Thursday, December 20, 2007

Great Article - Web 2.0: Top ten buzzwords

This article identifies the following as the top 10 buzz words for Web 2.0:

Top 10 buzzwords
1. Ajax
2. Avatar
3. Dynamic and static
4. Mash-up
5. Microblogging
6. RSS
7. Social bookmarking
8. Social networking
9. Wiki
10. Wikinomics

It gives a definition of each buzzword and example sites :-)- this is a must read article!

http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/generic/0,295582,sid11_gci1274262,00.html

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Monday, December 10, 2007

SmartBoard Overview Professional Development Course

Workshop Description: Intensive exploration of Smartboard use, including differentiated training in Smartboard use, sites for every grade and content area, management issues & troubleshooting. Participants in this course will design a simple lesson of their choice to develop for use in there classroom with the Smartboard. 6 Hour Class


These are a variety of the resources and websites we used in the workshop compiled for your convenience.



SmartBoard SMART Resources:
Types of Interactive White Boards:



Training Materials (Printable PDF & 2 Minute Video): http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/material.asp




Evaluation Version for Synchronized Eyes and Bright Ideas Software: http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Support/Downloads/default.htm




Activities for use with Smartboard by Curriculum. Search by curriculum standards, subject and grade or all: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+activities/


Smart Newsletter - EDCompass Newsletter which highlight best practices - Download latest issue or subscribe: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/News+and+research/EdCompass/Current+issue.htm?WT.mc_id=EdHP_EdCompCurrent




SMART customers can download at no cost a variety of educational software for use on the SMART Board interactive whiteboard. These include Finale for music, Speller Software for elementary and beginner readers, and Number Cruncher Software for elementary education.



Become a SMART Exemplary Educator



Application for SMART Exemplary Educator:



SMARTer Kids Foundation - Research Grant: http://www.smarterkids.org/research/details.asp Next due date is January 1st








Beginner Teacher SMartBoard Resources:

Using Electronic Whiteboards in Your Classroom: Benefits
http://www.waukesha.k12.wi.us/WIT/SmartBoard/benefits.htm


Monroe BOCES SMARTBoard Wiki
http://wiki.monroe.edu/index.php?title=SMART_Board%2C_Introduction_to


Kenton County School SMART Teacher Resources Center
http://www.kenton.k12.ky.us/SmartBoard/smartboardindex.htm

Using Electronic Whiteboards in Your Classroom: Profiles, ideas, lesson plans and web sites http://www.waukesha.k12.wi.us/WIT/SmartBoard/specificapps.htm


http://www.kenton.k12.ky.us/SmartBoard/SMARTBoardinfo.pdf - Document

Smart Tips
http://www.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/sb/archive.htm





Interactive WhiteBoard Resources:


http://www.virtual-whiteboard.co.uk/home.asp - Virtual Whiteboard for Multiple Users

http://pine.ucc.nau.edu/gab38/etc547/Whiteboards.htm - WebQuest for Learning to use an Interactive Whiteboard

http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/smartboard.htm Lee Summit School of Interactive Whiteboard Resources

http://community.teqsmart.org/news.php Tequipment Educator Resource Center

http://www.kenton.k12.ky.us/SmartBoard/smartscience.htm - Using the SMARTBoard to Support Science

http://www.eduscapes.com/sessions/smartboard/ - Engaging Learners
the SMARTboard Way


http://teach.fcps.net/trt27/science.htm - Smartboard Science Lessons

http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/smartboard.htm - Lee's Summit R-7 School District SMARTBoard Resource Center

SmartBoard Writing Spark
http://www.thewritingsite.org/resources/technology/smartboard.asp

Smart Board Use Spectrum
http://www.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/sb/spectrum.htm


SMARTBoard Videos on YouTube.com:

http://karenbrooksucboces.blogspot.com/2007/10/smart-board-videos.html - Compiled


Templates to Get you Started:

http://www.center.k12.mo.us/Edtech/SB/templates.htm
http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed%2BResource/Lesson%2Bactivities/

