Tuesday, September 30, 2014

SpellingCity

SpellingCity w/out a doubt is my favorite site for Spelling and Vocabulary.  This is a great site w/ educational portal that allows educators to create word lists that can be incorporated into educational games.  These games are not only fun but highly engaging and help students learn their "words".  Also, an educator can track students, find an abundance of resources/videos, and even use it for mobile learning w/ a free mobile app  (iOS/Android).

I highly recommend checking out SpellingCity by clicking here!!!

*iOS 8 compatible

Below is a brief demo of the free mobile app...



*SpellingCity is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.


Writinghouse

Writinghouse is a nifty little site that is a free citation/bibliography generator.  All a user has to do is select the type of citation they want (i.e. book, magazine, etc.), type in the name of a book, and then click add to add it to their bibliography.  They can save or download/share the
ir bibliographies.

I highly recommend checking out Writinghouse by clicking here!!!

Super Teacher Worksheet

Super Teacher Worksheets is one of the best sites around for finding educational resources such as worksheets, printables, puzzles, and more.  This is a great place where educators can browse by subject and even find generators to create their very own worksheets, puzzles, crosswords, etc.  Also, many of STW resources are aligned to Common Core Standards.

I highly recommend checking out Super Teacher Worksheets by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Educational Resources click here.
For my Edshelf collection on Educational Resources click here.

*Super Teacher Worksheets is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Imagistory

Imagistory is a wonderful free iPad app that I just found out about from iPad Apps 4 Schools.  This is a great "wordless" picture book where students can record their own narration of the story that they select.  As they open the book, the story begins to record through the iPad's microphone.  Once a story is finished it can then be saved and played back or record a new version of your story.  This is a great app for the younger kids to introduce them to digital storytelling and get their creative juices flowing.

I highly recommend checking out Imagistory by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Digital Storytelling click here.
For more info check out Edshelf.

Book Writer

Book Writer is a fantastic iOS app for digital storytelling that lets users create interactive digital books, PDFs, and more.  Educators are using this to Flip their classroom, create tutorials, photo books, presentations, and Project Based Learning.  It's a simple app to use that has a drag-n-drop interface and lets users upload images, videos, audio, text, etc.

I highly recommend checking out Book Writer by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo video...


For more info on Book Writer check out EDshelf.
For my Pinterest board on Digital Storytelling click here.

Math Heroes 1

Math Heroes 1 is a excellent iOS app for students learning basic Math skills such as: addition, multiplication, division, and subtraction.  As w/ all Yogome games this app is beautiful designed filled w/ their stunning animated characters.  Math Heroes is a fighting-style game where users learn skills by solving basic equations.  As they progress further through the game not only do they unlock secret items and more levels (5 different mini-games), they learn new "fighting" moves.  This makes for a fun and engaging game w/ high replay value for kids.  Best of all the game remembers where a student leaves off and parents can monitor their kids through email updates.

I highly recommend checking out Math Heroes 1 by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board of Educational iOS apps click here.
For more info check out Edshelf.

*Yogome is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Slader

Slader is an ambitious site that is like an online study hall for HS students.  This site provides a platform for students to "self pace" their learning.  Through collaborating w/ their peers students can ask Q/A and find homework help from over 600 text books in the subjects of Math, Science, History, and English.

From their site, "If a student is having difficulty with a particular type of problem, they can find practice problems and solutions on Slader. Slader enables students to get “unstuck” on troublesome problems, tempering frustration. Those students can then contribute solutions to areas that they are better in, inspiring confidence."

I highly recommend checking out Slader by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Educational Resources click here.
For more info check out Edshelf.

Monday, September 29, 2014

30hands Pro

30hands Pro is the new paid iOS app from 30hands Learning.  This is a great purchase as it unlocks all the features in the free 30hands app such as: importing video clips, Dropbox/Google Drive integration, and Hi-Res video exporting.

30hands is the amazingly simple to use app w/ drag-n-drop interface that allows users to sync up 30hand online educational community.
photos w/ audio recordings to create stunning presentations.  This can be used for digital storytelling, Project Based Learning, or even to "Flip" a lesson.  Also, the exporting features allows the video to be saved to the mobile device's camera roll or uploaded to the free

I highly recommend checking out 30hands Pro by clicking here!!!

