an education version! You can set up student accounts and monitor all the "Glogsters" that your students create.

Check out this great tutorial to get you started, or help you if you get stuck along the way!

A TILT Christmas

2010-12-17T15:10:00.004-07:00

A Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! Internet version

SoundCloud Lets you Embed recorded or updated sound

2010-12-12T10:45:00.004-07:00

Yuck by BPS TILT

This past weekend in Cadre, I was asked if you can take a podcast and embed it into your blog or website. I knew there were tools out there that let you record your voice and embed it, but I wasn't aware of any tools that would let you upload an existing audio file and embed it. After a very short time researching this topic, I found SoundCloud...it is a free tool that lets you record or upload sound files and then share them through a variety of avenues (Facebook, Twitter, blog, wiki, other websites). It took me under 5 minutes to set up an account.

I then went over to my iPad, downloaded the SoundCloud app, and recorded my first sound. Back to the SoundCloud website to get my embed code...and here I am!

I encourage you to try it. I think it could be a very valuable tool for your classroom.

Back to the discussion of embedding podcasts...copyright rules do apply, so technically speaking, you can take the podcast file that has been downloaded into your iTunes and upload it...ethically...I am not sure it would be a good idea to take a full episode of a podcast that you don't own and embed it into your website.

Happy Exploring!

Word Tools

2010-11-30T12:12:00.001-07:00

Word cloud or Tag cloud sites are great Web 2.0 tools to use at all grade levels for all different subjects. Teachers use these tools for vocabulary, assessing background knowledge, providing a forum for reflection after a teaching session, or introducing new concepts or topics in a unique and creative way.

So, what are word or tag cloud sites? These sites let you take a collection of words and create a cloud or a shape from them. Some of the tools only allow you to enter the words, but some of the tools let you take content from a website and make a cloud. There are little tricks too...if you type a word in multiple times in some tools, that word will be larger. Or if you want to connect words together for a phrase or sentence you can place a ~ between each of the words and they will stay together. Even better - once you have your cloud created, many of the tools let you embed them into your website, blog or wiki.

These tools are easy to use and students love creating them. The engagement factor is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. These are quick and easy integration tools that every teacher should explore. Below is a collection of them for you to sample.

Using MiddleSpot - Mashup Tool

2010-11-30T08:39:00.005-07:00

MiddleSpot is a new tool that lets you create a learning environment by combining different elements: websites, music, videos, text, embedded gadgets, your own html code, images and even attached files. Once you have created a mashup (a workspace with a combination of resources), you simply share it. You can email it, embed it or even share via Facebook, Twitter, or other social sites.

MiddleSpot is one of those tools that is really intuitive so you can have an environment up and running very quickly. Again, a great tool to combine with a blog or wiki if you already use those tools.

MiddleSpot Tool: History Example

iPad Users - How are YOU Using your iPad?

2010-10-18T07:44:00.004-06:00

E-Book Reader
Word Processor
Email Device
Trackpad
TV & Movie Screen
Browser
News Reader
Time/Information Manager
Photo Editor
Cookbook
Game Center
Oh...Music Player

Well...that is how I use mine. How do you user yours?
(Comment Link is Above)

Deadline for this commenting opportunity is October 29th.

Use this Tool to Brainstorm your TPCK Activities

2010-09-19T13:20:00.005-06:00

At the first TILT meeting for the school year, we conducted an activity to explore the relationship between technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge. Teachers had a SHORT amount of time to create a learning activity that combined all three elements...elements of which they did not get to choose. See some of their brainstorming work here (Please ignore the group names they came up with):

Tech & Learning Article: 100 Ways Google Can Make You a Better Educator

2010-09-01T13:26:00.001-06:00

This article provides ideas on all the different ways we as educators can use the free tools made available to us by Google!

WallWisher - Cool Tool!

2010-08-06T09:03:00.008-06:00

Have you heard of Wallwisher? It's an "easy-to-implement-with-any-lesson: ready to use the first day of school. This tool is an electronic, sticky-note bulletin board and will get your discussion started in any subject.

Here's one I've started. Fun!

Google Earth and Web Combine

2010-06-21T16:14:00.001-06:00

Google has added a Google Earth plugin so that you can get close to the same experience in your web browser that you get when you download and install Google Earth. Check it out...

New Search Features

2010-06-21T16:12:00.001-06:00

Google has again changed and arguably improved their searching tool. See what changes were recently made to the world's largest search engine:

As of April 20th - New Features in Google Docs

2010-04-20T16:37:00.004-06:00

TechnixUpdate website has all the new features Google has released for Docs in the past week. They have also included how to use these new features! Check it out!