Other Interactive Resources Used in the Training:
http://puritansguidetosecondlife.blogspot.com/2007/06/gaming-and-learning.html - PG-SL
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/ - Wacky Web Tales
http://www.eduplace.com/fakeout/ - Fake Out Word Game
http://www.weewebbies.com/htmls/web42900.htm - Letter Sounds
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/games/play.php?contentId=1208 - Letter Sounds
http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/index.htm - Interactive Reading
http://www.cogcon.com/gamegoo/games/tina2/tina2.html - Tina's World & Listening
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/clusters/blender/index.shtml - WordBlender
http://www.kinderplanet.com/alphlett.htm - Kinderplanet
http://www.school-house-rock.com/Adj.html School House Rock Adjective Song
http://education.jlab.org/reading/water_cycle.html Weather Cycle Close Activity
http://www.national-aquarium.co.uk/interactive/water.asp The Interactive Water Cycle
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/droplet.html - Droplet and the Watercycle
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/groundwater/watercycle.htm - The Water Cycle Quiz, Word Search and Poem
http://www.athena.bham.org.uk/TRScience.htm - Interactive Water Cycle for the WhiteBoard
View Earth from a Satellite http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/satellite.html
Nite Sky: http://wikiski.org/
Common English errors http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
Stop Light Timer http://www.centraltoastmasters.org/timer.html
Day By Day - http://classroom.jc-schools.net/mm/
Surf Savvy - http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/surf/
71 OPTICAL Illusions http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/
Create Your Own Bingo Cards http://www.dltk-cards.com/bingo/bingo1.asp
Create Your own Books Marks http://www.dltk-cards.com/bookmarks/b1.asp
How Old Are You - http://www.myteachertools.com/old/cooltool.htm
Measurement converter http://www.convertit.com/Go/Maps/Measurement/Converter.ASP
Periodic Table of Elements http://www.convertit.com/Go/Maps/Calculators/Science/Periodic_Table.ASP
BMI Calculator http://www.convertit.com/Go/Maps/Calculators/Science/Body_Mass_Index_Calc.ASP
Virtual Fish Tank http://www.virtualfishtank.com/main.html
Translator - http://babelfish.altavista.com/
History Wired - http://www.historywired.com/index.html

Need Ideas on How to Use a SmartBoard?
http://www.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/sb/resources/SMART%20Board.pdf
http://www.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/sb/resources/SMART%20Board%20ideas.pdf

Troubleshooting and your SmartBoard:

http://www.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/sb/faq.htm

Interactive Power Point Templates:
http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/
http://teach.fcps.net/trt14/Power%20Point%20Games/power_point_games.htm
http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/TecEds/training/materials/index-PPTGameTemplates.html#PowerPoint%20Game%20Show%20Templates
http://www.vickiblackwell.com/ppttemplates.html
http://www.teachnet.com/lesson/misc/winnergame022500.html

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Elf of the Shelf

Very cute holiday activity.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Wikis, Blogs & Podcasts - Oh My!!

If you are like many of the teachers I work with, then you are not only still trying to understand what each of these educational mediums are, but also how they can be used effectively in the classroom. I put together the following, which basically give a tutorial or informational sites to use when designing these items for educational uses. Next, I gave mostly educational examples of Wikis, Blogs and Podcasts for educators to see how these items are used and can be incorporated into the curriculum as an instructional tool to support and enhance learning.

Tutorials/Informational Site:

http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/web20/ - Video tutorials on these Web 2.0 Tools for the classroom from Vikki Blackwell.

http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/07/13/15-productive-uses-for-a-wiki/ - Gives 15 Productive uses for a Wiki

http://www.podcastforteachers.org/Who'sUsingPodcastingInEducationAndHow.htm#examples - Who is Using Podcasting in Education and HOW?

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/50-free-tools-to-make-your-ipod-better-and/ - 50 FREE tools to make your iPod better.

http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/infolit/podsoft/ - Podcasting Tools

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~nshelley/index.html - Podcasting in the Classroom – Teacher Resource

http://poducateme.com/guide/ Practical Solutions Guide for Podcasting in Education

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/08/19/113-must-read-blogging-tips/ - 113 Blogging Tips

http://knowledgetree.flexiblelearning.net.au/edition04/pdf/Blogging_to_Learn.pdf PDF on Blogging to Learn

http://www.instigatorblog.com/10-questions-to-ask-before-launching-your-blog/2007/03/12/ - 10 Questions to Ask Before Launching Your Blog

http://k12online.wm.edu/its_elementary/player.html Blogs, Wikis & Podcasts in the Classroom Tutorial from Australia

Wikis – We have all heard of Wikipedia, but here are some other examples:

http://davidwarlick.com/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.RetoolingForTheMillennialChild – Retooling for the Millennial Child

http://schools.wikia.com/wiki/Physics - NYC High School Writing project for Physics Wiki Page.

http://schools.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page - NYC High School online Collaborative Writing.

http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/ - ShiftHappens video Wiki

http://wiki.monroe.edu/index.php?title=Main_Page – Monroe BOCES Model Schools Wiki for technology.

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page - Wikiversity is a community for the creation and use of free learning materials and activities. Wikiversity is a multidimensional social organization dedicated to learning, teaching, research and service.

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Muppet_Wiki - This shows how bizarre and detailed a Wiki can Actually get.

https://tools-4-teachers.wikispaces.com/ - This is Ulster BOCES Educational Wiki of resources for educators.

http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers100K - FREE WIki Space for Educators

Blogs - Directly below are some great educational blogs:

Some Classroom & other Educational Blogs:

http://www.b2rocks.blogspot.com/ - B2 - A Classroom of 6-7 Yr Olds

http://bitsnbytesnews.blogspot.com/ - Our Local Teacher Resource Blog by Karen and Sean

http://www.puritansguidetosecondlife.blogspot.com/ - Blog for Educational uses in Second Life – a 3D virtual world.

http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/ict/slblogs/ - More Popular Second Life Educational Blogs

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/ - Daily Writing Tips Blog

http://awd.cl.uh.edu/blog/ - Blogs in education – elementary through college.

