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TECH TIPS - You will be posting your "digital handout" in this space. It's very blank and boring right now, so let's get posting!

**Tech Tip #1:** Tasha Carr and Breigh King **TypeWith.me ** **(www.typewith.me) **
 * What is TypeWith.me? **

TypeWith.me is a free and easy to use online website that allows real time collaboration on documents. Each document has its own automatically generated URL, which can be distributed through email or verbally to students or coworkers. TypeWith.me is a real time application where students can type simultaneously and see their contributions included without fear of saving over anyone else’s work. No login or membership is required, you simply click to create a new document!



Unlike applications like Wikis and Google Documents—which allows multiple users to collaborate on documents as long as they aren’t doing it at the same time—up to fifteen users can contribute to the editing process of a text file all at once. To work on a preexisting TypeWith.me document, simply access the specific URL and type your name into the box on the upper right hand corner of the screen. Each collaborator is assigned a unique color, so as the student types their text is highlighted in that color. When a question does arise, the chat room feature facilitates quick communication between collaborators.

When the document is finished, click save and select the type of file to export it as. You can export files as HTML, plain text, Word, PDF, OpenDocument, or as a bookmarked file. Exported files lack the highlighted coloring from the online version, but retain any indentation, bulleting, and font details that were added during the collaboration process.


 * How do you use TypeWith.me? **

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 * How can you use TypeWith.me in the classroom? **

#1: Students can work together to write a document together. Example – Have the students create a story by taking turns writing sentences. #2: Students can work together to edit a document a teacher imports. Example – Have a group of students practice their editing skills on a grammatically incorrect piece of work. [] #3: Students can work together to edit peer's imported works. Example – Assign student groups to peer edit other student’s work during the writing process.


 * What are the advantages of using TypeWith.me in the classroom? **
 * Allows students to collaborate on documents in real time.
 * Students can work together without being in the same room.
 * Preexisting text can be imported and new documents can be exported.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">All activity can be monitored by the teacher, even deleted text, through the timeslider option.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Students can discuss through the chat room feature, which can be monitored by the teacher.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Each student’s work can be easily identified.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Helps students overcome face to face social barriers.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">What are the disadvantages of using TypeWith.me in the classroom? **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">If the URL is lost before the document is exported, it cannot be recovered.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Only 15 users (plus creator) can work on the document at the same time.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">Where can I find more information about TypeWith.me? **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com/Type+with+me

**Tech Tip #2: Princess Cartagena**
=**Rubistar**=
 * (www.rubistar.4teachers.org)**
 * What is Rubistar?**
 * It is a free online website for teachers to make and access rubrics for a variety of lessons.**

How do you use Rubistar?
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Tech Tip 3: Presented by Tracie Homsher

<span style="color: #ff7b00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">SpellingCity.com <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">SpellingCity.com is an interactive web site providing teachers, students, and parents with a fun way to learn and reinforce vocabulary and spelling words. This is a free web site; however, for those willing to pay a yearly fee of $50.00, the number of activities that can be accessed and student tracking options can be increased. The great thing about SpellingCity is a teacher can enter and edit their own spelling list as needed. After the list is entered, you can use SpellingCity to turn it into a word search, word scramble, or even a word scramble (just to name a few options). This web site is a great example of how to make learning fun. At the request of many educators, SpellingCity.com has added a vocabulary component thereby changing the name that appears on the website to Vocabulary and SpellingCity.

= Getting started with SpellingCity.com =

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=Why use SpellingCity.com ? =
 * Great interactive games make spelling lists fun for the whole class. Classrooms with smartboards can play games like //Wordorama// which puts the class in the seat of a game show contestant.
 * There is an online grade book to track students' grades (available for those with the premium membership).
 * Students can access all the activities from home for additional practice.
 * This site can be used to introduce new vocabulary before talking about a new topic.
 * Handwriting sheets can be created for both print and cursive.

=But keep in mind ...= Finding a specific spelling list can be challenging due to the high number of educators from multiple countries using this spelling tool. The solution to this problem is to simply copy the link to your particular list and provide that to students and parents through a classroom newsletter or email.

= More information ... = can be obtained by visiting http://www.spellingcity.com. There is a separate log-in area for teachers, students, and parents. Each section has easy to follow directions. Overall I found this web site to be a great tool to use to bring new life to the age old spelling list.

= Related web sites =

Another web site providing spelling practice is http://www.kidspell.com. This web site is also free and offers games. However, their selection of games is smaller and you are required to choose from their pre-made lists, so a teacher cannot add their own list.

Tech Tip # 4: Amanda Detwiler

What is BrainPOP?
<span class="user_body">BrainPOP uses animation, voice, characters, diagrams and more to motivate and engage learners in curricular topics. . The online educational resources include [|BrainPOP Jr.]<span class="user_body"> which is grades kindergarten through third grade, [|BrainPOP], [|BrainPOP Español]<span class="user_body">, and [|BrainPOP ESL]<span class="user_body">. The website features free lesson plans, video tutorials, professional development tools, graphic organizers, activities and much more. <span class="user_body">BrainPOP can be used in varies ways, from introducing a new lesson or topic to illustrating difficult subject matters to reviewing before a test. The Content that is used on this website is directed from the Educational Standards. This website is designed for 21st-century learning, all products are fully compatible with interactive whiteboards, projectors, PCs, and Macs.