The GMail blog has listed its latest release of new features too! I am so impressed with the new things we can do!

You can always keep up with the new features by reading the Google Operating System Blog.

Day 1: Exploring Google Tools

2010-03-22T00:00:00.000-06:00

Since I am starting a new class this week, I thought I would devote the next series of posts to the content I will be presenting.

Below, you will find my first resource...Google Tools you might not have been aware of. This resource can be found at Slideshare.net (search for caskeyd):

Google Search Tools

View more presentations from Desiree Caskey.

We will be talking about one of Google's tools called Chrome, which is a browser. Watch this short clip to get a better definition of the concept of browser:

This is a handout I created to help collect all the different Google search tools and strategies:

Google Search Tools

View more documents from Desiree Caskey.

Using Google's Book Search: Aesop's Fables

2010-03-21T23:59:00.000-06:00

This is an example of how you can take a book you found in the Google Book Search and embed it into your blog:

Setting up a Google Account

2010-03-21T23:50:00.000-06:00

Day 2: iGoogle Explored

2010-03-21T01:00:00.006-06:00

New to the concept of iGoogle (or Google Home Page)?
Here is a quick video to help you with the concept of iGoogle:

iGoogle is a great tool, with a new feature - social gadgets:

iGoogle handouts from SlideShare.net (search caskeyd for more resources:)

iGoogle

View more presentations from Desiree Caskey.

Once you have got your iGoogle page set up...here is a tip on changing the settings on your gadgets:

Day 3: Google Docs

2010-03-20T14:32:00.003-06:00

Here is a video by Lee Lefever - "In Plain English" - to help explain the concept of Google Docs:

Here is a resource from SlideShare that you can use as a reference:

Google Docs

View more presentations from Desiree Caskey.

Google has updated Docs to offer you more options and tools. They have improved this tool by leaps and bounds! Check out this video to see how:

Want to share documents with me? I am caskeyd@gmail.com!

Review Videos: Google Forms & Google Squared

2010-03-20T13:00:00.002-06:00

This was made for business...but you can translate it for education:

I also found this video that does a nice job of describing and illustrating Google Squared, which is my new favorite tool:

Here is a cool resource...watch Google's 15 second search tip video series!

Day 4: Setting up a Classroom Blog

2010-03-19T13:11:00.002-06:00

Let's start our session by watching a short video called "Blogs in Plain English"...sound familiar?

Here is a great, simple video to teach you how to set up your blog for the first time. This video was used to teach a class...so there might be some instructions you don't want to follow:

Blogger has a video series and here is the first one...creating a blog:

Want more tutorials from Blogger? They have a whole series here!

Here is a resource you can view and print out if you like:

Creating A Blog

View more presentations from Desiree Caskey.

Blogger Resources

2010-03-19T13:00:00.002-06:00

This is a tutorial I created and published on Slideshare.net:

Creating A Blog

View more presentations from Desiree Caskey.

How to Add a Hit Counter to Your Blog

2010-03-19T10:01:00.002-06:00

Day 5: Google Sites

2010-03-18T11:28:00.002-06:00

I found a short series of videos that I thought you would find useful for creating Google Sites. Although building a site using this tool is pretty straight-forward, it is always nice to have a resource to refer back to as you have questions.

Radford University has put together a series of tutorials for Google Sites. I have embedded all of the tutorial videos.

Google Sites Tutorial Part 1:

Google Sites Tutorial Part 2:

Google Sites Tutorial Part 3:

Google Sites Tutorial Part 4:

Here is a simple handout you are welcome to print. This will get you started using Google Sites:

Google Sites

View more presentations from Desiree Caskey.

Day 6: Picasa and Picasa Web Albums

2010-03-17T15:25:00.003-06:00

Another great "In Plain English" video to explain photo sharing concept:

A resource you can reference later, print if you like:

Picasa

View more presentations from Billings Public Schools.

There are some great video tutorials for Picasa. Here is one:

Picasa is Cool! I want to learn more!

2010-03-17T14:25:00.003-06:00

Some of you have found that Picasa is a really cool tool and want to explore it more. There is a lot to Picasa, so if you want some help...start here:

I just learned that you can email your photos to your Picasa site!