Podcasts:

http://chatt.hdsb.ca/~magps/boylit/Podcasting%20in%20Education – Podcasting in Education

http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/ Lit to Go - is a free online collection of stories and poems in Mp3 (audiobook) format.

http://edtechtalk.com/ItsElementary - Ed Tech Talk Podcasts

http://www.twit.tv/ - This Week in Technology – one of the hottest podcasts around.

http://techtools4teachers.mypodcast.com/index.html - Tech Tools 4 Teachers Podcast – a supplement to the Bits-n-Bytes News Blog (http://www.bitsnbytesnews.blogspot.com)

https://web1.caryacademy.org/facultywebs/joselyn_todd/science7_podcasts/ptp/periodic_table_of_podcasts.htm - Chemistry Periodic Table Podcast

http://pdtogo.com/smart/?page_id=28 – Podcasting can even be used for Professional Development or a classroom supplement as in these SmartBoard Lesson Podcasts.


Wednesday, October 24, 2007

SmartBoard Resources

Smart Board Resources

http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/windows/trainingmaterials.asp - Smart-tech Training Center

http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/tutorials/whiteboards.html#resources - INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS IN THE CLASSROOM

http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/tutorials.asp - 2 Minute Smart Training Videos

http://www.virtual-whiteboard.co.uk/home.asp - Virtual Whiteboard for Multiple Users

http://pine.ucc.nau.edu/gab38/etc547/Whiteboards.htm - WebQuest for Learning to use an Interactive Whiteboard

http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/smartboard.htm Lee Summit School of Interactive Whiteboard Resources

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Literacy Empowerment Foundation Matching Book Grant Program

The Deadline for the Matching Book Grant Program is November 30th, 2007.

LEF currently supplies books to over 35,000 schools. The LiteracyEmpowerment Foundation (LEF) has increased the size of the matching grants available to $16,000.00 per school.

A school can now order $32,000.00worth of books and pay only $16,000.00. (Any amount purchased from $100.00 to $16,000.00 will be matched.)

The Literacy Empowerment Foundation (LEF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofitorganization. Orders must be received by November 30, 2007.

(Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues in literacy.)

Information and a matching book grant order form are available athttp://www.lefbooks.org/.

NASA 50th Anniversary Essay Contest for Students Grades 5-9

NASA 50th Anniversary Essay Contest for Students

The NASA 50th Anniversary Essay Competition for middle and junior high school students is now accepting entries. The competition consists of two separate topics, each with a limit of 500 words. The first topic challenges students to describe how they benefit in their everyday lives from space technologies built by NASA over the last 50 years. The second topic requires students to imagine how their everyday lives will have changed because of NASA space technology in the next 50 years.

Students may submit two separate essays, each responding to a separate topic. Participants must be U.S. students in grades 5-9 and under the age of 15.

An optional notice of intent is due on Dec. 7, 2007. Final entries are due on or before Jan. 7, 2008. For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/5-8/features/F_Essay_Competition.html

NASA Educationhttp://www.nasa.gov/education

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Gaming and Learning Course Resources Part II

http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/games/

This site looks at Game Based Learning. It looks at the definition, types and how it benefits student learning. The following was taken from the site:

Features of game-based learning (GBL):
· GBL uses competitive exercises, either pitting the students against each other or getting them to challenge themselves in order to motivate them to learn better.
· Games often have a fantasy element that engages players in a learning activity through a storyline.

Categories of games that can be adapted for learning include:
· Video Games (Digital Game-Based Learning)
· Board and Card Games: with descriptions of geoscience games

Why use it:
· Motivates students to learn
· Immerses them in the material so they learn more effectively
· Encourages them to learn from their mistakes. Learn more here.

Article on Gaming and Learning in eSchool News: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6799

University of Wyoming professor and education researcher Liz Simpson recommends the following GBL:

Social Studies: •"Civilization" (Sid Meier)•"Capitalism" (Enlight Software)•"Age of Empires" (MS Game Studios, Ensemble Studios)Math: •"Flight Simulator" (MS Game Studios)Business: •"Restaurant Empire" (Enlight Software)•"Zoo Empire" (Enlight Software)•"Oil Tycoon" (Global Star, Soft Enterprises)•"The Apprentice" (Legacy Interactive)Health:•"Spore" (Electronic Arts)

A resource for Educators and Students interested in the latest on Game Theory:
http://www.gametheory.net/

Gaming Tech Source:
http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/index.php/Main_Page

Educational Games – or claims to be J
http://funschool.kaboose.com/

Gaming and Learning in Second Life:
http://groups.google.com/group/gaming-and-learning-in-sl

Article: Digital Game-Based Learning: It's Not Just the Digital Natives Who Are Restless
http://connect.educause.edu/library/abstract/DigitalGameBasedLear/40614

Thinking Worlds Website
http://www.thinkingworlds.com/ - Thinking WorldsTM is Caspian's educational games player and authoring suite, which allows people of all ages to play and create their own 3D educational game online. All of Caspian's educational titles are linked to the national curriculum. You can try a selection of Thinking WorldsTM games and have a go at authoring your own, free of charge, by going to Free Trial and registering.