For more info on 30hands Pro visit Edshelf.
For my Pinterest board on Digital Storytelling click here.

*30hands Learning is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Algebra Touch

Algebra Touch is an excellent iOS app for those wanting practice w/ their Algebra skills.  This simple to use app uses the iOS device touch capabilities to drag variables around in an equation, tapping to simplify, and drawing lines to eliminate identical terms.  Also, a user can create their own problems to help them w/ self guided learning and differentiate their own instruction.

I highly recommend checking out Algebra Touch by clicking here!!!

Here is a list of what is covered:

  • Simplification
  • Like Terms
  • Commutativity
  • Order of Operations
  • Factorization
  • Prime Numbers
  • Elimination
  • Isolation
  • Variables
  • Basic Equations
  • Distribution
  • Factoring Out
  • Exponent Product Rule
  • Exponent Quotient Rule
For more info check out Edshelf.
For my Pinterest board on Educational iOS Apps click here.


GoClass

GoClass is a fantastic educational tool (site/app) that allows educators to share their lessons in mobile environment.  Teachers can use the GoClass web interface (site) to manage and create interactive lessons for students and then share them to their mobile devices.  Also, they can create courses, track students, assess, and more.  GoClass uses the formula of Show, Explain, and Ask to teach and reinforce learning.  This is a fantastic way for not only Mobile Learning but for "flipping a classroom" and Differentiated Instruction as well.

I highly recommend checking out GoClass by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo...



*GoClass is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Buncee

What more can be said about Buncee that already hasn't been?  Is it easy to use?  Yes.  Does it have an educational portal so educators can create/manage student accounts?  Yes.  Does it have lots of teacher examples w/ lessons?  Yes, yes, yes!!!  Buncee my favorite Web 2.0 tool of 2013 is not only a fantastic tool to use in education (w/ their educational portal), it is a great tool for educators to use to Flip a lesson or classroom.  Teachers can create beautiful looking animated and narrated presentations that students can then view at home.  Then they can complete their Buncee assignment online and educators can view/grade all w/in the safe web portal.

Also, Buncee is being used in education in many other ways such as:

  • posters (more stylized then Glogster)
  • eCards
  • announcements
  • Project Based Learning
  • writing prompts
  • poetry
  • presentations/slides
  • and more...
For more fun Back to School ideas click here.

Below is a wonderful Buncee on how it is being integrated into the classroom...


I highly recommend checking out Buncee by clicking here!!!

*Buncee is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Spell Up

Spell Up is a new game for Google's Chrome browser that I just found out about from Ozge Karagolu's wonderful blog.  This is a great voice activated game that uses the device's microphone as people try to spell out words.  Every time a word gets spelled correctly it gets stacked on top of each other (think UpWords).  As you get more words correct the game gets harder and harder and more features such as bonuses gets unlocked.  If a word gets misspelled the tower comes crashing down.  Also, this is a nice game for ESL students as a person can hear the word, the pronunciation, and definitions in different languages as they try to spell the word.

I highly recommend checking out Google's Spell Up by clicking here!!!

Sunday, September 28, 2014

iPractice Math

iPractice Math is a excellent all-in-one solution for Math.  This is an excellent resource for students/teachers wanting help in all areas of Math (i.e. Geometry, Decimals, Fractions, and more.  Also, this is a great place for real-time online help w/ practice problems and worksheets.  Finally, through a free educational portal parents and educators are able to track student's usage and see how well they are doing on any given subject or problem (displaying right/wrong answers).  This is a great way to assess student progress and differentiate instruction.

I highly recommend checking out iPractice Math by clicking here!!!

*iPractice Math is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

EDpuzzle App

EDpuzzle the premiere site for flipping a lesson through video has just released a free iOS app.  As w/ the site this app allows users to take a video and easily "make it their own" by editing, cropping, adding narration and questions to flip a lesson or classroom.  Students can then view the video on their mobile device, answer the questions, and gauge their learning.  This is also a great way for educators to assess student's learning and differentiate instruction.

I highly recommend checking out the free EDpuzzle iOS app by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on a Flipped Classroom click here.
For more info check out Edshelf.

Below is a brief demo video...