If you go to your Settings in Picasa, you can set this up:

Using Picasa at Cadre...Collage Feature

2010-03-17T08:03:00.002-06:00

Day 7: Exploring Google Earth

2010-03-16T10:02:00.003-06:00

Google Earth is a fascinating tool and can be used in your classroom for just about anything! You can use it just like you would use a traditional globe or you can really get involved in it and make your own global tours.

My friend, and fellow TILT teacher, Mandy Bighorn just shared this link with me! It is a website that integrates Google Earth, Google Maps, Panoramia, and who knows what else! We will experiment with this by going to this site first! It is called VPike.

Because there is such a depth to Google Earth, I will have a lot of video resources available for you. Depending upon what you want to explore...there's a video for that!

First, here is a tutorial on the basics of Google Earth:

Google Earth Basics

View more presentations from Billings Public Schools.

If you want to explore this fabulous tool in depth, I suggest you start here:
Discover Google Earth

Google Earth Product Tours

Learn Google Earth by playing this interactive game

Finally, Google Earth has its own channel on YouTube...watch GoogleEarthVideoHelp

Day 8: BPS goes Google! Learn the tools here

2010-02-26T12:55:00.010-07:00

Visit the BPS TILT page to find a list of tutorials. You can get tutorials in print form, video, or embedded slide shows.

Visit Slideshare to see a collection of presentations too!

| Get your Presentation Pack

Exploring Google Tools Resources

2010-02-26T10:47:00.002-07:00

Well, we are wrapping up our exploration of Google Tools! I hope you have found some valuable information and tools you can use in your personal as well as professional lives!

If all the resources and virtual handouts you were given in class were not enough (:O)...here is a collection of resources for you to use as you delve deeper into each tool:

Gmail Blog: http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/
Google Apps Blog: http://googleapps.blogspot.com/

YouTube:
Gmail Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/user/Gmail
Google Docs: http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleDocsCommunity
Google Maps: http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleMapsHelp
Google Earth: http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleEarthVideoHelp
Google Earth Tours: http://www.youtube.com/user/mkbarth?blend=1&ob=4

Other Sources Besides Google:
Picasa: http://www.learningelectric.com/picasa2/
Google Earth Blog: http://www.gearthblog.com/
Google Updates & News: http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/

More Google Tools to Explore

2010-02-26T07:56:00.005-07:00

Posted on Feb 25th, 2010 MacLife magazine highlighted Google tools we might not be aware of:

News Timeline - search primary source documents
Patents - see what patents are already out there before you start your invention
In Quotes - takes 2 politicians and compares their quotes on different issues
Moderator - a forum for questions, suggestions, communication about stuff
City Tours - get a tour mapped and planned out for your next vacation
Audio Indexing - see what politicians are saying about different topics
Code Search - a reference tool for programmers
Image Swirl - find similar images in a fun interface
Fast Flip - have dozens of news resources displayed simultaneously
Scholar - an amazing resource for educational research
Product Search - comparison shopping at its best
Trends - see what is trending on the web (based on hits per site)
People Hopper - morphs the photos of one friend into another (from your Orkut account)
Orkut - Google social network

Oh My!

Coming Soon...Google Rules the Web

2010-02-24T08:13:00.002-07:00

From a Feb 22nd article in Wired Magazine:
You would think that having a 65% market share of the web searching world, Google would be sitting back and relaxing. Not so! Google is working harder than ever to role out new search tools and applications to make your surfing and researching on the Internet even more intuitive.

Click here to read the article

A Love Story...Google Style

2010-02-08T18:40:00.001-07:00

Striving to be like District 2...219, that is!

2010-01-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Top 100 Web 2.0 Tools

2010-01-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2009

View more presentations from Jane Hart.

Our Education, Our Future, Our Voice

2010-01-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

To get more information about Native Voice Films, click here.

What is a Web Browser?

2010-01-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

Using VoiceThread For Evaluations

2010-01-19T17:53:00.001-07:00

Hooking up your Document Camera & Projector

2009-12-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

This is a video tutorial I created with my Flip pocket video camera.

From the Nature Guy

2009-10-01T15:01:00.000-06:00

Online Resources

2009-04-14T13:57:00.001-06:00

Resources to add to your site

Place some of these resources in the sidebar of your blog, wiki or website. Give your students access to some helpful tools.