<span class="user_body">BrainPOP educational resources align with a variety of local, state and fedearl funding and grant objectives to support district and school initatives.

Why Use BrainPOP?

 * It is interactive and it's fun for the students to use!
 * There's activity sheets for students (paperless!)
 * Graphic Organizers for the students
 * Vocab Sheets
 * FYI Sheets (cool information that they will want to learn about that subject)
 * Experiments for students (even for math! ex. grocery store)
 * Quizzes that are fun and give feedback right away

More Information...
====There is an educator site as well. Teachers have an option to use lesson plans, graphic organizers, curriculum calanders, posters, certificates to award your students with and much more. There is a free trial that lets you use almost everything on the website unfortantly if you would want more of the activities for your classroom there is a charge.====

Here is a classroom that uses BrainPOP
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Tech Tip #5 By Kelsey Zakutney

<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 250%;">Star <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 250%;">fall <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 250%;">.com <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">"Where children have fun learning to read."

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">One of the founders Stephen Schultz had trouble reading when he was a child so he created this site to help young readers. //

 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">What is **<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">[|Starfall.com?]
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A **FREE** public service that teaches students from preschool to second grade to read with phonics. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The site contains four categories **ABC's**, **Learn to Read**, **It's Fun to Read**, and **I'm Reading**. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Each of these categories contains interactive games that help a child learn anything from sounds of letters to learning to read full sentences. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The child is able to hear each sound of every letter and word in order to develop phonemic awareness <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Video: What games are available on Starfall.com?
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<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Why use Starfall in the classroom?

 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Interactive games that helps the young reader! ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Uses sounds, sights, and motion to help develop reading skills and phonics. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Starfall has interactive calendars and holiday games. ====
 * ====It can help ELL's!====

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">More Starfall...

 * ==<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">The [|more Starfall] website includes **interactive math games** as well as songs and rhymes. ==
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Teachers lounge** provides handouts to use in the classroom as well as weekly lesson plans. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The **talking library** will read a student's favorite book out load to them and the child can follow along. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The new Starfall website is free, but if you want all the games it is **$35 dollar home membership (3 users), $150 class membership (35 users), and $270 school membership (70 users).** This membership also includes child login and tracking, which allows the teacher to monitor each student's activity. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**[|Pumarosa.com]** was launched by Satrfall in 2006. It is a interactive website that helps Spanish sepaking stduents learn english. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Competitors?

 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Satrfall.com is unique because most phonics websites do not include interactive games. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Starfall is the only website I found that is developed for young readers and focuses on phonics. ====
 * ====The site contains valuable tools for the teacher and the student.====

Brittnie Frey



 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">What is TumbleBook Library? **
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of TumbleBooks – animated, talking picture books (fiction and non-fiction) which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Children can read the book or have the book read to them. Some books even have a Word Helper feature that allows students to click on the more challenging words and have them repeated and sounded out phonetically. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">In addition to picture books, there are Read-Alongs of books for the more accomplished reader. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">There is also a Language Learning section of the library with picture books in French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The site also has puzzles and games that correspond to the books in the library. =====
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">One of the newest additions to the site is Tumble TV. It is an animated show hosted by Tommy Tumbler, who introduces books that are not yet in the library.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">While the site does offer a free trial, it eventually comes at a cost. It costs $399 per year for schools and libraries. There is no limit to the number of computers using the system at once.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Fortunately for us, TumbleBook Library can be accessed via the[| Library System of Lancaster County]

**<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">How do you use TumbleBook Library? ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">media type="youtube" key="iVRuD5wXZGg" height="390" width="640"
 * Note: Some of the directions stated in this video are not necessary when accessing the site via the library. Also, some of the new additions to the site are not included in this video, such as Tumble TV. However, it is very helpful in understanding the site.**


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">How can TumbleBook Library be used in the classroom? **
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">TumbleBooks are great for the struggling reader, but they are helpful for all students. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The teacher could have one student, a group of students, or a whole class reading a Tumble Book. Students who need more help can keep the sound and word helper on while reading, and the more advanced students could try to read without the help. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Teachers can choose and give students a selection of books based on their level because the TumbleBooks have appropriate reading levels. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Teachers can also have students do the games and puzzles for the books as an extension of their reading. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The library version of the site does not include Tumble Quizzes or Teacher Resources. If a school were to have the site, it would also include quizzes and book report outlines that teachers could use to test student comprehension, as well as lesson plans for the book to help teachers successfully integrate them into the curriculum. =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The Language Learning section of the library for the ELL or ESL student. =====


 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">Advantages of Using TumbleBook Library **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The animated, talking pictures books will enhance student interest in reading.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">It allows for many students to read the same book at once without owning 20-30 hard copies.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The site gives many reading levels for each, so the teacher can choose books based on child's reading abilities.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The Word Helper feature is great for the struggling reader, and it is a function that a hard copy of the book does not have.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Teachers can use the puzzles and games as follow up activities. The school edition also allows them to use quizzes and lessons in order to integrate the books into the curriculum.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Picture books come in a variety of languages, allowing the site to reach all students.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">There is no limit to the number of computers using one system, which is different from most of the sites we have seen in previous tech tips.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The site allows individuals to save favorites and create playlists.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Also, TumblePad 2.0 can be downloaded and allows one to download selected books that can be retrieved via the computer desktop.


