Scan docs with your phone

Here is link for Genuis Scan app which allows you to scan docs as PDFs or jpegs with your Apple mobile device. (Free) Click here for Android Genius Scan, ($1.09)

Safety settings for mobile phones

Click to compare mobile phone security features when choosing a phone for children.  A compilation by David Burt, from 2010.  Although slightly dated, it is a thorough look at key features to look for when choosing cell phones, arranged by age of user.

How to make a Blabberize

Need a quick intro to a lesson?  A fun way to assess student learning?   A digital interviewer?   Make any photo or drawing "talk" using Blabberize.  Select a photo, configure a "mouth" and then record your voice to make your picture "speak."   You can also upload mp3's of original songs, sound effects, etc. to bring images "to life."

In no time, your students will be making them too.   Remember to have them save as "Private" and with first names/nicknames only for privacy.

Get started now with these instructions from tbeanstalk.

Defining "parent involvement"

As both a parent and a teacher, I hear "parent involvement" stressed often.   But this article helps define parent participation -- surprisingly simple, straightforward ways parents can support their child's learning.  A great way to help parents understand it's not about spending hours at school, rather it's the time spent away from school talking with your children about what they are learning and how it applies to their lives, both present and future.  An encouragement to all parents about how to help their students succeed!

Essential iPad Tips and Tricks

Click to become an iPad expert!  Quick tutorial that will get you started off right!

How Students Study Today

 The Modern Student Life Infographic data was compiled from a recent November 26-30 survey given to high school and college students in U.S.   Students surveyed were all Study Blue users, so this survey addresses learning habits of only this online group and not the total student population.

93% of students use study apps

70% of students study solo during exams

59% of students use a mobile phone to study

42% of students have as favorite place to study their bedroom

30% of students prefer to use Google Drive.

Click to see infographic

Students create online flashcards  and 

post notes to reinforce their learning at 

Study Blue

Voicethread - Conversations in the Cloud

Online collaboration - comment with text and audio on

media presentations.

Open Culture's NEW K-12 resources

Over 200 free resources to help teachers find what they need
for enrichment.

(Higher education listings for lifelong learners as well.)

Digital citizenship curriculum

Digital citizenship from Common Sense Media is a wonderful new resource for teaching essential digital skills like internet safety, copyright, privacy and managing your digital footprint.   Thorough and up-to-date.

Thanks to Keith Ferrell, EdTechIdeas.com

Saving iPad work in Edmodo

Got ink?

Make posters from any picture.  Free and fun!

Join.me screensharing

Free screensharing for Windows, Mac and Mobile.
Pro or Basic, download to your device first, then invite
others to view your screen.   Review documents, train,
create presentations together.

Free features include:

• internet calling
• screen sharing
• 250 viewers
• share control
• multi-monitor
• chat
• send files
• viewer: iPad/iPhone or Android

Sort docs in Google Drive

With this set up, student work turned into Google Drive will automatically get sorted into appropriate folders to make document management simple.   Students must learn how to name files correctly for gClassFolders to work.    Click to see gClass Folders script.

Google Drive for iPad

Use Google Docs to create and edit documents on your iPad.   View presentations also and spreadsheets also.  (Cannot edit the latter, view only.)  
Google Drive lets you upload photos, videos and docs from your iPad or iPhone.
Also for Android

WeWantApps! for iPad, iPhone

We Want Apps
Find educational apps for students
that you can sort by grade and subject.
Both free and paid apps.

Kidblog's advice for students

Tips from Kidblog creators - Blogging 101.   Blogging is a powerful way to give students a voice.   It's exciting, immediate and far-reaching.   The goal is to teach students real communication skills in the digital world.   However, it is not without pitfalls and like all skills, requires practice, practice, practice before going "public."   With Kidblog, teachers can provide a secure, private and moderated platform for students to interact and improve communication skills.

The times they are a changin'

Click to view how quickly the web has evolved!  Check out the amount of activity from 2008 to now!


