What is the purpose of this blog?

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Knewton - The Next Revolution in Education

What if you could learn everything?

"Knewton is the world's leading adaptive learning company. Knewton partners with pioneering learning companies, publishers, content providers, and educational institutions to enable personalization at massive scale."

Just click on How Newton Works on the page below and prepare to be blown away. Personalized learning is the future.

http://www.knewton.com/about

Monday, May 13, 2013

"App"solutely Awesome K-8 Apps for your iPad!

Carrie Johnson from Minnehaha Academy shared with her best of list from the "Best Use of iPads, iPad Apps and Other Technology Tools to Increase Student Learning (Grades K-8)" conference. Her are her notes along with mine:


Tiny Tap - Could be used for any grade level. A way to create personalized games for kids on the iPad
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tinytap-moments-into-games/id493868874?mt=8

Reading Timer (Scholastic) - A fun and functional reading timer to use throughout the year.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scholastic-reading-timer/id520196131?mt=8

Speakeasy - Good for timed readings. When you sync your device to your computer, it will put all the recordings into iTunes.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speakeasy-voice-recorder/id284652710?mt=8

Kid’s Journal - Can make a writing journal for every child, which can be exported.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kids-journal/id528173573?mt=8

Toontastic - Especially good for students who have a hard time initiating writing
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toontastic-free/id404693282?mt=8

Seven Little Words - Played with my fifth graders. The adult version was challenging...the kid version was easy, but they liked it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-little-words/id431434152?mt=8

Word Warp - is a challenging anagram type of word game in which you try to form as many words as you can out of the six letters you are given before time runs out.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/free-word-warp/id291374609?mt=8

Stick Pick - "can of sticks" with student names on them.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stick-pick/id436682059?mt=8

Tools4Students - graphic organizers.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tools-4-students/id472911218?mt=8

Skitch - can import pics and draw on them, also has a map feature where you can zoom in and then can annotate on the map.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skitch/id490505997?mt=8

Some resources:

Tween Tribune - Reading Material http://tweentribune.com/

Read Write Think website - http://www.readwritethink.org/

Kid Blog - http://kidblog.org/home/
Give all of the kids the secret code at the same time, they will set up their blog under your class. We saw examples of lower grade kids blogging.

Infuse Learning - Similar to Socrative, but capable of doing more
http://www.infuselearning.com/

Best of the Best: Top 100 Web Resources for Educators!

You know how you go to those conferences and the workshops that are always packed are the ones like "50 most awesome websites" or "100 totally fantastic links"?

Well we go again. At an iPad in Education workshop we got the Top 100 Web Resources for Educators. And it is worth clicking through. This link was shared with me by my colleague Mary Jo Severson from Minnehaha Academy.

Gobble it up here: http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listteacherde1.html

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Atlas Obscura - discover curious and wonderful places!

Beautifully laid out website with a database of curious and different places to explore like miniature cities, glass flowers, books bound in human skin, gigantic flaming holes in the ground, bone churches, balancing pagodas, or homes built entirely out of paper. The list goes on. Check it out at www.atlasobscura.com

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

"Subtext is a free iPad app that allows classroom groups to exchange ideas in the pages of digital texts. You can also layer in enrichment materials, assignments and quizzes—opening up almost limitless opportunities to engage students and foster analysis and writing skills."

Click to see 1 minute video:
http://www.subtext.com

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Discovery Digital Textbooks

Supplement your traditional textbooks with Discovery Digital Textbooks. Discovery Education is offering educators throughout America a free trial to use its Techbook™ service through the end of June. I looked into it and they have some really good stuff for Science and Social Studies. Give it a whirl, it's well done and free for now!

Click here to check it out...

McGraw-Hill - Grammar Wonderland App - Elelementary and Primary Grades

"Students can fly, swim, feed, and toss their way to grammar mastery. Characters can be led through many adventures as they practice using nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more; a quick and easy way to practice and reinforce different grammar concepts to enhance reading, writing, and parts of speech."

Grammar Wonderland is available in two versions: k-2 and 3-6

Click here for Elementary App

Click here for Primary App

Monday, March 25, 2013

Hey cool! Now I can print a new liver!

Scientists use 3D printing to produce stem cells. Designer organs right around the corner? Read about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-21328109


Doceri - The iPad Whiteboard Tool


The best iPad interactive whiteboard out there. Check it out at: http://doceri.com

Friday, March 22, 2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

700 Free Online Courses From Top Universities


Open Culture has hundreds of free online courses in just about any subject area, from history to physics, languages, literature, music and on and on. Don't miss this valuable resource. Just go to: www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

Monday, March 11, 2013

My new favorite Physics site!




Students at Minnehaha Academy go "old school" with tech

Students got to play around with some early tech machines. They were really into it! I like the contrast with the iPads...



Tuesday, November 6, 2012

And let's not forget the BBC's History section!

The BBC does it best at bbc.co.uk/history/ancient

The Ancient Web: Not just for the Greeks and Romans!


The Ancient Web delivers a wealth of material about the ancient world from Forums, Videos, Images, Maps and on and on. And hundreds of ancient cultures are profiled including those from the Near and far East, Europe, Africa, South and North America and even Oceania. Check it out at ancientweb.org

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Guitar Community - Can't say enough good stuff!


Being an avid amateur musician this site just blew me away! It has lessons, tablature, grooves, the basics. You have to see it to believe it. Fantastic resource for guitar players of all levels. Go to: www.wholenote.com

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Massive Ancient History Resource!


History of The Ancient World is a "website that offers readers the chance to learn to experience what is new in history. They provide the most comprehensive coverage of news, book reviews, articles, games, movies, pop culture and more." Videos, Articles, Travel, Media, Films and on and on. Check it out at: historyoftheancientworld.com

Monday, September 10, 2012

LearnersTV is full of video lectures on hundreds of topics!



Video lectures on Science, History, Language, Economics and even Dentistry! Check it out at learnerstv.com


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Khan Academy on 60 Minutes!

After a nice summer break I'm back with more education and more technology. Check out this amazing segment on Khan Academy. There is more to it than just some tutorial videos. Much much more!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Teaching History Website



Hey you historians! Check out this cool resource with all kinds of videos, teaching material, primary resources and more! Go to teachinghistory.org

Thursday, May 31, 2012

YouTube Documentaries



YouTube has an extensive section devoted to documentaries. You can even browse by section.

Go to youtubedocumentaries.com

Thursday, April 26, 2012

1000's of Streaming Documentary Films

Many categories. History, Science, Nature, Society, Performing Arts, Mystery, Economics, Health, Conspiracy, Environment, Religion, Politics and News, Music, Business and Philosophy. Go to: http://fulldocumentary.com/default.asp?action=all

TED Talks has an Education Site!

Created with educators in mind, go to http://education.ted.com/lessons

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Friday, March 23, 2012

Flex Books Replace Textbooks? Digital Science and Math Books Resource

Looking for collaborative, open-source textbooks in Science and Math that follow standards? Look no further than CK-12 Flexbooks. Watch this short video that demos the creation of a flexbook...



Website here: http://www.ck12.org/flexbook

Thursday, March 15, 2012

A Deceptively Simple Concept For Keeping An Online Private Journal



I signed up right away and started journaling. I think it's a great way to get people who may not write to do so...

Go to ohlife.com