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">Disadvantages of Using TumbleBook Library **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">It does cost to use TumbleBook Libary per year.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Only some of the books have the Word Helper feature.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">It does require the internet, unless schools or libraries choose to pay an extra $99 per year for an offline collection called TumbleBooksUNPLUGGED.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">There does not seem to be a way for students to collaborate with other students while on this site.


 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">Competitors **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">[|One More Story]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">[|Big Universe]

Tech Tip #8 Alyssa McQuitty & Katie Williams



<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">What is StorylineOnline?
 * It's **free**interactive website that uses online streaming to read children's books aloud.
 * These books are read by actors/actresses.
 * It includes accompanying activities and lesson ideas for each book.
 * The students are able to read along on the screen as the story is being read to them.
 * There are many different books to choose from.

<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">How do you use StorylineOnline? media type="youtube" key="KQd3sHUR94c" height="390" width="480"

<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">How is it used in the classroom?

>
 * The teacher is able to have story time from the computer, either in groups or as a whole.
 * The reading models good, fluent reading.
 * Students are able to hear expression from someone other than the teacher.
 * After stories, it provides related activities about the story such as retelling the story in your own words, discuss and write about what you enjoyed the most, and then goes into more specific details about the story.

<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Advantages
 * Storyline Online provides a running time of each story to allow proper planning around story time.
 * It not only provides related activities, but it allows the activity guide to be downloaded for the convenience factor.
 * Storyline online is completely free, but gives the option to purchase the books if you choose to do so.

<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Disadvantages
 * There are only a limited number of books to work with.

<span style="color: #ff5000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Competitors
 * [|Magic Keys]; not as interactive
 * [|Big Universe Learning] ; not free
 * Tumble Book Library

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I was looking for an online story so my kindergarten students could get an idea of nonprint materials vs. print materials. I let Pamela Reed do my storytime for me. The kinders LOVED the story and the format and "watching" storytime from the computer. Thanks for this most wonderful service that you all are providing!! Most excellent!! <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">— Beverly Teacher in Williamston, NC

Tech Tip 9 Amie Benfield



Scrapblog.com is a website that allows you to create scrapbooks of the moments in your life. This website allows you to share and print your photos. Also, you are able to create beautiful, one of a kind layouts, share them online with your family and friends, and even print out your high-quality photo books, greeting cards or postcards. You are able to add photos, text, video and clip art to add details to whatever you are creating. You are also able to choose themed pages for you scrapbook. For example, if you are creating a scrapbook page about your trip to the beach, there are pages that already have a set beach theme that you may use. Scrapblog users are able to share their creations by embedding it into a blog or social network, email a link to the sideshow or print it into a photo book.
 * What is Scrapblog.com?? **

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 * How to Use Scrapblog.com? **

*Have your students create either individual projects or group projects using this website. For example, you could have groups create a scrapbook about various countries and present them to the rest of the class. *Have your students create their own book, similar to digital storytelling. *As a teacher, you could use this website to create newsletters for your classroom. *Also, a teacher could share pictures or videos from a field with the parents of their students. * You are able to upload your pictures, get them off the internet or scan them into the computer. *There is no registration fee to join. *You are able to share your Scrapblog creations via email, a blog or through a social network. *It provides you with a variety of themes, stickers, designs and tools to use when creating your items. *Very user friendly and it is easy to navigate around the website. *If you want to order your prints, you must pay to have them printed out by scrapblog. *There are only a certain amount of stickers and backgrounds that you can use for free.
 * How to Use Scrapblog in the Classroom? **
 * * ** Have your students create a project to introduce themselves to the class in the beginning of the school year.
 * Advantages: **
 * Disadvantages: **

Mixbook.com ~ not free Smilebox.com ~ you have to download it onto your computer, it is not just a website to use
 * Similar websites: **

Tech Tip # 10 Melissa Dantro

** Voice Thread ** ** Where many people can share their voice **

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Voice thread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments in 5 ways. It is a tool for having conversations around a media whether it is videos, images, documents or presentations. You can use your voice to add comments with a microphone, text, audio file, or video through a webcam.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">What is Voice Thread[[image:question_mark.JPG width="49" height="25"]] **

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">**How much does voice thread cost** <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Voice thread is free for those who wish to simply create an account and be able to make only 3 voice threads at a time with up to 50 slides each. The price of voice thread depends on what you are going to be using it for. There is a 5$ a month account, and a 60$ a year or 10$ a month account. It depends on what type of account you need and how many people will be using it.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">media type="youtube" key="-U1wlRrKyyk" height="390" width="640"
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">How to use voice thread **

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">**Here is a voice thread that I have made** : <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">media type="custom" key="8683534"

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">**How is voice thread used in the classroom**