For more on what this all means, check out the evolution of Web 3.0, article by Manas Ganguly.
So it's not your imagination -- the information highway is moving faster than ever;  let's see how far we can take our students on this digital journey.

Setting up a classroom blog for students...

Pikifriends is a free, secure global blogging platform for junior and senior high school students.  Co-founded by Jeff Dionne, follow this link for his must read on how to set up your classroom blog, and important steps to take before working online with your students.

In my first year of teaching online, internet safety and digital responsibility quickly became the core of my curriculum.   Instead of focusing primarily on acquiring new skills, I soon realized it was important to revisit ethical behavior and staying safe online with every class.

Jeff's tips will help you get started on the right foot with classroom blogging.   Learning to communicate is an art, and blogging with global partners within a safe, controlled platform like Pikifriends gives students an amazing opportunity for monitored practice!

Classroom design

Nira Dale's youTube video about classroom design is such a great reminder that using new technology is not always a student's first choice.

Creating with and without technology
In my first year of teaching K-8 computers, I also found that students needed art supplies for the creative process.  The markers and colored pencils on the right shelf were used often.

Initially I stocked these supplies for my K-2 students as I did not want them on the computer for the whole period.  However I quickly noticed that older students were drawn to anything on the shelf -  straws, construction paper, big dice, funny pointers, etc.  In my focus on teaching tech skills, I can forget that creative play is fun and necessary for any age, and even the newest technology can't compete with a jar of Playdoh.

Low tech decor

I wanted the lab to feel like any other classroom with seasonal decor, student work displayed, and fun posters so students would feel at ease.  I captioned the retro VW poster, "Be an original..." to remind students to always cite online sources and also to create, not copy.   Colorful, older mismatched chairs were a fun way to brighten up the room.

This room had some great windows.  I brought in live plants to make the classroom feel more like a house, less like a lab.  (During class, these were spread around the room.) As you can imagine, it was quite crowded so unless it was raining, I left windows open as much as possible to "air out" the room.

These were simple ways I tried to make the computer lab less daunting and more comfortable for students.  If I had a choice, I would have preferred a different room layout but this one was already in place and did fit 33 workstations into a very small room, complete with an ethernet connection for each station and a ceiling projector/whiteboard for the teacher.

What do you think?   Too cluttered?  What does your classroom look like?

Flickr CC Attribution Helper

Listing proper citations for images used in work is something I will be emphasizing more this year.

When creating projects last year with my students, crediting image use would have been much easier with this great browser extension.  Flicker CC Attribution Helper makes formatting citations for Creative Commons photos quick and simple.   Click to download Flickr CC Attribution Helper for Google Chrome.  To download versions for Safari and Firefox, click here.

Developed by Alan Levine, with thanks to Richard Byrne for posting this on his technology blog.

Connect computers in your browser

There is nothing more frustrating than technology that isn't working.   When you're stuck, sometimes it's just easier to have someone else give you some quick pointers "screen to screen." If you need to work remotely with another teacher or tech support, this free Chrome extension lets another user access your computer securely via the internet.

Show them what your desktop looks like

Chrome Remote Desktop works on all platforms and with any device, making following along step-by-step simple and direct for both parties.  I recommend turning it off when not needed to protect your privacy.

Click to download free Chrome extension to set up the remote link.

What we can learn from kids...

As I embark on my second year of using ed-tech full-time in the classroom, I find this TED talk most appropriate.    One thing I learned last year is that all students are wonderfully gifted at producing digital content and master skills fairly quickly.  Adora's message is timeless, but even more salient when using classroom tech; in the 21st century classroom, we must all listen and learn together from each other.

Edmodo presents: Digital Citizenship posters

Great posters to let students know what online behavior goals are and how they work with your school's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP's).   Easier to digest than AUP's, posting these or your own classroom goals for tech use are an important first step, before you get started online.  It's also helpful to review these periodically throughout the year.

Click to view and print out digital citizenship posters in English, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Portuguese and Spanish.

Created by Edmodo, "A secure social learning network for Teachers and Students."