Pocast from Educlause on Gaming and Learning. In this podcast of the presentation "Generation G and the 21st Century," Richard Van Eck, associate professor of instructional design and technology at the University of North Dakota, discusses the theory behind the effectiveness of games in teaching and learning; what the past can teach us about if, how, and when to implement digital game-based learning; and what this will mean for colleges and universities. http://connect.educause.edu/blog/gbayne/richardvaneckpresent/44488


Educational Simulations: http://ozpk.tripod.com/0000simulation

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Monday, September 24, 2007

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Gaming and Learning: Part One





Taxonomy for Gaming and Learning is located at www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet21/lee.html

Gaming and Learning, Part I
9/17/07

The following are highlights from the Gaming and Learning Professional Development Course Part-I. (Participants – if you need the PPT and did not receive it, let me know.)

Basic resources for Gaming:
Http://del.icio.us/dembe01
http://del.icio.us/seanbanks
http://puritansguidetosecondlife.blogspot.com/2007/06/gaming-and-learning.html


New Tool – Can it make our lives more mobile? It does support social networking and gaming on the go:

http://event.asus.com/eeepc/

http://www.eeeuser.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1255

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) to Learning
Second Life
Teen Second Life
Webkizs
Club Penguin
Bang Howdy
Half Life – Excellent physics generator uses real world physics
RuneScape
StarWars Combine
StockMarket Game
Honoloco
Amazon Interactive
Hell in Vietnam
Art of Murder FBI Confidential

Simulations are another type of gaming and have been used for years. Looking at simulations is exciting because we are beginning to see more and more virtual laboratories appear.

A simulation is an imitation of some real thing, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system.
Two Types
· Downloadable
· Online

Simulation Game Examples:
Molecular Aspects of Thermal Conductivity
Cosmic Quest
Paper Airplane
Shape Surveyor
The Bulling Game
Stop Disasters
Quest Atlantis
Restaurant Game Project
Robot Constructor
Celestia
Making History Game
Wonderville
Nanoquest
Gizmos
Material Worlds Simulator
NASA Science Simulations
Growing Scientist Virtual Labs
Ph Factor
Rice Lab Simulations
Frog Dissection
Interactive Solar System
DumpTown Recycling
Design Your own Satellite
Science Lab and Simulations


Some Basic Resources:
Virtual Worlds News
Shih’s Mobile Learning Model
Simulator Download
MMMORPG
Top MMORPG’s
Free MMOR’s
90+ Social Game Sites
Basic Interactive Activities



Again these are just some of the highlight I am posting as per your request. We will be going much further into these areas when we meet for Part II. Reminder: We will NOT be meeting on 9/26. Our next class will be in October. It is tentatively set for 10/10 and we are waiting for a room confirmation. Upon confirmation, I will send all participants an email.


Friday, September 14, 2007

Fair Use or Fairy Use Tale

Sean shared this with me today and as a Disney fan, I just loved it. It is funny, humorous and gets the point across well about copyright. This definatly took a lot of time to put togather, but it was worth it!

http://voirdire.stanford.edu/program/centers/cis/fairuse/Fair(y)_Use_Tale_Stanford_Cut-stream.mp4

Regards,
Karen

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Let the 2007-2008 Academic Year Begin!

Let the 2007-2008 Academic Year Begin!

It is the start of the 2007-2008 Academic School Year. Are you trying to decide what your professional goals will be this year? Are you trying to incorporate more technology into your classroom, but do not know where to start? Are you just learning about technology and need a place to start, refresh and explore this wonderful instructional tool? Or, do you just have a love for instructional technology and blogs on this subject?

Well, if you answered, "Yes" to any of these questions, then you have come to the right blog!

I decided to explore some school webpages and other educational websites along with topics that promote 21st Century Learning. Please join me in the followingeducational web tour designed to promote the use of techology in your instructional practice this up and comming school year.

Our first stop on this journey is going to be http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/t4/content/view/221/35/. This website is FANTASTIC! It is from the T4 Jordan Schoo District, Utah, USA. They have really embraced the "Transforming learning concept through technology." This website is a definate must bookmark. Here is just a sampling of this websites offering:

How Can I Become A Better Teacher?

Teach Me More About...

Okay if the above does not have you hooked yet on this site, then how about this. Darren Draper, author, designer and creator of Pay Attention works for this school district and created many of its pages.

Please check out
http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/t4/content/view/221/35/, the district webpage for copyright educational uses of Darren's Materials.