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Voice thread is an excellent tool for an online course. It allows all of the students to particpate and leave comments on the work of their peers. Comments can be moderated by the creator so they can decide who can and can't see each comment. Voice thread is also great for students to create projects, documents, or work collaboratively to present information to their peers or teacher.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">**What are the disadvantages of voice thread** <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">One thing that turns many people away from something like voice thread is that they have to create an account to use it. Even though it is free, many people are apprehensive to put their information out there and start new accounts.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">You must be 13 years or older to use voice thread. This really limits the grade levels for which you can use voice thread. Although, if a teacher creates an account, and gives her students identities, they can use her teacher account as long as they have a k-12 subscription.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Competitors to voice thread......[[image:gloves.jpg width="85" height="81"]] **

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Compared to other digital story telling tools such as windows movie maker, imovie, or photostory:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">* no software download needed **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">* allows for collaboration and comments **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">* easier to edit **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">* easier to embed **

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Compared to other online presentation tools such as slideshare.com
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">* supports multimedia **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">* supports online editing **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">* allows for collaboration and comments **

Tech Tip #11 Adelis Rivera



** What is Quintura Kids? ** It is the first visual and intuitive search engine with content filter and safe browsing. Quintura for Kids is a kid-safe version of Quintura, a Russian search engine that's based on a neural network displayed as a fluid tag cloud. Instead of ranking results based on popularity, Quintura ranks them based on connections to the search term.

Start off a search by typing words into a standard search box, then refine if desired by hovering the mouse over a word or phrase floating in the tag cloud. The tag is added to the search box and results are refreshed. At the same time the tag cloud generates a new batch of terms that branch off the selected word. As a result, users can view one set of search results after another without typing in another word. Quintura for Kids launched in 2006 based on site content from Yahoo Kids. Now sites are checked and periodically rechecked for safe content.
 * How does Quintura Kids work? **

According to several different reviews online the web site is appropriate for kids 6 years old an up
 * Who is Quintura Kids for? **


 * Advantages: **
 * The words and phrases from the tag cloud and search box relate to each other which help students become better researchers
 * Content filter creates safe browsing for students
 * The icons can be helpful for students to come up with ideas of what to search


 * Disadvantages: **
 * The search can sometimes end up at dead ends
 * The tour of the site on the website is not updated


 * Competitors: **
 * Factmonster.com
 * Kidrex.net
 * Yippy.com (Clusty)


 * Tech Tip 12: Katie Rowell **
 * Casa Notes **
 * http://casanotes.4teachers.org/ **




 * Casa Notes is a free online note-making website that serves as a helping hand to a busy teacher. On this website teachers can quickly and easily make notes that are for the students or parents by choosing the appropriate completed template. There are twelve basic templates created on the website that still allow the teacher to apply their own personal touch through adding color and or a graphic. The notes can be printed in both English and Spanish. **

· Quick and easy ways of positive praise · Quick way to send home notes · Helps students see their progress · Helps the classroom run smoothly · Both English and Spanish notes are available · Connections to other websites (RubiStar, Project Poster)
 * Why Use Casa Notes? **

· Field trip permission · Student progress report · Homework · Well done! · Student contract · Outstanding performance · Student citizen award · Thank you! · On target! · Parent-teacher conferences · Medication · Self-Medication
 * The twelve templates available: **

· Templates cannot be changed other then color, adding a picture, and the language · Notes are straight to the point (not detailed) · Not a good site for students in terms of projects
 * Watch out for…. **

** Similar Sites **

** Teacher Vision: ** [] This site is free and allows teachers to print off notes in different subject areas. The teacher can make changes to the templates however the changes cannot be saved to the computer. A wider variety of notes are given on this website: Homework passes, weather calendars, graphic organizers, etc. The grade the note is intended for is listed on the website as well.

** Education World: Tools & Templates ** [] This is a free website that has countless templates for the teachers use. When clicking on a given template you have to download the template to your computer. After doing this you can then edit and save the template so that you have it stored. The original templates can also just be printed for use too. Both organizers that can be used in the classroom and take home note templates can be found on this website.



What is Google Translate?

Google Translate is a free online tool that allows the user to translate writings from one language to another. The unique aspect to google translate is that is not center on or based upon English. This service offers more languages that any other translator for its price of free. It is a highly popular tool because of being under the name of the company Google.

Advantages to Google Translate

One huge difference for Google translate is that it is not based on English. The user can type in a word or sentence into the input box. Google translate will automatically detected that language that you are translating from. Then you can select the language you wish you translate to from a simple pull down menu. Can use Google translate to help with searches that produce results in other languages just by clicking a button!

Where to Use Google Translate

Google translate can be used by anyone who is looking to translate word, sentences, or even whole pages from one language to another. Students can use this tool when they do research on another country which would allow them to access a lot more resources if they didn’t. Also, can be used with electronic pen pals and allow students to have pen pals from other countries rather then a pen pal just from a different school.

media type="youtube" key="C7W2NJFdoIg" height="390" width="640"

Negative to Google Translate - does a literal translation of sentences, can not account for slang or commonly used langauge - can not factor in cultural influences on words, for example a word can be used as a positive expression in one country but deragatory in the next even though both speak the same language - no filter, kids can learn any words

Main Comptetitors Google translator have many competitors because there are many different translation sites. Yet at the same time, you can say that it is unique in its own way because all the other websites and tools that one can use are mostly English based and do not offer the global translation that Google does. - Yahoo! Babel Fish - FreeTranslation.com


 * Tech Tip #14 **
 * Matt Nelms **
 * Zamzar.com **



** What is Zamzar? ** <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Zamzar is an online file conversion website. It allows you to easily convert files without having to download a software tool. You can convert images, documents, music files, and videos. The free version of Zamzar allows you to convert files up to 100MB. There is also a paid version of Zamzar which provides many upgrades over the free version. It provides you with an inbox to manage the files you convert, allows you to convert files up to 1 GB, gives you up to 100 GB of online storage, and they convert your files before they convert free users files.