Saturday, September 27, 2014

Post-it Plus

Post-it Plus is a neat little free iOS app that's been getting quite a bit of press online (iPad Apps for Schools) lately.  This cool app lets a user snap a pic of their paper post-it notes and then turn them digital.  Once they are uploaded to the iOS device they can be organized/tagged and shared w/ others.  Just another great way to make the move towards making your classroom paperless!!!

I highly recommend checking out Post-it Plus by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on a wide variety of topics click here.

Answerables

Answerables is a wonderful new innovative site/game that is perfect for Game Based Learning (or more accurate Game Based Learning meets Learning Management System).  It reminds me of Second Life but geared more toward kids w/ their fantasy/SciFi environment.  The game takes place in the 3D virtual world of Answerables on a planet called Proxima, where the native Ansibles (students) encounter an alien race.

What makes this so great for education that is the safe/COPPA compliant environment that Answerables provides.  This is an ideal place for students to collaborate w/ others and develop their social learning skills.  Answerables provides windows (i.e. Second Life) to view the web, go on quests, etc.  The student dashboard allows students to track their quests, notifications, events, PODS (Personal Online Development Spaces), and more.

Educators can create a lesson/POD (manage permissions), create webquests, internet scave
nger hunts, host live events, and best of all "Gamify" their lesson.  This is great for introducing a new concept, guided/differentiated instruction, and even "Flipping" a classroom.  Also, teachers (parents too) can track/monitor student progress, share and view resources by collaborating w/ other educators, and even setup tutoring courses where they set their own rate.

I highly recommend checking out Answerables by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo that has to be seen to be believed...



For my Pinterest board on Game Based Learning click here.

*Answerables is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Brainscape

Brainscape is an excellent free iOS app for studying any topic based on mobile flashcards.  This "smart" flashcards get rated by the user and based on those ratings will differentiate instruction to help the student learn.  Best of all, a user can either browse through and purchase decks of flashcards or create their own and even share their cards w/ others.  This is great for collaborating, study groups, and for educators looking to create classroom flashcards for their students.

I highly recommend checking out Brainscape by clicking here!!!

For a more detailed review check out Graphite.
For more info check out Edshelf.

Otus

"Otus is an easy-to-use, yet powerful classroom tool that brings the best iPad and Chromebook education features together into one secure environment, and uses a single Google login."  

I must say after reading this tag line I was quite intrigued to give Otus a look and it IS a complete mobile learning environment for schools.  Otus comes in two free iPad apps one for the teacher and one for the student.  Keep in mind when downloading it will state that it is a 17+ app and the reason for that is the built in browser.  However, a educator can monitor browser activity inside of Otus as well as a school should have a filter in place via their district policy (Although, it is widely recommend to view your students/child's browsing habits to make sure that they are not viewing anything inappropriate).  Also, a user (teacher/student) will need a Google account to login.

As w/ most Learning Management Systems (LMS) Otus allows educators to create classes, manage attendance/assignments/grades, poll students, and more.  They can create digital bookshelves to host all kinds of digital media (i.e. books, videos, sites, etc) and assess students in real-time.  The split screen feature allows users to take notes using any feature of Otus as well as taking notes during browsing.

I highly recommend checking out Otus by clicking here!!!

*Otus is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Shapes - 3D Geometry Learning

Shapes is a new iOS app that is fantastic for learning and manipulating geometric shapes.  It lets a student control different shapes such as: prisms, pyramids, platonic solids, etc. while using familiar and easy to use hand gestures to change colors, zoom in/out, etc.

Below is a list of features...

- Select 27 unique shapes
- Choose from a variety of: prisms, pyramids, Platonic solids, solids of revolution
- Unfold shapes into different net combinations
- Explore transparent surfaces mode
- Highlight the vertices and edges
- Color selected elements
- Use simple gesture control
- Rotate the shapes in any direction
- Zoom in and out by pinch and spread gestures
- Align to basic position by double tap

I highly recommend checking out Shapes - 3D Geometry Learning by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Educational iOS Apps click here.
For more info check out Edshelf.



Booktrack Classroom

Booktrack Classroom is a innovative free site for adding a soundtrack or sound effects to a story/book.  This is a great way to generate and boost student creativity in the classroom as well as help w/ reading comprehension.  Classrooms are using this for project based learning and for gaining student interest in the process of Reading and Writing.  Also, there is a free iOS/Android app for reading published Booktrack "books".