KnowPlay?:

http://www.kplay.cc/reference.html

Longman Online Dictionary:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/

Time for Time:
http://www.time-for-time.com/

Interactive(Math & Science):
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

Elementary Theme Pages:
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/themes.html

AlternaTime (Collection of online timelines):
http://www3.canisius.edu/~emeryg/time.html

World Flag Database:
http://www.flags.ndirect.co.uk/

Biography Dictionary:
http://www.s9.com/

Digital Librarian:
http://www.digital-librarian.com/reference.html

Twitter Explained

2009-04-13T11:07:00.001-06:00

Social Bookmarking Explained

2009-04-13T11:06:00.000-06:00

Social Networking Explanation

2009-04-13T11:04:00.000-06:00

Podcasts of Note

2009-04-13T10:59:00.000-06:00

Here are some podcasts that teachers have explored and shared:

Elementary Teachers Like:

Ask an Astronomer
IMax - Under the Sea...3rd Grade and up
Reading Rockets - Meet the Author...3rd Grade and up
KidCast - Ideas for using podcasts in the classroom
Electronic Field Trips...K-12
Animal Planet Video Podcast (has face offs between 2 animals and idioms)
Learn Basic Math
Discover Channel Everglades...4th Grade
Nature | PBS
Super WHY! | PBS Kids
Sesame Street

MS & HS Teachers Like:

ABC News (20/20, Nightline, Nature's Edge, President Obama's Weekly Address)
CBS News (60 minutes, Face The Nation, Washington Unplugged)
CNN Student News
Discovery Networks (Science Channel, Space, Health, Animal Planet)
How Stuff Works
60 Second Scientist (Scientific American)
60 Second Earth (Scientific American)
Stuff You Missed in History Class
iTunes U: Holocaust Days of Remembrance
iTunes U: Medical Center Health Hour
iTunes U: Ohio - Going Green

For Professional Growth:

TEDTalks
Photography 101
Teachers Teaching Teachers
Teaching American History Podcast
November Learning Podcast
Class Acts: Ideas for Teaching Reading & Writing
Teaching Tips by Teachtopia

There are too many great podcasts to list here...what are your favorite? Please comment with the exact name of the podcast so the rest of us can find it easily.

2009-04-10T20:55:00.001-06:00

I was exploring some very cool gadgets on the Education World site and came across this one! It's a lot like Wordle, only it has shapes! This would be another fun one for a brainstorming, vocab review, or word choice activity.

PB Wiki Handout

2009-04-06T19:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a handout that helps you understand the concept of a wiki and shows you how to create a wiki using any easy tool called PB Wiki.

Blogging Handout

2009-04-06T19:42:00.000-06:00

I am using this presentation in my Classroom Web Pages Class. Thought you might find it of value:

No Future Left Behind

2009-04-03T13:31:00.001-06:00

PBwiki

2009-03-20T22:35:00.000-06:00

Hello all "techies" out there! Have I got a cool site for you! PBwiki is a social network for students and teachers to collaborate online. Just assign your students a login and password, ask a question for them to respond to, and "let your students loose" during computer lab time. Your classroom wiki can become a nifty tool for those students needing to be challenged. Just add widgets, link to other pages, and set up assignments to get your students exploring. If you want to learn more about PBwiki, visit the support page for short video tutorials. My students love this!

A Wordle Says it All

2009-03-11T15:37:00.000-06:00

Where Have we been...Where are we going?

2009-03-11T14:52:00.000-06:00

I wanted to do a quick rundown of the topics we have covered and give you an idea of the focus for our final meeting. First, I think it is important to explain my goal for conducting this PIR offering. I am a strong supporter of effective staff development. I HATE sit -n- get options. All the research points to the effectiveness of creating professional learning communities, allowing a focus for a sustained amount of time, and giving teachers the power to direct their learning. So, although you may have thought this was about teaching technology...to me it was about so much more. My hope was you would collaborate with each other, learn from each other, take time to explore, and create relationships that allow you to explore new ways of teaching and learning.

The Emerging Technology Exploration PIR was set up to give you an overview of what is emerging...not only in technology, but also in staff development.

Technology Focus:
HomePages: Using a tool to collect gadgets to help you manage your content. We explored iGoogle.

RSS: Real Simple Syndication. Subscribing to content that you find valuable. Making that content come to you in the form of an aggregator. We explored Google Reader.

Blogs: A tool used to publish information - but more importantly...a tool that allows readers to participate in the discussion through commenting. We explored Blogger.

Web 2.0: Web-based tools that focus on creating, publishing, sharing & collaborating. We explored a variety of Web 2.o tools.

Podcasts (April): Episodes of audio and/or video format you subscribe to for educational or entertainment. We will be exploring iTunes.