** How does it work? ** <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">First you have to make a free online account with Zamzar. You then select the file you want to convert and place it in the step 1 box. Then choose the format to convert to and enter your email address where you want it sent to. Zamzar sends the converted file to your email where you can then download it.

** How Zamzar can be used? **  · So you don’t have to solely rely on an internet connection or website, you can include a YouTube video right into a PowerPoint and be able to play it without any problems. · When your computer is unable to open a certain file because of the file type, simply convert it to something your computer recognizes. · Students can convert their doc files to docx and vice-versa. · Convert YouTube videos to mp3s.

** Some Cons ** · Once your file is converted, you will only have access to download it for one day. · Because of the amount of people using the website, it sometimes takes a long time to receive your converted file. For this reason, you have to plan ahead when using Zamzar. · Also, the larger the size of your file, the longer it will take Zamzar to convert it.

** Competitors ** · Media-convert.com o Most popular after Zamzar. · Youconvertit.com o Does not have as many file types to convert to like Zamzar does. · Freefileconvert.com o Only stores completed file for up to 12 hours.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Tech Tip 16:** Brittany Peyton



<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> **Website:** nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Direct Link:** [|createAgraph]

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**What is createAgraph?**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">CreateAgraph is a free website that anyone can use to create a graph with their own data. Anyone can use the website with no sign up or account needed. There are five different types of graphs that your able to construct. The types of graphs to choose from are a bar, line, area, pie, and XY graph. This website allows you to create a custom graph then print, save to your computer, or email the graph to yourself.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**How do you use createAgraph?**

media type="youtube" key="YfgUwEGgHEA" height="390" width="480"

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**How can you use createAgraph in the classroom?**
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Teachers can use this website to construct, print, and save graphs they use in the classroom
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Students can construct graphs rather that draw them by hand in class
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Teachers can assign students to make a graph after collecting data for a project.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Advantages of using createAgraph?**
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">It gives the student or teacher a visual representation of data
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Easy to navigate and does not take a lot of time
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">If they have problems with understanding the details within the graph, there are definitions on the left hand side of the screen to guide students.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Students with limited drawing capabilities can use this website for a professional graph
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do not need a account to use createAgraph and it is free to use
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can save the graph in six different formats

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Disadvantages of using createAgraph?**
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">There are a lot of options to choose from when deciding which type of graph the student want to use and the details within the graph.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The student must be familiar with the different types of graphs and which one will best represent their data
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Not able to change things once you send it to yourself in an email.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Competitors**
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**[|coolmath.com]**
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Geared toward older kids (graphing calculator online)
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Excel program
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Not kid friendly
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">cost $139.99

<span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Tech Tip #17: www.prezi.com** <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[|Prezi]** <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

<span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; white-space: normal;">**Alex Bartlett** <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**What is Prezi?<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">media type="youtube" key="pxhqD0hNx4Q?rel=0" height="349" width="560" ** <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">- Prezi is a web-based presentation application & storytelling tool consisting of a single canvas or slate instead of traditional powerpoint slides. ** - It was started in 2008 by Adam Somlai-Fischer, Peter Halacsy, and Magyar Telekom in Hungary, because they felt constricted in making presentations with just powerpoint.

<span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**How do you use Prezi?** -Create an account -Add words, pictures, or video to the infinite canvas. -Choose where you want to zoom in and out. -Set a path through your content that you want your presentation to follow.

-To introduce new topics -Has the same effect as concept maps in terms of the ability to show connections and relationships among topics for the students to see how different ideas relate. -Ex: To show the relationship between an herbivore and carnivore when talking about dinosaurs.
 * <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">How can you use Prezi in your classroom? **

-If you are a student or educator you can use Prezi Enjoy for free ! -This allows you to download your presentations so that you do not need an internet connection to show them. -Prezi autosaves your presentations. -You can search for Prezis of all kinds made by other people. -You can control the privacy of each Prezi you make: public & allow for copy, public, or private.
 * <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Advantages: **

-If you are not a student/educator: $59/year for Prezi Enjoy & $159/year for Prezi Pro. -Tough to figure out at first. -You can't control the speed of the pan & zoom.
 * <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Disadvantages: **

-Microsoft PowerPoint -Empressr -Slide Rocket
 * <span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Competitors: **

=<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Tech Tip #19 =

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">www.animoto.com
= =

<span style="color: #a70e0e; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">What Is Animoto?
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It is a website/service that takes: (1) videos, (2) pictures, (3) music, and combines them to make a video that is similar to a movie trailer. The system that Animoto uses to do this is called, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This system thinks like an actual director and editor and it analyzes and combines user-selected images, video clips and music with the same sophisticated post-production skills and techniques used in television & film. This system takes into account every aspect of the song a person chooses: genre, vocals, rhythm, energy, etc., and totally customizes the video according to what you put into each feature (video, music, picture).