Our Second stop on this educational journey is going to be http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/edres.html Kathy Schrock's Back to School Resource on the Discovery Website.

This is another fantastic website. To get you hooked and to bookmark this website as a reference for this school year, here is just a small sampling of resources from this webpage:


Our Third stop
will look at great educational blogs on the internet. That is in addition to this blog of course. :-)

Some blogs to familiarize yourself with regarding education are as follows:
The above are just a sampling of educational blogs on the internet. They are a great way to stay connect and find out about instructional technology trends and uses in schools around the country and globe.

Our Fourth stop will be the Kings Park Elementary School in Springfield Virginia. Their website is wonderful for the k-3 School http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KingsParkES/staff/index.htm. This site offers K-3 teacher resources, Lessons and Activities, Interdisciplinary Units and Web Activities and Resources. It is broken down by grade level K-3. This website has taken time and very careful consideration regarding its development. It is a wonderful resourse for the elementary school teacher. Below is a sampling of what you may find at this website:
As a former reading teacher, the Phonemic Awarness Activities is a wonderful classsroom resource for teachers.

Well, I hope I have provided you with a wealth of resources for your first week back to school.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Tech Tools 4 Teachers

http://techtools4teachers.mypodcast.com/index.html

Sean and I ventured out today and decided to start a Podcast for Educational Technology. Above is the link to our podcast site. You can subscribe by RSS using iTunes, My Yahoo, Google, Podcast. We will be podcasting every Friday afternoon, please check out our podcast and joint blog - Bits n Bytes News .

Our Schudule:

  • Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0
  • Great Educational Blogs and Wikis: Must Know Teacher Sites
  • Second Life and Education
  • Social Networking
  • M-Learning Trends
  • Gaming and Learning
  • Distance Learning
  • Data Assistance and the Teacher
  • Who is the Millennial Child?
  • Internet Safety
  • Educational Web 2.0 Sites
  • SmartBoard and the Senteo in the Classroom
  • Year 2007 in Review

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

SchoolTube

Another new place like Teacher Tube that just popped up in 2007 that will allow us to post educationally related SL and virtual World materials. :-)

http://schooltube.com/


Check it out - it is pretty cool.

Regards,
Dembe :-)

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Yahoo Gobbler

Wow - just in time for Thanksgiving and Yahoo provides us with the Gobbler. The only thing that can make this page/tool better is give the owl a turkey student! lol

http://teachers.yahoo.com/sneak_peek

This is a must check out site for teachers and students. It is sure to make lifes easier.

While here, join Yahoo Teachers and put your name and school on the map. http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/08/23/yahoo-teachers-shaping-up-nicely

Must Know Web 2.0 Tools for the 2007-2008 Academic Year

For those of you new to the term Web 2.0 check out http://web20primer.wetpaint.com/?t=anon The Web 2.0 primer which will help you catch up on the lingo and the technology.


Do you know the tools your kids will be using this fall? I decided to look at all the list out there and compile a nice neat document of tools that are easy to use in Education and student friendly here in one location. Here are some web tools your students might be using from the middle school through college level classes:

Teacher Sites/School Tools
Rubistar -- online rubric generator
SchoolTool -- opensource management tool
Schoopy -- classroom organization tool
iQuiz Maker – Free easy to make tool for the iQuizGame for the iPod
Polldaddy - PollDaddy is an online tool, which allows you to create free polls and place them on your website, blog, MySpace, hi5, Friendster or Xanga account or anywhere online that you can paste a bit of JavaScript or Flash!

Blog/Wiki Hosting Sites:
Blogger -- blog-hosting website
EduBlogs -- blog-hosting website
WordPress -- blog-hosting website
coComment -- collect, organize, and share online conversations
Technorati -- search the blogoshpere
pbWiki -- wiki-hosting website
wikispaces -- blog-hosting website

Writing/ Visual Websites
Writely -- online word processor
ThinkFree Office -- free online office applications
Zohowriter – free online word processor and more (a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, wiki writer, notebook, project management, CRM solution, database creator, calendar, web conferencing, email and chat.)
Google Docs – free online word processor and more
WriteBoard - Use Writeboard to share and collaborate while saving separate versions each step of the way.
Chartit -- Designs charts and graphs based on information you enter
Mindomo – Visual organizing tool
Mindmeister – Online mind mapping
Bubbl.us – Online Brainstorming tool
Gliffy – Online mind mapping tool

Fun Sites
Flickr -- upload photos and images
Google Earth -- web-based globe
Google Maps -- maps and directions
scanR -- scan, copy, fax with camera phone or digital camera

Calendar and Task Lists:
Remember The Milk: Remember The Milk reminds you to take care of important tasks, so you’ll never forget when a project is due.
CalendarHub: Use CalendarHub’s web-based calendar to keep track of deadlines and set goals.
Google Calendar: Google Calendar is a web based tool that allows users to organize their schedule, so you’ll always know exactly what you need to be working on.
Planzo: Planzo’s online calendar keeps users connected to events and things to do. It lets you share your events just about anywhere, get a daily digest and receive text message reminders.
Spongecell: Spongecell is an online calendar made for users with lots of meetings and engagements. Plan events, spread the word and allow guests to add content to your calendar.
Neptune: Neptune’s web based to do list tool helps you keep track of the things you need to take care of every day. It lets you email yourself new tasks, get an email report every morning and upload files to store with your projects.
Ta-da List: When you’re busy with lots of projects, it can be hard to keep track of what you’ve accomplished. Make web-based ta-da lists for yourself or other people, then share them and check items off as you go.