I highly recommend checking out Booktrack Classroom by clicking here!!!

*Booktrack Classroom is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Been for Education

Been the innovative site for visually bookmarking a site and collaborating has just launched a educational portal that makes it perfect for educators to use w/ their class.  This free web tool is not only ideal for social bookmarking in schools but real-time collaborative web browsing as well.  Been's new web portal now allows for educators to create student accounts, and communicate w/ them in real-time while bookmarking/browsing the web.

This is ideal for Guided Learning, Flipping a Classroom, Project Based Learning, and can be used by any subject or curriculum.  Educators can use it to create internet scavenger hunts, to research/introduce a topic, or any other number of possibilities.

The educator account is perfect for moderating student's Beens (bookmarks/collections), comments, resetting passwords, etc.  Being "housed" inside of an educational portal allows for educators to see public Beens but only allows for students to see those of their teacher.  Teachers can also collaborate w/ their peers to allow for collective Beens that can be use for group projects.

Finally, the ability to collaboratively surf the web when being on the same page allows for students/educators to share comments and surf together to guide instruction.  Also, educators can assess students who have questions when surfing the web or researching a topic.

I highly recommend checking out Been for Education by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Web 2.0 click here.

Below is a demo video on collaboratively surfing on Been....

4. Surf Together in Class! from Been on Vimeo.

ZooKazam

ZooKazam is a wonderful free iOS app for Augmented Reality that can be used in the Science classroom.  This is a fun super easy to use app that has users printing out a "target" and then interacting w/ animals, dinosaurs, and safari animals in augmented reality.  What's cool is the ability to not only take a photo or video of the animal in augmented reality, but interact w/ it by changing the  elements (i.e. make it rain or snow) and more.

I highly recommend checking out ZooKazam by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo...



For my Pinterest board on Augmented Reality click here.

*ZookKazam is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Storybook Maker

Storybook Maker is a fun site for digital storytelling using the characters from Horton Hears a Who.  This site is easy to use and allows a user to create a 3 scene story by adding characters, backgrounds, music, and text.  Once a story is finished it can then be printed out or turned into a PDF if using a Mac.

I recommend checking out Storybook Maker by clicking here.

Thanks to the amazing Ozge Karaoglu for the tip.

For my Pinterest board on Digital Storytelling click here.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Shadow Puppet Edu

I've been in touch w/ the people over at Shadow Puppet and excited to announce their new spinoff free iOS app for education, Shadow Puppet Edu.  This is an excellent easy to use app for Project Based Learning and Digital Storytelling.  Like the former app it has a drag and drop interface but w/ this new educational instance it allows for easier/safer searching and integration of pictures as well as no student email account to use.

Below is a list of their other features...
  • Make videos just like before combining photos, video clips, voice, text and drawing. Use up to 100 images, and make videos up to 30 minutes long. All limits/purchases on the consumer version have been removed and the app will be free for edu use.  
  • Search the Library of Congress, NASA, Creative Commons, or generic web/gif search for awesome content to include in videos. A citation page is automatically added to the end of the video. We're super excited about the potential here in social science and science classes—our search tools make it possible to access and use amazing content from Library of Congress and NASA in a way we haven't seen any other apps do.    
  • Common Core-aligned activity ideas to make it easy to get started using Shadow Puppet Edu in English, social studies, science, math, art and foreign language classes.
  • Controls to disable web image search. Parental gates for sharing and the ability to disable/enable those as well. 
I highly recommend checking out Shadow Puppet Edu by clickinghere!!!

To find Shadow Puppet Edu on Edshelf click here.

For my Pinterest board on Digital Storytelling click here.

Matchmatics

Matchmatics is a super fun iOS game that helps students practice their basic Math skills.  It's a simple yet challenging game that has students moving a match stick to solve the corresponding equation.  Ideally it is designed for El Ed aged students but older kids should have fun too.

I highly recommend checking out Matchmatics by clicking here!!!
For a more detailed review check out Edshelf.

For my Pinterest board on Educational iOS Apps click here.