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">So if this was a vague explanation heres a short clip of what Animoto is all about:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**<span style="color: #b50f0f; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Advantages **:
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--You can link your Animoto account to your Facebook account. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--Instead of going through your computer to find images and videos (which you still can do through Animoto), you can upload images/videos from Facebook, and or any other website you might have pictures/videos/music posted (i.e. Myspace, Youtube, Twitter, etc.). <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--Animoto Pro contains over 1000 commercially licensed songs in 15 different genres. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If you do not like the songs they have to offer you can upload your own songs from your computer or MP3. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">- Animoto offers several pricing options for the average consumer, but educators get an all access pass, worth $30 a year, for free. This allows you to create an unlimited number of online slide shows that are not restricted in length.

**<span style="color: #d71111; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Disadvantages: **
-<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-Animoto contains three different types of plans: lite, plus, and Pro; the only plan that is free of charge is the Lite <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--For the free Animoto plan (lite) you can only make 30 second videos, and this does not necessarily include all the special features the "Pro" or "Plus" plan might have.

**<span style="color: #b41010; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">How can you use Animoto in the Classroom? **
-<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-There are various ways a teacher can use this tool. It has various applications across the K.12 curriculum. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--One can use this tool for biographies, field trips, digital storytelling, science projects; these projects can all be captured with this quick and easy slide show tool. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--Specifically in the ELED classroom, one could use this as a way for students to introduce themselves, instead of making an "About me" poster. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--Here are some examples of how students and teachers have used Animoto in the classroom: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[]

<span style="color: #bb0f0f; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Competitors:
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">--RockYou: RockYou is a leading social entertainment company. The company developed the social game classic Zoo World and is committed to the development of high quality titles for the social space. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">-<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-Slide: Slide makes widgets that help people express themselves. Users create and personalize widgets on Slide.com and can then use them on social networks, blogs and desktops. HERES THE VIDEO I MADE FROM ANIMOTO! media type="custom" key="8982518"

=<span style="color: #ff008d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Tech Tip: Storybird =

Storybird is an on-line website that allows you to collaborate and create stories. The collaboration can either be between you and someone else you know, or between you and some unknown person. Collaboration between you and someone you don’t know happens through the artwork on the website. Artists send their drawings into Storybird and allow users to use them to create unique stories.
 * __<span style="color: #1f14ac; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">What is Storybird? __**


 * __<span style="color: #1f14ac; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">How do you use Storybird? __**
 * First you must create an account. After creating an account you can start using the website immediately by either creating your own story or reading stories created by other Storybird members. If you want to create your own story, click on “create.” Next you decide how you want to start your story. You can either get inspired by the artwork, take the monthly challenge, or explore themes.
 * If you want to start your story by being inspired by the artwork, you click on the artwork that interests you. After finding the right artwork for your story, simply click on “Start Storybird.” You will then be brought to a page with TONS of pictures. I found what worked best for me was to find the pictures that went together and start lining them up, page by page. I then added the words in later.
 * If you want to start your story by taking the monthly challenge, you click on “Learn More.” After that you click on “Get Started Now,” followed by clicking on “Start Storybird.” You will then be taken to a page that has a lot of artwork on it. At this point you would continue writing your storybird by following the same steps as in the “inspired by the artwork” option.
 * If you want to start your story by exploring themes, click on a tag that represents the theme you want to write about. At this point you follow the same steps as the above options.
 * While writing your storybird you have the opportunity to save it and return to it later. You can also publish your story or invite someone else to collaborate with you.


 * __<span style="color: #1f14ac; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">How can you use Storybird in your classroom? __**
 * Storybird can be used in your classroom in a few ways. You can have students collaborate on stories together and have them present them to the class. You could also have a parents night and have the students share their newly created stories with all of the parents.
 * Another option would be to have your class pair up with another class, either in the same grade/school or a different grade/school, and have them collaborate on a story. Collaborating with a class in a different grade would allow your students to learn from a higher-level student’s writing.


 * __<span style="color: #1f14ac; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Advantages __**
 * It’s free
 * Can collaborate easily
 * Large variety of age range books
 * Can search for books via taglines
 * Create your own story, have it printed, & mailed to you (great for gifts)
 * Allows students who don’t have confidence in their drawing ability to write a story and illustrate it
 * Can keep your book published as private or public

__**<span style="color: #1f14ac; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Disadvantages **__
 * Available to a range of countries so not all of the English is correct
 * Can’t collaborate at the same time (need to take turns writing)

__**<span style="color: #1f14ac; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Competitors **__
 * I wasn’t able to find any competitors

Erin Bumbaugh

=<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">FACTS ABOUT XTRANORMAL =