Professional Social Networks (April): Websites dedicated to collaboration amongst professionals. We will be exploring Ning (Classroom 2.0)

Social Bookmarking (April): A tool to help you collect, organize, and share your bookmarks; to be accessed from any Internet-ready computer. We will be exploring Delicious.

Embedding (April): Some of you have ventured out and started your own blog. Well, you can embed a lot of tools into a blog post, including surveys and quizzes! I will be showing you how to embed a Google Form into a blog post so that you can survey or quiz your audience.

Staff Development Focus:
Small Groups: Working in smaller groups eases tensions about unknown topics and lack of skills. It also allows for coverage of more material.

Hands-on: Having time to explore a new concept or tool helps you understand it better. There is more retention than if you were watching a presentation on these tools.

Learning Teams: Creating a professional learning community removes the isolation barrier. Teachers can learn from each other and share classroom ideas.

Sustained Events: An opportunity to put into practice what you have learned, then come back together and reflect on it effectiveness.

Final Thoughts:
There are so many digital tools available, but it takes time to learn how to use them, and more importantly...why to use them. We have covered a small percentage of emerging technology in our PIR sessions. The opportunity to explore and share has been given to us - in the form of multiple related staff development days. This is wonderful...but its effectiveness is based on more than what we do on each of these days. It requires that we commit to working and learning between meeting times....it requires that we engage in collaboration, practice and sharing.

2009-01-30T23:09:00.001-07:00

Here's another fun one: http://www.festisite.com/tools/

Webspiration

2009-01-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you've ever seen or used Inspiration, Webspiration will look very familiar. The best difference is that you don't need a license to use Webspiration. Very useful, easy for the kids to navigate around. webspiration.com

Tika Tok/ Questionaut tools

2009-01-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

Hey! Here is some of what I found about the Tika Tok tool and the Questionaut tool.

Tika Tok(www.tikatok.com) was a book creation site that looked more appropriate for primary classrooms than intermediate. You can write and illustrate kid stories. Then they "publish" the book. It looks like you can even purchase the published book if you or parents want.

Questionaut (www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/games/questionaut)is a BBC site that has activities and teacher guides and more for reading, math, and science. You can link the activities to a blog. I have used the nonfiction activity with my class under the reading link. They liked creating the stories with a title, text, and picture. There is a quiz you could give, too. I did not use the quiz. I would use this again.

Hope this helps.

Kelly

Webspiration/MindMeister

2009-01-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

MyWebspiration is a tool that is very similiar to Inspiration. As a teacher, you could go in and create graphic organizers and print them. You could also collaborate with your students on this site and create something together. Anything that you would have your students draw in class (like the water cycle), you could use this tool for. Then it will turn their picture into an outline, if you want.

MindMeister is very similar. It definitely looks like a great site to make graphic organizers, and there are many graphic organizers to browse and edit, if you choose. I like this better than Webspiration, for that reason. If you would use either of them to make graphic organizers, MindMeister would be much faster because you can edit the examples that are already there for you. It also looks like you could collaborate with your students.

Misty

Dabbleboard- Check it out!

2009-01-29T14:31:00.001-07:00

I explored:

http://www.dabbleboard.com

Dabbleboard is a web-based whiteboard that allows you to create, save, and print anything your draw, type, or paste onto your virtual whiteboard. As a group, we think this website would be a valuable resource for all levels. The site is rather user-friendly. The benefits include improved student engagement potential and to save and come back to your created "whiteboard." The website makes if very easy to create flow charts, diagrams, and various other graphic organizers as well. Check it out!

Roger

Voki-Dokey!

2009-01-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Meet my sub for tomorrow:(push play to make her talk...)Click here to comment on this Voki.
Get a Voki now!
I'd like to introduce you all to my Voki--a spitting image of what I wish I looked like... Actually this does look just like my classroom, because this really is my classroom! A cool feature of my little research project is that you can upload your own backgrounds. It wasn't difficult to do--it actually only took a few minutes. You can even record your own voice (...I was just shy).

Can you help me think of ways that this could be used with our kiddos?

Creating a Blog Post

2009-01-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Click Create a New Post to learn how to create a new post on the blog.

Need another tutorial?
Try This one.

New Year, New Resolutions, New Tools

2009-01-05T10:59:00.001-07:00

I know many of you have already announced your New Year's resolutions, but for those of you that have not...or those of you that might want to switch, I thought you could use some help. One of my favorite magazines has put together a listing of websites that are designed to help us improve our lives...whether physically, mentally, spiritually...so I thought I could share a collection of them with you - you know - to help you start off the New Year on a good note. Some of these sites are valuable and some are probably not. You be the judge.