Art Type Sites
SketchUp -- Google drawing tool
Gliffy -- free online tool that allows users to create and save diagrams, graphic organizers, flow charts, etc.
ajaxSketch -- online drawing tool (requires Firefox Browser)

Messaging/Communication/Collaboration Sites
YackPack -- online voice messaging
Gabbly -- chat tool
Skype -- communications tool
Basecamp -- online project collaboration
Campfire: Campfire is a web-based chat tool that’s ideal for online meetings with clients or coworkers.
Meebo: Don’t miss out on a client just because you don’t use the same instant messaging tool. Get access to every major messaging service on Meebo’s website without having to download anything.
FaxZERO: Online communication is popular, but sometimes you just have to send a fax. But who wants to invest in a fax machine and phone line for something that happens only on a rare occasion? Instead, use FaxZERO to send a fax anywhere in the US or Canada for free.
eBuddy: Don’t miss out on important messages while you’re away from your base of operations. Log on to eBuddy to sign on to online messengers using your mobile device.
skrbl – Give the power on online collaboration to your site with this tool.

WebBased Note Taking (from phone or laptop)
stu.dicio.us -- online note-taking tool for students
MyNoteIT -- online note-taking tool for students
JotSpot -- live, group note-taking
Writeboard -- collaborative note-taking
diigo -- collaborative annotation

Organization tools
backpackit! -- online personal organizer
suprglu -- organize information from all of your Web 2.0 resources
Central Desktop: collaborate, communicate and share files using Central Desktop.
iOrganize: With iOrganize, organize work by keeping notes, ideas and bookmarks in one place.
Protopage – Allows one homepage to store all your favorite podcast, web pages, and other webbased material in one location. Plus, offers a shared page for your students.
Viapoint: Viapoint makes it easy for freelancers to store emails and files by client or project.
Stikkit: Use Stikkit’s “little yellow notes that think” to keep in touch, plan and collaborate with clients and coworkers.
Webnote: Webnote users can take notes using a web browser, then save and return to the notes on any computer. This is especially helpful if you’re working on-site with a client and have to use a computer other than your own.
Netvibes: Spend less time searching and more time working by customizing your browser’s start page with email, feeds, messaging, job boards and much, much more.

Presentation tools
TiffanyScreens -- collaborative presentation software
Wink -- tutorial and presentation development tool
WorldMapper – You create mapping tool

Spreadsheet/DataBase Tools
EditGrid -- online spreadsheet tool
irows -- online spreadsheet tool
LazyBase -- online database tool

RSS and Social Bookmarks
netvibes -- web 2.0 "home page", rrs-feed aggregator and more
del.icio.us -- social bookmark tool
tagyu -- social bookmark tool
Bloglines – This new Bloglines Beta is a personalized start page with drag’n'drop functionality, and a few other new features, such as the ability to choose between three new feed reading views, and the capability to keep track of what you’ve read and what’s still waiting to be read.

Digital Video/fun - Just try them :-)
TeacherTube
SplashCast
Hey!Spread
dotSUB
Next Vista
KeepVid
VideoDownloader
Zamzar
Vixy
Voicethread
Easy Cropper
Slideshare
VoiceThread
add voice to your pictures

Here are 20 basic technology skills that all educators should now have:

  1. Word Processing Skills
  2. Spreadsheets Skills
  3. Database Skills
  4. Electronic Presentation Skills
  5. Web Navigation Skills
  6. Web Site Design Skills
  7. E-Mail Management Skills
  8. Digital Cameras
  9. Computer Network Knowledge Applicable to your School System
  10. File Management & Windows Explorer Skills
  11. Downloading Software From the Web (Knowledge including eBooks)
  12. Installing Computer Software onto a Computer System
  13. WebCT or Blackboard Teaching Skills
  14. Videoconferencing skills
  15. Computer-Related Storage Devices (Knowledge: disks, CDs, USB drives, zip disks, DVDs, etc.)
  16. Scanner Knowledge
  17. Knowledge of PDAs
  18. Deep Web Knowledge
  19. Educational Copyright Knowledge
  20. Computer Security Knowledge

From http://thejournal.com/articles/17325_1 June 2005 article.