<span style="color: #000000; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It is a video creating website where the user has the creativity to chose their own <span style="color: #000000; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Over 11 million people have created videos using this site. The videos can then be viewed by others when they are published on the internet,sent through email, put on youtube or they can even be sent to your IPod for viewing. The site requires you to set up an account and when you set up you receive 300 XP automatically, which are xtranormal points. Once these run out, the site is not free anymore and you have to purchase more points to buy things for your videos. The only things that cost money are the "Sets" and the "Assets" all the animations, sounds and camera angles are along the side of the video for free. The pricing on the points go from 1,200 points for $10 all the way up to 80,000 points for $150 dollars.
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">characters
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">dialogue
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sets
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">camera angles
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sound effects
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">animations

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** HOW TO USE XTRANORMAL **
<span style="color: #800080; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">media type="custom" key="8887908" <span style="color: #0000ff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**HOW TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM** -- to engage students in a new lesson and introduce a new topic. -- introduce new vocabulary in an interactive way -- allows your students to express their creativity, especially if they're not too artistic on paper they can show their talents on the computer ---> children learn by doing so by having them create a script and making it come alive will impact them 100x more than reading out of a text book or listening to a lecture

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**ADVANTAGES** -- educators get discounts when buying xtranormal points -- once you buy a Character or "Set" they stay on your account permanently and can be used infinite amount of times. -- exciting way to create presentations for boring topics -- has different language options

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**DISADVANTAGES** <span style="color: #008080; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">** -- there are no types of accounts where a whole class can have individual usernames under the teacher so the teachers would have to allow the students to use their account. ** <span style="color: #008080; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">** -- similar to typewithme where data can be overwritten when multiple users are accessing the same account ** -- the home page states that children under 13 should not use this site so it would not be good for the younger grades -- the videos aren't monitored and anyone can say or make whatever they want -- cost Factor -- robotic voices and weak animations -- some people consider it to be tedious work and time consuming.



**What is Voki?** Voki is a free service that allows you to create personalized speaking avatars and post them on your blog, facebook profile, and in email messages. Students the age of thirteen and old can create an account. Voki will soon be integrated in various instant-messaging platforms. You can customize your Voki to look like you or pick from the characters available, such as animals, monsters, anime, etc. Your Voki can speak with your own voice, which is added via microphone, upload, or phone. You can also download your Voki to most video-supported phones. Voki will always be available to the public in order to create a character for free. However, the website may offer special items or characters for sale at some point.

media type="youtube" key="uErsvV9hheQ" height="390" width="480"
 * How Do You Use Voki? **

> >
 * How can you use Voki is the classroom? **
 * Morning Greetings for class
 * Bring historical figures alive by making them into an Avatar.
 * Useful for research projects.
 * What are the advantages of using Voki in the classroom? **
 * Voki allows students to feel comfortable and have fun while speaking in a different language.
 * Help motivate students to participate.
 * Improve message comprehension.
 * Voki can help tell directions while teacher is preparing for their lesson.
 * Provides Lesson Plans
 * Teacher’s Corner- ask questions, look for answers, Newbie’s Corner (experienced teachers help novice teachers).
 * What are the disadvantages of using Voki in the classroom? **
 * Text words do not show up when Avatar is talking.
 * Not many characters
 * Text to speech accent marks- no accent marks for students to type.

= **What is Google Earth?** =
 * Google Earth is a free download-able program that virtually maps out our entire planet. The use of this site allows people to transport themselves anywhere in the world within seconds by the use of it's satellite images, 3D models and many other features. I had never used this program before and so surprisingly, it offered so much more than I initially imagined it would. Many programs, along with this one, have also become available on both the iPhone and Android users as a free application.

= **Google Earth Tutorial** = media type="youtube" key="RYapu-TDW30" height="390" width="480"

= How to use Google Earth in the classroom =
 * Google Earth can be used for virtual field trips when physical field trips are unreasonable under any given circumstances.
 * Science units could benefit from Google Earth because of its ability to view:
 * 1) constellations
 * 2) sun patterns
 * 3) the moon
 * 4) other planets (Mars)
 * Research projects can begin and build off of Google Earth.

= Advantages =
 * When looking at important places for research purposes, you are led to sites that are credible.
 * You get a fairly close up view of different places around the world almost as if you were there yourself.
 * This program could potentially help students with the skills of reading a map and grasping the concept of direction in regards to a compass.
 * They can easily make connections about the way places looked in years past in comparison to the way they look today (higher-order thinking; Bloom's Taxonomy)
 * Allows students to be virtually anywhere in the world by the click of a button; hopefully broadening their minds to new cultures, ideas and perspectives.
 * It is available on both the iPhone and Android. This makes it much more easily accessed in situations where a laptop or desktop computer is not available (if you have a smart phone).
 * The basic program is free.

= **Disadvantages** =
 * The program can be slow at times to load when zooming in and out too quickly.
 * The "person icon" that can be placed on the road does not always have a clear view of the street on which it is placed.
 * The business version Google Earth Pro is $399/ year.