Cool Sites:
Topix
Helps you keep up on the latest news and goings-on around your area.

Be Jackson Pollock
Wow! This site is so cool. Double-click once you get tired of one color. ANYONE can be an artist.

5 Minute Tutorials
This site has a collection of short videos to teach you how to do all kinds of stuff...all kinds!

Interesting
This site will make a champion trivial pursuit player out of you yet!

Stumbleupon
Procrastinate Smarter! Thanks to Susan Veit, this is one of my favorite past-times and web sites.

Picbite
Upload a phoe, drag N drop speech bubbles onto it...when you are done, email it.

Ecofabulous
Visit this eo-blog for instant greenspiration.

Food:
What's For dinner
Plan a week's worth of meals with this site. Get a recipe for each day of the week.

EatWell
Put in your zip and find restaurants and stores that sell locally produced eats.

Chow!
This blog is great.

Chezpim
Another great food blog.

All Recipes
I used this site for two different recipes just yesterday. You can get a nice printable form.

Fitness:
Run
Search for running routes throughout the world. Now you can run safely wherever you are.

Power-Systems
Find a new fitness tool (or toy). Choose a goal and the site will recommend the gear.

Bike & Hike
Find bike routes and hiking trails at your vacation spots - or in your own back yard.

Onthesnow
This site tells you the essentials for ski resorts. Just click on the state to get your information.

Just Great Sites:
Convertalot
This is a site that enables you to convert anything that can be converted!

Kiva
This is a fabulous site if your New Year's resolution is to be a better person. Lend money to people in developing countries trying to start a business. Lend as little or as much as you can. You will see how your money is put to use and you generally get your money back within a year.

StuffSafe
Keep an inventory of your household in case of theft or fire. Be prepared to have detailed information for each item you want to catalog.

Rotten or Rad Neighbor
Put in the zip code and read user complaints or compliments on people in your neighborhood.

Find a Book
Enter the title or author of a book you love and this site will give you suggestions on what to read next. Cool!

Etsy
Great crafts - all are one-of-a-kind!

Craig's List
Shopping for something bizzar? Wanting to find a great deal? Go to Craig's List.

HowitSucks
Avoid Bad Technology by reading the negative posts.

Picnik
Tweak your pictures online.

Technorati
One of the most highly rated sites, this is the place to track the most talked about topics.

Whew! If you can't find some great site to help you with your New Year's resolution, you might as well go back to bed for 2009! Happy exploring. Let me know what site you find the most entertaining, helpful, bogus...worth adjusting your resolution.

Integrating Technology - For Future Teachers

2008-11-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sue Robinson, who teaches World History at Senior High asked me to speak to her students in her Methods class at MSU-Billings. I am so excited about this opportunity to speak to future teachers about how the classrooms of today are emerging into classrooms for the 21st Century. I have thought about all of the things I could talk to them about...and realized I could TEACH a FULL SEMESTER on effectively integrating technology. So, I needed to decide what I would share with them - what are some of the important points I can share. I came up with 3 main ideas:

1st : Why Integrate Technology?
The face of education is changing...traditional education does not apply to future citizens. There is an immense disconnect between what educators and students believe is happening on this front.

Industry has collaborated with education
- The outcome: 21st Century Learning Skills

Framework for 21st Century Learning
Montana Information Literacy & Technology Standards
BPS Technology Integration Guidelines

What do these have in common? Watch...this is a part of your job as a teacher.

2nd: How Do We Integrate Technology?

Putting technology into the hands of teachers or students is not enough.
Using Research-Based Approaches - Classroom Instruction that Works
Don't ask how can I use technology. Ask what tool best fits this lesson.

3rd: The Change is Happening. Look Around You

Teacher Blogs
Wiki Projects
Podcasting
Video Conferencing
Other Web 2.0 Tools

Resources For You:
Lesson Plans
Classroom Ideas
Curriculum Hotspots
Resources for Different Classrooms/Grades

TILT Teachers - please feel free to add more ideas and resources for these future teachers!

_

Learning to Change...Changing to Learn

2008-10-21T14:22:00.001-06:00

Are YOU Paying Attention?

2008-10-05T14:15:00.000-06:00

The first three responders to this post, will receive a prize! So, how do you respond? Answer a couple of questions:
1) What gadgets have you added to your iGoogle home page?
2) What RSS feeds have you subscribed to?
3) Have you used your iGoogle home page in your classroom? How?

Using Google Reader: A Review

2008-10-05T14:05:00.000-06:00