More tools and
Resources:

http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/the-freelancers-toolset-100-web-apps-for-everything-you-will-possibly-need/
http://www.go2web20.net/ - The Complete Web2.0 Directory
http://web2list.com/ - Web 2.0 List
http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0/ 2007 Web 2.0 Awards
http://ed421.com/edtech/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=25 Educational Technology that Works, Marzano’s Blog
http://web2magazine.blogspot.com/2007/01/thanks-for-web-2.html - Web 2.0 Magazine
http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/List_of_web_2.0_applications Web2.0 Wiki
http://techmagazine.ws/full-web-20-api-list/ Tech Magazine Web 2.0 List
http://www.educatednation.com/2006/08/16/tools-for-students/ Top Web 2.0 for college Students
http://www.jimmyr.com/blog/10_Web_2_0_For_Students.php Web 2.0 for Students
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/08/16/web-2-cool-for-school-a-rundown-of-online-applications-for-stu/ Download Squad

The Administrator’s Digital Briefcase: Websites for School Administrators

The following are highlights from:

The Administrator’s Digital Briefcase: Websites for School Administrators

In this age of technology, as an administrator, it is just as imperative for you to be connected to the Internet and technology as it is for your faculty, staff and students.

Below is a list some examples of the ways administrators can stay connected and network on the web. These websites are also great resources that may serve both the novice administrator to the seasoned administrator in today’s schools to help stay connected:

  • Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 http://www.ciu20.org/resources/offsite/websitesforadmin.phpColonial IU 20 is one of 29 intermediate units throughout Pennsylvania, which were created in 1971 to provide services to school districts in ways that create economies of scale, cost savings, and better efficiencies in the delivery of important programs and services to children, especially those with special needs. We also play an important role in providing substantial support services to the administrators and teachers in the 13 school districts that comprise IU 20. This website boasts 68 essential links that every administrator should be familiar with.
  • Administrator Internet Briefcase http://www.vickiblackwell.com/administrators/default.htm It is a well developed page that hosts a variety of essential resources at any administrator’s fingertips.Louisiana LEADS Project - This site offers categories with web resources in curriculum, data driven decision making, finance, general, professional development, productivity, professional organizations, professional reading, professional Organizations, etc.
  • Educator’s World: Administrator’s Desk http://www.education-world.com/a_admin/index.shtml This is a great resource page from Educator’s World. This is the School Administrator’s channel. It offers resources from helping your teachers to get better classroom management school, improving cafeteria behavior, first day of school tips, to grant of the week highlight.
  • Administrators.Net http://administrators.net/ This is a division of Teachers.net. It offers resources for Administrators, such as administrative job postings, chat, administrator discussion boards, etc.
  • Administrators Online Assistance Resources http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/vrschool/admin.htm This webpage is a wealth of resources for any administrator. Subtitled: News for Administrators, it reads like a RSS feed for hot educational topics from all major educational publications.
  • New York State Resources for School Administrators http://usny.nysed.gov/schooladmin/ As a New Yorker and New York Educator, how could I not list this site? This is a great site for all NYS administrators to know about and use that links to a variety of necessary must know websites and tools.
  • Websites Correlated to ISTE Nets http://www.icsrc.org/VITAL/principalweb.html Great site that breaks webpages down into a chart for resources. This chart can also be taken and adapted to the individual district needs as well. Also great example to include in a district technology/curriculum plan.

Suggested Resources to read and obtain:

Brooks-Young, S. (2005). 101 Best Web Sites for Principals (Paperback), ISTE 2nd Ed. Retrieved August 15, 2007 from http://www.iste.org/eseries/source/orders/isteFileDisplay.cfm?product_code=101wp2&type=1 I have obtained this book and it gives a great review of the sites it recommends and why it is important for administrators to know and use. Not very heavy in the finance section. However, the link provide above does give the basic content of the book.

Slowinsk, J. (2000). Becoming a Technology Savvy Administrator, ERIC. Retrieved August 15, 2007 from http://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/digests/digest135.html

Virtual School Resources (It is not just High School):

AccelerateU K-12 Online Education, http://accelerateu.org/index.cfm?isFlashCapable=yes

Arkansas Virtual High School, http://arkansashigh.k12.ar.us/

Basehor-Linwood Virtual Charter School, vcs.usd458.k12.ks.us
Clintondale Virtual High School, www.clintondalevhs.org
eLearners.com, http://www.elearners.com/resources/k12-online.asp

Evergreen Internet Academy, www.egreen.wednet.edu

Florida Virtual Schools - http://www.flvs.net/

Georgia Virtual Schools, http://www.gavirtualschool.org/
Hop-On! www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/HopOn/HopOnHome.html
Illinois Virtual High School, http://ivhs.org/index.learn?bhcp=1