=** Similar Products **=
 * Google Building Maker
 * Google Places
 * Google Maps

Jeff Stokes

= Tech Tip: Google Lit Trips =

** What is Google Lit Trips? **
==== It uses Google Earth and plots out the trips found in literature and adds supplementary information such as geographical stuff and references to people who are mentioned. It is a great way for students to travel with the characters in the books they are reading and see that they are in real places and reacting with real people. ====

Optional!
media type="custom" key="9147940"

==== ** How can you use Google Lit Trips in your classroom? ** This can be used when you are reading non-fiction books in your classroom. Your students will be able to see where the characters are in the book and where events are taking place. ====

** Advantages: **

 * It is free
 * It is easy to use
 * No login required

** Disadvantages: **
·
 * Not that many books available
 * It can
 * Competitors: **
 * I couldn't find any

** Tech Tip: Glogster ** media type="youtube" key="80NISdsoouE?fs=1" height="390" width="480" **A longer, more detailed explanation of how to create a glog.....**

media type="youtube" key="MvC47fUANLk?fs=1" height="390" width="480" **.... or a much shorter explanation of how to create a glog.**

** What is Glogster?: ** Glogster is a social network that allows its users to create free, interactive posters. Ways that the user can be creative in designing his/her poster include:
 * text
 * graphics
 * photos
 * audio
 * videos

** How can Glogster be used in the classroom?: ** Glogster can be useful for teachers as well as students. Some ways that glogster can be used are:
 * group projects
 * introducing a lesson
 * creating student portfolios
 * presentations

** Advantages: **
 * Available in Enligsh or Spanish
 * Simple to use
 * Large variety of different resources
 * Private or public
 * Different versions: public vs Glogster EDU, free vs $$$

** Disadvantages: ** ** Competitors: **
 * Different versions: Glogster EDU free vs $$$ (Basic, Premium I, Premium II)
 * No filter
 * Can be slow
 * other social networks(ie: xanga, myspace, facebook)

** Partnerships: **
 * Edmodo
 * Wikispaces
 * TeacherTube
 * TinyPic



by: Evie Maldonado

What is Blabberize? Blabberize is a website service that allows making an audio clip with a still picture. You can create an account or use the site as a guest. You can upload any still picture and record, add sound or call in using your phone for the audio part of your blabber.

How do you use Blabberize.com?

media type="youtube" key="FEtUu1r8Pe4" height="390" width="640"

How can blabberize be used in the classroom? Students are able to use this site for many things. They could create a biography or narrative about a famous person. It allows the student to actually take the role of that person, by uploading a picture of the famous person and then recording themselves reciting researched information that they found on that person. It could also be used for reading, to practice expression and fluency.

Advantages: -interactive activity -students may be more motivated to do the work because there work will be published -differentiated instruction: meets needs of all learners -can revisit the site

Disadvantages: -some features are being removed; the in call audio -videos that show up in the search may not be appropriate to all ages -you are only allowed 30sec clips -you have to create an account to save your work

Competitors: -picreflect

<span style="color: #046004; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">**www.teachersfirst.com** - Kelly Kapp


 * Description **– It’s a site filled with individual lesson plans, thematic units, and other web resources for teachers to use rather than creating them from scratch.

-The user can search for what they want by grade, subject, and/or keyword. -This is a free site so most of the resources are available as soon as you click on the site - There’s also a teacher’s blog where teachers can share their insights related to a different “Question of the Week” each week. **Sp****ecial Features -** - Globetracker. - A "calendar” button you can click on that lists special days/weeks/months of the year and provides lessons and activities pertaining to those special dates. - Interactive __//Raven//__ activity.
 * Advantages **-
 * //-//** if you choose to “join” (still free), you will be able to do a few extra things, such as create your own website. On this site you can save favorites, make them available to students and parents, post announcements and suggestions.
 * //__- MOST lessons posted give suggested ways to use them in the classroom__//**

· http://teachers.net/ (this is not as user friendly – looks too cluttered – not easy to navigate or find what you’re looking for.) · [|www.abcteach.com] ( $30.00 per user) ·
 * Compare to similar products **

By Joshua Millet

What is [|www.speakaboos.com]?
Speakaboos is first and foremost a website that reads books aloud with an animated visual. These stories are read by celebrities. They also have accompanying material; things like work sheets, games and lesson plans. Speakaboos material is mostly geared towards children from 4 to 8 years of age. Speakaboos' also has it's own blog for teachers and parents, an iphone app, karaoke sing-alongs, and a section about the solar system.

Advantages:
-The search option is very precise. You can search by genre, author, speaker, or difficulty of book -Lots of free content -The stories have subtitles -Many different genres of books, including some tailored towards ethnic minorities -The website has a good layout. The stories are organized well. -Speakaboos is a safe website for children to browse on.

Disadvatages:
-Sound can be at different volumes for different stories -To have access to everything, you must pay a monthly fee -Every story does not have a lesson plan, worksheets, ect to got with it -Most of the accompanying material would not be appropriate for K-6 classrooms

How to use Speakaboos in your classroom
-Play the story for all students to hear at the same time. -Good for children who have trouble reading text. -Speakaboos boasts 30 lesson plans. These lesson plans look useful. They have questions on many different levels of Blooms taxonomy. The lesson plans could be great post reading activities. -[|Jack and the Beanstalk lesson plan]

Similar products
Storyline Online -Storyline has better visuals and more famous actors. Speakaboos has many more stories than Storyline online.

Tumble book library -Tumble book library can be free through your local library. Tumble book doesn't have lesson plans like Speakaboos.