AR Flashcards Shapes & Colors

AR Flashcards Shapes & Colors is the brand-new educational augmented reality iOS app from Mitchlehan Media (i.e AR Flashcards Space).  Like AR Space, all a child has to do is point the iOS device at the printed flashcard to display a 3D rendered animal holding up a shape.  A user can then take a snapshot or even hear the shape by pressing on the sound button.  This is a great way to introduce shapes & colors to toddlers and preschoolers as well as an innovative way to integrate technology & augmented reality into the classroom.

I highly recommend checking out AR Flashcards Shapes & Colors by clicking here.

To find AR Flashcards Shapes & Colors on Edshelf click here.
For my Pinterest board on Augmented Reality click here.

For more AR Flashcards apps click here.

*Mitchlehan Media is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Chalkup

Chalkup is a new social learning platform that combines the best of a LMS (Learning Management System) w/ a social network to create a safe environment for students and teachers to interact.  Chalkup allows educators to grade, collaborate/message, assess, create assignments, rubrics, and much much more.  It works seamlessly on any mobile device and reminds me of a cross between GoClass and Otus.

I highly recommend checking out Chalkup by clicking here!!!

How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal

How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal
If you're a student getting ready for the CBSE Board Exams, you need to have accomplished that it's necessary to utilize all the resources you'll be able to, whereas making an attempt to complete the CBSE examination program. The CBSE program is kind of immense which is why several students attend special work categories aside from their regular college categories. this can be intelligible because the competition for several higher degrees, like medical and engineering courses, is kind of fierce. Students ought to get the most effective marks doable to confirm that they're ready to get admission into the course of their alternative.

How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal


That's why we are going to list a number of tips here to assist you handle the immense program for the CBSE examination. the following pointers don't seem to be the sole ones you'll be able to apply, however they're going to definitely be helpful for you:

How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal


Make notes: whereas getting ready for the CBSE Board Exams, make certain that you just prepare lots of notes for every chapter you end learning. you ought to do that from the beginning of the educational year itself. you may assume that notes are a waste of your time, as you'll forever have your textbooks to fall back on. however several students realize that after they taken off to revise the ideas they learnt earlier, it gets to a small degree slow to plough through the entire book. it's additional convenient to revise from notes, and as long as you have got written down necessary formula and definitions, they will be as effective as learning the entire textbook once more.

How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal


Practice question papers: a decent method of distinguishing the foremost necessary ideas and concepts of the CBSE program is to observe resolution question papers of previous years, further the sample papers brought out by the CBSE and publishers of reference books. Obviously, terribly commonly asked ideas and concepts are additional necessary than others. This additionally ensures that you just become totally responsive to the various alternative ways within which a selected plan or typeulae are often accustomed form a matter.

How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal


Study 'practically': once learning with the goal of evaluation your best in your final CBSE examination, you ought to use sensible demonstrations and visual media, like diagrams, animations, video lessons, the maximum amount as you'll be able to. several specialists have found that students learn ideas higher with the assistance of visual reinforcement. they're additionally ready to retain the ideas for a extended time. you'll be able to raise your lecturers to convey as several sensible demonstrations as they will. There are currently several instructional TV channels and websites which offer you such visual learning resources; you'll be able to take the good thing about these whereas learning the CBSE program. Ideally, you ought to try and use this technique of visual reinforcement among 2 days of your learning a selected plan for max results.

How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal How to Handle the CBSE Syllabus for the CBSE Board Exams - 3 Tips | Education Portal

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Create an Animated Gif

The other day I needed to create an animated gif for a client and used Gifckr for this person.  This is an easy to use site that lets a user upload up to 10 images to create the gif.  Then a user selects the size and speed for the transitions.  Once finished the animated gif can then be downloaded.

I recommend checking out Gifckr by clicking here!!!

Puzzlin Pieces USA

Puzzlin' Pieces: USA is a new educational iOS app designed for kids 6-8 learning about the Geography of the United States.  The drag-n-drop puzzle game is designed in 3 levels helping the student learn about the states and their location by using the weather as a "hot/cold" indicator.  As the student progresses they receive fewer clues as their geographical knowledge is put to the test.  There is also a timer to measure progress and stars awarded for correct answers.

I highly recommend checking out Puzzlin' Pieces: USA by clickinghere!!!
For more info on Puzzlin' check out Edshelf.

For my Pinterest board on Educational iOS Apps click here.

*One Room Schoolhouse is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.