Internet Academy, Federal Way www.iacademy.org

Kentucky Virtual School, http://www.kvhs.org/

Louisiana Virtual School, http://lvsportal.doe.state.la.us/

Maryland Virtual High School of Science and Mathematics, http://mvhs1.mbhs.edu/

Michigan Virtual High School, http://www.mivhs.com/

Minnesota Online High School, http://www.mnohs.org/

Nevada Virtual High School, http://www.nvhs.org/
North Dakota Division of Independent Study, http://www.dis.dpi.state.nd.us/

North American Council for Online Learning, http://www.nacol.org/events/vss/

Texas Virtual Schools, http://www.texasvirtualschool.org/

Utah Electronic High School, http://www.ehs.uen.org/?bbatt=Y
Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School, http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Technology/VAPS.html
Virtual High School, http://www.govhs.org/website.nsf

West Virginia Virtual School, http://virtualschool.k12.wv.us/vschool/

Wisconsin Virtual School, http://www.wisconsinvirtualschool.org/

The Obvious Website for Administrators (Review):

http://www.aasa.org/ American Association of School Administrators
http://netc.org/cdrom/ NorthWest Educational Technology Consortium
http://www.edweek.org/ew/index.html - Education Week
http://nsdc.org/ - National Staff Development Council
http://www.nsba.org/site/index.asp National School Boards Association
http://www.ccsso.org/ - Council of Chief School Officials
http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/index.jsp/ Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
http://www.naesp.org/ - National Association of Elementary School Principals
http://www.nassp.org/s_nassp/index.asp?CID=1138&DID=54609 National Association of Secondary School Principals
http://www.asfsa.org/ American School Food Service Association
http://www.banx.com/ BankQuotes for the Business Officials
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/schoolsafety/index.html US Department of Ed – School Safety Resources
http://www.ed.gov/admins/landing.jhtml US Department of Ed - Administrator Resources
http://www.teach-nology.com/edleadership/ Teach-nology Administrative Section
http://eric.uoregon.edu/ Clearing House on Educational Policy and Management
http://www.nbpts.org/ National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
http://www.nctp.com/ - National Center for Technology Planning
http://www.teachersfirst.com/emerg.htm - Planning for Emergencies
What to Read

News, Journals and Blogs

School Administrator News - http://www.schooladministrator.net/

District Administrator - http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1107&pf=1

Education Week - http://www.edweek.org/int_page.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edweek.org%2Few%2Findex.html

Eschool News Online - http://www.eschoolnews.com/

Public Agenda Online – Education - http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/frontdoor.cfm?issue_type=education

EdLINC - http://www.edlinc.org/

School Board News - http://www.nsba.org/site/page_sbn_issue.asp?TRACKID=&CID=682&DID=9461

Electronic School - http://www.electronic-school.com/

Phi Delta Kappan - selected articles - http://www.kiva.net/~pdkintl/kappan/kappan.htm

School CIO - http://www.schoolcio.com/

COSN - http://www.cosn.org/

American School Board Journal - http://www.asbj.com/

Current Issues in Education - http://cie.asu.edu/

Education Policy Analysis Archives - http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/

American Journal of Education - http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJE/

Smart Briefs - http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJE/

BLOGS/Wikis/Podcasts

Buildilding Engaged Schools - http://www.buildingengagedschools.com/content/?ci=24751

Grazing for Digital Natives - http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/+Blogs

Library of Congress Blog - http://www.loc.gov/blog/

Leader Talk - http://www.leadertalk.org/

Web 2.0 and School Administrators http://sjbrooks-young.com/blog/ - Susan Brooks- Young Blog

TechLearning Blog, http://www.techlearning.com/blog/2007/07/is_it_time_to_add_sl_to_your_p.php

The Teach Teachers - http://thetechteachers.blogspot.com/

LightHouse Learning Blog - http://nausetschools.org/lighthouselearning/2007/08/teen-grid-ideas-for-content-areas.html This site is a blog from Kathy Schrock Suggesting ways to teach in SL.

TED Blog - http://blog.ted.com/2007/08/100_websites_yo.php

November Learning Communities - http://nlcommunities.com/podcasts/default.aspx

CoolCatTeacher Blog - http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/

El/Ed/Tech http://eledtech.blogspot.com/ - Written by a colleague of mine, he is young and talented and definitely a mind to watch and learn from.

2Cents Worth - http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/ Warlick’s blog

CodDogBlog - http://cogdogblog.com/ Levine’s blog

Jane’s EPick of the Day - http://janeknight.typepad.com/pick/

Weblogg-ed - http://weblogg-ed.com/ Richardson’s Blog

Speed of Creativity - http://www.speedofcreativity.org/ Fryer’s Blog

Ed Tech Talk Podcasts - http://edtechtalk.com/

And finally, Professional Development Blog with yours truly at – http://www.karenbrooksucboces.blogspot.com

Data, Statistics, Research, and Education Information

Below is a just a short list of the many discussed:

Above where just highlights reviewed and explored from this session, contact me for more information on PDFs.

Educational Twitters Feed

Maukie - the virtual cat

Teacher Book Wizard

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

Puzzle for your Webpage

Click to Mix and Solve

Google Chat

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